Future Tense by Frank Almond

Author:Frank Almond
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC028000 FICTION, Science Fiction, General, FIC028010 FICTION, Science Fiction, Adventure
Publisher: Boson Books
Published: 2012-01-13T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

We must have looked like a UFO to the casual observer, out walking the dog, or spending a romantic evening up some lonely country lane. The old barge was lit up like Las Vegas and we were hurtling high up in the night sky over some of the most sparsely populated countryside in England. We headed straight west above the Mendip Hills and angled down into the Somerset Levels—a distance of some thirty miles, covered in a matter of moments. Emma and I watched the whole journey, spellbound, clinging to the safety rail—too terrified to move, in case the wind snatched us away.

“What’s happening?” cried Emma, as our descent speed slowed.

The landscape had assumed a sort of monochrome glow—all ghostly pale and streaked with shadows.

“I can see Glastonbury—and, look—there—is that Brent Knoll?” I said.

“The light!” said Emma. “It’s getting lighter.”

She was right. The night was draining away, fading from the zenith point, and leaching back to the horizon.

“It’s another day—” I started to say.

“Ice!” screamed Emma, throwing herself on me like a rugby player and bringing us both down on the decking with a double thud.

There was a huge jolt, followed by a crunching sound and then a prolonged scraping and bumping. We didn’t dare look up to see what was happening, but it was pretty obvious to us both that the barge had landed and was skidding on ice.

By now the evening had peeled away and we were squinting up into a glaring grey sky. On and on the heavy boat rumbled like someone bowing a very large violin. We could feel it shudder on every uneven patch and skewing round and round as it raced along, but it was gradually slowing down. Once it had slowed to a safe speed, we both clambered to our feet. We looked around us and then at each other.

“You know where this is, don’t you?” said Emma, her breath smoking in the cold air.

“Well, it’s not the Ally Pally Ice Rink, that’s for sure,” I said.

The barge was back to normal again—all the strange lights had vanished and whatever force had been holding us was gone.

“No sign of life,” said Emma. She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. “Brrr—it’s freezing. I’m going down to find something to put on.” She went below.

I blew into my hands and climbed up onto the roof. I walked forward. Though the barge was still skidding, it was now a gentle slide, and I could easily keep my balance. I was so confident I even put my hands in my trouser pockets. When I reached the end I rested one foot up on the bow, something in the manner of a figurehead. We were barely moving by now and the ice was making a pleasant groaning sound, rather like a long, comfortable fart. Finally, we ground to a halt. And everything fell silent.

“We’ve stopped, Em!” I shouted.

“Steve?” said Emma.

“I’m up here!” I called.

I looked back and saw her head and shoulders pop up above the flat roof.

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