The Hourglass Read Online Free PDF

walked down the centre aisle, clearly wishing that they
could have sat together. She sat next to a small girl and Sarah watched as she
gave the girl a smile. The girl made a rude gesture and turned back to the
window, ignoring her. Marland’s face crumpled and she buried her head into her
hands. Sarah felt sorry for her and decided to wait until she looked up again
to give her a smile of encouragement, but Marland didn’t so much as glance up.
Seeing that she wasn’t going to move any time soon, Sarah turned back to find
out who she had ended up sitting next to. The person was staring at her,
studying her carefully. Sarah stared back, making her own assessment. He was
about the same age as her, but it was hard to tell exactly because his hair was
white. For a second she thought that it was pure white, but on closer
inspection there was some silver in there as well. It drew her attention
immediately. She had no idea how she had missed it when she had sat down. His
light brown eyes looked like they were laughing at her. Sarah returned his gaze
warily. While she was relieved that his eyes didn’t hold the crazed gleam of a
homicidal maniac, his silent laughing was almost as unsettling.
    “I know, right?”
he said, gesturing around him. “The bus looks like it’ll fall apart at any
second. A small fire broke out when I knocked the wall earlier. I kid you not.
Two wires crossed or something.” Sarah thought he was joking until he pointed
at a small hole in the side of the bus. It was blackened by fire and there were
two exposed wires visible. He laughed at the expression of shock on her face
and held out a hand. “I’m Finn.”
    Sarah paused
before reaching over and shaking it. “Sarah.” She realised that she had never
actually shaken anybody’s hand on meeting them before. It seemed old-fashioned
and somehow adult. Of course he could just be making fun of her.
    “So what did you
do to get yourself on this unique trip of a lifetime?” he asked with joyous
enthusiasm that jarred with their surroundings.
    “None of your
business,” replied Sarah. She had made up her mind not to tell anybody why she
was in there. The less they knew the more careful they would be when dealing
with her. Also she wanted to say something to stop his gleeful attitude. It
seemed almost absurd when she herself was feeling so damn miserable.
    “Ah, I see,”
replied Finn, not disturbed at all, “you’ve decided on strong and surly.”
    Sarah didn’t say
anything and looked away. She definitely felt like she was being made fun of
and she wasn’t in the mood.
    “Me, myself and
I,” continued Finn, as if the conversation was still flowing, “am in here
because of a slight misunderstanding between me and a rather stupid, meat
headed soldier. So there is no need to be afraid. I’m a perfectly acceptable
human being.” The last statement betrayed a hint of disgust, as if a ‘perfectly
acceptable human being’ was in his opinion less than it should be.
    “I’m not afraid
of you,” replied Sarah before she realised that he was just baiting her to get
a response.
    “And she’s back
in the conversation!” he replied.
    Sarah just shook
her head. Much to her chagrin she was starting to like him. “So do you know
anybody else here? Do you know what it’ll be like?” she asked seriously.
    He shrugged.
“Not really. I was in a cell with that dude for a while,” he gestured towards a
boy sitting three rows behind them. Sarah turned around. He was older, about
nineteen, and was burly and solid. “Aggravated assault. He king hit someone in the
street.” Finn’s face was expressionless and Sarah turned back around before the
boy realised that they were talking about him. “We’re not the best of friends,”
he added dryly. “As for what it’ll be like, I know they search you before you
go in. Girls’ and boys’ quarters are on different sides of the ship, but the
kitchen and dining area are shared. There’s meant to be some