They came to look for her when the new moon rose and the new year began.
She was in the kitchen, cooking her new year dishes. It was still very early. It felt as if the rest of the village was hung over so still the silence was. The rush of the incoming jet was going to cause some yelling.
An Engineer jet, she observed out of the window. She recognized the insignia of the entwining serpents and cog. She thought that she had left that past behind.
The columns of engine heat blew over the trellises bearing the butterfly pea. She swore under her breath. It landed neatly next to the rows of daun dewa. A heat shimmer surrounded the craft. A side-door opened and two people emerged, clad in Engineer uniforms.
She also recognized the two. She had worked with them before. Was their mentor. Wincing, she turned off the stove, washed her hands and made sure she looked presentable. Then, inhaling slowly, she stepped out to meet them.
"Dr Chung," the one with the crew cut said. "Happy Lunar New Year."
"And to you too," she said. "You are looking well, Sarah."
"Thank you. You haven't aged."
"The joys of working in the farm. Keeps you healthy," she said and turned to the other Engineer. "You, though, are a sight for sore eyes, Kenji."
The Engineer bowed, before laughing and grabbing her in an impulsive bear hug. She too chuckled, keeping her mouth shut about aching joints. She was not as young as she thought.
The hilarity subsided. The mien of the two grew serious. "We need your help, Dr Chung."
"Is it the dam?" she felt a stab of anxiety in her gut.
They both nodded silently.
"Didn't the board take my advice?"
They both shook their heads.
"Bloody hell," she muttered. "Damn Sarkov!"
*
She made sure the trellises stay up and the rows of daun dewa were not incinerated by the heat from the jet. She gave instructions to her nephews to water the vegetables regularly, check the solar panels and clean the tanks in her lab. She would be back, she said, on the fifteenth.
She sat by the window seat. The landscape rushed past under her. She could see more browns now, swathes of earth and sand. The squares of green felt like brave sentinels standing up against a relentless army.
Kenji gave her a tumbler of clean water and a packet of sundried vegetable chips. She sipped the water and tried to nibble at the chips. Her mind swirled around. The dam. The dam. The dam. What have they done?
They landed beside the dam, stirring up twin dust devils. The devils swirled frantically.
She stepped through the door, blinking at the harsh sunlight. The glistening water at the far end of the landing spot seemed inviting. An oasis. The smell. She always could not forget the smell. Does the desert have a smell? Of acridness so strong your nose dries up. She linked it to the smell of sand. Earthy, so dry, but so beautiful and evocative in its own way.
"Cracks have appeared," Kenji said, clearing their throat.
"Of course, they have appeared. I have warned you all! The dam isn't stable!" she said and stalked towards the dam. She gasped when she saw the damage, the spider web of fine fissures criss-crossing the huge pillars. "I fear it might be too late..."
"Dr Chung..." Sarah's voice now. Nervous. Of course, the great Dr Chung was furious.
"I told you to seed the pillars with oysters. My report was clear on this. Now... no! Cracks are appearing! Boo hoo!"
