by Richard Gohl
form of disruption must be immediately dispatched. Wing, we appreciate your efficiency in this area. We also want you to oversee the selection of the Subs. We need only five hundred. You will find the selection criteria fully outlined going to your Iris: then Service, Security, Astro. To ensure the utmost safety, we’re considering a mild narco-spray to calm the Subs prior to departure…”
“We don’t want any drama,” said Pato.
Magellan asked Shane, “Do you think that will be necessary?”
Shane took a deep breath before answering. “There will be fear and panic in the sub population about what you are going to do next—naturally. I wouldn’t be spraying anything on anyone… at all…”
“That’s the type of call we need you to make,” said Magellan. “The big picture—what we do—is determined by the Guardian Council. None of us are on that council but we report to them. All sixteen countries are undergoing this process. There’s a program we’re trying to… maintain—not to mention the other dead-line.”
“You mean the issue of the sun exploding again?” The three Service men found Shane’s dry sense of humor difficult to read.
Magellan was the first to catch on. “Yes, it’s going to get very hot…”
“Very quickly!” said Pato, not to be outdone.
“… For a number of reasons, we need to get these ships away before then,” said Magellan. “It’s security we need from you,” said Jeffery, “and not just the Subs’. Those left behind
will need strong leadership…”
“Left behind?” said Shane, looking sideways at Charles. “I… we didn’t plan on being left behind?”
“Oh, good heavens no!” said Jeffery.
“I think what he meant was that those left behind will need… monitoring… until we leave,” said Pato.
Shane paused before asking. “There won’t be a second fleet, will there?” His tone was flat. “No.” said Magellan. “The fact is we’re not a hundred percent sure…”
“It’s an engineering issue,” said Pato.
“Indeed, we will equip those remaining to continue the program …”
Jeffery was cut short as Shane asked, “How do you think they might feel being left behind, on a planet that is about to be burned.”
“I think burned is excessive,” qualified Jeffery.
“Both the city and the underground are protected and more than prepared,” clarified Pato. “Okay,” said Shane. “Okay... but the Napeans will need your reassurance—in person.” Jeffery hissed loudly, a large intake of air through his teeth demonstrating his discomfort, and said: “It’s our job to govern....”
“But people want to know who’s in charge. They know it’s not me. Us,” said Shane, indicating himself and Charles.
“Seeing us, physically, isn’t going to bring that stability,” said Jeffery, his eyes flaring. Pato shook his head vigorously. Jeffery was floundering. “What we can do is release information that…”
“… Relevant information,” added Pato.
“Yes, relevant information, which will help to allay any concerns that…”
“I’ll go down and deliver the information…” interrupted Magellan. “No, no, no,” said Jeffery. “Too risky.”
“For who? You?” said Magellan.
“Me? The Napean people have no issue with me, but we don’t look like them and this is no time to be causing confusion, alarm.”
“It’s just not the right time,” echoed Pato.
No one said anything for a moment. Shane just shook his head slowly. It was Charles who finally spoke. “How long do we have, then?”
“Four weeks,” said Jeffery
“Actually, it’s three weeks and three days,” said Pato with a smirk.
Chapter 48
The Last Refuge
ALIA, MADI, AND Ryan entered Greenhill transdome three. Madi and Alia had been there before but Ryan noticed it was a place quite different to those of Blackwood and Belair. The dome itself was practically the same—transparent high tensile silicon, one hundred and fifty meters in diameter, with solar rails radiating from the central column, top to bottom and concentrically around the whole structure. The central column, some fifteen meters in diameter, descended underground, dispersing light, power, and fresh air into the depths.
The real people of Greenhill survived in a state of shock and fear and wondered why they had lived, when so many of their friends and relations in other underground cities had not. Though they continued just as they had before, there was now a sense of guilt associated with the business of living.
It was into this subdued world that the three arrived, carrying the burden of their own misfortunes.
Inside the transdome, around the base, was a walkway some ten meters wide. This area could be used for different purposes but was generally kept free from encumbrance. Broad tiered steps ran down from the outer promenade and on these were located the front doors of some of the large public houses and meeting places which were cut back into the rock. Moving in towards the center of the dome, the place turned green. Water catchers were small leaved plants tightly contained in an outer mesh that could be fashioned into any shape. The entire plant was encapsulated in the mesh, a network of filaments capturing moisture and re-feeding it to the plant but still allowing sunlight to reach the leaves. Although Greenhill was tapped into the Lofty Mountain spring, water could also be collected from the catchment tanks at the base of these plants. Greenhill, Summertown, and Picadilly were the only transdomes to feature the beautiful water catchers; the other settlements had chosen mechanical means of water recycling.
Transdome 3 had four streets, and Ryan noticed the streets were bigger and the level of the ceiling was higher. Greenhill had been one of the first underground cities to be excavated so the scale of it was a little larger than the rest. A few people could be seen shopping; some drank in the bars, but on the whole the place was quiet. Just about everyone stared at them as they passed. No one said hello.
They walked around to street 4 and began the descent to Sylvana’s house.
“How do they play helix ball here?” asked Ryan. “The roof is way too high. You’d never reach the ball once it floated up there.”
When they came to the right number Alia quickly rapped on the door knocker and an older woman answered. She squinted at them in the underground twilight, finding it difficult to see. Alia stepped forward and offered a handshake. The woman reeled back in horror. “Please,” she cried in distress. “We don’t want any trouble!”
“It’s fine, Mum,” came a voice from down the passage.
“Sylvana!” called Alia. They embraced and Alia introduced Madi and Ryan.
“Not from round here, I see,” said the old woman. “How have they survived? I’m fifty years old, one of the eldest in Greenhill, and I didn’t make it this far to be associated with the likes of you.”
“Mum, don’t be so rude! Alia is an old friend of mine—they’re lucky to have escaped.”
“Who’s the odd-looking child?” continued Sylvana’s mother.
“He’s not odd-looking—he’s my son, and his name is Ryan. Ryan, be polite and say hello to the old bag…”
“Madi! Don’t make it worse!” said Alia through clenched teeth. Sylvana smiled. “Don’t worry. She’s deaf anyway…”
“I’m sorry,” said Madi, regaining her manners. “Ryan, say hello to…” Madi mouthed the words slowly to Sylvana’s mother. “Does the charming lady have a name?”
Ryan said, “She’s scared that the Napean guards will come and take her away.” Sylvana looked from Alia to Madi and back again, and then asked, “Where did that come from?”
“He does that a lot.” said Madi. “A little skill he learned from his dad.”
“Right,” said Sylvana, slowly nodding. “His dad the one who’s a…?”
“Ah, yeah,” said Alia, interrupting. “We have a lot to talk about.”
They adjourned to a spacious kitchen area where Sylvan
a pulled out a smorgasbord of pickled and preserved snacks and dried biscuits. The two ate and drank ravenously.
Sylvana’s mother again was thinking aloud. “What’s wrong with the boy? Not hungry, boy?” Ryan looked at Madi for guidance. She shrugged. Alia helped. “Ryan has been brought up a Napean. He can, but he doesn’t need to eat or drink.”
“Hot rocks in Hades!” exclaimed the old woman. “Why have you taken him? We can’t have the likes of him here. Take him back!”
“Here you go, Ryan,” said Sylvana, offering him some food. “Thanks, but I’m not hungry right now.”
“Okay, what about our home grown orange juice? It’s really sweet.” She poured him a glass. Ryan looked at Madi. “It’s nice!” she said.
He took a sip. The old lady seemed to have forgotten all about him and seemed to be staring at Alia. “She’s very tall,” said the old lady, nodding her head in Alia’s direction. “Sylvie!”
“Yes, Mum.”
“She’s very tall, isn’t she?”
“She’s very tall, Mum, yes.” Then the old lady screamed, pointing to Madi. “She’s covered in blood, Sylvie! Look, she’s bleeding!”
“It’s just a scratch,” said Madi. “I fell over…” Madi kept eating. “Mum, calm down,” said Sylvana
Alia spoke to Sylvana: “We found a whole lot of information about the Napean Peoples’ Service. The only reason this place wasn’t destroyed with the others, I think, is because they want… slaves. And it’s close to the elevator.”
“Really? What elevator?” asked Sylvana, and simultaneously her mother exclaimed: “How dare you! Slaves. We will do no such thing!”
“I agree!” said Alia, and then to Sylvana: “Okay, look, I’m sorry we seem to be touching nerves here. We can easily find somewhere else…”
“No. You’re staying here. Don’t worry about her. She survived the gas back in the sixties—fried her brain a bit. She’ll be fine once she gets used to you.”
The old lady hadn’t finished. “Where are they all staying?”
“Here with us, Mum.”
“Over my dead body.”
“That can be arranged,” Sylvana smiled again. “You guys have got a big room at the bottom of the hallway. Go and relax. Get cleaned up. Madi, I’m coming down to fix you up.”
“You’re a doctor?”
“I’m trained as a nurse, so pretty much.”
As Ryan and Madi rested, Alia and Sylvana had a chance to talk.
“So no one survived?” asked Sylvana, pouring Alia a large glass of clear spirit. “Water?” Alia took a gulp of the liquid, and then exhaled, wide-eyed. “What flavor water is that?”
“Vodka. It’s an old recipe. Does Madi drink?” asked Sylvana.
“I believe so.”
Sylvana took a glass into her. She was lying back resting her ribs and watching some pirated recording of a Napean documentary about the Tokyo Napeans.
“Thanks!” said Madi.
Sylvana came back in with the glass, refilled it, and said, “She inhaled that—I’ll be right back.”
As she returned, Alia continued: “So yeah, I’m not sure how they did it so fuckin’ quietly… but they pretty much got everyone—gas. Stirling, Crafers, the whole lot… and…” Alia put her head in her hands. “It was our—my—fault. Forced them to act…”
“Hang on. You’re trying to save peoples’ children and fight back against years of… oppression. You’re a hero.”
“I’m an idiot. Hardly any of the children came back and now this is it! Greenhill’s all that’s left.” Sylvana refilled both glasses.
“And,” continued Alia, “I can’t seem to cry. I wish I could cry. But I can’t seem to let go it’s all just sitting here!” she gestured, putting all her fingertips on her right hand together and tapping her forehead.
“Ohhh…” Sylvana exhaled loudly, “well I’m glad you made it—we need you more than ever… where were you guys when it happened?”
“Napea—that’s the only reason we’re here.”
“Everyone’s so scared that we’re next,” said Sylvana. “People are too scared to even leave home. We can’t hit back? Can we?”
Alia explained some of the bigger picture and the deceptions being played on the Napeans.
“Now we have a decision to make. Either we say nothing and possibly get a ticket out of here, or we talk.”
“Tell the truth?”
“Yes.”
“What’s so bad about the truth?” asked Sylvana.
“The threat of the telling the truth is why everyone from Piccadilly to Blackwood is now dead. If we do it again they might kill the rest of us,” said Alia.
“But why is the Service so scared of it?”
“Put it this way: in a best case scenario they’re only taking 500 Real people and only 10,000 Napeans from the entire local population. There is no second voyage. There will be no second voyage. The Service is planning on leaving most people behind.”
Sylvana was silent as she thought about the implications. “How can we even tell anyone about this?” asked Sylvana. “That’s true. The Service just shut down the system…”
“And no-body down here wants any trouble.”
“There must be some people down here who still want to fight back?” asked Alia. “There were but not now. Not after everything that’s happened. People are just
exhausted.”
It was Alia’s turn to be speechless.
“What does Shane, the guard think?” asked Sylvana “He wants to talk,” said Alia.
“Y’know everything I’ve heard about the guy makes me think he’s a total A-hole—but I actually think I agree with him.”
Alia’s jaw dropped a little. She had known Sylvana for as long as anyone and had a deep respect for her. She was plain looking woman though there was a relaxed intelligence about her, which manifested itself in a beautiful, casual humor. Things were always better with Sylvana around.
Sylvana continued: “Alia you’re an amazing woman but…”
“I’m an amazing woman… but!” Alia teased her.
Sylvana laughed. “Let me finish! You’re an amazing woman but, you can’t decide on behalf of the human race what should happen next!”
“Really? Why not?” they both smiled and sat staring at each other for a second. “Shane’s right,” said Sylvana. “Release the information.”
Later that night Ryan got up out of bed. “Mum’s still asleep,” he said to the two women who were still talking.
“It’s the middle of the night –you should be too. What’s up?” Asked Alia. “I spoke to dad.”
Sylvana frowned. “Is that safe?”
“Sort of,” said Alia “How’s your dad? Where is he?”
“He says hello. He’s still with Charles. The Service gave his job back. Says he can look after us now.
Chapter 49
Planet Remus
AFTER CONSULTATION WITH Napean states in the east of Australia, and particularly after finding out what had recently happened to officials in the Napean state of Laos, Service officials realized that it was time to release some information to the people.
The Service officials couched the first space trip in terms of being the “pioneer voyage,” which would be followed by five subsequent voyages.
It was at around this time that the previously low-profile Service officials began acting more like politicians than ever before. Speeches were written and where previously bureaucrats had organized digital delivery of information, now due to the urgency and gravity of the situation the three officials themselves were forced to make their voices heard. Napeans had no idea who or how many officials there were or what role they played. Inadvertently, ETP had proven to be a wonderful tool of governance because it created this sense of accord. There were very few demands on the Napean population but when there were, all individuals received the imperative via a telepathic message, and the majority always felt they could see the legitimacy of what they were asked t
o do.
The voices of Jeffery, Pato, and Magellan were finally heard, yet they did not quite step out of the darkness managing to stay hidden, physically, behind the veil of ETP.
Jeffery delivered the opening address to the people: Tonight, if you could see through our city roof, you would see the brightest star in the sky. Sirius, a binary star system. Planet Remus—our destiny—orbits this star.
Pato took over: There were thousands of potential candidates in our stellar neighborhood. But what swayed us was that this planet has a twin brother. So in effect we get two planets for the price of one!
Jeffery knew that care had to be taken with the telepathic performance. Emotion, genuineness, and a sense of truth were perceptible during ETP. He cringed at Pato’s cheap joke.
Jeffery continued: These twin planets orbit Sirius, a sun larger in size than our own, at a distance of not even two astro-units, maintaining a perfect temperature for human habitation.
Magellan’s attempted to explain the bizarre phenomenon of the planets: It is possible that these twin planets were a single planet, but that billions of years ago, an asteroid split it in half. From the debris, two planets were formed, and miraculously all elements were separated in equal portions. We know that these planets have the perfect atmosphere: plenty of oxygen, plant life, and methanogenesis, indicating the presence of other microbial life forms too.
Jeffery spoke again. “We enter a time of some uncertainty. But as Napeans we have always embraced change and taken the risks required to pursue a better lifestyle. Evolution. This is what we Napeans do. Of course there are risks of staying behind and there are risks in leaving. Pioneer travellers will bear the substantial burden of all initial building on our new planet. A good proportion of this first fleet has been chosen on grounds of suitability in performing this labor. Other positions have been awarded to those who have been contributing to the exploration fund as well as those who have for many years been members of GREAT. (Guaranteed Real Estate Trust) This finance has provided us with the necessary surveillance and engineering, and will in turn guarantee those philanthropists their very own property from the moment of touchdown on the new planet. Jeffery paused allowing these ideas to settle, and then continued: