This Lufkin Data Pump, which in some ways resembles a device for pumping oil from the ground, is pulling data from a huge underground storage facility in response to requests from surfers. It is one of many such units.

Every time a surfer clicks on an image link, a series of actions takes place behind the scenes. One action is the notifying of the appropriate set of read-write heads to gather the ones and zeros that correspond to the image being requested. Then the data pump array, sensing that ones and zeros have been collected by a head, assigns a data pump to the accumulated data. The pump sucks the ones and zeros away from the heads and passes them to the Internet. The technical term for this action is "bringing the data to the surface."

A patented process produces the required pumping action. In engineering circles the process is called "big suck" (often shortened to "BS"). The need to protect trade secrets prevents a detailed discussion of the process. However, it can be revealed that BS is so powerful that some producers of Internet content come under its influence.

This data pump is located near Moab, Utah and is one of several serving that part of the Colorado Plateau. In the interest of national security, its exact location must remain a secret.