As the names were said out loud by Parla since she has done this before, Sipho pushes the yellow triangle buttons on the top of all three capsules, the lids slides sideways with the cold mist embodying the room, and the clones are falling to the ground feeling those pins and needles on their legs. The voice on the map automatically repeats the word 'Confirm' until Sipho takes it out of the bag, and faces it towards the awoken clones. It shows the circle inside the rectangle symbol on the screen; he presses it and the voice states,
"Number #00149. An female Australian, code name Lisa of the Australian representative. Number #06789, a hybrid of Italian and French male, code name Raphael of the European representative. Number #02736. An Islamic female, her code name is Iman [Faith] of the Middle Eastern representative".
After standing, the new clones are welcomed by everyone. They give them clothes taken from the S.S. Neanderthal and begin to explain the situation of the primitive world they are living on, and the purpose of their existence.
After the map found the second group, it immediately transfers its attention to the next group which is located in Fairbanks, Alaska - one of the coldest places ever to be isolated by most species. And, the only way to reach there is to travel through the continent of Asia. Most of the individuals on the group has a weird sensation similar to what Sipho had felt when driving the yacht to Egypt - a sickening feeling that is unexplainable but understandable, simultaneously.
The reasons for this are the memories that they were having due to the replication process from the copied volunteers sharing their life experiences: their happiness and sorrow; fear; courageous behaviours; and the potential to strive and achieve higher goals beyond their limitations. Parla suddenly concluded her theory of why Sipho was crying on the yacht, it was because he felt a similar feeling that was burning inside of him but could not explain it in words.
From Giza to the Nile River they travel east until they got there with the sun blazing and having partial sunburns on their bodies. There are three canoes that assisted them to cross the river, arriving to the port of Hurghada City; and by boat, would cross the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia, and from there they would continue to walk. At one point, they are being chased by a cougar, defending themselves by using long baseball--size in width staffs and clubs, and also dangerous snakes such as adders and pythons.
They pass Medina, Yanbu and other cities while travelling north by north east. After weeks of walking, they are in Moscow, their buildings are still standing strong and not affected by anything. Sipho and the group have nothing to say except to utter the word 'Wow!' when touring inside of it, observing the remarkable architecture, and crediting the colours and textures complementing each other.
YOU ARE READING
ISIPHO SOKUZALWA (Gift of Birth) by MINENHLE S MKHIZE
Science FictionSipho and Parla wake up in a cindered Earth from the a ice slumber - not knowing they are clones. They travel across the ash-covered world trying to find self-identity, the reason for their creation, and will there be others like them.
