Swish splat swish splat swish splat
I don't mind the rain. The wet drops fell every day. On Mondays, on Tuesdays, on my way to and from work.
It's been like this for so many years the city has been designed around it. Large canals run below the city, taking the rainwater to become energy for our city, for our lights and machines.
In our city, we never saw the sun. I have never seen the sun, nor my mother, or her mother, or her mother.
But today something is different. The rain is light, and almost misty. I had read one time about how the sun was brighter than any of our lights could be. The sun was hotter than anything you'd ever feel. So much so it would burn you and your skin tone would change. Tanning I think. It used to be in style, a little bit after the sun left the style turned to pale skin and glow-in-the-dark clothes.
I only notice the lighter rain going home from work. Today was long, I just wanted to read next to my window, the cool glass on my cheek.
But then, as I am too close to the door, but too far away to be under any overhangs, everything is bright. I drop my work bag, resisting the urge to claw my eyes out. I feel blind, and everything is so...hot.
When I open my eyes again it hurts, and then I can see. I can see the others doing the same as me, looking around in awe.
The sun. The sun was out and shining and then it was gone.
I look up searching for a trace. Instead of the usual dark and almost angry clouds, there is a big puffy white cloud, and just behind it is a large shiny sphere.
The sun.
But where is the rain? How do we fuel our city? The City of Rain is now the City Without Rain.
Would we die?
Murmurs spread throughout the street and through all of the city.
"The sun is out." "We can grow plants outside." "What does this mean for the city?"
All I could think of how dull everything was. When the playful boards light up the street, everything seems happy, but now it looks like long long rows of dull grey cement.
"Attention all civilians." A large mechanic voice boomed. "Due to a change of weather, all energy will be turned off unless in a dire emergency." The voice repeated its alert and then turned off.
The murmurs that had excited got louder. No energy, no lights, no robots, no billboards, or t.v.'s? How could we do it? But then a voice called out over all of them. it took me a while to realize it was me.
"We can live with no energy. We did for centuries. The government will find a solution." I shout.
Two Days Later
"Miss. Caroline, we have a problem," Alex calls. Alex was my co-worker. And in a co-worker, I mean the head of state with me. After I made my very short speech I fled inside. The next day we discovered that there was no solution. All old plans that were used to create energy long ago had been destroyed. There was nothing we could do but reuse water.
"What could make this any worse?' I ask.
"There is a public panic, and a protest going on outside. People are scared and when they're scared they become desperate." Alex responds. He comes into my office and frowns at the mess of my office.
"What's happening" He asks innocently.
"Let's just say I'm desperate to. I haven't left since yesterday and I am running off of coffee." I tell him
His frown turns almost sympathetic and I angrily stick out my tongue.
"What are we going to do?" Alex asks.
"I think we should let them know the truth. They deserve to know as much as you and I."
Alex goes back to frowning. I can tell he disapproves but he doesn't try to fight me about it.
"So then they just get to know? How do you plan on making the announcement?" He asks.
"Use a tiny bit of water for the speakers. Everyone will hear them." I say.
"But we need that for hospitals." He protests.
"It will rain again, It always did."
I stand up and follow him down the hall, down flights of stairs, and into a tiny room where I record my speech.
"Citizens of the City of Rain I am sorry to inform you there is no other known way to make more energy. If anyone knows or can discover a way to make energy they will be greatly rewarded. Thank you."
As I flip the switch to play the audio, I watch the cameras on the streets. By the time my speech finishes, people scream and shout, others break down and sob.
Have I made a mistake? Should I not have told them? But as I focus in on the camera in particular. A girl stands in the middle of the progressively more aggressive crowds, and she watches the camera. Like she knows I am watching she nods.
I made the right decision.
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