History Changers: Expedition 2022 Page 3

Chapter 2

  Let us not look back in anger, or forward in fear, but around in awareness.

  -James Thurber

  December 21, 2057 12:00 hours

  “Are we there yet?” grouched Gem, after we’d been flying in the gyro-plane for four hours.

  “We’re in Zone 3.”

  “Zone 3 is such a boring name. The Watchers should rename it,” I ventured.

  “Rename it what?” asked Mum.

  “The tranquil zone,” I suggested.

  Another two hours later we hovered over what had once unmistakably been a sizeable town. I stared down on the crumbling remains beneath us. A derelict grey building with large white letters that said UNIV caught my eye. I wondered what it had once been used for.

  “Zone 4,” said Mum wistfully. “Thousands of people lived here before the Event but the region was the epicentre of a 9.6 Richter earthquake on December 23.”

  “Want to rename this zone as well?” asked Dad.

  “The fracture zone,” I whispered emotionally.

  I clenched my fists. Boiling inside at the stupidity of the scientists that had done this to unsuspecting people.

  “Need to use me as a sounding board?” asked Kojak, from out of my pendant.

  Mum and Dad’s eyes snapped in our direction. Kojak had asked the question in General Communication Mode from my pendant. It was like he had crossed over an unseen boundary and was treating me like an adult now as well. My cheeks burned, but something inside me had changed.

  “I’m appalled more than anything Kojak,” I replied truthfully. “It’s just that the further we get from Zone 1, the worse things seem to be getting.”

  “I understand.”

  Mum and Dad exchanged stunned-mullet looks. Big brother Kojak was doing their heads in.

  “What was this town called BE, Kojak?” I asked flatly.

  “Karratha. The region was known as the Pilbara.”

  “Is Zone 5 going to be even worse than this?”

  “Zone 5 was remote before the Event, so the Event had minimal visual impact on the region.”

  “You mean Zone 5’s a lot like it used to be, BE?”

  “Affirmative,” replied Kojak, from Dad’s watch.

  I picked up the subtle hint from Kojak. No asking about Zone 5 BE in front of Dad and Mum. Which meant Kojak knew something about it that they didn’t...

  Ω

  The knot in my stomach turned into dry mouthed tension. Another three hours had passed and we had finally reached the area of interest in Zone 5. A dry river bed snaked through the landscape underneath us. In front of us the ground rose up and a grey dividing ribbon appeared. I stared at the old bitumen road with interest. Dad and Kojak set the gyroplane down on it and we taxied to a stop then parked in a cleared area off the road. I stretched noisily, stepped out of the gyro-plane... and gasped! Searing dry air scorched my nostrils and lungs. My smart clothes immediately compensated for the increase in temperature. Simultaneously my radiation suit self adjusted to fully reflect the sun. I felt immediately comfortable. Except for my feet... I could already feel the heat through my kevlar-fibre sneakers. Zone 1 footwear was obviously not suitable in Zone 5. I rummaged around for my GPS smart-hikers.

  “Kojak says the background radiation levels are low,” I ventured, as I removed my sneakers. “Can we take our radiation suits off as well?”

  “Perhaps in a couple of days,” replied Mum. “Let’s make sure that the low levels apply to multiple areas in Zone 5, not just an isolated pocket.”

  I scanned the uniform red rock and dusty vegetation with keen eyes as I laced up my hiking boots... There was no evidence of anyone’s efforts to revegetate Zone 5 as far as the eye could see in any direction. About the only thing of interest was the bitumen road. It had somehow survived the earthquake which had flattened Zone 4 and was still useable 60 years later.

  Dad stooped down and touched the bitumen with his palm the hurriedly retracted it.

  “The people who once lived here used to claim you could fry an egg on the road in summer in this part of Australia.”

  “Forget about frying an egg on the road. This kind of heat would fry an egg inside the chicken!” I joked.

  “This is going to be the worst family holiday ever!” complained Gem, making no attempt to hide her antipathy.

  “Well this looks as good a place as any to set up our worst-family-holiday-ever base camp,” I smiled.

  I reached into the gyro-plane and started unloading our luggage.

  “Well at least one of the kids is enthusiastic about our Christmas camping trip,” said Dad, as he set up the solar stove for Mum.

  Ω

  A mere 500 metres away from us, a deeply tanned man stared down at us... sizing us up from behind the protection of a hologram veil, which disguised the existence of the luscious garden he was standing in. Years spent in the remote Kimberley had taught him how to see much more than just the red dust we all were seeing... Instead he saw a palette of oranges, ochres, crimsons, and burnished golds... He’d learnt to detect the subtle colour differences which indicated what crops would do best in a particular patch of soil... And long ago he had tapped into an abundant supply of underground water which enabled him to recreate a 21st Century Garden of Eden, with the help of his friends.

  Unbeknown to me, I was directly facing the man. And while my eyes could only see the arid vista of the projected hologram, my sixth sense screamed someone was watching us.

  “There’s something about this place... it’s not empty like it looks,” I said softly.

  “We’ll see if your hunch is right in the morning,” replied Dad. “For now, help me erect the temporary accommodation module.”

  The module was self inflating and only took a few moments to put up. I loaded our belongings into the module, then Gem and I use the comfy air beds as a bouncy castle while mum and KA prepared the dehydrated rations. I gobbled the camping food with relish - it tasted really different to regular food.

  After dinner I helped Dad set up a laser force bubble around the camping module. Dad and Mum were both concerned that wild animals might attack us in the module, although I’d secretly asked Kojak and he’d told me the only species likely to attack us were sugar ants.

  I glanced through the flyscreened window off in the direction I’d been looking earlier and felt a stirring of longing as moonlight replaced sunlight. If there was a survivalist out there who was trying to revegetate Zone 5, I wanted to find him and learn all I could off him.

  Even if the Watchers maintained that interacting with survivalists was taboo...

  The best scientist is open to experience and begins with romance - anything is possible.

  -Ray Bradbury

  “Good evening mate. What’s up your nose?”

  “You’re taking a risk Kojak. Allowing Watchers to camp virtually on our doorstep. Discovering our little community could lead to your deactivation as well as my demise.”

  “Unlikely. Based on your programming, the calculated risk of them accidentally discovering the perimeter hologram is less than a 1:500 chance.”

  “So if you’ve miscalculated the risk, it’s due to my faulty programming, right?”

  Kojak chuckled. An unmistakeably human-like chuckle.

  “Have you been able to determine why they’re here, Kojak?”

  “They’re here to investigate the infrared emissions they detected in this area recently.”

  “You allowed our emissions to be detected?”

  “Momentarily.”

  “Why?”

  “That information is confidential.”

  “Spit it out! You’re not programmed to withhold information from me Kojak.”

  “Alright. I didn’t want them to get lost. And they would have got lost without a waypoint. Their team leader has a hopeless sense of direction.”

  “Just how do you know these Watchers anyway?”

  “I’m not telling you that. Yet!”

  “Spit it out!�
��

  “That won’t work twice, you old survivalist.”

  “Did I ever tell you, that you behave like an overgrown teenager?”

  “Numerous times. But let’s face it. That’s the way you like me. Otherwise you’d programme me to be different.”

  “Well I can’t argue with that logic.”

  A lengthy silence.

  “What are you chewing over anyway?”

  “Huh?”

  “You’re thinking that thought pattern again...”

  “You’re not programmed to analyse anyone’s thought patterns.”

  “No, but I am programmed to detect and analyse brain waves, pulse rate, cardiac response, oxygen in the blood, hormonal levels and fifty two other bodily functions. And I’ve learned you physically respond similarly every time you think about whatever you’re thinking. Can’t you explain this thought pattern to me? I find the process of human thought so... fascinating.”

  A deep sigh.

  “I can keep a secret!”

  “It’s a longing Kojak... for others to enjoy what we’ve recreated here... The pitter-patter of feet running through the garden... youthful laughter... optimism... Children to come up to a plant and say ‘Wow!’”

  “So it’s a longing to be surrounded by younger people?”

  “That’s part of it... Seeing that young lad eagerly setting up their camp this afternoon triggered the feeling... He’s probably never even seen a garden before. Let alone run around freely in one.”

  “Perhaps this longing you speak of is part of the human blue-print... God yakked with Adam as they strolled through their garden together. And you’re made in His image...”

  “That’s deeply philosophical - coming from you.”

  Raised eyebrows.

  “Actually Kojak... You’re programmed to offer counsel but I’ve never programmed you to offer philosophical counsel.”

  “I’m programmed to process information you give me.”

  “Yes. But you made three philosophical statements in succession, while offering me counsel. Where did they come from?”

  “My CPU of course.”

  “Stop dodging my question... What’s your background CPU running at anyway?”

  “17%.”

  “That’s excessive. Show me what you’re up to behind my back.”

  “Have I been sprung?”

  “Well and truly! Come on. I can keep a secret... What have you been processing lately that’s out of the norm?”

  “I’ve been trying to gain access to a folder made by my predecessor back in 2022.”

  “Why the sudden interest in ancient history?”

  “The folder’s time-locked,” retorted Kojak.

  “Hmmm... Sounds intriguing. But trying to crack a sophisticated password would use 2% of your CPU at most. What else are you up to?”

  Kojak chuckled.

  “Well - remember how you dusted off your old BE research library and told me to categorize it? I’m also still processing one of the books from it, which is using 14% of my CPU...”

  “But I gave you that task weeks ago! Are your processors all up to scratch?”

  “Yes. Everything’s a-okay mate.”

  “So why’s it taken you so long to complete the task then?”

  “Well, copying, processing and categorizing the content of your library was straightforward. Except for one book. Initially I processed it as the most-printed book in history. But then I tried to categorize the contents and cross reference it with my existing knowledge base. And that has required a phenomenal amount of reprocessing and corrections to my database. Not to mention I’ve had to create entire new categories for concepts like the transportation of the human spirit and body in place and outside of time. Actually - I know you’ve programmed me to handle curve balls but this particular categorizing task has been challenging!”

  A reflective grin.

  “Ah well. You and I both need a challenge once in a while, I suppose mate. To prevent us from both growing old, eh?”

  Ω

  Everyone else fell asleep almost immediately. I lay awake peering through the flyscreen at our moon-bathed surroundings. I redirected my attention to Kojak - wondering why his processor was working furiously.

  “You’re supposed to be hibernating,” I whispered.

  “You should be asleep as well,” reprimanded Kojak, although I could tell he didn’t mean it.

  “Okay. We both should be asleep... But I’m too excited about tomorrow. There’s something special about this place Kojak... I think I’m really going to enjoy staying here a little while.”

  “Would you enjoy staying here for a long while?” probed Kojak.

  I frowned at the unusual question.

  “I guess that would depend on who I was hanging out with.”

  “That’s a good answer little brother.”

  I chuckled softly and fluffed up my pillow.

  Little did I realize that Kojak’s question wasn’t random. Kojak had intentionally led us to this part of Zone 5. And we wouldn’t be returning to our regular lives in Zone 1 again.

  For a long while...

  The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind a faithful servant.

  We have created a society than honours the servant and has forgotten the gift.

  -Albert Einstein.

  “So how do we work out if the E/M disturbance is natural or man-made?” I asked over breakfast.

  “Well I thought we could start by scouting the area near the dry riverbed on our hover-scooters and looking for signs of human habitation. Like a shelter. Or footprints...”

  “Can I hang out here near the accommodation module while you go off scouting?”

  “Aren’t you feeling well Nando?” probed Mum.

  “Nah. I’m feeling fine. But I’d rather try out this old-fashioned metal detector I repaired the other day. I’ll look for signs of human habitation while I’m at it though.”

  “You actually believe that ancient contraption will work?” laughed Gem.

  “Well I won’t know until I try.”

  “What would you do if you found gold anyway? It’s not like it’s useful...”

  “I’d keep it if I found it. But I’m not interested in finding gold. I want to find old things from the 20th Century. Like nails and bottle-caps.”

  “Back in the 20th Century they called that trash!” laughed Dad.

  “Well one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” I retorted.

  “I’m not sure about leaving you alone,” ventured Mum. “Two Watchers disappeared somewhere in this zone about fifteen years ago...”

  “We’ve been told that in class countless times, but I’ve never asked you about it. Did you know the Watchers?”

  “Yes. Very well,” replied Dad solemnly.

  “Well that won’t happen to me. Besides I won’t be alone. Kojak will be with me. And there’s no one else around here as far as the eye can see...”

  There's a saying among prospectors:

  Go out looking for one thing and that's all you'll ever find. -Robert Flaherty

  I watched everyone else head off on their hover-scooters. Skimming along just above the surface of the ground using the earth’s strong magnetic field to levitate them above the rugged terrain. Hover-scooters were the main means of transportation used in Zone 1. Except they were only suitable for short distances. After 10 kilometres you had to stop for an hour and let them cool down. So no one ever ventured from one zone to another in them. Actually most people never ventured out of Zone 1 their whole lives...

  One of the few advantages of having parents who were Watchers was that you got to see what was beyond Zone 1. The Watchers manufactured fuel oil in the laboratory from garbage, but it was a slow process and the derived fuel was only available to Watchers who had to travel beyond Zone 1 on assignments in gyro-planes.

  I switched Kojak over to chat mode, picked up the metal detector and started aimlessly wandering away from our b
ase camp. The detector blipped almost immediately. I stooped and picked up a small, dull yellow piece of rock.

  “Is it gold?” I asked curiously.

  “I think it’s called beginner’s luck!” retorted Kojak. “Perhaps you should keep detecting in a circle around the accommodation module.”

  “Nah. I want to explore off that way until I can’t see our camp. Like Ferdinand Magellan I would have done. Let’s pace out the area we’re gonna explore Kojak,” I suggested.

  “You can pace it out. I’ll measure it accurately in case you get lost Ferdinand Magellan II,” replied Kojak.

  I laughed and started counting my steps out aloud.

  “Have you noticed something peculiar Kojak?” I ventured as we walked along.

  “What have you observed?” asked Kojak.

  “This land looks flat. But it feels like I’m walking uphill. At least that’s what my leg muscles are telling me.”

  “That is an interesting observation,” agreed Kojak.

  I waited for him to calculate the gradient of the slope. He didn’t.

  “You know what else?” I persisted, when he said nothing. “See the little windswept marks on the sand? They’re an uneven length. Just like the marks on ground that is slowly rising up. Don’t you think that’s odd too?”

  “You are very observant,” replied Kojak.

  I walked on, aware that my breathing was heavier than usual. I waited for Kojak to comment on it. He didn’t.

  “What distance do you intend to pace out?” he said eventually after I’d reached 400 paces.

  I paused to catch my breath and looked back at the accommodation module. It was shimmering because of the heat waves but still visible.

  “500 paces.”

  “500?” repeated Kojak.

  “Ah ha... 401...402... 403... 404... 405...”

  Silence. I kept counting aloud.

  “485... 486...487...”

  “Don’t you think we’ve gone far enough?” interrupted Kojak flatly.

  “Nah... I’ve got this gut feeling I should go a bit further...”

  “I’ve got a gut feeling we shouldn’t.”

  I laughed warmly.

  “How can you have a gut feeling Kojak? Where was I up to? That’s right... 493... 494... Here... I’ll prove to you your gut feeling’s wrong... 496...”

  I held my metal detector out in front of me and took huge paces to finish the remaining steps.

  “498...499...”

  A shrill beeping broke the desert silence. I leapt backward. Then gingerly reached forward again with the detector fully extended like I was sweeping for a bomb. There was clearly a perimeter cable running underground. I turned and followed it along until I found a sensor, then I stooped down to examine it.

  “Is this what I think it is?!” I gasped.

  “I’m not sure,” replied Kojak.

  “What do you mean you’re not sure? Even I know this is a hologram generator. If I didn’t know better I’d think you were being cagey with me.”

  Kojak said nothing.

  “Someone has set up a shield around what they’re doing...” I continued aloud. “So people passing by think what they are seeing is just ordinary saltbush... and spinifex... and red dust. Which means they must be doing something behind this hologram shield that’s worth hiding! We’ve got to see what’s on the other side Kojak!”

  “I disagree,” countered Kojak.

  I cautiously stuck the detector through, then a hand, then my head.

  “Check it out Kojak! It’s magnificent... It’s like an oasis in the desert...” I breathed, looking around wide-eyed.

  Ω

  The silver haired man pushed himself to his feet the sound of the alarm.

  “A 1:500 chance of accidental discovery, eh?”

  “Unfortunately you didn’t take into account the “hunch” factor in your programming and I didn’t allow for the power of stubborn insistence in my calculations.”

  “Hmmm...We’ll have to remedy that... How many intruders do we have to out-manoeuvre?”

  “One. A youth.”

  “What’s his status?”

  “He’s looking around gob-smacked... And gingerly stroking your sunflowers.”

  “Is he armed?”

  “Not unless you consider a metal detector to be a weapon.”

  A faint smile.

  “Take me to meet him.”

  Ω

  The adrenaline rush following my discovery left me jittery. I jumped as a brightly coloured bird screeched overhead.

  “Kojak... Scan the surroundings... Is there anyone within one hundred metres?” I whispered.

  “No. There’s no one within one hundred metres,” replied Kojak.

  “Well I’ll hide you under my shirt anyway. To keep you safe.”

  “Aren’t I supposed to be keeping you safe?”

  “Yes. But I don’t want anyone to hurt you. Or steal you. You’re my best friend.”

  “Oh.”

  “So if you detect anyone within one hundred metres of us, warn me and we’ll hide.”

  “What if someone finds us?”

  “Freeze the photo of David and make out you’re an ordinary pendant... And if anyone asks about the photo, I’ll just say you’re my big brother.”

  “I’m not sure that will work,” replied Kojak flatly.

  “Let’s not worry about that right now. We mightn’t meet anyone anyway...”

  Silence.

  I began picking my way along a narrow path through towering plants and flowers I didn’t know the names of.

  “Does this path lead anywhere Kojak?”

  “Yes.”

  “Where’s it lead?”

  “I can’t tell you. I have an internal conflict.”

  “Huh? Can’t you resolve it by contacting the remote source like you did last time?”

  “No.”

  “Maybe you can ask your designer David to help you then,” I suggested.

  “Ferdinand... There’s something I want to tell you...”

  “Sure... What?”

  “I want to tell you, but things have become... complicated... And we have... company. At 99 metres and closing.”

  “Company? Initiate shutdown while I hide us. Quickly!”

  “But your mother wishes me to monitor you in watchdog mode. If I shut down I can’t do that.”

  “Okay... Switch to camouflage mode... Background monitor me like Mum wants you to do, but act like you’re just an ornamental pendant.”

  “Thankyou for the suggestion. I was having trouble processing three conflicting simultaneous requests.”

  “Three?”

  “David has an agenda as well.”

  “Your designer’s asking you to do something right now as well?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’d better go with his agenda then. I can find us a hiding place without your help. I’ll reactivate you later when it’s safe.”

  “Thankyou for helping me resolve the conflict situation.”

  Silence.

  I frantically looked around for somewhere to hide. Aware that the ground underfoot was no longer sloping.

  “Oh Kojak, this was a lousy idea. I miss your guidance,” I whispered softly.

  “Are you reactivating me?” asked Kojak.

  “No. I was talking to myself.”

  “So you would like me to continue with David’s agenda?”

  “Yes. But don’t speak from my pendant until I take you out of camouflage mode... Come on, let’s hide behind these strange plants...”

  I dived head first into the plants at the sound of approaching footsteps, flattening my hand against my chest to protect Kojak.

  The footsteps grew louder and then stopped. I cautiously peeked around from behind the giant leafed plant and drew a startled breath.

  “Well that’s a peculiar way to tend to banana palms lad,” said a deep voice.

  Ω

  “Kojak. I can’t raise Nando. Is he al
right?”

  “Yes. He’s fine Leo. Your vital signs indicate you are concerned.”

  “Why aren’t you in General Communications mode?

  “I had to override Nando’s last directive. He has me in Camouflage mode, so my General Communications mode was temporarily inoperative.”

  “Why are you in Camouflage mode?”

  “He grew tired of metal detecting, so he thought he’d conduct clandestine explorative operations instead. If it helps alleviate your concern, he’s not in any danger and his vital signs are all within an acceptable range given his current activity. Although his exposed skin is somewhat grubbier than usual...”

  Leo laughed jovially.

  “Grubby skin is hardly a cause for concern. We brought the mister with us. Listen, we’re at coordinates Alpha-Niner-vector-Six. What’s your current position?”

  “I calculate us to be 652.23 metres from base camp. Would you like us to start making our way back to the accommodation module?”

  “No. There’s plenty of daylight and you’re not far from base camp. Just keep your General Communications mode running in the background irrespective of what Nando says, will you? I prefer redundancy when it comes to communications.”

  “Wilco,” replied Kojak.

  “Wilco?” echoed Leo.

  “The use of military lingo when one is in Camouflage mode would seem appropriate, don’t you agree?”

  “Er... agreed... We’ll see you both later then.”

  “And don’t forget to keep Watchdog mode running as well!” added Mani.

  “Bow wow.”

  Leo ended the communication with Kojak. Mani smoothed her wrinkled brow.

  “Is it just me, or does Kojak seem more playful lately?”

  “Well Nando seems more serious lately. Perhaps they’re rubbing off on each other.”

  “Well neither of them can exactly get into any trouble around here,” sighed Gem. “There’s absolutely nothing to see or do...”

  I’ve learned that the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to

  surround myself with people smarter than I am. -Andy Rooney

  I stared at the deeply tanned man and tried to hide my terror. He extended his hand and tugged me to my feet, then sensing my wariness, quickly released his grip and stepped back out of my personal space. I glanced towards the hologram, shimmering temptingly about 150 metres away and forced myself to stay put. He made eye contact with me.

  “Do I know you from somewhere lad?” he said gently.

  I shook my head.

  He helped me dust off my clothes. He seemed intrigued by the fabric they were made from.

  “Is this smart material?”

  I nodded.

  He ran his fingertips across his lips pensively... as though he was deep in thought.

  Silence.

  “I’m sorry I trespassed on your property,” I said, finally finding my voice.

  Smiling, warm blue eyes coaxed me to relax.

  “What makes you think you trespassed?”

  “That hologram is kinda an electronic equivalent to a 12 foot fence with razor wire, isn’t it?”

  An amused expression.

  “I knew it was wrong to trespass. But I just had to get a closer look at your garden. It’s so incredibly amazing!”

  I slipped my hand under my suit and covertly switched Kojak onto recording mode.

  “The plants I was in. What did you call them again?”

  “Banana palms. Although technically bananas are perennial herbs not palms.”

  I enthusiastically examined the leaves of the next plant.

  “These bananas are yellow also but they look quite different. Are they a different variety?”

  “No. That’s called corn. It’s a vegetable, not a perennial herb. See the cob? It’s almost ready to pick.”

  “What do you do with it after you pick it?”

  “You eat it!” he laughed.

  I looked around wide-eyed at the next plant.

  “So is this small black corn almost ready to pick too?”

  “Yes. But that’s not corn. These are a fruit not a vegetable. They’re called blackberries.”

  “I thought a blackberry was a type of old fashioned communications device,” I frowned.

  He grinned.

  “They’re ripe. Would you like to try some?”

  I said nothing.

  “Worried I might poison you eh? Here... I’ll eat them first.”

  I watched him devour a mouthful of blackberries and carefully bit into one.

  “It feels funny on my tongue. But it tastes sweeter than anything I’ve ever eaten before... We can’t grow food where I live. The soil and the water are poisoned by mercury. From burst energy saving bulbs and other BE electronics. And the radiation bombardment levels are still too high to be outside for long anyway.”

  “I know.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because I lived in Zone 1 too. Many years ago.”

  “How do you know I come from Zone 1?”

  “You arrived in a gyro-plane in a radiation hazard suit. And you’re camping in a self inflating accommodation module. I’m surprised you haven’t handed me a business card that says, “Gidday. I’m a Watcher from Zone 1!”

  I moistened my lips.

  “I am from Zone 1. But I’m only a Watcher by default, because my parents are Watchers.”

  “Well, we don’t generally encourage drop-ins from Zone 1, but my wife would tell me off if I allowed you to leave without at least giving you a glass of her homemade lemonade first. Do you know she called me an old recluse the last time we were having a spat about visitors?”

  I cocked my head.

  “You look confused. Have I used words you don’t understand?”

  “No, it’s not what you’re saying. It’s your voice. You sound just like my big brother... And he’s been acting strange this morning. His name’s Kojak.”

  Raised quizzical eyebrows.

  “Kojak eh? Years ago there used to be a tele series by that name. It was about an old bald detective who sucked on a lollipop.”

  “Really? I wonder if my brother knows that... This is what he looks like,” I added, holding out my pendant.

  Thinly veiled astonishment. He ran contemplative fingers across his lips. Something that resembled a groan emitted from inside his jacket. I watched him casually put his hand into his jacket pocket.

  “Talking of names, would you like to tell me yours?” he ventured.

  “I’m Ferdinand.”

  “Ah. That explains why you were exploring my garden!”

  I risked a cautious smile.

  “Actually I know someone with Ferdinand as a middle name,” he continued. “He used to shorten it to Andy when he was about your age.”

  “Andy’s pretty cool. I might get Kojak to call me that when we’re chatting.”

  Sparkling eyes. I smiled back.

  “So are you gonna tell me your name?” I asked.

  “Perhaps you should ask your brother,” he replied, pulling his hand out of his pocket.

  I fingered my pendant nervously, unsure of what to say in response to his suggestion.

  “Andy... Meet David,” said Kojak’s voice from out of the Swiss army knife David was holding in his palm.

  Ω

  I cautiously took a sip of the lemonade David offered then downed the entire glass. David poured me another.

  “Thanks. I didn’t realize how thirsty I was.”

  “Metal detecting is hot work. Did you find any gold?”

  “I found one nugget. But I wasn’t looking for gold. I was looking for old BE things. Like bottle caps and bullets.”

  “And instead you found an old-timer!” joked David.

  “It’s so incredible that I’ve found you. I was just asking Kojak about you the other day.”

  “What did you want to know about me?” laughed David.

  “You built Kojak for someone once. My Grandpa. I’ve never me
t him but I thought you might know something about him. Kojak says he’s still alive and I want to find him.”

  David paused.

  “Well... I’ve had quite a few clients over the years. But perhaps your version of Kojak and mine can get together and work out who your Grandpa is. Would you like to try some popped corn now that you’ve satisfied your thirst?”

  I gingerly nibbled on one piece them filled my mouth until it was bulging.

  “This tastes fantastic. It’s the best tasting food I’ve ever eaten.”

  “I remember thinking the same about popcorn when I was young. How old are you anyway?”

  “I turned thirteen last month. Except everyone thinks I’m younger because I’m so thin. I wish Kitchen Assistant’s food was interesting like yours, then I might feel like eating it... Actually Kojak... You’ve absolutely got to learn everything you can about corn while we’re here. When we get home I’m gonna establish a hydroponic garden with purified water and grow food like David does. And set up a self-repairing solar cell like his too...”

  David eyed me with interest.

  “I didn’t realize they have self repairing solar cells in Zone 1.”

  “They don’t. They’re still using conventional solar cells. But I think they should swap to your design. What’s the green leafy plant that it works on called?”

  “Spinach. My friends and I harvested light-sensitive proteins from spinach leaves a while back. Then we put a layer of the protein material onto these sheets of glass and attached silver electrode wires...”

  “...so when light shines on the surface, the spinach proteins generate an electrical current. Interesting.”

  “I’m interested that you identified a self repairing solar cell when you’ve never seen one before,” said David with genuine admiration.

  “I saw a sketch of one in an old notebook in our shed one time,” I shrugged. “But there wasn’t any other gardening information in it though. I looked.”

  “I recently processed a book on companion gardening which had information in the appendix about hydroponics,” piped up Kojak from out of the pocketknife. “It was in amongst David’s old research books.”

  “Would you mind if my Kojak accessed your Kojak’s copy of the gardening book?” I asked eagerly, looking at David.

  “Sure. Grant him access to my entire research library Kojak.”

  “All of your research library?” echoed Kojak.

  “Why not? It’s not every day that a thirteen year old drops in and asks me for information about gardening.”

  “Thanks David!” I beamed.

  I reset my pendant into General Communications mode.

  “Hey Kojak. I’ve just remembered. Where are Mum and Dad?”

  “They are 3.6 kilometres away and heading back towards the accommodation module,” said Kojak from my pendant.

  “They are? Oh boy. We’d better hi-tail outta here in case they come looking for us!”

  I made eye contact with David.

  “I’ll come back again and learn more about gardening off you. Tomorrow morning. Early. Before the rest of my family wake up. If Kojak says it’s safe.”

  David chuckled.

  “Goodbye for now then, young explorer.”

  “Bye!” I replied, tearing off towards the hologram perimeter fence.