Chapters (45)
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Contents
- Prologue
- 2046
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- About the Author
There’s no threat here. None of them feel in danger but in awe at the life in this place and they stare up into the black cloud as if in prayer, then stagger back in shock at seeing one of the flying beasts they saw bursting from the trees go slamming through the insects with its mouth open, snapping left and right. One dragonfly is snatched from the air with a quick rag of the creature’s head and the insect is swallowed. The second creature, having gone higher and further out to catch those bursting away, glides down as well, snapping to the sides until it snags a dragonfly for lunch.
The three stand watching. Rooted to the spot as the two creatures soar higher then spread their wings to turn lazily in the air before they commence the next torpedo run back down through the now crazily humming cloud of insects.
Screeches come from the flying creatures. A sound of excitement, of pure thrill mingled with a calling out. They stay together this time, dropping rapidly until they hit the outer edges of the swarm and only then do their wings open to lift them up, into and through the dragonflies that get snagged and gulped down time and again. Ben realises that already the presence of humans has caused an effect that otherwise may not have happened. If not for them, these two flying animals may not have enjoyed this meal and in turn so the insects may have rested hidden in the long-stemmed grass through the heat of the day.
The swarm goes for the trees as the only obvious point of cover and the predators give chase, swooping and rising to bank sharply for another run through.
They go slower this time, advancing step by step towards the treeline as the power of curiosity overcomes common sense. They should stay in the open near to the bunker so they can turn and run if they need. Except they aren’t those types of people. Ben just witnessed life and death with flying dinosaurs dominating this place as they snacked on giant insects that died to give life that died to give life and forever on it will go. That humans have conscious thought is the one thing that separates them from everything else, but that conscious thought has wrought more damage than all of the combined life that went before them. Ben sags on the spot with a crushing weight pushing him down. Sweat pouring down his face. Whatever happens in twenty-one eleven is probably deserved. Fuck it, I’m amazed we got that far.