“The others are still sleeping. I think we’re going to have to get out of this plane and head to the green stuff over there.” He points in the direction of the foliage in the distance.
“Must be getting hot in there.” I state the obvious.
“Yeah, and it’s only going to get worse as that sun gets higher.” He says, looking at the red sphere rising behind me.
“I think the water is rising too.” Sofie says as she looks out at the lake.
Nothing in the plane was organized based on priority. I believe that Liam’s original loading had food and water in the back, easiest to get to because it was most important. After shifting things around for weight distribution the vital life giving supplies are scattered around and, in some cases, buried beneath nice to haves.
We should have brought a vehicle. There should have been a longer discussion about it at least. I realize that we could have landed on a planet with any variety of terrain, but what if we lose supplies because we couldn’t get them from the plane to wherever?
“We need to get the food out.” Dad says before turning his back on us.
Sofie vomits in a way I can only describe as forceful.
Chapter 4
The medical supplies are buried and we can’t find them. Sofie insists that she’s fine and doesn’t need to barf again, but her color is off, and I know she’s just trying to be strong. She is moving slowly and carrying some small boxes, but every step is a labor.
My mom and the others are finally awake and also carrying boxes off the plane. Part of me wants to scream at them to hurry up and the other part of me wants to scream be careful and take your time.
Sure we were all healthy two days ago when we left Earth but how could they not think something like this could happen? Do I have to make every smart decision? Medicine should have been front and center. In fact, there should have been a first aid kit with painkillers and antibiotics in the cockpit.
“Did anyone check for meds in the cockpit?” I call out to no one specifically.
There are no answers. Dad and Mom look at each other but remain silent. Liam shrugs his shoulders and goes back to work on some task he thinks will make moving boxes easier.
I walk past the stack of supplies in the cargo hold and head straight for the cockpit. Even if I can get Sofie an ibuprofen at least I’ll feel like I’m doing something. Banging up the stairs I remember that Jake is laying in the galley recovering from his injuries. How have we let him go without medical supplies? Even in an unconscious state he could surely use some painkillers?
God bless the military. There is a well-secured storage locker and the ‘First Aid’ label is clear. I open the locker and there are several drawers also labeled. I slide out the drawer labeled ‘pain killer’ and then the one labeled ‘anti-diarrheal.’ Initially I reach in and grab a fistful, ready to run back to Sofie and ease her discomfort.
Stopping myself, I put the handful back and carefully select one packet of painkillers and one packet of anti-diarrheal. She can’t have more than one packet and I know the rest would only get lost and wasted if I carried them down to the work site.
Halfway down the stairs I feel remorse for not checking on Jake. There is nothing I could do for him that my mom and Henry haven’t already done. Still, my ability to put him out of my mind while he is in a coma to focus on Sofie when she simply has an upset stomach surprises me.
Intellectually I know that I can’t help, but emotionally I feel like I should care more. How would others handle this situation? It doesn’t matter. I have to get back to work. Help Sofie, help the others unload the plane so we can get to the food.
The combination of heat and stress has me sweating profusely. A bead forms at the end of my nose and disappears. I’m not use to sweating like this and it is uncomfortable.
In the cargo bay the pace has become frantic. Chaos reigns as my family grabs boxes at random and throws them out the back door.
I can see Sofie standing idly several feet away from the rear of the plane. Her pale color has turned what I would call a light green. My eyes are locked on her face and I see nothing other than her.
Running, I reach the end of the cargo ramp and leap off. My feet are wet before I hear the splash. The water comes to my knees and I feel like I can see it rising.
Once I get to Sofie I thrust the medicine into her hand. She manages a half hearted smile, but I don’t stay with her.
The life raft that dad had inflated is floating away. Rather than throwing supplies into the water or trying to carry them we can float them. The water is already deep as I get to the mid point of the plane. Fear of being eaten or attacked sends a shudder down my spine. It’s possible but I need to push it out of my head.
Diving in I can feel the cool water on my lips and in my hair. Surfacing. I gasp for breath and am slightly surprised at the lack of taste from the moisture in and around my mouth. This water is incredibly pure and it has a negative impact on my buoyancy.
Swimming is not as easy as it was on Earth and my muscles burn. I kick and pull as the raft gets closer. My clothes and shoes slow me down and threaten to drag me under. Just when I fear that I may be in no mans land with no energy left to go back and too far to keep going forward. my hand hits the raft.
The raft is designed to save lives and I feel that it has just saved mine. There are ropes and handles hanging from the inflatable. My hands find a hold easily and I rest for a few heartbeats before facing back to shore and kicking.
Progress is slow and I wish a wave would come and push me towards dry land. After several minutes I stop and try to focus. My unfocused action has me traveling towards shore but away from the plane.
I can see my dad standing on the cargo ramp looking for something. His eyes search the water and follow the fuselage of the plane up towards the nose. Then he sees me and waves. If he wanted to dive in and come help me I wouldn’t complain, but instead he disappears back into the plane. I return to swimming the inflated raft back to where it can help.
The next time I look up to get my bearings I see mom unfolding what appears to be another raft. She is moving quickly but well under control. A second later there is another inflated life raft and I put my head back down to keep pushing for the plane.
Grace would have been a much better choice to chase after this life raft. Dad used to joke that she was part dolphin. I can remember one summer at my grandparents’ lake house she would swim down fifteen feet and pull up rocks I couldn’t have lifted on land. Still, I’m proud of myself for acting and not looking for someone else to undertake a physical task.
My hand finally touches the metal edge of the ramp and I lift my soaking head up to see Liam.
“Hey Seamus.” He says as if I just returned from a casual swim.
“Grab this and tie it to the plane.” I command him.
It takes most of my energy to climb up on the edge of the cargo ramp. Dad must have raised it some because the ground it rested on earlier is now underwater.
Henry and Dad appear in the cargo hold with Jake’s body dangling between them. On the other side I see mom and Grace struggling with another folded up life raft. Liam is walking back towards the pile of supplies and shoving boxes out of the way.
Jake’s body is tossed into the life raft I just returned. From out of nowhere Remmie appears and climbs into the raft with Jake. I guess this will be the ambulance. Sofie should be in here, where is she?
Looking back to where I had given Sofie the medicine I can see that she is now waist deep in the water. That means it has risen almost a foot in what can’t be more than fifteen minutes. Her color looks improved but she is not moving to lend a hand, a clear indicator that she is still sick.
“Do we have the still yet?” I call out to no one.
“There’s one more life raft in the right bulkhead. Get it.” Mom directs me while she and Grace muscle the third raft to the cargo ramp.
I’m on my feet and following closely behind my dad to the right bu
lkhead. I don’t actually know where it is so I’m glad he’s helping. Liam’s broken leg is putting a strain on me that I don’t like.
“I got the raft. You go load water and food.” Dad says to me before we get to the bulkhead.
We don’t need water, we need water purification. I know there was a box of filters in here somewhere, even that would help. Grace gave me crap about carrying it when we were reloading; she thought I should have left it for one of the girls.
“Liam, where’s the filter box? This water is really pure, even if we can only filter it we might be able to drink safely.” I try to explain quickly so we avoid needless work and conversation.
“I haven’t seen it. If you’re sure, help me get these boxes of food into the raft. We need to clear this place out so we can find things.” Liam is hobbling with his cast but the crutches have been discarded.
The first box I grab is heavy. I think I can hear cans banging together inside. Liam remembered a manual can opener just after the apocalypse hit; let’s hope he remembered one for this trip.
I lug the box of cans to the raft and drop it in heavily.
“Careful!” Liam yells at me.
He’s right and there is no time for an argument. I nod and then go back into the plane to get another box of food.
We go on like this for several minutes. I lose count of how many boxes I grab but I feel good about working hard. Even with his cast Liam matches me box for box and I actually suspect that he is managing to carry boxes far heavier than the ones I am finding.
Dad is surveying the ramp and water is lapping up over the edge. He probably wants to raise it some but there is no need. Water is also coming in through the crack between the ramp and the floor of the cargo bay. We can’t stop the flood and will need to write off the bottom of our pile of supplies.
In the stack of supplies I see a box labeled “Water Purification” near the top. Hopefully this is a complete package. I have to walk around Liam, who is trying to get a box off the floor. Reaching up on my toes my fingers just grasp the sides when the whole stack sways towards me and then starts to fall.
My balance disappears and I begin to tumble backwards. Boxes, some heavy, some light, fall on top of me and all around. This is Liam’s fault and I want to pummel him!
When the commotion stops I begin to clear boxes away from my face. A few of them move more easily than I had expected, at least Liam is helping me.
“Careful Seamus.” Sofie is smiling down at me after removing a box from my face.
She doesn’t look good but I’m glad she feels well enough to have made it back to the plane. Her movements are slow but she manages to help me get out from under the pile and onto my feet.
“Get in the raft with Jake and Remmie.” I tell her.
With a few wobbly steps she is to the edge of the ramp and ready to step into the raft. I’m right next to her and hold her hand for stability. Once she is settled I turn back to the problem of supplies. Standing still probably makes me look lazy, but I want to find the water purification box before I do anything else.
There! I found it. Stepping carelessly on top of other boxes I climb over to my prize. It’s not very heavy and I lift it up over my head. This is going in the raft with Sofie so our prized possessions are all together.
“Mount up!” Dad calls out.
Henry and Liam climb into one of the rafts and Dad and Mom get in another. Grace is sitting between Sofie and Remmie, comforting them. That leaves me to be alone in a raft, or to climb in the ambulance raft and figure out how to tow a supply raft.
If only we had a motor of some sort. My reactor! It’s not a motor, but how can I leave it here? We may need it and it’s our only hope to have electricity. If we lose it or it gets damaged I can’t build another one.
My parents and my brother untie their rafts and shove off. Their lack of concern for me is unsettling. I know I need to take care of myself but this is a little ridiculous.
Walking to the ambulance raft I untie it and give them a shove.
“Paddle as best you can. I have one more thing to get and then I’ll catch up and we can work together.” I say to Grace as she drifts a few feet away.
“Seamus! Get in your raft now!” She screams back at me.
The faces of my parents and my brother whip around and see me standing on the ramp as they all float away. I walk inside and raise the ramp until it’s high enough for me to use it as a boost to get to the tail-mounted reactor.
After grabbing a wrench from the wall-mounted toolbox I scamper up the ramp. Face to face with my reactor, I fit the wrench over the first bolt. It’s the wrong size. The wrench spins freely.
Releasing my grip on the plane I slide down the ramp, invisible to those in the rafts. After splashing down I head back to the toolbox. I can’t even geusstimate which wrench is the correct one. My hand grabs three that are smaller than the one I grabbed first as well as a pair of pliers.
Getting up the ramp with both hands full is more difficult than I expected. Once I make it to the top the shouting begins.
“Seamus, leave it!” Grace is yelling.
“Son, I know you worked hard on that but we don’t need it. Let it go.” My Dad always acts like his words carry more weight than the others.
Dad is right in a way, we don’t need it. But having it will make things better. Electricity gives us a better chance at survival. Even if we only use it to recharge our tablets and computers so we can access the trove of information stored there it will help. I hope someone put my backpack in one of the rafts, there is still a charge left on the laptop battery and I don’t want it to get wet.
“It will help.” Without getting into the details I let them know that I am not going to leave it.
Lying on my back again I try the largest of the new wrenches. It doesn’t fit. Rather than continue trying and failing I switch to the pliers. The angle of my body and the need to squeeze and turn the pliers makes the project difficult, but it’s working.
Eventually the first nut comes off and I place it in my pocket. Before setting back to work I turn and look down at the water, it’s rising fast.
My focus helps me shut everything else out. The water, the sweat, the ache in my hand, none of them exist and I get the second nut off in no time and start on the third. For some reason progress on this one is slower and more challenging.
In the corner of my eye the bright yellow of a life raft appears. I’m distracted and look down to see who it is. My father smiles up at me but says nothing.
With the third nut off I turn my sights to the fourth and final nut.
“Let me hold the unit. If there is strain on that nut you’ll never get it off.” Dad is kneeling in the life raft and pushing up on the reactor unit.
Sweat is pouring off my head and my hands are slick. I work the pliers as quickly as I can but it seems to take forever. Unexpectedly the nut pops off and the pliers join it on a clattering fall down the cargo ramp. Dad’s life raft shifts away from the plane and the reactor unit settles on my arm painfully.
“Little help!” I growl loudly.
There is loud splashing, and even though I know they are trying their best I wish they would hurry up. It’s taking all my strength to keep the reactor from dropping into the water and getting ruined.
Just when I think I might pass out the pressure on my arm lightens. I can tell my Dad’s grunts and it helps me relax to know he’s there.
“You need to help me help you. Push with your free hand and we can get this off.” Dad is working hard but his trademark calmness keeps me together.
When the reactor is finally safe in the life raft with my mom and dad I let my head drop to the ramp. The water is maybe six inches from my face and I know that if I lay here much longer I’ll be fully submerged. Pulling myself out through the tight space between the ramp and the top of the opening I scramble into the last life raft.
After a brief rest I look up to see that the other rafts have traveled some distance
away from me. They are headed for shore, I can’t tell how far it is but I know that it will take a while. With a deep breath I place my cupped hand into the water and push, propelling the raft ever so slightly in the right direction.
Chapter 5
Crying isn’t really of use but I feel like it could help. I know that it could actually do harm. I’m dehydrating and I can’t afford to lose the water from tears. We have been paddling for hours and the sun is almost fully overhead.
Once I caught up with the others we lashed the rafts together into a single floating entity. In the beginning we paddled leisurely, why rush? Once the heat became oppressive our strokes increased in urgency. Two teams of paddlers were formed and each spends thirty minutes on and thirty minutes off. Right now I am off and staring down into the water.
I haven’t seen any signs of life in well over two hours of observing the water. There are no plants, no bugs and no fish. It also seems like there is no breeze and no current.
Air and water both move due to changes in temperature. Warm air and water rise while cold air and water fall. I can feel the heat and know that it is warmer than it was earlier, how can it not be affecting the air and water?
Perhaps there is a layer of warm water above the cold water near the bottom. Based on the strong moon glow and consistently high temperatures, maybe the top layer never cools enough to switch places with the bottom layer?
Could this have an impact on life too? The cells in the mud that would evolve into life forms are too cold and never get the chance to warm up and grow. Our paddling could disturb the soil enough to change this. Even the smallest acts we take are having a profound impact on the ecological future of this planet.
One other alternative is frightening. The radiation that gets through the thin atmosphere could kill life at its most basic stage. The galactic cosmic rays that we had to protect ourselves from in space are pounding into this planet. New life is not the only thing impacted, existing life will not last long.
Colonization (The Seamus Chronicles Book 3) Page 3
