Read Online 2042: The Great Cataclysm by Melisande Mason - Free Book Online Page B

the phone before she could ask questions he did not want to answer.
    Having no luggage to collect he threaded his way immediately to the noisy arrival lounge.  Dulles International Airport was crowded as usual with excited people scurrying in all directions, while other tired travellers lounged on uncomfortable seats, dozing and yawning, irritated by the inevitable delays.
    Because they were nearing summer most people wore cool coloured jack suits: long knee-length jackets over body hugging trousers, or body suits with high collars made of the new silky light weight material incorporating an ingredient of Navilon that needed no ironing, and insulated the wearer from the temperature depending on the colour. Some people still wore the warm colours of winter.
    The majority of travellers wore the eye-phone, a contraption that many people chose instead of carrying the long distance sat-phones. It enabled them to surf the internet, played movies, emailed and called your contacts automatically by voice command. The lightweight wraparound visor sat over the eyes like sunglasses, and on command received phone calls, video streaming, and all other manners of communications. When not in use, one only had to command ‘wrap’ and the screen slid soundlessly back into the arms above the ears that held it in place. The handsfree innovation of the twenty-first century, it was the reason most men wore their hair close cropped. There was no way Nick was going to cut his hair, and for the life of him he could not understand how people could walk around wearing those wrap around things without stumbling into every object in their path.
    Nick felt exhausted, and he felt an emptiness in his stomach not caused by the lack of food. He searched anxiously for Josh who he quickly spotted over the crowd. It wasn’t hard. Josh was powerfully built, slightly taller than himself with gleaming ebony skin and an engaging smile. People were always surprised to learn Josh was a scientist; his handsome appearance and charismatic personality suggested a highly successful salesman, a movie star or even a basketball hero, never an academic. Josh refused to bend to the fashion dictates of the day and dressed as usual in his immaculate three-piece suit. He did however, wear an eye-phone. Close-cropped hair glistened under the bright airport lights and penetrating dark-chocolate eyes danced before Nick’s.
    ‘Glad your back buddy!’  He grinned gripping Nick on the shoulder with a strong hand, pumping his other hand. ‘Can’t wait to hear what you’ve been up to.’
    Nick sighed. ‘I don’t know where to start.’  The familiar aroma of Josh’s Pour Homme invaded his nostrils, contrasting the smell from his own fetid body, and Nick realised his demeanour would disturb Josh.  His honest piercing eyes flickered in all directions avoiding contact, and he glanced around as he spoke. ‘Not here anyway.’
    ‘Okay, I can wait until we get to Laura’s.’
    ‘’m not going to Laura’s, I’ve decided to spend the night in a hotel.  I’ll call her and explain I’m held up. I’ve gotta get some sleep.’
    Josh narrowed his eyes. ‘Ohhh? Why were you in Anchorage? Last I heard, you were still at Mururoa.’
    ‘I’ll fill you in tomorrow. It’s late and um, I need a shower, and the last thing I need is questions right now. Okay?’
    Josh blinked. ‘Okay, fine.’ He glanced at Nick’s overnight bag. ‘That it?’
    ‘Yup.’
    They walked in silence to the car park. ‘How come there’s only Trancars here?’ Nicked looked around at row upon row of small two-seater vehicles. He thought them unattractive and a little antisocial, as one passenger seat was situated behind the other. If one wanted more than two passengers, another car could be automatically connected to the rear by voice command.
    This driverless innovative design provided solar power through a square panel no bigger than a standard writing pad, whose solar cells rotated to follow the