by Benson, Tom
“How long do the turbines last with regard to providing power?”
“The installation was built over one-hundred years ago. By cutting back to using one turbine, we could keep this place going for another one hundred and fifty years. Not much power is required for everything from here to Aviemore.”
Helen stared at the monstrous columns of equipment and slowly shook her head.
“If you think this is impressive, I reckon you’ll like the orchard.”
“The orchard?” She nodded. “I’ve heard about it, and I’m looking forward to seeing it.”
Sandy grinned as he paused briefly to show Helen the Maintenance Room, and then led the way into the orchard. “In here, we have an artificial environment to cater to a variety of fruits and vegetables.” He indicated from side to side. “The actual area is about the size of a sports field, and yes, the grass is real. We’ve got thirty trees and at the distant end are three large greenhouses.
“The light isn’t fluorescent, is it?”
“No, it isn’t normal … it’s what they call artificial daylight, and it works on a timer. One-third of the time, the lights are dimmed, but the remainder prompts the vegetation into thinking that it’s mid-summer. If we continue to walk on the grille around the perimeter, we’ll avoid getting soaked.”
“Soaked?”
“Yes, synchronised with the temperature and fake daylight, there is a sprinkler system in place to provide a light rainfall at intervals.”
“How many types of fruit or vegetables grow in the big greenhouses?”
“At last count, I think there are twelve. Watch closely, and you’ll see the cantilever operation.”
“Yes, I see shelves rising and falling, or are they rotating?”
“They rotate, and the timing is dependent on which type of fruit or vegetable is growing, but basically there are four sets of shelving in each section. They are synchronised to move around catching specific levels of light, and the automatic sprinkler system provides their rainfall.”
“The grass is neat, but it must grow fast.”
“We harvest the grass using a robotic trimmer. The cuttings are used to produce milk. It was one of the hydro-plant engineers who developed the milk-making machine many years ago. Apparently, he conducted experiments to prove that as long as you had vegetation and could imitate a cow’s dual-stomach digestive system, you could produce milk.”
“You have hens in here too?”
“Yes, we have twenty hens, so eggs are always available. The birds are safe due to our community all becoming vegetarian.” He paused. “We also have three beehives.”
“I saw trees, shrubs and bushes when I arrived yesterday as I walked through from the entry door.”
“Many years ago, when the facility became operational, the teams who worked here realised the temperature within the facility was constant and ideal for tropical plants. They experimented and planted a variety of trees alongside the underground roadway. The idea worked so you’ll see bananas, pineapples and coconuts all growing between the cafeteria and the steel doors at the far end. In here we also have apples, pears, oranges, lemons and limes.”
“Amazing,” Helen murmured as they stood halfway along the side of the orchard. “Okay, I’m ready to see some more.”
Sandy led the way back to the main junction of passages. “We’ll leave the main complex now, and I’ll take you along close to the entrance you used when you arrived.”
They walked three hundred metres along the main road towards the glass corridor. Near the entrance stood the refurbished railway engine.
Helen said, “I vaguely remember seeing that old steam engine when we left the corridor and stepped into this big tunnel—is that a replica?”
“No, it’s the original engine that pulled the carriages of materials, from the west coast, overland and through the old tunnel. When this installation was created there were insufficient roadways to get the equipment here. Building a bespoke railway was more cost-effective. When the job was done, the engine was kept here and renovated. A small section of track was cleaned to mount the engine as a tribute to the brave men who built the facility.”
“It helps you to appreciate how old and special this whole concern is.”
They strolled along the seven hundred metres to the secured steel doors at the far end of the internal road to let Helen see the variety of trees. When they got back, they went into the glass corridor and walked along the central path between the uniform patches of crops.
Sandy said, “In conjunction with the beehives in the orchard, the doors are left open so that the bees have access to all the different trees and other flora.”
“Yes, I know that the species of flowers the bees visit will affect the type of honey their colony produces. I’d love to maintain a beehive at the Eagle’s Nest Farm.”
“Keep it in mind, and we’ll work something out. Actually, it would be an idea for you to have a word with Ramona—she’s the expert.”
“I’ll do that.” Helen paused to gaze through the glass walls at the world beyond. “Bill told me that it was in this glass corridor that you first met.”
Sandy laughed and nodded. “Yes, it was one of the most surreal things I’ve ever experienced. This corridor wasn’t as neatly laid out as it is now—it was overgrown, and the pathway had disappeared. Bill and the others from the coach had entered the far end of the old disused tunnel to escape the destruction. They were running out of water by the time they explored as far as this end.”
“Wait a minute—where does Harry’s train enter the story?”
“You’ve obviously heard the tale of what happened, so I think the best thing would be for us to walk along the old tunnel and I’ll explain the story as we return.”
They left the glass corridor and stepped through the partially-bricked entrance of the old tunnel. Almost immediately to their front was Harry’s Place; the four old train carriages.
“Oh my—”
“All in good time,” Sandy said and waved a finger at his companion. “The tunnel is five miles long, which is why I’ve brought along some water and a couple of Ramona’s famous protein bars.” He tapped the shoulder strap of his small backpack. “As we walk through to the far end, you could tell me a bit more about your background.”
“I will, but only if you’ll be telling me about yours.”
“It’s a deal, but you’re still going first.”
“I was brought up on the family farm ….” Helen explained how she’d loved the life and even as a youngster had enjoyed the early mornings and all the routines involved with having livestock and crops. She told Sandy that as a teenager she’d been torn between continuing with farming or gaining a degree to teach the subject. “In the end, I felt that it would be more useful to be in a position to educate young people and attract them to the farming life.”
“Did you keep your hand in with the practical side, so to speak?”
“Yes, I’d often go back home for a few days and involve myself in whatever jobs had to be done. My parents were still there, but my older brother was already in charge of things, and he was good.”
“Did you enjoy teaching the subject?”
“Yes, and I think the regular working visits maintained the freshness of the subject for me.”
“Did you never think of marrying and having a farming family of your own?”
“No, because life in a city is so different and … well, things didn’t work out for me in that way.”
“I’m sorry.” Sandy turned to face her. “You don’t have to talk about it, but if it helps, I can listen without passing it on.”
“Due to how things went … for all of us, I’ve never talked about my personal issues.”
He paused and smiled briefly. “If you tell me yours, I’ll tell you mine.”
Helen looked into his eyes before making a noticeable change to the conversation. “I like the way the lighting appears dim at first, but as you go farther along the tun
nel, it seems to be brighter.” She half-turned to look at him as they walked on.
“It looks dim at first along here, but when it becomes a new normal, you accept it, and it feels natural.” He paused and glanced at Helen. “I suppose it would be a good metaphor for how things have turned out for all of us who’ve survived.”
Helen turned to look at Sandy again and saw the sincerity in his expression. She would trust him. “When I was teaching in Glasgow, I only ever had a couple of serious boyfriends. I got married to another lecturer when I was thirty. The plan was to have two children and take on a small-holding not too far from the city. We’d give the children the best of both worlds and live happily ever after.”
When Helen fell silent, Sandy was tempted to ask what had happened with the relationship. He resisted and walked on, waiting patiently. Several minutes passed with no more than the sound of their footsteps on the beaten earth.
Helen said, “Three days before a few leaders turned the world upside down for everybody, mine had already been turned upside down. My husband was discovered with a young female student conducting a private anatomy lesson in an office.”
“How long had you been married?”
“Less than two years. Most people told me it was a blessing that I found out so early on, although I would have preferred it not to have happened. I only saw him for a few minutes on the day he recovered the contents of his wardrobe. I’d considerately thrown everything from our bedroom window into the front garden.”
“The incident must have occurred mid-week because the world’s darkest day was a Saturday.”
“It was a Wednesday when they were caught at it, and I was making final preparations for my trip with eight students to Aviemore. I thought the short working break at the farmhouse would help me to get my head around things.” She gave a brief laugh. “How things can change, eh?”
“I know it sounds like a cliche, but I can’t understand why he would feel the need to cheat on a woman who looks as good as you.”
“Thank you, Sandy, and I don’t care if it’s a cliche.”
They strolled on in silence for a few minutes in the dimly-lit tunnel.
“Your turn.” Helen nudged his arm.
“I was married to my job before the events of 28th May 2065. I left home in my teens. In the eleven years I served my country, I visited various parts of the world. I was in combat, trained recruits and performed as an international peace-keeper. I’d already been told of my imminent promotion to sergeant so on 1st June I’d have started wearing three stripes.”
“We have that in common—three days until the end of our personal world.”
Sandy nodded. “Yes, you’re right—three days and everything changed in so many ways.” He gave her a brief version of events and how he’d managed to grab Flint before leaping from the stricken heli-pod. He explained that they were the only two survivors from three such aircraft. “I would have given all three stripes to save just one more of my mates on that fateful day.”
“Did you have a significant other in your life before you ended up here?”
“Not really—and it must have been six months since I’d had a girlfriend. I was too busy serving my country and trying to save the world.”
“Victoria told me about Chloe and how you lost her—I was so sorry to hear such a sad story.”
“Different people have told me it was fate that we were to meet. Strangely, it was the coach trip which brought us together although neither of us were on it. Chloe was working with Norman in the forest at the far end of this tunnel. When they heard the coach approaching and saw it race into the tunnel, they followed it to help the passengers—which, in turn, saved their own lives. On my side of things, I was coming to the hydro-electric plant to provide security, and I ended up one of two survivors from our airborne detachment.”
“I’ve seen young Peter, and he’s an adorable child, so I believe it was fate that you and Chloe met and became partners.”
The pair arrived within sight of the end of the tunnel, which was evident although it was just as dimly-lit.
Helen said, “Are those cross-members of railway track erected there to support the fallen earth and rocks?”
“No, apparently, the landslide occurred and blocked the entrance shortly after the coach arrived inside. It was sometime later when we had become a single community that we adapted everything you see now. The reason for the wall of railway sleepers before the blocked entrance is because that big metal structure is electrified.”
“Ah, so it’s more of a security device than a safety feature?”
“Yes, we had a dangerous woman called Patsy in our midst in the early days, but she’s long gone. I’ll tell you about her on the way back.”
“What’s that mound of rocks at the side there?”
“That’s where they buried Ken’s remains—he was a police detective murdered by Patsy on the first night that the coach was inside the tunnel.”
On the return journey through the tunnel, Sandy explained how it took many months to lift the rails and sleepers, stacking them in orderly piles along the length of the tunnel. “Once Cherry got the lighting working throughout the length of the tunnel, it made it less of a hazard to be working in here for hours at a time, and we all got involved.”
“After lifting the rails and sleepers, it must have taken a long time to sweep the loose gravel away to leave half of the width as a smooth pathway.”
“It took months, but we had three portals spread out along here which we’d cleaned up and adapted to make into accommodation. They were to be for the first people to produce children. The theory was that we wanted the tunnel to be easy to walk in by the time the youngsters were toddlers.”
“That is serious planning.” She smiled. “I noticed the three portals are well-spaced in the tunnel, so who lives in them?”
“In MP-1, which is the one nearest to this end we have Craig and Anne with their children, Kenny and Hope. The portal about halfway along is MP-2 and is home to Calvin, Cherry and their twins, Adam and Eve.”
Helen laughed briefly. “I suppose in any post-apocalyptic scenario someone will name their children Adam and Eve.”
“A few of us thought that way, but apparently Calvin said he felt like he was in Eden with the chance to start over when he was with Cherry.”
“Ah, a true romantic. Who lives in … is it MP-3 which is closest to Harry’s Place?”
“It’s home to Paul, Dawn and their two children; Matthew and Ellie.”
“Wasn’t Paul one of the key figures at the start of the survival story here?”
“Yes, it was Paul who drove the coach at high speed along mountain roads. He delivered it complete with terrified passengers here, into what was a disused railway tunnel. It might not have sounded like an inspiring move at the time, but he saved the lives of all of his passengers. It also caused Norman and Chloe to come in from the forest to investigate.”
“Wow, so was Dawn one of the passengers?”
“No, she was right up front with Paul—Dawn was the tour guide on the coach, so they’d been friends and colleagues for some time.”
“Fate definitely had a hand in the survival of every person in this community.”
“And fate has affected each of your little community of survivors too.”
“Yes, I suppose you’re right—we’ve lost two of our companions, but now we have three small children produced since the other students became couples.”
“There is that aspect, but you visiting here must be fate too.”
She turned, briefly met his gaze and smiled before they walked on in companionable silence.
The conversation was light when it started again, and then the old train carriages came into view.
“Ah, now I can tell you about Harry’s Place and when I first set eyes on those carriages. Remember, I’d been pointing my rifle at Bill and a couple of other passengers a few minutes previously.”
“I’m looking forward to hear
ing this little tale from your perspective.”
11. Highs and Lows
There were only a few people in the cafeteria when Sandy and Helen wandered in before the next part of their tour.
Ramona said, “You’re in good hands, Helen. I hope he’s treating you to some interesting snippets of information as you go around.”
“He is, thank you.”
“Hello, girls.” Sandy laughed. “I am here, you know.”
Ramona winked at Helen. “Baked potato and cheese okay for you?”
Helen nodded and turned to see Sandy raise a thumb to make it two.
“Go and sit at a table. Is there any preference in tea?”
“Mint, please,” Helen said.
“Make that two, please,” Sandy said and headed to a table with his companion.
Helen looked around the large room. “How long did it take for your community to accept that it was time to move on with their lives?”
“I think everyone accepted it early on as we worked together to establish ourselves. I believe we all still occasionally feel a stab of guilt when we laugh at something. I know, for example, that several people lost their partners and have found someone new in here. Couples formed from the need to have a close relationship—anything more sincere will have developed over time.”
“I find it sad that you and Chloe were to meet and become partners in such circumstances, only for it to end so tragically.” She gazed into his eyes. “It must make Peter all the more special.”
