Free The Book of Levi by Mark Clark

out.
    ‘Sit tight. Remember the frequency. My name is Sidney. Ironic, yes? We have only recently been able to activate the M61 satellite above Australia and we’re relaying from M65 above Jo’berg, but that’s in motion, so we only have a window of one hour at this time each day. It’s three in the afternoon now, so it would be about midnight there. You can contact us each day between about 11pm and midnight your time. Unfortunately we only have a few seconds transmission left now. But we shall speak again tomorrow. If you have a honcho there get them to the microphone then. Over.’
    ‘Will do,’ Leslie replied. ‘But tell me, before you go - what are the conditions in the other world cities. Over.’
    There was a brief flicker of hesitation before the voice returned. ‘It varies. Let’s just say that some are coping while others are, well, in some trouble.’
    The voice began to crackle and fade. ‘Tomorrow. Over and out.’ And the white-noise returned.
    Leslie slumped back into his chair with the most extreme sensation of satisfaction he had ever known. He felt like Columbus discovering the New World, or Newton when he saw the apple fall. He couldn’t believe it. He actually pinched his arm to check that he was not asleep. He overdid it a bit and bruised himself and every time he rubbed his arm for the next few days he thought himself pretty stupid for that.
    ‘My God,’ he muttered. He stared up, wide eyed at the stars. More tears erupted from him and he stood and punched the air with glee. Yes!’ he roared and his voice rolled beneath the curved metal surface hanging above him.

    *

    The next twenty four hours were, without question, the most delightfully excruciating of Leslie’s life. He determined not to tell the others of his discovery until they could hear it directly for themselves. He wanted to maximise the impact.
    Just after ten forty five in the evening, Leslie welcomed Elizabeth and Damien into his radio room. The weather was kind again, and when the two entered, the stars were still smiling down on the opening in Leslie’s makeshift observatory roof.
    ‘Where is Nicholas?’ asked Leslie, as he took Elizabeth’s full length coat, revealing her shapely form in a red evening dress.
    ‘He’s still very ill, unfortunately,’ she replied sadly. ‘The doctors can’t seem to work out what’s the matter with him.’
    ‘They’re calling it a virus,’ added Damien, placing his jacket on a nearby chair. ‘Then again, that’s what they call everything they can’t figure out, isn’t it?’
    ‘A virus?’ Leslie echoed with disappointment. ‘You mean he’s still sick after, what is it, nearly a month?’
    ‘Yes,’ replied Elizabeth, with a slight shake of her head. ‘Ridiculous, isn’t it? His son’s ill too. The doctors think Nicholas may have caught it from him.’
    ‘I’m really sorry to hear that. I must go and see him soon. I’ve been so busy, I didn’t even know.’ Then, remembering his manners he said, ‘Oh please, come, sit.’
    The three of them sat in the austere room in front of the computer. Leslie produced a plate of small goods, some cheese and a bottle of champagne.
    ‘I see you’ve spared no expense on the décor,’ said Elizabeth with a smile, as she surveyed the Spartan room. ‘We must be celebrating something?’
    ‘We’d better be bloody celebrating something,’ added Damien, taking a flute which Leslie began filling. ‘Otherwise what the bloody hell are we doing in this old place at this time of night?’
    Leslie and Damien shared a smile. Damien knew Leslie well by now. He had a strong sense that Les had had a breakthrough of some kind. Leslie was generally reserved but when something ignited his passion he became as excited as a schoolboy on a cinema date. Damien could see that Leslie was excited now. He was barely able to contain himself. He spilled some champagne whilst pouring, he had a nervous edge to his voice and he was speaking