She walks out into the hazy twilight, whispering her name for reassurance. ‘Linda, Linda, Linda ... Linda?’ Thinking for a while, she comes to the conclusion that this name is simply not suitable anymore. She will have to acquire a new one, as soon as possible. Simply making up a name won’t do though, a name must be taken. But where to find one? As she grips the handlebars of her bike, Linda’s arms shake, almost imperceptibly. The guttural growl of the bike’s engine shatters the heavy silence that lies in the air. A bat drops from the trees above. It lands in front of the bike, startling her. She regains her composure quickly, realising there is no danger from the small creature. Linda likes bats. She had one as a pet once, but she can’t remember what happened to it in the end. The bat’s name was Jenny, maybe? No, something else ... Vera? Yes, that sounds right. ‘I’m going to call you Vera,’ she whispers to the bat.
