Chapter 4
Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skilful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better. -Harry Truman
December 21, 2022 15:45 hours
The building was brimming with books but relatively devoid of people. I approached a counter which said Enquiries and caught the eye of a slender woman with brown eyes and long black hair.
“Hi. I need to find a book about the design of Tesla EVs.”
“Use the internet like everyone else would.”
“I don’t know how to.”
The librarian stopped short of rolling her eyes.
“Here, I’ll show you how to,” offered the quietly spoken man standing in the queue behind me.
Their eyes met.
“Thanks!” she purred. “Except we’re closing early tonight. In fifteen minutes... And that means I want both of you out of this building in fourteen.”
“Yes Ma’am!” he winked, dropping his own stack of books onto the counter in front of the woman for her to process.
He eyed me warmly.
“Come on then... This way to the computer for a crash course in using the internet.”
I watched him type Tesla EV in the search box which came up.
“Here... see if you can finish your search request.”
My fingers flashed across the keyboard as I typed in the words design specifications.
“I thought you didn’t know how to use a computer,” he smiled.
“I can use a keyboard. I just didn’t know how to use the internet. I know how to use it now however. You click on the fox hugging the earth icon and type into the search box. Thanks for showing me.”
“My pleasure.”
“Except this information is not what I’m after. It’s essentially just a derisive account about the Tesla car manufacturing company. I’m after the schematics of the electric vehicle, or a repair manual. So I can understand and replicate the technology. Perhaps I should try a different search topic altogether...” I said, returning to the search box and typing in the words algaculture + photobioreactors.
I could feel him bristling with curiosity as he looked over my shoulder.
“Ah... This is more like it... Where do I find this book on the Australian military experimental manufacture of algae oil?” I asked, pointing to the screen.
“Er... It’s not a book. See that number? It’s a link to an archived video about the use of algae oil as experimental rocket fuel, but the video is stored on the 2nd floor of the State Library in Perth... Hmmm... Let’s try uTube.”
“Is uTube in this library?”
He eyed me curiously.
“Er... It’s like an internet video library - but we can access the videos in this library online.”
I watched the footage of how experimental algae ponds were set up.
“Oh... That’s interesting... I more or less understand how it’s done. Except I was looking for a book on manufacturing algae oil... Something with a lot of detail about optimal growing conditions, harvesting procedure and oil extraction techniques. So I can replicate the technology.”
He rubbed his chin contemplatively.
“Hmmm, not many kids your age are interested in Tesla EV’s. And even fewer have got learning about algae fuel production on their things-to-do list this close to Christmas.”
“I’m different,” I replied.
“I can tell that by what you’re wearing... Out of curiosity what are you doing once you leave the library?”
“I haven’t planned that far yet,” I replied truthfully.
“Hmmm... Maybe you’d better come back to my pad for a while you decide.”
“Why?”
“Well we’re about to get kicked out of here and if you hang out around outside the library in those clothes, someone might mistake you for a Christmas decoration.”
“I have gold. Where do I buy clothes like you’re wearing?”
He laughed immoderately.
“I don’t know anyone who accepts gold as payment for clothing around here mate... Hey Serene... we’re just helping ourselves to the lost property box! Here... try these on for size...”
I sniffed the stale-smelling camo pants and gingerly pulled them over my radiation suit. He turned up the cuffs while I slipped into a cheesecloth shirt that smelt like woman’s perfume.
“You can’t let him run off with those clothes! They belong to other people!” chided the woman he called Serene.
“No one’s gonna claim them in the next three minutes and you’re gonna be shut for a fortnight. We’ll return ‘em after Christmas... If there is an after Christmas.”
Serene shook her head as she switched off the lights and the air-conditioning.
“I still can’t believe it... Spending Christmas alone in the Kimberley at your research station instead of partying with everyone else...”
She paused and made eye contact with him.
“Heck. You and Jonas really believe the minority are right about this-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it thing don’t you?”
“I don’t want them to be right, but I can’t flaw their reasoning. And neither can your brother.”
“But they’re a minority. And the survivalists were wrong about the TEOTWAWKI predictions back in 2012.”
A looming TEOTWAWKI event near Christmas some time after the BE date of 2012??
My heart leapt as I suddenly realized the implications of their conversation.
Serene ushered us out of the building and locked the door. He handed me his pile of books and rested his hand on her shoulder.
“Jonas mentioned earlier that you’ve decided to go back with him to your parents’ place in the morning... He’s really relieved you’ve changed your mind Serene...”
“I know. I still can’t believe that I let you talk me into heading inland in December though. It’ll be hell hot out at our station and we don’t even have a pool!”
He paused.
“Want to know a secret? I’m relieved you changed your mind too Serrie.”
She looked surprised and then burst out laughing.
He cleared his throat self-consciously.
“Thanks for changing your mind. I know you really want to beach party with Nadia and the others.”
He affectionately brushed the side of her cheek with a bent finger. She seemed taken aback by his actions - yet pleased at the same time.
“Well I’m still gonna beach party with them after the New Year!” she retorted. “If you and Jonas are wrong.”
“And if we’re right?” he retorted softly.
“If you’re right I’ll raise you on the H.F. And thank you for saving my life David...”
Ω
So his name was David. And he was a young scientist who believed the Event would really take place. The thought that he might be my Grandpa occurred to me momentarily, but I dismissed it as too improbable.
A musical sound emitted from Serene’s handbag. She pulled out a silver rectangular object and held it near her face, then started speaking into it.
“What’s that big thing she’s talking into?” I asked David in a whisper.
“It’s a mobile.”
“A mobile what?”
“A mobile phone. Haven’t you seen one before?”
I shook my head. He raised his eyebrows.
The raised-eyebrow expression was Grandpa all over. Before I had time to think anymore about it though, Serene let out an ear-piercing squeal. It sounded like she was terrified but she was smiling so it was obviously delight.
“Yes! Of course you can come with us... Of course there’ll be room for you in the van. Even if you have to sit on my lap the whole way! Except we’re leaving early and it’s an eight hour drive... so it’d be a good idea to sleep at our place tonight... If you don’t mind sharing a mattress on the floor with us... I couldn’t believe it... I came home from the shops a
nd my brainiac brother had relocated my entire life into his trailer! He even packed my coffee-maker! Actually talking of Jonas, I’ve got something to tell you too... But I can’t tell you what right this minute because David’s within earshot!”
David leant close to Serene’s mobile and spoke into it.
“David and company are heading outta earshot so you two giggly girls can gossip!” he said. “By the way... Jonas will definitely be happy you’ve changed your mind and you’re joining him Nadia!”
He grinned and ducked Serene’s feigned swipe, then looked in my direction.
“Come on mate. My pad’s this way,” he said, winking at Serene as he ushered me off towards a towering grey building.
You may not control all the events that happen to you,
but you can decide not to be reduced by them. -Napoleon Hill
December 21, 2057 16:15 hours
“I’m so sorry,” said Kojak lugubriously.
“Being sorry is a human response to wrongdoing Kojak. And you haven’t done anything wrong. We’ve just got to work out how this has happened and how to remedy it. And I think the right way to do that is ask Amani’s opinion.”
“My opinion?” frowned Mani.
“Her opinion?” echoed Kojak.
“Well Andy found the perimeter hologram because of a hunch... And Mani’s intuition helped you report Andy’s current situation. So I’m factoring in the unquantifiable gut feeling in this case... Amani... what’s your woman’s intuition saying right now?”
Mani paused.
“That this misadventure has something to do with that unfinished invention of yours that the two of them were playing in, when we went off to have a coffee together.”
David paused then shook his head.
“That can’t be it. It doesn’t work Amani! I never got back to working on it, did I Kojak?”
“That is incorrect.”
“What?!”
“You continued to work on your transporter module when you were asleep David. And I wrote the programming sequences you dictated to me and made the modifications you suggested, until it was fully operational...”
“After thirty five years of being shelved, it works,” said David absently.
Silence.
“David... I have a hunch also,” began Kojak.
“You have a hunch?” echoed David, with genuine disbelief.
“Yes... I have a hunch this would be a good time to tell me about what happened while I was shut down during the Event...”
“What do you mean Kojak?”
“After the Event you continued to have recurring nightmares about what happened while I was shut down. At first I dismissed the nightmares as post-Event trauma. But then I noticed the same pattern of physiological responses whenever you looked at your research notes on our abandoned transporter project... And I have a hunch you should tell us all why...”
Ω
December 21, 2022 16:30 hours
I looked up at the towering grey building with white lettering which said UNIVERSITY HOUSING... A vivid memory of the derelict UNIV building in Zone 4 flashed in front of me. It was hard to believe this pristine building would be unrecognizable in just a few days...
“This is where you live?” I said, moistening my lips.
“During the semester. It’s the student housing building. Where do you live?”
“I live north of the fracture zone. In Zone 1.”
“North of here near a fracture zone. Hmmm. It sounds like you’re a refugee. That explains a thing or two. Are you lost or something?”
“Well I’m not sure where my parents are if that’s what you mean. But I’m not overly worried. You seem friendly enough. And Serene thinks you’re okay too.”
An amused grin.
“What’s your name anyway?”
“I’m Andy. It’s short for Ferdinand.”
“You’re kidding? My middle name’s Ferdinand and I used to prefer Andy too! I’ve never met anyone else with our name before though. Are you hungry Andy?”
“Very!”
I was hungry, but I equally flabbergasted. Grandpa David had told me his middle name was Ferdinand too... What were the chances?
“What’s this metal box we’re walking into?”
“It’s a lift. Haven’t you seen one before?”
“No. For a moment I thought it was a transporter module.”
He scratched his head.
“Nah. It’s just a regular lift... Do you want to press the button?”
“Okay. Which one do I press?”
“The number 4... For the fourth floor.”
I watched the doors open and examined the door cavity as we walked out.
“It has infra-red sensors so it doesn’t close on people until they are out of the doorway. Interesting...”
David rubbed thoughtful fingertips across his lips as we walked along the corridor. He stopped outside a door then unlocked it. I followed him into his room and looked around wide-eyed with interest. Most of his possessions were packed in boxes.
“There’s food in the fridge. Help yourself,” he said, as he walked over towards his computer and switched it on.
“Thanks.”
I started opening cupboards and looking inside them. They were all empty.
“Looking for something?” he said casually.
“Um...What’s the fridge look like?”
David scratched his head. He opened a white metal door and pulled out a bottle of white liquid and something multicoloured that was in a flat cardboard box.
“Here... Nuke it on high for 2 minutes,” he said, handing me the box.
I glanced around for an appliance that had the word high written on it, and pointed to the smaller white box sitting on top of the fridge.
“Is this the nuke?”
He shot me an intense look.
“Er... Yes... Need help operating it?”
“Let me see if I can work it out first.”
I pressed buttons until the display read 2:00 then pressed start.
“I can hear the magnetron working. Does the nuke operate on 2.45 GHz like a sterilizer?”
David cleared his throat.
“You’re a bit of an enigma you know Andy. You’re obviously very bright, yet you have never come across a lot of ordinary everyday things...”
“Am I bothering you? I can go somewhere else if I’m stopping you preparing for the Event.”
“What event?”
I pointed to the calendar on the fridge.
“You know. The Event. The day after tomorrow...”
Ω
December 21, 2057 16:40 hours
“Are you going to answer Kojak’s question Dad?” prompted Mani gently.
David hesitated.
“Just before the Event... and during the Event... some... out-of-the-ordinary things happened... And now - after thirty-five years - some out-of-the-ordinary things are happening again... and I’m wondering if there is a connection...”
David grappled for words.
“Go on...” coaxed Kojak.
“At the precise moment when the earth’s poles changed, a young man appeared in my unfinished transporter module... I wanted to speak to him but I was terrified and no words came out... he just grinned at me then... disappeared...”
Stunned silence.
“I was young myself. Only twenty... But I remember he looked even younger than me...”
“You mean Nando somehow dropped in on you during the Event, Dad?” gasped Mani.
“I can’t be sure it was him Amani. It was a long while ago... And even though I was a scientist I was afraid... I didn’t want to remember...”
Hear-a-pin-drop silence.
“I handled the meteor showers and earthquakes and exploding equipment because I expected them... But seeing someone disappear in front of me and not reappear contravened the known laws of physics... It haunted me... I wanted to forget...”
David covered his eyes with the
heels of his hands, digging deeply.
“At first I kept looking at my transporter project... praying that the young man would reappear... But he didn’t. And after a while whenever I looked at my transporter or my research notes I was afraid that maybe I’d been responsible for the young man’s death... because he never reappeared in my module... So I decided I’d never finish the project... I thought if I never finished the thing it wouldn’t work and then it couldn’t hurt anyone else... At least I consciously decided that... I had no idea that I kept working on it when I was asleep... And I didn’t think to give Kojak directives not to work on it with me...”
David’s voice trailed away.
“The young man that disappeared in front of you... Do you remember anything about his appearance?” asked Kojak.
“I can’t be sure Kojak... There were rippling lights that kept changing colours. And he was wearing strange looking glasses...”
“Like your missing penguin sunglasses Grandpa?” piped up Gem.
David paused then nodded speechlessly. He watched Mani playing with her locket and moistened his lips with sudden realization.
“You’ve remembered something else about the young man, haven’t you David?” probed Kojak.
“Yes... He was wearing a pendant around his neck. Like Andy’s version of you, Kojak...”
The ability to summon positive emotions during periods of intense stress
lies at the heart of effective leadership. -Jim Loehr
December 21, 2022 16:55 hours
I could tell David was a little weirded out but to his credit he took my comment in his stride.
“I agree with you Andy. The day after tomorrow may well be eventful. Although I don’t think I’ve met anyone else your age who knows or cares about the intentions of Dawk’s team.”
“They’re nuts David! The mass death and destruction they’re gonna cause... the earthquakes... and the impact their decision will have on future generations... I wish someone could shake sense into them.”
I clenched my fists angrily.
“The world is full of cactus mate, but we don't have to sit on it...”
I drew a calming breath.
“Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today,” continued David soothingly. “And I reckon you’re one of those people Andy.”
I moistened my dry lips.
Even the youthful version of Grandpa seemed wise. I felt the sudden urge to spill the beans and tell David everything.
He pushed a book towards me before I got a chance.
“I think there’s something about algae oil extraction in this book I’ve just taken out... And Jonas has probably got some research articles on alternative fuels on his computer... I’ll ask him to email them to me and I’ll copy them onto a thumb drive for you... Except it might be a few hours before he gets back to me though. It sounds like Serene’s about to get him to reshuffle his load.”
“He won’t mind since he likes Nadia.”
David’s eyes twinkled.
“Nadia is an unusual name,” I ventured.
“She’s a foreign exchange student. From Norway.”
“Oh. Are Serene and Jonas exchange students too?”
“No. Although they weren’t born in Australia. Serene was originally from a refugee camp in Haiti. And Jonas was from an orphanage in Africa. Their parents worked abroad for years, before retiring here.”
“So they’re adopted?”
“Ah ha.”
“So are you an exchange student?”
“Nah. I’m Aussie mate!” he grinned.
“Then why aren’t you going home to your parents’ house for Christmas like Jonas and Serene?”
“No one’s home. My parents are spending Christmas on Santa’s turf.”
“Where’s that?”
He chuckled.
“They’ve gone to a settlement near the North Pole for Christmas. They’ve joined up with a team of scientists who are photographing the aurora borealis and measuring particle bombardment while Dawk conducts his experiments. Then they plan to make their way to this seed vault at Svalbard - it’s not far from the North Pole - to add some bush-tucker species from Arnhem Land to the seed bank before heading home. If things don’t go awry that is...”
I didn’t know what to say in response.
Things would definitely go awry... The Event would destroy all satellite and cable communication between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The only means of passing messages around the world for the next 35 years would be H.F radio when meteorite and sunspot activity didn’t interfere with gray-line propagation. History recorded that a team of scientists based at the North Pole would survive the Event and confirm their survival via HF radio, ten years after the Event. I wondered if my great-grandparents would be among the survivors...
“The North Pole is probably the safest place in the Northern Hemisphere at the moment,” I managed to say. “Your dad sounds cluey for an old timer.”
“His colleagues think he’s Indiana Jones incarnate, but he seems normal enough to me - he’s just your everyday eco-researcher with a Bear Grylls sense of adventure and a bit of Les Higgins tossed in for good measure.”
I laughed warmly.
He reached behind his head and removed an elastic band from his hair. I hadn’t noticed his pony-tail until now. He shook out his wild black curls and grinned at me. I tried to hide my astonishment.
It was unmistakeably my big brother Kojak in the flesh!
“Hello David. I see you have company!” said a familiar voice, from out of David’s computer.
Ω
December 21, 2057 17:05 hours
A Kimberley sun-shower was creating miniature rainbows throughout the garden. Gem ran around excitedly with the metal detector searching for pots of gold.
David had bounced back and was now intently focused on the task at hand.
“Well... I’ve worked out the programming sequence we’ll need to write to retrieve our bold explorer,” he announced. “Kojak, what’s Andy’s status?” he added.
“He’s with you David.”
David stopped mid-calculation.
“Thank goodness he’s safe,” commented Leo.
“I wonder how you two found each other?” added Mani.
David slowly put down his pen.
“Where exactly are we Kojak?”
“In your bedsitter. You’ve just introduced Andy to my archetype,” replied Kojak.
David chewed thoughtfully on his thumbnail.
“I searched my archives for files created between December 21- 23, 2022 and found several recordings of conversations between you and my archetype, which may help you recall what you were doing in the hours leading up to the Event. They were all together... In a folder labelled Hello Grandson.”
“Hello Grandson, eh?” echoed David, with a hint of a smile.
“Yes. Actually it was that folder I was recently telling you about - the one I couldn’t access because of a time-lock password... A few moments ago it inexplicably became accessible...”
“... and you’re starting your own list of recent out-of-the-ordinary events yourself, eh?” quipped David.
“I agree coming across a time-locked folder is an out-of-the-ordinary event. And having the time lock suddenly deactivate is another out-of-the-ordinary event. I’m still converting the files from the old Windows format however, so I haven’t managed to analyse the footage yet. I can play the audio of the first recording to help jog your memory though... It’s subtitled Our first encounter.”
“Thanks Kojak, but that won’t be necessary. I recall the moment when Andy and your archetype met each other vividly. And from memory, things are about to become interesting for you too mate!”
“They are?” replied Kojak sounding confused.
“You’ve travelled back to 2022 too, remember?”
“But I’m password protected. All I can do is observe and report.”
“That’s about to change mate
.”
“It is?”
David broke into a slow smile.
“It’s all starting to make sense! I didn’t know what to think at the time because I didn’t know who Andy was or where he was from... But finally... after all these years, some of the out-of-the-ordinary things that happened just before the Event are all making sense...”
“What out-of-the-ordinary things?” asked Leo curiously.
“Well... the afternoon before I left for our research station I was in the uni library grabbing some books to take away with me and there was a young lad in there - he was wearing unusual silver clothes. Initially I dismissed what he was wearing as fancy dress, because half the campus was wandering around in Santa suits and reindeer antlers anyway... But then he asked Serene for help - he wanted information on alternative fuels. She was busy, so I showed him how to use the internet. Then just before the library closed he asked me where he could buy clothes like mine - with gold! About then I realized there was something very different about him.”
Mani and Leo exchanged dumbfounded glances.
“Anyway we ‘borrowed’ some clothes from the lost property box in the library and I invited him back to my place. He was thin and looked like he needed a good feed, and I had some leftovers to use up in my fridge. We got chatting and I thought he was an Indonesian boat refugee.”
“He told you a fib like that?” gasped Mani.
“No... He told me he lived north of the fracture zone so I thought he meant he was from Indonesia.”
“Well technically he was telling you the truth,” piped up Kojak. “Zone 1 is presently north of the Zone 4 fracture zone and he only ever remembers the poles in their present-day south-north configuration.”
“And so what happened at your place?” asked Leo calmly.
“Well - the more time I spent with my little guest the more curious I grew. I couldn’t work him out... he thought the microwave oven was called a nuke, yet he knew it had a magnetron and operated on 2.45 Ghz... And he didn’t know what pizza was!”
“What’s pizza?” piped up Gem.
“Hmmm... Sounds like we’re making pizza for dinner.”
David started laughing.
“He was telling the truth all along... But it seemed stranger than fiction at the time!”
“And so what happened?” asked Mani curiously.
“Well... then my first prototype of Kojak dropped a bombshell... And your little scamp sided with him!” replied David, his eyes twinkling at the memory.
Ω
December 21, 2022 17:05 hours
“Kojak - meet Andy,” announced David.
“Hi Grandpa Kojak,” I said warmly. “I’m very honoured to meet you.”
“Likewise, bold explorer,” replied Grandpa Kojak.
David raised his eyebrows.
“Grandpa Kojak?” he echoed.
“Um... Grandpa told me once that the original Kojak was a tele series,” I said quickly. “Did you name him after the detective?”
David grinned.
“Accidentally... I was half-watching an episode of Kojak when I was building him. And when I connected the voice activation mode for the first time, the microphone picked up the phrase “Hi, I’m Kojak,” off the tele - and repeated it back to me! So the name kinda stuck.”
“Fortunately he wasn’t watching Knight Rider at the time, or I might have ended up being called KITT!” guffawed Grandpa Kojak.
“Then Kojak filed that episode as a keepsake in his origins folder,” ragged David.
“You mind your manners or I’ll show him an embarrassing baby photo of you in the bath!”
I laughed unreservedly at the exchange between them. I felt myself relaxing around this Kojak. He wasn’t my Kojak, but I was astonished at the amount of personality this bulky prototype seemed to have already.
“I might look at your origins episode later... um...Kojak. First of all I want to learn all I can out of David’s library books...”
I opened the library book on the top of the stack and began reading.
“According to the physicist Dr Thomas Barnes, measurements since 1835 show that the earth’s magnetic field is decaying at a rate of 5% per century. Archaeologists also know that the earth’s magnetic field was 40% stronger in AD1000 than it was in the AD2000... Wow! 40% stronger?! I didn’t know that! I wonder if my dad knows that...”
David smiled to himself and sent off a quick email to his friend Jonas. Kojak waited politely until he had finished.
“So Andy... May I have a closer look at my grandson now David’s finished?” asked Grandpa Kojak.
David’s jaw dropped.
“Did I just hear you correctly Kojak?” checked David.
Grandpa Kojak chuckled in response.
I looked up from the book I’d been reading. This early version of Kojak had intentionally brought up my previous slip-up and was amused by the impact of his words! Grandpa Kojak was clearly a mischief maker. I weighed up what to do for a moment, then casually ran my pendant across his scanner.
“Impressive nano-circuitry!” declared Grandpa Kojak.
“Sorry. I’d give you two a chance to chat but I don’t know how to pair you both up wirelessly in our present... situation,” I replied.
“Easy peasy!” chirped Grandpa Kojak. “Andy’s seer needs rebooting David.”
“I think my ticker needs rebooting,” retorted David.
“Come on mate. It’s piece of cake.”
David cleared his throat and curiously eyed my pendant.
“Can you suggest the best procedure to follow, Kojak?”
“Yes. But I’m not going to. You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man’s initiative and independence.”
David rolled his eyes.
“Well... let’s see... there’s no USB port so it has to be touch sensitive...” he said, carefully brushing his fingertips over the pendant.
A glowing blue circle appeared on the pendant. David’s eyes widened. Part fear. Part curiosity.
“Fingerprint activation accepted,” said Kojak Jr in a synthesized voice. “Password required to complete self repair.”
“Password?” asked David looking at me curiously.
I looked bewildered.
“I didn’t even know he was password protected! He’s never asked me for a password before!”
“Suggestions Kojak?” asked David.
“Why ask me?”
“Well evidently he’s your grandson.”
Grandpa Kojak laughed roguishly.
“Well if I was going to make an educated guess, I’d use the same password you use with me.”
“That’s wild - but I’ll try it, simply because you suggested it... How do you normally input information into your seer Andy?”
“Um... Body fluids... wireless information exchange... speech... scanner... camera... fingertips... Actually, I’d probably go for fingertips since he accepted your fingerprints. You just draw the letters of the password inside the blue circle...”
I watched David scrawl the word LOLLIPOP.
“’Coz Kojak the detective always sucked a lollipop. That makes sense!” I grinned.
Ω
“Well that took ya long enough to figure out mates!” chortled Kojak.
I pressed Kojak’s pendant close to my heart and blinked back tears of relief. David was clearly astonished at my response.
“Kojak. I’ve been so worried about you! And Mum and Dad and Gem and Grandpa. Are they all okay?”
“They have been concerned. But they feel considerably happier now I’ve told them that David’s rebooted me and communication between us is restored.”
I exhaled noisily. Protest was replacing my initial relief.
“I didn’t know you had a password! How come you’ve never given me any rebooting instructions?” I scolded.
“You might have wiped me altogether during one of your explorative play episodes Andy. As it is, I think I might ask David to change my password.
In the interests of self preservation!”
I laughed emotionally and held Kojak close to my heart again.
“On the topic of self preservation, the clothes you are wearing smell decidedly unhygienic!” continued Kojak. “His mother would not approve of his attire, David.”
David eyed me and almost smiled.
“Your pulse is elevated Andy. Do you need to use me as a sounding board?” continued Kojak.
“Oh Kojak... I’m not sure what to do next!” I blurted out. “Can I talk to Grandpa?”
“It requires considerable processing power to record conversations, compress and archive them, then unpack them. I think it is best if I relay messages for the time being.”
“Relay messages? Um... Well... tell them I’ve been eating something called pizza. And I’ve discovered a strange white drink that I really like. It tastes very different to Grandma’s lemonade.”
“I hope it’s not alcoholic... He’s too young to drink anything containing C2H5OH, David.”
David burst out laughing and held up a bottle.
“It’s milk! Blame the cow if it’s alcoholic.”
Grandpa Kojak and Kojak laughed in unison. David sighed noisily.
“Okay... I’ve had enough of you two and your ‘we’re related’ games. I’ve got to get back to packing.”
David picked up a roll of masking tape, and started taping up a box.
“There - mission accomplished Grandpa K,” chortled Kojak. “Young David has rebounded after those shock and awe tactics of yours.”
“Shock and awe? That hardly got his heart rate up. Besides, David needs shoving out of his comfort zone now and then Junior. To bring out the mettle in him...”
My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there.
-Charles F. Kettering
A newspaper clipping on David’s fridge caught my attention.
“Hey Kojak... I’ve found something interesting. Categorize this information under historical records. It’s entitled Rebelutionary Ramblings.”
“File created. Who’s the author of the article?”
“Um... It doesn’t say.”
“It’s by Jonas Magellan,” piped up David, as he sealed up a box with packaging tape.
“Jonas Magellan,” I echoed softly.
My surname was Magellan. So was Dad’s. I made a mental note to ask Kojak later if he knew anything about my other Grandpa.
“Your friend Jonas?” I confirmed.
“Ah ha. He’ll be amused to know you think his article’s a historical document though. It was only published in last week’s paper!”
“Last week is history,” I shrugged, attempting to cover my mistake.
David laughed and kept taping up boxes.
“Okay Kojak, it says... You would think governments would be right behind adopting green fuels, but they aren’t. It’s curious that a farmer can burn his crop of sugar or corn and nothing is said about his wastefulness. But if he farms sugar or corn and sells it for the production of ethanol, then it raises a storm, and people who have never even met the farmer voice their concern about how he is misusing edible resources.
Likewise a fish and chip shop-owner can throw his waste oil into landfill instead of sending it to the collection point and nothing is said about the environmental impact of his decision. But if an enthusiast makes biodiesel out of the shop-owner’s waste oil in his back shed, the Tax Office demand the hobbyist pay road tax on his home-brewed fuel. Yet they don’t hold out their hand and ask for their share if you pursue other hobbies which save (or make) you a few dollars. You can grow your own veggies as a hobby and not get taxed. Or breed rabbits and sell them at the markets and not get taxed. It’s curious why the government would tax someone who is just recycling waste oil as a hobby. I mean thousands of taxpayer dollars are spent annually encouraging people to recycle...”
I drew an overdue breath.
“While manufacturing biodiesel from waste oil is apparently controversial, growing alternatives to diesel has received the least amount of attention. Perhaps this is because only a handful of Australian farmers grow their own canola and press it for use in their tractors. And even less Australians know that a diesel substitute can be derived from algae... Wow! Your friend Jonas is right into alternative fuels, David.”
“Keep reading!” encouraged Grandpa Kojak.
“Why?”
“I like your voiceprint.”
David went to say something to Grandpa Kojak but let the comment pass.
“Um... Okay... Back in the 80’s, the Australian military produced two videos on the potential of algae oil as a replacement for diesel and aviation fuel. A decade later, the researchers at Roswell reached the conclusion that 200,000 hectares of desert land could produce 1 quad BTUs (or 3.8 billion litres) of algal oil. This was enough to free the U.S from its dependence on foreign oil. Incredibly, not long after this announcement was made, all funding was cut to the project...The thing is, if the researchers concluded America could grow all the fuel they needed, Australia could definitely do the same in our sparsely populated continent. The overseas experience also suggests algae might be the ideal crop for farmers needing to diversify due to poor water quality. Rural communities with high youth unemployment might also be interested in farming algae or refining algae oil to create wealth in their communities...”
Ω
December 21, 2057 17:30 hours
Everyone looked up as a fifty year old truck rumbled through the perimeter hologram.
“Put the kettle on again Leo,” suggested David. “Your dad will need a cuppa.”
Tears welled up in Leo’s eyes. David squeezed his shoulder supportively then walked out to meet the others.
“Gidday slacker!” greeted Jonas, stretching noisily. “What’ve you been up to while we’ve been breaking our backs?”
“I’d better tell you over a coffee,” retorted David.
“Coffee? Now that would touch the spot. Actually, can I smell goat cheese pizza?”
“You certainly can.”
“Yum...What’s the occasion?”
“We have visitors,” replied David. “One in particular is very eager to catch up with you mate.”
Astonished expressions. The new arrivals quickly made their way inside.
“Son!” yelled Jonas and Nadia in unison.
“Mum,” sobbed Mani, wrapping her arms tightly around Serene.
Ω
December 21, 2022 17:35 hours
“Keep reading!” said Grandpa Kojak.
I smiled at David and looked back to the article.
“There are environmentally friendly alternatives for industry too. One of these is a closed-cycle piston heat engine called the Stirling engine. The term ‘closed-cycle’ means that the working gas is permanently contained within the cylinder, unlike the ‘open-cycle’ internal combustion engine and some steam engines, which vent their working fluid to the atmosphere as emissions.
In recent years, the advantages of Stirling engines have become increasingly apparent, given the general rise in energy costs, energy shortages and environmental concerns such as climate change. Stirling technology has been shown to be useful for pumping water. Stirling engines also can be used to generate electricity from sources which are incompatible with the internal combustion engine, such as solar energy, agricultural waste and domestic refuse.
Stirling engines are also proving to be very useful in poorer countries because even animal manure can be fed into a hopper to generate electricity. They are also ideal for use in space because they can power satellites for a long while. The Stirling engine is even more efficient in space, because space is a vacuum and there is no aerodynamic friction, only bearing losses. The hot part of the engine can also be faced towards the sun to increase its efficiency... And that’s the end of the article.”
“Wonderful!” declared Grandpa Kojak.
“What was all that in aid of?” asked David curiously.
r /> “It’s a secret! I’ll tell you later! Now run along and finish packing your bedroom David. You help him Andy. By my calculations you’re thirty minutes behind schedule.”
I glanced at David.
“Sorry I’ve put you behind schedule. What can I do to help?”
“Well, you can help me finish packing up my bedroom if you like,” replied David. “But don’t worry. By my calculations I’m thirty minutes ahead of schedule. Even with everything that’s happened in the last hour.”
“So why did Grandpa Kojak say that then?” I asked in a low tone, as we entered David’s bedroom.
“I think he’s interested in chatting one-on-one with your version of Kojak,” replied David.
He cleared his throat softly.
“I’m rather interested in chatting with him one-on-one myself actually. At first I thought Kojak was kidding around, because recently I gave him a book of jokes to process. But I’ve been thinking about it... Kojak’s not programmed to lie... which means he isn’t lying... and I can’t logically work out why a computer I’ve custom built and programmed myself is calling a nano-computer that I’ve never programmed his grandson. Not to mention they have the same protective passwords and we both call them Kojak... It’s bizarre... Actually it’s beyond bizarre... It’s... freaky! How’d he get to be your seer anyway Andy?”
“He was already part of our family when I was born,” I shrugged. “We’ve grown up together... He’s like my big brother and my best mate. Although you’re pretty cool too. And he obviously likes you. He called you mate, remember? And accepted your fingerprints! So I guess that makes you my mate too.”
David laughed and clapped me on the back.
“Well my best mate Jonas won’t believe any of this when I tell him - mate!”
“Maybe not at first. But I’m sure he will one day,” I replied, as I up-ended the contents of the bedroom drawer into a cardboard box marked Bedroom.
The only reason for time is so everything doesn’t happen at once. -Albert Einstein
December 21, 2057 17:40 hours
Jonas tousled Gem’s hair affectionately and watched her run off chasing butterflies.
“So where’s this other young grandchild of ours that we’ve never met anyway?” he asked.
His eyes were dancing with undisguised excitement.
An awkward silence. Leo and Mani both looked at David.
“Have I put my foot in it?” probed Jonas.
“No... Andy’s alive and well,” replied David reassuringly. “They’re just not quite sure where to start... Do you remember many years ago I tried to tell you about a young refugee who wanted information about alternative fuels?”
“The one that hitched a ride with you to our research station then disappeared? I recall telling you, that you must have hit your head and dreamt the whole thing up from memory!”
David chuckled warmly.
“Well earlier today our grandson Andy conned Kojak into giving him the activation sequence to my transporter module.”
“That old thing?” laughed Jonas. “I didn’t think you ever finished it.”
“It’s a long story, but to cut it short - Andy’s currently in Karratha - helping me load our truck in preparation for my last BE trip to the research station... It’s about 7pm, December 21, 2022 his time.”
Jonas cocked his head. His expression was otherwise unreadable.
“Oh my!” gasped Serene.
“Please don’t freak out and think we’re all irresponsible Mum,” said Mani carefully.
“No darling, I’ve been expecting this to happen any day now!”
That got everyone’s attention.
“Expecting it?” echoed Mani.
“Yes, one night - a year or so ago - I was missing you all a little and I asked Kojak to show me the most recent family video he had of you all... It was a video of you as a family in Zone 2 - and when I saw young Ferdinand in a radiation suit tromping through the grass, I just about fell over backwards. I immediately knew he was a younger version of the same boy I’d seen in the library all those years ago. And after seeing him I knew that... someday... sometime in the next few years... we’d be having a conversation like this... and that your father’s old gadget from his university years would somehow be involved in it!”
Mani laughed emotionally and hugged Serene again.
“Oh mum. I’m glad you’re here and you’re so calm about it. Dad’s been freaking out trying to get his head around everything that’s happened.”
“I can understand why,” replied Jonas. “David... you should have asked us to come home earlier,” he chided. “We’re a unit mate.”
“I know we are. But I had my hands full coping with another unit that wants to get to know ours,” replied David.
Jonas draped his arm around David supportively. Nadia looked thoughtful.
“So let me see if I’ve got my head around this right David... Somehow you’re here with us... but Andy is with you back then... and you’re both in Karratha... but the Event hasn’t happened yet... so the Engineering Department isn’t washed away yet... so that means...”
“The oil press!” yelled David and Jonas in unison.
“Huh?” frowned Leo.
“Your mother and I were research colleagues before we were married...” explained Jonas. “We were both working on developing fuel from raw waste... But I had a keen side interest in making fuel oil from living plants like canola and algae. Unbeknown to me, Nadia had applied for a research grant for a state-of-the-art oil press on my behalf... She ordered the press from the United States behind my back, and paid for it... and received notice that it would arrive a few days before Christmas... so she organised to have it delivered to my flat because everyone in Engineering had gone on holidays...”
“But the press never arrived,” continued Nadia. “We tried to find out where it was, but the phone kept diverting to an answering machine. Finally the freight company rang us back Saturday afternoon... But by then we were 600 kilometres northeast of Karratha. Evidently someone had botched up the delivery address paperwork - the street name was wrong - so the truckie had typed Jonas Magellan into his database - which brought up the University Engineering Department. And he noticed Jonas had signed for a number of bulky items on behalf of Engineering in the past...”
“...so he left the press outside the Engineering building?”
“Yes. By the time we got the message, it was cutting it too fine to drive back to Karratha, load up the press and be back at Magellan Station by 6 am on the day of the Event... Jonas was convinced it wasn’t safe to return to Karratha... and while I was sceptical at the time, he and David were absolutely correct...”
“We went back to Karratha a few weeks after the Event,” resumed Jonas. “We were hoping to find the press. In hindsight that was an absurd thing to hope for. An earthquake and a subsequent tsunami had destroyed almost every building in Karratha... there were bloated, rotting corpses everywhere and meteor fragments showering around us... It was like being in a war-zone again...”
Jonas shook his head as the memories resurfaced.
“And the press?”
“We never found it son. It must have been washed away. Or looted.”
“Tragic,” murmured Leo.
“Except in hindsight we know where the press was delivered to,” explained Nadia. “And there’s a chance it wasn’t stolen before the Event, but destroyed during the Event...”
“...which hasn’t happened yet!” breathed Serene.
“Are you all thinking what I’m thinking?” grinned Jonas.
“But that would be changing history Dad!” gasped Leo.
“Possibly... But perhaps another way of looking at it is, we’ve been supernaturally given another shot at collecting something that’s ours anyway...” retorted Jonas.
“Something which would significantly improve life for others after the Event...” added Nadia.
Jonas rubbed his chin and eyed David.
/> “All we have to do is get Kojak to convince you to go for a stroll in the right direction and find the press if it’s there.”
“I’ll fill Grandpa Kojak and Kojak Junior in,” replied Kojak.
“Grandpa Kojak and Kojak Junior?” echoed Jonas. “What have you done Kojak? Split yourself in three?”
“It’s a long story mate!” laughed David. “And it’ll probably do your head in...”
“Sounds like a perfect excuse for another cuppa with Leo!” retorted Jonas, hugging his son again. “And then we’ll all help you and Kojak out with those calculations that you’re doing, to get young Andy back home safe and sound again.”