Rivals

By James McLellan

A terrible natural disaster has plunged the Earth into a decade without a summer. On the ground, it is a calamity that will reshape lives forever. In space, the severing of the tenuous flow of critical resources could be an extinction event. A group of citizens has been plotting in the shadows for decades for a day without Earth. However, their bold plan hinges on the generosity of an alien race.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James Mclellan
• Release date: Jul 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9781736843970

James McLellan

James McLellan is a Senior Lecturer in English Language and Linguistics at Universiti Brunei Darussalam. His recent publications include Code Switching in Malaysia (2009, edited with M.K. David, S. Rafik-Galea and Ain Nadzimah Abdullah ).

Book preview

A Decade Without Summer

YELLOWSTONE PARK. EARTH. October 2336. 6:53 AM

Everybody up! It's time for breakfast.

Chloe opened one eye and looked down past her feet. Dad was cooking at the mini-kitchen that began where her couch ended. The bacon smelled good.

Chloe turned her head to see her aggravating little sister. Her sister, somehow, slumbered through the hubbub. Which prompted another round of calls from Dad.

Get up girls! Wakey wakey!

I'm up, Chloe said, sitting up on the couch.

Both of you, Dad commanded.

Chloe's sister Mona stirred. Dad folded up Mona's couch to get access to the table and chairs beneath. The kids took their spot quietly. Dad set down on the table two paper plates. The plates were piled with eggs, bacon, and grits.

Where are we going today? Chloe asked between spoonfuls. Dad was standing in the kitchen, eating his portion out of the skillet.

We're going to see Old Faithful. It's a geyser. Do you know what a geyser is?

Something that shoots water up into the air.

Old Faithful has been doing that reliably for more than four hundred and fifty years. Every half hour to two hours.

Wasn't there something on the radio last night about the park being closed?

Dad just waved Chloe's complaint away.

Irritated at being ignored, Chloe pressed, why are we doing this anyway?

I've wanted to come out here my whole life, Dad answered. And I wanted to spend some time with my girls.

Why now?

I think, at fifteen and twelve, you're both old enough to appreciate it.

I'm fourteen, Dad! Chloe corrected. And Mona won't be twelve until next year.

She just had her birthday, Daddy replied.

Her eleventh birthday, Chloe clarified. You don't know anything at all about us.

The words stung. That's true, he said quietly. But I know you better than you think I do. And you are going to love this.

Chloe didn't give up, and we've been riding around for days in a stupid truck that doesn't even fly with nothing to do!

Ground cars are as reliable as you get. You have lots of games, Dad answered. I'll keep your suggestions in mind.

Dad finished his food and did the dishes. Putting the kitchen towel around a door knob, Dad walked outside. The recreational vehicle could disconnect itself from the water, sewage, and electrical hookups. Dad insisted on supervising the operation himself.

Chloe had started a video game when Dad returned. Mona was drawing.

Dad climbed into the raised forward area and took the plush left side 'captain' seat. Old Faithful, Dad instructed the recreational vehicle. The big wheeled groundcar slowly started rolling.

A colored pencil rolled by Chloe. Then another. Angrily, she jumped up and took the right side 'copilot' seat.

You can't bring games up here, Dad told his oldest. Grumpily, she put the device up and resumed her spot. There was a park ranger standing in the middle of the road. He appeared to be signaling for them to stop.

I told you the park was closed.

They stopped beside the ranger. Dad lowered the window. The air this morning was barely above freezing. It hit Chloe like an icy sock. She dialed up the heat.

I'm sorry. The park's closed, the ranger told them. There's been some seismic activity. Only authorized vehicles in the caldera.

That was months ago, Dad complained. His breath turned to bright mist outside the window. The ranger shrugged.

Sitting up in his chair, Father looked up the ranger's face on the computer to get a name. From the ranger's name, Dad found a public wallet. Dad deposited what Chloe guessed was probably close to a weeks' salary into the ranger's named account.

How about we just take a look? Dad suggested to the ranger. The ranger stepped back and waved them through. The recreation vehicle started rolling forward again.

Are you sure we should be doing that? Chloe asked.

They are just being overcautious, Dad opined. They don't want to get in trouble if someone gets hurt. These seismic alerts started months ago. Nothing has happened. Nothing will.

They drove on a road straight through sparse pine trees and rock. The dashboard heads-up display told them that they were about five miles away and that they would be at the destination in about ten minutes.

So, after we're done here, Dad said to anyone who was listening, I was thinking we could double back to the Grand Tetons, and then make for Snake River and Craters of the Moon. How does that sound? Craters of the Moon! Neither daughter acknowledged him. Maybe stop in Blackfoot for lunch.

What will we see up here? Chloe asked. Mona had put away her drawing and was sitting between the two seats with a view through the front window.

There's a big flat viewing area, where you can see it from all sides, Dad answered. It's always steaming a little bit. And then, when it's time, you get this large vertical spray for about half a minute.

Their groundcar struggled along the steep incline. It's weird, Dad said. I remember it being flat. I heard the region had started to deform up due to subsurface pressure. Wow!

The coach pulled into a parking spot and signaled they had arrived. The parking lot circled around a large hill. Chloe didn't see any steam out of it, but she figured the hill must be Old Faithful.

Dad pulled up some images his employees had shared with him when he’d announced his vacation last week. Compared to the flat spot from the videos, the whole park appeared to be sitting on a huge bulge.

Are we in the right spot? Mona asked. The groundcar confirmed they were.

Well, that's odd. Dad said. Let's go check it out.

The girls were on their own. Each girl put on a fleece jacket. Mona insisted on wearing her favorite sandals. Dad zipped up his own jacket and opened the door.

The family stepped onto the parking lot. There was no one around. They were the only people here.

They walked uphill a few dozen meters to see the geyser. There was no mist at all. The far off hill surface seemed to reflect like a mirror.

Where's the smoke? Chloe asked. I don't see it.

I don't either, Dad answered.

Ew! Mona complained. I stepped in gum.

Mona showed Chloe her pink flip flops. They were coated in black goo. Chloe saw that they had left footprints of black goo going all the way back to the camper.

Dad! Mona called, getting their father's attention. Mona pointed out the cool three sets of tracks they had left in the asphalt parking lot.

Dad looked at the tracks. He stepped to the edge of the parking lot and crouched down to touch the pavement. Ow! He exclaimed, pulling his hand back in a jerk, and tending his burnt fingers. The pavement is hot, he commented. Daddy looked up at the sky. Hot enough for the tar to melt. But it's just barely daylight, he muttered to himself. Dad glanced back over at Old Faithful. The light mirroring off the bare rock was reminiscent of how the road turns mirror like in the heat of the day.

Dad got an odd expression Chloe hadn't seen before. Nothing to see here, I guess, Dad told them. Let's get back in the car, he said, pushing the girls forward. Try not to get tar on your shoes.

They got inside, Dad rushing them forward a little bit. Go ahead and get seats, he told them both. The girls did as instructed, ditching their tar covered shoes. Dad collected the shoes and put on spares. Dad sat down in the captain's chair.

Car, Dad demanded. The vehicle answered with a chime. Show me Yellowstone caldera. The car displayed a map projected onto the windshield. What is the shortest route out of the caldera from our location? A line directed them south.Let’s do that. South, he commanded the vehicle.

Ninety minutes later, Chloe was working a crossword. The ground shook so abruptly the motorhome nearly left the road. The groundcar braked to a stop.

Dad looked into the rear camera view. Girls! he yelled. You have to see this! Dad lowered his window and looked outside.

Chloe looked at the camera. A black vertical column of cloud rose up above the trees and mountains behind them. The smoke extended as far into the sky as the camera could see. Chloe opened her window and looked out behind them to see the cloud went up even further.

Mona tried to get Chloe to move. Failing that, the youngest squeezed into a view beside her father.

Dad turned on the radio. We are directly above Yellowstone Caldera, a voice on the radio said. And there is no question that volcanic activity has started. At 8:32 AM, an earthquake was reported to us from the tower. The huge bulge that had been growing in the Caldera for the past sixteen months has collapsed. A cloud of smoke and ash is rising to our altitude. The smoke and ash is extending even above us.

A different voice took over. Analysts expect up to three feet of ash to fall in the next twenty four hours, blanketing as far south as Salt Lake City, and as far west as Boise. If you are living in any of the cities on this list, you are advised to follow instructions from your Emergency Management Director.

Daddy flipped on the video. There was a color holographic image of the person speaking, and below was an interactive list of cities under immediate emergency. Daddy cross referenced a map to figure out where they were.

South, he commanded the car again, and they resumed heading out of the disaster area.

Look Daddy. It's snowing! Chloe said.

I don't think that's snow, baby, he told her. I think it's ash.

Chloe scrutinized the stuff collecting on the windshield. It's got snowflakes.

I guess it's cold enough, Dad conceded.

They drove a few more miles before Daddy pulled the camper over again. There was a hitchhiker on the road. Dad instructed Chloe to open the window. Where are you going? Dad asked.

If I could just get to the next big stop, that would be great, the stranger answered.

Dad opened the doors and let the young man aboard. He took a seat opposite Mona playing games.

They stopped for food a few hours later. I think we need a new rod, Dad declared. They bundled up and went into the fuel station and diner. The hitchhiker thanked them for their generosity and departed. Someone took care of installing a new fuel rod, while Dad and the girls ate.

After lunch, Dad did some shopping. Do you have any kind of air quality detectors? he asked one of the people working at the station.

After consulting some of the other workers the man came back with an answer. I don't think so, sir.

Alright girls, Dad said, pulling the pair off the candy. Let's go.

When they stepped outside, Chloe commented. Look, Daddy, the snow is gray.

That's probably ash, he told her. Chloe agreed. Dad shepherded the kids along to the car.

You should probably call your Mom, Dad suggested as they pulled out of the fuel station.

Chloe got out of the copilot seat and set down at the table. next to Mona. She dialed Mom.

Hey sweetheart! the familiar voice said. Are you alright?

We're fine, Mona said.

Dad is taking us south, Chloe told her.

Are you hurt? Mom asked.

Our shoes are ruined, Chloe told her.

Yeah. Ick! Mona added.

Where are you? Mom asked.

I don't know, Chloe answered. We just left the fuel station.

Put your father on, Mom directed.

Chloe stood up and tapped Dad on the shoulder. Mom wants to talk to you.

Hey Ellen, Dad said loudly. The microphones built-in to the car could hear him.

Frank, Ellen replied sourly. Where are the kids, Frank?

We passed through Jackson an hour ago, Daddy answered. We should be in Rock Springs in another hour. I'm trying to get us out from under this cloud of ash. We've got ash coming down outside right now.

Are you stopping in Rock Springs?

I don't know yet, Dad answered.

You're not supposed to be on the roads, Frank, Mom lectured, using the tone she reserved for the few times Mom and Dad talked.

I'll have the kids call you when we find a place to stop, Dad told her.

The roads are supposed to be for emergency vehicles, Frank.

Gotta go, Dad said. He cut the call.

Chloe gave her Dad, seated in his captain chair doing nothing a strange look. I'm driving, her Dad explained.

It's a self-driving car Chloe yelled at him.

Well that was something, Daddy said, looking out the window and changing the subject. It could have erupted any time in the last sixteen months. I thought : even if it did erupt while we were there, it'd just be some kind of venting. Not... this. Pretty wild, don't you think?

Chloe gave Dad her best look of disapproval. She started playing a video game. In the copilot seat.

Some time later Mona started whining. Can we stop? she asked.

If you need to go potty, you can use the restroom inside, Dad instructed his youngest.

I don't need to potty, Mona complained. I want to play outside.

You too? Dad asked. Chloe shook her head. Alright, he said. Stop over there, he instructed the groundcar, pointing out a spot ahead. The mighty rumbling house gently rolled to the curb and slowed to a standstill.

Go ahead, he told the two. Get out. Stay away from the road.

The doors opened. Chloe and Mona took a few steps outside. Mona started running sprints, following the road.

Look at that, Chloe said.

Dad looked. Above them, the descending afternoon sun was a giant ruby red ball.

That's sulfur dioxide, Dad explained to her. I've been reading up. It's what killed the dinosaurs. The meteor that hit the Earth sixty six million years ago was totally survivable, except for the dumb luck that it happened to hit a heavy sulfur deposit. The sulfur dioxide got kicked up into the upper atmosphere and stayed for years and years, killing almost everything.

There was a pause while Chloe digested the information. Are we in trouble, Daddy?

No, he answered her quickly. Absolutely not.

Chloe chose to believe him. When Mona asked if Chloe wanted to be in the next sprint, she joined in.

Dad didn't let them play any longer than fifteen minutes before he called the girls to come in. The camper started back down the road, going further south.

Chloe sat in the captain's chair, and Mona had the co-pilot chair while Daddy made sandwiches for dinner. The radio was on.

So, I have been told, the voice on the radio told someone,"that monitoring stations in Perth Australia, located literally on the opposite side of the world from Yellowstone, are already detecting elevated levels of sulfur dioxide. There are people that are asking :