Countdown to Extinction by Louise Moss

Author:Louise Moss [Moss, Louise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-12-17T22:00:00+00:00

15

Gerald opened the door to the outside cautiously. Out on the plains, there were still a few insects flying haphazardly, as if they were drunk, but most of them had died; the ground crunched beneath his feet with a layer of red carapaces.

“We must clear the dead insects from ground,” he told Hagan. “They could contaminate the ground as they disintegrate.”

“It will be done,” Hagan said, masking his annoyance at being disturbed in his laboratory once again. The machines were already on their way and would already be crawling over the plains, removing the remains.

“The Welsh couple will be brought out of the vault once the Plains are clear,” Hagan said. “The midwife will be brought out nearer the time of the child’s birth.”

“I’ll go and make sure the recovery room is ready.”

Emma had done her best to make the room homely, with limited resources. She didn’t want anyone else to experience the terror she had felt when she had woken up in the clinic surrounded by strange, distorted shapes, figures who made no sense. She had asked Hagan for curtains and decorative covers, but he had refused.

“It’s the same every time I want something,” she complained to Gerald. “Hagan says I can’t have it. He’s being unreasonable.”

“You will have them one day soon, I promise. Hagan’s just doing his job.” There was something nagging at the back of his mind, but he could not quite grasp the thought that was trying to get out, but in any case, they had tools and a trailer, so surely other things existed somewhere?

When the couple were due to be released, Gerald and Emma waited in the recovery room so they would be the first thing the couple saw. The first to wake was Michael. His green eyes darted around the room and alighted on Emma before turning to the other bed, where Susan was still slept. “Where am I?” he said in a strange, high pitched voice.

“You are in hospital,” Gerald began.

“What’s happened to my voice?”

“It’s temporary, it will be fine soon,” Gerald said, although he had no idea if it was true.

Emma poured some water into a container and helped him to drink. Susan was just stirring.

Questions came thick and fast. Where were they, what year was it, when could they go home, had their family been to visit?

Gerald had been rehearsing what he wanted to say to them for several days, but it still wasn’t easy. “You have been here for some time in a frozen state. There have been many changes, but here at Greycoats we are building a community.”

Michael tried to take Susan’s hand in his but his fingers remained in a tight fist. “I can’t open them,” he shouted. “What have you done?”

He jumped off the bed and strode over to the door. ”I’m going home.” He paused, waiting for Susan.

She put her feet on the floor and tried unsuccessfully to stand.

Emma moved to her side. “Let me help.”

“I didn’t realise you were pregnant,” Susan said, visibly relaxing, as if it suddenly made everything all right.

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