And I keep looking at the others on the stage with her, from left to right, like I’m reading words on a page. On the far left sits Season, then the criminal, MC2, then Millennia, then Le Temps. When she introduces them, their names flash up on the screen behind and they remind me of something. I think it might be the video we saw in school but it’s something else and I can’t work it out.

I’m distracted by that and simultaneously thinking about how fast Ama can run the 100 metres because she didn’t answer my question. Underneath all that, I’m thinking about SOS L, but I try to switch that thought off because I’m starting to go into overload. I look up at the glass dome on the ceiling. The sky is grey and it’s still raining. I imagine rain spitting on my face like silver pins.

‘We have few rules here but they are important ones:

‘One. We are totally eco-friendly. By choice and necessity. You’ve been told that due to the meat rations most institutions have a meat-free policy. Here, we are meat-free apart from special festivals.

‘Today is a special festival. Tonight, we will offer meat at the birthday barbecue, as well as a large range of vegan delicacies.’

Jake and a couple of the Triple Ms cheer. We call Music, Maths and Movement pupils Triple Ms because Music, Maths and Movement is a mouthful. The E-Cos, Martin and Kate, narrow their eyes at the mention of meat. They don’t eat anything that has a heart, not even lettuce!

Millennia continues:

‘Two. Age doesn’t matter. Some of us are young but old beyond our years; some are old, but old people are simply young people who’ve lived longer; some are middle-aged and some have leapt so much they’ve lost count of the years. What matters is skill, wisdom . . .’

I don’t know what Millennia is going to say next because suddenly, in the middle of the stage, a black-haired boy appears out of thin air. His hair is long but scraped into a pony tail. He’s wearing a cream-patterned shirt with a tongue-shaped collar and matching trousers that flare out a little at the bottom. The pattern has the outline of blue flowers that look like someone doodled them onto an exercise pad. I used to doodle all the time when I was in Sixth Year. I was almost excluded for excessive doodling. This is the best doodling flower pattern I’ve ever seen. Is it some futuristic fashion? Whatever it is, I love it. He’s carrying a cream-coloured suitcase with more lines on it than Millennia’s face. The boy looks about 15 and is as beautiful as a girl.

Millennia looks cross. The lines on her face etch deeper. Her cat’s eyes narrow.

‘GMT. So glad you chose to finally join us.’