【明報專訊】On their day off, Balloon Boy and Shelley venture (冒險) into the city to find out why the townsfolk doze off at circus shows without realising it. They all believe they enjoy them. Balloon Boy and Shelley believe there is a force controlling the city.
Shelley﹕Another question is why the circus stays in this boring city where people don't enjoy its shows. It ought to have left this place.
Balloon Boy﹕Well, let's go around and see if we can find any clues.
They follow the "city centre" sign and get there. They assume that the circus is in a suburb of the city. That sunny morning of a working day, they walk along a cobbled street (卵石路) there. People look busy and head in the same direction. Balloon Boy grabs one of the pedestrians and asks him about the city.
Balloon Boy﹕Sir, where are you heading?
Pedestrian﹕I'm going to the factory.
Shelley﹕Do you work there?
The pedestrian doesn't bother to talk to them. He just keeps walking. Balloon Boy notices his eyes are dreamy as if he were not fully awake. They want to catch up with him. However, while they are jostling (擠、推) through the crowd, a woman falls to the ground.
Balloon Boy﹕I'm terribly sorry. Are you all right?
After a few seconds, the woman slowly opens her eyes, which are as dreamy as the other pedestrian they've just talked to. She talks blankly.
Woman﹕You don't belong here. Leave, or you will get infected.
Balloon Boy﹕With what? What's happened here?
Woman﹕People here can't tell dreams from realities. They are always half asleep. They sleep to wake up, and they wake up to sleep.
Shelley﹕Do you mean you are dreaming now though you're talking to us?
Woman﹕Yes. Am I not in a dream? This isn't a life I should have. If I sleep, I will live a real life. I don't now. I must go to work.
The woman leaves them and disappears in the crowd.
Shelley﹕Why do people here mix dreams up with realities? But we can't be literally in their dreams. We're real, aren't we?
Balloon Boy﹕Of course. Let's follow them to their workplace.
They see a huge factory in the city centre. It has chimneys without smoke, and its windows are blocked with iron bars. It looks like a prison. However, people flock into it. Shelley, who is small enough to get through the gate, decides to get into it and see what happens in it.
The City (1 of 4)
Text: Ashley Ley
Illustration: Iris Tsoi
