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Authors: Malorie Blackman
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laughing so much, I started to sneeze. ‘Don’t worry. It’s not real. None of it was real.’
‘What’re you talking about?’
‘It’s just a simulation. A film crew spent months filming all around this town for Mum and the VIMS project. Mum’s team wanted to test VIMS’ responses to various different situations without really exposing him to the world outside.’
‘But we just saw VIMS go into Matt’s garden,’ Liam protested. ‘I saw him empty the bin and throw the potted plant through the window.’
‘It wasn’t real. VIMS uses the stock footage of the town and then reprograms the images based on what you ask him to do.’
Liam still looked sceptical.
‘I’m telling you that none of it was real,’ I said, exasperated. ‘That’s why it’s called
virtual
reality, not actual reality. I’m not too sure how all the ins and outs of it work, but believe me, when VIMS is in simulation mode he can do anything without moving outside the testing area at Mum’s work place. Besides, is it likely that I’d really do that to Matt’s house? Would I really get VIMS to throw things through the window? Someone could get hurt.’
Liam scrutinized me. He was trying to decide whether or not I was on another of my wind-ups! But not this time. This time I was totally serious. I think it was my last argument that finally won Liam over. His expression cleared and he turned back to the screen.
‘Can VIMS really do all that – in a simulation?’ Liam whistled.
I nodded.
‘So it wasn’t real?’
‘None of it. Although I must admit, part of me would like to see Matt get what’s coming to him,’ I couldn’t help adding.
‘It’s quite good,’ Liam stated.
Which, coming from him, was high praise indeed.
‘Honestly! As if I’d do a thing like that.’ My smile faded.
In fact, the more I thought about what he’d just believed, the more annoyed I got. When I came to think about it, it wasn’t very flattering. Did Liam really believe that I’d do something so destructive, so
vindictive
? Matt had provoked me enough but I wasn’t about to retaliate like that.
‘I think you should pack the whole thing up now, before your mum comes home or we get caught, or break something,’ Liam said at last. ‘It’s very good, but let’s call it a day.’
‘OK.’ I shut down the system and pulled off the VR glove . ‘You must admit though, it
was
fun. I mean, imagining that it was all for real – it was fun.’
Liam gave a slow smile. ‘I guess so.’
‘As they say, revenge is sweet but revenge with VIMS’ help is pure strawberries and ice cream!’
The phone rang.
Liam left the room first, with me bringing up the rear. I think to be honest that Liam was glad to leave the room. It was a lot to take in all at once. He kept glancing back over his shoulder as if he still couldn’t
quite
believe that what he’d just seen wasn’t in the slightest bit real. When we got downstairs, I picked up the phone.
‘Dominic, is that you?’
‘Hi, Pops.’ I grinned at the phone in my hand. Strange how just hearing my granddad’s voice always made me smile. ‘How’re you? When are we going to see you next?’
‘Where have you been? Jack and I have been phoning all afternoon.’ There was no answering smile in Granddad’s voice. In fact it was just the opposite.
My heart lurched in my chest. Something was wrong. ‘What’s the matter, Pops?’
‘It’s your mum,’ Pops replied grimly. ‘There’s been an accident.’
Chapter Eleven
Out of Control
LIAM INSISTED ON staying with me until Pops came to pick me up and take me to the hospital. I sat on the second-to-last stair, staring at the front door and willing Pops to arrive.
‘You don’t have to do this. I’m OK,’ I told Liam, more than once.
‘I know that,’ he replied. ‘But I want to do it. Didn’t your granddad give you any clue about what happened to your mum?’
‘I’ve already told you everything he said,’ I snapped. ‘Mum
‘What’re you talking about?’
‘It’s just a simulation. A film crew spent months filming all around this town for Mum and the VIMS project. Mum’s team wanted to test VIMS’ responses to various different situations without really exposing him to the world outside.’
‘But we just saw VIMS go into Matt’s garden,’ Liam protested. ‘I saw him empty the bin and throw the potted plant through the window.’
‘It wasn’t real. VIMS uses the stock footage of the town and then reprograms the images based on what you ask him to do.’
Liam still looked sceptical.
‘I’m telling you that none of it was real,’ I said, exasperated. ‘That’s why it’s called
virtual
reality, not actual reality. I’m not too sure how all the ins and outs of it work, but believe me, when VIMS is in simulation mode he can do anything without moving outside the testing area at Mum’s work place. Besides, is it likely that I’d really do that to Matt’s house? Would I really get VIMS to throw things through the window? Someone could get hurt.’
Liam scrutinized me. He was trying to decide whether or not I was on another of my wind-ups! But not this time. This time I was totally serious. I think it was my last argument that finally won Liam over. His expression cleared and he turned back to the screen.
‘Can VIMS really do all that – in a simulation?’ Liam whistled.
I nodded.
‘So it wasn’t real?’
‘None of it. Although I must admit, part of me would like to see Matt get what’s coming to him,’ I couldn’t help adding.
‘It’s quite good,’ Liam stated.
Which, coming from him, was high praise indeed.
‘Honestly! As if I’d do a thing like that.’ My smile faded.
In fact, the more I thought about what he’d just believed, the more annoyed I got. When I came to think about it, it wasn’t very flattering. Did Liam really believe that I’d do something so destructive, so
vindictive
? Matt had provoked me enough but I wasn’t about to retaliate like that.
‘I think you should pack the whole thing up now, before your mum comes home or we get caught, or break something,’ Liam said at last. ‘It’s very good, but let’s call it a day.’
‘OK.’ I shut down the system and pulled off the VR glove . ‘You must admit though, it
was
fun. I mean, imagining that it was all for real – it was fun.’
Liam gave a slow smile. ‘I guess so.’
‘As they say, revenge is sweet but revenge with VIMS’ help is pure strawberries and ice cream!’
The phone rang.
Liam left the room first, with me bringing up the rear. I think to be honest that Liam was glad to leave the room. It was a lot to take in all at once. He kept glancing back over his shoulder as if he still couldn’t
quite
believe that what he’d just seen wasn’t in the slightest bit real. When we got downstairs, I picked up the phone.
‘Dominic, is that you?’
‘Hi, Pops.’ I grinned at the phone in my hand. Strange how just hearing my granddad’s voice always made me smile. ‘How’re you? When are we going to see you next?’
‘Where have you been? Jack and I have been phoning all afternoon.’ There was no answering smile in Granddad’s voice. In fact it was just the opposite.
My heart lurched in my chest. Something was wrong. ‘What’s the matter, Pops?’
‘It’s your mum,’ Pops replied grimly. ‘There’s been an accident.’
Chapter Eleven
Out of Control
LIAM INSISTED ON staying with me until Pops came to pick me up and take me to the hospital. I sat on the second-to-last stair, staring at the front door and willing Pops to arrive.
‘You don’t have to do this. I’m OK,’ I told Liam, more than once.
‘I know that,’ he replied. ‘But I want to do it. Didn’t your granddad give you any clue about what happened to your mum?’
‘I’ve already told you everything he said,’ I snapped. ‘Mum
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