Second Contact by J. D. Austin

Author:J. D. Austin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group

“MY fellow Kivlanians,” Grig began, “I speak to you tonight on behalf of all twenty-seven nations, of this, the most beautiful and bounteous planet that has ever been created.

“My friends, I will not lie to you. Our planet is facing its biggest crisis in seven hundred years. The fallout is beginning to affect our everyday lives. And that, fellow Kivlanians, is something we must unite against. I am assured that this condition will last only another four-to-six weeks—but in that time, we must make certain sacrifices that will ensure our well-being until the crisis is over.

“We are therefore going to reconfigure our global thought processors to voice actuation. This will take time—I am told, twenty-four hours. Beginning midnight tonight, and lasting until midnight tomorrow, the processors will be totally off-line. Now, I’m sure you are all aware of the difficulty and inconvenience and, let’s face it, the danger this condition might cause. Therefore, I would like all of you to contribute in this way: We are declaring tomorrow Global Feast Day. In other words, everybody gets the day off tomorrow. Tonight, set aside enough food and drink for a full day. MedCentral has been notified and is prepared. Do not touch any comestibles or drink until they have been analyzed.

“By midnight tomorrow, the conversion should be complete. We will keep you abreast of our progress. In the meantime, consider tomorrow a gift. Spend the time at home, with your loved ones. Go to the park, the shore, the lake, or your own backyard.”

“I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been annoyed by people who look at a tragedy, or even an inconvenience, and say, ‘Oh, but look, some good came out of it.’ Well, I was wrong. There is good. Because out of this, we have one extra day to spend with those we love. To create memories we never would have had if tomorrow were just another working day. Who knows? You might walk down the street and find the love of your life. You might be there when your child takes her first step or speaks his first words. You just might discover something about a parent or a spouse that you never had time to notice before. It could happen, and it will happen to someone. And if it doesn’t happen to you, at least you will have received one extra day in your life where nothing whatsoever is expected from you except to notice the beauty around you.”

“Good night, my dear friends. May Providence bless you, and continue to bless our own wonderful world.”

“You son of a bitch,” the vice president sniffed, wiping away a tear. “I haven’t cried since I was four.”

“You know why I was able to do that?” Grig asked her.

“No. Why?” she replied, fighting back another sob.

“Because I meant it. Every single word. Now the two of you—get out of here and get to work.”

“What are you going to do?”

“None of your business. Now beat it. Scram. Get lost. You have work to do.

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