The sun was sticking out in the middle of the sky. Mico was steering her bike along a country road, and red dust was rising from under the spring-loaded wheels. Today was a good day - by midday Mico had completed all her household chores and could be free until dinner. All she had to do was ride to the other end of Malmstadt and hand over the payment for the next delivery of borax, and also sharpen the drills and fix the pump, plus clean up the workshop. The day after tomorrow, Auntie would return from the capital and they would do this boring studying again, but tomorrow would be tomorrow.
The road was empty. Lonely houses, signs and rare gas stations rushed past the girl. The road turned into a path, and 5 minutes later Mico rode into the thicket. She was heading to her favorite place. Klaus had shown her this place when they were about 6 years old. He had lived nearby, in a village on a hill, until he left for the gymnasium in Stahlberg. From that hill, the gigantic chimneys of the Malmstadt iron ore plant were visible, and in good weather, you could even see the factory clock on its territory. Mico dropped her backpack, lay down on the grass and closed her eyes. The cooling amulet on her chest pulsed, throwing out streams of cold air, making her stay in the heat bearable and pleasant. The girl wondered what awaited her next, and the thoughts in her head chirped like birds, losing shape and meaning, merging into a summer hum.