The woods are asleep, all is immobile, and silent, under the searing heat. Well, not all. For the unforgiving eye is there, ensuring nothing escapes. For this is our fate: we have plundered and polluted our world, and, now, we will pay the price.
global warming
The Edge ~ Céline, de cinq à sept
Diary of Céline Jeurève, February 12, 2048
Charles: how I miss him this maverick husband of mine, he who sends me those erotic little messages that never fail to affect me (in a sweet way)! He has to be away when I am getting more and more anxious – is this how I feel? – about our friend Monica. What are her intentions? Indeed what are Charles’ intentions? Am I becoming paranoid? Is this what the absence of the object of desire does to the ageing woman? Smiling to myself writing this “ageing woman”…
Well, maybe thirty years ago, but not now! Ah the marvel of medicine!
Charles’ last message, when was it? This morning at about three my time! Fortunately I muted the pad so I found those soft words of him at breakfast time, a couple hours later. He said Kyoto was cold, and estimated his return this coming weekend. I want him. Badly.
London, where I was yesterday, is drenched, the whole island is sinking, metaphorically for now, into the sea. Despite the gigantic efforts to control the planet temperature, over the last thirty years, this maybe where our science hits a solid wall, and, this time, not of our own making. Human activities we have now got under control, a development of a mere couple of decades, mind you, and that took a few disasters and a lot of tough work (as well as the disappearance, real this time, of a few “dinosaurs” on the right of Gengis Khan)… But planet engineering still escapes us, redirecting sunlight, recovering the deserts, all this is moving forward but at a slow, far too slow, pace. In the meantime we will soon be mining Mars…
I am lecturing at the Sorbonne, dear old lady, this morning. Will continue tonight. Writing is good for the soul.
Message from Charles Jeurève to his wife Céline, February 13, six am, Tokyo time
The conference went extremely well. It looks as if preparatory work for a formal protocol between the Federation and the Pacific Alliance should start soon. The North-American Union will have an observer too. I confirm my return this Saturday, not sure of the time yet, the shuttles are very busy, and I am privileged to be booked on one of the official European Federation special flights. Still working on the Azymuth article. I miss you too, and no, I do not lust after anyone else, silly girl. Consider yourself well, better than well, loved, by me.
Transcript of video call from Monica Ross to Céline Jeurève, February 14, seven am, Johannesburg
– … I’ll be back to Milan tomorrow early evening…
– Okay, staying there or?
– At least for a day, stuff to reconcile with the local office, but when are you free?
– Charles only coming back on Saturday, don’t know when yet…
– Do you mind if I land on you earlier?
– Of course not, I’m still lecturing today but will finish early – call me when you know will you?
– O yes, I am so pleased, kisses…
– Take care Monica, kiss.
Image: 
All rights reserved by George Christakis
