The Pole Shift

The Pods Take Off

It was Daniel who nearly screwed it up for them. As much as the crowd outside were baiting, he was baiting back. Sticking up the middle finger and making obscene gestures in general. As the night wore on, he became more angry and his profanity began to be a cause of tension in itself.

                "Cool it Dan, they're all gunna die. Why engage?" Jimmy said what they were all feeling. Dan said:

                "I don't like being made fun of, they are saying things about my mum, my sister and even my dog! Pricks." He slapped the window, making a 'wanker' sign at someone who was goading. They all thought about their loved ones, guilt and shame swirled around them like bad breath. Should they all give up their chance becasue of those feelings?

                "Won't it give you satisfaction to see them washed away then?" Said Helen.

                "It won't be me doing the washing though will it?" He was fierce, wanting to get out there and fight, perhaps feeling like he belonged in a battle rather than an escape. It was Miss Wright who eased things, she went and sat next to the solid teenager, then looked out the window. In slow motion her middle finger rose to those that were peering in. Daniel chuckled, and his attention was drawn away.

                They all tried to settle but it was impossible, the noise from outside and the constant attempt to get them out increased as dawn arrived. Fire had broken out around the far pod, but no one was budging. Then, a great wind blew off the roof of the school hall. They were showered with debris which were whipped away in an instant.

                "Get into the straps, it's time." They had been practicing the move, and as a group they secured themselves to the padded walls of the life pod. Outside there was screaming, people were being thrown about like dolls as it went very dark. It became incredible cold, and a light within the pod went red, moments later warm air circulated. The screams stopped, the pods began to bang as balls of ice struck. An inconceivable noise descended upon them, and then the pods were on the move. Buffeted and struck with debris they rose, Jimmy's pod tumbled upside down. For a while they seemed fixed upon something, then were smashed free and spun madly. They were all screaming, their wounds reopened. They began to vomit as they felt themselves propelled at great speed, again they became wedged amongst debris and for a moment were still, outside the windows they peered and a great wash of dark raced by, bubbles and leaf, stone, brick, paper. Bodies. They were wrenched free again, and this time they were lifted up, the force of it driving them hard into their seats. The pod found free water for a pause, and its cylindrical shape righted itself and moved forward like an enormous fishing lure. Then they were snatched away again and driven down. Several of the eight passed out, their necks whipping dangerously. Jimmy yelled:

                "Prophet! Prophet! What should we do?" There was an enormous pause before the AI announced:

                 "Endure."