Fierce September (36 page)

The thirteen others in her learning stratum tell Juno they too want to rebel and grow their hair. The Governance Companions allow this small subversion, but especially Majool, Hilto and Lenna make sure that nothing much else changes.

Vima confides in Juno that she is in love with Jov, who is married and from a different learning stratum. Juno is horrified – as far as she knows such a thing has never happened before on Taris. But is what they have been told of their history the truth? Because she can now read, Vima has been discovering information on the computers in the office where she works, causing both girls to have their doubts.

Then one day they discover a secret path while taking Hera on a walk to the bay. When Juno and Vima finally get to explore it, the track leads them to a secret communication centre. Vima decides she must try to make contact with Outside.

The first Juno knows of Vima’s mission is when she is woken in the night by a text on the secret phone Vima had found in a storeroom. Vima’s text says she’s on the mountain and that she’s hurt.

Juno enlists the help of her friends Silvern, Paz and Oban, who is in love with Vima, to help her rescue Vima. They climb the mountain and bring her down. She is unconscious and has lost blood. The communication centre has also been wrecked.

The friends call an emergency meeting of the entire community, but they won’t let Vima be taken to the medical centre because they know that whoever smashed the com-munication centre will try to stop her from talking.

While Vima is lying in the middle of the arena being tended to, Hera – who often seems to know things – reveals that the older girl is pregnant. When Jov stands up to say he is the father, Hilto goes into a wild rage with devastating repercussions.

Everyone wants to know if she sent the message to Outside but she can’t remember. Life goes on, but it becomes clear to the Tarians that the protective dome over their island is failing and with no help from Outside they are doomed.

Just when it seems that Taris’s time is up, Hera speaks of people coming in the big boat. Most of the islanders don’t believe her, but Oban prepares the docking gates just in case and keeps watch. Hera is right. But who will choose to go with the Outsiders, and who will choose to stay?

The assistance of Creative New Zealand is gratefully acknowledged by both the author and publisher.

A RANDOM HOUSE BOOK published by Random House New Zealand
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First published 2010

© 2010 Fleur Beale

The moral rights of the author have been asserted

ISBN 978 1 86979 528 3

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