The Prophecy Chapter 4

Marijam stuffed four old ripon tunics into the overnight case. She picked up the pretty pearl and gold jewellery box her aunt had given her. That, with other bits and pieces her aunt and grandmother had given her might be more useful as currency in the Z Zone than Terrestra credits, until she managed to get a false credit account.

She had briefly also thought about trying to make her way to the Citadel, where the Elders lived. She had heard rumours that they could be kind, and they would often help Normal Zoners who got in to some sort of trouble. But she had no idea how to get there. That would have meant delving into even more of the Hidden Information. At least she knew where the Z Zone was. Somehow, she thought, that was just as well. She deserved the poverty of the Z Zone more than the luxury of the Citadel.

She obstinately refused to let Louish help her with the packing. She said she wanted to get her thoughts straight about the Northern Lights Project. Louish had been taken in.

Neither of her parents mentioned Gabrizan’s disappearance again, nor how pale she looked. Oddly enough, over the last day or two, the nausea had all but disappeared. Just a hint of it now and then. Perhaps it was the shock.

Well, she was dressed smartly enough for a science project interview. She was wearing a  newer, plain tunic. She washed her hair carefully and some of the shine came back. She didn’t look too bad in the mirror, even though she still felt completely drained.

Better keep up appearances, she told herself.

The pearl necklace her grandmother left her bought her some Hidden Information. If anyone found out, she would probably have to go to prison for the rest of her life. She shuddered when she thought of her meeting with the Ambassador, as he called himself. She would have sworn he was actually a Z Zoner, but one who spent an awful lot of time in the Normal Zones. He’d been so easy to find, too. Well, she’d known all along that some of the other kids in her social group sometimes accessed Hidden Information just for a bit of a laugh.

But it was nothing to laugh about. What she found out sickened her. She was almost grateful to the authorities for keeping that sort of information hidden. She had just two choices. She could give birth to the baby. That would be painful and could even kill her. Or she could get rid of it. That wouldn’t be all that pleasant either and was just as risky.

Both meant disappearing into the Z Zone. No-one in the Normal Zones would help with either. She would go there to get the help of the Z Zoners in delivering her baby, not in getting rid of it. It was Gabrizan’s baby. This would forever change her way of life and there would be no going back.

Marijam shivered as she thought of the Z Zone. She had found out more about it from the Hidden Information. She had already known that people who could no longer live in ordinary society were sent there. Until she’d got the Hidden Information, though, she had not known that Z Zoners did not have enough food, light and clothing. She had not realised that they had few dataserves and that any technology they did have was years out of date. The only concession they had to modern Terrestran life was a completely normal diastic system. The population there was getting thinner - maybe one day it would die out altogether. Would it though? she asked herself. Wouldn’t there always be misfits who needed hiding away?  She flinched as she remembered what she had found out about birth control in the Z Zone. They had a full Stopes programme going on there. Not even Z Zoners got pregnant these days. But they also rarely made it to the hundred years and switch-off. They didn’t die of illness. They became tired, literally worn out, or they starved. They did die, the old way, and the average age for death was forty-five.

Marijam bit her lip when she remembered what it had been like getting that Hidden Information. No wonder they kept all of this from normal people. It was horrific.

Marijam looked around the room which had been hers for as long as she could remember. She had just a little more space in her bag. What else should she take? Then she saw it. Another gift from her grandmother. Oma had given it to her on her switch-off day. It was a book, a children’s picture book. Most stories were told in super-four vision these days, but this antique was beautiful. She found it hard to decipher the old-fashioned text.  She knew the story off by heart, though, and she loved the pictures. She quickly flicked through the finely detailed paintings of the tower leading up to the sky. She loved the puzzled expressions of the people who found that they could not understand each other after they had tried to reach God.

Marijam heard her parents in the entrance hall to the apartment.

‘Are you coming?’ called Louish.

‘You go ahead, I’ll catch you up later,’ replied Marijam, trying not to let her voice tremble. It was really scary to think that she would never see her parents again.

The vacuum doors closed. Marijam stuffed the book into her bag. She took one last look around her room.

‘I’m sorry, Mum, Dad,’ she whispered.  She thought about what might happen to her father after she had left. Would they allow him to carry on as a service head, if he couldn’t even deal with his own daughter? Just as well that he didn’t know why she had left.

Then she too walked out of the apartment.

The lifts to the surface had long queues to them. People chatted excitedly and jostled one another to get to the front of the queue. They won’t half feel dizzy, thought Marijam, when that real air hits them.

She decided it would be easier to get to the Z Zone across the top. The tunnels were so complicated underground. Many of them were blocked where roofs had caved in. The authorities had decided not to repair them. They didn’t particularly want Z Zoners mixing with ordinary people.

I hope they’re not going to spoil everything, she thought. It wasn’t going to be the same with everyone else sharing the outdoors. Oh, it wasn’t going to be the same without Gabrizan.

The lift stopped. A door had been set into the tube which went across the surface. People streamed out. Marijam enjoyed for a few seconds the thrill of breathing real air. But she was used to it, unlike the people around her. They looked dazed. Some clung on to pieces of rock. Others sat down on the ground. One or two were taking great gulps of air. Some medical workers walked about.

‘Don’t breathe too fast,’ they advised. ‘Don’t stay more than ten minutes. You’re not used to the changing temperatures or the natural mix of air.’

‘Isn’t this something?’ Marijam heard one woman say. ‘I’m so glad it’s happened in our life time.’

‘It’s a miracle,’ replied the man at her side.

Marijam put her hand to her tummy. I suppose this is a miracle as well, she thought. Only I think I’m off miracles.

Someone suddenly tapped her arm. She jumped.

‘It’s amazing, isn’t it?’ said a too familiar voice.

Marijam turned to see Ponty Davidson. ‘Yes,’ she replied, ‘though it makes you feel funny, doesn’t it?’ I hope he can’t see I’m already used to it, she thought.

‘Will you walk a little way with me?’ asked Ponty. His breathing became shallow.

‘I, er I think,’ stammered Marijam. ‘I think I need to go back in. I’ve already been out quite a while.’

She walked away from him, back towards the opening in the tube. She stopped at the entrance and turned to see what he was doing. He staggered a little and one of the medical workers came up to him. She watched him sit down as two of the medics now spoke to him. Then, his head was down between his knees. It was safe for her to go now. He would not see her.

She set off again. She went behind Ponty and the two medical workers. He was recovering. She must hurry. She quickened her step.

‘Marijam,’ she heard Ponty call. ‘Where are you going?’

She pretended not to hear. She walked faster and faster until she was almost running. The ground became rougher. She would have to be careful. But she didn’t stop until she could no longer hear the crowds. She turned once more to look. No one was following and most people seemed to be making their way back to the open tube.

She sat on a rock at the side of what was left of the road. She took out the map she had got from the Hidden Information. This was scary, oh so scary. I need to go south she thought. She looked up at the sun. It was high in the sky and straight ahead. One of the old twenty-third century roads could still just about be seen.

Well, this is it, she thought. She lifted her bag on to her back. She couldn’t walk too quickly across Terrestra’s broken surface. Yes, she was following the old E723 Super Highway. There were bumps and cracks everywhere and places where there was no road left, only a patch of mud. Sometimes the road had caved in completely and Marijam had to climb in and out of a huge hole.

You never know, she thought. This might hurt the baby and then there might not be a problem anymore. Then she felt ashamed of thinking that. After all, this was Gabrizan’s child who was growing inside her.

A couple of times she sat down to rest. She was able to use the mini compu to tell her the direction. She knew, though, that soon she would be in the area which was not mapped by Standard Information.

Then one time she sat down and pressed the button on the mini compu. The screen was completely blank.

That’s it then, she thought. I’m on my own now.

The sun was beginning to set. Marijam studied the map again. The Logan cave must be another couple of kilometres from here. Then she would be in the Z Zone.

Marijam felt as if her heart and her stomach were chasing each other as she trudged along those last two kilometres. Once she went into that cave, there would be no going back. She could still change her mind now and go home. Explain everything to her parents. Surely her father would find a way out? No. It would ruin his career as well. Better this way.

It was completely dark by the time she arrived at the cave. A faint pink glow came from the entrance. Marijam could hear a soft noise. Was it their old mechanical machinery? Were they managing better now that the surface air was breathable again?

Marijam followed the tunnel which led down underground. She could see where the pink glow came from. The pathway was lit with strange burning lights. She supposed it was some sort of gas. There had been nothing about that in the Hidden Information.

It was cold in the caves. The ground was uneven, not like the solid floors of the normal zones. It was mainly made of dirt, with some bits of natural rock here and there. She suddenly remembered her first climb to the surface with Gabrizan. The path to the exit had been just like this. A pain that was almost physical shot through her as she thought of Gabrizan. Then something else happened. Her womb seemed to contract. Then there was a real pain.

I’m going to lose it, she thought. I shouldn’t have done this.

The pain stopped almost immediately. There was a strange tickling sort of feeling, like tummy butterflies, but a little lower down.

‘You’re moving,’ Marijam whispered as she put her hand over her stomach.  Gabrizan’s child was moving. So this had been the right thing to do.

The noise of the machinery grew louder. Marijam could also hear people’s voices. Her heart started crashing into her ribs now.

‘Sorry, baby,’ she muttered. ‘I don’t want to scare you, but I’m terrified.’

Marijam heard a sudden movement at the side of her.

‘Hey, what’s this then?’ a gritty voice rasped.

A gloomy figure stepped into Marijam’s path. The smell was the worst. She found it hard not to vomit again. This was what the unwashed must smell like, something she had never experienced before.

‘What do you want, then, little rich girl?’ snarled the man, wiping his hand on the dirty torn tunic.

A second figure came forward out of the shadows. This time it was a younger man. He was just as dirty as the first, and his brown tunic was made of the same rough looking material. But he didn’t seem to smell quite so much. His face looked a bit kinder too.

Marijam could not move. She wanted to run, but she could not get her legs to do what  she asked them. Even if they had moved, she knew she would not be able to get far. She was too tired.

‘Well?’ asked the first man, grabbing Marijam’s arm so hard that she could already feel the bruise forming. ‘Why have you come here? Running away from something are you?’

‘Look, I’ve got some things you can have,’ stammered Marijam, pointing to her bag which was beginning to slip from her shoulders, ‘if you’ll let me stay.’

‘Go on then, get it open!’ shouted the first man, pulling the bag away from her and gesturing to the younger man.

The younger man took the bag and began to empty its contents on to the cave floor.

‘You won’t be needing those here,’ commented the older man, as the younger one piled up the few tunics she had brought with her.

‘No, you’ll be much too cold,’ said the younger man more kindly.

‘That’ll do!’ cried the other man. He snatched the jewellery box.

‘Hey, wait a minute, Franck!’ cried the younger man.  ‘Take a look at this.’ He was holding the picture book. His rough hands were thumbing through the pictures.

‘My God!’ replied Franck. He also now started pawing at the book. ‘Does this mean…?’

The younger man nodded.

Marijam wanted to scream out to him to be careful. How dare such a brute touch her precious book.

Franck’ face was white and there were now beads of sweat on his forehead.

‘Do you really think this can have happened to us?’ asked the younger man.

Marijam didn’t have time to think what this might all be about. The two men quickly bundled her things back into her bag.

‘Ianus, we’ll have to get her to the wise woman,’ hissed Franck.

‘Well, we’d better get a kartje,’ replied Ianus. ‘We can’t risk  anything happening to  her. She looks exhausted already. We can’t expect her to walk any further.’

‘Right,’ said Frank. ‘You sit down there, Miss. Ianus will be back soon.’

The smell was still quite disgusting, but Marijam felt a bit more comfortable now. They seemed to think she was something special. Goodness knows what that was all about, but it was helping. And she was tired. Oh, so very tired. She closed her eyes. She could hear Franck breathing, but he didn’t seem inclined to say anything. When she opened her eyes again, he was staring at her and frowning slightly.

Ianus came back a few minutes later. Then Marijam realised what a kartje was. It was something from the last century. A type of small cart which hovered a few inches off the ground. She didn’t think there were any of those left.  And she thought they had been called carrels. But then, this was the Z Zone. Anything could happen.

Ianus helped her into the small vehicle.

‘You’ll still have to hold on,’ he warned. ‘It can only keep about twenty centimetres off the ground, so it still goes up and down a bit’

Franck climbed in behind them with her bag. Ianus moved the controls, and soon they were rushing forward a little above the ground. There were some uncomfortable twists and turns and quite a few jolts where the ground suddenly dipped away or rose up.

Occasionally they passed groups of people who were working with their hands or on old pieces of machinery. They all wore the rough-looking tunics and had the same leathery skin. Some of them stopped their work and stared at Marijam.

‘Watch out! We’re on important business,’ Franck would call.

Ianus frowned at him.

‘We ought to keep quiet about her really,’ he said. ‘Make out that she’s nothing special. See what the old one says first.’

Marijam was beginning to feel very sleepy. This place was cold and uncomfortable. The people looked rough and it was clear that life was very hard for them. She wouldn’t have chosen to live here if she’d really had any choice. The thought of giving birth actually terrified her. If only she could have told her parents what had happened, or, better still, Gabrizan.

But she was beginning to feel safe. These two rough men seemed to accept her, seemed to have been waiting for her, almost. She had no idea why they thought she was important. But whatever it was, it was just helping her to be accepted and she thought she ought to be grateful.

The kartje stopped in front of a doorway which seemed to lead into a natural cave.

‘Old woman!’ called Ianus.

The door of the cave opened slowly. A woman stood in the frame. Her silver hair hung loosely over her tunic, almost reaching her waist. She peered at Marijam, a slight frown on her forehead.

‘Ah,’ she said. ‘So you’re here. I see you have the Book. At last. Come, we have been expecting you.’

The old lady’s eyes pierced into hers. Marijam wanted to run away. But she knew that all she could do was follow the woman slowly towards the door. Ianus and Franck went to follow her. The old woman put out her hand up to stop them and shook her head. Ianus handed her Marijam’s bag.

Marijam shivered. But this time it was excitement, not fear.

The Prophecy Chapter 3

This just did not happen. Not in the thirty-fifth century. There was no need for it. It was barbaric.

No matter how she tugged, the tunic would not close at the back. She couldn’t bear anything touching her breasts. She couldn’t even bear touching them herself. And this horrid feeling every morning, and sometimes at other times of the day. This feeling of fullness, of something wanting to get out, then her throat filling with the foul-tasting liquid, which forced itself out of her mouth.

Gross! She thought as she looked at the contents of the lavatory pan.

It wasn’t supposed to happen anymore, either. But the diastic monitor had not been able to adjust the water supply this time. The alarm bell rang – the first one to ring for over two hundred years.

Marijam shuddered as she remembered. She was alone then and managed to disconnect the machine before it relayed its information to central control. She started to do her own research.

It was called vomiting. It used to happen when there was something wrong with the digestive system.  Nobody had things wrong with their digestive systems any more.

She’d found out just the day before. Vomiting also used to happen often in the first stages of pregnancy in the old days when babies were gestated in a human womb, not in artificial incubators as they were now.

Surely she had received the Stopes treatment as a child? She rechecked her medical record. Certainly, it was there. And surely Gabrizan had done the same?

So how had this happened? She must talk to him. Last night was the first time she hadn’t seen him since that first time at the Waterfall when he had kissed the back of her neck, sending ripples of excitement through her …

Gabrizan had had his interview yesterday for the Northern Lights Project. He had had to stay overnight at the Nuffield Centre.

Would she hear something soon?

On cue, the dataserve kicked in. There was an important message for her. She held her breath.

Her father’s picture came on to the screen. He had his official face on. It was probably being broadcast to everyone, then, and not a personal message.

Marijam didn’t know whether she liked him most when he was just being Dad or when he sat there as now, looking wise and dignified and seeming a whole ten centimetres taller.

‘Well Miss Kennedy,’ her father’s official voice spoke. ‘Good news. You are invited for interview to join the Northern Lights Project as a research student. On successful completion of your Part 1, you would be able to proceed to becoming a full research fellow.’ Frazier Kennedy then grinned. ‘Well done, sweetie,’ he beamed.

He really looked happy. For a few seconds Marijam felt pleased as well. Then that uncontrollable wave of nausea came again. She ran towards the bathroom.

Just in time, she managed to bend her head over the toilet. The vile orange fluid came up again.

This is really gross. But really, thought Marijam. This can’t be happening. Why hasn’t the Stopes programme worked?

She must find Gabrizan. Perhaps he would know how this had happened. Was it something to do with him?

Pull yourself together, lady, she said to herself as she made her way back to her room. You’ve got some important business to sort out here.

The dataserve whirred.

‘Downloading joining instructions for the Northern Lights Project interview,’ said the tinny metallic voice.

‘Relate,’ said Marijam.

‘Your interview will take place on Level 6, Lab 10 at the Nuffield Centre,’ she read. ‘Please report 15.30,  Day 79, 3500. A transporter pod will be sent to collect you  at 14.00. Please bring overnight bag. Interview procedures take 24 hours.’

Lab 10! That was where Gabrizan had had to go yesterday. Perhaps he would be going back there? Perhaps they would be able to work together. If she was allowed to work at all, of course, now.

What was she going to do? Was she some sort of freak that the Stopes programme wouldn’t work on? Or Gabrizan? Should she tell her parents?

She couldn’t. How could she tell that their daughter was a misfit, a quirk of nature?

At least Gabrizan was due back this evening. How she was going to tell him she couldn’t begin to think. But it would be good to see him.

She didn’t look too bad in the blue velvet tunic. It was the best colour for the moment. The only one that didn’t make her look even greener. But it still wasn’t a pretty sight that greeted her in the mirror. Her hair seemed to have lost most of its shine. There were dark circles around her eyes. She had not been able to sleep well for the last two nights. Her face was white.

What will he think? she asked herself.

Marijam felt dizzy as she made her way up the rungs in the tube. She was used to the fresh air now, but feeling so ill and worried seemed to make her unsteady. Even so, it was still a thrill to breathe the natural atmosphere and taste the delicious green smell. It would be good to see him. Even if she did have to give him this unbelievable news.

She arrived early. That gave her time to sit and think about what she should say to Gabrizan when he arrived.

The sound of the Waterfall was soothing somehow. She was so looking forward to seeing him, despite everything. Everything seemed so much more alive up on the surface. The running water moved on its own. The water channels in the caves were driven by motors. It smelt so different, too. She dangled her hand into the pool that formed at the bottom of the fall. It felt silkier than her finest tunic. The soft breeze, moved one of the ferns so it looked as if it was waving to her.  Shoots of green which were coming up through the now much browner earth. And it was just eight weeks since the poison cloud had lifted. What was it going to be like when the others came up to the surface in two days’ time? She was going to have to pretend she was surprised too.

It began to get dark. Marijam shivered. Where was Gabrizan? It wasn’t like him to be late. She was beginning to get cold. It hadn’t been this cold before up on the surface. The sun was going down rapidly now. Some clouds were forming on the horizon - the first ordinary rain clouds since the poison cloud had disappeared.

Marijam decided to walk a little way up the path which led from the base of the waterfall to the cliff above. It must have been a natural path, because it was still easy enough to walk along, even though no-one had been along it for over 1200 years - apart from when she and Gabrizan had been up there a few days ago. She just loved the view from up there. She could stare for hours at the pink and grey rock which was getting a lace-like coating of green.

By the time she reached the top, though, the sun had gone all together. The clouds were so thin and scanty it was still possible to see the night sky. But she couldn’t see land like she had the other time.

Marijam sat and stared at the stars. They were so clear and bright compared with how they had looked from behind the plastiglass and further dulled by the poison cloud. Time never seemed to matter to her and Gabrizan when they were out there.

Only it wasn’t ‘they’ tonight. It was just ‘she’ now. Marijam shivered again. She pressed the controls on her wristband. 20.30 already. He had never been this late. In fact, he had never been late. Now it was more than an hour after the time he’d said he would come. Why didn’t he use the mini compu? Was he so far away that he was out of range? Perhaps being outside made a difference.

Marijam wasn’t so sure she liked it out here so much now that she was on her own. It was getting colder and colder. She touched the button of her compu.

‘Gabrizan Taylor 0051,’ she said, after the tinny voice had asked whom she wanted to contact.

‘Unavailable,’ squeaked the robotic voice. Not out of range. Nor occupied. Just not available. His interview was taking longer than they had expected. Oh she hoped he would get on the Northern Lights Project. And that she would, too. It would be great to work together.

Except there was just this one little problem. Well, no it was actually quite big really. Another wave of nausea passed through Marijam. She knew that this time it was not to do with that strange biological change that had taken place in her body. Not directly, anyway. It was because she didn’t think she could face the other changes which were about to happen.

She shivered again. Well, it was obvious she wasn’t going to see Gabrizan tonight. He just must have got held up at his interview. It was almost a relief not to have to give out this dreadful news tonight. Even though she missed seeing him.

Marijam was quite glad to get back inside. It was more frightening and less of an exciting adventure to go out there alone. She was feeling tired as well. Perhaps she would sleep better tonight, now.

The lights were on in the communal room of the Kennedy apartment when she arrived back. Both Frazier and Louish Kennedy were sitting there in silence. Their faces looked grim.

‘Well, did you see him?’ asked Frazier. Marijam had never heard him sound so angry.

‘Did he turn up for you?’ he demanded. ‘Because he sure didn’t turn up for his second interview!’

‘We tried to get you on the mini compu,’ said Louish. ‘Only we couldn’t get through.’

Marijam wondered whether it had been because she was outside. But then her compu had communicated with the centre. Perhaps it could get to the centre but no further…or perhaps they had called just as she was trying to call Gabrizan.

‘He’s a waste of space,’ hissed Frazier. ‘We’d set up a really expensive programme for him. No-one else could do what we had in mind for him.’

Then Marijam realised what her father had just told her. Not only had Gabrizan not turned up to see her this evening, he had not turned up for the second part of his interview. He had disappeared. He was gone. She was on her own now.

The nausea came again. She managed to mumble something about being tired, and hurried off to her room.

She just made it to the bathroom in time. Now it came as a relief to throw up the heavy feeling out of her stomach. As if she was giving way to all the tension that was inside her.

She came back from the bathroom and collapsed on to the bed. The tears started. She could hear her parents’ muffled voices. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but that her father had sounded angry and her mother concerned. She heard the door open and her mother say, ‘Can’t you see how pale she looked? That boy has hurt her.’

Marijam closed her eyes. Then there was nothing. Just blackness. Marijam hoped she might never wake up.

The Prophecy Chapter 2

The stranger was walking over towards them.

‘Hi, you guys,’ he said. ‘Can I introduce myself? Gabrizan Taylor. I’ve just come in with my folks. My old man’s involved with the Cloud Project.’ He shook the hands of those people nearest to him.

How cute, thought Marijam. Where on Terrestra did he learn that?

Gabrizan stretched his hand out towards her. Marijam was annoyed to find herself trembling slightly. She felt as if her chest was going to burst. Her cheeks flushed bright red. This time not because she was embarrassed or felt uncomfortable. This was exciting. Even so, she was glad that it was too dark for anyone else to see. Two deep blue eyes met hers and she felt as if she was being drawn in.  Before she could take his hand, though, Rainer interrupted.

‘How come you’re here, then?’ he asked. ‘I thought the Cloud Project was based in Melbin.’

Gabrizan appeared thoughtful for a second or two.

‘Well’, he said suddenly, ‘you can hardly see the Northern lights that far south. If that’s what they are. Both of my parents are here to investigate them.’

‘Will you be schooled through Project 57?’ asked Sadie.

‘I think so,’ said Gabrizan. ‘It’s similar to the Alexander Project we did down there.’

‘Oh, I hope they’ll put you in our Social Unit then,’ said Sadie.

‘I guess they will,’ said Gabrizan, smiling warmly at Sadie. ‘They suggested I came here.’

Marijam’s fingers were pressed into her palms. Hands off, he’s mine, she thought, trying to catch Sadie’s eye.

The excitement was growing in the Laguna. People were now squashed up against the dark walls of the cave. Marijam sipped her nectar slowly. As the sweet liquid smoothed the back of her throat, she began to feel like she belonged.

Gabrizan was deep in conversation with Rainer now. She could not hear what he was saying, but they were both frowning. Every so often one of them would shake his head or rub his chin thoughtfully, occasionally looking up at the big screen and pointing to something.

Probably trying to work out what has been happening, she thought. She wanted to join in but knew that if she tried she’d be tongue-tied as usual. And anyway, it was actually quite nice just sitting there watching him. His blond hair and his brown skin fascinated her. She couldn’t help noticing how tall he was.

‘Hey,’ said Sadie, ‘what are you staring at?’

‘Oh, nothing,’ said Marijam, going red again.

‘You don’t fancy him do you?’ asked Sadie.

Marijam turned away from Sadie. She was certainly not going to answer a silly question like that.

She was facing the two boys directly now. Gabrizan waved and smiled. She just about managed to smile back.

I hope I don’t look stupid, she thought.

She saw Gabrizan mutter something to Rainer. Both of them looked at her again. Rainer gestured with his hand towards her.

They’re talking about me now, she thought and tried to get away, but she was hemmed in. Gabrizan was walking straight towards her. Rainer stayed behind, and Sadie rushed straight towards him.

Thanks, Sadie, thought Marijam. She couldn’t cope with this sort of thing. She wanted the comfort of her room with the skylight and the dataserve.

A hand was held out across the table. Marijam leant forward to take the hand. She was trembling.

This is ridiculous, she thought. I’m behaving like a complete idiot.

The handshake was firm. She wasn’t used to people her own age shaking hands with her. And even an adult’s hand had often been limp and damp.

‘I’m Marijam Kennedy,’ she managed to say surprisingly calmly. ‘I’m on Project 57’.

‘Hello, Marijam Kennedy,’ said Gabrizan slowly. ‘I’m really glad you’re on Project 57. That’s where I’ll be schooled. Let’s hope they have a meet soon.’

He’s flirting with me, thought Marijam. He’s flirting and I actually think I like it. But I don’t know what to do.

He was smiling at her now, his eyebrows slightly raised.

Suddenly the News screen sprang into life, and filled with her father’s face.

‘This is a special announcement for all seniors,’ he was saying. ‘What has happened tonight is of monumental importance and is going to change dramatically our way of life on Terrestra.’  Frazier Kennedy paused. People gasped. Some reaffirmed their opinion that what had happened tonight was something to do with the poison cloud moving. Others also speculated what had caused that to happen. When everyone had quietened down again, Frazier continued.

‘Obviously you will wonder what I mean by that remark and you will no doubt have many theories about what actually happened tonight. What has happened is much too important to discuss via a News screen. Therefore, all seniors are to return to their homes immediately and be ready for a meet in their normal Project Room at 9.00 a.m. sharp tomorrow. And allow plenty of time for the journey. Everyone else has also been called for a meet at their work centres. The transport systems will be overloaded. But don’t worry, and sleep well. It is just good news.’

The screen went blank again. There was silence at first. Then some students pushed towards the exits. Others got in their way as they lingered behind, unwilling to be sent home when there was so much to talk about. Gabrizan stood to one side as Marijam struggled out from behind the table. He walked behind her as she turned towards the door. He kept close to her most of the way towards the transporters. The crowds left them little other choice. She didn’t want to turn and look at him. That would have seemed so rude. But she knew he was at her side all the time. That made her feel proud, as if she were royalty, and she was sure everyone was looking at her.

I am being ridiculous, she thought.

‘This is where I leave you,’ said Gabrizan, as they arrived at the A Transporters Deck. The grey platform was crowded. Already she could hear the high-pitched whirring of one of the steel-nosed jet-trains. The usual swish of air as the machine hovered near the platform told her she was going to have to leave this fascinating person very soon.

‘Save me a place at the meet if you get there before me,’ he added putting his hand gently on her back. ‘And if I’m there first I’ll save you one.’ He smiled and winked.

Marijam felt a big lump in her throat.

‘See you tomorrow then,’ she managed to just about whisper.

‘You look very smart today, sweetie,’ said Frazier Kennedy.

Marijam plucked nervously at the edge of the navy tunic.

‘Not that you need to dress up. You’ve inherited your mother’s good looks,’ her father continued. Then he laughed, looking at himself in plastiglass window as the private transporter pod they were using sped though the dark tunnels. ‘You certainly didn’t get them from me.’

If only you knew, thought Marijam.

She had had no trouble feeling wide awake this morning, despite not getting to bed until well past midnight, and then being too excited to sleep for most of the night. She had dressed really carefully today, something a bit better than the grey ripon tunic, but nothing too showy. She was fairly confident that the well-cut navy suede-effect tunic was just right. And she knew exactly why she had made an effort with her appearance.

There was just one other person in the room when Marijam arrived at the room designated for her group’s meet.  Her heart started pounding as she went through the door and saw him.  Gabrizan signalled with his head that she should sit next to him. She felt herself blush again.

‘It certainly seems clear out there,’ he said as she sat down. ‘Have you had a look yet?’

She hadn’t actually. She realised she hadn’t bothered looking through her skylight when she got back the night before. She had had other things on her mind. She shook her head.

‘Anyway,’ said Gabrizan, leaning back into chair, his arms jangling limply at his side and his legs stretched out in front of him. ‘I want to know all about you.’

As the others arrived, Gabrizan punched questions at her.

‘Do you have any brothers and sisters?’ he asked.

‘No,’ she replied. ‘I’m an only child. What about you?’

‘Just one sister. Is it as good as they say, then, being the only child?’ he asked.

‘I don’t know really… it’s a bit lonely sometimes…,’ she answered.

‘Makes sense. There couldn’t be another as gorgeous as you.’

Marijam felt her cheeks start to burn. She tried to be polite and ask him similar questions back, but his answers were dismissive. His home was fairly ordinary. He wanted to know about her. And he seemed to find her answers so interesting and delightful that she really began to feel important. His eyes smiled at all of her answers.

Soon the room was full. The dataserve’s tinny voice proclaimed that all students on Project 57 were present. Frazier walked into the room.

‘Right, folks,’ he began, ‘you will be pleased to know that the speculation was correct. The poison has indeed dispersed. Every single trace of it has vanished and in one night of astounding electrical activity. We are not quite sure how or why it happened yet, but the main idea we have so far is that some strong force entered the cloud and seeded it, just like they used to in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.’ He then showed them pictures of rain clouds over the African mainland from the year 2005. Small primitive aircraft had flown into them dispersing chemicals, which helped the clouds to release their moisture. ‘The case is a little different here,’ he added. ‘Something has set up electrical charges within the cloud. We believe it is from a type of metal not found on Terrestra, as we have already tried this with every metal known on Terrestra. This has discharged the poison from the cloud. That was what produced some of those glorious colours you saw last night.’

Marijam noticed that Gabrizan was now sitting forwards on his seat, his knuckles white as he gripped the sides. There was a slight frown creasing his forehead. Marijam caught his eye and he relaxed, flashing her a wide smile. His eyes danced again for a few seconds, but then the concentration came back.

Frazier was now showing pictures from the night before.

‘You are a very privileged group,’ he said finally ‘to have witnessed something like this in your final year of schooling. There are five research places now open to students of Project 57. Anyone interested can apply through InterEducation as usual.’

Everyone sat in silence for about ten seconds, then everyone started talking at once.  Questions were shouted out without the normal order and discipline in a school meet – especially when the Head of Education was there. Frazier Kennedy did his best to answer them, but even he was not his usual unflappable self.

For a short while Marijam forgot who she was sitting next to. Even Gabrizan seemed less important than the news they had just been given. So the poison cloud was gone after all that time, and it had gone so quickly in just one night of the most fantastic light display she had ever seen.

‘Are you going to give it a go?’ asked Gabrizan, now sitting back in his chair again, and pulling her out of her day dream.

A little thrill of excitement ran through her as she looked at him.

‘I think I’d like to,’ she managed to say. There was a strange lump in her throat and she thought her voice came out a bit squeaky. She was really interested in the project, but she was fascinated by him.

‘Well, I’m going to,’ said Gabrizan. ‘Hey, don’t you think it would be good for the two of us to work together? Maybe we could take on a joint research project. It would be a great Part II.’

Wouldn’t it just? thought Marijam. Especially if I was doing it with you.

‘Will you meet me later?’ asked Gabrizan, as they were about to leave the seminar room. ‘There is something I think you would really like to see.’

‘Oh, just one thing,’ called Frazier Kennedy as the students started to make their way towards the exit. ‘No-one will be allowed up to the surface for a while yet.  We need to carry out further tests, then get it ready. We’re pretty sure it’s safe out there, but we must be certain. We think the strange metal entered Terrestra’s atmosphere randomly, but we have to be sure that it was not fired or planted there by people from another planet. Also, it will take some getting used to the outside air. Anyone caught going out before the all-clear is given will be dealt with severely. Everybody needs to get used to the idea anyway. But,’ he paused. There was a twinkle in his eye. ‘Some of the outer plastiglass comes off the windows straight away.’

‘Intersection Q5A. Seven fifteen,’ Gabrizan whispered.

Marijam turned to see Gabrizan walking away from her. He waved and grinned.

*  *  *

‘Well all I can say is,’ said Louish Kennedy, looking at her daughter in the silver silk, ‘he must be a pretty important guy. I’ve never seen you look so well-groomed. It’s good to see you get away from that dataserve a bit as well.’

‘It’s the new chap, isn’t it?’ said Frazier, grinning hugely. ‘That’s okay by me. He’s quite a man. Got his application in for Project Northern Lights already. And it’s looking good!’

Already? thought Marijam. How on Terrestra had he managed that? She would have to get cracking. But not tonight. She briefly thought of the chaos she’d left in her bedroom. All of her tunics were strewn across the bed. It had taken forever to decide what to wear, and even now she wasn’t sure. But it was time to go. The silver silk would have to do.

*  *  *

Marijam had never been to Q5A or even to this side of town before. It was right where this cave network ended. A transporter system could take you to the next network, but it would usually take a long time for one to arrive.

There was something dull and tarnished about the caves here. They looked as if they had not been cared for in a long time. Marijam was so nervous that when her arm brushed one of the sides, she sprang away, startled.

‘Leave me alone!’ she shouted. It had only been the bare rock, though. She put her hand on its surface. It was cold and clammy. Obviously, it had not been dehumidified and damp-proofed like the other cave networks she knew.

‘You look gorgeous,’ said a voice. Marijam jumped again. She hadn’t seen him there, standing in the shadows.

‘Thank you,’ she managed to remember to say.

‘Come on,’ he said. ‘You’ll find this unbelievable.’

‘Where are we going?’ she asked.

‘Don’t be frightened,’ he said. Could he see how much she was shaking? ‘Nothing’s going to hurt you.’

She followed him along the cave path. It was really rough just here. There were loose rocks, which you couldn’t actually see, all along the pathway. Marijam tripped several times. Once, she fell to the floor, grazing her hand.

‘Are you all right?’ asked Gabrizan, moving towards her. He sounded concerned.

‘I’m fine,’ she said, quickly getting back up before he could help her. She wasn’t really. Her hand was throbbing. But she felt too embarrassed to admit that she was hurt. He might think she was clumsy.

What a silly time to wear a silk tunic, she thought.

It was really hard to walk. And it was so dark here. She supposed it was because they were so close to the edge of the cave network. Every so often, Gabrizan turned to see whether she was still coming.

‘Nearly there,’ he said, as they came to a real bit of cave where it was even more difficult to keep going.

‘Here,’ he said a few minutes later as they arrived in front of a steel door.

Gabrizan took a strange looking object out of his pocket and started to work at the door’s lock with it.

‘What’s that?’ asked Marijam?

‘Have you not seen one before?’  Gabrizan was not looking at her. ‘It’s a just a little gadget I always carry with me. It’s especially good for opening stubborn doors.’

In seconds the door was open. Marijam realised what was happening. She remembered her father’s warning about how it might not be all right outside and how people would be punished if they were caught.

Gabrizan turned to face her.

‘It will be all right. Really, it will. Trust me.’

Marijam’s mouth went dry. The shaking became worse. Gabrizan was still staring at her. His eyebrows were slightly raised as if he was asking a question. He smiled slowly. Of course she could trust him!

‘I’ll be behind you all the way,’ he said. ‘It’s only a few metres up here. But you might feel funny when the air hits you.’

Carefully, Marijam stepped on to the first rung of the metal ladder. She made her way up slowly. She was afraid of what she was going to see at the other end. Gabrizan didn’t say anything as they went up, but she knew he was behind her and that reassured her.

‘We’re half way there,’ he said suddenly.  ‘Just another twenty rungs to go.’

Marijam could feel the air on her face now. It felt like the way the water from the cooler tasted. Of nothing, but cool and fresh. Everything seemed to be jumping around and she couldn’t focus her eyes on anything.

‘Careful,’ said Gabrizan, gently. ‘Don’t breathe in too much at once. You’re not ready for the natural mix yet. There’s actually more oxygen out here than in what they pump through the caves.’

How does he know? thought Marijam. How can he know it’s that safe?

Marijam couldn’t help feeling excited, though, as she came to the top of the shaft. She felt even dizzier as she let go of the rungs and pushed herself onto the surface of Terrestra. There was something soft and powdery beneath her hands. Pink dust.

‘It’s been scorched,’ said Gabrizan, coming up behind her. She was glad he was there. It made her feel safe. ‘It will soon be green again, though,’ he added. ‘Now that the poison cloud’s gone, they can bring the plant life back.’

‘How long do you think it will take to come back?’ she asked. After all, the cloud had arrived gradually. No-one had realised at first. But she remembered from her history lessons that the plants had started to die and then people started to cough and choke on the bad air. The authorities at the time had decided to get everything that lived underground. Would it come back just as gradually?

Gabrizan shrugged. ‘I guess it’ll take a while,’ he said. ‘Oh, but just look at that,’ he said, pointing towards the dark blue sky.

Marijam stared at the stars. They seemed so near, and she could see so far. A bright moon was shining. It seemed to Marijam brighter than the sun usually was.  There was no plastiglass or rim in the way. A breeze tickled her neck. There was the faint scent of something a little familiar but which she could not name.

‘What’s that?’ she said.

‘What?’ asked Gabrizan.

‘That sort of green smell,’ she replied suddenly realising it was what the greenhouses smelt like, only not so overpowering.

‘I wonder…’ He grabbed her hand.

Gabrizan walked rather quickly. Marijam found herself slipping on the pink powder. It was so different from walking on the special surfaces in the caves. Each step took longer as she kept on sliding back. Soon she was out of breath.

‘We’re nearly there,’ said Gabrizan.

Marijam could hear water rushing. It sounded like a huge tap running. The ground beneath them had stopped being soft and had now turned into solid rock. It was hard and cold beneath her feet. Gabrizan stopped suddenly. Marijam shivered. Gabrizan put his arm around the waist and held her closer.

‘Look,’ he said.

In front of them a waterfall tumbled over the rocks.

‘Can you see it?’ asked Gabrizan.

Marijam looked to where he was pointing. Nestled in the rocks were a few strands of green.

‘That’s what you could smell,’ he said, ‘ferns which have lived despite the poison cloud.’

Marijam breathed in deeply. She could taste the air. There was something sweet about its dampness, and underneath a taste of something like fresh salad. The breeze danced around her cheeks again.

‘How did you know it was here?’ she asked Gabrizan.

‘I’d seen there used to be a waterfall on the map,’ he said. ‘And when we noticed the green smell, I guessed it was still there.’

Marijam bent down and touched the ground beneath her. Its hardness and rough surface startled her. She drank the air, swallowing mouthfuls at a time. She looked up at the sky again. She had never seen so much sky. She  had never seen its blueness properly before. The poison cloud had always cast a grey shadow.

‘It is so amazing,’ she said quietly. ‘So …. it’s hard to describe… well, alive, I suppose..’

But there was something else.

Marijam turned to face Gabrizan. He was staring at her, his eyes wide open.

‘What I see is also fantastic,’ he murmured.

Marijam suddenly felt uneasy. Yet tingles of excitement ran up and down her body. Gabrizan touched her face gently.

‘You’re so beautiful,’ he said. Then he laughed suddenly.

‘Come on,’ he said. ‘We’d better get back. Being outside for the first time is too much of a shock.’

But Marijam knew they would be back. Oh yes they would! Outside was definitely good!