Keagan felt a tug. His mind, so occupied with helping the people here in this world, now felt the desire to go home to his own.

He was no longer needed here.

He was ready to go, but everything was a hive of activity around him. He wanted to say goodbye, but he didn’t want to interrupt, and he didn’t want to be delayed.

Coach was making an announcement to the city, informing people of what had happened and acknowledging the contribution of 47-G-2, who had spent years preparing for this … but had not lived to see the outcome. 55-A-2 was being taken away by her own security force. Befour was removing his battered mech-suit, telling anyone who would listen how he had saved the day. Eone had gone to the Dumping Ground to tell the Refuse what had happened.

With all the bustle, no one was paying Keagan any attention. So he slipped away.

He walked out of the teaching centre and along a corridor. As he felt the pull of home increase, he began to jog, upping his pace until he was running. He raced along corridor after corridor until he came to the room with the broken platform.

K-2 had been reunited with his co-supervisor, and the two of them were now overseeing repairs.

‘Despite the hole in the floor,’ said K-2, ‘the platform is operable. We have rerouted control to a portable tech-screen.’ He held it up. ‘We sent Eone down a few minutes ago. If you want, we can send you as well.’

‘Yes please,’ said Keagan, with relief. ‘I really don’t want to do any more climbing.’

‘It is the least we can do,’ said K-2, smiling at the other supervisor.

Keagan stood at the opposite end of the platform to the hole and descended, leaving the clone city.

Befour’s offsider was no longer in the bunker, although bits of his mech-suit were still connected to the broken hatch.

Down Keagan went.

At the bottom of the ladder, some of the Refuse were still gathered in the tunnel. Eone had been through and told them what had happened up above; then had moved on to see the Elders. For a moment, Keagan considered going to the Elders so he could say goodbye and have one last chance to see Eone. He wanted to. But the urge to go home was getting stronger.

‘You not scaredy!’ Scruff called out from the shadows. Keagan crouched down as she approached. ‘You brave.’ She gave him a playful punch on the shoulder.

‘Say goodbye to Eone for me,’ Keagan told her. ‘Tell her … just, tell her goodbye.’

‘Okay,’ she said with a squeal, and ran off.

Keagan knew where he had to go. He could feel it. The tug had become a strong pull, like he had an invisible rope tied around his middle and he was being yanked by it. He ran. He ran as fast as he could, fetid sewage splashing up around him. Wet again!

He wound his way through tunnel after tunnel. Then Keagan stopped. He was in the right place.

Up ahead, in the gloom, he could see a shimmering – like the heat rising from a road on a baking summer’s day. As he came closer, it became more distinct and an image took form within the distortion. He could see trees and grass and a blue sky. It looked like his backyard.

He shivered with anticipation and prepared to leap through.

‘WAIT!’

Keagan turned to see Eone, the soft glow of a tech-screen highlighting her face. She was pointing to the shimmering image, jaw hanging open. ‘Is that … is that the Outside?’

‘Yeah.’ Keagan grinned. ‘Outside.’

‘It’s … incredible.’

‘Wanna come?’ asked Keagan.

‘Yes,’ said Eone. ‘And no.’ She didn’t move.

‘I’m no good at goodbyes,’ Keagan said with a shrug.

‘Neither am I,’ admitted Eone.

She ran up and hugged him. He hugged her back. Those few seconds felt like an eternity.

Despite the pull of home, Keagan had a sudden thought – perhaps staying here with Eone wouldn’t be so bad. But how could he turn his back on his life?

Of course, he couldn’t.

Eone let go of him.

‘What are you waiting for?’ asked Eone.

‘Nothing,’ said Keagan, with a laugh.

And he leapt through the doorway.