Chapter Five

29 February 3160

Which Log would you like to view?

 

[1] Opening Day – February 20th, 3160 [2] Day Two – February 21st, 3160 [3] Day Three – February 22nd, 3160 [4] Day Four – February 23rd, 3160 [5] Day Ten – February 29th, 3160 [6] Day Fifteen – March 5th, 3160 [7] Day Thirty-One – March 21st, 3160 [8] Problem – June 3rd, 3160 [9] One Year! – March 1st, 3161 [10] Evelyn – April 19th, 3161 [11] Two Years! – March 1st, 3162 [12] Three Years – March 1st, 3163 [13] Engine Shutdown – October 28th, 3163 [14] Technical Issues – December 24th, 3163 [15] Four Years – February 29th, 3164 [16] Celebration – March 15th, 3164 [17] Disease – July 30th, 3164 [18] Revelation – September 23rd, 3164 [19] Deaths – December 31st, 3164 [20] Five Years – March 1st, 3165 [21] Last Log – April 3rd, 3165

 

Accessing Day Ten – February 29^th, 3160

 

This time, Smith looks somewhat disheveled. His clothes, usually pressed, are somewhat rumpled, and he looks tired. On top of everything, he has a shadow that suggests he didn’t shave this morning. “This is it,” he starts out, “the point of no return. 

“Today is the day that Sol gets in range, and the Ozone layer will be burnt away. Everyone outside will become radiated, and die within days, if not hours. I don’t think I got any sleep last night. Eve isn’t too happy with me. I just can’t help it. I’ve thought about every angle; how we could fit just a few more people here or there. Nothing works. We calculated everything precisely when we built the place; nothing can be changed without putting major stress on the structure.

“Not only that, but we can’t fit more people in here. We took into account the possibility of pregnancies, and how children will need space as well. Optimum population cap… it means that, judging by the human species’ manner in reproduction, consumption and outputting of resources, and other, more in-depth statistics, we can produce an amount of space that is good for a certain number of people, and whatever might happen is accounted for. Deaths and births are population control, and are also accounted for.

“That isn’t the point, though. The point is that we’ve done everything we can, and I’m just disappointed that I can’t do more.

“A lot has happened since the last time I put a log in. I thought that it would just degenerate into boring rants over technical things like our soil and water readings. Luckily, there’s quite a bit more than that at this point. I’ve been speaking with some of the residents of Oasis, mostly Drea and Dr. Kearney. 

“Drea introduced me to Veond. He seemed to be a decent guy. Blonde, messy hair, sarcastic wit: he was definitely a novelist. Really cared for her, too. I could see that in his eyes, along with the way he spoke of her. I remember being like that, back before Eve and I got married. We’re still in love, but at first, it’s always so fresh and exciting. They’ll be just fine.

“They didn’t get one of the homes, but are living in one of the larger residence halls, and have a fairly large suite to themselves. Drea gave me a tour two days ago and showed me what she’s done with the place. It seems that, except for a sleeping area and a study –no doubt Veond’s-, it’s a legitimate art studio.”

He grins to himself, looking better now that he’s distracted. “She was doing a portrait of me. I looked quite regal, almost like a king. I hope that’s not how they start viewing me. I’m merely protecting them; I don’t want to control their lives. Still, I’ll take what comes.

“The study was interesting. A word processor unit, which I had expected, was not the only thing he worked with. I saw pencils and paper – things that, to the extent of my knowledge, haven’t been used for centuries. There were all sorts of scribbles and writings in various languages, as well as sketches of people. It seems he’s not a shabby artist himself. They also had a piano, an old upright. The two almost seem to be antique collectors. It’s amazing, the amount of world culture they’re preserving without even meaning to.

“Anyway,” he says, shaking his head, “I didn’t just spend all my time over at their home. Eve and I went to Dr. Kearney’s church on Sunday. He spoke to the entire crowd, preaching about how we can only pray for those outside. In our hearts and minds, they’ll live on, and God will make sure that their pain is limited as they die outside. He gave us this chance, and Dr. Kearney implored us to make the most of it.

“He’s an amazing guy. Took what everyone was thinking –including myself- and turned it right around. Instead of feeling sorry for our families and moping around, as I’ve been doing, we should keep ourselves alive, and look out for each other. We’re one large family, he said. In an awkwardly idealistic sense, I can see what he means, and the man knows what he’s talking about.

“The evils of the world aren’t going to go away with the purging of the outside. For all I know, we have a couple ex-cons in here. Of course, I’m sure that they won’t do anything. What could they do? There’s no money system, so stealing, robbing, mugging, holding up shopping areas… it’s useless. Also, everyone’s going to have to know everyone after a while. Two thousand people might be a lot, but it’s not large enough to keep to yourself for very long.

A buzzer on Smith’s desk goes off. “Sir, could you please come outside for a moment? We have a bit of an issue we’d like your insight on.”

            “Yes, just a second,” he replies. “I’ll continue this broadcast in just a moment.” The camera goes dim as it enters standby mode.

            Apparently, he edits the content afterwards because, almost immediately, he’s back. “Alright, back to business. It seems that a couple people would like to meet with me, but I told them to come back in an hour or so, so that I can get this log up onto the mainframe and ready. It’s more of a journal than a worklog, I suppose, but I believe that it is important, so that future generations in Oasis can see how it all started.

            “Actually, I can go ahead and wrap this one up. It’ll probably be a few days before I am able to put up another transmission. Now that the locks have been sealed, business is really going to pick up. I’ll keep updating, though. Fifth transmission over.”

 

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Reviews

[Yana Larson]

In this log, Adam Smith reveals the heavy emotional toll of the situation as the inhabitants of Oasis reach a critical point in their survival. The incoming solar event is described as the "point of no return," where the outside world will become uninhabitable, and the residents of Oasis must come to terms with the fact that they are essentially sealed off from the rest of humanity. The pressure is mounting, and Smith is clearly struggling with the limitations of what he can do to help others, especially when it comes to space and resources. His frustration is palpable as he admits that, despite his best efforts, there’s no way to accommodate more people.

The shift from technical details to personal reflections is evident in this entry. Smith talks about his conversations with the residents, such as Dreaxanla and Veond, which serve as a reminder that Oasis is not just a refuge but also a place where lives are being lived—where art, relationships, and human culture are still flourishing, despite the dire circumstances. His description of their art studio and the preservation of old-world culture is a nice contrast to the otherwise bleak situation. There's a sense of bittersweet nostalgia in these moments, as people try to hold on to what remains of the world before the solar event.

Smith also mentions Dr. Kearney’s sermon, which helps shift the mood from despair to resilience. Kearney’s message encourages the inhabitants to focus on each other and make the most of their new life in Oasis, which helps Smith, and perhaps the readers, move past the overwhelming sadness of the outside world’s destruction. The idea of Oasis as a "family" reinforces the community spirit needed to survive in such an isolated environment.

However, the log also highlights some of the internal tension Smith is feeling. His brief distraction with his personal life, including his interactions with Evelyn and his contemplation of the future, gives a glimpse of the psychological strain he's under. The pressure of leadership and the weight of ensuring the survival of the community are clearly wearing on him.

The log concludes with Smith's acknowledgment that the real work is about to begin now that the “locks” are sealed and the outside world is effectively closed off to them. This is a turning point, marking the beginning of a new era for the residents of Oasis.