Daylight Runner by Oisin McGann

Author:Oisin McGann
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins

Section 14/24: DEMOLITION

ANA KIROA SAT ON the grass with her eyes closed, Julio’s arms around her, listening to the sounds of birds. A gentle breeze ruffled her soft hair, mixing with his warm breath on her neck and the side of her face. Leaning back against his chest, she drew in a long breath, relishing the mingled scents of fresh grass, pine, and a dozen different flowers. Some, like tulips and chrysanthemums, poppies and sunflowers, she knew from her walks in the conservation section of the hydroponic gardens; most she had never smelled before.

The sound of the wind in the trees brought a smile to her face, and keeping her eyes closed, she imagined herself on a wide, open hillside on the edge of a forest, looking out over a balmy, sunny landscape of untamed countryside. This was as far removed as she could possibly be from the utilitarian walls of the classroom. The sunlight was warm and bright on her eyelids. Wiggling her bare toes in the grass, she turned and kissed Julio long and hard on the mouth. A soft bell chimed, and he pulled his face back, smiling at her.

“Time’s up; somebody else’s turn now.” He gave an exaggerated frown.

“Damn.”

She opened her eyes and gazed resignedly around her at the screens that made up the walls and ceiling, showing the hillside as it had once been. They were in a private simulation chamber; hidden ventilation ducts blew the fake breeze across the room, and the carefully regulated moisture and temperature levels mixed with manufactured scents to complete the illusion. Surround-sound speakers carried the sounds of birds across the imaginary sky, along with the rustling sound of trees that had become extinct centuries before.

Even the grass was synthetic, a gently sloping bank three meters square; they’d had to leave their shoes at the door. She patted the creases out of the floral “summer” dress she’d worn for the occasion. It was the most expensive thing she owned.

Time in one of these chambers did not come cheap either; she had never been in one before. But Julio worked for the owners, Internal Climate, and could get concessions. And he loved treating her. His square-jawed face and stocky body disguised a true nerd who reveled in the chaos mathematics of air currents and thermal patterns. Ana had never met anyone who could make ventilation sound so romantic.

“That was fantastic! Thank you.” She hugged him as they walked over to the door. “God, you can just imagine what it was like….”

Julio nodded. “And to think you could just go out and do it,” he wondered wistfully. “Sit on a hillside—a real one—for free!”

They sat on the seats provided, putting on their shoes. As soon as Ana had slipped on her wildly impractical stiletto pumps, she pushed Julio up against the wall for one last, passionate kiss as the images disappeared from the screens. When they broke apart, the scenes had changed; dark clouds, like swirls of ink in water, were looming over a mountainous region, with pulsing glows of lightning in their depths.

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