2042: The Great Cataclysm

by Melisande Mason

  Nick snapped back to the present and Karen filled his vision as she stood before him reaching for his glass for a refill.

  ‘You seem keyed up Nick. I can see something’s troubling you.’ Brian remarked as he joined them on the verandah.

  Graham and Nick were the same height, but he lacked Nick’s rugged weathered appearance. Where Nick was thickset and muscular, his skin baked by the ever present sun at sea, Brian was lean, and his lightly tanned skin showed no signs of ageing. He maintained a fitness program of regular morning runs around the mountain roads.

  Brian was now CEO of Bill Simpson’s newspaper empire, which was one of the largest in the country thanks to Brian. It was not because Bill was Karen’s uncle, but like Nick, Brian was intelligent but more outgoing, and as a result had climbed the ladder to the top quickly. Unlike his brother he possessed a tough streak, and was good at keeping his true feelings hidden.

  ‘I’ve got something to tell you, but I need you both to promise you won’t tell anyone else for at least twenty-four hours. I promised someone I’d keep it from you for now, but I can’t, you need to know.’ Nick sloshed his drink around the glass.

  ‘Sounds serious, but can you trust a journalist to keep a secret?’ Brian grinned.

  ‘I don’t have a choice. I think you’ll agree it’s necessary when you hear what it is.’

  They reluctantly agreed and Nick unfolded his story. The cynical smile faded from Brian’s face as he listened. Nick was accustomed to being questioned in detail, so he was thorough with his explanations. The silence of the bushland surrounding them added to the drama of the moment. There was a hush, the Kookaburras had fled, and the only sounds were the occasional warble from a family of magpies, the long melodious call of a solitary native Butcher Bird in the distance, and the soft swish of the wind rustling in the gum trees.

  Brian stood with his arms crossed and Karen reacted to the news as expected, first shock, disbelief, then fear. Nick identified with all of these emotions, he was still experiencing them himself.

  ‘My God.’ Karen said. ‘What will we do? This’s terrible.’ She thought immediately of her friends and patients at the hospital. ‘So many people could die.’

  ‘I’ve just come from Canberra where I had a long session with the Minister for Emergency Services. He’s a good bloke. With the military’s help, they’ll be setting up camps in the mountains and stocking them with supplies. He’s setting up emergency meetings right now with all the relevant people in charge of the hospitals, police and other emergency services.’

  ‘What’d they want from you?’ Brian asked, unfolding his arms.

  ‘They needed to pick my brains so they’d know what to expect when it happens. Oh, and listen, Graham’s back too, we came home together. He’s flat-out commandeering every privately owned Veto he can lay his hands on.’

  ‘Jesus Christ Nick. Did they tell you their plans?’

  ‘Not in detail. Their biggest problem is getting it all organised before the press conference. That’s why I’m not supposed to tell you, you can’t release this yet. They’re calling it operation Star Flight, and only people at top levels know about it right now. There’s a great pool of info available from all the past tsunamis we’ve had thank God, especially round Japan.’

  Brian sat and banged his drink on the table. ‘You can’t expect me to sit on something as big as this Nick.’

  ‘I expect you to honour our agreement. It’s only for twenty-four hours. You’ll have the jump on them Brian, although I don’t know if that’s any use, other than giving you the notoriety of being the first reporter to break the news.’

  ‘Yeah, well I need that. Bill’s been a bit miffed at me lately. Don’t know what’s getting in his craw.’

  Nick glanced at Karen and she shrugged her shoulders. ‘I promise to give you the information everyone will be craving, that should make a difference.’

  ‘Okay… I guess. How much warning will we get then?’

  ‘I’m not sure. These things are so unpredictable, but there should be time to get up into the hills if people act straight away, there’ll be warnings sent out by the tsunami detection centres around the Pacific. They’re um, planning to move people up there before the warnings. You’d better get this place locked up tight, there’ll be looters and people looking for shelter anywhere they can get it.’

  Karen imagined the chaos they would be facing and her faced darkened, highlighting the smile lines around her eyes. Her hand holding her drink trembled slightly. ‘Are you telling us everything Nick?’ She tilted her chin and narrowed her eyes.

  Nick turned away.Should I tell them?He thought.No, things are bad enough. Instead he said, ‘I’ve told you everything I know for certain.’

  ‘Hmmm. What about all the people in hospitals and nursing homes, and the old people. Who’s going to look after them?’

  ‘Who’s the bloke in charge at the hospital Karen?’ Nick asked.

  ‘His name’s Alex Videon.’ She replied glancing at Brian, and Nick did not fail to notice him wince.

  ‘He’s probably already been notified. What sort of bloke is he?’

  Brian jumped from his seat and retreated inside before Karen answered.

  ‘Karen?’ Nick asked.

  Karen stared after Brian and frowned.

  ‘Karen!’ Nick prompted again.

  ‘Oh, sorry, you may as well know the story. I was engaged to marry Alex before I met Brian.’

  Nick grimaced and he looked directly into Karen’s eyes. ‘I didn’t know that.’

  She looked away.

  ‘It didn’t work out, and he was devastated when I broke it off. He followed me up here, he’s still in love with me and doesn’t try to hide it. Brian and I are always arguing over him, he thinks I still have feelings for Alex.’

  Nick’s body tensed, he swallowed hard. He feared the answer but quietly asked. ‘Do you?’

  ‘Well, yes but not romantic ones. He’s just a good friend, he’s considerate and caring. He’s also a brilliant doctor and I respect him, he’s the best man to handle this situation. Just about everything’s an emergency in a hospital, and ever since the sea started rising it’s been mandatory for hospitals to have flood evacuation plans and regular drills. I never thought it would happen for real.

  My hospital was built in 2030 and with rising seas in mind. Our evacuation procedures may be able to cope with getting them all out at once, but some of the other hospitals are old, with narrow corridors and no rooftop Veto pads.’

  She paused to sip her drink, thoughts thundered through her head. ‘Good grief! All the equipment will have to be moved too. It’s impossible!’

  Nick whistled. ‘Big job, but nothing more than everything else that has to be done. He swished his drink a little too hard, splashing his no fear T-shirt and muttered to himself while wiping the damp spot with his hand.

  Karen was no longer listening, as an afterthought she said, ‘I wonder how many people are in hospital around the country, and there’s a lot bedridden in their homes being looked after by the Blue Nurses. How on earth do they think they’re going to get all those people to safety? Some of them are so critical, they probably shouldn’t be moved at all.’

  Brian returned with another drink in one hand and a bottle of scotch in the other. ‘Who’s critical?’

  ‘We’ve been wondering what’s going to happen to all the people bedridden in their homes.’ Karen said. Nick loved the way she titled her chin when she was worried.

  ‘They’ll evacuate them too of course.’ Brian said. ‘I wouldn’t want to have to organise that. I’ve been thinking, what about power and water?’

  ‘There won’t be any, we’ll have to rely on water stored in the tanks up here. I see you’ve got two big ones.’ Nick said. ‘Don’t know about power though. The army will probably set up some emergency systems.’

  ‘When d’you think it’s going to happen Nick?’ He asked.

  ‘I wish I knew.’

  ‘B
loody hell! You don’t know? Are you saying it could happen anytime? Even tomorrow?’

  ‘Yeah, ‘fraid so. There’s no time to be wasted, we should start making our own plans right now.’

  ‘I’m going to see Bill then.’ Brian said draining his glass. ‘You know he lives here now. He bought one of those fancy new penthouses in the Phoenix building near yours. There was a hell of a stir when they built that place.’ He added as an afterthought. ‘People thought those connecting walkways over the highway were an eyesore.’

  ‘Uncle Bill didn’t.’ Karen said. ‘He couldn’t wait to move in. He wanted a penthouse, but he didn’t like the idea of living on the fortieth floor of some high-rise apartment. The Phoenix is only twenty-six floors, and he’s got the top three floors in the north-east tower.’ She paused. ‘What d’you think will happen to all the high-rises Nick?’

  ‘I don’t think any of them will stand up to it, if they do they’ll become islands stranded in the rising seas.’

  Brian looked worried. ‘Half the people on the Gold Coast live in them. We’ll have to get Bill out of his somehow. It won’t be easy, he’s a stubborn old bastard. You coming Karen?’

  ‘Yes, but I hope he hasn’t been drinking.’ Karen said. ‘He’s get so cranky when he’s had a few. What are you going to tell him?’

  ‘Whoa!’ Nick said. ‘You can’t tell him yet.’

  ‘We have to, he’s been like a father to me ever since Dad was killed.’ Karen scowled at Nick. ‘ I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to him. I want him here where it’s safe.’

  ‘I doubt Veronica would agree with that, she wouldn’t leave all her socialite friends.’ Brian said.

  ‘There’s plenty of time for that,’ Nick growled. You can tell him tomorrow night when everybody knows what’s going to happen. The government’s been working twenty-four seven on getting things in place, they don’t want panic before they’re ready. Not that they’ll ever be ready for this. You two have to promise to keep it quiet until tomorrow. You can announce it say, ah,two hours before the press release Brian.’

  Brian hung his head. ‘Okay, if you insist. Thank Christ it’s the weekend then, I couldn’t go into the office knowing this, I’d be forced to tell Bill.’

  Karen stalked off followed by Brian, and Nick could hear them arguing. It had been quite a day and he was feeling exhausted, but he remained on the verandah watching the sun play its games on the buildings at the edge of the sea, intrigued by the red flames that played across their glass walls. Now that Brian and Karen knew the situation, he felt part of the weight had lifted from his shoulders. What would tomorrow bring? He was missing his crew mates on the Platypus, the quiet evenings at sea enjoying a card game, playing his guitar or a watching a good movie together. He felt so far away from them, and scared he may never see any of them again.Weird, he thought,when I’m with them, I’m missing Brian and home, now the tables are turned. Depressing feelings of loneliness overpowered him, prompting him to pull out his sat-phone phone again, grateful for the convenience these gadgets offered.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Bill.

  The deadline for the press conference approached, and Nick and Karen waited in the lobby of the north tower of the Phoenix complex for the private lift to take them to Bill’s apartment on the twenty-fourth floor. Brian had prepared his own press release to pre-empt the World Government’s, and had gone to the television studio.

  Karen was always in awe of the opulence and absolute luxury that Bill and Veronica enjoyed in this apartment. The marble-lined lift came to a halt and the doors parted with a whisper, to reveal Bill waiting for them in the private foyer, already brandishing a drink in his hand.

  ‘What a welcome surprise. Nick! When did you get home? He stretched out his other hand, pumping Nick’s vigourously. ‘Veronica’s gone out.’ He said waving his hand in the air in a dismissing attitude. ‘We had another blue. She’s probably off somewhere with that rat pack she runs with. I don’t know when she’ll wake up that they only want her for her money. I’ve got rid of the housekeeper for the night, otherwise I’d have her run up a meal.’

  ‘No thanks Bill, we’ve eaten.’ Nick said.

  Bill was in his late fifties, a big muscular man, with a florid complexion and deep crinkles on his forehead, a forehead that was continually seeping perspiration drops. Like Karen, his hair was dark, but thinning with streaks of grey at the temples, and his warm brown eyes twinkled with mischief, belying his bad temper and promising a quirky sense of humour. He and Veronica spent most of their evenings dining at fancy restaurants or entertaining the affluent crowd in their luxury penthouse. They worked hard to avoid being alone together, and quite openly stated their dislike for each other.

  It was a strange marriage. She was a bitter woman who had been raised by wealthy arrogant parents. Bill had met her when he was a young ambitious news reporter assigned to a story about old money. She fell in love with him and pursued him for months. He didn’t return that love, but he was no fool, and he saw a way he could realise his dream to own his own newspaper. Their marriage was one of Sydney’s biggest society weddings of the year, and it felt good to have someone taking photographs of him for a change.

  The marriage soured the following year when Veronica found she was unable to have children, and as a consequence threw herself into the social scene. Bill did not mind as it gave him the opportunity to make the right connections. Their life since then had been one long round of parties and functions. Veronica knew Bill did not love her, and it was this, more than the fact that she could not have children that made her bitter.

  He would have enjoyed having a son, but it did not concern him as he had Karen, his brother’s child, whom he adored and showered with affection. He was genuinely fond of Brian and thankful too that he had made Bill a rich man. Veronica resented Bill’s relationship with Karen and always tried to find ways to keep them apart.

  Bill swapped his scotch into his other hand and patted Nick’s shoulder. Nick grinned, taking in the silver-grey silk caftan Bill was wearing.

  ‘I refuse to wear those body suits at home, besides this apartment is so well insulated and air-conditioned I don’t need to.’ Bill explained. ‘This’s far more comfortable.’

  Bill hugged Karen tightly. ‘What a treat! I’m glad Veronica went out, give us a chance to enjoy each other’s company without her sarcastic remarks.’

  ‘I don’t know what keeps you two together.’ Karen replied returning his hug.

  ‘Money!’ He laughed. ‘C’mon, come in and sit down, I’ll get you some drinks.’

  ‘Not for me thanks Bill.’ Nick remarked. ‘We’ve got something to discuss with you.’

  “Where’s Brian?’

  ‘He’s...er..working on something.’ Nick said.

  ‘Can’t it wait until tomorrow? We can thrash it out at the office. I don’t get to see Karen as often as I’d like.’

  ‘Afraid not it’s, ah, going to be chaos tomorrow.’

  ‘What d’you mean?’ Bill’s words slurred. ‘What’s happenin’ tomorrow?’

  Nick looked to Karen. ‘Will you tell him, or should I?’

  ‘Tell me what? C’mom Nick spit it out!’

  They arranged themselves on the soft leather conversation pit facing the ocean, and Nick sighed and began the story. Bill listened, his face turned a little pink but Karen put that down to the number of drinks he had consumed today. He did not interrupt, just remained still, not noticing when his drink was empty.

  When Nick had finished Bill jumped from his seat. ‘Bloody Hell. This calls for my best scotch. Where’d you say Brian was?’

  ‘He went to the TV studio he’s breaking the news now. Turn it on.’

  ‘News.’ Bill ordered and the display shimmered into view. Brian filled the screen and related the story almost like he was taking part in a movie, every now and then wiping his wet forehead with a cloth. Microphones were shoved toward him as he stood protected by a podium.

&nbs
p; Bill poured them all a heavy serving of two hundred year old scotch and listened in silence, eagerly absorbing all the information. He suddenly laughed and slapped his knee. ‘Ha, ha. Veronica’ll crap her bloody designer jeans. Ha. ha.’ Then Bill scowled and bit his bottom lip, lowering his eyes. ‘Sorry Karen, I didn’t mean to offend you. What d’we do now?

  Karen rose and sat beside him on the plush coffee-coloured lounge. She put her arm around his shoulder and laid her head against him. ‘I don’t know. Nick told us last night and I’m still in shock.’

  Nick stood by the huge Navilon windows gazing out to sea. From this vantage point on the twenty-fourth floor, he could see clearly to the far horizon. The ocean was his life but now a shiver ran through him when he tried to imagine the coming days.

  Bill hung his head. ‘Nothing like that sort of news to sober a man up.’

  Nick looked at Karen and raised an eyebrow.

  Karen kissed Bill on the cheek. ‘We want you and Veronica to come to our place. It will be safe there in the hills.

  ‘I’ll talk to her when she gets home, but don’t count on it.’

  After they had gone Bill fixed himself another stiff drink and sat out on the balcony. Life had been boring lately. Jupiter’s Casino had been his only outlet for a long time, but even that had lost its attraction now. The same old crowd, always flashing their expensive jewellery and fast cars. Life was going to be far from boring from now on. Reminded of Veronica he glanced at his Rolex watch.Where the hell was she? He thought she would have made a beeline home when she heard the news.

  Just then he heard the lift arrive and he jumped from his seat. Veronica came running into the apartment howling like a cat on heat. Bill was shocked when she threw herself into his arms and sobbed on his shoulder. He had never seen her cry like this, and it bewildered him.

  The only thing Bill thought to do was pour her a drink, his answer to every problem, and when she gulped it down in one swig and presented her glass to him for another, he gaped. They continued drinking for the next hour, becoming quite drunk before falling asleep in the conversation pit.