I stagger back, bumping into my cuckoo. My hands grip onto whatever they can find. Ezra shuffles from my side and edges his way behind the spider, appearing to know the machine is only interested in me. Its front pincer rises. My hands go to my throat. Its fingers open as the metal arm extends towards my neck. I have nowhere to go. All I can do is turn my head and wait for the thing to choke me. Something tugs my sleeve. I look back. The spider has hold of my overall and is gently pulling me away from the sculpture.
I look to Ezra. He frowns, shaking his head as he creeps away, then moves with a lightness in his step that had eluded him earlier. The spider leads me back into the main room. We make our way slowly around the perimeter towards the entrance to the sleeping quarters. We draw close to Ezra. He stands back against the wall, gazing in disbelief. His mouth opens but I hold up my finger to stop any words from disturbing the strange peace.
My new-found friend takes me past the dormitory. It stops at the steps leading up to the surrounding walkway, raising its front leg before placing it carefully on the first step. With more care than seems necessary, it takes me to the top then turns left to elevator. A body lies slumped by the door.
I stop, but the spider urges me forward. I recognize the sleeping form of Reuben. The spider nudges his leg. He grunts and struggles to sit. Reuben wipes his eyes with the palms of his hands and peers straight at our metal friend. He jumps, but before he can speak, I whisper as loudly as I dare. ‘Reuben. It’s me.’
Reuben blinks. ‘What the—?’ He kicks with his feet but they slide across the smooth floor.
‘Don’t panic, it’s on our side… I think.’ The spider releases its grip on my sleeve. I stoop to help Reuben to his feet.
‘Is that,’ he stares at the machine, ‘Spoons?’
‘No, there are no scorch marks, but perhaps Namika is controlling it somehow.’
Reuben keeps his back to the wall. ‘How would we know?’
‘It’s not holding us by our throats?’ I look into its black eyes. ‘It has to be them. If it was Mother’s, it would have raised the alarm.’
Reuben points to the elevator and back to the spider. ‘Are we to go in that?’ Its front leg lifts, extending a claw towards the pad. A light glows and the door swishes open. We exchange a glance and step inside and turn back. Reuben waves his hand. ‘Are you coming?’
But the spider stands its ground. It twitches. Its hind legs tap, followed by the next set. Its metal legs sound like the cold rain hammering down on our shelter on New Dawn. The pace quickens. I look to Reuben as the doors close. ‘I think it’s switching sides.’
Reuben points to the moving lights on the panel. ‘We’re moving. Do you think she’ll know we’re coming?’
‘I don’t know.’
Reuben tries to smile as the elevator slows. ‘I guess we’ll soon find out.’
We watch, daring not to breathe, as the doors slide open. A lone figure awaits on the other side. ‘Ada!’ I can’t stop myself and jump out to hug her. She squirms in my arms. I release my embrace, ‘Sorry. It’s just that I’m so pleased… we’re so pleased to see you.’
She shuffles on the spot, looking to the floor. ‘A spider brought me here, but I don’t know why.’
‘Well, now you know. Where are we?’
‘Cloud Three. This is—’
‘Rebekah!’ I take her hand. ‘That’s it. You have to take us to Rebekah.’
She looks at her hand in mine but doesn’t pull away. Her pale lips quiver. ‘Rebekah? Are you sure?’
‘Yes… I’m sure.’ I look around, my pulse racing. We’re in a circular corridor similar to Cloud Two, where Solomon had revealed the secrets of the Skydeck. ‘Which way? Can we go now?’
Ada turns and takes a few paces. She stops and looks back. ‘This way.’
Reuben glances down the corridor. ‘Is Beth with her?’
Ada shakes her head. ‘I don’t know. Another girl is there, but I don’t know her name.’
He grabs my arm. ‘It has to be Beth.’
Ada’s leg jiggles. She looks both ways. ‘Please. We go now. You can’t be seen here.’ She heads off at a pace and I find I’m almost skipping with the thought of seeing Rebekah.
Ada stops at a small unmarked door. She places her hand on the pad; her face whiter than usual, the muscles tight on her face. I glance behind, thinking I’ve heard the patter of spider’s legs, but the corridor is empty. Ada grabs my sleeve and pulls me through the opening door. The three of us squeeze into a narrow space between two doors as the first shuts. Ada points to a row of red lights but says nothing as if I’m supposed to know what they mean. She presses back against the wall. Her chest rises and falls as she unsuccessfully tries to slow her breathing.
‘Are you okay?’ I glance to Reuben standing beside her.
He takes her arm. ‘Ada?’ Ada nods, holding my gaze for what must be the first time. She opens her mouth to speak, but then appears to forget what she wants to say.
The red lights turn green. The second door slides open. Ada takes a deep breath and steps inside.