“We need to find land.” Whispered Janet. They had drifted for weeks, eating the pale paste and sipping on the water. Mnem still commented on its source - I wonder where it comes from? - had become a bit of a catch phrase of Mnem’s. Janet had asked the voice in her ear and relayed the story to Mnem who received it with an expressionless face.
“There is a tank which filters and desalinates from the waters outside. It holds eight litres at any one time and can desalinate a litre every two hours.”
“Oh” Mnem had said.
“It’s like a water making machine.”
“Oh thats good! How did you know?”
“The voice in my ear, Google or whatever said.” Mnem smiled as if Janet was a little slow.
“That’s Prophet. The man in the park Macka gave me that crystal to talk to it, you can ask it questions on anything, and it can even help with drones and stuff, if you really need it.” Janet lifted her head from the bed, getting up on one elbow. Mnem was sat cross-legged on the floor, dark hair lank, her complexion pale. The hatch was open, they both smelt ripe and even the oily metallic reek of the dirty ocean was favourable.
“Drones and stuff?” Mnem shrugged.
“Prophet - can you help us get to land?” There was a long pause before the sexless voice engaged.
“The Great Divide is 317 kilometers North, there are thirteen islands, the closest 244 kilometers North East.”
“So, how do we get to the biggest?” Mnem was looking on like a cat.
“The Great Divide is restricted.”
“What? Why can’t we get help there, are there people there?” There was an enormous pause, then a reply came but the voice had changed, it sounded more masculine, snappy and colloquial.
“Listen, you are like a game, some of you will get through, that’s good, the New World will need your sort. Most of you will just die. Why don’t you stop frowning at your silly friend and investigate the capsule you are in, it does more than make water you know.” Janet gaped, she felt like she had been addressed by her father. She looked around the cabin and said:
“Mnem what else can this capsule do beside makes water?”
“I didn’t even know it could make water, I thought it was a mystery.”
“Didn’t you get taught about it?”
“I’m not sure I was listening I was looking at the little sparrow.” Mnem’s face saddened and she looked out the window. Janet pulled up the bed mattress, she pushed at panels and pulled at padding. Towards the cylindrical nose, she gave a kick, and a plate opened, revealing a small stick. There was a green button and a red button. She pressed the green button and there came a hum, then a meaningful clank. She pushed the stick forward and the capsule eased ahead, bumping at flotsam. She shouted:
“We’re moving!” Mnem beamed at her, more happy in Janet’s happiness than the sudden ability to make a course.
YOU ARE READING
The Pole Shift
Science FictionEarth Crust Displacement, a theoretical and devastating geological event supported by Albert Einstein. What if it was about to happen, what if we knew it was upon us? What if some of us were being watched . . .
