Rye Whiskey and Life on Mars

The evening breeze was pleasant.  Phobos and Deimos were full, and shown brilliantly in the dark night sky! Anna was listening to the rain music that had been playing for the last hour or so.  The music was so captivating that it was difficult to put into words the feelings that it engendered and the emotions that arose from listening to it.  Anna often thought that without the soothing of the rain music she could not endure her new home.  As she peered out of her window wall she was amazed at the transformation that the landscape took.  First it was a desert and the sand dunes were resplendent in the light of the afternoon sun.  Then it was the coast of Maine and the waves of the Atlantic Ocean were rhythmically beating against the rocky shore.  Finally she witnessed with amazement the depths of the Pacific Ocean and the sea life and the plankton and a multitude of seahorses swimming with the talking dolphins…who spoke hundreds of languages!

Aaron entered the Great Room and inquired as to whether Anna wanted a refresher for her drink?  She noticed that Ryan was with him in holographic form and that they seemed to be talking about something important.  Anna replied that she would enjoy another Old Fashioned made with the last of their supply of Bulleit Rye Whiskey.  Bulleit had been a favorite on Earth and although they had brought several cases with them for their enjoyment on Mars…many years had passed.

Aaron could not help but notice the lovely rain music as he looked out of the window wall and saw the peaceful land of Southern Illinois and the rolling hills of the Shawnee National Forest. He reflected on his many enjoyable years on Earth and the friendships that he had formed.

But the heat had become to extreme!  The Earth was literally cooking under the effects of global warming!

Anna asked Ryan if he would like to have a Old Fashioned with she and Aaron?  He said that he would very much enjoy one and she proceeded to fix him a virtual drink.

Ryan noted that they had never had it so good since they left Earth!  The days of intransigent political leaders had ended when they had landed on the Red Planet!  No longer had they the onerous chore of concerning themselves and attempting to comply with the perverted whims of their political leaders who primarily used the citizenry as there pawns!

Jonathon entered and asked if they had heard Leonard Cohen singing Hallelujah?  The group on the Great Room replied that they had not…to which Jonathon said, ‘look out of the window wall and there he is!’

Sure enough…there was Mr. Cohen singing his hit song…Hallelujah and the affect of it was palpable!

Mary Ann came into the Great Room and announced that the Clerk of Mars Region 10 would soon be at their home for a review of their Martian experience so far.  Jonathon thought that he was going to tell the Clerk how much I enjoy the window wall!  Aaron and Anna wondered if the Clerk could procure anymore Bulleit Rye Whiskey?  The holograph of Ryan had fallen asleep on the couch with a wide smile on his face!

Earth had become a terrible place to live during the last few years that the Martian group had been there.  There not only were wars and rumors of wars but there was a constant migration of peoples from all over the planet that had lived near the oceans or the coast or in any proximity of the rising waters!

And, so, the midwest and the northern states of the United States…had become packed with humans that were seeking higher ground!

It was much worse in many third world countries where countless thousands of people had died from the effects of global warming.  The only words of comfort from the scientist…was cold comfort indeed…as they admonished all to immigrate to higher ground and continue to do so for the foreseeable future!

Suddenly there was a loud knocking on the door of the Great Room…while at the same time the window wall was ominous with clouds and storms and tornadoes and hurricanes!

‘Come on…get out…your time is up….there are millions waiting to take your place in the Great Room!’

‘Well I’ve heard there was a secret chord

That David played and it pleased the Lord

But you don’t really care for music, do you?

Well it goes like this:

The fourth, the fifth, the minor fall and the major lift

The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Well your faith was strong but you needed proof

You saw her bathing on the roof

Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya

She tied you to a kitchen chair

And she broke your throne and she cut your hair

And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

But baby I’ve been here before

I’ve seen this room and I’ve walked this floor

You know I used to live alone before I Knew ya

I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch

Love is not a victory march

It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

There was a time you let me know

What’s really going on below

But now you never show it to me, do you?

And remember when I moved in you

The holy dove was moving too

And every breath we drew was Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

You say I took the name in vain

I don’t even know the name

But if I did, well really, what’s it to you?

There’s a blaze of light in every word

It doesn’t matter which you heard

The holy or the broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Maybe there’s a God above

But all I’ve ever learned from love

Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you

And it’s not a cry that you hear at night

And it’s not somebody who’s seen the light

It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I did my best, it wasn’t much

I couldn’t feel, so I had to touch

Iv’e told the truth, I didn’t come to fool you

And even thought it all went wrong

I’ll stand before the Lord of Song

With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah’

Leonard Cohen