Gabriel's wharf.

Picking blades of grass with your fingers and throwing them away from your crossed legs like darts you squint in the sunlight at people walking past. You have to admit that was a pretty poor lunch. You finger the sides of your lunch box trying to rake out the remaining crumbs of your paltry meal.

There is a slight rumble near your left foot and upwards, out from the earth, a drill emerges. The small whirring tip spins on the end of a long, thin metal pole. Baffled but unmoved you watch it as it sinks back down into the earth. Then, through the newly created hole a hollow tube rises up about a foot off the ground.

A little voice stems from the pipe.

"Hei. It says

"Er der enhver der? It continues. You look at the pipe and then look around. People are carrying on their daily business.

"Ok? The voice goes on. You lean over the thin pipe with caution. Closing one eye you look down into the darkness, you can see nothing. Grabbing the top and pulling it towards your mouth you talk into it.

"Hello.

"You Speak English. Who is this? The voice asked excitedly.

"Er, I'm Maggie Lamb. You say.

"What year is this? This voice asked hurriedly.

"It's 2006.

You think it asks you how old you are.

"What? How old am I? I can't quiet hear you I'm afraid.

"Tell me what are you? The voice is distant and it's hard to make out exactly what it saying.

"What? I can't hear¦ You say.

"What family? What country? It persists.

"Well, I suppose my mum is from Yokohama originally and my dad is from Stepney." You say awkwardly. You wait starring at the pipe but there is no answer. You hear under your feet and hear muffled panicky shouts of 'The Japanese!' 'The Japanese!' from a collection of different voices. The pipe then whips quickly back underground and you feel a slight rumbling under you feet.