- Text Size +

After some few hours, the spaceship was approaching the Kadrom sector of the neighbouring galaxy.

"Your earth rocket ships would never travel this distance" said Butler One.

"They could never travel this quickly either. They take weeks and weeks to put a man on the moon. Then they've got to get the man back to earth. Are we so far behind the technology of other worlds?"

"Not all other worlds. There are some planets whose inhabitants are even more primitive than your own."

"Primitive? Primitive! Thank you for that, Butler One. We should make our plans. Do you think we'll be allowed to land on Kadrom?"

"It would be wise to pretend that we are from Jeradd's galaxy, rather than your own."

"Good idea."

"It will still be dangerous. I am unable to calculate all of the risks."

"I don't want you to calculate the risks, because I just want you to help me take them. I wonder.... Yes. I wonder how the other girls from Northern High School and Freedom Fields would react if they knew how  far away from earth I am, and where we are."

"Approaching Kadrom, Miss O’Malley."

"Let's keep going until they ask us to identify ourselves. I'll have my translator headpiece on."

"Proceding into the atmosphere."

The atmosphere was bright pink, because of the pink colouring of the planet's sky. As they travelled further, they noticed that the clouds on this strange world were of an ochre colour. (To the thirteen year old Ann O’Malley, the words 'pale yellow' were used to describe the colour of the clouds).

"I guess it's daytime where we are" said Ann "But where on earth - or should I say on Kadrom - are we going to find a touring vessel? I think we'll have to ask somebody. Let's land and pretend that we'd like to board a touring vessel."

"It may be better to ensure your safety, if I let you fly down from a low height and question the inhabitants yourself. That would enable me to search from above and effect a surprise rescue if you got into any trouble."

"The way we do it on earth. Yes, I'll try that. Let's hope that one of us comes up with something."

Ann left the spaceship, which was then cruising only ten meters above the surface of the planet. She used her antigravity triangles to float down to ground level. There were a few humanoid beings walking casually in the area.

"They must be the inhabitants of Kadrom. Butler One has programmed the translator device to receive and project the Kadrom language."

She approached the nearest person and asked "Excuse me, do you know where I can ride in a touring vessel?"

"Do you wish to go to Saturn's solar system?"

"No. I was planning to go the other way actually. Is there any special reason to visit Saturn?"

asked Ann.

"Well Emperor Kibok has bAnnd space travel to Saturn's galaxy, excluding the war fleet of course. They're the only ones going."

The Kadrom humanoid directed Ann to the nearest touring vessel depot.

"I don't understand their system of measures, but if we continue in the direction that I've been shown, we could yet find it" thought Ann. She raised a hand and touched the controls on her bracelet with the other hand.

"Ann O’Malley calling Butler One."

"This is Butler One."

"I have found out which direction to fly Wildstar. Home in on my signal and then lower Wildstar until you are ten feet above me."

"Am proceeding in your direction, Miss O’Malley."

Ann waited until she saw the spaceship approaching. She wondered what the local Kadromians would think of a girl who floated in the air and boarded a hovering spaceship. Whatever they thought, it could not be helped.

"There's little time left with that fleet approaching Saturn. At least we were more than half way here when we detected them. Our ship is faster than theirs."

Once aboard the spacecraft, Ann O’Malley flew towards the depot's direction, staring persistently at Wildstar's monitor screens until she saw a large raised platform with several spacecraft spread out on top of it.

"We shall have to land this time, so that you can leave the ship as well."

"I shall land on that grass behind the platform, Miss O’Malley."

"Did you say grass? Butler One, it's blue!"

"Not all planets have the same physical properties as earth."

"I wonder if maybe that could be a clue to solving this mystery about the touring vessel's explosion."

Wendell was wondering if there’d be any likelihood of taking Ann back to meet the people of his own world. There she’d be a giantess on earth-T. Then for the first time it occurred to his young mind that she might have a double on his world, and vice versa. Not that he’d ever know if earth-T had an Ann O’Malley, unless he could ever get back there. Yet he was in no hurry to. Being with a friendly giantess was fun.

 

You must login (register) to review.