The scene started to change again. It only took a few seconds to fade the old one out and the new one in. But during that transition, a moment of realisation descended on the two children. Time suddenly seemed to slow down in Zak’s mind, as he absorbed the meaning of Dad’s remark. Dad designed mobile housing units. It was so obvious, it was amazing he hadn’t considered the prospect before. Almost in unison, Zak and his sister let out a cry.
‘Noooooo!’
The next scene crystallised. Whether it was an animated or static scene was hard to tell. A two-storey mobile housing unit stood in front of them, a bulbous steel cube with round port-holes. Around them was a desolate landscape, with no sign of life and no weather to cause movement. Everything was bathed in a deep red hue. This was because Dad’s mobile housing units were built for only one purpose – living on Mars. The children were aghast, and hadn’t even noticed they were wearing boiler suits.
Zak was the first to recover his composure. ‘Dad, you have got to be joking. You’re not taking us to live on Mars.’
‘Well Zak,’ said Dad, nervously, ‘I’m disappointed in your reaction. I thought at least you might find it an exciting idea.’
‘But look at it!’ said Zak, pointing around. ‘It’s a dead red dust-bowl. Only crazy people come and live here!’
‘It’s not like that at all….Skye, don’t cry,’ said Dad, getting anxious after the unanimous reaction. ‘Your mother didn’t cry, did you dear?’
‘So Mum doesn’t want to come either,’ said Zak angrily, sensing the argument was going one way.
‘Now look!’ Dad started to raise his voice, and it quivered. ‘We have no choice but to move. In the next few decades, our homes and our towns are going to be crushed by glaciers advancing from the North. Those who stay are deluding themselves. There won’t be any igloos on the ice, because the snows will relentlessly cover anything we build.’
Dad continued, his voice growing more emotional.
