Scavenger Hunt

By Julia H. West

Young Adult Science Fiction Short Story. The underwater domes of Chai complex are breaking down, and Modlene and her family will have to leave if Mod can't fix the water purifier. But as she and her brother Simon search for the parts they need in an abandoned dome, someone tries to destroy it.

Originally published in Oceans of the Mind, issue XI (Colonies), Spring 2004.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Callihoo Publishing
• Release date: Sep 28, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465972552

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Scavenger Hunt

Julia H. West

Published by Callihoo Publishing at Smashwords

Copyright 2011 Julia H. West

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Cover design by Danica B. West

~~~

Shouts, and somebody rattling the privacy wall, woke Mod. She sat up in bed, stared around in the half-light, and listened to her sisters' frightened murmurs all around her. Should she take her air tanks out of the box by her bed? No, first find out what's going on. She lifted the wall, poked her head outside, and yelled, What?

It was one of the Leary kids from the farm next door. The water purifier busted, and it's pumping salt water into the paddies.

Mod scrabbled for her shorts and blouse. She slipped her sandals on and ran to her parents' area, yelling, Mom, Dad, we've got a problem.

The family, from Dad to five-year-old Annet, assembled in minutes. We'll check the main irrigation canal first, said Mom. Hope we can close the inlet off before salt water gets to our fields.

How'll we know? asked Annet.

Taste it, silly, Mod said.

Walking with care—it was still dome night—the family followed concrete paths through the paddies. Mod ran ahead to the main water inlet for their fields and scooped up a handful of water, sipping some from her palm. Brackish.

Too late! she called back to the rest of the family.

Dad told the family, Okay, split up. Check each distribution channel until we find how far the salt water has traveled. If you find a channel that's sweet, block its input from the main channel, quick. I'll close the main channel.

Mod ran along the levees between the plots, stooping