Dying to Live

by Roxy De Winter

  “I see,” The President eyed their weapons. “Well, so be it.”

  The Secretary’s eyes looked like they would pop from his skull at any moment, but he couldn’t find the words to verbalise this outrage.

  “So, I ask you again...” Frank said with a forced smile. “Where are we going?”

  The President drew in a weary breath and let it out in a heavy sigh.

  “The hyperloop will take us to England,” He told them. “Her Majesty’s Naval Base, Devonport to be exact.”

  “A naval base?” Pete questioned.

  “Yes,” The President nodded. “The largest in all of Western Europe.”

  “How does it work, the hyperloop?” Andy asked.

  “Well... uh,” The President paused, trying to quickly find a way to disguise the fact that he had no idea.

  “They’re quite a complex design,” Lucy answered. “I’ve read about the concept behind them. Everything I know about them is purely hypothetical, though. I had no idea that these things actually existed.”

  “They don’t,” The President told her. “This is a one of a kind.”

  Lucy barely acknowledged what he’d said.

  “I can’t say for sure because there were a few variations, but many of the theories alleged that it would require a perfect vacuum in order to be fully functional. The improbability of that actually being achievable was much debated. In fact, that was why everyone was sceptical that they could ever exist. They designed them to be propelled by a magnetic force, with the pods suspended on cushions of air. The fan on the front is probably to minimise any friction by sucking in the air that would slow it down. Theoretically, these things can travel over seven hundred miles per hour.”

  “Well done,” The President praised her.

  “So that must mean that the tunnel is transatlantic?” Lucy asked him.

  “Right again,” he nodded. “The tube runs right underneath the Atlantic Ocean.

  “I suppose that would be a good reason to have the country’s capital so near to the coast? Usually it would make much more sense from a defensive standpoint to have it inland where it’s easier to protect. Then there’s no threat of assault from the sea.” Pete was speculating whilst The President examined his own fingernails.

  Lucy was no longer listening. He brain was in overdrive, considering the possibilities that opened up with this technology.

  “This country’s defensive tactics are none of your concern!” The Secretary butted in, preventing any further questions or answers. “You may be able to bully your way onto the thing with us, but that does not entitle you to be privy to every piece of information you wish.”

  “So, we’re going to a naval base in England,” Rebel stated. “And what happens to me when we get there?”

  “For now, our focus is getting you to safety. Anything beyond that will be discussed once we’re there,” The President told her.

  “How do we know that it will be safe?” Pete queried.

  “We don’t know anything for sure, but it’s likely to be safer than here. They had more time to prepare,” The President’s words were not all that reassuring, but then he added, “In a worst case scenario, the largest ship in the Royal Navy’s fleet was docked there. HMS Ocean I believe it’s called. They could have evacuated aboard her and travelled out a short distance to safety.”

  Pete was not enthralled by the idea of heading out to sea to find safety, but at least it was something.

  42.

  ‘The transatlantic hyperloop tube may have been fast, but we were still in for a six hour ride. There were over three thousand miles to cover and even at top speed it would take some time. Lucy tried to tell us that it wouldn’t be so bad, but I didn’t believe her. The pod was going to be overcrowded with us all crammed into it, and we wouldn’t have been able to get up and move around in there even if it wasn’t. I was praying that nobody would get motion sickness, because that could only compound the tortuous journey. Lucy did say that there was a chance it could get quite bumpy. Even if the tube had been perfectly straight when it was constructed, the earth’s shifts could mean it hadn’t stayed that way. For me it was one big nightmare. I wasn’t thrilled at the idea of being confined in a box, hurtling down a dark, enclosed tunnel that was beneath a huge body of water. Was there anything that could possibly feel more claustrophobic?’

  They all made their way into the glass chamber and soon realised that it was going to be nothing like merely boarding a train.

  The Secretary of Defence knew the basics of the hyperloop’s operation. He was the one who crossed the room to the control board. Lucy trailed after him curiously.

  “It’s solar powered? Of course!” She exclaimed as she looked down at the panel. With their minds so preoccupied, nobody had even thought to question where exactly all of the electricity to power everything was coming from. Even if it had crossed their minds, they may have dismissed it. Faced with such futuristic machinery, nothing would have surprised them.

  The Secretary sighed at her but nodded. “We have panels collecting solar energy wherever we can along the route. There are panels above ground here, if I’m not mistaken there are installations on the Azorean islands in the middle of the Atlantic, and there are panels on the UK end too. The Secretary skittered his hands over a couple of buttons and a part of the glass wall slid aside. After another couple of taps, there was a hiss of air and a portion of the vacuum train opened upwards.

  From what was visible of the inside, there were no windows. A series of blue lights illuminated the interior, casting a tinted glow over a number of seats that sat low in the cabin. The passenger cavity took up such a minute proportion of the overall size of the pod, leaving their compartment much smaller than they had expected.

  “You all need to get in before I can start the count down,” The Secretary told them.

  Pete led the way, helping to load their bags and weapons into the space around the seats.

  “I feel like we’re getting into a space ship rather than just a glorified airplane cabin,” Frank grumbled.

  “It is so much more than that,” Lucy sighed with exasperation. “Some would argue that this technology is much more complex than any space craft.”

  “Just get in,” Frank laughed, pushing her before him.

  Lucy stepped down into the pod with awe. The seats weren’t just low, they were set into the very bottom of the craft. When Lucy plopped herself down into one at the back, she was surprised by how comfortable it was. They were moulded perfectly to the shape of a body. Leg space was not an issue as the seats stretched forwards to encompass them comfortably. Once Lucy’s legs were stretched out in front of her, Frank followed her and climbed into a seat beside her.

  There were three rows of two seats, and a little stretch of floor space along the side to get to them. Someone was in for an uncomfortable ride.

  The president took the seat in front of Lucy. Pete guided Xin into the one beside him, and Andy and Rebel took the front two.

  “Where will you sit?” Xin asked anxiously.

  “Don’t worry,” He assured her, “Me and The Secretary will be fine. We’ll nestle in somewhere.”

  “What if you sit in this seat?” She asked. “I’m small; I can sit between your knees.”

  Pete was reluctant to agree but Xin insisted. He seated himself and Xin tucked herself into a gap between his legs.

  “Are you sure you’re going to be alright like that?” He checked with her.

  “It won’t be so bad if you don’t mind me using you as a pillow,” She laughed.

  “Go ahead,” He chuckled, as she leant back against his chest.

  “See, that should be alright,” Xin said contentedly.

  “Maybe we should do the same?” Lucy asked Frank, looking on guiltily.

  “Really? ...For that asshole?” Frank raised an eyebrow in The Secretary’s direction.

  “Hey, if you’re not okay with it, that’s fine,” Lucy shrugged, smirking.

&
nbsp; “I didn’t say that, did I?” Frank rolled his eyes.

  “Good,” she said, and with no further questions, hopped over into his lap. She leaned back, wriggling into his chest and laughed. “It’s a good job you have some extra padding.”

  “Oh, really, I do?” Frank laughed. “Well, don’t forget to wear your seatbelt,” He joked, wrapping his arms tightly around her and locking his hands together.

  “Safety first,” She giggled back.

  “Is everybody ready?” The Secretary called out impatiently.

  “See, I knew he wouldn’t appreciate this huge sacrifice,” Frank teased Lucy. “Yeah, we’re all set. Get in already,” He called back in reply.

  A few moments later, The Secretary hurried into the small enclosure. He was surprised to find a seat for himself but didn’t thank them for it. Then the door of the pod began to close and rushed to seat himself. By the time he had, the door was shut and the cabin was much darker. The blue lights remained on and were enough to see by, but it made for an eerie dimness.

  A variety of noises punctuated the silence as everyone held their breath, waiting for the sensation of forward momentum. The whole pod felt as though it lifted upwards and Frank tightened the hold he still had on Lucy.

  “Are you scared,” She whispered, tauntingly.

  “No,” He mumbled out the lie and breathed a quiet laugh. His breath tickled her ear.

  “I don’t believe you,” She grinned.

  “Listen, I’ve flown planes. I’m not scared of...” He was cut off by a loud noise which made her jump.

  “Ha!” Frank whispered quietly. “Now who’s scared?”

  The unmistakable feeling of being propelled forwards, caught them by surprise. Then, just like that, they were off.”

  Frank didn’t want to think about the speed they were shooting along at, nor did he want to dwell on what could happen if anything went wrong at that velocity. Instead, he focused on the warmth radiating from the girl in his lap. He loosened his arms around her and Lucy took one of his hands.

  “I think it’s time for a good long nap,” He sighed.

  “I’ll second that,” Pete said from in front of him.

  In the front seats, Rebel and Andy were side by side. Through the gloom, she found that she didn’t feel quite as intimidated by him. Nonetheless, it didn’t provide her with the confidence she wished she had. She tripped through her thoughts, stumbling for a way to start a conversation that wouldn’t make him think she was stupid. Then he spoke to her, before she had even managed to find a suitable comment, and it caught her off guard.

  “Are you doing okay?” He asked her.

  Oh God, he’s talking to me, she panicked.

  “Yeah,” she replied quickly, and then cringed at how dismissive it had sounded. “It’s comfier than I thought it would be,” she added.

  Internally she kicked herself, now he was going to think she was boring as well as neurotic.

  “Yeah, it’s definitely not bad,” He replied. “So, uh... Are you gonna want to sleep the whole way there? Or do you think you could indulge a game of ‘I spy’?”

  Rebel laughed. “I don’t think there’s much to spy in here.”

  “You could be right,” Andy sighed.

  “But... I’m not tired, not yet at least.”

  “Maybe we can think of something else to play then,” he asked with cautious enthusiasm. “What about that memory game where you have to remember a list?”

  “I’m not sure I know which one you mean?” Rebel turning her head the seat in to look at him.

  “Alright, so I say something like: ‘one day I went to the store and bought... a sniper rifle.’ Then it’s your go. You repeat back what I said and then add your own thing.”

  “Okay. Like this? ‘One day I went to the store and bought a sniper rifle and... a unicorn.’”

  “Exactly!” He smiled at her. “Hmm, so, ‘one day I went to the store and bought a sniper rifle, a unicorn and a beanbag.”

  They continued their game, thinking up items that grew more ridiculous with each turn. When they heard snoring drifting from the back of the cabin, they thought that maybe they should keep the noise down and continued in hushed tones. They each tried to hold in their snorts of laughter when the other messed up or came up with something outrageous.

  “...Adult diapers, a bowl of Michael Jackson’s bathwater,” Andy snorted. “... A hobbit ice sculpture... Ugh, I can’t remember what was next. Was it... Donald Trump’s toupee?”

  Rebel bit her lip to keep from laughing as she shook her head. “Donald Duck’s tail feathers.”

  “Oh yeah!” Andy grinned, “I knew that.”

  Rebel’s heart still raced when he bumped his shoulder against hers, but she hid it well and was thrilled to have made her first friend in many years.

  Part 2

  1.

  ‘Peter asked me what it was like to be The President of the United States of America. I told him that it had always been a difficult job, even before this disaster. There were parts that I withheld during the conversation we had about it, but when I saw Xin scribbling away in her journals, I saw an opportunity. The history books should reflect upon this time and say that we dealt with it admirably. They should tell of the many brave men who showed real courage and acted nobly during this time, even strangers like these. So, if you are reading my testimony, this is my account of what happened.’

  The President stood, fastening his tie in front of a full-length mirror. He adjusted the knot in the red fabric, making sure that it was perfect. Once his tie was straight, he buttoned his suit jacket over it and smoothed out the creases that lingered on the lapels. He noted that his reflection was sprinkled with more grey hairs than ever and that even his face looked old and tired. With sleepy resignation, The President gave himself a final once over. Though he was disgruntled at having been roused from his bed at such an hour, he tried to keep it from showing on his face as he turned away from the mirror to cast his gaze over the rest of the closet. He checked quickly that he hadn’t forgotten anything in his rush to dress. His eyes rested on a pair of cuff links and he scooped them up. With them in hand, he strode purposefully from the walk-in, flicking the light off behind him.

  In the bedroom, he beheld once more the bedside clock. The numbers still taunted him, displaying the small hours that he would have preferred to sleep through. He looked then to his sleeping wife, still sheathed in the covers that he had been forced to leave. He leaned and placed a light kiss on her head, careful not to wake her. She stirred a little but her eyes did not flutter open, although a part of him wished they had.

  “Are you ready to leave now, Sir?” His chief of staff greeted him as he walked into the reception room of his suite. The President was still putting in his cuff links but looked up wearily.

  “Yes, as ready as I can be,” he replied impatiently. “This better be important if I’m being called upon at this hour.”

  “Yes, Sir. It is,” The man nodded back sombrely. He held the door for The President expectantly.

  “Come then, let’s go,” The President instructed, breezing past him into the hall.

  The two men walked to the elevator in silence. The Head of State found himself running through different scenarios in his head. The last thing he needed was another terrorist attack. He prayed that this wasn’t going to be a repeat of nine eleven. Any significant threat from North Korea or Russia would be equally crushing. His considerations were interrupted when The Chief of Staff pressed the button for the ground floor.

  “The Oval Office is on the first floor. Why are we going to the ground floor?” The President asked.

  “Sir, the summit is being held at The Pentagon,” He was informed. “There is a car waiting outside. The whole administration will be present and all world leaders will be receiving the news concurrently. It’s expected that there will be an influx of high-ranking officials seeking contact with you and trying to find out what is required of them. I think that a video
conference is being arranged to address them all at once.”

  “I don’t like the sound of this,” The President frowned. “Can’t you just tell me what is going on?”

  “I’m sorry, Sir. The fact is, I don’t know.” The Chief of staff finished speaking just as the elevator doors slid open at ground level. “When The Defence Secretary arrived, he wouldn’t tell me anything. He would only say that it was an emergency.”

  In the foyer, there was a swarm of activity. There were armed secret servicemen everywhere. The Head of Homeland Security was there, having also been awoken and called in. The secretary of Defence was tapping his foot, anxiously waiting for him.

  “Mr President, I’m sorry to have to wake you,” He said, and approached with his hand outstretched. The president accepted the handshake.

  “The cars are waiting.”

  The President said nothing as they stepped out into the cool night air. A slight breeze whispered around his ears and stroked at his face before he was escorted into an unremarkable, black Sedan.

  The entourage of vehicles made the short journey with the aid of a full police escort. When the procession arrived at The Pentagon, The President was whisked inside and led to one of the many large meeting halls. An immense round table dominated the room and many important figures were already seated around it. They all rose when he entered.

  The Secretary of Defence and The Head of Homeland Security had already been hurried in and were amongst them.

  “Good evening,” The President nodded in acknowledgement. “I suppose good morning would actually be more accurate. Please, sit.” The men seated themselves at his will and he followed suit.

  “Now, who’s going to tell me what this is all about?” Many eyes avoided his own as he looked around the table.

  “Sir, I will.” A woman rose from the table, The Secretary of Health and Human Services. “I believe it should be me. I have been in contact with The Commissioner of Food and Drugs at the FDA, he had some very upsetting news regarding some of the testing that was being carried out at their Nevada laboratory. I’ve also been in touch with The Director at The Centre for Disease Control to talk about the research the CDC has done on how to handle a situation such as this.”