Intentionality by Rebekah Johnson Page B

speak to Lily in a foreign language and not just one, almost ten. But as soon as the text and pictures began on the screen and the words were channelled through my earphones, I was taken over by the signs of shut down. My brain began thinking elsewhere as a tried and tested distraction technique.
    As a result I am feeling the need to both conceal and redeem myself. This has brought me to the air hole on Deck Zero. I need to find and borrow the lanterns and plan to spend as much time doing this as is possible, without getting caught!
    I have always been drawn to this area for its excitement, mystery, anonymity and most of all for the feeling of freedom it radiates.
    There is a viewing gallery above, a watchtower in effect. It has one-way glass so that the passage in and out of the hole can be monitored. I am told this is a necessity to keep the Seeders safe. It wouldn’t be to stop us escaping because we aren’t destined to be here for eternity. I suppose in that respect it may be to monitor the whereabouts of the Monos, who are expecting to live out their life in modern servitude. Seeders are also allowed to use the viewing gallery, however it is seldom used as the view is limited. It is however a lovely cave-like room, ideal to remove yourself from the timetable for a short while.
    I like to be down by ‘the water’s edge’, it is not I am sure as nice as paddling by the seashore, that first experience will be entirely magical. There is something mesmerising about the sound of the icy cold seawater lapping at the steel of the air hole. Occasionally you can taste the spray of an errant wave as it breaks too harshly against the steps. I am not allowed to place my feet over the side. Apparently this activates a warning signal. It must have been deactivated the time my sister went in, or possibly it did sound and the Mono that helped, turned it off when he saw her struggling. That would mean he has some command of security codes, so not just any Mono Prince Charming then!
    Some Monos are in responsible jobs. They are trusted and respected to associate with the Acers living in The Nest. I have heard that they are employed as secretaries, managers and commanders. This enables the Acers in those positions living in Intentionality the freedom to stay on the surface without the need to be stationed here on rotation. No Monos are allowed to associate with the Seeders for any other reason than to be courteous.
    I now face a problem. I didn’t expect the lanterns to be locked in a see through cupboard. I assume they are connected somehow to the power supply. They are standing to attention in a row, with their bulb blinking intermittently. Very organised and rather comical, as the light flashes on and off at a different time to the one next door, it looks like they are deep in conversation. I am both impressed and annoyed. Now I shall need to contact an Acer to ask permission, which means I can’t hide here avoiding social interaction any longer. To make it worse, I can feel the drop of temperature, which arrives just before the surface tranquillity of the air hole is broken. Soon there will be splashing and after that questions.
    â€œHi, don’t look up. I’m not supposed to be talking to you,” communicated a voice which was most definitely not my sister,
    â€œI think we have met before, did you recover quickly from your accident here? I wanted to find out but that would have got us both in trouble.”
    Now hang on a moment, my ears detected only the sound of water running on to metal, footsteps and breathing. So how is it that my brain has detected a voice inside this deck?
    Alternatively I could be persuaded into considering the possibility that I am going completely off the rails. I am, it seems, making up male voices that seem to know my sister! My hearing has been rendered completely inoperable by the beating of my petrified heart. I can hear nothing else and am now incapable of