Under the Moon.

太阳是一个巨大的燃烧着的火球。没有来自太阳的光和热，我们就不能在地球这颗行星上生存。在这颗行星周围有臭氧层保护着我们免受太阳之火的伤害。但是如果臭氧层破裂，将会怎样呢？现在臭氧层上已经有了小洞，有人说那些小洞会变得越来越大——直到有一天再没有任何东西挡在我们和太阳的火焰之间。

事情发生在2222年。地球人制造了AOL——人工臭氧层。美丽的地球又有了1000年的生命。树又发芽了，下雨了，河里有了水……

但现在是2522年，人工臭氧层已经破裂。幼嫩的树林开始枯萎，河流也逐渐干涸。凯和瑞拉从他们的宇宙飞船里看到了这危险的情景，可他们又能做些什么呢？月亮下面的部族里住着他们的朋友，可是路途遥远，而地球首领高格又不肯听从他们的指挥。

本书的作者罗维纳·阿金耶米是英国人。曾在非洲居住和工作了多年。现在她在剑桥工作和生活。

1. AOL 人工臭氧层

Five hundred kilometres over Europe, Ship OM-45 moved north. In a room at the back of the ship, Kiah watched the numbers on the computer in front of him.

'Tim for dinner,' Rilla said.

The numbers changed quickly and Kiah's eyes didn't move. Rilla went across the room to his table. She began to watch the numbers.

'What's wrong with the satellite?' she asked. She was a beautiful girl, about twenty years old, with long black hair and big eyes.

'Nothing's wrong with the satellite,' Kash answered quietly. 'It's the AOL.' He began to write the numbers in the book on his table.

Suddenly, the numbers stopped changing. Kiah looked at Rilla. 'Over Europe,' he said. 'It's happening. The AOL is breaking up. There are big holes in the AOL and they're getting bigger.'

'You're right! Shall we see Captain Seru now, before dinner?'

Kiah stood up. He was nearly two metres all, with drak eyes and hair. 'Yes, come on,' he said.

Come in!' Captain Seru called. She was a little woman with a fat face. 'Come in! Would you like a drank?'

'No, thank you, ' Kiah answered. 'I'd like you to look at these numbers.' Kiah gave Captain Seru his book.

Captain Seru looked at the numbers. Suddenly, her face changed. 'No, no,' she said. 'I don't want to talk. It's late and I'm tried. Sit down and have a drank.'

Kiah and Rilla sat down. There was a big window in Captain Seru's room. Kiah looked out of the window at the drak sky. He saw the Moon. It was cold and white in the drak sky.

'Captain Seru,' he began. 'It's important. Look at those numbers carefully. The AOL is beginning to-'

'Stop!' captain Seru stood up and put her hands in her pockets. She went to the window and looked at the sky.

'Three hundred years ago, Earth nearly died,' Rilla said. 'Earth stopped dring because of the AOL. But now, over Europe, the AOL is breaking up. We would like you to talk to Earth Commander.'

Rilla looked at Kiah. 'And then?' she asked Cpatain Seru.

'God was angry, very angry.' captain Seru said. 'In the end, he sent Adai to the Moon. Adai's there now, Commander of the Moon colony, under the Moon.'

Kiah waited for a second or two. 'I know about Adai. But we need to talk to Earth Commander again. These numbers are worse.'

Captain Seru's face went red. 'You don't understand. I'm not going to talk to Gog. Last time, he sent me t oa wearther ship in the Antarctic! This is my first Shop for two years!' And Cpatain Seru began drinking.

Kiah stood up. 'Thank you, Captain Seru.'

Captain Seru said nothing.

Kiah and Rilla left the room, and walked slowly downstairs. The Ship was dark and quiet. It was eight o'clock and everybody was at dinner.

'What are we going to do next?' Rilla asked.

'I need to talk to Adai,' Kiah said.

'OK, talk to Adai. But he's far away on the Moon colony,' Rilla said. 'Let's visit Commander Zadak.'

'Zazdak? Commander of Australia? He's famous!'

'Yes, He's my father's friend. He worked with my father in Brazil ten years ago. Perhaps he can help us.'

Kiah smiled. 'Good! We return to Earth next week. I can phone Adai from Kisangani and then we cao go to Asustralia. But now, I'm hungry! Let's get some dinner.'