Free Dhungwana 2117: A captivating sci-fi novel: The Dhungwana Chronicles (2117-3451) Part 1 by Baibin Nighthawk, Dominick Fencer Page A

“Everything is quiet tonight... what do you bet that it is quiet all over the building?” she remarked provocatively to Ian and, having drunk her water, she went outside onto the landing.
    Ian, at the end of his tether, caught up with her when she was already two floors below and had eavesdropped on all the apartments.
    “That’s enough, Dayla. Stop it! Let’s go back!”
    “Can’t you hear? The silence... no one is making love tonight... Come with me, we’ll just go down one more floor... and then I’ll stop.”
    Ian went with Dayla simply to prevent her from taking any dangerous initiatives, although he had to admit there were no groans or meows coming from the apartments. Finally, he brought her back home.
    “I really hope the day after tomorrow comes soon ... I’m exhausted, Dayla. If you don’t stop this, I’ll call Bickler and we will have you hospitalized!” he said, making her sit down on the couch.
    “Ian, I'm fine! At last the patch isn’t clouding my mind... There is no paramnesia! There really are thousands of people who are repeating the same daily routines and conversations, and they do it all simultaneously. It is not déjà vu ... they are events, actions that are slavishly repeated and that are obviously programmed... It is you who are sick because of the damned patch!” Dayla jumped up, picked up her bag, and continued angrily: “I thought you trusted me! I thought I came before everyone else... I was wrong. Why are you doing this to me, Ian? I’m going home... ” Then, with tears in her eyes, she left his apartment.
    Ian not only didn’t answer, but quietly watched the movie he had chosen before dinner, puffing visibly.

31
     
    Dayla was selecting her dinner of omelet and vegetables when the housenet flickered the image of Ian outside her front door onto the wall. She opened the door and waited for him in the kitchen.
    “I wanted to know how you were. You weren’t in the office and you didn’t answer my calls... ”
    “And why should I after what happened last night? I had an engagement and I took a half day off.” she replied, without telling him that she had spent the whole morning at home examining the jobs and pastimes of the District 604 people on the list that she had photographed with her drone.
    “Have you eaten?”
    “Yes” he answered. “I ate early this evening. I was tired of being in the laboratory. It's late for dinner now, don’t you think?”
    “Are you staying here then?” asked Dayla, changing the subject.
    “No, I'll leave soon.”
    Dayla finished ordering her dinner, then she looked at the time and rushed to the wall. It was 10.45 pm.
    “Come here, Ian. Come and listen to this… if you can. It’s 10.45 pm: the social sex begins!”
    Ian shook his head and turned to go away, but as he saw she was crying, he came back and put his ear to the wall to avoid increasing the tension, determining to come back the next morning to take her to the hospital. However, even if he could hear only an indistinct low murmuring, he clearly heard the sounds of sexual intercourse.
    “Yeah, I hear it” he admitted simply.
    “Please, come with me. It'll be happening all over the building... ”
    Dayla left the apartment and Ian followed her, this time without objecting.
     
    An hour later they were back in the house and Ian, who had decided to stay, sat on the sofa in the dining room reflecting in silence.
    “Ian, I'll take you home” Dayla said.
    “It’s not necessary.”
    “Oh, yes it is! Come on, let’s go!”
    When they entered the building where Ian lived, Dayla insisted on climbing the stairs of the first 10 floors on foot.
    “Listen to them, Ian. Put your ear to the wall... Here, too!! It’s the day and time for sex in Dhungwana!”
    Ian approached her and listened to the sounds coming from the different apartments.
    “Ok, you’ve convinced me... Come on, let's talk about it in the house” said Ian quietly in her ear.
    A few minutes later they were