As the shuttle resumes its journey, Probe tells his companions: "The
problem that we've had reminds me that I ought to warn you not to come
to rely on this mode of transport always being available. Sooner or later
- and it's more likely to be sooner - someone in the fleet is going to
remember that two serviceable shuttles have been left on Terra. I'm afraid
that when that happens they will be seen as far too valuable not to be
reclaimed." "So, rather than using a shuttle for ferrying settlers and
supplies to a suitable area, we may have to travel the old-fashioned way,"
Fred 3 comments. "At least that should help weed out any applicants who
are misguided enough to think that it will be an easy life," his wife replies.
"We ought to radio Fred and Astra 4 to make up their minds quickly if they
want to join us, though. If they couldn't come by shuttle, then they'd
risk not reaching Aqualaria before our expedition sets out. It must be
a journey of weeks if not months from Ethiopia by sea, and I imagine it's
too far for travelling by dragon to be a practical alternative."
Meanwhile, back in Ethiopia the four Helenas who had been rescued from
Zerm's clutches are discussing what they should do with the rest of their
lives. Having spent the last eightyfive years as living statues, they find
the modern world strange and uncomfortable in many ways. Of course, that
is made worse by being in a foreign land, but they know that even back
in Aqualaria they would feel out of place. Customs have changed, ideas
have changed, fashions have changed, even people's manner of speech has
changed.
To avoid confusion, the Helenas have allocated themselves the numbers
1 to 4, but it does not necessarily follow that Helena 1 is the great-aunt
of Astra 1 and so on. It has proved impossible to establish for sure in
every case which Helena matches which Astra, and indeed it is possible
that one or more of the Helenas comes from a slightly different analog
Terra to that of any of the Astras. (If that is the case, though, that
particular Astra's great-aunt must still be unaccounted for.) Helena 4
is several inches taller than the other three, who could pass for identical
triplets. Indeed, it is only differences in their hairstyles that allow
people to tell them apart.
-
 "I suppose we
ought to contact Queen Astra, and ask her if there is any mission she would
like us to carry out," says Helena 1. "After all, as Aqualarians we are
her subjects."
Go Back
|