2040 Revelations (15 page)

‘Something like what? Damn it, Professor, what is going on? For pity’s sake, tell me!’

‘I would if I could, Richard, but my hands are tied. All you need to know is that you have to get to Sanctuary as quickly as you can.’

‘But I thought Sanctuary was a military run operation?’

‘It is, but I can get you access – well – I have the information to get you in, anyway.’

‘Okay, but why would we want to be at Sanctuary surrounded by the military when they were trying to prevent us getting out of Steadfast? None of this is making any sense to me at all.’

‘All I can tell you is that Steadfast is not safe.’

‘I realise that,’ Goodwin said irritably.

‘Right, and that’s all you need to know for now. Joiner won’t permit you to stay above ground as you’ll be deemed a security risk and they may detain or eliminate you.’

‘Security risk?’ Goodwin said, but Steiner had already continued.

‘Once you’re in Sanctuary they’re unlikely to kick you out again and you can believe me when I say they have the room. When you get there, find my office and access my system with this code: J P one zero one CLARITY, all one word and capitals. Go into my video archive folder and access the file entitled
Fishing for trout
.’

Goodwin typed all the instructions into his phone.

The professor looked up for a moment, alert for sounds or signs of movement outside his room. Satisfied, he continued. ‘Once you’ve watched the message, which explains everything, you will hopefully understand my reasons for not telling you previously.’

‘So how do we get into the base? And where is it, for that matter?’ Goodwin said.

‘It has a few entrances, but the one you will need is an auxiliary gateway that is rarely used. I’m sending you an access program through this system now.’ He went out of shot for a moment as he sent the file to Goodwin’s location.

Goodwin placed his phone on the magnetic data transfer pad and the procedure was complete.

The professor came back on screen. ‘Now, this will only get you so far, but I know someone on the inside who will help. His name is General Ellwood and his private phone number is now in your contacts list. All you need to tell him is that Professor Steiner needs one last favour. Do not tell him that you have thousands of people you want to get inside the base, just say it’s you and a few others. Deceitful, I know, but needs must.’

‘And Sanctuary’s location?’

‘Mexico; approximately two hundred miles north of Mexico City, to be more precise. The co-ordinates for the entrance are also now in your phone.’

‘Mexico City? Why on earth would the Mexican government allow a major U.S. military base near its capital city? And how have they kept it a secret, for that matter?’

‘Good questions. We have paid the Mexican federation massive sums of money and supplied them with military hardware and blueprints to some of our more sophisticated projects. The Mexicans also have a military contingent in and around the base to minimise outside interest and to police U.S. movements within their borders.’

‘So they actually have personnel inside U.S.S.B. Sanctuary?’ Goodwin said. ‘I bet the Joint Chiefs love that.’

‘It was unavoidable. They only have access to less sensitive areas, however.’

‘It’s going to take us some time to get down there, Professor. Won’t the military try to prevent us?’

‘Perhaps, but the Mexicans will be more of a problem, as you will be travelling in their territory. I think I’m about to get interrupted and I’m not sure when I will be able to speak to you again, so good luck and Godspeed. Take care, Richard, I hope—’

The phone went dead and the words
Channel Blocked
flashed on the display.

‘Take care, Professor,’ Goodwin said, full of sadness, and switched off the screen.

Chapter Nine

Albuquerque, United States.

The food store bustled with activity. Chattering voices and the beeping of barcode readers resounded throughout. School holidays meant an influx of people to the local high street, which made Rebecca’s job harder. She worked as a carer for adults with mental health problems and less people made her life much easier.

At the moment she was taking one of her primary wards out with her to get some weekly food supplies. Joseph required constant attention which made most activities difficult; he enjoyed the trips, however, so she did her best to make sure she took him as often as she could.

Picking up some bananas she placed them in the basket that Joseph held for her.

‘Nanas!’ Joseph said with a big grin on his face.

Rebecca smiled at him and touched his arm fondly. ‘That’s right, your favourite. Now I need some breakfast cereal,’ she said to him, although it was more to herself as Joseph only had a very limited vocabulary and understanding of language. She’d spied what she wanted, but the next aisle was too crowded to take Joseph there without disturbing others and potentially scaring him. Bound to a tight schedule, she glanced at her watch.

‘Joseph, stand here and I will be right back.’ She put the basket on the floor by his feet and held both his arms by his side and pointed at the floor. ‘Stay here, Joseph, okay?’

Joseph looked at her and beamed.

She couldn’t help but smile back. ‘Stay HERE. Okay? I won’t be long.’

Joseph nodded his head and pointed at the floor. ‘Here!’ he repeated, still smiling.

‘Yes, here.’ She pointed at the floor again and then went off down the next aisle. As she neared the end, she looked round; the back of Joseph’s head could just be seen peeking out past a shelf. Satisfied he was doing as he was told, she bent down and picked up the box she wanted. As she lifted it the bottom opened and the bag fell out and split, the contents going everywhere. People looked round at the noise and moved out of the way as she scrabbled to clear up the mess. A shop assistant who’d heard the commotion came round the corner and began helping her.

‘I’m so sorry,’ Rebecca said to her. ‘The bottom was undone and the bag split and it just went whoosh!’

The woman laughed. ‘Don’t worry, dear, these things happen. No harm done.’

‘Thank you, I—’ She stood up, remembering Joseph was waiting for her. ‘I’m sorry, I have to go.’

The assistant looked bewildered as Rebecca rushed off.

When she got to the end of the aisle, Joseph was nowhere to be seen. With panic setting in, she looked with ever-increasing desperation from aisle to aisle. There was no sign of him.

‘Has anyone seen a dark-haired man, about this high?’ Rebecca held her hand up above her head as she went from person to person. ‘Joseph!’ she called. ‘Joseph, where are you?! Joseph!’ She raced out of the shop and heard Joseph’s cries coming from the right. Rushing along the street, she approached a group of youths who were huddled together looking down at the ground and laughing. Joseph’s sobs could be heard over their voices.

‘Get out of the way!’ she shouted, pushing her way through. She found Joseph on the ground, crying and frightened. He’d wet himself. Rebecca bent down and brought him close to comfort him. He grabbed onto her, burying his face in her shoulder.

‘It’s all right, Joseph. I’m here,’ she told him soothingly. ‘I’m here now.’

She glared up at the young men who had begun to walk away, still cracking jokes at Joseph’s expense.

‘Oh, has poor little Joseph’s mommy come to protect him,’ one of the men said.

‘I wouldn’t mind getting a cuddle, too, mommy,’ said another, smirking.

Rebecca said nothing as she didn’t want to scare Joseph further. He wouldn’t be able to distinguish between her being angry with them from being angry with him. She helped him to his feet after he had calmed down and brushed him off. His soft, light blue jogging bottoms had a big wet patch on them, which people stared at as they went past, making Joseph uncomfortable with the attention and Rebecca angry that his dignity had been compromised.

Looking around she guided Joseph to the only shop nearby that had trousers in the window. As they entered a bell jingled, announcing them to the shopkeeper, who stood behind the counter serving a man and a little boy. A sign indicated the trousers were located at the back of the store, which was stocked full of army surplus and military type clothing.

‘No changing room,’ Rebecca mumbled to herself. ‘Wonderful.’ After taking a quick glance around, Rebecca quickly slipped Joseph’s trousers off, plucked a pair of camo trousers from a rack and redressed him, as he wriggled and writhed in protest. Standing back to admire him in his new attire, she was pleased as they were a near perfect fit. Joseph had always liked watching military parades on TV and as he looked around he caught sight of a poster of an officer saluting. He suddenly went bolt upright and mimicked the pose. A chuckle came from behind them, making Rebecca jump.

‘He looks good in those, just the part,’ the shopkeeper said.

Joseph giggled and relaxed back into his normal slouch. The man quickly covered his confusion at Joseph’s childlike demeanour with a grin, recognising his apparent disability.

‘Would sir like anything else from the store?’ he asked Joseph, who was busy playing with the waist cord.

‘I don’t think so,’ – Rebecca whipped up Joseph’s wet attire from the floor – ‘we just needed some pants. It was an emergency.’

‘No need to be embarrassed,’ the man said. ‘My dear old mother, God rest her soul, had incontinence for years; I was forever changing her clothes. If only they’d had those adult diapers it would’ve saved me a lot of trouble and washing of hands!’

Rebecca laughed in spite of herself, relaxing in the jovial old man’s company.

‘Did you want me to put those in a bag for you?’ He pointed to the clothing in her hand.

‘Yes, please, that’s very kind of you.’

‘No problem at all,’ he said, smiling, ‘it’s all part of the service.’

They followed the man back to the front of the shop where a young boy jumped out on them, making shooting noises with a toy gun.

‘I’m sorry,’ said the man accompanying him, ‘he’s got a bit excited.’

Joseph laughed and began making shooting noises back at the child, who gleefully chased him round and round a display cabinet.

‘Don’t worry,’ Rebecca said. ‘He looks very cute, your son.’

‘Thanks, although he’s not my son, he’s my nephew. He just loves all things military.’

‘Joseph loves the parades.’

‘And guns, too, by the look of it,’ the man said.

Rebecca looked round to see Joseph had picked up a replica machine gun and now chased after the boy with it.

‘Joseph, no!’ Rebecca said. ‘Put that down!’ She didn’t want him getting used to holding, or to like holding, a gun. Mentally disabled people and weapons of any kind didn’t mix.

The shopkeeper had come back with a bag and handed it to Rebecca. He made pistols of his hands and pointed them at Joseph, making
pow pow
noises. Joseph grinned and held up his hands, dropping the rifle to the floor.

‘Oh, I’m so sorry.’ Rebecca rushed to pick up the gun, but the shopkeeper got to it first.

‘No harm done,’ he said, smiling reassuringly at her as he stowed it behind the counter.

‘Is it damaged?’

‘It will cost about two hundred dollars to repair.’

‘Oh dear.’ Rebecca felt sick. ‘I don’t have that kind of money on me.’

‘I’m only kidding,’ the shopkeeper said, ‘sorry, poor joke.’

Rebecca gave a nervous laugh, relieved as she didn’t have two hundred dollars to spare, on her or otherwise.

‘Right, I’ll leave you to it,’ said man with his nephew. ‘It was nice to meet you both.’

‘Goodbye,’ she said, ‘nice to meet you, too.’

Joseph waved goodbye to the little boy, who waved back, the door ringing as they left. Rebecca paid for the trousers, thanked the man again for his help and bade him farewell.

On their way back home they passed a lamppost plastered with various information and warning flyers from Government and local agencies. One read:

IMPACT DAY PREPARATIONS

AFTER FEBRUARY 9
^th
2040

DAILY CURFEW

19:00

ENFORCED BY

NATIONAL GUARD &

LOCAL POLICE SERVICE

Another read:

IMPACT DAY PREPARATIONS

FOOD RATION CARDS

COLLECT FROM YOUR LOCAL

GOVERNMENT OFFICE

Another:

IMPACT DAY PREPARATIONS

RIOTERS AND LOOTERS

WILL BE SHOT ON SIGHT

Rebecca looked up at the sky. She couldn’t see any sign of the meteor yet, but there was still two weeks to go. Supposedly in the days prior to impact it would be visible to the naked eye at different times of the day and night as its trajectory brought it closer to its final destination. She sent a silent prayer to God to give her the strength to protect those she cared for in the coming months and years, which would see day turned to night.

♦

Rebecca sat watching the television after Joseph had been put to bed at the care home. She had a small apartment on the grounds, as did a few other carers who worked alongside her. It was convenient and cheap, which was lucky as her wages meant she struggled to pay her bills on a weekly basis. The news was filled with the same old stories of how governments were gearing up for the dust cloud, and images from Washington D.C. where the President issued yet more words about how the whole world was ready for the impending disaster and calling for calm.

She switched channels, but wherever she looked more of the same greeted her. The closer it got to Impact Day, more and more TV channels focused in on the event. Even fictional programmes had storylines based on it to add to their realism. She finally settled on a small local independent channel, and while it still covered Impact Day, it was more down to earth and realistic than the other channels, which sensationalised the whole thing almost beyond imagination.