Chapter 6

Log. 25452.m

We’ve received a message from the underground city: in the chaos of Treiny's fall, it was taken over by organic humans and anyone who has no connection with any organic is prohibited from entering. Apparently they released an electromagnetic pulse and everything that wasn’t turned off and/or shielded was ruined. I wonder if they warned inorganic humans to shut down their systems. I don't like to think about how I would be received in such a place. Or even how the Programmer would be received. No deaths were declared, but in this chaos I doubt any will be.

I wonder if we can still make our plan work.

The days were easy in Bridge City. They had decided to stay for only a week, but the seventh day was right around the corner and they didn’t want to leave. Esha had made some friends at school, and Séra had met some Sand people at the hydroplant.

They explained the reasons why they’d left Sand City, and most of it boiled down to the intolerance towards any new kind of tool or processes people would invent to ease their lives. Sand people weren’t open-minded enough to let go of the old ways and welcome a new era.

It was true and no one could disagree that the old ways saved uncountable lives, but that was it. The fear of technology, which once helped save and keep the communities, had now become a barrier against development.

It had caused some of the most brilliant minds to leave Sand City, whether it was on their own accord, or forced by fear and prejudice. After Koira was forced to leave, many who had looked up to her did the same, gathered their things and walked away in the dead of night.

Most of those people had left when Séra was a teenager, ten, twelve years ago, and it filled her with hope seeing how their lives were thriving in this city. It proved she could also have a good life, even if she decided to never go back to Sand City.

What also amazed her was how Bridge people were nice to them. They would hear Séra’s ideas, even though she had just arrived. Ganen was granted a special position at the water cleaning station as a consultant after she pointed out some weird mould growing on a wall — it was a recurring problem, and with Ganen’s help, they were finally able to get rid of it and improve the water’s quality.

While things were good for both women, Esha always had wonderful tales to tell about the school. One day, they’d planted vegetables, and on the next, they harvested those vegetables! Nothing in the world would change the little girl’s mind about that, Ganen surely tried.

She would tell them about asking the teacher to repeat a plant’s name or ask them how to write something. Sometimes, her friends helped her, and it was really nice, because now she had many friends! She wasn’t the quiet kid in the corner anymore, she was the one playing with the others until Ganen and Séra arrived to pick her up.

The other day, they had carpentry classes. The teacher didn’t let Esha use the tools that time, because she hadn’t learnt how to use them yet — it could be a little dangerous —, but the girl was able to get pieces of wood for her friends, helped hold the parts together and, by the end of the day, they had made a nice little chair, which was put in the patio, alongside many others done by the different classes.

And that day, she had brought an envelope addressed for both adults: a student’s family had invited them for dinner. Esha said the boy, Yigor, was one of her best friends at school, and it would be really fun if they could go.

— Well, then we should shower and get ready! — Ganen said with a smile.

Esha was the first one, and while they waited, Ganen pointed at the signature on the letter, Tara, Ery and Yigor from Sand City. At first, Séra couldn’t believe such coincidences, but then she remembered a girl a bit older than her, who liked to build little dancing robots.

— If I ain’t mistaken, Tara babysat me when I was five or six. A lifetime ago, eh!

— Are you sure she’s the same Tara? — Ganen asked, while she tried to pair some pieces of clothing to make something different from travel-fashion.

— Not at all, but what if! — Séra looked at the options and selected the colourful ones Ganen tried on. — They left soon after my aunt did, so… — She shrugged. – They could be the same.

— Let’s hope so, then. — Ganen smiled. — Can I shower before you? My hair takes a bit longer.

— Of course, love. — She started looking for shoes; those they only had them in travel-fashion, heavy boots for walking. — I’ll help Esha if she needs any.

Once the girl was out of the shower, Ganen got in and started washing her voluminous hair. She closed her eyes and washed her face; it was good feeling the fresh water on her skin. Almost as good as discovering what that 5-letter word would feel.

Ganen stopped. She hadn’t thought about that in a few days. With a sigh, she started writing all the 5-letter words she could find on the bathroom wall. Brave, sharp, wild… but even the ones that could mean “tough as nails” wouldn't fit.

She took a deep breath and tried not to think about it. Maybe if she tried hard enough, she could forget it for a few more days. It was so strange wanting to forget something, but it was temporary. They should buy that thesaurus tomorrow.

While she showered, Séra helped Esha tie her boots. The girl was quiet, even looked a bit nervous, she kept fidgeting with the string of her shirt, and wouldn’t make eye contact even if her life depended on it.

— All okay, Esha?

She mumbled something unintelligible.

— Ya can talk to me, if you want. I won’t get angry or anything.

— Promise? — she finally spoke.

— Ultra promise. — Séra made a superhero pose.

— Uhm, well, you said, you and Ganen, you said that, you were not staying here for, like, a long time, right?

— Yah. Do ya wanna leave? Did something happen? — Suddenly she was on high alert.

— No, nothing like that! — The girl waved her hands in front of her face, in a loud “no”. — Ahn… I don’t want to be alone, and I’m so happy you saved me, but… Uhm, well, I… I kinda like it here.

— So, ya wanna stay here?

— Please, don’t be upset, I’m not…

— Chill. — Séra smiled, relieved. — It’s fine. You’re not a pet we can just drag around.

— You won’t be sad? — She herself was about to cry.

— I will, and I’ll miss ya. — She held the child’s hands. — But then, I’ll remember you’re happy here, and all will be okay.

— Yeah?

— Yah.

— Do you think you could tell Ganen? I… I don’t want to make her sad.

— I’ll talk to her, don’t ya worry. — Séra got up and petted Esha’s head.

— And! And I… ah, I mean, if it’s okay, if I could, ah… — The girl froze. Asking for things always meant punishment. Even though she knew it wouldn’t come, deep down she was still afraid.

— Oi, it’s okay, I ain’t gonna do ya anything. Ya can say whatever ya want.

— Ah… Can I… can I stay here until you leave? — She looked like someone prepared to take a beating. Instead, Séra kneeled and hug her.

— Of course ya can! That would be awesome.

— Thank you. — She couldn’t contain her smile, nor her arms which urged to hug Séra back.

Once Ganen was out of the shower — trying not so well to hide her anger towards the 5-letter word —, the scene was over and Esha was ready. The woman didn’t take long to get dressed and, as soon as Séra was ready, they got in the car and followed the directions in the letter.

Log. 24857.j.e

Or we can try the underground city. We’ve been discussing the possibility of going there. We inorganics would make it, no doubt about that, especially with the caravan.

But the organic ones… They’d surely perish.

The house was downtown, close to the school, and it was much bigger than the one they’d hired. There was a sweet little garden in front of it, and Séra recognised the trademark of Sand people: a large agave plant, which got everyone’s attention.

Yigor, a short boy with tanned skin, like his mother, and dark hair in a bowl cut, as dark as his eyes, was the first one to see them, he ran towards the car, waving his hands in the air.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Ery, his father, had no hair on his head, and was much taller than Séra; he showed up right behind Yigor, wearing simple clothes underneath an apron, stained with past meals. He greeted them with a happy Welcome! and invited them in.

Tara was sitting on a sofa and a small baby rested in her arms. And, to Séra’s surprise, she was the same Tara she’d met in Sand City, years ago. She still had the same tanned skin, the dirty blonde hair in a thick braid, and the kind smile she’d always had. And the baby looked just like Yigor.

— Come on in, I’ll put Reah in her crib and we can sit, have some tea, while Ery here finishes dinner. — She started walking to another room. — Yigor, dear, why don’t ya give them a tour?

— I’m on it!! — He put his hand on his forehead, like a little soldier, and marched towards the stairs. — Follow me!

— It’s a phase. — Ery explained as they walked into the kitchen.

Yigor showed the kitchen around, and, while his father wasn’t looking, he revealed to Esha the best places for hiding delicious snacks. Right after that dangerous mission, he pulled the girl back to the corridor, followed by Ganen and Séra.

The living room had a sofa, a colourful rug, and a bookshelf filled to the brim with all the possible themes, from old adventure books to academic knowledge. However, for Ganen’s discontent, Yigor didn’t let them stay much.

He flew upstairs calling Esha and her mothers, to which none of them had time to correct him, and it was his mother who told him to be quieter; Reah wasn’t an easy sleeper. The house had two rooms upstairs, Yigor’s, with a bed, a small wardrobe — that he himself had made — and a lot of hand-made toys on the floor.

— We gave up trying to convince him to put them back in place, it was easier to simply contain the mess to his room. — Tara came back from her bedroom, where she left Reah sleeping. — And he didn’t show you the important part, the bathroom. — She laughed. — It’s downstairs, come on.

But before they could go down, Esha held Ganen’s hand.

— Can I play with Yigor? — Her voice was no more than a whisper.

— Of course you can. — Ganen answered with a soft tone. — We’ll call you both once the food is ready.

Esha smiled and ran back to the boy’s bedroom, where she sat on the floor and got a small wooden car, while he made fart noises squeezing a frog plushie.

— Just mind your sleeping sister, okay? — Tara told them both before all the adults went down the stairs. — Children, right? Cute and noisy little humans. But tell me, what brings ya here? Finally got tired of the narrow-minded people?

— Something like that, eh. — Séra accepted the invitation to sit on the sofa. — And I also got enough courage to visit my aunt, so… we’re going.

— Oh my, I’ve heard she tried to find the Underground City. Is that true?

— It is. — It has to be, Séra thought. — We’re looking for it.

— Send me a letter if ya get there. No, not if, when ya get there.

— Will do! — It was good being encouraged for once. — So, how’s life been?

Tara told her she had a great business automating doors, but what she really liked to make was toys. Yigor and Reah were lucky ones, they had the most interesting toys at home, cars that would actually drive themselves, little walking soldiers and gazelles, and even a glowing box that illuminated his bedroom at night with a starry sky.

These little toys would be enough reason to force someone out of Sand City, but in Bridge City they were welcome, as long as a human operated them. Most of the automations Tara had made were based on pulleys, nothing too advanced, but it surely made life a bit easier.

She also told them she had met Ery on her way to Bridge City, he was part of a travelling group, not much different from Ganen and Séra, and decided to settle down with her. Yigor was ten, and Reah was only a few months old, and they were both born within the gardens that surrounded the city.

The schools were much better, children would learn about the jobs available in the city and even learn how to build electric parts once they were old enough to use the tools. They were, as Diandra said, the future, not only the future of Bridge City, but the future of humanity, and they were to be cherished and protected.

Tara was delighted to learn they were working at the hydroplant, and Ery finally joined the conversation saying the hydroplant was a blessing in their lives. His wife would always insist on boiling the water before using it, but it was clean and always fresh.

— It’s much easier living in a place where the environment doesn't want to kill you! — Ery laughed. — And, by the way, the food is ready. Can you set the table while I get the kids, honey?

— Of course. — Then she looked at the young women: — Séra, would ya mind making us some agave juice?

— Not at all! I’d love to help.

— Follow me. — Tara sounded quite happy to have guests.

While she set the table and Séra made the agave juice, Ganen stood in the corner asking herself what she should do. It wasn’t so bad, because she was happy for her friend. Maybe we should consider being more than friends, she thought, not sure how to feel about it. But once the children arrived, she left the thought for another time. Dinner was about to be served.

There was fresh and crunchy salad, two kinds of meat, grains and juicy vegetables. Compared to anything Séra had ever eaten, that was a banquet, and she only stopped eating once Ery announced there was dessert.

When he got the marula mousse out of the cooling box, both Séra and Ganen stopped breathing. It was one of the most beautiful things they had ever seen. Tara had to hold her laugh.

— And it gets better, girls. — she revealed. — There is also marula liquor to put on top of it. — Then she looked at the kids: — The liquor is for adults only.

The kids devoured the mousse, and the women had to use all their self-control not to do the same. It was sweet and creamy, extraordinarily different from what they were used to. And when Yigor asked if they could play a bit more — which they most certainly could —, Tara got another bottle from the cupboard.

— This is also an old drink, much stronger than the marula liquor. — She put four small glasses on the table and filled them with the transparent drink. — Ya might know it, Séra, it’s made with agave.

— Oh no. — Séra couldn’t hide her excitement. — Is that what I think it is?

Ganen looked from one to the other waiting for somebody to explain what was happening. She didn’t really like being out of the loop.

— It is. — She arranged some slices of lemon and instructed Ganen to put some salt on her hand. — Séra has never shown ya how to drink tequila, Ganen?

— Not really. — She was a bit nervous. Drinking wasn’t really a habit of hers. — But I suppose it’s never too late while we’re alive, right?

— Never too late while the moon is up and the water is running. — Tara winked.

She licked the salt on her own hand, drank the shot in one gulp, then sucked the lemon juice. Ery followed her with a smile. Séra gave Ganen some encouragement, and told her they could do it together. Ganen made such a funny face when the drink burnt her throat, this time they couldn’t help but laugh.

— Another? — Tara suggested. — To celebrate your freedom, Séra.

— Yah! Let’s go!

Tara never imagined she would be drinking with the girl she used to babysit as a teenager, but it was indeed fun having long lost friends in her house.

Log. 24857.j.d

Within a few days, our batteries started to warn us about charging. So we had no choice but to leave. The outside… was chaotic. Although all systems said it was day, the sky was a black storm. There was no light. It was a miracle finding the caravan intact where I’d parked it, underground. We managed to charge the batteries, but we knew right away it wouldn't last long. We would have to spend a lot of energy to charge the caravan.

Ganen was the first to wake up. She had a terrible headache and couldn’t really recognise where she was. She looked around, trying her best to hide the growing panic in her chest, and found herself on a sofa. As she put her feet on the floor, she found Séra on a mattress on the floor.

Sitting down, Ganen pressed her temples and forced her brain to work, she had to remember. They had dinner, Tara got them drinks, then… nothing. She barely remembered going to sleep. But one thing she knew for sure, she needed water, her insides were screaming for hydration.

Carefully, centimetre by centimetre, Ganen got up and stood by the side of the sofa for a few seconds. Everything was spinning. She cursed under her breath and crouched, touched Séra’s shoulder and shook her a bit.

— Séra, hun… wake up. I’m… — She didn’t manage to get the word out of her mouth. She was lost, and the feeling was terrifying.

Séra grunted and tried to hide under the thin blanket, but when a timid cry hit her ears, she opened her eyes not a second later. Ganen was biting her lip, her eyes red and watery.

— Oi, darling, my love, what happened?

— I’m not sure… I… I need water and I don’t know… I don’t know where to get it.

— Oh, love, that’s fine. Lemme get up. — With little more effort than normally needed, Séra got up and brought Ganen along. — We were drinking until late, so we didn't go home. I think Tara said the water was in the cooling box, and we could get it if needed.

— How do you remember so well? — She looked a bit less nervous, but her eyes remained devastated.

— I’m more used to drinking than ya, that’s all.

Hand in hand, they walked silently into the kitchen and Séra opened the cooling box. It was a magical thing indeed. Inside, there were some vegetables, fruits, milk and meat, and a nice transparent bottle of water.

— Drink this — Séra gave it to Ganen. —, I’ll get some from the sink. I don’t think there’s enough for both of us in there.

— You sure?

— Of course, I’m way more used to drinking hot water than ya. — She blinked.

Ganen looked at her fingers through the glass, calming down little by little. It was true she’d never been too much of a drinker, so the experience could be overwhelming. Séra sat at the table by her side, a glass of warm water in her hand, and gave her a kiss.

— How about, if there’s a next time, we take pictures? Then you’ll remember.

— Yeah. And I won’t drink too much next time. — She promised herself. — Oh my gosh, we have to work!

— No, today’s our day off. — Séra was certain of it. — I checked when we started getting too silly.

— Are you really sure?

— I am. I like that job too much to miss it.

Ganen smiled, she knew it was true.

— Why don’t we go back to the living room and wait for everybody to wake up, eh?

— That’s sensible. — Ganen agreed.

It didn’t take too long for Tara’s family to awake, and Esha was happy she played all night long. They shared breakfast together and the girls were invited to stop by again whenever they were in town, to which they happily replied that it would be a delight.

Ery gave them a bottle of tequila and made Séra promise she wouldn’t drink and drive, and she said she would teach Ganen how to control the car in order to keep them safe. The woman accepted the offer with enthusiasm, but when Séra gave her the keys and told her to try, she refused, and insisted they should start with theoretical lessons first.

— And I do think we should start tomorrow, my head is killing me today! — Ganen made a dramatic complaint, and promised what all the drunks once did: — I’m never drinking again.

Séra drove them back to the house, and they checked if the lock in the boot was still safe; she agreed it was a bit of a paranoia, but being caught with something as terrible as an intact Machine could create troubles much bigger than they could ever solve.

That night, however, Séra didn’t sleep very well.