dunes outside. Feeling foolish, Hannah watched anxiously for what seemed like ages, when
suddenly her heart leapt… Could it be?
There was an awkward amazed silence.
“I’m going out there.” Hannah exclaimed suddenly.
“No. We have to tell someone. A teacher or a parent.” Ming implored.
They won’t believe us.” Hannah said forcefully. “I’m tired of being so cooped up in here. Just
look out there. They must be wrong. How will we ever know if somebody doesn’t try?”
“Justin, your father is a Cyber engineer. Is there some way we can get into the tunnels and
out?” asked Hannah.
Feeling excited by the unknown for the first time, Justin thought carefully. “I can get my
father’s electronic access tag. Meet me by the school gates tomorrow. We should be able to do it if
we leave by six. I’m going with you.”
The next day, Hannah and Justin trudged silently and anxiously through the tunnels under
their school, followed by their friends. As they reached the nearest vent, which would take them
outside under the civic classroom, they paused. “Are you sure you want to do this? You could die
out there…” Ming pleaded. Even though her heart was beating wildly, Hannah was determined.
Justin wouldn’t be dissuaded either.
Suddenly, the city’s warning sirens wailed. Their movements had set off the alarms…
It would be minutes, even seconds before they were caught. With no time to lose, Hannah
and Justin moved quickly. Swiping the card, they dashed through the filter vents and found
themselves spiraling down a tube, battered and buffeted by the air pressure which blew them
down a tunnel until they landed with a painful thud. Hannah reached out to steady herself and
found her fingers sliding through the dry, gritty grains of sand. Outside. They were actually
outside!
To their immense surprise, despite a tingling sensation, they could breathe normally. They
took deep, gulping breaths and were speechless with amazement and delight. For what seemed like
ages, they sat silently, taking in the heat on their skin and the textures around them.
Then, they started to search…
In GD-125, Ming and Chloe were being interrogated by the red-faced Commander of
Cyber Security.
“DO YOU understand the seriousness of what you have done It can ONLY be called a CRIME
This is the MOST OUTRAGEOUS breach of security that has EVER occurred in the HISTORY of
this city HOW could you have allowed your friends to risk their lives and THE WHOLE CITY
by OPENING the vents this DISGRACEFUL and IRRESPONSIBLE conduct shows the COMPLETE
FAILURE of our Civic Education Module WHO else was involved in this? I expect FULL DISCL……”
the children turned to see what had suddenly silenced him.
He was dumbfounded, amazed, speechless and stunned.
A small dot on the security cameras grew larger and larger as they all peered at it. They gaped
and gasped. The Commander could barely believe his eyes…
Hannah and Justin were walking back alive and well, and by their side the unbelievable sight
of a living, breathing, scampering, four-foot high…wild horse.
