Pipe of Peace

"Pipe of Peace" by James McKimmey Jr. tells a science fiction story set in a world where agriculture is dominated by machines, causing suffering for the farmers. The story follows Henry, who decides to stop working as an act of resistance against the mechanization that threatens his way of life. He hopes other farmers will join him, believing their collective refusal to work will disrupt the oppressive system. His wife pleads with him to reconsider for the sake of their survival, but Henry remains firm in his decision. Ultimately, Henry is taken away by people representing the very forces he is fighting against, with his pipe left behind to symbolize the peace and humanity he has lost in his struggle against technology.