A wind rose, whipping up red dust that clouded the sky.

The Curator cried, ‘Look!’

There was a new light in the sky. The clouds of Saturn were churning, and a harsh, pitiless light broke out. It was like a monstrous egg cracking, Symat thought.

Luru Parz laughed.

Mela cried, ‘So quickly?’

Luru smiled. ‘The Guardians have waited a million years to act. They are ready.’

But Symat wondered if he was ready. He knew he was too young to have come to terms with the idea of personal death. Now, suddenly, he was going to have to face it.

Mela ran to Symat and tried to grab him. The wind noise was too loud for him to hear the inevitable protocol chimes. Her eyes were wide, her face torn, as she yelled at him.

‘What did you say?’

She screamed louder. ‘It may not have to be this way . . .’

The egg cracked wider. Glass smashed somewhere in the city behind them, and every grain of dust on Earth took to the air. A tremendous light flooded the sky, dazzling him. And then—

VI

‘Can you hear me? Symat, can you hear?’ It was Mela’s voice, but she was far away.

It was like waking up. But he had no sense of his body, of a bed, of blankets and sheets. He was surrounded by light.

He was light, he thought, but the idea didn’t disturb him. He was light, coming into focus.

And suddenly he could see. Mela’s face hovered before him, creased with concern. Beside her were other children. He recognised Chem, Tod.

He was standing. For a moment he was disconcerted, as if finding his balance, and he staggered slightly.

He stood on dusty ground, beside the crystal waters of a canal. A malevolent sliver of red sun poked above the horizon, but the air was still and pleasantly cool.

‘So I lived through it.’

‘Sort of,’ said Chem.

‘Earth has gone,’ Mela said. ‘Sent off into the future. But Mars is still here.’

‘My parents—’

‘They are coming.’ She looked more serious. ‘It will be difficult for them. For you.’

He looked at his hand. ‘I’m a Virtual.’

‘Yes. You’re a Virtual.’

‘My mother won’t be able to touch me. My parents will feel as if they have lost me.’

‘And you have lost them. But you have found us.’ Impulsively she reached for his hands - and held them. Her palms were warm and soft.

He smiled. ‘I told you I’d come back,’ he said to Chem.

Chem grinned.

‘You took your time,’ Tod said.

‘Listen,’ Mela said. ‘Can you hear them?’

Symat glanced around. ‘Hear what?’

‘Not outside. Inside.’ She tapped her chest.