George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt (13 page)
Read George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt Online
Authors: Lucy Hawking
satellite navigation
school bus design
scratch-resistant lenses
sewage treatment
shock-absorbing helmets
smokestack monitors
solar energy systems
storm warning services (Doppler radar)
studless winter tires
swimming-pool purification systems
toothpaste tubes
“And,” continued Eric gently, “even if we could get Cosmos working, after all that computer has been through, I don't think it's safe to use the portal. What if he broke down when someone was out there in space and we couldn't get him started again in time to rescue them? Homer is only a robot, George. It isn't worth the risk.”
“But what about the end of the message?” persisted George. “With the Earth crossed out?”
“It probably comes from some crank,” said Eric. “And there are plenty of them. Don't think about it anymore. I will get Homer sorted outâsomehow. And the planet isn't coming to an end, not for several billions of years, when our Sun comes to the end of its life. So there's no panic.”
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“Finally!” said Annie when her dad went to work, her mom popped out for a few minutes, and Emmett seemed safely absorbed with his online simulator. “We can work on Operation Alien Life-form. We don't have long. And we
have
to get Cosmos working before tomorrow. It's crucial. Come on, George!” She ran up the stairs to her parents' room.
George followed her, grumbling as he went. “Are you actually going to tell me what we're doing?” he demanded from outside her parents' bedroom. “I'm sick of you saying, âIt's on a need-to-know basis and
you don't need to know.' I came over because you said you needed my help. So far you've hardly told me anything about your plan.”
Annie emerged beaming from her parents' room, holding a metal box. “I'm sorry!” she whispered. “But I didn't want you to tell Emmett about us going into space to chase aliens.”
“I wouldn't!” said George, feeling hurt that she didn't trust him.
Annie barged her way into her bedroom and put the metal box down on her desk. “Cosmos,” she announced, “is in here. And I have the key.” She produced a tiny little key on a chain around her neck, then opened the box and pulled out the familiar silver computer. She locked the box again and took it back to the wardrobe in her parents' room.
“How did you get the key?” asked George when she returned.