Haedon crouched behind a sturdy cactus, taking care to stay away from its spiky protrusions while keeping a beady eye on the grey fox a few metres away from him. In his hand, he gripped a sharp dagger tightly. The dagger was a present from Aunt Savyla on his sixteenth birthday a few months ago. On the Surface, once children turned sixteen, they were viewed as adults and considered as independent individuals expected to fend for themselves. The dagger was Aunt Savyla’s coming-of-age present for Haedon. It’s for you to protect yourself, she told him. I won’t always be around.

Haedon had been practising with the dagger at home, throwing it at a wooden board salvaged from a dump site. He had also attempted stabbing objects such as cupboards and doors, to Aunt Savyla’s chagrin. Once, while escaping from a rabid dog, he had struck at the canine, and managed to get in a few nicks.

Haedon was at the Commons. Situated adjacent to his town, it was a vast expanse of desert scrub that stretched bleakly as far as the eye could see. Shimmering mirages danced upon the sepia coloured sand, while rugged desert plants such as aloe vera, Mexican feather frass and yellow bells dotted the barren landscape.

Haedon was trying his luck at catching anything that could be eaten. It was not his first rodeo. He had visited the Commons several times with his dagger in the past few months, but hunting was much more difficult than it sounded. He had spotted wild animals on a few occasions but catching them was an entirely different kettle of fish altogether. Once, he almost had his hands on a desert fowl but it squawked and flew away, to his frustration.

It had been a long time since Haedon had consumed any meat, decent or otherwise. Meat was a delicacy, reserved for the über rich, all of whom lived underground, safe from the hazardous effects of the sun’s radiation. Only peasants and vagabonds, and those who worked for the Authorities, made their homes on the Surface.

Haedon imagined the grey fox on a spit, slowly being roasted to perfection, the rich smell perfuming the air. The thought caused him to salivate. Steady, he thought to himself. Don’t startle it. He slowed his breathing to make himself as unobtrusive as possible.

The grey fox moved closer to Haedon’s hiding place, oblivious to the impending danger. It scrabbled about noisily in the desert sand with its snout for anything edible.

When the creature was within reach, Haedon took a deep breath silently before pouncing on it and stabbing the creature’s neck with his dagger. The fox wriggled desperately to escape from Haedon’s clutches, and Haedon gasped as the fox dug its sharp claws into his arms. Crying out in pain and vexation, Haedon jabbed at the fox indiscriminately. He stopped only when he realised that the animal was in it its death throes. He sat back and watched the fox slowly becoming motionless. Aunt Sav and I will have a good dinner tonight, thought Haedon as he picked up the carcass gingerly and stuffed it into his tattered canvas bag. Perhaps Kyara can come over for dinner too, the thought putting a smile on his face.

Whistling cheerfully, Haedon made his way home. He could not remember the last time he had eaten meat, and imagined Aunt Savyla’s expression when she saw his catch. We can roast the fox, and then keep the bones to make a stock, he thought.

Haedon lived with his Aunt Savyla on level ten of a crumbling block of apartments. The block had been built more than a hundred years ago, and the lift had stopped functioning when Haedon was a child. Fossil fuels were precious, and the Authorities did not allow them to be used for something as mundane as lifts. Surface dwellers could walk up and down the stairs, they declared.

“Haedon!”

Haedon, who had been checking that the grey fox was still safely stored in his bag, looked up.

“Hi, Kyara!” Haedon responded, waving at the girl.

Kyara had been Haedon’s best friend since kindergarten. She was the class geek and was good at most subjects except languages. English, in particular, is a mass of contradictions, she would moan. There are rules but at the same time, there are so many exceptions to the rules.

Haedon and Kyara became firm friends after Haedon stopped their classmates from stealing her lunch for days on end. Kyara repaid the favour by helping Haedon with his homework after school. As Haedon was good at languages, they made a good team.

Kyara lived with her parents and four siblings in an apartment on the eighth floor of Haedon’s block. With four siblings and a father who had trouble keeping his job, Kyara was constantly hungry.

“Where did you go?” asked Kyara. “I need some help with English homework, and dropped by your place. Aunt Savyla said she didn’t know where you were.”

Noticing the gashes on Haedon’s arms, she exclaimed, “Oh, what happened?”

Wary of sharing his story in public and having his spoil stolen, Haedon lowered his voice. “I’ll tell you in a bit. Do you want to stay for dinner tonight?”

Kyara nodded happily as they trudged up the stairs to Haedon’s apartment.

Turning to Kyara, Haedon asked, “Did you say that you dropped by my place earlier?”

“Yes,” replied Kyara. “I spoke to Aunt Savyla.”

“Hmm, I wonder why she isn’t at work,” mused Haedon. “I hope she’s not ill. I’ll ask her when I see her.” Disease on the Surface was a perennial problem, and with only rudimentary healthcare facilities available, people could die from a simple cough or runny nose.

Once they were safely ensconced in the apartment, Haedon sloughed off his canvas bag and proudly brought out the carcass of the grey fox. Kyara rummaged in the kitchen for antiseptic and plasters to treat Haedon’s wounds.

“Wow! Is that what I think it is?” asked Kyara excitedly.

“Yes!” replied Haedon, placing the fox proudly on the kitchen countertop.

Kyara busied herself applying antiseptic to Haedon’s gashes, while he yelped in pain.

“This isn’t the first time you’ve had such injuries, surely. I thought you’d be used to them by now,” remarked Kyara as she pasted plasters over Haedon’s wounds

“Err...it seems to be worse this time,” said Haedon with what he hoped was a straight face. In actual fact, Haedon did not find the wounds particularly painful; he had only been angling for Kyara’s sympathy. “Anyway, when you’re done, you can help me to roast the fox. After dinner, I’ll pack some meat for you to bring home to your folks.”

“You’re the best, Haedon,” said Kyara. “Dad lost his job again, so we’re short of food. We’re having trouble paying the water bill as well.”

Kyara’s dad used to be an engineer for the piped water system that brought water to homes in the city. He was good at his work but his inclination to turn up drunk for work, sometimes several days in a row, did not endear him to his bosses.

Hearing their animated chatter, Aunt Savyla came out of her room. “What’s this we’ve got here?”

Taking the grey fox from the kitchen countertop, Haedon bowed and presented the creature to Aunt Savyla, saying, “Nothing but the best for you, my lady.”

Aunt Savyla’s eyes narrowed as she glared at Haedon. “Where did you get this?”

Haedon made a face and turned away from Aunt Savyla’s penetrating gaze. “Commons,” he mumbled, returning the fox back to the countertop.

“Speak up, boy! I can’t hear you,” said Aunt Savyla.

Looking at his aunt, Haedon shouted, “I was at the Commons!”

“I’ve told you time and again not to go to the Commons,” Aunt Savyla said in exasperation. “It’s not safe there, even in the day time, what with the vagrants and creatures who live there. The soldiers are clamping down on the people there, and I don’t want you to be caught up in their raids. I’m not sure I can get you out once they’ve captured you.”

“You worry too much,“ scoffed Haedon. “I’ll be fine.”

“Fine? Your arms are covered with injuries and you tell me that you’re fine,” she shot back. “Oh well, I should be grateful that you didn’t get more seriously injured or captured.” Tousling Haedon’s hair, who jerked his head away from her touch, Aunt Savyla said, “Oh well, what’s done is done.”

Taking a closer look at the fox, Aunt Savyla smiled and said, “One does get so tired of eating insects.”

And that’s as close to a compliment I’ll ever get, thought Haedon ruefully.

As Haedon and Kyara started a fire and set about roasting the fox, Haedon turned to Aunt Savyla. “Why aren’t you at work today, Aunt Sav?”

“I was going to tell you,” said Aunt Savyla. I’ve been asked to do an audit of the Surface dwellers living in Lystrashire. The Authorities suspect that some of the residents there have taken more than their allocated share of the rations. I’m leaving tomorrow and should be back in a week, two weeks at the most.”

Aunt Savyla worked as an administrator for Queen Imperiala allocating resources to Surface dwellers. As a government employee, she and Haedon were provided with decent rations of food and utilities. This was unusual, as most government contracts did not include food and utilities as part of the package.

Currently in her 30s, the beautiful Queen Imperiala had been the ruler of Pangea from a young age. She was born on the Surface and developed phenomenal mind control capabilities. Deadly ravishing, it was said that she could control a person remotely after merely glancing at his or her photograph. Fact or fiction, Queen Imperiala was alternately feared and worshipped, depending on whom you asked. Her army of soldiers declared that they wanted to bring about peace throughout Pangea, although they were not averse to using violence to quash rebellion and dissent, an irony that was not lost on anyone on the Surface. Queen Imperiala also depended on her network of Authorities to help her run Pangea, ensuring that Surface towns contributed a significant portion of their harvest to the people living underground. In exchange, the Authorities provided rudimentary amenities (the keyword being rudimentary) that allowed the Surface dwellers to get by, just about.

Of chief concern to the Queen Imperiala was the development of powers in Surface dwellers. If there was someone with powers, she wanted to know about it. She did not want to be attacked by people with powers. The Authorities hastened to do Queen Imperiala’s bidding and ferreted out anyone whom they felt had a power because they had heard horrific stories of colleagues who, having been derelict in their duty, were punished. Queen Imperiala was rather too imaginative in her methods of punishment.

“Lystrashire? That’s almost a hundred kilometres away. How are you getting there? And isn’t that the town with the Machupo virus outbreak?”

The Machupo virus caused a high fever, with the afflicted suffering from intense bleeding. It was usually carried by rodents, and the chances of survival weren’t good.

“The Authorities take fraud very seriously, so they’ve given me a car and sufficient petrol for the journey there and back. As for the Machupo virus outbreak, yes, you’re partially right. But the outbreak took place over a year ago, so things should have stabilised by now. In any case, I’ll make sure to wear a surgical mask when I make house visits,” Aunt Savyla assured Haedon.

“While I’m away, and this goes for you too, Kyara,” said Aunt Savyla, smiling at the girl, “don’t go gallivanting everywhere. I’ve received reports of worrying incidents of late. Besides,” she added, her eyes twinkling, “don’t you have year-end exams in a few weeks’ time?”

“Don’t remind me, Aunt Sav,” groaned Haedon.

“Forget about having fun for the next few weeks,” advised Aunt Savyla. “Stay home and study. You’ve got a lot to catch up on, if your dismal results are anything to go by.”

“It’s the eve of your departure, Aunt Sav,” protested Haedon. “Can’t we talk about something happier?”

“You studying hard and getting good results make me happy,” retorted Aunt Savyla.

“Don’t worry, Aunt Sav,” said Kyara. “I’ll make sure Haedon studies.”

“Traitor,” mumbled Haedon under his breath.

Turning to Haedon, Kyara continued, “That reminds me. Can I get your help with English homework after dinner?”

“You’re getting dinner and English tuition for free. What will I get in return?” asked Haedon.

“I’ll help you with your Maths homework,” replied Kyara. Laughing at Haedon’s shocked expression, she went on, “you forgot we had Maths homework, right?”

Haedon nodded sheepishly.

“Dinner’s almost ready,” said Kyara, looking at the fox turning above the fire. “Why don’t you carve it, while I get the plates?”

After their amazing dinner, the teenagers cleared the table and washed up while Aunt Savyla started packing for her trip.

After Aunt Savyla had completed packing, she carried her travel bag (worn but still serviceable) to the entrance. Looking fondly at the two heads bent together in serious study, she felt a pang of sadness. If only my brother Grador and his wife Maddea could have seen how Haedon turned out.