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The Drought
couldn’t find you… I love you, please remember I love you!’
‘No, Mum, no!’
The floor began to shake violently and the children fell to their
knees. The spacecraft began to move. They were slowly rising off the
ground. The children could no longer hear their mother’s voice.
They sat, quivering, before crumbling into each other’s arms, and
there they remained, and quietly they cried.
‘
Tea slept peacefully, her head resting on Patrick’s lap. He stroked
her hair and looked out into the unending universe. All Patrick
could see were twinkling specks shining against the inky black space.
This was the sky he had always known, the sky in which his father
lived, and where his mumwould soon be. Patrick knew that wherever
he went, they would be there.
Tea stirred. ‘Paddy, are we gonna be okay?’
‘Yeah,’ said Patrick, ‘we’re gonna be okay.’
‘
9