Chioma pressed ‘enter’, leaning back in her chair. Her boat was gently rocking as it cruised over the waves.
“Perhaps you’re looking at this wrong,” offered Gaia in her Chirpy foreign accented tone. “Capitalism has many shapes and forms, but you assume that its most important value is ‘innovation’. You are wrong,” her tone remained as light-hearted as before. Chioma clenched her fists as she often does when she’s irritated. “The most important value in any version of capitalism, the be-all and end-all, is power.”
Chioma’s heart sank.
*
Three weeks earlier and seven thousand kilometers away, Chioma had a very good day. She had been sitting for the better part of the day in the library’s archival hall in Lagos. The afternoon sun painted soft amber squares on the table. At first she thought that her discovery was akin to finding a needle in a haystack, but as she wrote her report she realized it was more like a treasure trove, or better yet — a treasure map!
As a historian, she thought her life was full of excitement. Excitement like finding an old book about her favorite topic – late-stage capitalism, or gaining a deeper understanding, or a new perspective. But that day was different. That day she found a relic.
“I’ve been looking at old twenty-first century receipts for my research,” she told her colleagues during their tea break. The communal lounge was humming with voices and the gentle clatter of pots. Soft lamplight gave the room a cozy feeling, contrasting with the pleasant breeze coming from the open evening window. They all gathered around their usually low table—Amazu already halfway through a bowl of spicy yam, Sade leaning in with her whole, eager body, fully attentive to Chioma.
All her kana members were researchers but they had different fields of study, which was a bit unusual. Nevertheless, they enjoyed each other’s company and loved their shared passion for studying.
“Those receipts have a wealth of information about what people choose to purchase and how much they’re willing to pay. The whole idea of money exchange is mind-blowing,” she explained. This was very different from her personal experience. If she ever needed something, she could simply borrow it from the library or have it made for her. In her mind, people produce goods because they want to, and not for the sake of “money”.
“Wasn’t it said that money was used to prioritize values?” asked Amazu curiously, while stuffing a biscuit in his mouth.
“Yes, it was said, but it’s a fallacy. Look at the Irish banks’ strike in 1970 that lasted for six months, while the New York garbage strike in 1968 that lasted a mere nine days. Bankers were paid much more although their service to society was far less critical than that of waste disposal…” Sade explained with her usual charm. She was an economics researcher. Although the word “economics” has evolved over time to focus on values-comparison and preferences, rather than monetary values.
“I spent a soul-draining day comparing two receipts. They looked identical, except that one was dated a week later. Finally, I figured out why someone bought the same industrial vacuum cleaner twice. I realized there’s an unaccounted-for data center in Mauritius!” Chioma announced. It took a moment for the news to settle, as the ramifications sank in.
“The records show that only eleven data centers were dismantled when the island was deserted. Was one of them left out?” Sade asked. Chioma nodded in excitement. She felt as if there was electricity in the air.
“There’s probably a good chance it was flooded if it was too close to the shoreline,” speculated Amazu. He didn’t mean to be negative but couldn’t help it when he spoke his mind.
“I couldn’t find much information about it,” explained Chioma. “It feels to me that most of the information about it was scrubbed, so it was probably from a considerable time before the ACPA. Based on satellite imagery, I’m guessing it’s a building next to its twin data center, a few hours’ walk from the shore. From what I could tell from two email references, it was a side project that never went live. The emails referred to it as a cautionary tale about over-ambitious and delusional goals…”
For future historians, ACPA was a dream come true. But its impact went far beyond it. The Anti-Corporate Privacy Act forced any bankrupt corporation to disclose all its documents. The act was detrimental to the reign of private equity as it exposed malpractices and caused a domino effect, ultimately ushering in the end of capitalism.
“That’s incredible,” said Amazu. “Surely the hardware can be useful as well, but the data itself can be invaluable.” They were all thrilled for the prospects.
“So when are we leaving?” Sade asked excitedly with a mischievous smile.
“Huh? I’m not sure if we should go at all,” Chioma said, surprised.
“Excuse me?” Sade pressed a palm to her chest in mock offense. “A lost data center isn’t something you research from a cozy kitchen while eating fried plantains.”
Amazu swallowed the last bite of yam thoughtfully. “She has a point.”
“But we don’t even know if it’s still intact,” Chioma protested.
“Which,” Sade said triumphantly, “is why we go look.”
Sade’s excitement was infectious and Chioma felt the persuasion taking over her. Sade’s hand slipped quietly over hers, and she told her quietly, encouragingly, “You found a thread, let’s see where it leads.”
Chioma looked down at their joined hands and realized that part of her had already agreed.
After some debate, it was decided that just the two of them would go. Despite having no limitations on money or budget to consider, more people would require a bigger boat or more boats, thus making the project more complicated as it would rely on more people. They agreed to Amazu’s advice to keep the team as small as safely possible.
“You don’t want to get stuck after losing your only seafarer,” he pointed out. They concluded they would need a tech person, a medic, and someone who knows the island. Amazu himself decided not to join as his expertise in religious studies would be of no use. He promised he would contact someone he knows in Mombasa to help them find their way around the city.
It took two more days to prepare. Chioma felt she mostly needed to get mentally ready, while the excited Sade acted like a spring toy ready to set off at any moment. They talked about what gear they would need to take with them and realized that most stuff would be available to borrow from Mombasa’s sadi. Packing their personal items in their backpacks took less than an hour.
*
“Humans have to work to survive, so they’ll always accept lower wages than a robot, no matter how cheaply it can be produced. It’s the Čapek paradox.” Gaia said in a matter-of-fact tone. Chioma was shocked.
“The Čapek paradox was resolved by human basic rights for food and shelter. If anything, the paradox proved the flaw of capitalism by showing how easily people can be coerced into exploitative work in order to survive”, Chioma answered angrily
*
“Are you nervous? Are you excited?” Sade asked, as giddy as a puppy being told it’s playtime. They were sitting on their comfortable train cushions for several hours now. Chioma thought that Sade’s excitement would subside by now but clearly it hasn’t. It was endearing and contagious, but Chioma worried that her social and mental battery might be depleted before reaching Mombasa. Sade had always been like that, and it was great – it’s better than being stuck with Amazu’s “pragmatic realism”, but Chioma often thought it’s best to have Sade in “smaller doses”.
“I’m trying not to build my hopes up,” answered Chioma, “in all likelihood the data center was probably destroyed when the island was deserted”. It was true, but Chioma felt bad to be the negative one. She imagined herself being a hopeful person, but as Sade was always so positively optimistic, any kind of realism felt like negativity by comparison. Mauritius was abandoned ages ago, when the sea levels began to rise. It hasn’t completely sunk but hurricanes destroyed most of the infrastructure that remained. The satellite image showed that the data center should still be ok but the island looked inhospitable, with barren rocks and shattered rotting trees.
“Perhaps, but we’re going on an adventure! We don’t do that often,” exclaimed Sade. And she was right. Tourism was a thing of the past, despite people having far more free time and liberty to travel anywhere they like, and especially as money was no longer an issue. As people stopped working in jobs they don’t like, there was an equal decline in the need to “get away” or break routine. The culture has changed and “tick-box tourism” that has often manifested in taking pictures of, or next to, famous monuments or buying souvenirs, has also become incredibly far less popular. Most people were content with their local, yet rich, lives. Some travelled and often spent lengthy time living in foreign countries, but the idea of a week-long tourist excursion sounded as ridiculous as tasting a teaspoon to judge a six-course meal.
Stepping off the train at Mombasa, Sade inhaled loudly the smell of fresh sea water and tamarind. Chioma chuckled as Sade’s excitement made her happy. The train station was buzzing with activities as carts of wooden boxes of fruits were offloaded and taken to the waterfront markets. A facilitator waited for them at the train station, just as Amazu promised. She wore a flowing, coral-colored dress. Her seashell necklace clinked as she walked toward them, smiling warmly.
“You must be Chioma and Sade. Welcome,” she said. “I am Abuya, I’m a facilitator. Shall we find somewhere comfortable to talk?”
Her presence was calming in a way Chioma could not fully explain—like someone who had seen thousands of travellers before and knew exactly how to ease their anxieties. She guided them to a shaded solar to talk while they sipped coconut water from a jug that someone brought to their table. Abuya listened with bright, intent eyes, nodding occasionally but never interrupting.
“We’re going to get to Mauritius and look for a lost data center,” Sade jumped in before Chioma could gather her thoughts. She was a bit surprised but she wasn’t offended. She wouldn’t have said anything different as she didn’t feel any need to be anything less than honest with this ibu who was there to help them.
“Oh, that sounds exciting!” said Abuya. She took out a palm-size slate and started jotting down the requirements. “Have you figured out whom you would want on your team?”. They gave her the list of roles they came up with, and she talked them through it, making suggestions and asking what professional level was needed. Chioma was incredibly grateful to have someone, a stranger for that matter, taking her crazy idea seriously and making it feel real by the minute.
“All right, leave this with me and I’ll get it sorted. What time do you wish to leave? Shall we find you a place to rest for the night?” Abuya kindly offered.
“This is incredible,” Chioma thought to herself. Her chest warmed. She felt relieved she needed not worry about any of this. “Where’s the challenge? Where’s the excitement?” she heard Sade’s voice in her head. “Oh, shut up, we have enough on our plate,” she dismissed that thought away.
Abuya suggested they would set sail in two days’ time, after gathering the crew and provisions they’ll need for the journey. They agreed to meet again for dinner and meet their new team. She then led them to an apartment building with vacant rooms they could use while they’re in Mombasa. The room, Chioma noticed, was fully functional with a small kitchen, a toilet and shower. It was meant for foreigners who might not feel comfortable sharing these amenities with anyone yet.
*
“Continuous growth is vital to the economy. The alternative is stagnation, decay and ultimately economic collapse. It is a misconception to believe that steady income is sufficient as inflation erodes the revenues,” Gaia said nonchalantly.
“The opposite of ‘growth’ isn’t necessarily ‘decline’ or ‘stagnation’. It can very easily be ‘stability’” Chioma answered, annoyed at Gaia’s confident expert-like tone.
*
As planned, they met at the Sadi’s dining area. The sun had dipped low and sparkled the water with shimmering gold. Tonight’s meal was an aromatic Pilau dish. As Chioma and Sade arrived, refreshed from their rest, Abuya invited them to a table already packed with people chatting away.
“Let me introduce you to your team,” Abuya hushed everyone as Chioma and Sade sat down. It didn’t occur to Chioma that the autonomy in the decision was taken from her, but even if she had realized it, she wouldn’t have been able to make better choices that will challenge Abuya’s experience. If she felt uncomfortable with any member of the team, she didn’t see any issue raise it with sincerity and candour, without a fear of unpleasantry or embarrassment.
“Keeping a small crew will allow you to move fast and avoid the need for additional provisions. As we agreed, you’ll go with two fast boats. Our seafarers, Otesha and Zuri, estimated the round trip will take you about two weeks”. She hand-gestured towards a young man and woman sitting at the table.
“You’ll have Naomi and Kato, both pathfinders from MAF who will keep you safe; Atieno, a fellow researcher, who looks after the island; Eliud will be responsible for engineering and tech and finally Jabari and Aisha who’ll be responsible for the logistics. Jabari and Aisha both looked like they were in their late-teens, both shirtless and quite casual about it. It wasn’t an unusual scene.
As society stopped treating women’s breasts as either shameful or magical and all nipples were treated fairly, women gradually stopped wearing bras for anything other than convenience. Some would still find them sexually attractive, but it would be just as attractive as a man’s chest, and both would be a common sight for topless people enjoying the day’s breeze. It would be considered inappropriate to comment on someone else’s body and when it happened, usually the commenter would get ridiculed, and not the victim of the comment.
“So, what we know so far is that we’re going on a trip to Mauritius to find a lost data center, can you please elaborate on that,” Abuya asked Chioma to explain the team the background to their mission.
“Right, thank you Abuya,” Chioma was gathering her thoughts, “We believe there’s a data center in Mauritius that hasn’t been disassembled when the island was evacuated. These data centers have been used during the high-tech bubble for centralized computation and data storage so we’re hoping it’ll have valuable information we can excavate”.
“For the most part the island can look after itself,” Atieno later mentioned. ”I just go there once a year or so to check on the fauna, primarily birds and lizards. They’re thriving now that no humans live on the island despite the erratic weather conditions, but in case it gets any worse, we’ll try to help at least some of them migrate,” Atieno explained.
The debate between reservation versus preservation is quite contested as some people believe that extinction is a natural process while others think that it is an ethical duty to prevent extinctions, if possible, as the general premise of “biodiversity is a positive thing”. Chioma hasn’t really chosen a camp but always thought it’s ok to let nature run its course. She was curious and made a mental note to ask Atieno about his opinion when time allowed.
“What do you mean by ‘erratic’?” asked Kato. Later on Chioma learned that despite Kato having the superior role, Naomi was actually his senior. It was the way MAF operated, where roles were assigned by mission and juniors MAFexi were often given commanding roles as a way to gain experience.
“Temperatures can easily climb to more than 50°C in the summer, it can get very windy very fast, or hail in fist-sized chunks. You don’t want to get caught outside when the sky flips” Atieno warned.
Entrepreneurship has evolved significantly since the dissolution of money. It’s probably easier to initiate a new project as people are more available, freed from coerced work and far more trusting and supportive, especially if they can see how the project can be beneficial for the entire community or society. Once people chip in on a project, they expect to have a certain ownership, thus the project’s success is for their own gain. The idea of “self-made success” is literally impossible as every person who contributed to the project or even benefitted from it can claim some credit to its success. The team was invested in Chioma’s mission as if it was their own.
“We’ll borrow two sailing cruisers with Solar auxiliary power, each cruiser can take 5 people so they should be a perfect fit,” said Zuri. “As we said, the journey should take two weeks but we’ll carry four weeks of supplies and batteries should be enough to make the entire journey if we’re so unlucky as to have neither wind nor sun for the entire trip”.
“Oh! I thought I would be paddling! I thought that those mornings I got up to erg with Amazu would finally pay off,” joked Sade and they all laughed as she muscled up.
As the conversation continued, Chioma watched them interact—laughing over the shared meals and offering to teach one another skills on the voyage. A warm feeling settled in her chest.
Sade elbowed her lightly. “We’re really doing this.”
Chioma nodded. “We are.”
Early morning the next day, the team met at sunrise by the docks for final preparations and checks. The cruisers, rocking gently in their berths, were a relatively new model of solar-sail catamarans, seven meters in length and five in width. The wooden mast had two shiny-silver sails that also functioned as solar panels for the auxiliary engine. Dinghies were attached to each of them to serve the landing party and as an emergency raft. The boats belonged to the Mombasa flotilla, and the seafarers would book them according to their needs. The admin office had a log of reservations and usage and the level of maintenance the boat received when it was returned. It was a common courtesy to return boats fixed and ready for their next use. Some people are lazy, of course. Some people are less experienced, but the community always managed to support everyone and keep things in check.
A pod of dolphins circled the cruisers excitedly as they were about to set sail. Otesha explained they often follow the boats around and might even join them on their journey. Out of all the wild animals, the relationship with dolphins had transformed the most significantly as humanity started putting an active effort to restore nature and some argued that dolphins have grown to compete with dogs for the title of “most loyal friend”.
As they pushed away from the dock and the warm wind filled the sails, Mombasa drifted slowly from view. The city shrank to a picturesque watercolor postcard and eventually was swallowed by the horizon.
“It’s beautiful,” Sade said.
“It is,” Chioma agreed. “And frightening.”
“That’s how you know it’s worth doing.”
*
“It’s naive to think that disposing of an ever-growing amount of waste everywhere is effective by any measure,” Chioma said angrily.
“The business is measured by the levels of output compared to input, both are measured monetarily – costs and revenues. Once considering waste as an external cost it’s no longer required to be taken into account in the business financial scope. Therefore, it’s the most efficient way” Gaia answered, completely oblivious to the heightened tension in the room.
“Surely protecting the environment is the most profitable, let alone sustainable, strategy in the long run,” Chioma protested.
“Environmental considerations are important, but we should evaluate them from a monetary perspective.” Gaia reiterated. “They can be passed as externalities and it is often more profitable to simply pay the fines than changing work processes or recalling products,” Gaia chirped, making Chioma scoff. “Alternatively, the company can invest money to lobby the government to excuse it from handling the damages and would still be a financially preferred solution. Should the fines still seem too critical, the company will simply declare bankruptcy, force liquidation and sell the assets to the next iteration, without the burden of taking responsibility for the previous company’s misdeed. In the long run, environmental degradation is the next generation’s problem. Not ours. It’s always the next generation’s problem”.
*
“Land Ahoy!” yelled Jabari excitedly pointing at the small dot peeking over the horizon. The journey took them seven days as expected. They reported back to Mombasa and started preparing their gear. Two hours later they arrived at Port Louis. Once a thriving tourist attraction, the city was mostly underwater. They could see Fort Adelaide towering over the old bay, which has now become a massive bay, only ruins of skyscrapers peeking out of the water. The cloudy skies only contributed to the grim sight that lay ahead of them. Chioma felt a flutter of apprehension, and Sade squeezed her hand.
“Those drones can surely look like a treat to a kestrel” Atieno mentioned to Eliud, as they hauled out a small chest filled with a dozen tennis ball-sized automated drones.
“Yes, we considered that. The drones will fly higher than the kestrel and it will mimic the bird’s distress call to signal them to avoid the area. In the worst case, a touch on the outer shell will cause the rotor to stop so at least it wouldn’t injure the bird. The material is mostly digestible so it would be a shame to lose the drone, but at least we wouldn’t lose the bird…”
He then sent them out to survey the island. They circled around the island and mapped it. As they were all looking at the monitors, Atieno took a screenshot of a screen filled with red birds.
“These birds are Mauritius fody and from the number of them, they seem to be thriving,” he explained. This was great news about the once-endangered bird. When he revisits the island in a few months, he’ll try to tag as many of them as possible. Having no other humans on the island allowed the curious bird to become friendlier with him and his job easier. It would take him about a month to survey the entire island fauna, usually with the help of one or more friends. “This is the best time of my life,” he said, smiling.
Despite the eagerness for solid ground, they decided to stay on the boat for the night and head inland in the morning. To their surprise they woke up to clear blue skies. This was great news as they could spread the sails and recharge the batteries. It was a calculated risk they had to take, as sudden fast winds can easily tear the sails, but relying on the weather-forecast system, they hoped they’ll have enough time to pull them down if necessary.
After having a hearty breakfast of porridge and fruit, the team used the dinghy to get to the island, carefully navigating between the roofs of the sunken buildings. They left behind Otesha, Zuri and Jabari to look after the boats. Despite the sunny skies, they all wore bright orange suits with tracking and flotation devices. Like mountaineers, they all connected themselves to a long rope. Chioma felt it was unnecessary but Kato and Naomi took Atieno’s warning of sudden wind gusts in earnest and deemed it sensible. They also agreed to check in via radio with the boats every fifteen minutes.
The island was barely half of the size it was when it was evacuated centuries ago, and it looked devastated. Most of the soil was swampy mud with broken rocks and shattered building pieces scattered everywhere. Rotten wood stumps were solemn remains of what used to be the forest that covered most of the island. Younger trees were growing and according to Atieno, they looked better than before – an indication that weather isn’t as catastrophic as it used to be, but it’ll take another century for the island to recover its former glory.
Atieno led the way, with Kato by his side and Naomi as the rear guard. Often he would stop to admire a lizard or a plant. At first he stopped to admire and explain to them about the Round-island day gecko and Chioma was grateful that after ten minutes Kato kindly reminded him that they want to make the most use of the daylight. Naomi eventually suggested she would go with him and record his sighting once they found the data center.
It still took them four hours of walking through debris, mud and sweltering humid heat but eventually they arrived at the battered building. It was in poor shape but mostly intact. The glasses were all broken and rusty metal mesh covered them. The door was locked which took them by surprise. They couldn’t understand why people didn’t respect one another without the need for physical barriers.
“May I have a look?” Eliud asked. After examining the door, he found the keyhole just below the handle. It wasn’t obvious for any of them as they never seen a locked door in their lives. He then pulled a drone out of his rucksack and pointed its camera towards the keyhole. The drone chirped and in a moment an x-ray view of the lock appeared on the portable display controller. They managed to analyze the lock mechanism and using Naomi’s laser cutter they shaped a small metal scrap into a key.
*
“Locks help protect one’s wellbeing, privacy and their possessions” explained Gaia.
“Locks also prevent others from reaching out and helping the locked person. ‘Privacy’ is a matter of respect and trust, so having a lock is like putting a patch on a much bigger problem. And the same goes with ownership – if I took something that belongs to you by mistake then we communicate and I return it if I can…”
*
“Click!” the key turned as they all cheered. Kato slowly opened the door, ready to respond to whatever lurked inside. A dark hall sprawled beyond the door, the only thing visible with the light coming from the outside was the metallic rail leading to downward stairs. The air smelled damp. The power switch was next to the door, but they knew it wouldn’t be smart to turn it on, not knowing what side effects it might cause. Eliud unleashed a dozen drones once again and once they surveyed the corridors between the servers, they automatically positioned themselves spaced apart, high near the ceiling and emitted a soft red light that illuminated the entire room. The servers looked dry but the floor was hidden by an inch-high murky water.
“Alright, the drones’ batteries will deplete in about three hours. By this time we either get whatever we came here for or figure out if the light switch will work,” instructed Eliud and they all went on with their tasks. While Naomi and Atieno secured and explored the perimeter, Kato checked inside for hazards, and Eliud checked whether they could restore power. Aisha wrote an inventory of everything that could be salvaged – maybe not with their small boats but there was no point to leave it on a deserted island to rot. Chioma and Sade were buzzing over every piece of old scrap paper they could find, documenting and cataloguing anything they could extract from it. It took Eliud an hour to come back with his findings.
“We didn’t really expect the power source to last a century so it’s no surprise the system is out of juice”. Eliud said, and he could see Sade’s excitement crushed down. ”A lot of the infrastructure has deteriorated beyond recovery but I estimate there’s about a petabyte of information that we can manually copy at least part of it to a portable drive and examine it later in an isolated environment.”
“Oh, we’re not turning it on now?” Sade asked, clearly disappointed. Chioma could relate. She was also hoping to get a glimpse of the data then and there, but she understood how unsafe it could be from any aspect imaginable.
“No, not now,” she answered. “But we’ll do it as soon as we get back to the boat. We can do that, right?”. She asked Eliud, knowing how devastated Sade would be. It wasn’t urgent, but she knew that Sade’s anticipation will drive everyone crazy on their way back and it’s better to let her happily sieve through the data. Eliud reassured them they could analyze the data as soon as they’re back on the boat.
After copying the data, they figured out what else had immediate value worth taking back with them in their small boats. The petrol, being rare and finite, was valuable. The electronics were old, Eliud pointed out that at the height of the “Growth Capitalism”, most electronics became obsolete less than five years after production. There was a strong drive to improve everything, he explained, mainly because it was a way to get more money from the consumer, often by adding meaningless features and sometimes with explicit design-for-obsolescence. The notion left Kato and Aisha stunned. It was completely incomprehensible. Eventually they decided to take a screwdriver kit and some manual gear that might be useful. Aisha would publish the inventory and someone else would come to scrap it and perhaps put it into some good use.
*
“Short-lifespan products help the economy grow and businesses thrive with the help of returning consumers. Each iteration of the product is slightly modified, improved and most importantly – fits current fashion and trends.”
“Perfectly good products that end up in the bin just because they’re old are a waste of resources. It might be good for the economy as a whole but if I need to keep buying the same only negligibly upgraded product then surely that’s wasteful for your own personal economic status”.
*
The skies had already started turning orange when they came into sight of the boats. Standing on the deck, Jabari waved at them and probably yelled something, but they were too far to hear. They leisurely walked towards the boats when a sudden gust of wind carried Chioma off her feet and bashed her against a nearby wall. A jolt of pain seared from her wrist as she smashed the bone under the intense pressure. She lost consciousness for an instant, and fell to the floor. She could hear Aisha yelling Jabari’s name in a distant haze that was like someone shouting from the moon.
“Chioma! Are you ok?” Sade’s voice calling her name grounded her back to reality. She blinked in confusion. The wind was still blowing intensely but Sade was cowering over her, giving her little shelter. Atieno was lying on the ground next to her with his hands protecting his head, while Eliud and Naomi were crouching next to a wall not far from her. Naomi had her back towards the wall and one of the hands on Eliud’s rucksack, making it and Eliud stay put. She could see Kato and Aisha a few hundred meters ahead, sprinting towards the boats that were now rocking like empty shells in the stormy waves. Jabari was nowhere to be seen. She couldn’t tell whether he managed to get below deck on time or fell into the treacherous waters. It was all blurry, but she later recalled how at the time she thought it was funny to see Aisha and Kato running in zigzags and diagonals trying to fight wind gusts, with a rope holding them both together.
“I think my arm is broken” she shouted at Sade trying to overcome the howling wind. Naomi grabbed the rope that attached them together and leaned to Eliud. Chioma couldn’t hear what was said but she guessed Naomi instructed Eliud to secure the rucksack to his back. Then Naomi crawled to lay beside Atieno. She shouted something towards him and Atieno nodded in understanding. She helped him to his knees as the three of them continued to crawl towards Chioma and Sade. Finally, Naomi reached the wall next to Chioma and pulled her by the armpits to rest her back against the wall as she screamed in pain. In silent efficiency, Naomi took out a small syrette from her arm pocket and used it to stab Chioma’s throbbing wrist. Chioma, tears running down her cheeks from agony, was shocked how quickly the pain receded to a mere blurry memory. The arm was still broken, and the pain was there but it was now external to her – something to be aware of rather than something you can’t ignore. Naomi made a makeshift sling around Chioma’s neck and locked her broken arm inside of it, preventing it from moving. Chioma looked in amazement, thinking to herself that should’ve been extremely painful. She was still in a state of shock as she saw Naomi lock her to the rope using another carabiner and Sade locked herself as well.
“We need to get into a shelter,” shouted Naomi. She reached into her bag and pulled a brick-sized pack and gun-like device. She wobbled as the wind pushed against her. Eliud crawled next to her and used his own body to weigh her down. She used the gun to nail a split-end spike into the ground. She then secured the pack into the spike and pressed it open. In an instant, it popped to a small tent. She continued to put three more spikes while the rest of them took cover inside. Chioma’s legs were too weak to stand but Sade helped her into the tent. It was safe in the confines of the tent’s polymer walls, albeit very crowded, but it sounded like the world was ending outside. Crazy weather events weren’t uncommon, but Chioma thought to herself that these intensive sudden wind gusts are probably one of the reasons Mauritius was abandoned to begin with.
Naomi radioed the boats to check their status. Zuri replied in an anxious voice that one of the masts broke and hit Jabari who fell to the water, but Otesha managed to pull him back. They were all grateful he was wearing a life jacket and tied to the boat, making the rescue considerably easier.
“I’m sorry I dragged you to this stupid adventure,” Sade murmured, squeezing her tight to her chest. She could feel her heartbeat thumping in anxiety.
“Don’t be silly, we’re going to be ok.” she replied. It was an odd feeling to have their roles change and her encouraging Sade for once. Sade, who was an endless source of joy, was now petrified at the thought of losing her best friend. It was the one thing she wouldn’t be able to cope with. Chioma used her unbroken hand to gently caress Sade’s cheek until she heard her breathing steady itself once again.
“What do I do with this?” Chioma asked Naomi after some time, dangling her slung arm. It didn’t hurt as much but she worried what would happen when the painkillers would wear off. She felt silly and useless.
“Ah, right. Not a problem,” Naomi said. She took out a gel tube from her backpack and applied it on Chioma’s wrist. It was green and smelled like aloe vera. Pouring water on it made it harden as it clung to the skin. “This will act as an external support. It also numbs the nerves so it shouldn’t hurt at all. Over time it will start peeling off and by the time it’s gone your bone should heal itself, or you can wash it with alcohol to quickly dissolve it”.
“Oh, wow” Chioma was impressed. She had seen similar casts before but never realized it was that easy to apply. Wriggling her fingers, she felt the cast solidifying, pulling the tiny hair on her arm, sending small, needle-like sensations through her arm.
“It’s a breathable material, so you won’t feel that you’re roasting inside. If it’s itchy you can scratch it and it will give you relief,” Naomi reassured her with a kind smile. She felt grateful.
The wind lasted for about an hour, and it was nighttime when they finally stepped out of their small tent. Chioma could finally stand up straight and stretch her arms as wide as possible. She looked at her new green-skinned wrist. It was growing on her. They helped Naomi pack the tent and spike back and finished their journey to the boat to assess the damage.
“We managed to make good use of the sunshine while we had it,” informed Otesha when they got to the boats. “But I wouldn’t recommend sailing off at night with the broken mast. We’ll wait until the morning and try to fix it first”. They all agreed.
That evening was the first time they were all happy to be below deck. Jabari had the same cast-gel spreading around his chest preventing him from taking any deep breath but also protecting him from puncturing his lung. Sade decided to let him rest tonight as she’ll oversee dinner. Chioma wanted to help but Sade insisted she should rest as well. She made them traditional Egusi soup that reminded Chioma of home so badly it brought tears to her eyes. She felt so grateful to have Sade with her on this journey. It may not have been as smooth sailing as one would’ve liked but all the planning and precautions they made have really paid off to make sure everyone will come back home safely and she really couldn’t have asked for more.
*
“Money can set you free. With it, you can choose your community, your work, your values. Without money, you’re at the mercy of others.”
“Your money isn’t worth anything if you don’t have other people who will accept it. In that sense, you’re at the mercy of others regardless. And if they are your family you don’t even need to pay them to look after you. You are a valued member of your family simply by ‘being’. Independence doesn’t equate to self-sufficiency, unless you’re willing to sacrifice your living standards considerably. ”
*
Early morning the very next day, the team were already at work to fix the broken wooden mast. First, Otesha and Zuri went to look for the floating missing piece and with the help of the dolphins they managed to retrieve it quickly. Then, while Otesha, Zuri and Kato held the mast upright, Eliud applied a wood glue that revived the wood’s natural enzymes.
“The glue actually has two stages,” he explained to the fascinated Jabari, but everyone tuned in. “It has mycelial threads that grow very quickly to keep the wood pieces together. That part takes about an hour, in which we need to keep the mast straight, so the threads won’t tear. After an hour it’ll be strong enough to support itself and then the long process begins, in which the ligninases and cellulases melt the top layer of the wood and allow it to regenerate as a single whole unit”. They were all in awe. “I heard that they have it in mass production in India to allow them to build furniture with it. We’re happy with our sashimono”. They took turns holding the mast for the next hour and then Eliud applied a gel similar to the cast-gel as an extra layer of protection before they were ready to set sail back to Mombasa.
*
“Hello, I’m the Global Autonomous Infrastructure Administration, but you can call me Gaia. I’m afraid that my sensors are inaccessible and I can’t perform my assigned task. Awaiting further instructions,” The computer spoke in English with a strong foreign accent. Chioma thought the name was somewhat blasphemous, as something so unnatural as an artificial intelligence would be named after earth’s personification. She figured that whoever named this system was very presumptuous, or just thought it was a joke.
It was their second day on their journey back to Mombasa. So far, the sailing was smooth with the wind blowing strongly at their patched sail and batteries quickly recharging. As he had promised to Sade, Eliud connected the data drive to a laptop, making sure it was physically disconnected from any means that might allow any malicious code to escape.
“Gaia, can you tell me what your task is?” Chioma typed it in. They decided against giving Gaia microphone access to avoid the risk of it eavesdropping on them. Precautions felt like a safe choice dealing with an unknown entity.
“Of course! I autonomously manage infrastructure, including but not limited to gas, electricity, water, sewage, telecommunications and transportation. I’m responsible for distributing and balancing loads by analyzing and predicting demands and responding by allocating resources and/or setting prices to achieve the primary objective”.
Chioma took that all in. Essentially this system controlled every aspect of the lives of the people in the area that it was entrusted with.
“Gaia, what area were you entrusted with?”
“I’m not limited to a specific area. In fact, I’m capable of assessing any infrastructure utility I can contact and deploy either a soft merger or hostile takeover if needed”.
“It’s very greedy…” Sade noted, frowning.
“It’s a machine, how can it be greedy…” wondered Chioma, and then typed “Gaia, what is the primary objective?”
“Maximum profit for the shareholders.”
*
The conversation left Chioma disheartened as Sade finally unplugged the power from the terminal and put a hand on Chioma’s shoulder and squeezed gently as before. Their roles switched back and Sade returned to be the positive comforting person she always has been, only now Chioma felt it had a profound depth to it. She knew that Sade truly and utterly cared for her.
Whether it was just Gaia, or the company that owned it, or that entire era — they simply couldn’t own up to their mistake and make reparations. The problem will always be pushed to the next generation. Chioma was grateful that at some point down the line people came to their senses that the longer things are left broken, the more difficult it becomes to fix for whoever will eventually have to face the problem.
They were all quiet for the rest of the afternoon until Aisha announced dinner was ready and the motley boat crew resumed their jolly life for the rest of the ride home.
The Gaia drive was kept in the Lagos library with a strict warning prohibiting connecting it to anything remotely useful. Whether Gaia was conscious or not became an irrelevant question as it was clear that she followed her instructions to the letter and those were set by greedy, selfish people.
Lying in her bed and struggling to fall asleep as Sade quietly snored next to her, Chioma thought about the adventure they had together. People nearly died and despite finding what they were looking for, the conversation with Gaia left a sour taste in her mouth as she was disillusioned with capitalism prioritizing efficiency or innovation over greed. It was quite disappointing to her. She learned a lot, and she met amazing, funny and brave new friends. They endured, and it felt great. She also recalled that ultimately Gaia was never turned on and for her, that was a glimmer of hope – knowing that someone had the common sense to decide not to turn on a machine that valued profits over human lives. Humans lived with capitalism for several centuries until one day they woke up and collectively decided to choose something better. She closed her eyes and drifted to a calm, restful sleep.
Utopian Tales 