Page 28 of Carousel

We continue to vibrate, and just when I think the ship might break apart, I have the sensation that we’re lifting off from the ground.

It’s in my stomach, which is doing flips like a suffocating fish.

It’s in my ears, which are popping like smoking wood.

It’s in my head, where all of my blood seems to be rushing at once.

Even the hairs on the back of my neck rise, knowing something unnatural is happening. Something that goes so far beyond anything humans thought would one day be possible.

And then I’m aware of Drake’s hand over mine, gently tugging my fingers away from the bench. I let him, and squeeze his hand tight.

“This is always the worst part,” he says, in my ear, over the noise. He must be right by me. “We will be all right.”

Gradually, the ship steadies and the noise dulls.

I open my eyes – and my breath escapes me.

Through the window beyond Cosmer, the sky is a bruise of purples and oranges.

I’ve never seen so much of it. It looks so deep, like you could just fall into it.

Cosmer calls out, “If you look down right about now, you’ll get a perfect view of Vikemy Village.”

My curiosity overpowers my fear, and I risk taking a glance.

I can see spindly trees, and the length of our beach split by jagged cliffs, and moving dots that must be people. They’re reassembling the fishing boats that the wave had scattered. In the distance is the tall grey shape of Temple, and we fly over coils of smaller, darker, haphazard-looking huts and houses. Hevalla loves circles because they represent equality, which is what it claims to stand for.

We’re moving too fast. I had a glimpse, and now it’s gone.

I never knew my village was surrounded by so many stretches of brown and yellow earth. It’s all so barren.

“It looks so small.”

“Everything’s small from up here,” Cosmer states, at an almost normal level now the ship is quieter. “Apart from the world. It’s huge. You wouldn’t believe it.”

I realise my sweaty fingers are still clasping Drake’s. I unlatch them.

“You’ve got an iron grip on you,” he says quietly, shaking out his wrist. But he doesn’t look annoyed. More – entertained.

I flush. “Sisters. Sorry. Did I hurt you?”

He flexes his fingers. “Look. These are all you.” He indicates the little red grooves where my nails must have dug in.

“Oh. I didn’t mean⁠—”

He leans into my ear.

“I like them,” he whispers, his cheek centimetres from mine.

I tilt my head to face him.

“Wh—”

Cosmer’s voice cuts through mine. “What are you two talking about back there?”

Drake doesn’t miss a beat.

“I was just saying how strange it is that Dezeeves has already fallen asleep. Is your captain a narcolept?”