As the Light Dies (8 page)

“
Oh my God
!”
Lars whispered under his breath and finally the two globules joined together. Lars took a deep breath relaxing as the exercise ball sized lump of shaking antimatter erupted from the inside with what looked like a frantic lightning storm!

“Oh shit!”
is all Lars got to say....

DEC 18:

SKY NEWS
: The sudden catastrophic eruption in Norway yesterday still remains unexplained!

The site continues to spew thousands of tonnes of ash and debris in to the atmosphere which is causing wide spread disruption across Norway.

Thousands of people have been forced from their homes, and thousands more have been told to prepare to evacuate their homes in case of another blast.

It seems no one is safe from the affects of the ash tha
t’
s descending across Norway like a fog. The fine ash particles are causing extreme breathing difficulties to everyone within its range regardless of their age or fitness level and sadly in some cases the effects have already proved to be fatal!

Everyone within range of the ash are being advised to stay indoors and keep their windows and doors closed at all times white the ash cloud continues to spread.

REUTERS
: The ash is being carried by the wind!

All Norwegian air space is closed!

Western Swedish air space is expected to close down within the next few hours!

All other surrounding countries are constantly re-evaluating their air space safety and could close down at any time!

Oil workers soon to be stranded on offshore oil and gas installations in the Norwegian Sea are to be ferried back to shore by supply boats, as of right now a fleet of boats are en route to many of the oil and gas instillations.

SKY NEWS
: Norwegian hospitals are overrun with casualties affected by the ash cloud!

Ash is settling at depths of up to six inches in places and increasing!

Towns and villages are being buried under a thick blanket of ash. The city of Oslo is unrecognisable!

The eruption site still continues to spew out thousands of tonnes of ash by the hour!

Swedish air space has closed down and i
t’
s reported that Finland, Denmark and even Northern Germany are ready to follow, closing their air space at a momen
t’
s notice as the enormous ash cloud spreads ever further carried by the wind.

DEC 19:

SKY NEWS
: Ash cloud on the move!

North Western Europe air space is in a state of total shut down creating the largest no fly zone since world war two as the giant ash cloud spreads, dominating Europe!

New fears arise as low pressure over Great Britain that has lead to predictions of the harshest winters in decades, could actually result in air flow pulling the ash cloud towards Britain.

Violent displays of thunder and lightning have been reported within th
e
stil
l
growing ash cloud!

Scientists studying the case say this is caused by friction build up between debris rubbing together within the ash cloud and is nothing to worry about!

Extensive black outs have been reported in Norway further hampering conditions.

REUTERS
: Alarming news!

Overnight all power has failed in Norway!

Hospitals are left in darkness as more and more people queue at the doors as they succumb to the harmful effects of the ash cloud.

The military have scaled up their efforts to help with aid and evacuation.

Rescue and medical centres are being set up in town centres and everyone in the surrounding area is being urged to make their way there as soon as possible. The phenomenon of the Norwegian eruption is, as yet still unexplained. Scientists are working around the clock to find answers, while it still relentlessly spews out thousands of tonnes of harmful ash and shows no sign of letting up!

Thousands of livestock are dying!

I
t’
s thought that they are simply being overcome by the choking fog of ash as it descends and settles. Farmers are doing all they can to protect their animals but sadly so far their efforts have been in vain and in some cases prove
d
fata
l
for the farmers themselves!

An emergency broadcast is being transmitted on all frequencies at all times, however how many people that are receiving this message is unclear due to the power failure in the north.

SKY NEWS: BREAKING NEWS.
An unexplained occurrence is sweeping acros
s
al
l
ash affected areas wher
e
al
l
electrical power is being lost!

At first this problem was reported across Norway, reaching out from the site of the eruption.

It was thought to be due to the incredible blast disrupting electrical supply in the nearby region, but since then the blackout has sprea
d
al
l
across Europe!

Hospitals, rescue centres, entire towns and cities have been left in darkness!

Some say i
t’
s directly related to the ash!

Reports from the military received just before total black out stated that their attempts to recover power had been unsuccessful to date and that even their own equipment including their vehicles are succumbing to the unexplained loss of electrical power, in turn bringing the aid process to a standstill!

Scientists declare that the fallout from the Norwegian eruption is like nothing they have ever seen, all involved say they are certain that the eruption is not that of a volcano as some first thought. Meanwhile the eruption site shows no sign of slowing down as satellite images show ash continuing to spew out from the site.

REUTERS:
News is becoming harder to report due to the wide spread electrical failure tha
t’
s blighting everywhere the ash reaches. However as news does get out, i
t’
s reported that civil unrest is becoming incredibly violent, i
t’
s thought that people are becoming desperate as they see the death toll rising and the food supplies run low. In some cases the violence reported has been described as extreme and animalistic!

The military are doing all they can although many military personnel are succumbing to the affects of the ash as they repeatedly expose themselves to bring aid to others. Those affected, including members of the public are reportedly braking out in hysterics, becoming violent and non responsive! Many have had to be restrained and all affected patients in hospitals are said to be restrained where possible as soon as they show signs of aggravation due to the number of doctors and nurses that are being attacked! The reason for these outbreaks of hysteria is as yet unknown!

ROUTERS: The unknown phenomena that continues to cut off all electrical currents now reaches as far afield as from northern Finland, all of Sweden, all of Norway and Denmark and is now reaching in to northern Germany! Furthermore it is believed that some fifteen oil and gas installations in the Norwegian Sea are either without or soon will be without power.

All installations have been pre warned and are taking preparations to shut down the rigs and secure their wells on the sea bed. The rig personnel will be brought ashore as soon as is possible.

SKY NEWS
: Dozens of workers from a gas platform in the Norwegian Sea have become stranded at sea as their supply vessel bringing them ashore loses all power!

An emergency rescue operation is in process and two more supply vessels that are still operable in the area are en route towards the stricken vessel!

It is unknown how the vessel los....Breaking news just in via broken satellite connection. Two scientists in Norway thought to be the first to start investigating the fallout near the eruption site have died! I
t’
s thought that they may have inhaled concentrated amounts of harmful pollutants while carrying out their tests!

The remaining four have become very hostile, two in fact have had to have been restrained and the remaining two while showing signs of aggression have refused to give any further statemen
t’
s and have forcefully removed any reporters from their lab.

BBC NEWS
: British airspace shuts down!

All British air space has been declared a no fly zone in preparation as the fallout from the mysterious Norwegian eruption drifts ever closer.

Everyone with respiratory problems have been advised to stay inside at all times, the same advice goes for babies, small children, and the elderly. Everyone is being advised to keep windows and doors closed at all times and anyone who absolutely must go outside is advised to wear facial dust masks at all times and limit time outside and possible exposure to the ash to the absolute minimum.

Disposable dust masks are being widely dispatched and will be made readily available at all post offices and participating supermarkets and it may also be beneficial to wear eye protection in certain circumstances. People are being urged to stock up on essentials, enough to last them at least three days, and to be aware of others that may be in need of help, elderly or sick neighbours might be in need of help during this time, and be ready to ration your food supplies.

SKY NEWS:
Last known report in from a Sky News reporter in Norway who managed to get information out via a very broken satellite text phone states that riots are springing up everywhere as people panic. Extreme violence is a frequent occurrence and the death toll continues to rise!

Aid supplies have stopped all together as the loss of power stops all transportation bar the odd diesel powered vehicle that has
n’
t been stalled or switched off, yet.

Our last reports in from Sweden, West Finland and Denmark are similar. Civil unrest is extreme and widespread with people becoming extremely violent towards each other
!

Despite constantly trying to renew contact, verbally or otherwise there is no reply from any sources either within the media the military or otherwise! We are doing our best to re establish communications as soon as possible....

DEC 20: INVERNESS, SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS:

Icy wind screamed passed the leisure centre. It raced along the wide flat sides of the building then whistled around the edges and corners and rattled the doors, from inside it sounded like the wind would tear the roof off any second!

The snow was heavy again and a blizzard raged out of control. The swirling white mass limited all lines of sight. Dean Anderson yawned as he left the sports halls on the lower level of the leisure centre satisfied they were clean to his usually high standards. He made his way up towards reception for a final check before moving on to give the rest of the facility a final once over before the dayshift arrived. He was tired, it had been a long shift, not an overly busy one, but that was the problem, the quieter it was on the night shift the longer it felt and the more tired you got.

Thoughts of a warm bed filled his mind, he could almost hear his bed calling him, but he knew h
e’
d have to walk home first. All two and a half miles in freezing blizzard conditions, something he was
n’
t looking forward to.

On his way up the ramp towards reception, [ramps were used throughout the centre for easy access] he listened to the wind battering the building around him, pushing hard, trying to move the large building along as if it had taken someone els
e’
s place.

He doubted many would venture in to use the leisure centre today, in fact he doubted many of the staff would even make it in
.
Most of them will be snowed in, and most of the others will use the snow as an excuse not to come in
,
he thought. Reception was just up ahead, he could see it through the set of glass doors
.
Completely free of smears and dirty hand prints
,
he thought. Then he heard a loud bang from up ahead and he stopped!

He looked around searching for what could have made the noise. It almost sounded deliberate if that was even possible.

He looked through to reception and then across the foyer, as much as he could see of it.

But he could
n’
t see anything, and when he looked outside all he saw was a blur of trillions of snowflakes pelting the windows giving Dean the impression that he was moving through the snow.

Just the wind
,
he thought and he started back up the ramp towards the reception.

He stood by the front desk and looked around, could see the entire area now, but could
n’
t see anything strange or out of place.

Stupid win
d
, he told himself relaxing his tense shoulders. He pulled up his sleeve to check his watch when the bang came again! It was louder this time, close by!

Dean flinched and backed up a little watching the front doors, certain tha
t’
s where the noise came from! He watched straining his eyes against the bright swirling snow when suddenly he saw a figure outside!....It was gone in the blink of an eye, engulfed by snow.

The bang came again and the doors rattled!

He saw the figure again just briefly before the snow ate it up again.

Someone was struggling with the doors, trying to get in pushing and pulling the doors as they reappeared and disappeared masked by the snow. The doors rattled furiously!

When the doors did
n’
t give the figure leaned back and seemed to concentrate on the lock for a moment. It was then that Dean relaxed, the centre had been subject to various break-ins and attacks of vandalism during his time here so he was always wary when it came to stranger in the grounds at strange times. But seeing the figure concentrate on the lock Dean felt certain that it was someone with a key! Dean called out walking over.

“
Hello, is any...
.”
he got a response, instantly cutting him off.

“Fucking doors are frozen Dean!”

Dean knew who it was straight away, it was Brian Stephenson one of the better managers in his opinion.

“
Hey Brian
,”
Dean called out
.“
Hang on a sec ok
.
”

Dean heard a mumble as he set his carry tray full of cleaning products down on top of the reception desk and started rummaging through it.

A few seconds later he took out a small can of lock de-icer and headed over to the doors.

The doors rattled again
.
“Fucking stupid things,”
cursed Brian putting a smile on Dea
n’
s face.

“
How you doing Brian
?”
he asked.

“I’m gonna fucking crack out here!”

Dean laughed
.“
Hang on,
I’
m spraying de-icer in to the lock, give it time to work
.
”

“
Cool, whatever just get the stupid things open, i
t’
s like Siberia out here
.
”

Dean sprayed the keyhole, gave it a moment then sprayed some more and tried his key inside.

It did
n’
t want to budge!

“
Try your side at the same time Brian
,”
he called through the doors
.“
Turn your key with me
.
”

“
Yea, yea ok
,”
yelled Brian, and together they worked at turning their keys in the locks, it was
n’
t working! Dean rattled the doors from the inside and tried to force his key in the lock. None of it did any good so he reached for the aerosol again to give it another spray when suddenly he heard the familiar k
a’
chunk as the lock finally giving way.

“Thank fuck,”
said Brian, but the doors still did
n’
t open, they were frozen together.

Together they worked the doors, one pushed while the other pulled and so on until eventually the doors snapped apart and one opened just that little bit further, enough for Brian to squeeze inside.

“Holy shit
,
i
t’
s cold out there
,”
said Brian brushing and shaking the snow off
.“
I take it
I’
m the first one in then
?”
he said rubbing his hands together trying to get some warmth back in them.

“
Yep
,”
said Dean
,“
I bet ther
e’
s a few that wo
n’
t make it in today huh. Looks pretty bad out there
.
”

Brian made his way behind the front desk nodding and started switching on the computers.

“
Yea I think yo
u’
re right, I do
n’
t think many will make it in. It was hell getting in, hence why
I’
m late, I passed a broken down snowplough on my way in and the damn roads were easier to drive on once I passed him believe it or not. Ther
e’
s a good layer of snow over the ice, giving better grip you know, instead of where i
t’
s been ploughed off. Ther
e’
s lots of cars in ditches or on the curb though. People just do
n’
t know how to drive in these conditions. I had to take it real steady but here I am
.
”

Brian stopped short pausing for a moment as he looked at the computer.

“
Damn
,”
he said
,“
Alex sent an email he wo
n’
t make it in, h
e’
s completely snowed in...
.
”             

Dean cut in
,“
Yea I decided to let the others go early because the snow was getting pretty bad, the drifts in the car park would have blocked them in you know. The place was already...
.
”

“
Tha
t’
s cool
,”
said Brian cutting back in
.“
I bet you guys have the place is spotless
.
”

“
Yea, coz it was quiet yesterday as well it did
n’
t take long before w
e’
d finished cleaning up, so we laid all the martial arts and gymnastics mats down and mopped them on both sides, then before I let them go we cleared all the entry and exit ways again and lay grit but it looks like tha
t’
s going to be a constant battle with the struggle we just had eh
.
”

“
Yo
u’
re right there
,”
said Brian finally lowering his hood and pulling off his hat exposing his shaved head
.“
I
t’
ll keep whoever makes it in busy eh. You guys should
n’
t have bothered cleaning the mats though. The day shift can do it, especially when i
t’
s like this, you lot do enough without doing that shit as well
,
eve
n
if it was quiet. If i
t’
s the same tonight just chill out for a bit, ok. Enjoy it, i
t’
s not often you get the chance
.
”

“
Ah well, it keeps our hand in
,”
said Dean checking the time, it was twenty past six.

Brian saw him check the time
.“
You all set to head
?”
he asked.

“
Pretty much.
I’
ve been round and sprayed the locks, although fat lot of good i
t’
s done
!”
He nodded towards the front doors. Brian nodded back grinning and Dean said
,“
They probably need doing again. The fire exits could all be opened as of ten minutes ago
.
”

“
Ok
,”
said Brian
,“
now go and grab your gear and go home, everything sounds good to me. You never know, you might even get a night off. God knows if ther
e’
s even gonna be a backshift! That weather gets worse by the second, and that weird ash cloud is due to reach us soon
!
”

Dean asked
,“
Do you think the ash will get here like the news is saying
?
”

“
I think i
t’s
alread
y
here Dean! Yo
u’
ll see what I mean when you get outside
!
”

Dean grabbed his gear from his locker, pulled on his gloves and hat ready for his walk and grabbed a handful of disposable dust masks from the box on the reception desk as he passed. Brian apologised again for holding him back and thanked him for the work he and the guys had done as he opened the sticky front door for him.

“
Get outa here
,”
he said
,“
and take it easy getting home, i
t’
s pretty rough out there
.
”

Dean nodded, patted Brian on the shoulder and left.

The cold wind nipped his skin instantly and the snow pelted him as though he was
n’
t welcome outside. He pulled his scarf up a little higher and tucked his head down and started walking.

He could
n’
t believe how deep the snow actually was, looking out at it and thinking it was deep and actually being out in it, trying to walk through it were two totally different things, he traipsed through it shocked at its depth.

Not gonna be many cars in here for a while
,
he thought, and little did he know how right he was!

The path at the back of the car park came out on to the main western road out of Inverness that lead down the side of Loch Ness, there was only one set of vehicle tracks on the road, they were on the left so the vehicle had been heading in to town.

Dean could tell that the vehicle had been a 4x4 by the shape and width of the chunky tyre marks.

Dean walked on and it felt like forever for him to reach the canal bridge that was in reality only twenty yards or so along the road. The deep snow made it hard going and the driving freezing wind was against him blinding him with the blizzard.