Crash Landing (11 page)

An insistent chiming sound rang in John’s ears, quickly becoming part of his dream. Mumbling, “Not today, thank you. Please come back tomorrow,” he pulled the covers tight around his head.

“John. Kaal. You have a visitor.”

A familiar voice. In his sleep John frowned, then sat bolt upright. “Wha—?
What
? What is it, Zepp?”

“You have a visitor,” said the computer patiently. “Should I open the door?”

“Yes, yes of course. Unless it’s Doctor Graal. Or Talliver... Umm... Who is it?” John babbled, as the door hissed open.

“It’s me,” said Emmie Tarz, marching into the room. “I’ve been outside for ages and...
Whoa
! Does your hair always look like that in the morning?”

“And hello to you, too,” John muttered, running a hand through the blond mess on his head.

Kaal’s screen slid back. With a rustle of wings, he sat up in bed, yawning. “What’s the fuss about?”

“Kaal, don’t you think John’s hair makes him look like a Batrav sea anenome?”

“Thanks, Emmie,” John cut in before Kaal could answer. He looked her up and down. She looked clean and fresh, her own hair a glossy, sparkling mane and her skin glowing. Her arm, however, was in a sling. “What are you doing here?” he continued. “Not that it isn’t great to see you and everything, but shouldn’t you be in the medical centre?”

Emmie sat gracefully on the arm of a sofa, swinging one leg. The smile vanished from her face, quickly replaced with a look of sadness. “Lorem just came to visit me,” she said. “He was on his way here to tell you that we’re close to Earth. I told him I’d bring the message myself. I thought we could all have breakfast together one last time on the way to the hangar deck. You’ll be leaving in just over an hour.”

The colour drained from John’s face. He’d slept through his last hours on Hyperspace High. All the things he’d planned to do – the game of Zero-G war, the big feast with Emmie and Kaal, the evening at Ska’s Café, the last t-dart flight – would now never happen.

“Oh. OK,” he managed to choke. “Breakfast. Good idea. I’ll get dressed.”

“Me, too,” said Kaal, already springing out of bed.

“I’ll be waiting outside,” said Emmie, walking to the door. “Hurry, we don’t have long.”

Without thinking, John reached for one of the silver and red school outfits in his locker. “I’m sorry, but you cannot wear that,” Zepp’s voice said gently. “You can only take what you came with. Headmaster’s orders. If you carry any proof of your stay here to Earth, the Galactic Council will be furious.”

“I see,” said John sadly, reaching for his old rucksack. “So no last photo with Kaal and Emmie, either, then?”

The computer paused, then whispered, “I may be able to bend the rules so long as you promise never to show anyone.”

“Done,” said John. At least he would have something to remember his friends by.

“And there’s something in your bag from me,” the computer continued. “It’s Earth technology; no one will ever notice.”

John peered into the rucksack. Resting on top of neatly pressed clothes was the silver sheen of a plain compact disc.

“Just a few tunes,” said Zepp. “I hope you like it.”

“It’s awesome,” choked John. “I’ll think of you whenever I play it.”

“Come on,” said Kaal softly. “Emmie’s waiting.”

John ducked into the bathroom quickly, sticking his head under the tap. Brushing his teeth quickly, he looked into the mirror. His eyes widened. The night before his face had been a mass of blisters and raw skin. Now it was completely smooth, as if nothing had happened. He checked his chest where the cinder had burnt him. There was only healthy skin, slightly pink but otherwise unmarked.
No proof
, he thought to himself.
Not even a scar.

Zepp provided a handsome breakfast. None of them had eaten since taking a few bites of their packed lunches the day before and they all ate hungrily, trying to fit in as much talk as they could through mouthfuls of food. John couldn’t help feeling faintly ill as he watched Kaal’s sharp teeth tearing at mouthfuls of his favourite food, which he still couldn’t help thinking of as skinned worms.
At least I’ll never have to eat alien food again
, he thought to himself.

The meal was over too quickly. John tried to keep up with Kaal and Emmie’s jokes, and forced himself to smile, but there was sadness beneath the chatter. Tears pricked his eyes when he found a photograph beneath his plate: John and Kaal and Emmie laughing together outside the dormitory. Emmie had just made another joke about his hair. John had no idea how Zepp had taken it, but he slipped it into his rucksack gratefully.

Swallowing a mouthful of tea, John swung his rucksack over his shoulder and said goodbye to Lishtig, Gobi, and a few other students who had rushed down to the canteen. Word had spread that he was leaving.

“Galva-coated Dumpod candies,” said Lishtig, pressing a bag into John’s hand.

“Thanks, but I’m not allowed to take anything. The Galactic Council—”

“Who cares what the Galactic Council thinks?” Lishtig winked.

John pocketed them.

* * *

“Good morning, John Riley. I am glad to see you are punctual this time.”

As he walked out of the TravelTube, John was surprised to see Ms Vartexia waiting by the shuttle, ThinScreen in hand and wearing her full Earth disguise.

“I will be delivering you to... where is it?” She checked her screen. “Oh, yes. Wortham Court School. In Derbyshire. How could I forget. It’s all been worked out. You have made a full recovery from the measles, and as your aunt – that’s me – happened to be travelling close to the school, she is dropping you off. After that, I will pick up Prince Clo-Ra-Ta.”

“I see,” said John, wondering what the people at Wortham Court would make of his bizarre aunt. “Well, at least they won’t be throwing me out of an airlock when I arrive.”

“Humour,” said Ms Vartexia, nodding as if a great secret had been revealed to her. “I have been studying it. Very... what’s the word?... Oh, yes,
funny
. Ha-ha. Please board the shuttle.”

“Just one second.” John turned to Emmie and Kaal. “I guess this is goodbye, then.”

“Wide skies, John Riley,” said Kaal, laying a hand on John’s shoulder. “If you are ever near Derril, come flying with me. No volcanoes.”

“I will,” John replied, knowing he would almost certainly never leave Earth again. “I’d say come visit me, but you’d have to get a really, really good disguise.”

“Goodbye, John. I’ll miss you,” said Emmie, throwing her good arm around him and burying her face in his neck.

He felt tears on his shoulder. “I’ll miss you, too, Emmie,” he said, feeling tears welling up in his own eyes. “Keep an eye on Kaal. Make sure he doesn’t get into too much trouble with Talliver.”

“Our launch window will soon be closing,” said Ms Vartexia sternly. “Please board the shuttle.”

John raised a hand to his friends in salute. Then he turned away.

“Take-off in eighteen seconds,” said Ms Vartexia, as she climbed up after him. “A longer trip this time. About three hours. The ship’s computer tells me to say that you had better eat the Galva-coated Dumpod candies you have in your pocket before we arrive.”

John pushed his rucksack into an overhead locker and sank into a seat. Looking down, he clipped his harness on and lifted his head just in time to see a flashing ball of energy zip through the door.

“Good morning,” said Lorem, as the ball twinkled into the shape of an old man.

“Good morning, headmaster,” said Ms Vartexia briskly. “We were just leaving. Perfectly on time.”

“I am sorry to delay you, but if I could just have a word with your passenger, I will keep it as quick as possible,” Lorem replied, skin still twinkling. “And if you wouldn’t mind waiting outside...”

“Of course,” the Elvian replied politely but with a note in her voice that seemed to say, “If we’re late, it won’t be
my
fault.” Laying her ThinScreen on an empty seat, she stepped down from the shuttle. The door closed behind her.

Lorem sat down opposite John and looked into his eyes. Once again, John had the unsettling feeling that the headmaster knew
everything
. “I wanted to thank you again for your bravery on Zirion Beta,” Lorem said quietly.

“Did you know that was going to happen?” John blurted. “Was that the adventure you saw?”

Lorem smiled. “As I told you,” he said slowly, “the future is not always clear.” As John began another question, Lorem held up one finger. “But I knew that you would play an important part in saving the lives of your classmates, and
that
would lead us to another important moment.”

“What moment?” asked John, frowning.

“
This
moment,” Lorem answered gravely. Seeing John’s look of confusion, he smiled and continued. “Hyperspace High students are very carefully selected, John Riley.
Very
carefully selected. Some of them are the brightest scientific minds their worlds have to offer, some talented in music or art. Others have different qualities.”

“I know. It’s a great honour to be invited to join the school.” John frowned again, wondering why Lorem was telling him this.

“If I were a mind reader, I would say that, once again, you are wondering why I am telling you this.”

“Umm... yes.” John mumbled.

“Hyperspace High looks for many things in its students,” Lorem explained. “And one of those things is courage. You showed exceptional bravery on Zirion Beta, John Riley.”

“Thank you, sir,” said John. “I’ll always that remember you said that.”

“You don’t understand me,” said Lorem, his eyes bright. “I am offering you a place at Hyperspace High. A permanent place. That is, if you want it.”

John’s mouth fell open. “You mean
stay
? Not go back to Earth?” he gasped.

“Not now, no. You would, of course, go back at the end of term, but return here after the holidays. If you choose to stay, it will mean some bother with the Galactic Council and we will have to keep your parents in the dark, but...”

“Yes!” John’s shout cut the headmaster off mid-sentence. “Yes, yes, yes. I would
love
it!” A grin spread across his face. A grin so wide, it was already making his face ache.

“Even without looking into the future, I thought you might say that,” Lorem said, with a fresh smile of his own. “Your clothes are still in your room. I’m sure you’ll want to carry on sharing with Kaal, of course. Clo-Ra-Ta will have to take a dormitory to himself, but Martians enjoy their privacy.”

John was already unfastening his harness. “So, I can get off this shuttle, then?” he gabbled.

“There’s one other thing,” said Lorem quietly, leaning over to pick up Ms Vartexia’s ThinScreen. “A few minutes ago, your parents called Wortham Court. That’s why I was a little late getting here.”

Panic crossed John’s face. Had his mum and dad discovered he wasn’t in Derbyshire after all?

“Don’t worry, Zepp intercepted the call. I spoke to your mother myself. A highly intelligent human, if I may say so. I wish I’d had her as a student... But I’m losing the point. She and your father are extremely worried about you. They believe you are unhappy at your new school and phoned to say they will be arriving later today to take you home.”

John groaned, holding his head in his hands as he remembered the last conversation he had had with his mum and dad.

“I told them you were in a class and would call back. Before you make your final decision, I would like you to speak with them,” said Lorem, tapping the ThinScreen. “Zepp, would you be so kind as to connect us?”

“Certainly, headmaster,” said Zepp’s voice. “Patched into the internet and ready.”

The ThinScreen showed the Skype homepage. John clicked the “call” button.

John’s parents must have been sitting by the computer waiting for the call. His mum answered immediately; his dad standing behind, jangling car keys.

“John,” she said, before he could get a word in. “Your dad and I have been talking. We’re not going to ask you to stay at boarding school if you’re unhappy. We’ll be there to pick you up in a few hours—”

“Mum,
stop
!” John interrupted, his face-aching grin stretching further than ever. “I love it here at... errr... Wortham Court.”

His mother blinked, looking non-plussed. “Oh. But you seemed so gloomy.”

“It took a bit of getting used to, but I’m having the best time now,” John replied quickly. “I’m sorry I worried you, but I really want to stay.”

“Are you sure?” asked his dad. He leant over John’s mum’s shoulder, a frown creasing his forehead.

“
Positive,
Dad,” John laughed. “I’ve got some great friends, and we had an
awesome
field trip. It’s the best school
ever
.”

His dad’s face, too, broke into a grin. “You’re just saying that because you know I’ll thrash you at
Doom Hammer
as soon as you get back.”

“Ha!” John laughed. “Wait until the holidays. I’ll make you eat those words.”

“Well, if you’re sure,” his mum cut in with a smile of her own. “I’ll phone the headmaster and tell him we won’t be coming after all.”

“Thanks, Mum. Thanks, Dad. I’ll call you in a few days. Gotta go now, some friends are waiting for me.”

“Thank you, sir,” John said breathlessly as the call ended. “This is the greatest...”

“Headmaster. There is a call coming through from Earth,” Zepp interrupted.

“Put it through, Zepp,” replied Lorem, motioning to John that he could leave.

As he ran for the shuttle door, John heard Lorem saying, “Ah, Mrs Riley... Yes. Wonderful. I’m so pleased John will be staying. He’s an excellent student with so much potential...”

There was no time to listen. Kaal and Emmie were standing by the TravelTube. The door was just hissing open. Sprinting across the deck, John shouted their names. Together, they spun round, looking bewildered as he charged up to them.

“Did you forget something?” Kaal asked. “Ms Vartexia is going to—”

“No. I’m not leaving. I’m staying.”