The View from the Roof. Episode: 1
Today’s the day my number got picked
The soft haze that hangs along the dark horizon of Portobello is slowly lifting. Somewhere in the distance, beyond the city, a sunrise is making its way towards me. Nestled up here, in the temperate-rainforest that hangs between Baile’s wooden homes. Timber struts that jut up to form the scaffolding of the second city we built, when the waters rose.
From up here on our rooftop garden, I can see into the middle distance. Where the canal meets the road, just before the rise of the bridge. I can see blurry, flashing, lights attached to figures on bikes collected outside the all night coffee shop. Mixing in their morning drinks with the mist rising up from last nights rain. Sparse early birds amble and roll across the crossroads. The morning is soft and slow.
The only feint light comes from the pale, glow of the tucked-away sun and the greeny-pink coloured pulse I’m holding. It was waiting for me when I got home. A little glowing envelope with a message inside that said my number had been picked. I’m one of the winners of this seasons lottery.
I’ve been selected to go up there, to a D.A.I.S.I.E station in the sky. A look-out-post built at the edge of space. A special vessel, made for a team of lottery winners. Who each season get picked to replenish the crew. A lucky bunch who get to see and live in a new world. Up there, beyond the end of the breathable air. And this season, I can count myself as one of them.
I could almost trick myself into seeing it sparkle from up here. Deciding that this or that little fleck that must be my soon-to-be-home. The chances of me picking the right-light from that petri dish above me are slim. But in this moment, looking out, past the canal, towards the mountains. I can feel the sky aligning above me.
The next few months of training and working will be tricky. And my head’s still not quite healed from Ludnum. But none of that matters much in the glow of this morning and a little holographic stamp telling me, there’s a seat reserved for me beyond the end of the world.
