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AMERICA 2040 BOOK II

THE GOLDEN WORLD



Evan Innes



Created by the producers of Wagons West, White Indian, and Children of the Lion.

Copyright©1986 by Book Creations. Inc .

Bantam Books. Inc.

ISBN 0-553-25922-9



PROLOGUE I



From the journal of Evangeline Burr, official historian, theSpirit of America



On this 4 July, 2043 we began the day with a moment of silent prayer or contemplation, depending upon
the personal beliefs of the members of our company. Everyone was relieved when Captain Duncan
Rodrick did not call a holiday to observe the birthdate of our country. We can honor what President
Dexter Hamilton has called “the crowning achievement of governmental experiments.”

Although theSpirit of America has been a scientific and technological masterpiece and a safe home for
our journey through space, we are tired of breathing recycled air, drinking recycled water, eating artificial
proteins, and having to make do with rationed fresh fruits and vegetables from the ship’s gardens.

TheSpirit of America bears the scars of the dangers we have faced during our long journey. Just
yesterday the captain allowed me to view the starship’s exterior, as seen from the sensors of a scout ship
returning from an exploratory mission. I was shocked. The large, curving plates of the hull are blistered
and pitted. All the paint has been seared away from the multiple jutting rocket engines and the pods that
house the scout ships. The large letters that once proclaimed proudly that our ship was indeed theSpirit of
America have been obliterated, but we don’t need a painted name to remind us of our mission.

After almost three years in space, we have our goal in sight—a beautiful planet, four times larger than
Earth. To see our new home, we merely use our personal screens, walk through a lounge, visit the
observatory, or—as I have done no fewer than three times—obtain permission to visit the areas near the
outer hull of our ship and look with naked eyes through one of the thick, polarized glass ports.

We can also see that odd sun, 61 Cygni B. Our new sun is farther away from our target planet than old