…The edge of the cloud was a latticed web of rainbows breaking away in tiny puffs of colour. In from the edge the colour was stronger, pinker, then purple and grey where the cloud banked up alongside them. Dark caves hung in the grey wall, moving, their mouths curling into smiles or yawns as the air currents played with them.

Suddenly he swept up, across the open space of a cave and on, straight up the cloud, held out horizontal, then upside down as it curved him over and let him go. He stayed, suspended, gracefully completed the circle and landed back on their level.

‘Wow,’ he cried, waving across to them before heading towards it again…

…She pulled the parachute cord and watched it open, rolling over as she came through the bottom of the cloud. The flat grass plains of Laverton spread under her. She tugged on the cord until the little curved sheet was a halo over her head, then pressed the knob in the parachute strap near her neck. Compressed air hissed out filling her halo. She smiled down at the world. Stretched. She would stay here a while; bathe her poor tired body; a long deep bath in air. You worry so much about falling through but it's rather pleasant really. She pressed for more air and smiled again, thinking of Crysie. She loved that girl. She could really depend on her…