Secrets Revealed: The Flying Horse, Part 2

The idea behind the flying horse incident (first mentioned in Rome's Revolution) was to bring into the sharp focus the idea that the Earth in 2067 AD is not a very pleasant place. Overpopulation is causing a massive breakdown in the weather, the economy and the lifestyles of the regular people. Global storms, unending recession, the concentration of the wealth of the world in the hands of very few people, all contribute to a very high level of dissatisfaction in people's lives.

This discontent and fear that the planet may collapse under the weight of too many people spurs on the development of the Ark program. Within Rei's time on Earth, terrorism has spilled over to our shores and slowly cities and communities become walled fortresses. It is very dangerous to be out in the open. Having been accepted into the Ark program, Rei was given a severe restriction on the amount of personal items he was allowed to bring along. As such, he had to give away all his furniture, his entertainment system, basically all his earthly belongings.

He borrowed Raul's truck to get rid of the final few pieces of furniture and donate the remainder of his clothing. He was on the way back to his "last night on Earth" celebration dinner with his parents and Raul and Sally when a terrorist bomb (IED) exploded on the far side of a retaining wall and blew up a horse. Its carcass was flung up and over the retaining wall and landed on the hood of Rei's truck.

The incident and its aftermath will be described in better detail in the upcoming novel entitled Rome's Evolution.