"You're off the hook this time, Broomhall. Just this once, all right?"
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."
On the ground, Zajac, bizarrely, had begun to snore.
"Cool," murmured someone, and several boys laughed. But Mr Dutton was looking up, just as Mr Keele had.
"You're exactly right," he said.
The two teachers stared at each other. Then Mr Dutton addressed the boys.
"I'd say global cooling is here."
"Salvation?" said Mr Keele.
"Or a different kind of doomsday." Mr Dutton smiled. "Maybe a cup that's half empty or half full."
Now everyone's attention was on the lead-grey sky. And then…
It's not possible.
… Richard held out his hand, and felt the specks descend upon it. They were so soft, when they touched his skin, that he felt nothing, nothing at all.
What does it mean?
The air was hushed as the sound-deadening, soft cascade intensified like thickening snowfall, darkening the world, changing everything.
Black snow.