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Chapter 2 There was a moon in the sky. Not often could it be glimpsed but once or twice a month its brightness would shine through the thick layers of pollution that coated the earth's atmosphere. It had once been white, or so Ki thought he remembered. Sometimes things from the Old World felt like nothing more than pieces of forgotten dreams. Whatever colour it had once been it was now a dirty yellow, like the dust that coated the streets. Jez and Ion had told him long ago that what had made the dust were the bombs that the aliens had dropped. Inside of the death-bringers had been new air, new chemicals. The other worlders needed more than just oxygen in their lungs, but more than enough to keep the remaining humans alive. Ki often wondered if the new chemicals were damaging his lungs, if perhaps one day they would stop working and he would die. Were they rotten inside? Old and crumbling like the broken building they called home? It was a thought that could keep him awake at night. He had found there were many disturbing thoughts in the dark that liked to keep him company. "Oih, dreamer!" The words came from Ion. Slowly, Ki dragged his eyes away from the yellow moon and the thoughts it conjured. Behind him stood his two best friends. Ion: taller, darker, always smiling and mischievous; Jez: short, blonde, a born worrier. Of all the people in their makeshift family it was still only Ion and Jez who Ki knew and loved. They were his and he was theirs. The adults among their clan, the one or two other youngsters, they did not hold any sway in Ki's heart. It was as if when the other worlders had dropped their bombs Ki's heart had been sealed shut and only those already inside it still existed. Smiling, his upper lip stuck up in a mock-expression of a dead artist who Ki could never remember the name of - Eddie? Elrond? Elvis? - Ion bounced his eyebrows high. In his hands he held a football. Ki knew what the time was and was surprised it had come so quickly. |
Football tournaments were held at the end of every week. It had been Ion and Jez's idea, something they had pitched to Amma three years ago. All people who were not injured were expected to play. Being only twelve in total, they played five-a-side with the extra person being referee; of course Amma never played but sometimes he came to observe. "Are you coming to play or what?" Ion asked. "Come on, Ki," Jez called, his voice very soft next to Ion's, "we're on the same team this week." A smile touched Ki's lips. He wasn't very good at football, his legs were far too long and clumsy, and when on a different team to his friends he always felt embarrassed by his lack of skill. If he had Jez and Ion with him then at least they could all laugh together. "I'm coming," he called. Jogging over to his two waiting friends, he let them each put an arm around his tall shoulders. Having to lean down to hear their words, he kept his face still as stone, not giving even a flicker of reaction. "Tonight," Ion whispered. "We will meet on the roof," Jez added. "After the football." "When everyone is resting." "Don't be late." "And don't get caught." Ki frowned across at Ion. "Why do you always assume I will get caught?" he asked. |