Just returned from work.
Deni and I worked the late shift today. A new arrival in enclosure 864. Spike covered rectangles that shoot ink into their tank during the sunlight until the water is lead grey. At night they shrink to the size of bean pods, and sink to the bottom. Cleaning is required, so in we went.
Or rather, I went. Deni lay on the metal grill that tops the enclosure, their silver face staring into the gloom.
Wearing a bathing suit at work was odd. A breathing clip covered my nose, and Link had leant me a mouth filter. I swished my legs around in the water before jumping in, and a gloopy jelly formed a slick upon the surface. One of Nate’s bucket hung on my arm for scooping.
At first I did not risk further than a few feet under. The bottom of the pool was unknown territory, and I might as well have swum in a huge bowl of miso soup. But after a few shuttle runs the glowing lights of city revealed themselves on the other side of the glass. The moon was a guiding light above. Piles of the inhabitants lie below like sunken treasure. Something swum in circular laps inside tank 865, and it felt like we were working in synch.
Deni looked after the content of the buckets. They managed to spill a big dollop up their arm, and they waved with the gunk dripping from their hoodie. They do make me laugh.
It takes six buckets to scoop enough out, but by then the water was clear enough to see from one side to the other. Link said this should last three or four days, enough time to find a long term solution. Some of the other arrivals live off a similar substance to our harvest, so he is going to put them in 864 and see what happens. Nothing more satisfying than creating an ecosystem.
We stayed a little longer on top of the tank. Link had agreed for us to take some supplies from a vending as a treat for the unsocial hours. Deni made three runs, and brought six cans of pear ice and some seaweed crisps. They refused to use a bag.
I enjoyed a small picnic, and Deni smoked menthol cigarettes, and pushed seaweed crisps around their mouth for a laugh. One of the best meals of my life.
We were the only ones in the whole of the Stitch bar the inhabitants, and I don’t think they minded what we got up to.
How can the stars above offer more?
Clip: An unbelievable find. Another beautiful call, and real people walking around inside the building! I want to hammer my screen, and shout hello. Do they still patrol their hidden dimension?