Dusk Prologue and Chapter 0

FOREWORD

It was countless shadows ago, one hundred thousand years in the old measurement of time; a massive meteor struck the heart of our planet. This meteor hit our world at its highest peak, creating an apocalyptic impact causing untold death and destruction on the planet earth. The biggest impact the collision had on our world was the steady slowing of the rotation of the planet. After twenty thousand years, the planet ceased to turn. Our world was imprisoned by a sidereal orbit of the sun. The Earth was to have one side facing the sun for eternity, while the opposite side would be consigned to eternal darkness and uninhabitable cold.

The initial impact of the meteor had the energy of thousands of atomic bombs. This devastated the world population, claiming some six billion lives.  The half million or so survivors found themselves flocking to the comfort of what we now call dusk. The Earth has become defined by time lines. Countries no longer exist as they did one so long ago. The world in which the population gathered was known as Dusk, a band of evening light known by the old way of time. It was a band approximately 2500 kms wide, from 4:30 to 7:00. The land that lay after7:00 was known as the darklands or the ice.  Beyond 4.30 was known simply as day.

There have been rumours of another civilization that has been called 'Dawn' or 'The Morning'. Travellers have been found speaking of this 'land' but no proof has ever been found. No one from Dusk has ever made this treacherous journey, or lived to tell the tale.

There are a group of semi-intelligent humanoid creatures living on the day side of the planet called the Day People. They grow to about half the size of a fully grown man. They have elongated heads and are very skinny and lanky. Their skin is a strange bronze-orange like colour, with dark black eyes.  Their evolution is unclear, as only one had been studied. It is believed they are of human descendant, but the harsh sun had severely changed their appearance and biology.

The Darklands became brutally cold. At its peak, (midnight) it was estimated that the temperature would remain near absolute zero. The furthest man had travelled was to 9:00. The temperature at that point was recorded at minus 102 degrees Celsius. At 8:30 (known as eternal night) a water mine was built. Large machinery designed to cut and remove large chunks of ice were employed to supply the colonies of the dusk people with water to drink, wash and irrigate with. The ice was transported from 8:30 back to dusk via large trucks known as ice movers.

Solar energy was gained buy a massive grid of solar panels erected at the borders of 4:30. The solar grid was erected over a long period of time. Due to the oppressive heat in that location, work was only carried out during shadow time. Shadow time was in effect an eclipse of the sun. Due to the lack of rotation of Earth, and continuing orbit of the moon, the eclipse took place every 28 days (using the old scale). The Shadow time lasted 72 hours. Generally a period of 12 hours was given to allow time for cooling in the area. 4:30 was a constant 48 degrees Celsius when not in shadow. The solar grid created was a vast field of panels, a true monument to the ability of the human to survive the worst of Mother Nature.

After the final rotation, the survivors and refugees gathered in the band of dusk. Over a period of time, a collection of 12 clans had formed within the thin barrier nature had now provided them with. A leader was elected from each clan, and a chief councillor was elected from them. The leaders are….
Daniel, of the Tip of the World,
Alexander, of the Mountains,
Cain, of the Dark Edge,
Hayden, of the Lake,
Paul, of the Great Deserts,
Marcus, of Main City,
Wade, of the Grassy Plains,
Ryan, of the Ice,
Sebastian, of the Grazing Fields,
Shane, of the Caves,
Lazarus, of the 5.30 Plains, and
Jane, of the River.
        
These twelve leaders were made up from all points of the dusk band, and were a united government, providing stability and leadership for all.



At 1000 shadows old, Lazarus of the 5.30 plains holds office.  Lazarus knew he had to select his replacement by the next shadow. He had called a meting of the clan leaders to appoint his new leader.

























CHAPTER 0

The subzero gusts blew ice and snow about the two figures in the unrelenting land of the eternal night.
"You know what I want." The tall figure spoke with a tone of authority.
"Yes," the smaller of the two hissed, "you know what we need; there is a large difference my friend."
"Make no mistake, Thoth, I am certainly not your friend. This is a business transaction, and your position of need puts me in charge."
"I can't see why we can't be civil, I know where something is and you want it. You have and endless supply of what my people need. My concern is your integrity. You are prepared to sell out on your people for personal gain."
The tall figure boomed, "I will not have my integrity bought into question by a chilli. I will deliver what you need when you need it," he spat.
As he finished, the large snow explorer swept beside the pair. The night creature shrank against the headlights. The piercing light was too much for him.
"This is where I leave you, Thoth. Protection and prevail that is what I offer you, especially when it all comes undone" said Lazarus.
"Long life and prosperity is what I can guarantee for you, but when it all comes undone, you, my friend, are on your own.
Lazarus did not like the friend jibe. As for being on his own, that was just how he wanted it to end up. He turned and climbed up the step into the large snow explorer.