The Pole Shift

Mnem and Janet

“Can I sleep with you tonight?” 

      “Yes.” Said Mnem simply, pleased. The terrible events that had transpired seemed to have passed over the older woman. Janet felt guilty and confused, she tried desperately to avoid the others, shrugging off her brothers and waving away questions as she touched her bleeding ear, Mnem’s smile looked as if nothing had really happened. She wasn’t asking questions, but had been looking into the fire, then up at the moon as she fiddled with her hair. The men had come back grim, they were silent and some went into tents and camper-vans without word.

The Van’s back door opened with a pneumatic hiss. LED lighting came on and in the dark the Van’s cabin appeared like a gateway into another world. Eyes travelled to the pair, there was discontent, the idea of blaming someone for their actions was growing and Janet looked at them all with unease.

“The bed is big enough for both of us.” Said Mnem, oblivious.

“We better leave tomorrow Mnem, I think they wont stand you here now. They have killed those two I know it, if they let their actions pass without sacrifice they will feel cursed.”

“We? What about your brothers?” Janet frowned, she seemed to be listening to something else and she was touching her ear again, the wound opened and blood dribbled on the bed cover.

“The Pole Shift is coming tomorrow,” Janet looked at her watch, “at 11.11am, that’s, nine hours, and I’ve been given a choice.”

“What’s that got to do with your brothers?”

“Everything Mnem, everything. You don’t really get stuff do you? What do you think about Peter and the dam, they’ve killed him you know, and his mother.” There was a long pause, it was if Mnem’s face was a visual recording that was being played backwards, concentrating hard she arrived back at the scene and said:

“His jokes, he was too..” Mnem was struggling to stay in that moment of a few hours ago, her nature was dragging her back to the now. “I don’t know.” She finally muttered.

“Where are your feelings? Do you love anyone?” Janet was now annoyed, something glinted in her ear lobe and threatened to fall free, she was containing an enormous sob and her fingers fiddled to get the crystal back into place. Her tears fell with her blood and Mnem put a hand on her shoulder.

“Shall we sleep?” They curled into bed together, their bare legs touching in a comforting way, and whilst Janet relived every moment of the night, thinking about Peter her brothers and feeling sorry, Mnem thought about the little sparrow and what it might be doing.