Free The Grasshopper's Child by Gwyneth Jones

courtyard inside. She crossed it, looked into a dark doorway, and immediately saw the boy called Clancy sitting on a stone platform: watching her from under his hood.
    â€˜Hallo, Hooded Boy,’ said Heidi. ‘You must have heard me crashing about.’
    â€˜I did. I’ve seen you passing before, on your flying way. Is that what you do, in the real world? You’re a teen athletics star?’
    â€˜Nothing like. I never ran except for a bus, until I came here. I don’t know why I started, but it’s good exercise Are you living in here?’
    She could see a drab-coloured one-man tent behind him; the kind you inflate.
    â€˜Should I have asked your permission?’
    â€˜Not me, my owners. I wouldn’t bother. Isn’t it too cold to sleep out?’
    â€˜Nah. My bivvy’s a Five Season, and I can have a fire in here if I’m careful.’
    â€˜You swept away the snow in the courtyard so you wouldn’t leave footprints, I get it. How do you manage the steps?’
    The hooded boy shrugged. ‘Does it matter? I like being left alone. Got some issues.’
    Heidi nodded politely. She thought she knew what was on the form he’d shown to Tanya, and she was not impressed. Mental Health Issues: it had to be, from that special look Tanya gave him. The Hooded Boy had a toff’s accent. His family must have fixed it, which Heidi thought was completely stupid. How could a few years of farm work be worse than having MHI on your file for life? But it wasn’t her business.
    â€˜Okay then. I’ll be off.’
    â€˜No, stay: you’re all right. What’s it like, being Indentured?’
    Heidi sat cross-legged on the pavement. ‘Not bad. I have a roof over my head. Flush toilet, hot water a few flights of stairs away; three meals a day. It’s a weird deal though. The Gardens all gone to ruin, when you’d think they’d be in Food Production. And Tallis and Roger, my owners, are pretty strange. They’re not really old, or helpless, but they dress like beggars, never go out, never get calls. Except Brooklyn’s mum turned up today—’
    â€˜Brooklyn is the very thin girl with the hat?’
    â€˜Yeah. I thought she was anorexic but it’s heart. Her mum delivers supplies. She said she was going to explain everything. She didn’t, but I think I’m getting the idea. It’s Roger, the brother. I’ve a feeling he’s been in trouble. I think he might be on a long-term tag.’
    â€˜You’re living with a dangerous criminal. Terrific.’
    Heidi was trying not to worry about the face that had looked into her room. What was the point? There was nothing she could do. Verruca had given her fair warning: she’d get no protection from Angel Care.
    She shrugged. ‘I’m not bothered. Tallis keeps him out of my way. She’s supposed to have moderate vascular dementia, but I don’t know. She’s not like a normal confused person. She doesn’t repeat herself, she’s sharp as often as she’s crazy and she doesn’t move or act the way people with dementia do. You know: that where am I look—’
    â€˜What do you mean , normal ? Dementia isn’t normal.’
    â€˜Well, not now. But the Elders we’re assigned are likely to be too old to have benefited from the treatments, so if they do have dementia, they’re stuck with it. That’s why everyone gets taught about it, in Sharing the Care One . You must have done Sharing the Care One? ’
    â€˜Nah, I’m faking it. What’s it to you? My old dear’s definitely demented. She doesn’t even know her own name.’
    â€˜Does she have family?’
    â€˜A daughter who disappeared in the Occupation, with her husband and kids. And a son who’s not interested. No contact , it says on the form.’
    â€˜Try talking about the past. Get her to look at old photos. Normal dementia can’t attack