The Slide

Chapter 8.1 | Convergence

Sophia began the prep work for Tem’s memory procedure while Nikos and Farha went back to the kitchen.

“The Slide divides the world into east and west. Explorers have traced it south through the deserts to the end of the globe across a frozen sea in an island encased in ice,” Nikos said.

“It goes to the North and far to the west of the Confederacy,” Nikos took a sip of water. “The barrier between the west and the east does not travel in straight lines, it zig-zags at times.

“Each year the satellite passes, the photographs you receive have revealed slight changes of the same landscapes. I once had equipment to make four layered dimensional composites that revealed details within parts of the Side — unfortunately I lost the equipment and the photographs when there was a mysterious fire. That was when I was still in the military years ago. I could help you with making new equipment to see.”

Farha explained that she and Tem had been barred from map-making.

“I suspect that, that policy will change eventually.”

“When?” she wondered aloud.

“I sense in a year or two.”

In the morning, Tem was brighter and talked about what had transpired the night before. Farha later looked at the script that Nikos had given her. She saw that his memories of the night before were reflected in the script and reinforced by her questions. The blocking and replacement of memories were successful.

The CC/Civilian Corps sent Farha, Tee, and Sophia to the highest peak on an arduous road. They had to carry the equipment up to the small cabin on foot when the road became blocked by boulders. It was one to two days depending on the load and weather conditions.

“I’ve been experimenting with the herbs you gave me,” Farha told Sofia, who turned and acknowledged her, flexing her eyebrows. Tee, carrying the bulk of supplies, was about 20 feet ahead of them and upwind. Farha had a bead on his scent.

“And?” Sofia prompted.

“I’ve made them into concentrated liquids and soaked the arrowheads in them. Uncle Tem has an exquisite sense of smell and a strong constitution. He’s helped me measure their effects without shredding his clothing or piercing his skin with any arrows.

“Would you agree that an arrow shot — not to kill or wound that carried the scent — would be more effective because of increased adrenaline release?”

“Yes,” Sophia said, digesting the question and pondering it. “Yes, that is an excellent insight. You are so brilliant.”

“I don’t know that I would go that far,” Farha added.

“What are some results?”

“I have one that produces giddiness and sometimes laughter, another irritation, and a third extreme nausea. And I have combined laughter with irritation, but it is not yet tested.”

“Amazing. But carrying your bow and arrows along this route, we are unlikely to encounter marauders or wild animals.”

“Better to be prepared,” Farha concluded.

The light of the sun was diffuse when they reached the cabin at the summit. Light filtered through the energetic atmosphere of the Slide. Tee built a fire in the stove while Sophia and Farha set up scopes, cameras and binoculars.

Inside, they had some dried stew reconstituted in boiling water. Farha was drawn out onto the lookout-porch. As soon as she put her eyes in the binocular eyepieces trained onto the desert floor in the inky darkness of night, the balls of light appeared.

She was transfixed as small balls of light remained for snatches of seconds on the ground. Many more medium-sized balls appeared for seconds longer in geometric shapes and shimmered in rainbows of color. Then they popped and sizzled with arcs of electrical energy towards the Ground Zero camp. Then darkness.

Tee emerged with a small light and Sophia moved gently to her side and calmly whispered her name three times. Farha was frozen, lost. On the fourth try, she jumped as her name registered and she yelped.

“Come inside. It’s cold, and the wind is kicking up,” Tee said having opened the cabin door.

Sophia helped her walk. The three were swallowed by the small cabin. They both helped her into a chair. Despite the warmth of the cabin, she was shivering and while her body was there, her spirit was lost to the Slide or beyond. Her eyes glazed she was in another time and place. Sophia draped a blanket over her shoulders.

“I’ll check the devices. Be back in a few minutes,” Tee said and exited.

Farha took her mother’s hand, and they strolled to the grand window of the upstairs bedroom.

“There across the sands beyond where we cannot see, beyond The Slide is called ‘High-Lands’ part of one of the two isles that are no more.

“Your Papa is out there near to the Slide. I feel it. He is happy and in his element. He and his maps. I am happy for him and sad for us because we miss and long to be with him.”

She lifted the 3-year-old Farha into her arms and looked through the window at the stars above.

“See there,” Ma-Ma pointed at the bright star in the dome overhead.

Farha dozed, feeling the loss of her Papa and separation from Alexis.

In mid-morning, they dropped off some equipment at the Ridges Base and picked up military personnel for the journey through the dunes. The dunes were known for ambushes by marauders. Two men rode camels in the lead and one on a horse aft of their vehicle. One man remained at the turret. It was slow going because of sand drift. Three quarters of the way through, three marauders appeared on camels with rocket launchers and rifles.

Farha jumped from the vehicle with her bow and quiver of arrows and ran up behind their lead men. She fired three arrows whose tips had been immersed in laughter/irritation at each of the three. Each successive arrow ripped through the clothing and released scent. The lead marauder laughed and yelled at the other two, who fell to their knees confused or ready to fire rockets.

Chapter 8.2 | Convergence is available now:

Rebecca Romanelli | DL Nemeril | Marcus aka Gregory Maidman | Elle Beau ❇︎ | Filiz Özer | Melanie J. | madmess’s thoughts | Dr Mehmet Yildiz | Joseph Lieungh | Alison Hollingsead | I. Trudie Palmer | Ravyne Hawke | Orla.K | Alberto García 🚀🚀🚀 | Mark Tulin | Shirley Willett | Alan Lew | David Price | Blaine Coleman | Michelle Roussin