One day, the Network went down and there
was silence. He took the headphones off. He’d long dispensed with books and
CD’s. He must wait it out. First he did his exercise routine from memory, then
he checked the Network was still down, it was. He made lunch. He checked the
Network was still down, it was. He had a shower. He checked the Network was
still down, it was. He drew back the curtain, natural light filled the room;
there was a lawn outside, boys played football. He checked the Network was
still down, it was. Starved of entertainment and lonely, he left his room and
walked downstairs into the empty lobby, opening the front door. The warm air
was filled with boyish shouts.
“What are you doing?” the concierge had
returned to his desk.“The Network’s down,” he mumbled without looking up, “I thought I’d go outside.”
“All right mate, be careful. Don’t go into the woods.”
He stepped out and looked left; at the bottom of the road was a fence. He stood opposite the lawn. The football boys intimidated him.
“Over ‘ere, mate!” one shouted.
Their ball had stopped at his feet; he kicked it to them hesitantly. Then he walked, gradually gaining in purpose. The sunlight made him squint. He used his smart phone to check the Network was still down, it was. He reached the fence and looked across a field at the woods. He saw young grass beneath strewn rubbish. He heard the laugh of a yaffle and saw the flash of bright wings as the woodpecker took off. Finches played in budding trees and daffodils broke through mud. He breathed gentle air. The woods looked so inviting. He didn’t know what form their danger took, he’d never been told.
He closed his eyes, opened them, took a
step forward from tarmac to soil, then he checked his smartphone to see if the
Network was still down, it was back! He turned quickly, away from the woods and
the birds, running passed the football game on the lawn. Such a close thing, he
couldn’t believe how stupidly he’d behaved. He rushed back indoors and up to his
room, never to be seen again.