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CHAPTER THREE

The twentieth level

Sunnyvista City was built on both sides of a deep valley. The swimming pools and sports areas were at the bottom of the valley. The rooms were against the sides of the valley. At both ends of the valley were the offices for the organizers. The city was about two kilometres long. Helicopters flew into the city every day. They always landed on the roof of the twentieth level.

The lift stopped. Dan walked out. The corridor was empty. The rooms were bigger here. There was a bigger distance between the doors. Then he heard a noise. It was a bell. The door of the next lift was opening. Dan stepped back. Russell was coming out of the lift door.

‘Dan,’ said Russell, ‘what are you doing? This is Level Twenty. You shouldn’t be here.’

‘Why not’ said Dan. ‘And why are you following me?’

‘I must speak to you,’ said Russell. ‘It’s important.’

Dan looked at Russell. Russell was looking at the wall next to the lift. There was a red button on the wall. Russell was moving towards the button. Dan stepped between Russell and the button. ‘OK,’ said Dan. Where shall we talk?’

Russell looked worried. ‘Er– we can go to my office. We can talk there.’

Dan thought for a moment. Russell was bigger than Dan, and stronger too. Dan thought about the sports in Sunnyvista City. Nobody tried to win– not ever. Why not? He could remember the day before when he played tennis against Russell. Dan tried to win. He wanted to win. Russell was surprised then. Dan smiled, ‘Come on, let’s go to your office. I mustn’t be late for the pottery class. I’m making a bowl, a soup bowl. Have you seen it?’

Russell smiled. ‘No, I haven’t. You can show me later.’

Dan stepped into the lift, and Russell followed him. Russell turned to the row of buttons next to the door. ‘Level One,’ he said to himself and moved his hand towards the button. Dan hit him once, hard on the back of the head. Russell fell to the floor.

‘I knocked him out,’ thought Dan. ‘I hit him once and knocked him out. Where did I learn that?’ There were never fights in Sunnyvista City. Nobody was ever angry. Dan looked at the buttons. He pushed the button for Level Ten. There was nobody on Level Ten at this time of the morning. He stepped quickly through the door before it closed.