Patient Blue

Few people would hear it, and for those with still functioning radios that did, the worst was already known. The PM’s voice barely discernible through the background interference of static, hiss and crackle, delivered a stark message. When it had ended there would be no further broadcasts, anywhere ever again.

’I’m speaking to you from deep underground in the Crisis Management Centre in Central London— hissss crackle. I hope that many of you are able to receive this broadcast and are in a place of warmth and safety— hisss crackle hisss Wang Pulse—′ crackle hiss Our country, our world, the whole human race, is facing a catastrophe, billions of people are dead— hisss hissss crackle Super Volcano under Yellowstone Park, an eruption so unprecedented and powerful that large chunks of the Earth were blasted into outer space— hiss hiss Mount Pinatubo and Vieja— hiss Canary— hiss Tsunami of gargantuan proportions— hissss Atlantic coasts— crackle swamped— hiss south and west coasts of Britain. hiss crackle hisss The radiation output from the sun, hissss crackle Solar Grand Minimum— hisssss previously five percent higher than normal— hiss extreme heat— crackle has now reversed and output is now five percent less than the regular normal—hiss if, as scientists now believe, this alarming trend continues— hiss crackle new Ice Age. Please try to remain calm and stay in your homes and places of shelter— hisss there are three— hisssss in—crackle hiss crackle a bed—hissssssssssss Donald Trump—hisssss Angela Merkel—hissssss and The Archbishop of Canterbury— hisssss emergency services—crackle with every means at our disposal. hissssssssss crackle hissssss probe to the sun— hissssssssss Ra—hissssss will—crackle hissssss kill hissssssssss us all-------------

*****

We are in serious trouble. It’s ten in the morning, still dark and the blizzard has been raging unabated for three days and nights. The day before we had tried once more to escape back to the house, but were beaten back after just a short distance by the ferocious storm and intense cold. The poisoned snow is now lying about six feet in depth, towering drifts are piled against trees, the side of thesummer house and over its roof which is sagging alarmingly.

‘I’m so scared Michael, what can we do?’

‘I don’t know, it must stop soon, surely?’

But it doesn’t stop, only intensifies, the wind gathering strength and the temperature plummets further, a lethal combination.

We huddle together in a sleeping bag trying in vain tokeep warm. A massive gust of wind shakes the shelter and the windows blow in filling the interior with snow. With the structure now weakened, part of the roof collapses under the accumulated weight upon it, the debris missing our bed by inches. Rosslynne screams and clings to me, and all I can do is hold her as close as possible.

We are both now so weak due to the combination of Hypothermia and dehydration I can no longer stand up, and just lay clinging to Roz. Oh God I feel so tired. I think we both now accept our fate and though I know we should keep awake, keep our eyes open, it becomes increasingly difficult and I don’t think I can fight the overwhelming desire to sleep anymore. Rosslynne closes her eyes, her breathing becomes shallow and then I can no longer hear it at all. I close my eyes and sleep, so comfortable, no longer cold. Darkness descends. I do not dream.