The Bromeliad 1 - Truckers

11

Run to the Lifts Lifts, won't you carry me? Run to the Walls, Walls, won't you hide me? Run to the Lorry, Lorry, won't you take me? All on that Day.

From The Book of Nome, Exits Chap. 1, v.I It started with silence when there should have been noise. All the nomes were used to the dis­tant thumping and murmuring of the humans during the long daylight hours, so they didn't notice it. Now it was gone they could hear the strange, oppressive silence. There were days, of course, when humans didn't come into the Store for instance, Arnold Bros (est. 1905) sometimes allowed them almost a week off between the excitement of Christmas Fayre and the hurly­burly of Winter Sale Starts Today! But the nomes were used to this, it was part of the gentle rhythm of Store life. This wasn't the right day.

After several hours of silence they just stopped telling one another not to worry, it was probably just some special day or something, like that time when the Store had shut for a week for redec­oration, and one or two of the braver or more inquisitive ones risked a quick glance above floor level.

Emptiness stretched away between the familiar counters. And there didn't seem to be much stock around.

'It's always like this after a Sale,' they said. 'And then, before you know where you are, all the shelves are filled up again. Nothing to get upset about at all. It's all part of Arnold Bros (est. 1905)'s great plan.' And they sat in silence, or hummed a little tune, or found something to occupy their minds, to stop thinking unpleasant thoughts. It didn't work.

And then, when the humans came in and started taking the few things that were left off the shelves and counters, and piling them in great boxes and taking them down to the garage and loading them on to the lorries...

And started taking up the floorboards...

Masklin awoke. People were prodding him. Somewhere in the distance other people were shouting. It was somehow familiar.

'Get up, quickly!' said Gurder.

What's happening?' said Masklin, yawning.

'Humans are taking the Store to bits!' Masklin sat bolt upright.

'They can't be! It's not time!' he said.

'They're doing it just the same!' Masklin stood up, struggling into his clothes. He jigged sideways across the floor, one leg out of his trousers, and thumped the Thing.

'Hey!' he said 'You said the demolition wasn't for ages yet!' 'Fourteen days,' said the Thing 'It's starting now!' 'This is probably the removal of remaining stock to new premises, and preliminary works,' said the Thing.

'Oh, good. That should make everyone feel a lot better. Why didn't you tell us?' '1 was not aware you did not know.' 'Well, we didn't. So what do you suggest we. do now?' 'Leave as soon as possible.' Masklin snarled. He bad expected two more weeks to solve all the problems. They could have stockpiled stuff to take with them. They could: have made proper plans. Even two weeks was hardly long enough. Now even the thought of one week was a luxury.

He went out into the milling, disorganized crowd. Fortunately the boards hadn't been taken up in an inhabited area - some of the more sensible refugees said that only a few had been taken up in the far end of the Gardening Department, so the humans could get at the water pipes but nomes living nearby were taking no chances.

There was a thump overhead. A few minutes later a breathless nome arrived and reported that the carpets were being rolled up and taken away.

That caused a terrified silence. Masklin realized that they were all looking at him.

'Er,' he said.

Then he said, 'I think everyone ought to get as much food as they can carry and go down to the basement, near to the garage.' 'You mean you still think we should do it?' said Gurder.

We haven't much choice, have we?' 'But we were - you said we should take as much as we could from the Store, all the wire and tools and things. And books,' said Gurder.

We'll be lucky if we can just take ourselves. There's no time!' Another messenger came running up. It was one of Dorcas's group. He whispered something to Masklin, who gave a strange smile.

'Can it be that Arnold Bros (est. 1905) has abandoned us in our hour of need?' said Gurder.

'I don't think so. He may be helping us,' said Masklin. 'Because, well, you'll never guess where the humans are putting all this stuff...'