Artificial Heart

Prisha leaned back in her seat, heart thudding.

‘How can it be so quiet after such a momentous thing?’ Renee said.

‘It’s only the beginning,’ Prisha said.

‘It won’t be quiet for long,’ Scott said.

Renee picked up the control and turned on the news.

‘It’s not going to be that quick, Nay,’ Prisha said.

’I know. Still.’

’If it even gets around.’ Scott pursed his mouth. ‘If anyone believes it.’

Prisha’s mouth twitched as she tried not to smirk. ‘I guess we’ll have to rely on conspiracy theorists, huh? Who would have thought I’d ever be in need of them? Ironic.’ She laughed darkly.

‘We should go,’ Scott said. ‘As soon as possible.’

‘All of us?’

’Of course. Didn’t I say I want to help you?

‘You’ll get into trouble,’ Prisha said.

‘I’m already in trouble.’

‘This is stupid,’ Renee said.

‘Ridiculous is a better word.’ Scott looked at Prisha. ‘You said he’s not coming back.’

Prisha looked down at the table. She dug the tip of her thumbnail into the grain of the wood. He knew better than to ask any further questions.

‘I know some people,’ Scott said, ’who believe this sort of thing. They can help us. They will want to help you.’ And the way he said it made her look up at him. ’Trust me.’

Scott looked down at his phone. ‘I’ve had several responses. They’ve already posted up your pictures.’ He scrolled down his screen. ’Lots of comments already. Lots of shares.’

‘What are they saying?’ Renee leaned over to look.

‘I’d rather not know, to be honest,’ Prisha sniffed.

‘Good things—mostly. They already believe you.’

‘Of course they do.’ Renee rolled her eyes.

‘We’ve already had a hundred shares. I’ll check my other accounts as well.’

They sat together at the table while Scott became absorbed by his phone. Renee turned to watch the news. Prisha continued to dig at the grain of the wood as she gazed through the window.

Finally the young cop put his phone down. Prisha continued to stare out the window even as she felt him watching her. She knew what he was thinking. Why her? This solitary middle-aged nobody woman.

‘We must go,’ he said.

‘Don’t be so pushy,’ Renee said. ‘There’s no need to panic. Not yet. Nothing may come of it.’

’I’m hardly panicking. And something will come of it. Those photos are too extraordinary.’

‘Like you said, easily created.’

‘There are certain details about them that make them very real.’

‘Like what?’

‘The angle of the camera. Some of the background features of the ship. The complete amateurishness of it. The way he looks at whoever is holding the camera.’ He looked at Prisha. ‘When those interested in you see them, they will take them seriously. Believe me. They will investigate.’

‘Who cares?’ Prisha said.

‘I care!’ Renee exclaimed.

‘I care,’ Scott said firmly.

‘Good for you. Wish I did.’

Renee’s chair scraped against the floor as she stood. ‘Let’s go.’

‘What?’ Prisha said.

‘I said, let’s go. I’m not having you here like this. You’re pissing me off. Let’s go.’

And she swept away. Prisha straightened, watching as her sister dragged a suitcase out of the linen cupboard. She disappeared into her room. There was the sound of her cupboard door banging open, then rummaging.

Prisha blinked at Scott.

He smiled. ‘I guess that’s it then.’

‘You’re not coming!’ Prisha called after her sister.

‘Yes, I am!’

‘No you’re not!’

‘Yes, I am!’

‘Oh, for God’s sakes.’ Prisha stood and hurried after her sister. There were clothes spread all over the bed. Her suitcase was already half-filled. ‘Stop it, Nay!’

‘Shut up, Prish. You can’t tell me what to do.’

‘I don’t want to go.’

‘You have no choice. Me and Scott will drag you screaming into the car if we have to. Isn’t that right, Scott?’ she called through the door.

‘Why not?’ There was laughter in his voice.

‘It’s not funny!’ Prisha called. ‘You’ll be in danger, Nay. You could get hurt.’

‘Maybe. Maybe not. That’s my choice.’

She threw the last of her clothes in and entered the ensuite to grab her toiletries. Prisha stood back, helpless and guilty.

‘You’re making me feel like shit,’ Prisha said.

‘It’s too late now. We’re in this together.’

‘What about your job?’

‘Fuck it.’

Prisha blinked.

‘You’re my baby sister, Prish. You’re more important.’

It was only minutes when her sister was done. Using her body weight, she crushed her suitcase down until she could close the zipper. Prisha went to help her but she hauled it out of her room herself, blonde hair frizzy and mussed up, face red with determination.

‘Ready?’ Scott stood tall, sliding his phone into his pocket. He looked at Renee’s luggage then over at Prisha. ‘What about you?’

‘She’s still packed,’ Renee said, not without accusation. ‘I’ll go get it.’ She disappeared into Prisha’s room.

‘We’ll go to my place first,’ Scott said. ‘I need to get some things. Then we move on.’

‘Where?’

‘You’ll see.’

They were to take Scott’s car. He opened the boot and helped Prisha pile in her camping gear and suitcase. Renee was busy securing the house.

‘What’s that?’ he asked, nodding at the metal box Alf had given her. It was closed up.

‘A gift from Alf.’

His eyes widened. He stared at it like he was staring at Alf himself. She shut the boot closed.

Ten minutes later and they were on the road. The radio played. Scott lived in a suburb close to Prisha’s house and it made her feel nervous being so close to home. She looked over at Renee in the backseat who was busy scrolling through her phone.

‘Anything?’ Prisha said.

Renee looked up. ’Some. I’ve joined Scott’s groups too. Crazy fucking groups. They’re already going mad over your photos but nothing is hitting my main feed yet.’

‘You can still go back, Nay.’

‘Shut it, Prish. It’s not going to happen.’

Prisha looked down at her own phone, scrolling through Alf’s pictures, over and over and over again. She didn’t dare look on her social media accounts. And she certainly wouldn’t add any of Scott’s groups. The very thought made her hands shake. Scott was quiet as he drove, eyes flicking to and from his mirrors as he watched out for anyone following.

He soon pulled down a narrow street bordered by townhouses and duplexes. He scanned the street briefly before opening the door. ‘Stay here. I won’t be long.’ And he got out and hurried up the stairs of his townhouse, leaping two stairs at a time.

‘Do you trust him?’ Prisha asked.

‘Kind of have no choice.’

‘What if he takes us to them?’

‘He would have already done it, wouldn’t he?’

‘Maybe.’ Prisha watched as his shadow moved to and fro behind the curtain of the front window. ‘It’s easier to get information when they trust you.’

‘You mean he’s pretending?’

‘It’s possible.’

‘What does it matter? I thought you didn’t care?’

‘I don’t.’

Scott sped back, shoving his suitcase into the backseat next to Renee. He climbed back in, smiled at Prisha and they left.

‘They’ll be looking for you too, Scott,’ Prisha said. ‘When you don’t show up for work.’

‘Kind of figured that. With you missing and me missing and now all my internet updates, it wouldn’t be hard to put two and two together.’

‘They’ll catch us.’

‘Yes. They will.’ He looked at her meaningfully. ‘Eventually.’

Prisha sank back in her seat and stared up at the roof.

‘I’ll protect you,’ Scott said.

‘If you say so.’ Prisha closed her eyes.

‘How far away is it?’ Renee asked.

‘The Sunshine Coast.’

’That’s going to take hours.’

‘Would you prefer to be close to the epicentre?’

‘The epicentre is me, not my home,’ Prisha said.

They fell quiet. Scott turned the radio up and adjusted the air conditioner. She heard Renee shifting uncomfortably in the back seat. It sounded like she was trying to lie down. Prisha opened her eyes to discover Scott watching her. He looked quickly away.

‘What?’ she asked.

‘Nothing.’

Scott made sure to keep to the speed limit. The way was relatively smooth, the highway only mostly full. Clouds gathered above. Rain started to drip. The windshield wipers were worn and they scraped against the window. Prisha changed the radio station without asking. Scott turned the demister on as the rain turned heavy.

The traffic slowed. Prisha looked over her seat to see her sister bunched up against the rear door, head braced against the window. Her breath fogged the glass. Turning back, Prisha glanced over at Scott, then pulled out her phone. Letting her hair fall in front of her face and angling herself so he couldn’t see her screen, she again scrolled through Alf’s pictures.

The rain was pounding by the time they reached the Sunshine Coast. Renee was sprawled, half-asleep in the back. Scott was staring hard through the water streaking his windshield, crawling along the main highway. Then they turned off it. Prisha braced herself, heart hammering. She tried to imagine who would be keeping them safe, but all she could picture was Alf.

Then they arrived.

‘We’re here,’ Scott said.

He turned the wheel and they bumped up onto a driveway. It was still pouring. Prisha peered through the window. A perfectly ordinary property. Older home with a large backyard, the usual massive sheds, a carport with a van parked beneath. Two levels. She could see that they used sheets for curtains. One was lurid green.

The lawn needed mowing. The garden needed weeding. A big dog was barking at the gate. The tyres of their car crunched against the wet gravel of the driveway. Water streaked the windshield. Prisha shivered.

‘They’re know we’re coming, right?’ Renee said.

‘Of course.’

The green sheet shifted. Then the front door opened and someone came bounding down the stairs. A second person followed. They were young, in their twenties or early thirties, man and woman. The woman used an umbrella with a second spare one tucked under her arm.

Both were grinning broadly, like kids in a theme park as they stood beside the car, peering avidly through the windows.

‘Kind of feels like I’m part of a sideshow,’ Prisha said doubtfully.

Scott grinned to as he unclipped his seatbelt. ‘Don’t worry. They won’t bite.’