Children of Stardust by Edudzi Adodo

Author:Edudzi Adodo
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Norton Young Readers
Published: 2022-08-27T00:00:00+00:00

The Flamengo Hotel was located in the swanky part of Nbadu Crescent. It was a tall building with a black glass façade. As they approached the front entrance, two burly trolls wearing suits and white earpieces asked them to provide their Saba identification.

They were shown into a luxurious lobby. The ceilings were tall enough that you could have fit five whizzers one on top of the other in the space. There were Sabas wearing colorful-patterned clothes and robes and alien creatures Zero had never seen before. The floors were made of a dark marble, yet Zero could see giant fluorescent fish swimming under their feet.

A few hotel employees wearing crisp black suits and gloves stood watch, and as Zero and his friends walked in, one approached them.

“Welcome, welcome to the Oasis Lounge. How can I help you?”

“We would like a room for three days,” said Ladi as the employee guided them to the check-in desk.

“We are actually interested in a particular room,” Camih added. “Is Room 5 available?”

“I’m afraid Room 5 is already taken.”

Zero felt his heart sink.

“It has been booked for a month. But we have a number of other rooms available.”

“What about 15? Or 25?” Camih asked, urgently. “It may sound ridiculous, but we have a superstition, see. We won’t go into a room unless it has the number five at the end.”

The concierge shook his head. “I’m sorry, madam. It so happens that all the rooms with the number five have been taken. A young woman booked them just this morning, actually.”

“All the rooms containing the number five?” Ladi asked incredulously.

“Yes, sir. All eleven rooms. From Rooms 5 to 55. You can see for yourselves,” said the concierge, turning the screen toward them.

Ladi and Camih stared at each other.

“Someone else is looking for the—” Ladi began.

“Shh,” Camih hissed before he could say more.

“What about Room 7?” Zero asked suddenly.

Camih and Ladi looked at him, confusion plain on their faces.

The concierge looked down at a screen.

“Room 7 is available. It was vacated just this morning, actually.”

“Then we’ll take that one. For three days,” said Zero.

Camih raised an eyebrow at him. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“Trust me,” said Zero. “I’ll explain later.”

Camih reached for something in her pocket and took out a single gold coin. She handed the oath to the concierge.

The concierge dropped the coin inside a slot on the desk, listening to it slide down the chute. The next moment, a key popped out of a slot, carved in the shape of a python. The concierge slid the key across the marble counter. Zero took it just as a voice behind him said:

“Camih, is that you? And Ladi, you too?”

A young man had silently appeared beside them. He wore slippers, what looked like bright red swim trunks with palm trees drawn on them, and a trench coat. He had his blond hair in a bob, and a smile you could power a small planet with.

“Uncle Conor?” Camih gasped.

“How do you do?”

“What are you doing here?” she cried, excitement rising in her voice.

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