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    The Power Plant
    The Power Plant
    The Power Plant
    Ebook41 pages29 minutes

    The Power Plant

    By Zvi Zaks

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    About this ebook

    Rodger Johnston had a goal, to head the National Department of Energy. As CEO of the power plant in Des Moines, he had solved the problems of high bills and frequent brownouts so his prospects of going to Washington were bright. But the plant utilized an unusual power source, and unexpected problems developed...

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherZvi Zaks
    Release dateJun 24, 2012
    ISBN9781476387901
    The Power Plant
    Author

    Zvi Zaks

    I've been writing off and on literally for decades with little luck in publishing. I could blame it on my schedule as a doctor -- too many years having a 24-7 call schedule -- but plenty of other doctors have managed to combine writing and medicine. The real problem was the off and on had too much off and not enough on. Internet writers circles helped me sell a few short stories, but I really wanted to publish a book. Second only to becoming a grandfather--something I had no say about--becoming a published novelist was my biggest goal. An unrelenting series of rejections almost had me ready to give up. Then Lilly Press accepted my novel IMPLAC, an evil robot story. I was ecstatic. Even the editing process was a joy. Unfortunately, Lilly went bankrupt and it was back to the slush pile for me. At least now I knew that some professionals valued my work. "Query Tracker" forum taught me how to write a decent query, I sent out a batch of letters to small publishers, and in 2010 Eternal Press accepted A VIRTUAL AFFAIR. No ecstasy this time, but I was still happy that at age 68 I would finally have a book for sale. It's never too late to pursue your dream. The book was published on January 8, 2011. A week earlier, my son called me, "Dad, Rosemarie has gone into labor." Eight hours later, Aliana was born. I flew down to see her the day the book was published. Even though I had striven for many years to get published, at this moment, the book didn't matter. I have my priorities.

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      Book preview

      The Power Plant - Zvi Zaks

      The Power Plant

      by

      Zvi Zaks

      Copyright 2005 by Zvi Zaks

      Smashwords Edition

      ISBN: 9781476387901

      Tuesday

      Rodger K. Johnston pushed open the doors to the power plant, strode into the lobby, and sneezed. It was a convulsive sneeze, a series of explosions that reddened his face and made his eyes water. How outrageous. He was a healthy man, good-looking in spite of thinning hair and a small paunch. These sneezing fits had bothered him when the plant first opened, but then subsided, and he forgot about them. Why had they returned? This plant was one hundred percent dust free, the cleanest place he had ever seen. Cleanliness was next to Godliness, but walking past a starched, baby-faced guard, riding the elevator to the 5th floor and trudging down the long, aseptic hall to his office, he kept sneezing.

      His secretary greeted him with a smile. Good morning, Mr. Johnston.

      She had a pretty face, and her generous breasts showed just enough cleavage to be interesting. The sight of her stimulated his loins, but one affair at a time offered enough challenge. Besides, her perfume made his nose itch. Good morning, Marilyn. How’s the Devil this morning?

      Squirming away. She laughed, but also crossed herself with quick motions. I thought you didn’t like calling it that. You said it was superstitious.

      He sighed. Just joking. Lord knows we can use some levity. Shoulders sagging, he entered his office and walked to a window. The view below showed a boat floating downstream past parks, museums and a zoo on the other side of the river. This placid scene could decorate a postcard.

      But the reality was not placid. A recent population surge had made the city an energy-hungry metropolis with brownouts and exorbitant electricity prices, not a tranquil village. Power concerns dominated local politics.

      Rodger understood power and not just kilowatt-hours. As CEO, he understood persuasion, bribery, threats and how to use them all. With skill, ruthlessness, and keen enjoyment in the process, he had guided this state-of-the-art plant from inception to its current productivity.

      He had birthed the first major plant powered by demons.

      Thanks to Rodger's leadership, a so-called demon squirmed and converted

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