Was it the end of the game? No. This was wrong.
The steps had gone. Zak found himself hitting a plain white floor. He rolled over and bounded to his feet, to be confronted by a scene that left him bewildered.
‘What’s all this about!’ he cried, furious that he had not seen the outcome of his last shot.
‘Good afternoon Zak,’ came the voice of Dad. ‘Glad you could make it.’
Zak’s physical body still rested on the Mind Mat. But his mind had been pulled into another virtual environment.
The scene was a three-dimensional family portrait. Taken two years ago, just before he became cool, Zak hated it. Above the portrait hung a banner with the phrase “The Carter family future”. Zak realised that Dad had put together some kind of presentation. He peered around the side of the portrait to see the awkward way they had their hands resting on each other, and cringed.
‘I can’t believe you’ve done this to me!’
‘Relax Zak,’ said Dad, in a calming tone. ‘You’ll soon forget about whatever it was you were doing. We have very important news, that will change your life forever.’
Zak simply gasped in disbelief. He tried to open his real eyes, in order to return to the real world. It didn’t work.
‘Quit is disabled Zak,’ said Dad. ‘I don’t want you or Skye running off halfway through.’
Zak was desperate to find out what had happened in the game, but Dad’s restrictions prevented him from communicating with Tom.
He would have to wait until the news had been delivered.
‘I hope the future doesn’t involve me looking like that,’ said Skye, also horrified by the portrait.
‘Okay kids,’ said Mum, ‘be quiet now and let Dad say what he’s got to say.’
The portrait faded out, and another scene faded in.
All four of them were standing in a flat and empty icy landscape, with daylight dimmed by low cloud and swirling winds. Each was dressed in thick winter wear with goggles. Zak looked around, and could see patterns in the ice.
