10.The Fall
Joe kicked the motorcycle's engine back to life. He spun the
bike and raced towards the city. Passing under the cold glow of
screen after menacing screen. Reports coming in of an incident
in the outer rim. Reports of an armed assailant. Reports of a
growing threat to public safety.
Choir：
Climb.
Joe tore through the streets. A missile aimed at the metal spire
towering above the city. The great steel arm holding a torch of
fear. The main telescreen was designed to be visible from almost
anywhere in the city. The destruction of that screen would be
felt by every man and every woman in the city. He thought of the
children. How, for the first time, they would know a world
without that screen. Without the constant, mind-numbing barrage
of misinformation. Silence. Had he ever encountered silence？
Soon.
Climb.
The street was ending. Joe revved the engine. No hesitation. No
fear. The motorcycle bounded over the curb, launched off the
steps in front of the tower, and landed jarringly upon the hard,
slick marble of the plaza. Losing traction, the tires skidded
out ahead of the heavy iron frame. The bike pitched. Joe kicked
hard against the bike. Inertia kept him glued to it. He rolled
over on to his stomach and clawed frantically at the smooth
marble, trying to slow himself.
Climb to the top of the world.
The bike would not be slowed. It slid rapidly toward the main
entrance. The steel doors secured tightly for the evening. The
wheels caught on the final few steps leading up to the doors.
The bike spun upright and left the marble floor. 600 pounds of
iron and chrome roared, end over end, towards the entrance,
crashed into the steel doors, and exploded. Joe's momentum
halted just inches from the steps. Sirens erupted around him.
And as you stand tall, you will see...
He pushed himself to his feet and ran towards the flames.
Hurdling the mangled carcass of the bike, he entered the tower
lobby and headed for the stairs. Flight after flight, Joe took
two and three steps at a time. His chest nearly collapsed under
the strain. His legs never hesitated. Finally, he reached the
door leading to the roof. Joe kicked hard and stepped into the
cool night air. He had to act quickly. He threw his bag down
next to the transmitter. Reaching inside, he wrapped his hands
around the detonator. Holding it tightly, he turned and started
back to the stairs.
That when you fall...
He'd taken three long strides when the explosion ripped his feet
from the tarred roof. Joe didn't hear the explosion. The shock
wave of the blast knocked him unconscious instantaneously.
You will fall from a height most men will never reach.
Light had nearly reached the plaza. He watched as the flames
erupted from the top of the shimmering tower, setting aglow the
clouds above. Among the debris cast off the bulding by the
explosion, he spotted what could only be a human body, twisting
lifelessly as it plummeted towards the earth. Light held onto
the hope that the falling body was not the one he feared it must
be. As it approached the ground, Light's fears were confirmed as
he made out the glare of the flames above reflected in a scarred
blast shield. He watched as Joe's body landed with a dull thump
upon the small patch of grass in a courtyard on the south side
of the building.
By the time Light had reached the boy's body, a crowd had
gathered. As he stood in the center of the circle of onlookers,
another explosion rattled the ground. Then another. And another.
In the distance he could see, one by one, the telescreens
splintering and erupting into flames.
| 
