dreamweaving is slipping away and what I can do is next to useless.’
‘Then,’ Dante says in a grim tone, ‘you need to practise and get better.’
‘And the Badlands?’
‘There might be records somewhere about what happened last time that will help.’
I grind my teeth. ‘Let me guess. In the crappy building that’s currently being overrun by the Department.’
‘That’s the one.’ He sighs. ‘There’s nothing we can do right now. It just means you have even more incentive to learn what you can do. You have to promise me you won’t do anything stupid like plunging into the Badlands on your own.’
I don’t immediately respond. If he hadn’t telephoned when he had, I may very well have done just that.
‘Zoe,’ Dante warns.
‘Okay,’ I say finally. ‘I promise.’
‘One thing at a time.’
I nod. ‘Yes. You’re right.’
There’s the sound of a muffled knock. ‘I have to go,’ Dante says. ‘My contact is here.’
‘Oh. Okay.’ I’m strangely reluctant to let him go. ‘Call me later if you get anything.’
‘I will.’ There’s a long pause. ‘It would be better if you were here in person to meet him. I suppose it’s just as well I only booked one hotel room.’
I blink rapidly. Er…
Dante chuckles softly. ‘Take care, Zoe. Don’t do anything stupid.’
‘Only if you do the same,’ I warn.
‘Of course.’ He hangs up.
I stay where I am for some time, looking at the phone and feeling bereft.
***
Needing to release some of my pent-up energy – as well as ensure I’m tired enough to sleep tonight – I pull on my leggings and trainers and head out for a jog. I have to take it slowly to avoid making the pain in my back worse, but it’s good to be out in the fresh air. I missed this when I was stuck indoors for months on end, so there’s no way a little dream-induced backache is going to stop me now.
I raise a hand to Mr Reynolds as I exit my cul-de-sac. He waves back bemusedly. He still seems confused that I can make it out of the house. For a short while, the Chairman trots alongside me. By the time I reach the busy main road, however, he’s given up in favour of rolling around in a patch of dust on someone’s driveway.
It’s a lot cooler here in the real world than it is in the Dreamlands; the sky is an overcast grey rather than filled with brilliant golden sunshine. There’s something more pleasant about the outdoors here, however. I’m not sure whether it’s because it is more real or whether it just feels more real. Either way, as my lungs expand and I trot round the familiar streets of my childhood, I feel my spirit lightening. It might only be temporary but I definitely need it.
I still keep one eye trained on the road, looking for cars which might be out of place. The Mayor tracked me down to this part of the world so it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that the remainder of the Department will do the same. But no one who passes me seems intent on anything other than their own lives, from the harassed mum with screaming kids in the back seat to the haggard-looking businessman who’s already late for his meeting and is speeding down the street. The normalcy of it all is incredibly satisfying.
Unwilling to go too far in case my back seizes up, I veer left to make a large loop and end up back where I started. When I go down Antler Avenue, I’m taken aback by the large number of cars parked at the side of the road. Either someone’s having a huge house party – which is unlikely at this time on a Thursday – or something else is going on. The only thing I can think of in this part of the town is the doctor’s surgery but that has a substantial car park so there’s no reason for vehicles to be parked on the street. Curious, I head towards them.
By the time I reach the first cars, two people are standing on the pavement. ‘You too?’ exclaims the first woman, clasping her throat as she addresses her companion. ‘It sounds awful
‘Then,’ Dante says in a grim tone, ‘you need to practise and get better.’
‘And the Badlands?’
‘There might be records somewhere about what happened last time that will help.’
I grind my teeth. ‘Let me guess. In the crappy building that’s currently being overrun by the Department.’
‘That’s the one.’ He sighs. ‘There’s nothing we can do right now. It just means you have even more incentive to learn what you can do. You have to promise me you won’t do anything stupid like plunging into the Badlands on your own.’
I don’t immediately respond. If he hadn’t telephoned when he had, I may very well have done just that.
‘Zoe,’ Dante warns.
‘Okay,’ I say finally. ‘I promise.’
‘One thing at a time.’
I nod. ‘Yes. You’re right.’
There’s the sound of a muffled knock. ‘I have to go,’ Dante says. ‘My contact is here.’
‘Oh. Okay.’ I’m strangely reluctant to let him go. ‘Call me later if you get anything.’
‘I will.’ There’s a long pause. ‘It would be better if you were here in person to meet him. I suppose it’s just as well I only booked one hotel room.’
I blink rapidly. Er…
Dante chuckles softly. ‘Take care, Zoe. Don’t do anything stupid.’
‘Only if you do the same,’ I warn.
‘Of course.’ He hangs up.
I stay where I am for some time, looking at the phone and feeling bereft.
***
Needing to release some of my pent-up energy – as well as ensure I’m tired enough to sleep tonight – I pull on my leggings and trainers and head out for a jog. I have to take it slowly to avoid making the pain in my back worse, but it’s good to be out in the fresh air. I missed this when I was stuck indoors for months on end, so there’s no way a little dream-induced backache is going to stop me now.
I raise a hand to Mr Reynolds as I exit my cul-de-sac. He waves back bemusedly. He still seems confused that I can make it out of the house. For a short while, the Chairman trots alongside me. By the time I reach the busy main road, however, he’s given up in favour of rolling around in a patch of dust on someone’s driveway.
It’s a lot cooler here in the real world than it is in the Dreamlands; the sky is an overcast grey rather than filled with brilliant golden sunshine. There’s something more pleasant about the outdoors here, however. I’m not sure whether it’s because it is more real or whether it just feels more real. Either way, as my lungs expand and I trot round the familiar streets of my childhood, I feel my spirit lightening. It might only be temporary but I definitely need it.
I still keep one eye trained on the road, looking for cars which might be out of place. The Mayor tracked me down to this part of the world so it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that the remainder of the Department will do the same. But no one who passes me seems intent on anything other than their own lives, from the harassed mum with screaming kids in the back seat to the haggard-looking businessman who’s already late for his meeting and is speeding down the street. The normalcy of it all is incredibly satisfying.
Unwilling to go too far in case my back seizes up, I veer left to make a large loop and end up back where I started. When I go down Antler Avenue, I’m taken aback by the large number of cars parked at the side of the road. Either someone’s having a huge house party – which is unlikely at this time on a Thursday – or something else is going on. The only thing I can think of in this part of the town is the doctor’s surgery but that has a substantial car park so there’s no reason for vehicles to be parked on the street. Curious, I head towards them.
By the time I reach the first cars, two people are standing on the pavement. ‘You too?’ exclaims the first woman, clasping her throat as she addresses her companion. ‘It sounds awful
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