Winged Time One Way

By D.E. Mackay

The story is about what would happen if all of a sudden, without any warning , there was no electricity, no connection to technology. Back in 1999, technology was quickly becoming so necessary to everyones existence. Not many people had cash in their purses and grew their own food. Not in the city.

There are three main characters.

Jack, a self-made man who grew up in a humble home but was a happy child. How he came to live on his cattle property with his wife and two daughters. How he survived the world without technology.

Jade, a middle-aged woman whose three children had grown up and left their city home to seek their own way in life. How her life had become so dismal and how she changed and grew strong when she discovered that she didnt need to spend huge amounts of money on her home anymore now that the children had left and how she ensured that they had a safe place to come home to. She began preparing.

Gillian and Adam. A young family with a small son. How they grew to love their bush retreat and prepare for what they knew would eventually change their world forever more.

This story is purely fiction and is not intended to scare people into thinking that this will happen. It is merely my story and I hope readers enjoy it. I could not publish this book without technology.

I was lucky to grow up in a time where we played outside with our friends until we were called home for tea. I am mindful that my grandchildren and most children cannot do this in the city today. Since I wrote my book, I have witnessed their births, and it is worrying that they must spend so much time indoors, necessary for them to access technology so that they can do their studies and be entertained. Necessary because the sun causes so much damage to their young skin.

Technology is necessary and important, and without it, most of us cannot survive today. It does have great benefits, e.g., advances in medical science, communications with loved ones far away. Necessary for most of us to earn a living by using computers and driving vehicles. The younger generation has accepted this new way of life. I was totally amazed when I took my youngest grandson, then three, to visit an elderly neighbour who had his own vegetable garden and how amazed that young child was to see how the fruits and vegetables grew on bushes and trees.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Sep 22, 2015
• ISBN: 9781514440520

D.E. Mackay

I wrote this book in 1999. At that time, the year 2000 was approaching, and there was much talk in the media about the impending end of the world. We had visited a small block of land in the rain forest. It housed a humble tin shed with no power or other council utilities such as running water or sewerage. It is such a peaceful, quiet place. I began thinking how much I would love to just stay there away from the hustle and bustle of the city where I lived and worked. The reason I have published this book now is because I have time to do so. Time I did not have while I was working full-time. I am now retired after thirty-three years as an office administrator aged sixty. I enjoy camping and spending time with my grandchildren.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

We have been instructed to inform you that this is a worldwide disaster. There has been a total shutdown of all power supplies. We do not know what has caused the failure. We have implemented the National Disaster Act, and the armed services are presently in control of your county under the command of Brigadier James Feetlam. The parliament has been adjourned definitely. World experts are presently investigating the situation. They are trying to find a solution. However, be assured that the problem is not as a result of any hostilities. The power failures appear to be a result of a natural occurrence which has spread to every country simultaneously. Food and water rations will be available to you. Please obey the instructions given, go to the following distribution sites, and register immediately. Do not attempt to leave the city. Please stay calm.

There had been no warning of any impending power cuts. There had been no time to prepare or store supplies. Or had there? Where had this technology that had the power to change the world come from? Where had mankind developed the knowledge to create this technology? It was not written in the folklore of any of the population. When had the knowledge of where and how to find food and water been traded for the teaching of how to use technology? Today there was no need to hunt or forage for food or follow the herds. Today possession of a small plastic card could obtain food, shelter and clothing.

The forces of nature were unpredictable at the best of times, but humans had created problems far more intricate. Nature governed the weather patterns, the reproduction of flora and fauna, and the formation of minerals. Humans had chosen to govern themselves. Greed that led to the lack of respect for the land and her treasurers had created something far more fearsome than anything Mother Nature could deliver on her own. It had taken too many people far too long to discover this. Greed had clouded too many minds. Global warming, pollution, environment, alternative lifestyle. Alternative lifestyle, what did that even mean? For centuries, what modern humans labeled as an alternative lifestyle was the only lifestyle known to humans, but for some reason, with the introduction of technology, what was once commonplace, supplying your own food, making your own clothes, visiting loved ones for a cuppa and a chat, was now alternative, alternative to what? Unfortunately every living soul would find out—and the result would be catastrophic for most.

There must have been something from our history books that had predicted this unusual phenomenon. How could there have been? History books told of wooden ships and battles with spears and bows and arrows. Where had this technology come from, technology that had the power to change this world or end it?

Nature can be so captivating.

Explore. Discover. Learn

CHAPTER 1

The sky was busy today, resembling a picturesque and placid blue lake surrounded by the high, snow-covered, brilliant white, mountain peaks. However, this tranquil scene was being challenged by a shadow. Dark clouds rolled rapidly across the blue sky, until no blue or white could be seen through the dark shield. Then the silence came, nothing created sound. No leaf rustled, no bird chirped. The air was so thick that breathing became slow and laborious. There was only silence.

In the distance, a low rumbling drew their attention to the horizon. Cool air gently touched their faces as the day grew darker and darker in the early afternoon. What was that noise? It sounded like one hundred huge tanks rumbling along the dirt road far in the distance. Adam and Gillian now looked to the sky with a single thought: Thunder. Please let it be thunder. Please let it rain today.

The sound drew closer and louder with each echo, followed by a spine-chilling, cracking sound that could only be lightning. It was either a thunderstorm or World War III had erupted down in the valley. It was as if nature had decided to celebrate the New Year with a huge natural fireworks display. The sounds grew louder and louder until the lightning streaks became visible. The white, fluffy clouds that had turned pitch black were now spread across the sky, as if some great being had spread Vegemite over a piece of the sky. When illuminated by the lightning, the clouds displayed brilliant streaks in shades of emerald green, pink, orange, and brilliant light blue. The lights split the sky, first horizontally and then vertically, with brilliant white swords that pierced the ground below after each crack. One black cloud covered the sky and engulfed the spectacular light and sound show. The wind intensified; what had started as a light breeze now howled through the trees. It was much cooler now, even cold.

The first drops of water began to strike the iron roof, so heavy they sounded like sledge hammers pounding. The rain splashed down on the dry, dusty earth, forming rusty puddles. The smell was wonderful. They had all forgotten that smell.

The booms grew louder, and the sound waves shook the earth. The glasses on the shelves shuffled and clattered against each other. Driven by the vibration to the front of the shelf like soldiers, they were stopped only by the glass doors. The panes of glass in the windows rattled. The lightning strikes exploded in both sound and light, again and again. Trees creaked and groaned in the brutal winds. They swayed back and forth, bending to nearly touch the ground before springing backwards and forwards helplessly. Those that could no longer stand the strain snapped at their bases. Tree branches crashed to the ground everywhere. The rain blew horizontally from one side of the veranda to the other. Had the outdoor furniture been built of anything less than heavy timbers, it would have shattered under the storm’s assault. The awnings flapped violently against the rails, which shredded the canvas into long strips. They could not see out of windows; the rain hit the panes of glass so fast and hard that it looked as if they were all going through a car wash. Adam and Gillian waited inside, looking out at the scene from the glass doors that led to the verandah. All were completely lost in their own thoughts. They did not speak, so transfixed were they by the power of the storm. The desire to see, smell, and hear the rain outweighed any fear the thunder and lightning inspired. It had been so long since it had rained that they regarded the storm with relief mixed with wonder.

In reality, the storm lasted just over one hour. It was gone as quickly as it had come, and by 4:30 in the afternoon, bright skies and sunshine returned. The birds immediately started to sing their melodious tunes. The water tanks were now full to capacity and overflowing. They had received so much rain in just under an hour that the place looked like a battlefield. The humans found their voices again; they chatted and laughed as they scurried about, tidied up the furniture, and surveyed the scene. At last, they thought with no small amount of relief, rain. We have rainwater in the tanks again. They rejoiced in the knowledge that after a long drought, the tanks were overflowing—so much rain that the water now ran down to the gully and filled up the creek.

Water had been used sparingly this season. They were used to being able to refill the big tank from the creek, but that water was no longer suitable for drinking unless it was boiled. A cup of tea at first light in the morning, just before the sun rose became everyone’s main daily intake of liquid. A ritual developed: first up puts the kettle on, and the sound would be enough to get everyone else up and about. There was enough liquid in the weak soup that was served as part of the evening meal every second day to provide nourishment. They were surviving, but fresh water was something they could not produce. Nature had to provide that. Both clothes and body were washed at the muddy waterhole. Once, it had been a flowing, crystal-clear creek. Clean clothes, clean hair, clean teeth—these were luxuries these days. But now, thanks to the rain, they had confirmation that they would be able to keep going.

Adam had but one thought in his mind: plant the new vegetable garden, and do it now. He headed to the far paddock to survey the area. With long, enthusiastic strides, he moved as quickly as his legs would take him. He was anxious to get started as soon as possible. The carefully stored seeds and bulbs could now be sown, and with this amount of water and sunshine, they would grow quite well. We can finally replenish our food supplies, he thought with equal parts gratitude and humility. We still have some sun-dried tomatoes, but nothing could possibly taste as delicious as a fresh, ripe, red, juicy tomato. Just the thought of that caused his mouth to water. Memory is such a funny thing, he mused. I can remember what things used to look like, I can remember what they even felt like, but why can’t I remember what they taste like? Smell like?

This had frustrated him for a long time. Taste and smell had taken up weeks and weeks of Adam’s thoughts recently. Once, he even tried to write down what the smell and taste of a mango was. One night, as everyone else slept, he sat at the kitchen table by candlelight. Focused on this task, he closed his eyes and tried to write down his thoughts. He could see the mango in his hands, but for the life of him, he couldn’t recall either the taste or smell of it. With some effort, he recalled that it was fruity and sweet with a touch of spice. Wistfully, he revisited the sensation of juice running down his hands when the fruit was cut. He tried to fully experience the memory of licking the juice off his hands, but the full image eluded him. He remembered the sweet juices and that then when you put the piece of mango into your mouth, it felt spongy but firm. A piece of mango didn’t melt in your mouth but with each bite a good mango would dissolve and just glide down your throat while a poorer quality one would be stringy and require a bit more chewing to get it to go down and leave stringy bits between your teeth. Adam had found a bottle of mango chutney in the back of the store room and he had tried and tried to remember what a fresh mango tasted and smelt like. Hopefully this year there would be plenty. The flowers covering the trees would look like confetti and even if the winds blew and blew some of the small green fruit would grow and become greener then turn a shade to yellow and red as they matured. Mangoes were such a versatile fruit. Mango chutneys, jams, dried fruit, wines. The orchid this day resembled twigs of branches but this drenching would ensure that the fruit trees would survive. Marmalades, jams, dried and bottled fruits. There was a lot of work to do and no time to waste. He was looking forward to it. There hadn’t been enough to do to fill up the days from daylight to dusk. Adam had grown impatient, they all had. They needed to get on with this survival and prepare for their children’s futures.

Adam and Gillian thought that they had been prepared for this situation. All of those months carefully squirreling away stores of food. However now that everyone here were living off their resources of food the stores had dwindled away rapidly, too rapidly.

Rain meant everything to their survival now. Without rain there would be no fresh drinking water. No water to spray on and refresh the crops and encourage the seeds to release their living cells. No crops to replenish the food stores. No food stores meant there wasn’t any survival of the species. This list went on and on but no matter how it was explained the list would end up in a circle with the first item starting with water, rain then food. They were linked together. It didn’t matter how it was written or spoken without water there is no survival for any creature or plant species. Plants could be replenished if there were rain and sunshine. Their seeds could be stored and sown. Sunshine and rain were not easy to make. Man had been able to reproduce artificial light but making water was not that simple.

There were no seasons to be able to plan when to plant, when to store, no winter, no spring, no summer and no autumn and no weather patterns, no wet seasons, no dry seasons. All the seasons were now one huge season. It could be freezing cold and bleak one day and bright and sunny the next. It could be calm and still in the morning and blowing a gale by evening but it had not rained for over six months. Not one drop of water from the heavens. Here, in an area that saw rainfall at least one day in every week. If not rain heavy dew that would drip from the tree branches to water the ground beneath. There was no dew. The gardening books, the seed packet instructions, it was better to throw them away and just guess when to plant the seeds that would grow into the food supplies. The weather was far too unpredictable now. Greed had clouded too many minds for too long. This was inevitable. Global warming was a direct result of pollution and environmental desecration.

It wasn’t everyone’s choice to choose technology as a way of life however it was forced upon them. Technology that needed the earth’s minerals to provide it’s fuel. The result of this choice would be disaster and it would happen so quickly that the majority of the population would not realise the mistake that they had made by such a choice until it was too late. They would not have the time because until the inevitable last moment they would be deceived by the greedy few into believing that the world that had been created for them through technology was far better than the world that nature had created and which was the intended lifestyle for the human race. Technology would lose eventually and nature would regain control. If not enough were ready for the outcome they would perish. There were too many people who had never experienced the true natural delights of their own planet.

It had taken months for everyone to arrive at Gillian and Adam’s block. The last were Dean & Kate and their twin boys, Joseph and Andrew. The yuppies if you had to put a name to them and fit them into some category of life as it had been known prior to this. They were very humble the day they arrived towing that big van behind their V8 cruiser. Now that vehicle sat on blocks being used as a chook pen as the fossil fuel needed to run that vehicle unable to be purchased. Some fuel had been stored away but that was far too valuable to use on such a vehicle. The large covered canopy was an ideal home for the chickens, guinea fowl, turkeys, ducks and geese to be locked away in at night safe from the marauding dogs and feral cats. Fortunately they had now all vanished from the area. Their disappearance was mainly due to a lot of lead pellets fired from the odd rifle or two. Nothing was cute and cuddly if it was taking food from your family’s mouth. It was important to look after the food stores, all of it.

CHAPTER 2

The power went off on the second day of their holiday. Kate could have endured not being able to use the spa however when the air-conditioning didn’t work and the lights went out in her