Activity

Okay, my next part is kind of long, and it’s just the rough draft, but it’s ready:

“They bring in new people every few days now,” one of the government officials said to her friend as they stood outside by one of the lampposts. “I’ve even seen them take children into that dreaded tower. What will they do next?”

“I don’t know what they’re trying to accomplish,” her friend agreed. “Rebellion, really! Wouldn’t we have noticed?”
No, Sandrye answered silently, watching from a few feet away. No, you wouldn’t notice. And you never will, until you realize that the city is crumbling around us. Then maybe you’ll want to help.

The two officials continued talking, but Sandrye shut them out, glancing up at the sun to figure out the time. He didn’t like to rely on clocks, none of which (in his opinion) ever told the exact right time.

It was almost nine, and the few people who had remained outside were returning home. And once everyone had left, Sandrye would be able to leave too, and get everything ready for the rebels’ meeting. The only hard part would be getting everything without the government realizing he’d broken into their building to get it.

He’d always left his stuff there, because no-one would bother looking for it and it would be mostly safe. Besides, he had nothing important and nowhere else to put it. It only caused trouble when meetings and early closings clashed.

Finally alone, Sandrye headed for the government building, which could be easily spotted from nearly everywhere in the small, ruined city. It wasn’t quite as run-down as many other buildings, as the government naturally claimed it one of the most important.

The gate was locked, but Sandrye was so used to it that he didn’t even notice. He pulled out a slip of paper, folded it until it resembled an origami sparrow, and flew it over the gate. The alarms went off immediately.

Taking advantage of the noise, Sandrye climbed easily up the wall and landed softly on the grass inside. Because the door would obviously be locked too, he went around to the back of the building and picked the lock on one of the windows. Then he slipped carefully inside.