refer it to him after all.
But the airport came first, and that was where thepolice car drove in. A flash of a badge took us through to the departure lounge. Passengers were embarking on a civil airship at one of the main ramps. I was taken to a smaller ramp, farther on. A small gray airship was waiting there, a police craft.
I said, âWhere am I supposed to be going?â
He didnât answer that either.
â¢Â â¢Â â¢
The airship took off almost immediately, rising past the civil aircraft, which was still loading. I had identified that one automatically: the 4:30 to Paris. We lifted to a couple of hundred feet before turning south. The river lay beneath us, dotted with small boats, and I saw the energy tower, the Houses of Parliament museum, a glimpse of my own home. Then the wall was under us and after that the waving green of close-packed trees.
We traveled southwest, cruising at about five hundred feet. I had a good view of the forest, for what it was worth. It stretched away, dense and featureless, in every direction.
Even with sunlight on it, it had a sinister look. There was no way of knowing what lay behind that green facade. Savages, certainly, and wild beasts. Theflora and fauna of the Outlands were unknownâno one was interested, anywayâand books describing conditions before the Breakdown would not have helped much. Things must have changed a great deal. One of the barbarities of the Dark Ages had been the keeping of wild animals, from all over the world, in cages in what they called zoos. During the Breakdown many had escaped and bred in the wild. There were servantsâ stories, handed down from their great-Âgrandfathers who had been savages, of lions, monkeys, wolves. The forests might conceal anything.
And, of course, there were the savages themselves. I thought, more with irritation than anything else, of Brianâs stupid ramblings. They had been the cause of all this. Really stupid. The savages were in their proper place down there, where they ought to be.
We went on southwest, and I wondered again about our destination. Southampton, perhaps? I couldnât think why it should be, but it was the next city on this route. The white of buildings glimmered in the distance, and my spirits rose. I was in favor of Southampton, whatever the reason. Miranda was at school, but there might be some chance of seeing her. I could certainly call on Mr. Sherrin for any help I needed.
The buildings grew larger and took on shape. I saw the long sweep of the wall and the energy tower. But there was no indication of our losing height for a descent. The airship passed over the town, still at five hundred feet, and went on. Forest was replaced by sea beneath us: deep blue, smooth from this height, with nothing moving on it. It looked even more depressing than the forest.
We were heading out of England, and I began to be worried. I told myself it made no difference. In every country cities formed part of the network of civilization. Mr. Richie would have no difficulty in finding the son of Councillor Anderson and bringing him back to London.
The thing to do, I decided, was to treat it as an interesting break from school. Even looking at the dreary sea was better than fuel technology with Mr. Harper.
I was thinking that when the engine note deepened; we were going down. Surely not into the sea? I looked more closely and saw it below, very small but land certainly. An island.
3
W E STOOD, GOOSE-PIMPLED, IN LONG lines on the parade ground. The sun was shining but there was a chilly wind from the northeast. It was a windy island altogether; according to Kelly it had not stopped blowing in the six months he had been here.
Kelly was American and felt the cold; his home city was Jacksonville, Florida. He had brown eyes and brown hair, a brown lazy look to him in general. He preferred sitting to standing and lying to sitting and took catnaps at every opportunity. But theimpression he
But the airport came first, and that was where thepolice car drove in. A flash of a badge took us through to the departure lounge. Passengers were embarking on a civil airship at one of the main ramps. I was taken to a smaller ramp, farther on. A small gray airship was waiting there, a police craft.
I said, âWhere am I supposed to be going?â
He didnât answer that either.
â¢Â â¢Â â¢
The airship took off almost immediately, rising past the civil aircraft, which was still loading. I had identified that one automatically: the 4:30 to Paris. We lifted to a couple of hundred feet before turning south. The river lay beneath us, dotted with small boats, and I saw the energy tower, the Houses of Parliament museum, a glimpse of my own home. Then the wall was under us and after that the waving green of close-packed trees.
We traveled southwest, cruising at about five hundred feet. I had a good view of the forest, for what it was worth. It stretched away, dense and featureless, in every direction.
Even with sunlight on it, it had a sinister look. There was no way of knowing what lay behind that green facade. Savages, certainly, and wild beasts. Theflora and fauna of the Outlands were unknownâno one was interested, anywayâand books describing conditions before the Breakdown would not have helped much. Things must have changed a great deal. One of the barbarities of the Dark Ages had been the keeping of wild animals, from all over the world, in cages in what they called zoos. During the Breakdown many had escaped and bred in the wild. There were servantsâ stories, handed down from their great-Âgrandfathers who had been savages, of lions, monkeys, wolves. The forests might conceal anything.
And, of course, there were the savages themselves. I thought, more with irritation than anything else, of Brianâs stupid ramblings. They had been the cause of all this. Really stupid. The savages were in their proper place down there, where they ought to be.
We went on southwest, and I wondered again about our destination. Southampton, perhaps? I couldnât think why it should be, but it was the next city on this route. The white of buildings glimmered in the distance, and my spirits rose. I was in favor of Southampton, whatever the reason. Miranda was at school, but there might be some chance of seeing her. I could certainly call on Mr. Sherrin for any help I needed.
The buildings grew larger and took on shape. I saw the long sweep of the wall and the energy tower. But there was no indication of our losing height for a descent. The airship passed over the town, still at five hundred feet, and went on. Forest was replaced by sea beneath us: deep blue, smooth from this height, with nothing moving on it. It looked even more depressing than the forest.
We were heading out of England, and I began to be worried. I told myself it made no difference. In every country cities formed part of the network of civilization. Mr. Richie would have no difficulty in finding the son of Councillor Anderson and bringing him back to London.
The thing to do, I decided, was to treat it as an interesting break from school. Even looking at the dreary sea was better than fuel technology with Mr. Harper.
I was thinking that when the engine note deepened; we were going down. Surely not into the sea? I looked more closely and saw it below, very small but land certainly. An island.
3
W E STOOD, GOOSE-PIMPLED, IN LONG lines on the parade ground. The sun was shining but there was a chilly wind from the northeast. It was a windy island altogether; according to Kelly it had not stopped blowing in the six months he had been here.
Kelly was American and felt the cold; his home city was Jacksonville, Florida. He had brown eyes and brown hair, a brown lazy look to him in general. He preferred sitting to standing and lying to sitting and took catnaps at every opportunity. But theimpression he
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