To My Dearest Roseanne- Chapter 21
Together in Electric Dreams
We'll always be together
However far it seems
"Yes, folks, that was Philip Oakey and Gorgio Moroder for you. You're listening to *glass-shattering sound* Spade Radio 91,0 FM. Speaking of Electric Dreams, there recently was an explosion of an electrical supply line near the village of Mierzwin. You may ask why did the supply line explode. Well, it's because it couldn't handle the shocking news that the village switched to solar power! *canned laughter* I know, I know, the joke is as dry as cardboard. So, let's switch to our listener's opinions, shall we? Our first caller is Buck. Hiya Buck, you're on the air."
"Hi! I'm a retired physicist and I just wanted to say that what happened out there was not a simple accident,"
"What do you mean?"
"I went on the site and did some measurements on my own. There are traces of biometric data up high on the poles where there shouldn't be any."
"I'm sorry, but could you clarify the technobabble for us?"
"In layman's terms, all I can say is that some living organism came out of that explosion."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"I guess you'd better report it to authorities then."
"I won't."
"Why?"
"Because they'll be onto me!"
"Your real name is not Buck, is it?"
The call was disconnected.
"Well, thank you, Mr Philip K. Dick. Good luck with writing a screenplay for an Alien film. Next caller!"
***
Just when he needed some peace, he couldn't get any at a pit stop. A bunch of spoiled brats were running around McDonald's like primitive cavemen, carelessly throwing themselves under speeding cars in the parking lot. A couple of metres away, angry wives were standing in a queue to use the toilet, so Robert was forced to search for privacy between his truck and some poor bastard who was vacuuming his vehicle.
"Well, what do you mean, honey?" Robert focused through the noise to hear a response. "I'm sorry but this is unacceptable. You should have told me right away... Oh, I'm supposed to calm down because you're better?... I know that you acted with good intentions, but you overdid it this time... If ensuring your safety means I have to quit the job, then I'm gonna quit it, alright?!... Hello?.... Hello?"
His phone went completely dead. Robert rushed to the cabinet and began frantically searching for a USB charger. Suddenly, the hose of a vacuum cleaner hit him in the leg.
"What the hell?!"
A middle-aged man was crouching on all fours in the backseat of his Citroen. Robert got off the steps of the cabin.
"Sorry, bud. The thing shot off by itself. Can you toss it back?" the man asked.
"I'm not your bud!"
Robert threw the hose so violently that it smacked the man right in the face. He collapsed in the back, and Robert slammed shut his car door.
"Now stay down!"
***
Robert went back to his cabin and revived the phone thanks to the charger. He immediately called his freight forwarder.
"Hey, what's up? Listen, I have an emergency. Can you arrange for me a shipment to Bydgoszcz?"
There were some keyboard clicks at the other end of the line.
"No! Not Bratislava! I meant Bydgoszcz... What do I care if it also starts with a 'B'? There's nothing for Bydgoszcz? Fine, thanks for nothing."
The trucker hung up the phone. The man in the neighbouring car kept squirming in pain. Robert tightened his fingers on the steering wheel. He knew he had to check on Liz and Roseanne, but what if he couldn't make a detour to Bydgoszcz?
After some hesitance, he took the phone and made another call.
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