They had almost made it; a Helicraft flew overhead, ferrying the elite and privileged to the launch site. The chuk chuk sound of the large rotor blades churning up the dead, dry earth coating the desperate throng of humanity in a film of red sticky dust. Jack checked Clem’s mask again, the standard-issue respirator almost covered all of her small pale face. He squeezed her hand and gave her a reassuring smile, praying that the attached cylinder had enough air left to get them on board the Argo.
A woman in front of them fell to the ground her cylinder depleted; her husband knelt beside her cradling her head, ‘Please,’ he begged the jostling crowd, who avoiding eye contact, stepped over the stricken couple.
‘Can we help Uncle Jack?’ Clem looked up at him, her large blue eyes filling with tears.
‘I’m sorry sweetheart, there’s nothing we can do for them.’
The checkpoint was now in front of them, armed guards lined the entrance. Clad in the dark green government army uniform and silver masks, they made a menacing sight.
When it was announced that the Argo would be the last ship to leave for the new world, people began to panic, to avoid riots, a ballot had been set up, offering everyone a chance to escape the now dying planet.
Jack was not selected and knew he was taking a chance with the forgeries he had in his pocket. He handed over the tickets that had cost all of his credits at the gates leading into Cape Aonia.
He prayed they were good enough to fool the officials. Standing impassively, his heart beat rapidly, as they were scrutinised.
Finally with a nod from the head guard, they were allowed to proceed to the next station.
The long queue snaked around the compound, metal barriers ensuring no one bypassed the health check. It moved slowly, made worse by forceful ejection of the infected, the stony-faced guards ignoring the pleading and offers of credits from the unfortunate souls who were unceremoniously marched back out of the gates.
Medics shone scanners in their eyes for any sign of the Red disease which Marcia, Clem’s mother, contracted while working in one of the Mega food farms set up to feed an ever-growing population. A new fertiliser to eradicate pests destroyed all plant life and spread into the atmosphere, causing terminal lung disease and the telltale red ring in their eyes.
Laying in the makeshift hospital, Marcia took a turn for the worse, delirious and almost blind she grabbed her younger brother’s arm and begged him to look after her daughter. ‘Please Jack, get Clem to safety, do whatever you have to.’
The ear-splitting sound of a siren started, a shrill warning that embarkation was about to begin. The thousand or so desperate people still outside realised they would not make it and surged towards the gates, trampling over the small and the weak. The guards were ordered to fire warning shots above their heads, amongst the screaming one brave soul climbed onto a checkpoint table, fist held into the air. ‘They can’t stop us all,’ he urged.’ A terrified guard who looked no older than fifteen, pressed the trigger on his gun and the agitator tumbled to the ground.’ This enraged the crowd who charged towards the gates overpowering some of the guards, the others fled at the sight of the angry and desperate mob.
Jack gathered Clem into his arms, and along with others, began to run.’ Reaching the giant craft, they clambered aboard, the sigh of relief amongst their fellow passengers evident, some falling on their knees in prayer.’ The crowd behind them had now breached the inner wall and were heading towards the ship.’ The crew looked on in horror at the advancing mob and demanded the doors be closed. ‘There are still people outside.’ Jack grabbed the shoulder of a crewman. ‘There is plenty of room.’
‘If we let them all aboard, we would not be able to take off.’ He shrugged Jack’s hand free.
‘Go and take your seat, and be quiet.’
The crowd had now reached the blast site. Loudspeakers warned them to clear the area, as countdown had now begun.
Ten, nine, eight, seven,
Jack strapped Clem into her seat and hoped the roar of the take off would cover the screams of the people who now realised they had no hope.
Six, five, four,
Clem started to cry, and reached for her uncle’s hand.
Three, two, one.
The rocket shuddered and shook as it blasted skywards, the journey to the new world had begun. Jack hoped as pioneers they would look after their new planet better than the one they were leaving.
Tucking a blanket around a now sleepy Clem, he looked out of the porthole as their home planet shrunk in the distance, looking like a dusty red ball from the darkness of space.
‘Where are we going Uncle Jack?’ Clem asked.
‘To our new home, a planet they have named Earth,’ he replied.