It was a proud moment. He had finally earned the privilege of serving his wonderful Pendraken and his City above ground!

  DEN003 was assigned a specific set of alleyways to clean Under the Hill each night. Not the streets, yet. That would come one day, perhaps. But it was such an incredible privilege to be allowed to serve his Pendraken and his City by cleaning the alleys!

  As the end of Sunner approached, the nights grew longer, and he was allowed to serve his Pendraken and his City even longer each time. He could now do an even better job, having a longer time to clean. He prided himself in leaving his alleys spotless! All because of his gratitude!

  The strong brushes the Helper had attached to the front of DEN003’s body scooped up every speck of mud and waste from the ground that he could reach, storing it in the big bin that sat between his pod and the brushes. Kerbs were a problem, of course, as he was unable to mount them. But the brushes could reach most of what his pod could not. There weren’t many kerbs in the alleyways, at least.

  His grey poncho protected him from the Suddenlies that sometimes hit at night, as well as blending him into the background. DEN003 was so very proud of serving the Pendraken and the City, but to be seen doing it would take away some of his pleasure. He was a secret agent, doing his duty without anyone even knowing! The camouflage of his poncho helped him serve unseen!

  A vague memory surfaced – there was once a time in his life when he didn’t even know Greymen existed. Now, he had the great honour of being one! He was so grateful!

  It was wiser to start at the Boundary – where Over the Hill met Under the Hill – because that meant he could get home before the shocks became too strong. He welcomed the painful reminder of the shocks. He was grateful for the pain. He didn’t dare run the risk of running out of air or battery. Not only might he die and not be able to serve his City anymore, but someone might see him after he’d died, and discover that DEN003 was a Greyman! How sad it would be to have some of his honour in serving taken away from him, even in his death.

  A spike of adrenaline raced through him – there was a Tall hurrying up the road towards the Boundary! For that’s what they were called, those who were unfortunate enough not to have pods, but who weren’t Helpers.

  Should he hide? No, that would not be needed, for the Tall turned her head away from him. But he was curious. Something stirred within him. A surprising thought. He hadn’t always been in his wonderful pod. Once, he’d been a Tall, like she was! What was it like? He didn’t remember. Maybe if he watched her for a moment, he’d remember, and be even more grateful for his pod.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  He strained his neck to look up at her. Talls were indeed so very tall! How could they cope with being up so high, instead of safely close to the ground like he was?

  The moon broke through the clouds, lighting up her face for a moment. That face triggered something deep within him. First, he felt pleasure. He was glad that his family had allowed him to live this wonderful life that was denied to them!

  But that face.

  Kayda. His sister. Like a Sunner Suddenly, the world he left behind came crashing in around him. His mam. His dad. His sister. He loved them! He missed them!

  Denzin had legs somewhere inside that yassing pod that he’d been stuffed into! He longed to use them to run after her. If only he could spit out that mouthpiece, he’d be able to think clearly again and call out to her for help.

  Racing as fast as his pod would allow him to go – the only speed it ever travelled – he pursued his sister. Until he could go no further. He willed himself forward with every bit of desire within him, but there he sat, two centimetres from the ground, prevented from moving even a millimetre further by the tiny ridge that delineated the Boundary. Because they needed to clean, Greymen could enter what he’d always called ‘No-Man’s Zone. They were the only ones who could! But his pod couldn’t pass that ridge that made up the Boundary any more than it could pass the rim that surrounded the door to Home, or the one that surrounded his Bed.

  ‘Keep trying to fight it, my Child,’ the Voice came. ‘You’re getting stronger. I am here.’

  ‘Help me, Senda!’ Denzin cried out silently, feeling anything but strong.

  After his cry, he took a deep breath.

  DEN003 turned his attention back to serving his City and his Pandrakon, as he should. For he was so grateful to them. He did his best job cleaning the alleyways that he used to walk when he had legs. Not that he remembered what walking was like. Nor why he’d want to.

  ~~~

  Some nights later – nights were wonderful, because you were able to serve your Pendraken and your City unseen! – as DEN003 once more started cleaning the alleyways near the Boundary, he saw another Tall. This Tall wasn’t hurrying, scuttling away on those spindly things that carried them around. He wasn’t sure what they were even called anymore. He thought he used to know. But he was so grateful that he didn’t. He loved his pod. He was so grateful!

  The Tall was going just the right speed, like he was.

  DEN003 remembered that he didn’t want to look up, but he also remembered that he didn’t want to lose the honour of serving unseen. He fought his instinct and stretched his neck as high as he could for a quick glance at the Tall. He’d heard that his poncho made good camouflage if he hid in a shadow, and trusted what he remembered.

  The Tall was closer than he thought. And she looked right into his eyes.

  “Denzin?!” she whispered. “Is that really you?!”

  His pride and fear and horror and distress overwhelmed the peace he always felt. But try as he might, her eyes bound themselves to his own as firmly as his hands were bound to his handles.

  His friend.

  A name came to him.

  Chimma.