Secret of the Lost Planet by Angus MacVicar

Author:Angus MacVicar [MacVicar, Angus]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Venture Press
Published: 2015-09-17T00:00:00+00:00

Night Patrol

Spike and I put a few rations into the jeep and made sure that we had proper sketch maps of the area where the enemy ship had landed. Then we borrowed Uncle Lachlan’s compass and under the rear seat packed half a dozen sticks of gelignite in case we met any obstacles on the way.

In about an hour we were in the central square, ready to move off. Spike intended to drive, while my job was to navigate from Professor Bergman’s maps; and we calculated that if all went well we should be back in about eight hours.

Solveg and Uncle Lachlan wanted us to find out two things in particular: how many men Otto Schenk had brought, and how they were equipped — their weapons, transport, etc. We had arranged the time of our departure so that we should reach a point within a few miles of the enemy ship by the time it got dark. Then we could leave the jeep and do the rest of the patrol on foot.

Spike and I climbed into the front seat.

‘Look after yourselves,’ said Solveg, gently. He and Uncle Lachlan had come to bid us au revoir. ‘And take as few risks as possible.’

My uncle’s face was set and craggy. ‘Don’t forget,’ he warned us, ‘the enemy ship may have searchlights and other devices for spotting you.’

Spike pressed the starter. ‘Okay. We’ll look after ourselves —’

There was a sudden interruption. ‘Wait for me! Wait!’

Turning, we saw Asa, in her short kilted tunic, racing across the square. She came to us, breathless. ‘I only heard just now that Jeremy and Spike were ready to leave. I — I’m going with them.’

Solveg gripped her shoulders. ‘My child — are you mad?’

‘Not in the least, Father. But I cannot allow Jeremy and Spike to face all the dangers by themselves. Besides, I know the country well — much better than they do.’

‘But if this — if this Otto Schenk were to capture you again —’

‘Then I’d just have to find some means of escape. I’m no longer a child.’ She climbed into the back of the jeep, ignoring rather feeble protests from Spike and myself; then sat down and smiled. ‘There — that’s quite comfortable, even though the ration tins do have sharp edges!’

Solveg caught her arm. ‘But Asa —’

‘I’m going, Father. Ever since Dr. McKinnon and his friends first came to Hesikos I have wanted to be like them — brave and adventurous, not prim and quiet, like us.’

‘Let her go,’ said Uncle Lachlan. ‘I should be proud of my daughter if I were you. As your people begin to venture out and build a new life for themselves she will be the one to lead them.’

The older man hesitated; but presently his hands dropped to his sides. ‘So be it, my friend. It is difficult for us, as we grow older, to hand the reins to our children. But it must always happen ...’

Spike let in the clutch.

It was a long journey, trundling over the green moss and carefully avoiding the outcrops of pink and white stone.

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