Heat finally burning through his lethargy. Caleb sprinted through the house. He had to get away, he had to get back to the others. Could his bike melt in the blinding heat? His hands felt their first burn of the day when he picked it up, climbed on board. The heat was heavy, thick as trying to ride through baking bread. He’d forgotten to lock the door. He didn’t turn back. Fire didn’t need a key, wouldn’t knock.

On his way back, shrivelled by heat and terrified about Penelope, Caleb unthinkingly passed various people who’d come forward as witnesses. Where was Penelope? At home, probably. He could cycle there, too. Nature was malicious, the wind howling, a wild beast. Hot breath whispered in its own language, deceptive words, a little bit tempting but most of all threatening with the desire to own, to consume, to destroy. Pedalling, Caleb remembered a science lesson about the birth of a new star. In the immensity of time and space, had there ever been a place as hot as this? The clouds alternated grey, orange, red. The heat was solar flares, blasting out radiantly into space. He needed to make sure Penelope was okay.

‘Caleb, you have to wake up.’ It was Mum’s voice. Now. Here. In Caledonia Magistrates Court. ‘It’s time to go home.’

He opened his eyes. No smoke. The fire was long ago. Green shoots had matured into new leaves, plants. People were already speaking about the next Fire season, like it fell between Summer and Autumn, Excessive heat was something they’d expect cyclically. Meanwhile the country’s alleged leaders were still the most pathetic followers of all, reacting to what had already gone wrong instead of acting to stop it getting worse. Caleb was fat and here, in court. Facing justice one day at a time.

20

20

VENUS | Goddess of Love and Prosperity

The ancestor of Rome via her son Aeneas, who fled the destruction of the Trojan War for Italy. She was often symbolised by roses or myrtle.

THURSDAY

PHOEBE

Another 2 am. I knew every crack in my bedroom ceiling, every uncanny shape they could assume by every variation of light. White noise through my headphones, I tried to relax. This many days awake, and sleep experts said I should find it hard to focus, experience low motivation. Neurons misfiring, my brain could struggle with reality, hallucinate. But I was as focussed and motivated as hell, and much too aware of everything that was going on.