It was a period in history of great change. Stories about the brave, the heroes and natural born leaders that emerge in times of need still flourish. The 79 years will be remembered as ‘The Divide’, a period beginning in 2009 and spanning until peace and stability resumed in 2087.
In 2009 the world began to go slightly mad. The changes were blatantly obvious but people chose to ignore it. Politicians, they listened to the scientists and professors who warned to take heed but it was to no avail. Obesity and heart disease were increasing, mostly due to lack of exercise and a mundane lifestyle brought on by the computer age. The microwave packet meals loaded with hidden chemicals, fats, salt and E numbers also contributed to the growing size of the nation. As for the craze to but organic products, this was nothing new. Organic food is simply the food of our ancestors, a time before farmer’s used artificial herbicides, fungicides and pesticides to promote rapid plant growth to increase yield and profit.
Respiratory disease was climbing due to pollutants in the atmosphere from car fumes, and the veins of the nation – the roads – were almost at gridlock. Borders were weak and immigration was spiraling out of control. How much longer could mankind continue before nature reared its ferocious head and corrected the planet?
History books inform us that by 2016 the population was close to 70 million.The green belt was being eaten up by new housing developments and insurance companies were paying out billions in claims each year for flooded properties built on flood plains. Flooding from tropical downpours had wiped out crops resulting in rising food prices, and civil unrest was beginning to creep across the nation.
In 2016 the Channel Tunnel was closed and all links to the outside world were shutting down. After 8 years of fierce negotiations with landowners, civil engineer Sir Jake Marshall started construction of ‘The Divide’. The plans from Downing Street horrified Marshall but he continued. The 34 mile long ‘Divide’ would split the nation and at 300 feet wide and 80 feet deep it would severe Somerset in two. The population compared it to the Panama or Suez Canals. When bulldozers moved in along the route word soon spread across the country. Protesters grew in numbers and sabotage groups destroyed machinery and exploded fuel dumps undercover of darkness. Thousands of security guards were posted along the route to protect workers but when this failed police and the army were deployed. Battles at the work face were becoming increasingly hostile and many were injured. Construction of ‘The Divide’ became a full scale war. Many battles raged for months and soldiers became heroes with many decorated for bravery. In total 417 men and 6 women lost their lives defending ‘The Divide’ while under construction. The legendary Battle of Chard is prominent in all history books, a hard bloody fought battle which lasted 3 years where mad Major Martin Savage and his men defeated the masses which had swarmed down from London intent on causing as much havoc and destruction as possible.
In 2040 ‘The Divide’ was completed. The 17 flood gates were opened and the waterway flooded to create a split nation.
Now in 2100 ‘The Promised Land’ lies in the west and ‘Helland’ to the east. The US President is invited to the nation.He lands on Platform Barracuda, a huge residential living platform at sea. After a guided tour he embarks on a military Skyrunner with four special forces soldiers and takes a flight over Helland to witness another world. A world where London has been flooded and the trogalites fight for survival. In comparison, The Promised Land is a green nation where the super humans are living life as nature intended.
This story tells of the President’s 3 day visit to the UK in the year 2100 to witness a country which has been closed to the outside world for years.
Powerful,real, and a futur
