The Pole Shift

Jimmy and the Pole Shift

It was Miss Wright who stemmed his bleeding. Although it was a deep cut, it was thin, and with strong hands she held the wound tight, binding it with a strip of cloth from whence he did not know.  Once she felt it had congealed she turned to look at the other teenagers, her care bonding the group even if she looked as edgy as all of them. They had only just got the pod shut as the melee arrived, and the fighting between the students and teachers was awful to watch through the small airplane like windows.  Mr. Knowles was waning, the old teacher was being supported as the teachers bludgeoned their way into a pod, from a window his face appeared, and he and Miss Wright passed a glance that was unfathomable.  There were three students with the teachers and Jimmy bet they were regretting their decision. The remaining pod was fought  for, and eventually filled with the remaining stronger students. Those that had not won a place went from pod to pod begging:

                "Swap me for that fatty!" One said, and George tensed. Miss Wright had tended his wounds too and George looked to her  instead of Jimmy. Jimmy said:

                "Don't worry George, we are all together and nothing will change that. Prophet says chance is powerful." Miss Wright looked at him slowly before saying:

                "This Prophet, it is something to do with Macka, what is it exactly?"

                "It's help, help for those that survive the Shift. We can ask it questions, it can help us through drones.  That flash outside? That was Prophet. It will be like God I suppose, and those who have a crystal will be like priests, or even  Demi-Gods." The thirty year old teacher nodded holding Jimmy's eyes. He felt the teenage boy stirring for her, something that Helen was instantly aware of. She looked at them both, too distraught to care, for the moment. Jimmy continued:

                "It's going to happen tomorrow morning at 11:11. At least here anyway, I dunno why 11:11 is important. Perhaps we are on a pivot point? Prophet says we must stay in the pods, the fight has drawn attention, others might come and realize we have a viable escape." There was muttering amongst the eight, outside the remaining students, and some people he didn't recognize were trying to rock Mr. Knowles Pod. The old man looked at them darkly, a slight smile on his face as their efforts proved fruitless. Muffled voices called to light a fire. Prophet spoke:

                "Sit tight, nothing can hurt you. In the panels there are health kits, familiarize yourself with the contents. Under no circumstances engage with those outside. Others will come."

                Jimmy spoke to Prophet and the muttering ceased as eight faces snapped to him:

                "Prophet, will the pods stick together? When we find land will we have to fight again?" There was a pause and Jimmy's face was listening.

                "What did it say?" Said Tanya.

        "It said no. They will go their own way, but one day our children's children will meet them, and the stories we tell of this event will reignite the hatred born today."