Chapter 26

One of the Seven ... a Separatist ... separated from the Seven and tossed Andrea a watch.

"Here, have mine," He shouted and conjoined with the rest. Even though he was One of Seven, they could hear him laughing until he was out of hearing.

I'd like to say Tim was speechless ... I know Andrea was. Very little could shut Tim's mouth. "Holy Shit! Holy Shit! Holy Shit!" he exclaimed. "You know ... No I guess you don't ... I'll tell you." He paused for breath, "The Powers that Be ALWAYS have the latest do-dads and thingamajigs ... that's the most recent watch ... and he let you keep your old one!!"

Andie found her breath. She took several, she could feel her heart resume it's proper place and pace, "Is that good?"

"Good? I'll say ... better than good ... I think."

"It's blinking ... is it going to explode?"

"Let me see ... No no no ... don't give it to me ... let me look ... MENU," he read.

As if the watch knew someone was looking it said, PUSH STEM. Andie did.

*OPTIONS:

SELECT ONE.

FORWARD.

BACK.

OVER.

UNDER.

SIDEWAYS.

DOWN.*

"Let's go back to the Island before we get into uncharted territory," suggested Andrea.

"Good idea."

"Wait," said Andy, "I want to see what heaven looks like."

"This isn't heaven," Tim explained, "This is Earth 22 thousand years in the future."

"Is it exciting? Fun? Pretty?"

"It's actually pretty dead."

"Boring?"

"Dead."

"Dead?" she questioned, "Like DEAD?"

"This space where we are is it." Tim continued, "Outside is a deadly virulent sorta yellow sorta green noxious gas that in no way could be called an atmosphere. It'll burn your skin off in seconds. The Powers have been working on it for twenty thousand years. Industry, pollution and politics ... greedy politics ... and the peoples belief in the LIE that science would ALWAYS come through and fix it ... pretty much destroyed everything." He sighed. "Did Destroy Everything.

"I'm sorry ... I remember what it was like ... I go then all the time, I am a Tribal Shaman. If it weren't for the watch ... if it wasn't for the watch I couldn't ... They need me ... I interfere ... cure ... heal ... chastise ... teach ... hope.

"I ... Am ... on the outside, looking in. I had an interesting time getting those lyrics written ... Ray and George ... they were friends, you know ... fed off each other. Any way ... the dreams I had to induce. God, what a mess.

"Speaking of messes ... step out that door and you can see one. No! Don't go out there! I was speaking metaphorically.

"When we get back to our when, ask Wendy Wanzor Austin about the column of air they stood on when they were shot down."