Edsel Grizzler by James Roy

‘And now we’re … up here?’
    Richard smiled. ‘I know, it’s hard to get your head around, but as I said, you don’t need to understand everything. Please, take a seat.’
    In the centre of the room, two leather couches faced one another across a large wooden box, which was bound with strong metal sashes, like a pirate’s treasure chest. But Edsel was more interested in what was going on beyond the room’s tall windows, which offered a view across all of Verdada, and in every direction: the park and playing fields, the forest, roller-coasters, a beach which Edsel hadn’t seen from ground level, a golf course, and snowcapped mountains in the distance.
    â€˜Is that real snow on those mountains?’ he asked.
    â€˜Which you can really ski on, yes.’
    â€˜I’ve never skied. It’s expensive. And dangerous.’
    â€˜Not here.’
    â€˜Not expensive or not dangerous?’
    â€˜Either,’ said Richard, smiling.
    â€˜Is anything here dangerous?’
    â€˜Not really. We have a lot of activities that you might expect to be too dangerous for children to do, but they’re not. We’re not really into danger here. We don’t like it. Skiing, skating, mountain biking, climbing, and lots more. And best of all, they’re all perfectly safe.’
    â€˜Surfing?’
    â€˜We have that.’
    â€˜No sharks?’
    â€˜No sharks.’
    â€˜Do you have … circus trapeze stuff?’
    â€˜We do,’ Richard replied. ‘If it’s fun, you can do it in Verdada.’
    â€˜How about skydiving?’ Edsel asked. ‘I’ve always wanted to try that.’
    â€˜We have a farm and a small zoo, if looking after animals is your thing. Animal husbandry, I think they call it.’
    â€˜But skydiving?’ Edsel asked again.
    â€˜Ah, that,’ Richard said, with a slight shake of his head and a quiet little grin. ‘No, I’m afraid not.’
    â€˜Too dangerous?’
    â€˜No, just unnecessary, with so much other fun to be had. But we’ll talk more about that later. Please, sit.’
    Edsel sat on the edge of one of the couches. It was incredibly soft, and made him want to sink back into it.
    â€˜You can relax,’ Richard said, sitting on the other one and crossing his legs. ‘As Man told you, your status is perfect for Verdada. If it weren’t, you wouldn’t be here now.’
    â€˜It’s weird.’
    â€˜Of course – new things often are – but that’s only because it’s not what you’re used to,’ Richard replied. ‘Unfamiliarity can be disconcerting.’
    â€˜But all I did was get into this … this spaceship thing and press the button. Hang on – did I electrocute myself? Am I dead?’
    Richard laughed, the sound bubbling out of him easily. ‘Of course not. If you were dead, you wouldn’t be here.’
    â€˜Oh, well that’s a relief. You know, I honestly thought the Egg was one of those things at the shopping centre … Do you even have shopping centres here?’
    â€˜We don’t need them,’ Richard replied. ‘Everything is supplied. And when you got into the “Egg”, as you call it, you were being chosen, as much as you were choosing to use it. Please, sit back down,’ he said as Edsel stood.
    â€˜But I don’t understand! This is—’
    â€˜Of course you don’t understand – not yet – but that’s no reason not to try and learn. So please, Robert, sit.’ He gave Edsel a reassuring smile. ‘Please.’
    Cautiously, Edsel perched on the edge of the couch again.
    â€˜Would you like a drink, or something to eat?’
    Edsel looked around the room, which was empty, except for the couches and the chest. ‘No, I’m fine,’ he said.
    â€˜Are you sure? It’s no trouble.’
    â€˜Okay … Lemonade?’
    â€˜Of course.’