The Boy Who Played With Dark Matter

The Boy Who Played With Dark Matter:

The Secret Adventures of Zeddy

(Count of Monte Cristo)

Holy Ghost Writer

~~~

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2012 Holy Ghost Writer

Published by Illuminated Publications, Ltd.

All rights reserved.

LCCN: 2013900334

License Notes

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner. For further information and bulk orders, email Illuminated Publications Limited (UK) via info@illuminatedpublications.com. This book was printed in the United States of America.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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This is a work of fiction.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cover Art by

Durham Editing and E-book Design

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 THE BIG BOOM

2 SEARCHING FOR DAD

3 THE ZITCHES

4 WITCHY WORLD

5 ZAMIRA AND ZENITH TVS

6 BEHIND THE TAPESTRY

7 ZLOAT

8 A NEW FRIEND

9 A VISIT TO ZARANCHER LANE

10 STORIES COME TO LIFE

11 TELESCOPE REVELATIONS

12 WIMPS ARE MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

13 IDEAS TURN INTO REALITY

14 FEAR KNOCKING AT THE DOOR

15 HIDING IN WAIT

16 DISCOVERIES

17 PLAYING WITH DARK MATTER

SPECIAL PREVIEW

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

1 THE BIG BOOM

The summer day was so hot that Zeddy did not feel like moving. He lay on his bed, his big dark eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. He was bored; there was no other word for it. Worst of all, it was only three weeks until school started.

Zeddy, you need to take the dog out! his mother Zadie called from the kitchen.

But, Mom! It's too hot to go outside right now! Can't I wait till it cools off some? Zeddy pleaded.

An answer didn't come immediately, so Zeddy sat up because he knew silence meant his mother was on her way. Zeddy's mother appeared in the doorway just as Zeddy made it upright.

Young man, Zipper is your dog. We told you that having a pet is a big responsibility. You asked for him. You get to take him out, his mother replied.

Okay, Mom, I'm going, Zeddy answered half-heartedly.

Zadie smiled triumphantly and headed back to the kitchen to finish making lunch. As Zeddy mumbled and grumbled to himself, he got up from the bed to look for his shoes. Zeddy was on the frail side, thinner and a little shorter than the other boys his age. His brown hair was a little shaggy, since the International Government had passed the new adolescent school haircut standards to prohibit gender discrimination. He may have been small, but what he lacked in size, he made up for in smarts. Zeddy had an IQ that was off the charts, a fact he had been taught to hide since he’d learned to speak. He knew his parents were scared that the International Government might discover his true IQ; he just didn’t know why.

Don’t worry about it, gang! I can take Zipper out. I need to clear my head before lunch, Zeddy's father Zane called from the living room.

It’s okay, Dad. I'm coming. I just need to find my shoes, Zeddy called back, as he shuffled through the piles of precious paperback books cluttering his floor. Sometimes Zeddy enjoyed weaving in and out of the piles, pretending he was in a giant maze. Today he felt like he had dropped a grain of sand and was looking for it on a beach. He lifted fallen books and scattered papers, hoping that somewhere in this organized chaos he had dropped his shoes.

Just join us when you find them, Zeddy. Zipper really needs to go out. We shouldn't be too far down the street by the time you find them, his dad answered.

Will do, Dad! he replied, consciously speeding up the search for his shoes.

Zane traveled often for work. On this last trip, he had been gone for over two months, and Zeddy had truly missed him. When his dad had gotten home yesterday, he was so tired that he went straight to bed. Zeddy had been anxiously waiting for a chance to get his dad alone so he could find out if he had discovered anything new and amazing for them to discuss. Zane and Zeddy shared a love of science that other people didn't understand. His mother surely didn’t understand all the scientific things those two were always babbling about. Even Zane's bedtime stories for Zeddy all revolved around the adventures and explorations of two famous scientists, Dantes and Prophesy. Zeddy had each tale memorized, and he had even started to collect them in journals that he read over and over while Zane was away.

Finally! Zeddy exclaimed, as he quickly pulled his shoes on and tied the laces, before running down the hall towards the front door. As he reached for the handle, he was startled by a giant noise outside the house.

KAPOW! ZAP! KABOOM!

Zeddy threw open the door. It had sounded almost like a gigantic lightning strike, but there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The air was filled with the crackling of static electricity, and the sky was blazing neon pink. This was odd, because it wasn't close to sunset or sunrise. Zeddy stood there mesmerized. As he watched, the sun seemed to soak up the mystical magenta static into its hot yellow rays. Before he could even blink, the sky was again the color of a yellowish gray, summer haze. What could be happening? he wondered.

Zeddy? Zeddy! Where are you! his mother shouted frantically, as she came running from the kitchen.

I'm here, Mom, at the front door! Zeddy answered.

Are you alright? What happened? I heard that horrible noise! Are you sure you're alright? Zadie questioned her son.

I'm okay, Mom! Really, I am! I was just at the door when I heard it, too. But it was too weird, Mom! When I opened the door, the sky was all pink, and it felt like my hair was going to stand on end from all the static in the air. Then as quick as I saw it, the pink was gone and so was the static.

Where is your father? Wasn't he going with you to walk the dog?

I was coming out to meet him. I thought he already left, Zeddy said, as he looked up and down the empty street. Is he still in the house? I don't see anyone on the street.

Zane! Zane! Where are you! Zadie called out, as she turned to check inside the house. I'll check outside, Mom! Zeddy offered.

No! Zadie said, perhaps a little too quickly. I mean … let's check downstairs first, and then I can go with you to check outside. We don't know what just happened. I'm afraid to let you go alone. Hurry! With no sign of Zane anywhere, she said Let's check upstairs now, and then we'll go outside together. Shut and lock the door. This may be some new drill by the International Government. Did you check the Law-Update Monitor for today's updates yet, Zeddy?

Zeddy shut and locked the door, hanging his head in shame. No, Mom. Sorry. I know that's one of my chores, but I … I … I forgot. I'm sorry!

It's okay. We all forget things from time to time. Even little geniuses like you. But we have to hurry now. I'll continue to look for your father, while you run and check if we missed something. They posted the new updates at 7 o'clock this morning, and we’re supposed to know them by now. Hurry! It could be important, Zadie said as calmly as she could, with her heart pounding against her ribs in fear.

2 SEARCHING FOR DAD

Zeddy ran to the Intel room behind the living room, where all the computer monitors were up and running, performing their daily functions: monitoring the temperature and oxygen level inside the house, displaying the climate conditions and pollution level for their area, and scrolling the new law updates. Zeddy ran to the Law-Update Monitor and read as quickly as he could read. He had to be careful not to miss one, even though some days there were twenty or thirty new laws. It could mean life or … well, he wasn't sure, but he was sure it wasn't good. The screen scrolled the new laws:

1. All constituents will no longer be allowed to wear 1000 SPF sunscreen. The new law states that only 1500 SPF is legal for use, possession, or distribution. Relinquish all 1000 SPF sunscreen via home or business recycle disposal chute by midnight tonight, August 31, 2099. New sunscreen is located in all arrival chutes. One bottle per family member per week will be delivered until further notice.

2. All persons with intent to enter into a marriage contract within the next year are reminded to register for the parenting approval class at least one year in advance of the date the civil union is scheduled to occur. One child per family is still the law.

3. There has been a rise in pollution levels and, consequently, oxygen tanks are to be carried by all constituents at all times. Tanks are located in arrival chutes. One portable oxygen tank per family member per day will be delivered until further notice.

4. Nuclear radiation was detected in Nevada Province, Upper Amerasia yesterday, August 30, 2099. All constituents of Nevada Province have been placed in