Forecast (38 page)

“Yes. And other submarines from other countries have too. It’s been a major rescue operation, the biggest the world has ever seen. The European survivors have been brought to various locations in northern Greenland. There’s a constant supply of food there. It’s hard to grow fruit and vegetables in extreme cold conditions. So I hope you like fish because it’s the main source of diet. Around fifty tons of Greenland halibut is caught every week. There are also fields of prawns in the waters as well as potato farms. And the hospitable people of Qasigiannguit have recently mastered the art of catching seagulls. They don’t taste great but we are hardly in a position to complain.”

Hennessey had an important question she needed answering. “What happened to America?”

The Commanding Officer looked at her sympathetically. “I’m afraid most major cities were hit with the bombs. We heard reports that the country suffered many losses long after that, you know, with starvation, crime, sickness. Submarines were operating coastal searches, but they just didn’t have the resources to head inland. Any survivors who were found were either taken to Alaska or Baffin Island in the northeast of Canada.”

He paused momentarily and his voice intensified. “There has always been war. War on this, war on that, but I get the feeling that this one has put an end to all war for a very long time. You’ll like it in Greenland, I’m sure of that. You’ll find that everyone is your friend. With such a declined population across the planet, any issues that once belonged in the world are now gone. There is a newfound respect between people and just a strong desire for peace. There’s no trouble, only a strong will to survive.”

“After the way we’ve been living, anywhere else in the world seems like a good place to go,” Sutcliffe commented.

“I appreciate that. Now, let me show you to your beds. I’m sure you’re both exhausted.”

The Commanding Officer led them to the sleeping quarters and assigned two single beds to them. He gave them a change of clothes, pointed out where the showers were and left them to get settled. As the engines purred silently through the cold North Atlantic waters, Sutcliffe placed the JVC camera, his trophy and his souvenir, on a shelf and got undressed. He hung his filthy suit inside a narrow cupboard. After a long, hot shower they dressed themselves in clean shorts and vests. Then they tucked themselves into warm, clean beds and within seconds of their heads hitting the pillows they were both sleeping.