The Chronicles of Ether Drive

   Chapter 16: The Birth of the Twins The collapse of the networks did not influence the atmosphere inside Shehrazad’s house in any way. The white cat’s mission had no need for internet or electricity; it required only the magic of the Collar of the Two Heavens and the purifying presence of the white cat herself. In Demir’s room, it was quiet and smelled pleasant and sweet, as usual. Shehrazad resumed the familiar ritual with the string soaked in cedar resin. Everyone, including Samir, was deep in thought. Each of them wondered whether the awakening of the Mirror of Time had anything to do with the apocalyptic reality into which they had suddenly been thrown. For a hyper-technological world, returning to a life stripped of technology is perhaps, from an evolutionary standpoint, similar to birds returning to the reptile stage. Once Shehrazad set the tortoise-shaped clock, Remi felt her collar vibrating again, her eyelids turning to lead, and she found herself back in the Wall o...

   Chapter 15: Bubbles and Boils Professor Simoon opened the apartment door and, with a wide gesture, invited the taxi driver who had brought him from the airport inside. It was already past midday, and the chaos of the dead networks was making itself felt indoors too. Without the quiet hum of the air conditioning, the scorching heat felt as though it were squeezing Professor Simoon’s rented flat. Anemo and the white cat were sitting on the sofa, waiting anxiously. The Professor’s entrance with Omar had probably just interrupted a conversation. "We’ve made it, son!" the professor said, wiping his forehead with his shirt sleeve. "We were incredibly lucky with this young man... it’s total chaos out there." The taxi driver stretched out a hand to Anemo, who had just stood up to greet him. "My name is Omar. The likeness to your father is striking... you just need a bit of a tan." "Anemo, pleased to meet you! I’m a writer, and Dad did me the favour of lett...

  Chapter 14. Chaos Professor Simoon, completely drained of energy, could barely drag his feet towards the airport exit. It was an absolute ordeal to push through such a sea of people. Stepping out of Terminal 1 hit him like a slap of scorching air. Outside, under the fierce morning sun, thousands of stranded tourists were wheeling their massive suitcases around, shouting over one another, while desperate guides waved colourful placards in the air. People were shaking their phones or lifting them up to the sky, hoping to catch a signal, but the screens remained stubbornly blank. He managed to find a black-and-white taxi relatively easily amidst the bewildered crowd. The driver, a young man in his early twenties, turned on the radio immediately, but nothing came out of the speakers except a loud hiss, as if the device had swallowed sand. "Not a single station is broadcasting," he said in an even tone, neither alarmed nor bored, speaking in surprisingly clean British English. ...

   Chapter 13 Freeze  The image of the white cat suddenly froze on the screen of the phone Remi had left at Anemo’s house. Fleur and the fur-babies waited in complete silence for exactly five seconds, hoping the connection hadn't cut out for good, before they all started fidgeting, asking questions, and talking at the same time, without anyone really listening to anyone else. “What is that, ma belle? Remi?” Mistral began, followed instantly by Aeolus. “The connection’s dropped!” said Sirocco. “Why isn't she moving? Aeolus, do you think something’s happened to Miss Remi?” Fleur asked. “Should we try calling again?” The girl picked up the phone, closed the frozen call, and dialed again, but... nothing. It was only seven in the morning, just a few minutes past. They had barely managed to swap a few words with the crew in Cairo, and the sudden cut-off had turned the warm, relaxing atmosphere of a quiet Saturday morning into something completely opposite. The drumming of the r...

 Chapter 12. Network Crash First thing in the morning, Professor Simoon Gale turned up at the Veterinary Quarantine office at Cairo’s Terminal 1. He knew perfectly well that Remi couldn’t go home just yet because she was still needed in Cairo. However, he wanted to make sure everything was in order so nothing would stop them from catching the portal back to Ireland once it opened. He was determined to avoid any last-minute bureaucratic surprises. But as the saying goes, the best-laid plans often go sideways. What was waiting for him at the Egyptian airport was far worse than anything he could have imagined. Heat, chaos, shouting, thick crowds, and a sense of total panic had taken over the place, even more than usual. After a whole hour of standing in line, the professor finally made it to the front of the massive desk. It was topped with grey granite, its edges worn smooth by the corners of thousands of pet crates that had rested there over the years. Behind the thick pane of secur...

  Chapter 11 – The Cave of the Cats The round dip in the courtyard’s mosaic wasn't completely dry anymore. With a barely noticeable whisper, a tiny trickle of water had found its way onto the black-and-white tiles. The water mirror was filling up again, just like a rushing river after a long drought. Shehrazad, Samir, Anemo, and snowy-white Remi stared at the water mirror, their hearts full of hope. With their help, the Child would get better, and everything would be alright. "You know, El-Beyda," the grandmother said gently, "I feel a bit guilty that you're trapped in a cat’s body right now, but I don't regret what I did. Heaven heard my prayers and made sure the collar found you. It will also make sure you become a woman again when the time is right. I hope you'll come back tomorrow evening!" They said goodbye to the grandmother and her grandson, then set off through the narrow streets back to their old-fashioned apartment. "Tomorrow, we'l...