Taste of water

Daniel Nemek, 17, androids’ and Homo donatus’ era, Gdańsk

Blue eyes look at me from the reverse reality of the mirror. Mom keeps saying it’s aquamarine – after my father. I like this color. I correct the stand-up collar in my white sweatshirt, it must be perfectly positioned. I take the water bottle, put on my backpack, immaculate white sneakers, and head to school. The shoes glow in the sun. I immediately sense when a man is passing by in the car. I do not understand androids but people… are very easy to master. With my eyes closed, I will know where they are standing, what they are doing and what their mood is. I am Homo donatus! A lucky guy with a talent, although this bastards can’t describe me. My talent is, as they say, „unpolished”, so I don’t know how it works or even how to name it. It is the androids who judge whether you are a donatus or not.

Right after entering the school, I see Glen, smug waffle. He had offended my sister once because she hadn’t shown any talent yet. Now it is him who lacks something – peace! {HAHA}

I purposely walk towards him, then suddenly change direction, and he lands with his butt on the marble and a stupid look on his face. {HAHA} It never gets boring. I don’t know how I do it, I just feel it. People are like puppets to me that I can play with if I feel like it. I don’t want someone to touch me in the corridor … my shoes could get dirty! I force them to make a wave at the pace of my footsteps. They part like algae before Poseidon. {AHH} Nothing like a good entry. The shoes are saved.

I sit in the first bench, because today we have classes with Ms Galoria – a real woman. She is one of the few people who is a programmer at this school. I feel a pleasant impatience, and it’s not because of the fascinating things that this amazing creature probably has to say. I dream of her shapes at night. I fix my hairstyle reflected in the glass surface of the desk and put a gallant (I think) smile on my face. Galoria always glances at me during lessons, maybe she knows I’m up to something.

She’s wearing that raspberry dress with buttons down the neckline again … Her round face is framed by a pink headband and a lush necklace that falls under the collar of a very feminine outfit. As usual, she has a bright yellow jacket and feet hidden in elegant shoes. If I focus enough on her appearance, I raise her body temperature. I know it’s my doing because I can see the dependence. Besides, no one else ever begins to undress at the same time with her. People think she’s too fat and that’s why she’s still hot. I am not revealing my secret to anyone. Maybe eventually she will unbutton a few buttons…

As always, Galoria begins to breathe heavily and fan her face with an e-card with notes. She is explaining to us how to discover talents.

In this world, being ordinary is almost a death sentence. No one can foul biological advancement, the mechanics will always discover the truth. Sapiens are always just sapiens. As a woman instinctively turns to face me, I start to intensely study the interactive whiteboard behind her back, even though there’s nothing interesting there. I feel deep satisfaction when her jacket lands on the back of a metal chair made of melted fine-coil nuts flooded with transparent plastic. The raw elegance of the furniture takes on a feminine character.

The teacher tries to lower her body temperature, but she has no chance with me, she fights with an invisible enemy. I’m getting better and better at all this controlling thing – I shine my teeth in a (yet uncontrolled) smile that I suppress immediately.

However, she is deterred from the idea by chicks from my year, they are feeling cold. So the donaprogrammer tries to cope. {HAHA} I see her looking at the buttons involuntarily… yes yes, that’s a good idea! No unbuttoning … eh eternal professionalism. With a red face and a deep exhale, she sits down on a chair to rest. A vase of flowers covers her a bit there, so after a while three buttons are released from service. {WOW} I enjoy the view slightly distorted by the water enclosed in the glass. Her abundant breasts look soft and pleasant to the touch. Like two perfectly shaped watermelon pillows. {HMM} I crave watermelon jelly. Finally! I managed to achieve my goal, so I’m glad to leave Galoria alone. Yet the poor woman will get a fever.

„Madam, Daniel is not listening and he is playing with his smartnails” I hear a complaint from behind my back, from the mouth of my ex-girlfriend.

Jealousy eats her up. Galoria hastily fastens the buttons and stands up, staring with angry gaze straight at me. I forgot I had smartnails running and must have played with them instinctively. The disapproving gaze directed at me from that angelic face evokes extreme feelings in me. Mean Paula probably realizes that I have a weakness for Galoria because I once told her that she was too skinny. Bony arms and protruding ribs have nothing to do with femininity. That walking grim reaper will regret it. The donaprogrammer starts her tirade about how we should focus on our future, and I gnash my teeth because I do not have a prepared line of defense.

Well, my achievement is forgotten, I did not even have a few minutes to relish it! Anger magnifies my perception and I begin to instinctively feel that the solution to the problem is on my left. I glance at the source of this feeling and all I can see is a large window overlooking the backyard. I focus on my negative emotions again, but the feeling of distraction from the window only deepens. Eventually I let it consume me when the rage reaches its peak, and I hear nothing but my own teeth gnashing involuntarily.

„AUUU!” Paulina stands up with indignant violence, making a loud noice of a chair falling on the marble.

I turn around automatically and I am speechless. The class starts laughing and Galoria furrows her perfect eyebrows even more.

„Someone stuck needles in my arm!” the girl shouts.

Unable to determine the culprit of the incident, Galoria sends my ex to a medical android. Is it my fault? But how is that possible? After all, I have no spikes on my body … I look again at the window and the cacti on the windowsill and everything becomes clear. I walk like on springs, carried away by a new discovery. So what? I can turn cacti into weapons! Not bad. I think I’ll go to spend my pocket money on this wonderful plant right after school. The bigger the better. The best part is that no one has any idea that this is my doing. I don’t know how I did it! Maybe my power is just to move people and explode objects. Fine by me!

After class, I head towards the emerald exit, I like to pass by the botanical rooms because I can look at the plants. Today I heard that they are finishing a new relaxation room for meditation, psychological analysis and psychotherapy. These androids became fascinated with the human species ever since some of us (the better part) turned into the Homo donatus. Evolution, ninios! Evolution. I hear someone humming hits from sea shanties, so I know it’s not a robot. I peek through the half-glass door to see a homie carrying a large stone. I stick my nose inside.

„Hey, can I take a look at the new room?” I walk inside with these words despite the fear of death at the hands of a skinny, blonde kid.

„Hey. Sure, come on in. What are you doing here so late?” he replies calmly, without a trace of aggression.

„I just left the physics club and wanted to see the room. I look forward to these lessons of ancient meditation. What are you doing here with that stone? –I smile ominously and stare at him questioningly–You want to smash this room?”

„Of course not man, I am decorating an aquarium.”

„Decorating what?” I ask as I go to a large cabinet with a glass top, about ten meters long.

„I’m setting up an aquarium. My old man’s gonna get the school live fish. He works in the DekoEko organization where he promotes his passion for fishkeeping. He has been breeding test-tube fish for years and we have managed to create several stable populations of tropical fish from different families.”

„[WOW] I thought all animals were extinct,” I say with sincere admiration.

„Few people know about this project, only my father is developing it. Aquariums have a therapeutic effect on people, hence the idea for a fish tank in the relaxation room.”

„Father entrusted you with the start of such a large aqua?”

„Yes. It’s my hobby too. Since I was a child, I have watched him take care of underwater creatures and create an environment similar to that from before our era for them.”

It all sounds so fascinating that I don’t want to go home. I decide to stay and learn more.

„I like water. I read a lot of historical books about sea adventures and I like reverse fantasy. Especially with animals.” I sit down in a chair and look through the glass, analyzing the arrangement of the trail of stones on the mosaic of red-brown ground.

“This is volcanic lava down there, great for aquatic plants. I’ll be planting them soon.”

„Cool, can I help?” While carrying stones and plants, I lose myself in a conversation with my new friend.

I repay him with a story about sea turtles. These beautiful creatures died out in a non-obvious way. Humans have raised the temperature of the world by several degrees due to resource abuse and ignoring the environment.

It turned out that the turtle’s sex depended on the temperature of the sand in which the female turtles buried their eggs. More and more females were born until finally … there was no male to fertilize them. However, this was not the only water problem in the world. I do not want to think about the year 2020, when the size of the Great Pacific Island of Waste was five times the size of Poland! Of course, it got worse later. Turtles got tangled in the nets, swallowed plastic straws, and twisted cans injured their bodies. Ultimately, however, it was the lack of males that led to their extinction.

Something has always inevitably drawn me to this aquatic world and now I absolutely need to see this aquarium once fish start to live here. I can’t wait to see live animals! We’ve put several buckets of plants in, and the bare, twisted tree roots look like mythical creatures waiting for their prey. Time to pour in water. My excitement is growing. I secured the hose in the middle of the glass vessel and let the water flow. It floods the lava, intensifying its colors, and the plants begin to rise to life and straighten their leaves as if in a gesture of victory. The water world begins to live.

„Where are the fish?”

„In my house.”

„Shall we go get them today?”

„No. The water has to stand for two weeks for all harmful to the fish compounds to be released. We also need to install aeration and water heating equipment.”

I look at heaters, filters, aerators and my engineering brain begins to create a concept.

„The water has to be in constant motion to prevent anaerobes from forming, and the fish need oxygen bubbles to survive, right?”

„Exactly, although there were once fish that took oxygen from above the water. For now, however, we do not have any of that kind. The smaller the bubbles, the better the water is oxygenated. Besides, the very movement of the water surface is aerating, and the larger the undulating surface, the more oxygen for the fish. Which you cannot overdo” the boy says, while pretending that he is choking.

While my colleague is watching the plants, I put the gear elements together and instinctively place them in the right places. After testing it turns out that my instinct was good.

Fishkeeper notices, „You’ve got a talent for it.”

„It’s pure engineering, bro. I didn’t even have time to introduce myself. I’m Daniel” I reach out my hand to the aquarist.

„I’m Hulio, nice to meet you,” he replies, squeezing my hand. „Come here at the same time in two weeks, to help me with the webbed inhabitants.”

„Sure thing.”

Red neon tetras toss in the bucket of water. Quite a lot of them! We have to throw them into the aquarium as soon as possible so that they have enough space. Operation „waterfall” with a thousand tiny fish turned out to be quite breakneck and wet, but all the fish reached a new home. Pale fish are getting brighter colors every minute. I’m starting to see red on their stomachs and blue on their backs. Toddlers hide in carefully planted plants, waiting for a moment of peace from prying eyes. Hulio tells me about his talent for breaking rocks. A strange skill.

„How do you do that?” I ask, amazed, with a mouth full of roasted hundleaf with hummus.

„I just touch the rock and imagine how it breaks. I can create a stone throne for you if you want. Stone is my element. My power doesn’t work for anything else. I tried to destroy my sister’s crasherry once. This devilish thing makes a lot of noise and scares the fish.”

„[HAHA] It’s something for nails, right?”

„Yeah, it crushes metal to smartnails. She’s got a whole home kit to make these gadgets, and she gets a lot of money out of it. I must admit that she is inventive. I like to play with it myself, once I even went through the stage with the Shadow of Intent’s song on one hand. I had the notes highlighted in blue on the five fingers of my left hand, and played with my right.”

„No kidding?! You kept up with Symphonic Deathcore? Don’t say you won on an electric guitar note?”

„So far I have only managed to get to past the drums stage. I have been trying to make an electric guitar from stone for some time, but I am not satisfied with the results yet. I need to have a very clear image in my head to smash a stone into something good looking. I study every element of Chris Wiseman’s guitar at home to remember it exactly and I will have a copy.”

„Respect bro. So show me what you’re listening to.”

My mouth went dry from this revelations. I drink half a bottle of water and enjoy its taste. I don’t drink anything else.

Song author: Shadow of Intent

Text found here: https://tinyurl.com/yakbsgud

The Forsaken Effigy:

As the world burns, grinning at the fruitless attempts for survival

Encompassing sentience across the ring

Breaking away from the grip of old

extensive advancement

coming from the black hole

Free among the galaxy again

The underworld arisen

„Fiery! Certainly the legs of some people in school are burning to run away. Nobody wants to tell us what happens to Homo sapiens, they just disappear. I can see that my parents are worried about Eva. This is my little sister. She is fourteen and hasn’t shown anything special so far.”

„I don’t like my gift, but I don’t envy your family. What can you do?”

„It’s hard to describe it.”

I puff at him and his skinny butt lands on the wet floor.

“Not bad!” Hulio shouts, adjusting the glasses on his nose. „How did you do that?!”

„I’m a dark puppeteer and people are my puppets [BUHAHA]” I mimic the voice of a great magician who wields black magic.

„Cool. Then why do you say you can’t be specific?”

„I’ve been able to use cacti as a weapon recently, but don’t tell anyone because I’m keeping it a secret.”

„I heard some chick in the hall yelling that someone had stuck cactus needles in her arm, was that you?”

„Jop.”

„Then you are right. It’s hard to pin down your gift, but it’s definitely something!”

Fish fascinate me so much that I start coming to the relaxation room every day. I watch how little inhabitants gradually get used to our school. On Thursday I see a large shoal of beautifully colored fish playing tag. At least I see it that way. Their beautiful neon stripes sparkle in the artificial light of the lamps, enlivening the strict aquarium decor and my soul. Today there will be no Hulio, so I feed the little ones with vegetable flakes myself and sit on a steel throne-shaped chair with wheels to make my usual routes along the reservoir.

Every Monday we will change thirty percent of the bottom water to prevent excessive accumulation of food debris and waste products of the aquarium inhabitants. Hulio also said that we will definitely fight some algae, they obviously love the aquatic environment. We also have to check if any fish are stuck behind the filter, because these little ones are curious. I stick to this command as a sacred rule, and check every time if any fish has got itself into trouble. After all, no neon tetra will let you know that something is wrong.

I put my hand on the glass and see them swimming toward my fingers. I haven’t seen them say hello to anyone else like that. Today I’m starting to talk to them, after all, no one will hear me. Little fish move their transparent fins quickly when I tell them about my talent. I feel a pleasant tingling on the fingertips that touch the smooth glass. I can feel the water move. The interesting phenomenon deepens when I close my eyes. Visualizations appear in my head, like in a kaleidoscope. All shades of blue and green create an unreadable mosaic that moves to the rhythm of waves created by filters and small neon tetras.

I open my eyes because I feel my head spinning. The feeling stops when I take my hand away. Dozens of fish have already gathered in the place where my fingers rested a moment ago. They gently move up and down looking straight at me. As I move away from the glass, neon tetras scatter and begin to deal with their fishy businesses. I get up to check the water temperature on the thermometer, but I know perfectly well that it is 26.2 degrees Celsius. I am surprised when my gut feeling turns out to be perfectly right. Neon tetras feel good in the range of 25-28 degrees.

Usually I sit here for about half an hour and go home, but today’s incident prompts me to stay. I sit down in a chair and stare at the tiny bubbles. Maybe I will also be able to change the temperature in the aquarium? Just like with the beautiful body of Galoria. The thought of her creates an electrifying heat, so I have to bring myself to heel. Better to heel than to steel. {HAHA} I am laughing at my own verbal joke silently. Focus, Daniel.

I try to concentrate on the aquarium, but it’s very spacious and has lots of tiny little moving spots and bubbles. I don’t know what to look at. In the case of a donaprogrammer, I always know where… focus Daniel! I close my eyes and put both hands on the glass. The kaleidoscope is almost unbearable. Like the helicopter effect of having too many drinks before bed. The riot of colors under my eyelids makes my stomach tremble dangerously. I focus on the rhythm of the changing colors and shapes, as on a complicated metal band soundtrack. I find patterns that calms my labyrinth and stomach. I isolate elements and tame them. I focus my willpower on the shades to play with the temperature. I manage to follow the path of warm colors until all the other colors take on a warmer shade.

I let go of the glass and with one leap I position myself next to the heater. {HA} 28 degrees! Winged by success, I look around to see if there is anyone in sight. No one present so I sit down again with my hands on the glass. The fish swim to my fingers, and I close my eyes to see if I can do anything else. This time I go with the flow of the kaleidoscope. I stick to the clearest trail until I feel comfortable. The trail begins to resemble letters and letters assemble into words. Earthquake. Earthquake tonight!

Terrified, I break the trance. I look into the eyelidless eyes of the fish and wonder if they just spoke to me, or if I read the movements of the water myself? Some animals knew that an earthquake was coming through earth vibrations that were imperceptible to humans or androids. I still remember aunt Marilla’s lessons on elephants. These giants had a nose that they used like a hand, a garden hose and… a nose. {HEHE} They were huge, but their footsteps were silent, and it was precisely through their very wide feet that they sensed the tectonic plate movements and were able to escape the threat. I am convinced that the aquatic creatures could do this too.

I have to run home to warn my parents. As androids took over the world, they knocked out large parts of humanity with the biological bomb containing the Tsar’s virus. The earthquake can bring it back. I jump on the e-wheels, crouch and rush through the milky-white streets lit by LED poles placed at equal intervals. The street resembles a milky sugar mass, but to contact it at a speed of 200 km / h would not be soft or sweet. Luckily, this skateboard has a danger alert system, automatic braking and a shoe-binding surface. Thanks to this, I don’t even have to focus heavily on my surroundings. Generally, it is stupidproof and ultra-safe, despite its speed. I don’t know how people used to move without an interactive map displaying real-time traffic. I can even browse the media on the go. Riding always makes me feel better, I feel free when the wind strokes my face.

My parents don’t want to believe me, so I scream that I won’t go to school anyway and slam the door.

Mom shouts to me, „At least drink some tea, Daniel! You probably haven’t eaten anything warm all day!”

„People have always drunk water and somehow survived, I will not drink your colored potions!”

I am disgusted just by the thought of tea. Why spoil the water with some leaves?

I lay down with an oxygen mask on my face, but I can’t sleep. I feel trapped and have a hard time breathing. I decide to take advantage of this and silence my remorse by preparing masks for my parents. Eva has three designer ones in her room, so I’m not worried about her. I hang my khaki-colored one around my neck and go down the narrow stairs to the basement.

Every human has a mask with its own oxygen circuit and some, apparently, even several. I roll my eyes. Great waves of the pandemic were tearing our species to shreds in the past. Despite the peace made with the androids and giving them all power, their virus, released from the test tube, began to live its own life and repeatedly returned as mutated and once again incurable. Only those who had their own, uncontaminated air from the generator inside the mask survived. I laugh with pity at all those people who put cotton rags over their faces, tied them behind their ears, and put smelly latex gloves on their hands. They felt immortal! And they were the first to die.

When the virus got on the material, they breathed it all day and in the evening they had rotten intestines. Androids created a hell for their creators. I don’t remember it, of course, but my parents’ stories are enough for my imagination. People fell in the street, nameless and impersonal as rats, all looking alike with veiled faces. Androids skillfully and silently jumped over human logs, emotionlessly allowing the cleaning robots to clear streets and sidewalks. In fact, it is probably only through the lack of emotions that you can distinguish them from people. There are no distinctive signs on the outside that I know of.

The roles are reversed and the machines rule the people. It was the only way to save the species, although most of us are now Homo donatus, not Homo sapiens. We had to become special in order to survive, so the androids would see the value in us. I go back upstairs with my prey and hang it on the railing in front of my parents’ bedroom door in line of sight. They won’t miss them when they open the door. Reassured, I hide under the covers and fall asleep with a mask covering my face. Unfortunately, children and fish have no voice.

When I am awakened by vibrations at night, my mother is already standing by my bed, secured with an oxygen mask. In a voice muffled by the glass, she thanks me for my help and, pulling my hand, runs towards the basement. Dad is already there, preparing air mattresses for us. Eva is sitting in a night fox kigurumi cross-legged on the floor, taking selfies in a mask.

„I’m sorry, Daniel, for not listening to you yesterday. It was only when I felt the vibrations of the bed that I remembered what it was like in the tsarist times. I cannot believe that I ignored your warning. I got so crazy about work and worries about Eva that I completely lost my balance. If it weren’t for you, our evacuation would have been much less efficient.”

„Honey, how did you know about the impending quake?” mum asks, pinning her hair around the protection of the mask.

„It’s hard to explain.” I give an evasive answer, sitting down on the air mattress.

„Is this another element of your talent?”

„Seriously?!” Eva turns away from her phone to face us. „Now you can predict the future, you idiot?! Why did he get the best genes?!”

„Calm down, girly. I don’t foresee the future”–I leap towards her bed–”I’m creating it myself!” I fall onto the pink cloth and Eva lands on the floor.

„What a waffle! Mom did you see that?” she whines offended.

„Daniel, calm down and don’t avoid the question!” the parent responds.

„Alright! I give up.”

I tell them today’s story about the aquarium and the action with cacti. After a long introduction about bringing animals back to life, of course. Finally, I drink half a liter of water and lie down with my eyes closed and my arms crossed behind my head on the bed, waiting for their guesses about my talent. They are wrong if they think they can label me. I’m too original for any frames.

„It is obvious. You rule the water son.” my father calmly.

I open my eyes immediately and jump out of bed like burned.

„What is wrong with you, dad? You don’t have enough oxygen in your mask, or something?” I snort, offended by his omniscient tone. „Humans and cacti do not live under water.”

My father explains his theory adamantly, „Human body is sixty percent water, and how do you think cacti can survive without water for months? They store it within themselves.”

My mom looks at me with enlightment on her face.

„And since I weaned you from the breast, you drink nothing but water, Daniel! Dad may be right. You always yell at me when I tell you to drink tea. Maybe it’s because of your gift, you just don’t digest it.”

„I have no problem digesting teas, I just don’t like them.” I answer dissatisfied.

„That would explain your communication with the fish too, you waffle! Maybe we will flood your room to see if you can also breathe underwater?”

I throw a pillow at Eva in response to her taunts, but I stay silent. I reminisce how I can move people around, trying to imagine what I feel (apart from satisfaction). It’s a bit like making waves with my hand submerged in water. They are not fast, but they are powerful. As for the water itself, I do love its taste like no one else, but I have never wondered if it means anything. I thought it was one of my divine qualities, that’s it. I know from biology that cacti are largely made of water tissue, maybe that’s why I started to feel them almost like humans.

„Maybe there is something to it.” I say, matter-of-factly after a moment’s thought. „It’s no secret that I am interested in ancient sea creatures and enjoy reading about sailors and pirates. And something woke up in me by this aquarium. None of my friends even know that something like this exists in our school. This room is not in use yet. I am fascinated by this underwater world, and fish greet me when I put my fingers to the glass.”

„It all adds up. Our Danielek is so talented!” Mom clasps her hands. „And now aware of his gift! I didn’t notice when you grew up!”

Mom lunges to hug me, and our masks clink against each other with a metal clang and the air thickens.

„Geez, I almost forgot about that quake. Maurice, will you please check if the radar is picking up any more danger?”

“It’s quiet now, but we’re not moving from here until noon, that’s the standard procedure. We’re all off duties today. By this time, they will have reported the composition of the air and the number of infected people, if any.”

I know there is no point in arguing with my father, so I go to sleep worrying about Hulio and our fish. At midday, we hear an announcement that we must wear oxygen equipment from now on. The tsarist virus came out of the soil.

In the place where our school used to stand yesterday, I meet Hulio. He frantically tries to catch the fish from the leaking aquarium.

„It’s so good that you are! Help me catch these neon tetras or they will die too!”

Without unnecessary comment I start working.

„Too?”

„Haven’t you heard? Mrs. Galoria is in serious condition. Her block of flats has partially collapsed.”

„But I love her…” I say devastated, releasing the bucket from my hands.

„Are you crazy ?! Can’t you be quieter? Someone else will hear you. If you help me, I will give you one shoal of fish and equipment as a gift, and we can visit the programmer together so that it looks normal.”

„Alright, thanks.”

I am animated by the thought of having my own aquarium and the vision of meeting my muse. I trained my skills on her, most of the time… Now, until the school is rebuilt, I will be able to practice with neon tetras at home. Great!

„From now on, call me Kraken.” I speak mysteriously to my friend before I tell him the meaning of my words.