Appeal

Entering the cool and dimly lit antechamber of the church, I paused and admired the delicate stained glass framed at the rear of the building. Briefly, I wondered how buildings constructed with so little technology could age so well and look so beautiful 250 years in the future, while the houses we build with computers and lasers crack and crumble in just 50.

‘Welcome,’ reverberated a voice from behind a podium. A hooded man rose up from the ground, and turned to face me. He looked vaguely familiar.
‘Um…hi,’ I replied, still strolling up the aisle. I set down the microscope on the altar, and one part of my mind stopped to consider the irony of this union of science and religion.
‘So, what has the Switchling brought us?’
‘…err, I don’t know’
‘You don’t know what you brought?’
‘This is a micro-…wait, what? I’m a switchling? What is a switchling?’ I demanded
‘It’s "Switchling", and you’ve been selected for the task,’ he replied

I didn’t like the way that sounded.

‘Selected?’
‘Yes. You’re the only one that can do it.’
‘Why?’
‘Why are you the only one that can do it, or why do you have to do the task?’
‘Both.’
‘You only get one answer.’
‘Fine…why do I have to do the task?’
‘Because you’re the only one that can do it.’
‘So why am I the only one that can do it, then? Why am I so special?’ I replied testily.
‘I told you. One answer.’
I considered punching him, but decided against it at the last minute.

‘Why? Why won’t you tell me why I have to do this?’
‘Because that’s the way it is.’

My fist clenched again.

‘Stop it! I need answers. I need them. And if I don’t get them, I’m walking out of here.’
‘You can’t.’
‘Why not.’
‘You don’t have any say in the matter.’

I picked up the microscope and pushed it into his hands, and as he stumbled back his hood fell off. I stormed down the aisle, grabbed the thick, wooden door handle and was midway through opening the giant door when I paused. I shut the door, and ran back down the aisle. The unveiled man was waiting.

‘You!’ I exclaimed.


At least, that’s what would have happened, had the bell tower not roared with a striking, deafening, rumbling roar of peals at the exact moment that the hooded man finished his sentence.

‘Run,’ he screamed.