Page 81 of The Examiner

Right, this is important. The old radio is distracting us from our coursework and final project. From here on in, it’s out of bounds. No one is to touch it. Jem and Patrick – do I have your word?

Patrick Bright

Absolutely. I get the heebie-jeebies just thinking about it.

Jem Badhuri

If Doodle had emojis, I’d put a really sad face here.

Jonathan Danners

Jem, do I have your word?

Jem Badhuri

OK then.

Jonathan Danners’ Doodle Diary, 20 February 2024:

‘The sounds I am listening to every night at first appear to be human voices conversing back and forth in a language I cannot understand. I find it difficult to imagine I am actually hearing real voices from people not of this planet. There must be a more simple explanation that has so far eluded me.’ Nikola Tesla, 1918

‘I have been at work for some time building an apparatus to see if it is possible for personalities which have left this earth to communicate with us.’ Thomas Edison in an interview in the October 1920 issue of The American Magazine

Both were working just after the First World War – a time when millions of young men had died and a generation was living with irreparable grief. At the same time technological, scientific and industrial progress were rapid.

On 14 February 2024 we heard this:

‘I’m trapped in a dark place. Please help me.’

On 15 February 2024 we heard this:

‘I’m trapped. Floating in the dark. Please save me.’

It was the same voice. But not the same words. As if the voice has one opportunity every day to broadcast its plea for help. Or perhaps it’s speaking all the time, but the atmospheric conditions are only conducive to broadcast for a minute or so per day. He sounds like he’s clutching at straws – and so are we.

Doodle message group MMAM(FTP), 20 February 2024:

Gela Nathaniel

I see you’re all busy with the salvaged components in the studio. We’ll have a catch-up meeting this morning to check everyone is happy with their tasks and discuss your long essays. Like I said, you can keep a full diary, or you can NOT keep a diary and have more work to do later in this process when you’ll also have practical work as well. The choice is yours.

Patrick Bright

Thanks, Gela. I’m firmly in the ‘keeping a diary’ camp!

Ludya Parak

Guess which camp I’m in.

Jem Badhuri

Thanks, Gela. I’m keeping a diary too.

Doodle message group [Private] Jonathan, Alyson, Jem, Patrick and Ludya, 20 February 2024:

Patrick Bright

Should we tell Gela about the radio and the voice, or not?