Malfunction

“Hell, the rain hasn’t stopped since the software took control of the machines! If we do not get this malfunction under control,….” The leader of the troops turns around and glances at him. “Ma’am?’ he said. Her mouths smirks and she replies: “Who says, it is a malfunction?” The Major looks at her, with wide open eyes: “But Ma’am, if we don’t stop it,….” She interrupts: “I know, if we do not stop it, it will get too much for the dam. And the valley will be gone, but not only that one.” “But, what about the people?” “Did you not get it, that we are in a war? There are Millions others in this country, so what are a few thousands, in comparison?” “But Ma’am, there are many children and women,…..” With her right eye, she looks at the Major, in a death-threatening way. “Have men become that weak in the last decade? Why do you care so much for these peasants?” She walks closer do him, lifting her eye patch, which reveals the plain flesh where once the left eye was. “ Do you have problems with orders, Major?” He looks at her frightened and replies, “No Ma’am.” She covers the sewn eyelid with the eye patch again and says: “Good to know.” She stares at him a few more seconds, turns around and says in a louder voice, that also others hear it. “I got clear orders! The gates do this dam, should not be opened before midnight! Should I see any of you doing otherwise, I will judge you by military order immediately, which means, we will have to make an example, to show, what it means, to act against my order!” With even a harsher voice: “AM I clear?” The soldiers in front of her are replying “Yes Ma’am”. She is walking through the rows now and continues: “Do you think, that I like what I have to do now?” A harsh “No Ma’am” comes back. “You are damn right! I am not used, to have such scary little freaks under my order, but because of my injuries I have no choice! I would also be rather somewhere else, than having to deal with whiny cadets, but someone had to do the job! Besides, we are too many people in our country and so some have to be harvested.” Now in a milder, but still certain voice: “Because we are save up here, and we still have a few hours left, I would suggest, that we all have dinner now and rest at least about 3 – 4 hours!” A “Yes Ma’am” could be heard and soon several soldiers are seen, walking to a big hall. Being in a certain position at the military, brings some benefits and so, Colonel Zhang goes outside in a little stand, with a roof, to light up a cigarette. Looking across the lake, which increases faster and faster.

Keein opens her eyes and sits straight in er bed. Outside the sun just raised over the mountains. Her heart bangs wildly and somehow she knows, that this time it was not only a dream. She puts on her morning gown as quickly as possible and runs downstairs, where she could hear her aunt int her kitchen.

Her aunt looks at her amazed and says: “Child, I never saw you so early up at weekends. I am pleased to see, that you seem to change. Keein shocks hear head. “No that has nothing to do with this.” “So?” her aunt replied. “Aunt Ai Sun I had a really bad dream and even think, that it was not a dream at all, I……” “Keein” her aunt starts, “do not try to convince me again about something, which might happen in the future. The other times it was just coexistence.” “But aunt Ai Sun, I think we are in great danger!” “Keein, are you not a bit too old for such fairy tales? Well, while you are anyways up, get dressed and help me in the garden. It is spring, there is a lot to do!” Keein tries it one more time: “But Aunt Ai Sun,…..” “Enough! Your parents in heaven will not like what you have become! Go and finish up your dressing and then come with me into the garden, without breakfast. I do not like young women, who cannot listen!”

Keein runs upstairs again.The 16-year old orphan starts to cry silently, while getting finished for the garden. Why they are all thinking she is mad? She knows, she is not, but how could she convince her aunt and the rest in the village, who are still listening more to the government? Both are working silently on a part of her aunts garden. Both are as far from each other as possible. Since 5 years she lives with her aunt, but she never have known, what she could do, that her aunt accepts, that she has a special gift. It was still morning, as the sun was getting more intense. She sees her aunt going to the bottle with water and taking some sips. As she closed it she says: “You can really feel, how this climate change gets more intense every year. You really have to watch out for your future child.” Keein, who cannot hear that words anymore is not replying at all. Her aunt continues: “So, that damn dream scares you more, than your future? Answer me!” Keein turns around and says: “You know my answer. We discussed it often enough.” “Oh yes, you believing these useless influencers, who talk about manipulation of the climate from the government. I should have never allowed you, to have access to a computer.” Keein only replies: “Do not forget, that I also need it for school.” Her aunt replies: “That Is the only reason, why you still have it. But I will have a look, what I can do to limit your access. I tell you Keein, when you do not stop with that nonsense I report you myself to the authorities and they should give you the right education. Teachers in school seem not to be, as they once were. And now continue with your work! One more word, and you will skip lunch as well!” Keein turns around and continues to work at the spot she was, while tears start to fall to the ground. What crime did she commit, to end up with someone like her aunt.

Ying realises how quiet her friend was and finally asks: “What’s wrong Keein?” Keein continues walking quietly “Did you had problems with your aunt again?” “Yes, I did.” Keein replied a bit angry. “Was it about the government again?” “Not only that.” Ying, am I really the only one, who is tired about how we have to live since so many centuries? All the rules and so on?” Ying looks at her friend and says: “You know, that we are more, who are tired of that stuff. But I also think, that the old once have it really difficult to change.” “Yes, I know, but it is not only this.” “What else happened.” Keein suddenly stops. “It’s, …because,….I.” She suddenly looks upset and sits down at a bench nearby the school. Ying says: “Get up again, otherwise we will be late to school.” Keein throws her school-bag on the ground. “I do not care anymore! I just want to be away from here.” “And what you want to do?” Ying asks. “I am not sure yet, but this is not, what I want to continue. It feels like a wasted time.” Ying looks sad at her friend. “What is it, that you hold back?” “It is one of my dreams I had.” Ying paid more attention. “Dream?” “Yes, you know those weird once, where I have the feeling it has to do with an event in the future.” “Alright and what was it?” “It was a dream about our dam.” “The dam? I don’t get it.” “Well, something tells me, that in the near future, there might be an issue.” Ying looks at first at her friend and then she follows her friend looks to the distance at the left hand side, where at the mountain a part of the great dam was seen. “Did you tell your aunt?” “Yes, but she says, that I should stop believing fairy tales.” “But you could already help with your gift.” “I said that as well, but she only replied, that it would be a coexistence.” “Oh I see.” Ying replied. Soon a bike stops next to them and a woman says: “Girls, what are you still doing out here?” Keein stands up and both are saying. “Mrs. Chen.” And Keein continue: “Well, we are,….” The young woman on the bike starts to smile. “You are not so keen of going to school today?” Keein feels caught and looks at the ground. The young woman laughs. “Listen girls. I can give you a day, but latest tomorrow you have to go to school again.” “But how is that possible?” I will fill some forms and give it to the principle, that you were looking for a school type, which fits you more. In your year, it is possible to do so, but it is limited. So when I do that, you have only 4 such days left. “But what happens when they ask?” The young woman now just bushes the bike while walking and talking to the girls. “Just pick a school-type or company you think you would like and do some research. Did you forget, that a lot of things can be found at the internet today?” “Oh god! You are right, that was really a stupid question.” “Don’t worry.” “But why are you helping us?’ “Well, I am only in my mid-twenties and sometimes I am tired myself of the structure we have in our country.” Mrs. Chen sees how one of the girls is lightning way more up. “Oh, I never thought about that, thank you so much.” “You are welcome, just give me quickly your names and the rest I will find in your files.” The normal sized girl says: “I am Keein Lai” while the tall one says, that her name would be Ying Gao. Mrs. Chen looks at her watch and says: “Oh my gosh, I really have to hurry up otherwise I am late myself.” Looking to Keein, “use your day wisely.” After this she was on her bike again and drives very fast on. The girls look at each other and start to laugh, but soon they look at each other and Ying says: “But does that mean, we have to run around all they with this school-bags and without food?” Keein looks at her watch and says with a smile: “we do not have to. You still have some cloth from your last visit at my place and well, my aunt isn’t at home at that time. I also have some money in my drawer.” Now also Ying is lightning up and so both are going quickly into Keein’s home. They change their cloth and leave the house again.

At an IT building somewhere at the military base a woman with an eye patch takes over a large envelope. While handing it over the guy says: “Colonel Zhang. In this envelope you have the program for the software as well as the instruction how and where to install it. This heat wave is way too long and we need to clear the valley fast. Can you do that?” With a military gesture “Yes, Major General Wang.” “Good. Dismissed!” The Colonel turns around and leaves the room.

In a mall at a restaurant. “Ah, cousin. I was wondering were you where?” He gets up, to help his cousin with her seat. He sits down again and says: “You look worried.” “I am worried”, Ai Sun replies. “What about?” “Keein. I do not know anymore, what to do with her. She often comes along with the strangest things and for all, she is heaving dreams and because some coexistence happened, which were like in her dreams, she thinks she is a side-kick or something. I am really worried about her mental health and I am thinking of getting help at a therapist.” The waitress comes to take their order. Jing waits until the waitress leaves and says then to Ai. “Why you think in that way?” She looks at him worried and says: ‘Do your really believe that? I really think that the trauma of being an orphan got into her way. She also starts to have bad marks at school. If she is going on like that, she will fail.” “Well, did you ever think about it, that this school might not be the right one?” “But she did so well at the exams to get into that one.” “Ai Sun, that does not mean, that she still likes it, or that she ever liked it at all. Maybe she wants to do something else. And well, about those dreams,….” Meanwhile the waitress is back with their order and Jing waits until she leaves again. “…did you ever thought about, that it might be possible?” Ai sun only stares a few seconds at her cousin, before she continuous to eat and says: “Now you also lost your mind!” Jing just looks at her and shakes his head. “No I mean it serious.” “We are living in the 21 century not in the Shan-Dynasty!” “Cousin, but now you go a very long way back.” “That was the time when the myths are starting.” “Yes, but who says that certain dreams are a myth?” “Stop that nonsense!” “Did you forget, that some relatives could already do that?” “Oh come on now! This was already a century ago. And who said, that this was real!!” “Why you are so against the old knowledge?” “That is not a knowledge and now, let us pay, because I have enough of this nonsense!” Jing lets the waitress know, that they want to pay. As always, he pays for both. He knows, that his cousin is not fond of the new upcoming spirituality and is totally stubborn, to even change her views slightly.

As they leave the mall, some Military-vehicles passed by. These vehicles are going into the direction of the dam and further down the road, they bow left into a side-street, where the girls just went along. Keein stopped and looked stunned at the first vehicles. Ying looks at Keein and says: “what’s up?’ Keein replies: “We have to find out, where those vehicles are going.”. “Why?” Ying asks. “Because I had a dream, where Military was involved and it was not a good one.” Ying only looks stunned at Keein, who was already running down the road. Ying starts to run herself and due to her hight, she was very fast at Keein’s side again. “What was happening in that dream?” Keein stopped shortly and said: “Well, they did something, that it starts to rain and the dam might break.” Ying looks up the mountain and says: “but that means,….” “That means, all this will be gone Ying. We do not have any time to lose.” And Keein was running again, but soon realises, that the vehicles are already too far away. “Ying, let’s take the bus.” “the bus?” “Yes! Here, the 108 is already pulling up!” Both are just catching the bus, before it starts its engine again. “But Keein, we will never be able, to go nearby.” “No, we want, but we will see, if these vehicles will drive up the road to the dam.” Ying nods with her head and replies: “you are right.” Soon the bus takes the street, where you can get a glance to the mountain and there they are. All vehicles are going up. Both are taking out there phones and pretend to make a selfie, while they actually film the vehicles going uphill.

In an office up at the dam, the supervisor of the current group hangs up the phone and looks to his colleague, who asks: “What’s wrong Sir?” “The military is on its way. It just passed the barrier down at the hill, they will be up in about 5 – 10 Minutes” The colleague just looks stunned at the supervisor. “I will go to the entrance and have a look, what they want.”

As the employee of the dam opens the door of the entrance of the building, one of the vehicles stops already in front of him. A woman with an Eye patch steps out of the car and walks to him. “Sir, I suppose, you are in charge here?” “Yes Ma’am. until the evening, when my colleagues takes over for the night shift. “Can you call him? I fear you have to take over his shift! I spoke already with the authority of this company, he knows about this plans!” He looks amazed, but soon says: “Yes, of course Ma’am.” He wanted to turn around and leave as Colonel Zhang says: “This can wait a few minutes longer!” “Ma’am” “Can you please lead me to the commend centre of this building? I have some software, with I have to install!” “Of course Ma’am! If you please follow me?” And he turns around, while Colonel Zhang, a Major and some soldiers are following him through a long corridor to an elevator. All are getting in and go up to the 2^nd floor, where they are ending up at the commend centre shortly after leaving the elevator. As they were all in the room the Colonel went in the centre of the room. “Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention please?” All are heading to her. “I have an order from Major General Wang, to install a new software in the system, to have a better connection with the new satellite. Remove from your working place and leave the room. We talked to your boss and he is alright, that you are leaving your work-place earlier!” The colleagues look at each other in a faint hearted way. “Ladies and Gentlemen I can assume you, it is alright. There will be no consequences! At the moment we need in here only the supervisor, to give him further constructions.” In a mess they thank the military woman and leave the room. Colonel Zhang waited, until the last civilian, who has to leave, was gone. To the supervisor she says: “Mr. Liu. The software is something which should not be known by a civilian. Go and have a break, you will need it. Meanwhile my men will install what we need.” “Yes Ma’am” the supervisor says and leaves the room.

As soon as the girls left the bus, they ran to Keeins home. Keein saw at the bike, that her Aunt is back home. She opens the door and ran immediately at the back of the house to the garden. Aunt Ai Sun,…. Her aunt looks at her up and down and asks: “How the hell is it possible, that you do not wear your school uniform?” She also sees now Ying. “You as well? Do your parents know, that you are not at school?” Keein answers quickly: “Aunt Ai Sun, you know that we are now in the class, where we have do decide, how we want continue?” Her aunt nods with her head. “Did they not tell you, that we have 5 days in that year, where we can take off a day and explore something, we maybe want to do, when that year is finished?” Her aunt gets now up and looks at Keein and in a friendlier way she replies: “Oh, yes, I remember that. So you had a look at a further school?” “Yes, we have, but I have to show you something else.” “Something else?” “Yes aunt Ai Sun. We took the 108 line and as we passed the road to the dam, we saw a lot of military vehicles.” “And?” Keein takes a few second, but says then: “I think we are in great danger.” “And how you know that?” “Well, you remember that morning? The dream?” Her Aunt gets Angry again: “Don’t start with that nonsense again!...” The doorbell interrupts her. She looks at Keein and says: “We are not finished lady!” And rushes to the door. Her Cousin stood there with her burse in his hands. “You lost that cousin and because you were so angry,….” “My burse!” He looks down the hall and says: “Keein? I did not expect you here. What’s wrong?” “Ah, she started again with that dream.” Jing looks at Ai Sun and says: “Why we do not have a cup of tea and Keein can explain, what she dreamed. What you think.” Keeins aunt felt, that she is outnumbered and so she goes with a sight into the kitchen to turn on the cattle. Keein was already setting the tables, with cups, but also some little tea-cakes. After Jing took a long sip he looks at Keein and says: “Now tell us, what was your dream?” “Well, I was dreaming, that the military was up at the dam and did something, that the dam bursted, which turned into a flooded valley. Our flooded valley.” Ai Sun looks at Keein and says: “How should this be possible, after it did not rain for several days? You are ridiculous!” “Well through manipulation.” “Not again that part,…..” Jing interrupts and says: “No cousin, I heard about that as well. I heard that the government is able to do this.” “Great! Now 2 of you lost their minds!” Ying was very quiet until now.. “No, three, because I heard that too.” “People. Please!” Jing took his phone out, and typed a while on it, then he handed it over to Keeins’ aunt with the words: “please read.” She takes it over and starts to read, what she found there. As she was finished she was like: “if that is true, than,…..” He nods, “than it could happen, what Keein dreamed about.” “But what we can do now? If we suddenly leave, they will realise it!” “For all, we might not have the time what we would need I fear.” Keein says. “Does this meen, we are dying?’ Ying throws in in a thin voice. “It’s not over now.” Jing replies. Keein looks at Ying and asks: “What about your boyfriend?” Ying looks amazed “My boyfriend?” “Yes, Huang Guo. Is he still into IT?” “He is not my boyfriend!” “Well at least you have a crush at him.” “Keein!” “Is he still in this nerd-group?” “Yes he is” Ying replies. “Please, they have to try it!” Meanwhile Ai Sun went into the kitchen to get more tea. You can hear as she says: “Oh, it finally starts to rain!” Soon lightning strikes and the rain gets more and more heavy. Ying and Keein are in Keein’s room, where she explained her dream to Huang and his group some laughter was heard: “Please, you have to help us!” “Alright, but we do it more, because we need a challenge, not because I believe you.” “I do not care, why you do it, but it is the last hope we have.” “Alright, alright.” Huang says. “And you really saw them going up to the dam?” “Yes, for Christ sake!” “Wait” Ying says: I will send you the clip, then you see it yourself. Shortly after you hear a “Damn, you really got them. You are right, that is a part of the military. Alright, we take the challenge, but only, because we are further away, then you might think.” “Huang I do not care, we have hardly time left. I only do not know, how and what you might do.” “Don’t worry, sometimes they use not too complicated programs. They got a bit sloppy in the last years, because they think, no one might try to get into their system. You will know it, if we have succeed. Wish us luck.” The girls had no time to say goodbye. The thunder and for all the rain increased already. Keein looks outside at her window and says: “This is the first time, that my dream seem to get real soon.” Ying stays silent, but soon dials again a number: “Mum? Oh god I am glad to hear you. I am with Keein. The rain is so hard. I would like to come,…” “yes I know mum, I will stay with her than. I love you.” She hangs up and starts to cry. Keein goes to her to comfort her.

Jing and Keeins aunt are sitting in the kitchen and Jing, shows his cousin one video after another. Ai Sun looks shocked and mentions: “Why I never realised certain things before?” “I think, you are only used to the traditional way Ai Sun.” “I fear you are right. I see now, that I was too strickt with Keein and that she was more right, than I imagined. But is it not dangerous to watch this stuff? How are you able to get it anyways?” “There are some guys in an underground organisation. They are all leaving outside of China, but they were sick of that regime and tried to change something. As they found out, that they got a bit sloppy, when it comes down to software systems, they started what they call, the digital revolution. They made an alternative platform, where they also upload news and information you find outside of China. These information’s are expiring automatically after 48 hours. They are also in several different countries and each day it is another one of the rebellions, who does this, so it is hard to track them down, even with the best systems.” Ai sun looks at Jing and says: “they are keen youngsters.” “Well”, he replies “they had enough of crawling for the government. They said hundreds of years, of being in such a system, is enough now.” “Actually they are right.” Jing only nods and Ai Sun has a look at the next information.

At the command centre the Major just mentions to Colonel Zhang:

“Hell, the rain hasn’t stopped since the software took control of the machines! If we do not get this malfunction under control,….” The leader of the troops turns around and glances at him. “Ma’am?’ he said. Her mouths smirks and she replies: “Who says, it is a malfunction?” The Major looks at her, with wide open eyes: “But Ma’am, if we don’t stop it,….” She interrupts: “I know, if we do not stop it, it will get too much for the dam. And the valley will be gone, but not only that one.” “But, what about the people?” “Did you not get it, that we are in a war? There are Millions others in this country, so what are a few thousands, in comparison?” “But Ma’am, there are many children and women,…..” With her right eye, she looks at the Major, in a death-threatening way. “Have men become that weak in the last decade? Why do you care so much for these peasants?” She walks closer do him, lifting her eye patch, which reveals the plain flesh where once the left eye was. “ Do you have problems with orders, Major?” He looks at her frightened and replies, “No Ma’am.” She covers the sewn eyelid with the eye patch again and says: “Good to know.” She stares at him a few more seconds, turns around and says in a louder voice, that also others hear it. “I got clear orders! The gates do this dam, should not be opened before midnight! Should I see any of you doing otherwise, I will judge you by military order immediately, which means, we will have to make an example, to show, what it means, to act against my order!” With even a harsher voice: “AM I clear?” The soldiers in front of her are replying “Yes Ma’am”. She is walking through the rows now and continues: “Do you think, that I like what I have to do now?” A harsh “No Ma’am” comes back. “You are damn right! I am not used, to have such scary little freaks under my order, but because of my injuries I have no choice! I would also be rather somewhere else, than having to deal with whiny cadets, but someone had to do the job! Besides, we are too many people in our country and so some have to be harvested.” Now in a milder, but still certain voice: “Because we are save up here, and we still have a few ours left, I would suggest, that we all have dinner now and rest at least about 3 – 4 hours!” A “Yes Ma’am” could be heard and soon several soldiers are seen, walking to a big hall. Being in a certain position at the military, brings some benefits and so, Colonel Zhang goes outside in a little stand, with a roof, to light up a cigarette. Looking across the lake, which increases faster it’s level as suddenly, the raindrops were getting smaller and less. General Zhang finished her cigarette and thought, that it is only a little pause, before it starts to rain harder again. She is not worried at all and walks now into an office with a sofa and takes a nap. She did not realise, that she had no signal in that area of the building and so she got the message of a missed phone call as she left that office. Before she could press the call back button, the phone rang again. She picks up and before she could answer she only hears: “How did that damn rain stop General Zhang?” “Major General Wang?” “General Zhang! Are you out of your mind?” Now yelling at her “Of course it is me!” “Sir, my apology sir. I was just at an office, taking a nap….. “Taking a nap?” “What is going on up there? I gave you this mission, because I was convinced, that you were the best person for it, but now I have to admit, that I might have been wrong!” “No, Major General Wang.” She runs already, so good she could with the leg, which had an old injury. “I will be soon back at the commend centre and will know, what happened.” “Call me, when you know more!” Without waiting for an answer the Major General hangs up. The General curses: “Damn it!”. Soon she arrives at the commend centre and while walking in, she yells already: “What the hell happened?” Some guys are typing some coordinates into their pc. “Major!” “Ma’am, I really do not know what happened. It seems like, that the software gave in.” “How certain are you about that?” “Very Ma’am”. “And you are sure, that there is no other way?” He shakes with his head. “Alright! Well, than I will inform Major General Wang.” She turns around and dials the number while walking. The Major gives a text in old traditional “longform” of the Chinese writing into his Laptop and send the message to the rebellions, who he is the secret head of.