Kids Can Fly: Kids Can Fly

"Shut up you guys!" said Melanie.

The passage turned at a right angle and branched into two. Melanie took the right turning and went on. Her torch beam seemed insignificant as it stabbed like a needle into the pitch darkness ahead.

The floor began to slope downwards now, then it levelled out and went on for a while.

"Phew! This must have been some hospital!" said Logan.

"It was big alright," agreed Melanie.

"Are you sure this is still part of it?" asked Alex.

"Well," admitted Melanie, "I was beginning to wonder. I think we've walked further than the ruins now. We seem to be heading towards the new hospital, on the hill."

"You mean Little Noitroba?"

"I think so."

"Why would they have a passage between the two hospitals?" asked Logan.

"Beats me," said Melanie.

The floor began to slope upwards, as if to confirm what Melanie had said. It climbed steeply, and turned left, then came a flight of steps and another sloping passage. In the distance they could see a faint glimmering. It grew more distinct as they approached until it resolved into a small, square hole of light about the size of a child's head, with a thick wire grill.

"We'd better be quiet," whispered Melanie.

They crept up to the light and peered cautiously through. What they saw made them gasp.

It was a large room, painted a soft pink. The floor was carpeted with a thick wool, made of fluffy sheepskins, laid edge to edge, and the light seemed to be coming from everywhere. But the strangest thing was the ceiling. There, as gentle as clouds and innocent as kittens, at least a dozen newly-born babies were floating freely. They moved about, using their arms, or pushed off with their feet against the ceiling or each other. They bobbed about like balloons, happy and content, their faces peaceful with joy.

Melanie watched them for a while, then she sighed.

"I remember now," she said.