The Pole Shift

Peter and his Mother

Janet froze, caught between the drama around her, and the sexless voice in her ear. Peter had stood, blood on his hands and thigh, and when Janet turned to face the men they all went wide eyed at the blood on her face. Torch beams passed from Peter to Janet in new astonishment and fevered anger.

                "What the fuck has he done to you!" Arms reached for her and still she didn't say anything, Peter looked to her, the neediness he was reviled for lurching words from his mouth.

                "Tell them! Tell them I was just piercing your ear! It was your idea, that you were teaching me to respond to what you wanted not what I wanted and that you love me!" One of the men spoke:

                "Only your mother loves you, you sick fuck wit, and we've had enough of her too. How does the dam sound as a bed? We will make sure your mother tucks you in!" Janet put a hand to her ear, and as the men clouted Peter to subdue him, she said:

                "What?" Prophet repeated the instruction:

                "Leave Peter to his fate, return to camp and lock yourself and Mnem in the van. Follow instruction."

                There was no explanation, and now Janet could see that Peter was in dire need. Half an hour earlier she would have sighed deeply at his treatment but nodded at it, now she had glimpsed a part of him that perhaps needed understanding. She was torn, her brother was leading her away as Peter was dragged towards the muddy waters. The scene lodged itself in her heart, making ready to haunt her. In moments she was heading back to the camp and the clamour of Peter's fate faded. Her brother was asking what he had done to her, had he forced himself on her? She said:

                "No, he really did pierce my ear. I asked him to. Something weird is happening."

                "What?"

                "I've got like Google or something in my ear, it's telling me to get in the van with Mnem." Her brother was confused, he said:

                "Are you alright, that sounds stupid." She didn't reply, thinking of Peter. When they arrived back at camp there was bad body language amongst the women, except for Mnem who smiled at Janet, relived, but she saw the blood and the women groaned, reaching for her as if she needed emotional condolence. Peter's mother had shrunk, her face devoid of sympathy but full of cunning.

                "Naked too no doubt! You cannot tempt men, I am sorry she is hurt, but she must take equal blame! They must be punished as a pair, and lets stuff this nut in her van and drive her in the dam." She had made to grab at Mnem with bony fingers, Janet said:

                "The dam is booked up, Peter is sleeping there tonight." There was a pause, then Peter's mothers face twisted with true pain and fear.

                "No." She whispered, then, "This woman has bought our end before we even faced the Pole Shift! Jonah! Take my advice and ditch her you simpletons." Those were her last words, as she headed to discover the fate of her son.