Ballygalley

Follow us, Captain Rupert, we're schnocked down.

First Officer Flood turned the bill of Connect Airlines flight SO461 from Ballygally to Culfada via Flaunstickel and Robot City.

We have important and valuable data which you should upload.

Chime the robots in unison.

So, unreciting them should unarrive us here.

What are you talking about, Captain? Wished, said Captain Rupert O'Shnocta of Connacht Airlines Flight SO461 from Ballygally to Culfada.

He followed his wished with a loud, dramatic clearing of his throat, which he followed with the word, again, and followed that with, Never, never, never, never, never, never, never, ever, never, never, never, ever, ever, never, never, ever, ever, ever, never, never, ever, ever, never, never, ever, ever, never, ever.

Never! Dust and wind and musty smells were immediately followed by lines of orange and white traffic cones and medium-sized rocks and a series of jumbled paths in a dusty yard.

The voice seemed to pulse up from the floor and fade off into the starry sky far above the hexagonal pillars surrounding them.

I'm not, snapped Captain Rubop Roshnokta of Connacht Airlines, flight SO461 from Ballygally to Gullfada.

Only you can be the judge of that, echoed

the voice.

nice.

Ah, I may have misjudged you.

Anyway, the Boreen, your life and reality, which includes the lives of all the other humans and your passengers and Maura and Gullfada and the lad she hates at the Ballygally terminal, that McRorty fella.

How long, McGilliruddy?