videos 
THE
M A N U A L
FRANK T. CELENZA
slide 1 Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my loving and supportive life partner, Susan, for encouraging me to write this story, and who made it possible.
I would like to thank my sons Anthony and Jesse for keeping my soul strong.
I would like to thank my family for their creative love.
I would also like to give special thanks to all
those who helped produce this story, especially:
Nick Lagos, – literary director
Frank P. Celenza, – co-editor
Michael Leuci, – co-editor
Jacqueline Petter, – co-editor
Catherine Clarke, – co-editor
Monica O’'Neill –Co., designer for front cover
slide 2 Chapter One
My God, I hate this ride, Dr. Susan King thought
to herself as she shook from the nauseating,
weightless, motion and loud vibrations of the
shuttle chopper blades.
She was coming in from La Florida Airport
in La Serena, central Chile. They climbed
steeply up the rugged mountainside—which was
covered with large patches of dense forest—to
the barren tops of the Andes Mountains, where
she would find the La Silla Observatory. They
swayed from the forceful wind as they rose over
the peak, leaving a feeling of daring. The pilots
were chattering in Hispanic over the radio while
the copilot got instructions.
The beautiful, intellectual woman of suburban
Long Island, New York, in complete discomfort,
reminded herself, I know better by now that the
all-day car ride up the winding cliffs and rocky
dirt roads will be even more extreme.
slide 3 She continued to ponder about getting to her
destination as quickly and safely as possible.
Susan was willing to sacrifice, and do a bimonthly routine. The only thing in life other
than her passion for science was her accomplished piano playing, which she enjoyed during the times of distancing from work. The unfiltered, artistic soul showed through her sultry
essence, but her conservative mannerisms made her somewhat unapproachable.
She was likened to a beautiful, strong, stemmed orchard. Appearing to be in her early forties, she was going to try and pass her fiftieth birthday uneventfully in a few weeks. Even up
until this time, there had been only an occasional relationship arising from a rare desire for some companionship, but only one person had ever penetrated her heart. It was a short-term relationship with long-term love that she still battled emotionally.
slide 4 There was the familiar violent shaking as she rose over the peak and looked down at her destination.
The observatory was sitting on top of a
mountain clearing. Its majestic stance had a
sense of grandeur that sprinkled through her
nerves. Slightly relieved at the sight of the
observatory, Susan was still holding her arms tightly around her lower body as if she was holding in her insides. With shoulders hunched up, her furry, fringed, lambskin coat gave a small feeling of security as it came up over her ears, slightly muffling the metal chatter.
Driven by her uncontrolled desire to enlighten the world through science, she surrendered to the trek. Waiting for her was Professor Ryan Barry, her respected colleague, team leader, and close friend for the last twenty years.
slide 5 Their relationship was professional but with gentle
Human compassion. Both scientists shared a passion for space technology and life on Earth; they were aproductive combination.
In the past, there had been a problem
between the two scientists. When they first started working together, Professor Barry had met Susan’s girlfriend, Sundari Miller, whom he
brought to a science convention in Manhattan.
When Susan first saw them together, she was
upset about them dating; but she quickly became more comfortable upon learning what a kind, wonderful human being he was.
Professor Barry was truly an upright,
respectable person. Now they would spend a
few days together, collecting notes as part of
their shift rotation. When Professor Barry left,
Susan would be on her own, leading the team of scientists and interns for the following two
weeks while Professor Barry took time off from
his shift.
slide 6 Professor Barry was a reserved, dignified man
with strength in his handsome face, however,
lightly built in his physique. Eagerly awaiting her
arrival, he could hear the chopper approaching and went out to greet his colleague, who was just landing at the heliport. He was excited about what he was about to tell her. Professor Barry had barely exited the building, when one of the local workers, Rodrigo, was already helping her carry the suitcases.
Twenty feet behind him, in a slower stride,
was Susan. Her right hand held her hair down and
her left hand held an attaché case; she was still
shaking. “Susan, how was your travel?”
“It was great until I got to La Serena,” she
answered, still struggling and insinuating her
dislike of the shuttle.
Professor Barry, with controlled excitement,
announced to her, “It may all be worth it. I have
just verified the action we detected the last time
we spoke.” He smiled into her face and watched
for her reaction.
“Do you mean the one from the direction of
51 Pegasi?” Susan asked, puzzled.
“
slide 7 “Yes, that’s the one.” Waiting a moment, he
looked queerly at her. “The strange thing is that it
appears to have accelerated to a speed faster than light,” stated Professor Barry.
“Well, that can’'t be, unless…” Susan said,
trying to express her doubt by shaking her head.
“Unless it’s in superluminal speed,” the professor
interjected, stopping her from disbelief.
“What’s even stranger is that it’s accelerating
toward our quadrant of the galaxy.”
“Why didn’t you call me? Did you report
this to the N.S.A.?” Susan inquired.
“Susan, not so fast, please. Remember what
happened last time? The president deployed half
of the U.S. military over a miscalculation.”
Hoping for an approval, he offered, “Let’s see
where this thing is going and how fast it will get
there.”
“But the rules say that any unusual data and
findings must be recorded and reported immediately or we’ll lose government funding— and
probably our jobs —possibly even be charged as
criminals.” said Susan uncomfortably, as she
thought about the constant reminders from the N.S.A.
slide 8 And so they will be informed as soon as we
have completed the prognosis.” He paused. “We
want to give them complete information; do we
not?” the professor pressed on.
“That could take another week, Professor. You
know that.”
“Susan, I hardly think one week will mean
the end of the world. Besides, the weather will
be clear tonight. There’s a chance we may get
enough signal in one night to complete the calculations.
After all, it’s not even in the solar system.
Please be patient. We will do the right
thing. I promise.”
Looking down at the ground without a spe-
cific focus, she shook her head. She was giving
in slightly. “You are the one in charge, and I
respect your authority, but I really don’t agree
with your decision. You will have to take
responsibility,” declared Susan.
“Of course I will, Susan. As the team leader
and your friend, I will take complete responsibility.”
Neither Susan nor the professor discussed it
further; they were trying to think it out a little.
