The Effort

by Claire Holroyde

Ben had always been terrified of failure. His family and teachers were shocked when he quit competitive chess in his junior year of high school. As national champion, all Ben had to do was defend his title. No one could understand the move, but no one saw Ben sleepless during the tournaments, sick to his stomach at the thought of facing off against an opponent in front of a live audience with media attention. Winning was not a victory, only a relief.

That’s why we’ll have to scavenge for parts, but lots of politicians can’t accept the likelihood of world calamity or even human extinction. And others…Others will never release their grip on power. Never.”

IN THE END, modern civilization was not undone by a comet, but by its very threat.