Waiting For the Flyers Part 9 A Northern View

‘Your experiences of the world outside ours could be a great help. The big cities, Manchester for example. I know everything about them, but only from history and geography studies. My education was very extensive, some of the best tutors I believe, but it doesn’t tell what a place feels like. I’ve tried to pass on as much of my knowledge to all my children during their schooling, but we have no experience of such places.’

‘Do you look upon the people here as your children?’

‘No not really,’ I think I blushed, ‘I was being dramatic. I have ten offspring, I gave birth to five of them. They are in their fifties now. I should have said family.’

‘You have ten children but you gave birth to five. You adopted five?’

‘It’s more complex than that. The job was to build a community. I can’t explain now. It will take too long, it’s getting late. Also I have the feeling the ethics of the project will be hard for you to swallow.’

‘Was it worth it? Ethically I mean?’

‘We are just short of three thousand, built up over the last fifty-two years. We would easily fit into your village.’

‘That’s sixty a year on average.’ David went silent and counted his fingers. After about three minutes he spoke. ‘That doesn’t seem much, I would have thought double at least.’

‘There are problems with the genetics. The rate is improving with up-coming generations, but the percentage of full-term pregnancies is much lower than originally expected. In fact we’re lucky it worked at all.’

‘You make it sound very cold and calculating.’

David’s body language said doubts about me were crossing his mind. Sitting back in the chair he visibly tensed up.

‘It was, David, but don’t get me wrong. I love all my family. My children, my grandchildren and all those children that were brought to us, but yes, I was put here for that purpose.’

‘What do you mean problems with genetics? Is this some kind of baby manufacturing?’

‘All the people were born naturally, but not always the conception.’

‘Not always the con—‘

‘Look, David this is confusing you. I have documented everything I know. You are free to read it if you wish. I think it’ll help you understand, but I don’t have it right here.’ I tried what I hoped was a re-assuring smile. We are not robots or droids or any other kind of bloody machine.’

‘Ok. I’m sorry but it’s. . . . Hard to. . . . Yes I’d like to understand.’

‘Good I’ll get them and we can go through it together. In the meantime what can you tell me about the towns and cities.’

‘Do you think I can have another pot of tea?

I called Sophie. While she re-freshened the pot and brought clean cups David was silent, clearly deep in thought. The first sip of tea animated him.

‘Regarding Manchester I can only tell you my experience. In short it was in serious decline no doubt like every town and city in the country. You have to remember I never knew it before the virus. Even by 2050 the population had almost dropped to early twentieth century levels. That kind of fall is disastrous for businesses relying on ten percent of turnover for profit. The city centre was just a mess off boarded up offices and shops.

There was no maintenance in the early days. It was falling part. It got really dangerous. Groups of desperate people trying to be free from state population control moved into empty buildings. With no future and being hunted by police they lost respect for human life. Killings happened all the time. Some of the population just had a death wish.

Alice and I lived about five miles outside the city. We met at the BBC. We were lucky ones I guess. It got too dangerous to travel alone so the government bussed us in with security escorts. Eventually they commandeered a bunch of luxury apartments on Salford Quays for all the employees. We lived there until they retired us at fifty. It was the only area properly looked after until AI. After that got established things settled down.

Mum and Dad used to tell me stories about how lively the place was. New buildings going up all the time. Good pubs and restaurants, great nightlife. With the new investment there were excellent work prospects. It all sounded wonderful. I expect their recollections were a little “coloured” but it sounded like a nice city.

I can’t imagine what it’s like now. One things for sure without power the place will be flooded. Just about every big town will be now. I should think the Thames is taking over London right now. It must be terrible for anyone still alive down there.’

‘You paint a very depressing picture, David. I guess we have a long struggle ahead of us.’

‘You shouldn’t see it that way. Your people are going to inherit a shattered wreck of one of the richest countries in history. You may well struggle, but your family and their descendants have a fantastic opportunity to re-build. There is so much out there for them. I wish I could be part of the adventure. Don’t let them waste it.’

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Manchester_City_Centre,_Deansgat... (Photo by David Dixon for use on wiki commons)