INKWORLD

CHAPTER SEVEN

June 25, 2091-June 26, 2091

I watched them nervously after I had explained everything to them. I wondered how they'll react or if they would believe me at all. The seconds stretched to minutes and they all remained silent.

"Say something," Wunmi burst out. I guessed just like me, she couldn't take the silence any longer.

"I believe you," Dr. Sakshi said.

"Why?" I blurted. "I mean, I'm glad you believe me, but it's more understandable if you don't."

She smiled. "I can see the sincerity in your eyes, you are telling the truth. I've worked with a lot of people and I can detect signs of a lie."

"Of course," Prof. Thomas scoffed.

Dr. Sakshi turned to him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He shrugged.

"I believe you too," Marcus said, interrupting him.

I smiled. He was happy I had allowed him on the journey to earth. I had a feeling that he would support anything I said.

"I don't know what to say," Dr. Brown said. "Science says it isn't possible for them to live long with the level of toxicity in the air but who knows what might have changed since then."

Prof. Thomas shook his head. "I doubt we will find anyone."

"So why did you come if you don't think anyone would be alive?" Dr. Sakshi asked, her brows raised.

"I want to know what has changed on earth. I'm a historian, I need to update my library on the past ten years."

I rolled my eyes and stood to get a drink. That had gone smoother than I expected. I wondered if it would have been as smooth as this if I had told the council members.

I was walking back with my drink when Prof. Thomas voice stopped me at the door. Everyone was in the room except Wunmi and I wondered where she went.

Something about the tension in the room made me stand at the door, out of sight, and listen. Marcus had a frown on his face and Dr. Sakshi looked like she wanted to throw Prof. Thomas out of the spaceship. Dr. Brown's face remained the way it had been since I met him: analytical. Ben had a hard look on his face and I knew if Prof. Thomas looked in his direction, he wouldn't continue whatever he was saying.

"She's just a child and she's unstable to rule Inkwell. Look at this situation now, like a child, she's curious and so she decides to go to earth and spins a story about a call to us."

"You are here too, does that make you a child?" Dr. Sakshi said.

Dr. Brown nodded. "We are all curious too, she didn't forced anyone to come on this spaceship."

Prof. Thomas rolled his eyes. "You guys are blindly loyal. She's so young, she was still a teenager when she became president. A teenager! You know how teenagers are. They are reckless and decision making and taking responsibility is not their thing."

"I agree that she might be too young to rule, but she has made pretty good decisions. Look at the infection, we got a cure," Dr. Brown said.

"After how many days and how many deaths? Do you think that would have happened if it was a mature adult in office?"

"Being a child does not mean she is incapable. Some children are even more mentally advanced than some adults." With the way Dr. Sakshi was looking at Prof. Thomas, I could sense a jab there.

Perhaps the professor didn't get it, because he continued. "Usually, a president is married and settled but she dated Angela's son for a while before they broke up. You know how teenagers of these days deal with break ups. I have a feeling so many bad decisions were made during that time."