Battle for Earth by Keith Mansfield

Author:Keith Mansfield [Mansfield, Keith]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Quercus
Published: 2013-03-24T16:00:00+00:00

To say the visit to Professor Bond hadn’t gone as Johnny planned was an understatement. Louise said not to worry—that it would be fine—but he moped for much of the following day while she’d dragged him around Bondi, killing time before the hoped-for midnight rendezvous that Johnny was very doubtful would now happen. Here there was no obvious sign of Krun activity, but as Johnny watched the youth of Australia having fun he heard the deep voice of the Krun Queen, screaming at him to kill them and bring her a feast.

“Johnny—what are you doing?” Louise asked, while grabbing his arm and forcing it down so that the Imperial blaster she’d taken from the cockpit and which he was now holding, pointed down at the sand.

“Oops,” said Johnny, coming to his senses, as the Queen howled with rage somewhere in his head.

“Oops?” said Louise. “Is that all? You were about to shoot people.”

“Of course I wasn’t,” Johnny replied. “Look, I don’t want to talk about it.” The voice inside his brain was frightening him.

Louise let it go and, by the time darkness had fallen and they were waiting, hidden in the shadows surrounding the wide open expanse in front of the Opera House, the afternoon’s events appeared forgotten. Not knowing Sydney, this had seemed an obvious place to suggest they meet, but standing there now it felt terribly exposed. The last performance had finished over an hour earlier and the area was deserted. It was a case of hoping the scientist would come, but wouldn’t bring the cops with him. They didn’t have to wait long.

A lone figure in a wide-brimmed hat, carrying what looked a very heavy battered suitcase, was walking toward the Opera House. Johnny and Louise waited, watching for signs of police hiding in the shadows. As he came closer, Johnny was pretty sure he recognized the figure. Professor Bond, wearing a long beige raincoat, stepped under a nearby streetlight, breathing heavily and plunking his case on the ground. It was covered in stickers naming different destinations around the world.

“I’ll go first,” said Johnny. “If anything happens, call Alf and he will come get you.” He stepped out of the shadows and strode more confidently than he felt toward the scientist.

“You’re not leaving me again,” said Louise, sticking by his side.

As they approached, the professor lifted his hat in greeting. Johnny wondered if it was a signal for hordes of police to come swarming into the open, but the large paved area of waterfront remained quiet and peaceful.

“Greetings,” said the professor, his voice shaking a little.

“I’m sorry about the police last night—I didn’t know who you were.”

“I’m Johnny … Johnny Mackintosh, and this is my friend Louise. I’m sorry about your computer,” said Johnny, before nodding at the scientist’s luggage on the ground and asking, “What’s in the suitcase?”

“Everything that’s precious to me,” Professor Bond replied. “All my life I’ve longed to go to the stars—I want you to take me with you … back to your homeworld.

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