Darkness and LightThey passed through another town late in the afternoon, although by now there were so many houses along the road it was hard to say where the town actually began.
‘One day all this will probably be Aurea,’ Isabella said. ‘The city will creep out and meet the towns creeping inwards, and it’ll all be one huge city.’
As in previous towns the people ran alongside the wagons, but this time their welcome was entirely friendly as they called out to see playing. Isabella waved endlessly, smiling and enjoying the admiration and excitement.
‘Come and see us in Aurea,’ she called. ‘We play at the festival.’
A young man, tall, with wide-set blue eyes and hair that shone in the late afternoon sun, ran up to the side of the wagon and offered a small bouquet of flowers, begging for
