2042: The Great Cataclysm

by Melisande Mason

  Nick argued that to wait six days would be dangerous, but the World Government insisted it would take that long to set up more alternative accommodation on higher ground, before each country attempted to move any of the remaining refugees. They pointed out the logistics involved. For example, they would need time to source and put in place the sudden requirement of millions more tents and sanitary facilities, gather all the food supplies and more. They also strongly suggested that each government should consult it’s own experts to validate Nick’s findings, before undertaking such a huge task.

  Nick was requested to send all his records and explanations to the World Government immediately. He expected this and had already prepared copies of his reports that had been given to the US government.

  The conference over, the screens dissolved and President Walker rose to his feet and picked up the bundle of papers Vice President Peterson had placed in front of him. Glancing briefly at them he threw them back on the table.

  ‘Hell. I’m not going to wade through all that paraphernalia. You can all read this later. There’ll be a committee to co-ordinate this special operation, it will report back to me. Our highest ranking military leader - General Cooper, will be in charge of all the forces. We’re going to have to make some tough decisions, and some of you won’t agree with them, but I want everyone’s co-operation.

  We have to get the people to safety quickly. Then we’ll have to work out how and where the survivors will live. The relocation project has placed refugees in foreign countries over the past fifteen years, but once this is announced those countries will refuse to take more, which is to be expected. The only option will be to move our people to higher ground.’

  Lowering his voice he continued. ‘The government won’t be able to function immediately after the event, so I’ll be forced to declare military rule. We’ll need a band of tough men able to administer what we have left. General Cooper would you outline your plan?’

  General Worth flinched at the mention of Cooper’s name. He had been writing furiously, and although he appeared not to be listening to the President, his mind was rapidly processing every word, particularly the part about General Cooper being in charge.

  Cooper flushed and leaned back in his chair. ‘As the President just said, we’ve been relocating people successfully for fifteen years, but that was done in stages, this will have to be done all at once, and now! We’ll activate Operation Star Flight immediately.’

  He paused and picked up some papers in front of him. He hesitated, shuffling the papers. ‘Star Flight will be slammed by the press, because we’ll need to commandeer all airlines and airports. We’ll stop all international flights and use those planes to move people and supplies to higher ground. I’m afraid we’re going to have millions of stranded tourists.

  Mt Rockwell’s already set up and has large stores of non-perishable food. We just need to increase those supplies and check out all the facilities up there. Of course there’s not enough for everyone, so we’ll be setting up other centres wherever we can and ship in supplies to them on an emergency basis. Other commanders will be co-ordinating similar operations in their areas.

  You all heard the ruling for a press ban. You Mr. President will give that conference, and I’ll outline our evacuation procedures.’

  Vice-president Peterson interjected. ‘You’re talking about mounting the biggest operation in peace time, possibly ever. In what? A few days, weeks. Can we trust these predictions? What if they’re wrong?’

  The secretary for the navy glanced briefly toward Nick before addressing General Cooper. ‘Admiral Deakin and I feel the same. How do we know for sure?’

  ‘Our scientific experts are working on it right now.’ Cooper said. ‘We won’t act until they confirm Nick’s findings.’

  The hairs on Nick’s neck prickled and he pulled at his collar for a moment. He couldn’t blame then for their scepticism, it is a frightening scenario they were all facing, maybe worse than he had told them.

  ‘Look, if you can’t believe the evidence, then at least prepare to take all your ships to sea to ride it out.’

  ‘How can they be safe at sea with waves like you’ve predicted?’ Bob Anderson asked.

  ‘I don’t know if they’ll be safe, but I’m guessing only large ships will survive. Tsunami at sea are rarely more than two metres high, it’s only when come ashore they’re dangerous, when they hit the continental shelf and slow down. The front slows and the massive sea following behind builds up to form huge walls of water that dump on the land. With this I think they will be high at sea too, and not a place you would want to be, but they will have a better chance at sea than docked by the land.’

  Nick’s fingers pulled at his shirt neck again and he wished he was back on board the Platypus. Every man in the room had loosened their collars, some had pushed up their sleeves. Nick could smell his own body odour. There was a feeling of panic creeping into the atmosphere. These were the men who were running the country, selected from the best leaders, yet they all seemed unable to comprehend the scale of the disaster ahead.

  Nick continued. ‘It’s impossible to predict the impact of these waves. Tsunami usually travel at eight to nine hundred kilometres an hour. These will be much faster, so we won’t have much warning before they’re on us. Just get the people out of the cities!’

  Each statement from Nick increased their apprehension, and started another heated discussion. The hours wore on and Nick listened to the arguments back and forth and he began to switch off.

  He felt like the Doomsday Prophet, and was even starting to frighten himself. He had tried to push some of these terrors from his mind in the bustle to inform everyone, but now that he had said it all, his own questions began to put up their hands. It was time to make his plans, what was he doing here helping a foreign country prepare for their survival? What about the survival of his family and friends in Australia? It was time to go home, but would they let him walk away? Surely they wouldn’t hold him to his contract.Let them try, he thought.

  Then General Cooper’s words sank in.They’ll stop international flights in six days! Nick instantly realised the enormity of the situation. He had six days before all hell breaks loose. He would have to move fast and get back to Australia now! His thoughts flew to Graham who’s airline was based in Canberra. He had an office in Hawaii, but if he knew his best mate, he’d want to be in Australia when this happens. He needed to warn him before the press conference, as his international landing rights would be rescinded and his planes would be commandeered. The next conundrum would be how to get to Hawaii?

  A sharp dig in his ribs from Josh brought his mind back to the present.

  ‘Nick? Admiral Deakin asked you a question.’ Josh said.

  ‘Sorry Admiral. I need some air. Josh would you mind taking over?’ He collected his papers together, rose from his chair, paused as though he had another thought then scraped his chair back and headed for the door before anyone could voice their objections.

  It was six-fifteen in the evening and the constant throb of his headache refused to give up. The air outside the Capitol was cool as the day died, a slight wind ruffled the spring leaves of the American Elms in this City of Trees. Nick glanced around and pulled the collar of his jacket up to his ears. He noticed a slight tremble in his hands. Wanting to walk and think, but eager to get things happening, he made his way to a Trancab station instead and headed back to Laura’s apartment. He didn’t notice two men take the cab behind his.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Nick arrived at Laura’s apartment at around 7pm to find it deserted. Maxime padded down the stairs from the rooftop and joined him in the kitchen meowing excitedly, her usual disdain abandoned as she nudged his shins persistently. ‘Okay missy, but you’ll have to wait till some meat thaws out.’ He told her.

  His stomach rumbled and he realised he hadn’t eaten all day and decided to prepare some food while he waited. He swallowed some aspirin,
and after taking a quick shower he busied himself in the large stainless-steel kitchen. It took him some time to master the voice commands for the stove, as that was the chef’s job on board the Platypus. He had attained some quite acceptable culinary skills by working on occasions with the chef, one dish in particular he had mastered, was Bolognese sauce. He chopped tomatoes and onions and scratched around in the pantry for some herbs and spices spending an inordinate amount of time fussing while he waited. Maxime devoured the raw mince he offered her, and signified his sauce was a success by lapping up a generous serving. By eight forty-five, after a few glasses of Black Label he began to feel human again, but was worried. Where was Laura?

  Between pacing and planning he scanned the television for news reports, making sure there had been no leaks. Nick had lost his appetite, and the spaghetti he had prepared so carefully remained untouched. The clock read ten thirty! Reaching for the phone, he began calling Laura’s friends but no-one knew her whereabouts.

  On impulse he placed a call to his friend Graham in Hawaii, but was unsuccessful, his secretary said he’d taken a flight to Los Angeles. Graham was like that, although he employed several pilots he still loved to fly now and then; said it kept him up to date with everything, and he often frustrated everybody wishing to contact him by turning off his eye-phone. Graham said he wanted to choose whom he talked to and when. Unfortunately this was one of those times, and Nick swore as he placed another call to Los Angeles airport and left an urgent message for Graham to contact him.

  Time crept on and he brooded in a lounge chair the entire night, switching channels on the television, with Maxime curled up at his feet, until finally he drifted off to sleep around five am. The intercom buzzed insistently at six, jerking him from a troubled dream. ‘Who’s there?’ He grumbled. He unfolded his long body from the chair and ran his fingers through his loose and dishevelled hair.

  ‘It’s Josh. Let me in!’ Rumbled from the other side of the door.

  Nick opened the door slowly to find Josh red-faced and dressed in jogging clothes. His usual neat appearance was absent and his dark ebony skin glistened with perspiration. ‘I shouldn’t be here.’ He gasped pushing his way inside. ‘The CIA have got Laura and it’s my fault!’

  ‘What! Bloody Hell Josh! Why?’

  ‘I saw how agitated Laura was yesterday when she came to my office, and I guessed you’d told her everything. I know her, she has such strong ideas and I thought she might spill the beans before the press conference, apparently so did the CIA. You know what she’s like! Always looking for the truth. Anyway, I let it slip when I was talking to the head of the CIA at the meeting yesterday.’

  ‘You let what slip?’

  Josh’s face darkened. ‘That Laura was in the know.’

  ‘Christ, Josh! She wouldn’t have said anything!’ Nick ran his fingers through his hair again.

  ‘I know that! I didn’t think…’

  ‘How did you find out?’

  ‘’Um, Bob Anderson called me last night and warned me to shut my trap. I’m sorry Nick, I…’

  ‘What did he say? Where is she?’

  Josh shrugged his shoulders. ‘I don’t know. He wouldn’t tell me.’

  Nick paced back and forth. ‘Shit! Shit! I wanna know who’s in charge. Who ordered this?’

  ‘Won’t do any good. No way. Maybe it’s their way of keeping you in check. Figured you’re no threat while you’re looking for her.’

  ‘I can’t believe they did this. What’s the matter with them? I’d a thought they’d have more to worry about than this leaking out before they’re ready. Bastards!’

  Josh put his hands of Nick’s shoulders. ‘Look, calm down buddy. They won’t harm her, they just want to shut her up, until the press conference.’

  Nick paced and Maxime’s eyes followed him back and forth. ‘Do they expect me to wait here until they decide I can leave? I can be back in Australia in less than two days. Before this gets out. I need to be there.’ He walked to the window to gaze at the fog rising around the city buildings. His mind just as fogged.

  ‘How do you plan to get out of the country? They’ll be watching you.’ Josh said.

  ‘Just let them bloody well try to stop me. I’m not saying any more. If you don’t know you can’t tell anyone.’ He snapped. Then was reminded of his remorse when he had snapped at Josh at the airport. ‘Sorry. I don’t blame you. I know you didn’t expect this to happen. From now on we’d better watch who we talk to.’

  Josh rubbed his forehead and sighed. ‘Yeah. I was going to call you late last night, but I didn’t know how to tell you. If we get through this I’ll make it up to you and Laura somehow.’

  ‘You can start now, tell those bastards at the Capitol I fell for their bait. I’m looking for Laura, give me time to sort things out.’

  Josh headed for the door. ‘I’d better get out of here, they’re probably watching me too. Good luck buddy. I’ll keep looking for Laura, make sure she’s okay.’ He saluted and was gone.

  ***

  Nick trembled and he felt the anger rising. If this was how people were going to react, things were going to get rough. He had to get away, but how? His normally structured mind churned like that damn concrete mixer again! He’d wanted to find out where Laura was, but that could take more than a few days! A few precious days...Christ what’s happened? This’s crazy! He hurried to the bedroom, opened drawers, moved papers, looking for any clues Laura may have left, then to her small office to repeat the exercise, but found nothing.

  His mind flashed to their last conversation when she had said she wanted a man around all the time. He wondered what he would have said if this situation had not existed. There was no way he would give up his life at sea, he needed a woman who would want to share that with him, and Laura was not that woman. He went to the bathroom and the face in the mirror told him it was just as well, she would never leave Washington for anyone, least of all him, even though she had said she loved him. For a moment his anxiety over her safety was replaced by sorrow when he realised he did not love her that much either. It was over.

  He also saw he wasn’t going to find her and decided to leave the country anyway. Frustration welled inside him. Josh would look for her as he promised, that was the least he could do. His nerves jumped like tight strings rebounding when his sat-phone phone buzzed, alarming him more than it should have.

  ‘G’day Nick. How y’ going mate?’

  Nick sighed. It was good to hear a fellow Aussie’s voice, best of all Graham’s welcome rumble. In his state of funk he’d almost forgotten about him.

  ‘Not so good pal, where are you? I need to call you back.’

  ‘I’m in LA. The Airport Hotel. Why? What’s up?’

  ‘Can you get over to Jerry’s place? I’ll call you there in forty-five minutes.’

  Jerry’s was a restaurant where Nick and Graham had often dined when they were both in LA, a popular intimate place in Venice Beach, where they served the best steaks in town.

  ‘Jerry’s? Sure,but why the mystery?’

  ‘Can’t explain now, I wouldn’t ask unless it was important.’

  ‘Okay mate. You’re lucky, I’m between flights and I could do with a good feed. How’s Laura?’

  ‘She’s fine.’ The words hung in the air. ‘I’ve gotta run. Jerry’s. Forty-five minutes, and keep your bloody eye-phone on!’

  Nick threw the sat-phone on the table and stared at it wondering whether it was bugged. It was still early morning, he could go out and call Graham from a phone check station. These were service booths located in all the parks and public areas where people could recharge their eye-phone, get city directions, order a Trancab and many other options, and he worried that they too could be bugged, but figured this would be the safest option, as people did not use them to carry on conversations when they had their personal eyephones, which he was sure would be bugged. He fumbled around in Laura’s robe and found his jacksuit. It was not as stylish or as functional as those w
orn by executives and government officials, but wearing this he would blend in with the crowds on the streets. He plucked the eye-phone set that Laura had bought him from the shelf where he had tossed it, and jammed his hair under a baseball cap. He felt ridiculous.

  Graham would need about 30-40 minutes to get to Jerry’s from the airport, so he calculated he should wait 15 minutes. He glanced at is his TAG wristwatch impatiently waiting. While he waited plans formed in his mind. If he moved fast he could be in LA today, and off with Graham to Hawaii before they knew what he was up to. It would be easy to get out of Hawaii, especially if he could talk Graham into taking the flight back to Australia.

  Nick wished he was back in The Alice now where he first met Graham. Things were so uncomplicated then. Brian and he were young, and Graham was so sure of himself. Brian had nagged Nick into going on a balloon flight, and it turned out to be the most fantastic week of his life. He thought Graham was the most reckless character he had ever met. Higher, higher, faster, faster, he never seemed to get enough.

  It was Graham who persuaded him to push ahead with oceanography. ‘The world needs the odd sane scientist.’ He’d said, laughing at his own joke.

  Nick loved his sense of adventure, the devil-may-care attitude that matched his own, and they were very much alike. Underneath the gentleman facade Graham was a tough cookie. He’d built his airline from small beginnings, moving cargo through the outback of Australia, to carrying passengers and then on to international passenger flights. His ambition was boundless and Nick admired him more than any man alive. Graham would help him. He looked at his watch it was time to go!

  Chapter Fifteen

  Nick sensed a presence, but did not look behind as he walked briskly away from Laura’s building without looking back, letting anyone who may be following think he was unaware of them. He headed for the nearby Lincoln Park two blocks from Laura’s apartment, thinking how the scenery differed from his usual walking area on the deck of the Platypus. Trancars buzzed three lanes deep in every direction, and until he reached the park he found himself dodging jack-suited business people heading for their mundane jobs in the tall glass houses that lined the streets blocking the sun. He found the jacksuits men wore to be dull and boring colours of grey, black and brown. The women however had managed to turn the jacksuits into fashionable clothes, wearing various styles of jackets and colourful accessories over the body suits. If the weather was mild most people wore normal clothes.