"I'm bored."

"The forest? But we'll need to fly really high, then dive."

Ermelinda - secretly a thrill-seeker - grinned.

She was on her board in three seconds, flipping the switch Amber had shown her. Then she sped into the clouds.

Amber grinned.

She mounted her board and adjusted around thirty levers.

Then, too fast for Ermelinda to make out, she overtook her.

One minute later, Amber dived. She stopped in the middle of a forest clearing. Now frozen in midair, the board quietened further to an inaudible vibration.

She sat down and admired the forest.

Leaves quivered and whispered in the slight breeze. Birds could be heard flying overhead. There was a veil of tranquility draping the forest.

The tranquility was broken when Ermelinda landed noisily, three minutes later.

"Stop doing that! Tell me how!"

Amber jumped off her board and pointed at the thirty switches.

Ermelinda could remember none after she finished.

Amber handed her some berries, and Ermelinda chewed them slowly.

"Let's go home."

Amber nodded.

Yet again, they climbed the tallest tree and rode off it.

They were riding slowly; it took them ten minutes to be within sight of the town.

Ermelinda was looking back wistfully, wishing she had not suggested leaving.

She was approaching the telephone wire.

Amber said, "Lin-"

But that was all she could get out.

Ermelinda slammed into the wire.

Amber was paralysed.

She watched Ermelinda fall.

Ermelinda was out of sight.

Finally, Amber screamed.