Once a month my local writing group sets a theme for a piece of writing each member will submit. This month’s topic was “Brave New World”.
Brave New World
‘Welcome passengers to Brave New World Futurelines maiden future flight, flight BNWF001. The first-ever flight taking you into the future,’ announced the voice over the in-flight PA system.
The announcement certainly didn’t go unnoticed as everyone on board, bar me, clapped in recognition of what was to be a truly historical journey. Our plane was not too dissimilar to most planes, full of excited passengers and their carry-on luggage, knowing exactly where they were going and when they’d get there. Except, when most planes take off, the passengers on board expect to arrive at their destination within an hour or two, maybe more. Not our plane. Our plane would set down again in just a few minutes time according to our watches, but in the year 2165, some one hundred and forty years from when it departed.
‘This is your captain speaking, today we are expecting smooth time travelling conditions, little if any timebulance, and we will set down as per schedule in the year 2165 in around about fourteen minutes from now. I’ve just been in contact with Sydney Futureport and as pre-empted, they’re expecting our arrival. The tarmac will be clear, and we expect no delays. Sit back, enjoy the futureflight, and dream of a wonderful time in the future.’
Even with just fourteen minutes, I planned to do just that. I’d already located the complimentary inflight magazine and began flicking the pages.
Climate Change. Over Exploitation. Plastic Pollution. Overpopulation.
‘Ugh! No thanks!’ I announced in disgust. As per usual, the headlines were rather distasteful. Gladly, I wouldn’t have to worry about all that where I was going, and I wasn’t going to spend my time reading about it on this futureflight either. I swapped the inflight magazine for the headset I’d located in the back pocket of the seat in front of me and I was just sliding them over my ears when…
‘Exciting isn’t it,’ said the small lady sitting beside me.
In an effort to show I wasn’t interested in idle conversation I overaccentuated the lifting of the headphone from my left ear as I leant closer.
‘Sorry, what’s that?’
‘Exciting isn’t it,’ repeated the lady, her grin almost as wide as the Futureplane was long.
‘Oh yes, indeed,’ I agreed, before quickly turning away and releasing the headset back onto my ear.
By shutting my eyes and leaning back into my chair I thought I had made it obvious I wasn’t up for idle chit-chat. I still heard the woman’s muffled voice saying something, possibly along the lines of ‘What if we aren’t the first to arrive’. But, I wasn’t even sure if she was speaking to me, and I certainly wasn’t opening my eyes to find out. A few more moments passed, and I’d barely flicked through all the optional channels and decided on something before the sound cut out and the Captain’s voice rang over the PA once again.
‘Passengers, we are now reducing time travelling speed and we will be appearing on Sydney Futureport future strip in under around thirty seconds. We hope you’ve had a memorable flight and wish you all the best in the future.’
Just as the captain instructed, about thirty seconds from his announcement the seatbelt light switched off and the cabin door opened. Within a few seconds, the other passengers and I on Brave New World Futurelines maiden future flight were scurrying across the tarmac. We followed the painted arrows on the ground to where they stopped just short of a set of electronic doors not too dissimilar to those we were used to.
‘Hello future migrants, welcome to 2165,’ said a softened electronically charged voice as a small light mounted on the eve above the doors flashed reds and greens in unison with it.
‘Have your passports ready and your medical clear…,’ suddenly, the electronic voice cut out.
We all stood there staring at the small light, not knowing what to do. We waited, half expecting the voice to begin talking again. A couple of minutes went by before a frazzled man approached the door from the inside. We watched as he took a set of keys from his pocket trying a few before using his arms to pry the doors open.
‘Sorry everybody,’ he said. ‘The future is not short of technical problems.’
Just as he paused, the small light dropped out of the eave above his head and hung there, dangling by a lone wire.
‘Or financial problems,’ added the man as he peered up. ‘Everyone, please have your passports and medical clearances ready and follow me. We’ll get you all checked in within a jiffy.’
As we followed, we all sifted through our pockets and carry-on luggage in search of the documents he’d requested we have ready. Looking around, it became obvious that not much was different in this present from the one we’d left a little over six minutes ago. The futureport seemed similar to the airports from 2025. There were possibly some technological advances, all be it in need of repair, and there seemed to be more of a security and police presence. But apart from that, not much seemed different.
‘Here we are then,’ said the man as he stopped by a tall counter that separated us from the attendants sitting behind.
Standing there waiting to be served reminded me of waiting for service at the bank as the attendants were separated from us by not only the tall counter but a thick, glass security screen. The only difference being, here there were several armed security guards observing us.
‘Who’s next?’ asked one of the attendants, raising her arm.
During the short walk from the doors where the man had met us to the desk, I’d been sure to get in front of everybody. I stepped forward. I hoped to speed things up by placing my passport and medical clearance down on the desk face up ready for the attendant.
‘Just off of flight BNWF001, the first flight ever to leave the past,’ I announced proudly. ‘Frank Laidlaw’s the name.’
However, the attendant didn’t seem impressed. She just gave me the faintest of smiles, looked back at her screen, and processed my documents.
‘Ah, okay then. Well, I’ll be needing to book a flight back to the past,’ I said as I looked around. ‘Where can I do that?’
The attendant looked over toward me, then directly at the group of security guards standing nearby.
‘Sir, I regretfully inform you that here in the year 2165 time travel is outlawed. Has been for some decades now,’ explained the attendant.
Immediately I was taken back. How would I ever get back? There must be some way! But voicing these questions and concerns to the attendant didn’t get me anywhere.
‘Sir I’m going to have to ask you to calm down.’
Then I noticed two of the security guards heading over.
‘But there must be some way? There must be something you can do?’
The security guards now stood right by me on either side.
‘I’m finished with this one,’ said the lady, holding out my documents.
But before I could, one of the security guards reached forward and took them from her.
‘Right, come on sir, we’ll show you the way.’
This time I stayed quiet as both the men who now escorted me seemed to be the type not to argue with. They led me out the front door of the futureport where a couple of police officers took up tail following behind, and right up to a large police bus that sat out the front. Strangely, there were several of these lined up, all in a row one behind the other.
‘Right, on you get,’ announced one of the officers from behind me.
‘What?’ I responded in shock. ‘This can’t be, I haven’t done anything. If I was rude in there I apologise. Just let me go and I’ll find some accommodation nearby and be out of your hands.’
‘Ha!’ scoffed the officer. ‘Wrong place, wrong time!’ he mocked me. ‘Typical entitled pasty. You time jumpers just think you can rock up anywhere and live free without causing anyone any issues do you? All while our time suffers, overflowing with pastys like yourself looking to experience the wonderful future. Well, your future is our present, and you’ve ruined it!’
The look of disgust on the pair of officers’ faces was frightening. I didn’t know what to say, and I hadn’t the chance before the security guard shoved me through the door and onto the awaiting bus.
‘Accommodation you say,’ added the other officer as he looked at my passport before he tossed it on board. ‘Well Frank Laidlaw, we’ve got your accommodation sorted!’
‘Oh, thank heavens,’ I said in relief.
‘The timegration camp north of here!’ said the officer, before shutting the door swiftly and locking it behind me.
As I sat there pondering what had just occurred, the other passengers from flight BNWF001 arrived one after the other, each just as shocked as me. It occurred to me, that the woman I had set next to during the futureflight was right. While we were on the first plane that took off destined for the future, it was obvious now we most certainly weren’t the first to arrive here from the past.
W. A. Greenly. 