There was a heavy mist, so thick that it seemed almost on the point of coalescing
into droplets and falling to the ground as rain. It hung motionless in the
stillness of the grey gloomy air.
Perhaps it was the atmospheric conditions that
gave an eerie clarity to the hoarse yells and dull thuds that Daniel Page could
hear to his right. He was traversing a long bank of earth that made do as a
pathway for those seeking the shortest route between the Physics building and
Ormond College. The noise he heard was coming from the University’s main
sporting ground, immediately adjacent to his path. Evidently the College’s
first eighteen were dealing satisfactorily with the day’s task, judging by the
exultant demeanour of the red, gold and black clad horde swarming to the north
west of the boundary fence. It was a spectacle he would normally have lingered
to savour. However, he didn’t break stride as he headed for the back gate of
the College. He had received important news, and he had lots to do.
Matteo had turned up unexpectedly at the
Physics building, almost bursting with excitement. Daniel’s surprise at his unheralded
visit had turned to consternation when Matteo earnestly explained he hadn’t
been able to communicate with Daniel electronically because – and at this point
Matteo glanced around furtively, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper
– he’d received a message from Anna. Daniel knew immediately that the message
would relate to their attempt to help Cam. His heart sank.
….
Daniel’s mood changed as he read. First there was a surge of anger at the news of the attack on Cam, and even more intense
anger that an attack on Anna might have been intended. He quickly resolved to fly
over and get the job finished, no matter what. Once he reached his decision, he
felt a strange sense of exhilaration. It was all complete foolishness, of
course, travelling across the planet to look at a few papers that almost
certainly wouldn’t contain anything. Also, he’d have to call in quite a few favours
at very short notice. And the paper would have to be put on hold. But none of
that mattered. Multi-dimensional space wouldn’t disappear while he was gone.
His friends needed him.