Know No World

Fostforus

"It is a well know fact that our city is collapsing. Falling into chaos and ruin like no other place on this planet. It is so lost that the rest of the world has abandoned it claiming it as unrecoverable and not even worth saving. Even its own citizens believe that they can do nothing to bring back what it once was. Fostforus is doomed if even its own people believe it is to far gone. I do not believe this lie.

Our city may have lost its way, lost what it once was, but it is far from gone. The scum that have sucked all the good from it and spat only evil back must pay. This is not easily done. Not alone anyway. I can only do what one man can do. If we, the people who still love this city, pool our recourses and work together there might just be a chance.

I tell you this because I have to believe that Fostforus can return to us. And I believe that there are likeminded people who are willing to stand. I believe that together we will bring back what is most dear to us. I believe that we will win..."

Then static. I retune my radio for any sign of the rest but... nothing. Like every other time the "scum" must have cut the broadcast. I sit back and think through it, go over every line in my head. It was almost the same as last week except for one line. "I do not believe this lie." Perhaps this means that they have made progress, proving that Fostforus can be saved. Or maybe there was too much static and I didn't notice it last time. Can't afford to hope too much so I'll just go with the latter for now.

A light strikes my face as I think of his voice. I shield my eyes from its intensity and raise to my feet knowing that it would be their first request.

"Still up here are we?" The light inquired. It was not the voice I was expecting.

"You know me, had to listen to the broadcast again" I knew exactly who it was.

"Anything different?" He quickly corrected himself. "No... no wait, come on get inside first"

I walk towards him as he shuts the blinding torch off. His somehow stern grin was the first thing to come into focus once my eyes readjusted. He slapped a firm hand on my shoulder and led me down the fire escape. We reached an open window and slipped inside. This was a small sitting room with a large collection of books and small mechanical parts piled in one corner and food rations mixed with cooking equipment in the other. We both pulled a chair into the middle of the room and faced each other.

I could see the anticipation on his face. He stared into my eyes with deep interest and a longing of answers I couldn't give him.

"So what was it then, did it get any further?" His grin was so high it almost hid his moustache. 

"I'm sorry" As soon as the words reached his ears the grin disappeared. "It was the same as last week"

"Oh... Don't worry Lass" his disappointment was impossible to miss. "Maybe next week then"

"Yeah" I say through uncertainty "Maybe next week"