Relocated - Tony Thorne MBE (best short novels .TXT) 📗

RELOCATED

By Tony Thorne MBE


The sun rose again, moments ago as always, on that special viewing screen I asked for. I always like to see it first thing when I get up, after a good sleep, to remind me of how things used to be. It‘s cosy and very comfortable in this place, and it’s good to know that we’re safe. There‘s plenty to do here, to pass the time, and it’s easy to change the scenery. The viewing window screens are most impressive, I can switch them on to see anything I fancy, past or present. We’re never ill, and don't seem to age, and all the food and drink we want is supplied automatically. I know I’ll never understand the technology that got us here, and still looks after us, but I am truly grateful for it.

It all began with that strange leafy bush I saw in the public park. I was taking an easy stroll in there that memorable evening and as I got near to it, to my astonishment, it suddenly caught fire; all over at the same time, most alarming but fascinating. I went up to it as close as I could.

Then it spoke to me. Imagine that, a bush speaking.
“You have been chose,” It said, in a soft silky voice.
“For what?” Was all I could think of to say.
“You will know soon enough. Meanwhile, gaze upon this unique manifestation and marvel at your good fortune.”
“Sorry, it’s been done before,” I retorted. “It’s not unique.”
The next moment I was firmly grasped from behind by two tough looking policemen.
“Fire raiser!” One of them growled. “We’ve a nice cool cell just waiting for anti-social pests like you!”
Protesting my innocence soon proved to be a waste of breath, but later when they got me in front of their desk sergeant and searched me thoroughly, they found absolutely nothing that could be used to start a fire. After that revelation, they tried to get me booked for loitering with intent. Eventually however, they had to admit that they’d not seen me in the park for long enough to make that charge stick, and they had to let me go, with just a caution.

I just had to go back to the park the following morning. I was more than curious to look at that bush again, after first checking that there were no policemen around. It was a real mess, burnt to the ground, and certainly in no condition to talk to me again.
I decided to look around the area. Soon, and not very far away, I noticed another bush. It was covered in what seemed to be snow! This was unusual, seeing that it was September and the sun was shining, out of a brilliant blue sky. Peering around again first, I went over to check it out, cautiously, and listened. I didn’t have to wait long.
“So, you have returned?”
It was the same voice, soft and silky, but penetrating. I walked all around the bush, twice. Apart from the snow, which was now melting, it appeared to be just a normal bush, but smaller than that last one.
“Naturally I’m curious,” I exclaimed. “Who, or what, are you; and what did you mean about me being chosen?”
“You would never understand what, or where, I am. Just accept the fact that you have been selected, and must follow the instructions I am about to give to you. There is not much time left now.”
I really had to protest, “Why should I cooperate with you, who or whatever you are? What’s in it for me anyway?”
The soft reply left me breathless.
“You have been selected at random, as a typical breeding specimen of your race, to survive the cosmic event that is imminent. I am arranging for two of you to leave this planet very soon, to be transported to safety.”
Unbelievable or not, I just had to know more, and asked, “What kind of event? Is the sun going to go explode or something?”
“No, not for some time yet, but it will very soon emit a series of very energetic bursts of radiation, spread over several of your days. All the life forms exposed to it, in this planetary system, will perish.”
“Even those underground?” I queried.
“I regret yes. There is nowhere deep enough to escape it. You would need to be many of your miles down, to be completely protected. Each time your planet rotates and faces your sun, every exposed life form on it will be destroyed.”
“So where can you put me that’s safe?”
“On the small planet you call Mercury.”
I was aghast and had to protest again, “I don't believe it, that’s the closest planet to the sun.”
I thought about that for a moment or two, and then exclaimed, “Oh yes, I see. It has no rotation relative to the sun, so the side always facing away from it must be safe from radiation. But what about . . .”
“Yes, I know it has no atmosphere. A total life support domicile has already been installed for you there.”
That sounded interesting, but I had a question, “You implied someone else would be coming with me. Who is that going to be? Do I have any say in the matter?”
“Yes, of course. We would like your race to have every chance to continue afterwards. But there isn’t much time now. You must be back here, together with your partner, ready to be transported in three of your hours at the most with only as many of your essential possessions as you both can carry unaided”

That ended the conversation. The traffic was awful, but I hurried home as fast as I could and dashed up into our apartment. Then, in between gasps for breath, I tried to explain things to my partner. Unfortunately, I got nowhere trying to insist we had to leave immediately. There wasn’t enough time to make my story convincing. It was international football on TV and the team he supports was winning.

Now of course, after all this time, I still miss him, although life is very comfortable here. The silky bush voice still talks to me occasionally, to ask how we’re doing, and I’m glad it let me bring my cat. But that’s not the same as intimate contact with a warm human being and I do sometimes worry about the future of the human race. Next time I hear that lovely voice asking me if there’s anything I want, I plan to ask if it knows anything about cloning.
Yes, I did manage to find a few of his hairs in the bathroom, before I left home and returned in time to the park, just as the sun went down.

The End - www.tonythorne.com

Publication Date: 05-05-2011

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