The Dial: A Collection of Science Fiction Short Stories

Part 2: Whatever Happened to Pangaea?

"I knew it was gonna be a bad night because the sky was a purple colour when I woke up, and you know what they say" Jerry trailed off.

"No, what do they say?" His therapist replied

"Well, it means something; you know that uh, unnatural goings-on, something like that"

"Huh. I've never heard that before. Where did you hear it?"

"Oh, I don't know it's just one of those sayings" Jerry said dismissively. "Anyway," he continued "I got home about ten and called the police. They came over about an hour later, wrote everything down, and then left without helping at all. You know the rest".

Jerry crossed his arms and sat rigid in the chair.

"Tell me your version of the rest" His therapist replied, looking down as he scrawled on a notepad, and then peering over his glasses at Jerry.

"Yes Benjamin! Well, like I said, you probably know, but fine. For four weeks I called the police, seventeen times in all, to find out what was going on, but nothing. All the while I was trying to get through to Andrea-"

"-Why were you trying to reach her?" his therapist cut in.

"Isn't it obvious? I had to check to see if it was her or not. But every time I called, the line went dead; anyway I didn't really try that many times".

Jerry scratched the back of his neck and stared at a small paper weight across from him.

"The last time I called the police they sent someone round again; actually it was a few guys. They came and took me away, hell if I know why. That's it, until the gap".

"What do you mean by 'the gap'?" his therapist asked.

"Well I know they did something to me 'cause there's a gap in my memory between then and now. I remember the four policemen practically breaking my door down, I tried to calm them down but they weren't having any of it. They dragged me into their car and off to the station. They must have done something to me then 'cause I don't remember what happened after I got to the station, until I woke up here yesterday".

"Do you know where you are now Jerry?"

Jerry scoffed "I'm a bit on edge, but I'm not nuts. I know where I am and I think I'm completely in the wrong place, completely".

"You said..." his therapist hesitated.

"What?" Jerry asked.

"You said 'completely' twice".

"No I didn't" replied Jerry.

"Yes you-. Never mind. Why do you think you're in the wrong place?"

"Well I'm in a nut house and I'm not nuts"

"And how do you know?"

Jerry stared thoughtfully at the paperweight on the desk.

"I need to confirm one way or the other whether I've woken up in the correct timeline or not".

His therapist leaned forward, his interest piqued.

"Correct timeline; what do you mean?" he asked.

"At some point between when I arrived at the police station and when I woke up here, I think something was done to alter my memory. Thinking about it, I've narrowed it down to one of two possibilities. Either an attempt was made to shift me again to a reality further away from my own without my knowledge or consent, which ultimately failed; or I was pushed further toward Pangaea,"

Jerry nodded at his own response.

"Which I think is what has happened" he finished.

"What is Pangaea?" his therapist asked.

Jerry scoffed again and glared at his therapist in disbelief.

"Really Benjamin? Ok, I'll go through it once and that's it. In essence, it's the eventual re-merger of the species. Roughly three hundred million years ago, all land on Earth was a single supercontinent we call Pangaea, that's common knowledge. Then about a hundred million years later it started to break apart until it formed the seven continents we know today. Many of us believe that the continents are shifting back to Pangaea again, which will force the species together onto a single land mass". Jerry looked over his shoulder and rubbed his arms.

"Something wrong Jerry?" Benjamin asked.

"No its, my-my skin is tingling. It only happens when uh-".

"The door is locked Jerry, no one's getting in unless we let them in. What were you going to say?"

"Ok, uh the world as I know it is a pretty nasty place; I'll just say we made a mess of things. Do you know utopia?"

"Of course" his therapist replied.

"Pangaea is the closest thing we have, realistically. Some people understand it; and some actively work to stop it. But it's coming, nonetheless. I believe I was apprehended by a group of officers who operate between realities, a kind of alternate-reality-border-police-force. I don't know if they have a proper name. They work against people like me, who actively promote the transition towards Pangaea, by pushing us into realities which are further away from, well...Pangaea. I don't know how they push us between realities, I'm not a scientist. I don't think they follow us though either; each new place I arrive at has the same police force. I managed to do something which messes up my transfer, in case they ever tried to move me against my-"

Jerry paused, his eyes widened for a moment.

"I don't feel comfortable saying anymore!"

Jerry rubbed both of his arms. The hairs on them stood up.

He peered over his shoulder at the door again, expecting someone to march through and drag him away. When no one came, he turned back.

"Needless to say, they've tried to push me but failed. Obviously I've appeared somewhere unexpected; I just need to find out where. Everything is so familiar, but I have noticed subtle differences, so I know I'm not where I should be. Do you have a map?"

"Why do you need a map?" the therapist asked.

"Well, I have a rough idea of what Pangaea looks like. If I saw a map, I could see what this world looks like; and I'll be able to tell how close I am".

His therapist stood up and took out a large book from the bookcase behind him. He sat back down and placed it on his lap.

"Jerry, I'm going to tell you something which might be a shock, but it's important that you hear what I have to say. You've been staying with us here at the Magdalene Psychiatric Institute for eleven months. Before that, you were arrested for assaulting your ex-wife Andrea. You almost killed her. I can see that there is some truth in your version of events? But you have built this science fiction around the reality to hide from it. You need to acknowledge that before you can begin to heal".

Jerry's eyes widened as he shifted uncomfortably in his chair. If that was the truth as he saw it, then Jerry would have difficulty getting home. His therapist opened the book.

"Jerry, I want to try an exercise. I have a map of the world in front of me and I'm going to show it to you, but I want something from you in return. I want you to promise that you will at least consider that what I'm saying might be true if you don't see what you have described".

Jerry felt a draft behind him, but he didn't look over his shoulder this time. He nodded. Jerry's therapist lifted the book up to him. Across a double-page spread was a map of the world, showing two huge continents. Jerry smiled. He caught a glance from Benjamin towards something behind him, it was only for a second but it was enough.

"I'm holding you responsible for what happens next" said Jerry.