June 2007 Summer Heat

Editor Introduction: This is a special story I received from a 13-year-old student, who was encouraged to submit his piece for his ELA class. Impressed with the imagination and promise demonstrated in his very first attempt to write a flash mystery, I wanted to showcase it here. SPIES is an interesting commentary on concerns facing today's youth: the future of a world whose dependence on fossil fuels has led to the uncertainty (or not) of global warming.

I encourage people of ALL ages to submit their work to Minute Mystery; and if not, to just write. Write for the fun, write for the love, and some day, by golly, maybe even for the profit. And now, from the mouths of early teens I give you:

SPIES IN THE DIVIDED STATES OF AMERICA
By Stephen Palasi

San Francisco, California- 2067

Aboard the ship Vermont, Meera watched as they sailed carefully around the Island of Oregon's border. She brushed brown hair out of her eyes as she finally caught sight of California, the Lone Island.

"Land Ho!" The sailor at the crow's nest roared.

Meera heard the men under the deck row the oars harder than before. After all the coal and oil had been depleted and a nuclear plant meltdown wiped out half of Europe, the Divided States of America decided to no use fossil fuels. Raw human power took the task of turning turbines to generate the energy that humans desired so much. Gunpowder was banned. Because of high hostility rates in the Divided States, people carried axes, knives, and swords for protection.

Unfortunately, Meera thought. The recent droughts and temperatures weren't that comforting.

The ship finally rumbled to a stop. Meera quickly docked and, after quickly stopping at a soda fountain, walked patiently to the San Francisco station.

***

The station in San Francisco was enormous. Garrett, a broadsword and buckler strapped on his back, followed Evan Merringer in the midst of wandering knights and businessmen. The station was the only place you could find a taxi or car--for extremely high prices. Gas was valued worldwide.

At only eighteen years old, Evan was already a famous--yet infamous--detective. He solved all the dirty mysteries no other detective could. Though famous in the Lone Island of California, some disliked him for his job. Today’s dirty job: Evan didn’t believe news reports from the Island of Oregon stating that record high temperatures were the after-effects of a new energy source.

"Three for Gallia, please," Evan told the ticket booth man.

The man's eyes widened. "But that's in Euro..."

"Three for Gallia, please." Evan’s voice was a bit irritated.

Evan’s bodyguard, Garrett, piped up as they left the booth. "Why Gallia? I mean, it probably has nothing to do with the worldwide heat."

Evan glanced at him. "Gallia has the hottest temps by far. It’s also where the Nuclear Incident happened."

Formed by a pact between Germany and France, Gallia had suffered a significant increase in temperature since the devastating nuclear plant explosion. Now Gallia was a wasteland, its people unable to grow crops or build houses in the highly radiated area.

Garrett continued. "And the third ticket you bought? Who is that for?"

"Someone I know." He nodded at a girl approaching with purpose, wearing the typical shorts and jacket combo preferred by late teens. "Meera was born in Gallia, and I'm sure she can help me figure out why it's so hot."

Garrett grinned. "Once you find out what's causing it, what are you going to do?"

Evan gestured towards the ceiling. "Find a way to stop it, of course."

"Okay," Meera said once they had boarded a taxi, "it's a half day trip to Europe. How will we approach this, Master Evan?"

Garrett spoke up. "If you need a horde of nuclear sabotage thwarted, call me."

Ignoring the comment, Evan buckled his seat belt as the driver-less taxi burst full speed, approximately two-hundred miles per hour. The taxi drove the National Bridge, which stretched around the world.

"The Nuclear Incident left Europe in shambles," he said. "Since then, world temperatures have steadily increased. If the power plant caused this, there might be a way to reverse it."

Meera looked at him questioningly. "How?"

"People are afraid of the wastes and bury them. But maybe there's more to nuclear power than we thought. If we released the wastes..."

"That would devastate Gallia even more," Garrett said.

"Can't get any worse than it is now."

The three remained silent for the rest of the trip, wondering what would happen to Earth.

Garrett gasped in awe as the three arrived at the deserted station. Gallia had significantly changed. Very few people walked these parts; there wasn't so much as a soda fountain.

As they walked out the double doors, Evan was buffeted with sand.

"It's...desert," Meera said. "No sign of grass."

It took effort to walk the first few steps. Cursing silently, Evan took off his trench coat. "I was hoping we wouldn't have to use these," he said.

Opening his suitcase, he unfolded three sets of Sand Skis--the Divided States' newest creation. With skis on, Meera led the trio to the site of the massive explosion, formerly known as the Kharia Power Plant. They were sweating freely by the time they reached the ruins. Garrett sat down, exhausted.

Evan said, "If we stay here any longer, we'll shrivel up."

After the three shared a quick swig of Manorade, they pushed on into the ruins. It would have been dark, but with so many holes in the roof it didn't seem like they were in a building at all. Garrett unsheathed his sword, ready for an ambush as Evan and Meera searched every crack and cranny, looking for the source of the nuclear explosion. While skiing, Evan had explained that if they found the source, if might help them find a way to get rid of the waste.

Meera entered a corridor and gasped. The men quickly joined her, staring in awe at the massive atom in the middle of the corridor. It hovered without explanation in mid-air.

"What is the meaning of this?" Evan said quietly.

As if in response, the ground rumbled slightly.

"I think we're disturbing it," Meera said uneasily.

"Nonsense!" Garrett and Evan said in unison. Evan went on, "Just a small earthquake."

Meera looked around, unconvinced."Maybe we should leave it alone."

But it was too late. Garrett stepped forward, touching the floating atom. He yelped as another earthquake rumbled.

"Let's get out of here! Now!" Meera yelled.

They retraced their steps, Garrett stumbling behind. Once at the exit, they stared back into the ruins.

"Sorry," Garrett mumbled.

"How are we going to approach this...thing?" Evan said, anger rising.

Meera looked down quietly."Master Evan, look."

Ignoring her, "We can't turn back now. We have to figure out a way to--"

"Master Evan!" Garrett shook Evan.

He stopped, blinking at Meera in confusion. Something was. . . different in the air.

"Evan," she said, "look."

Then the detective realized what was different. How could this be happening?

He turned to Garrett for support, but he’d collapsed to the ground in tears.

It seems the world was far from learning the art of nuclear power, Evan thought.

Shivering with sudden cold, he gazed in wonder as the first snowflakes fell on the dry sand of Gallia. One mystery solved; another begun.

THE END

Stephen Palasi is 13 years old and has lived in Houston, Texas all his life. Though he has written non-school related stories before, this is his irst attempt at a mystery story.