Flights

KALI YUGA

‘The world is getting darker and darker,’ the two men sitting next to me agreed. As far as I had understood, they were flying to Montreal for a conference that would be attended by oceanographers and geophysicists. Apparently since the sixties incident solar radiation has fallen by four per cent. The average rate of light on the planet going out is around 1.4 per cent per decade. The phenomenon is not pronounced enough for us to be able to detect it ourselves, but it has been noted by radiometers. Radiometers have shown, for example, that the amount of incident radiation reaching the USSR from 1960-1987 actually decreased by one-fifth.

What is the reason for the darkening? It isn’t known exactly. It is supposed that it has to do with air pollution, soot and aerosols.

I fell asleep and saw a frightening vision: an enormous cloud appearing from beyond the horizon – evidence of a great, eternal war taking place in the distance, ruthless and cruel; destroying the world. But it’s okay, we are on – for now – a fortunate island: azure sea and clear blue sky. Beneath our feet warm sand and the protruding cubes of shells.

But this is the island of Bikini. Everything will die soon, be burned, be lost, in the best case scenario undergo a monstrous mutation. Those who survive will give birth to child monsters, twins conjoined at the head, one brain in a double body, two hearts in one rib cage. Additional senses will appear: the feeling of lack, the taste of absence, the ability for particular precognition. Knowing what won’t happen. Being able to smell what doesn’t exist.

The dark red glow grows, the sky turns brown, it gets darker and darker.