Read Online Ark Royal 2: The Nelson Touch by Christopher Nuttal - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Christopher Nuttal
Tags: Science-Fiction
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days,” the cabbie muttered, as a line of schoolchildren ran across the road. They were wearing blue uniforms, with trousers or skirts that reached down to their ankles. “They all want to die, I tell you.”
Ted shrugged. He’d made more than a few speeches at various schools, during his time on Earth, and he had to admit that plenty of kids wanted to join the navy, now there was a war on. But it would be years before the oldest of them could join, unless conscription became a very real possibility. Until then, they would just have to study hard and join the various campaigns to help with the war effort. Most of the campaigns, Ted suspected, were worse than useless
He smiled. Somehow, he doubted soldiers and spacers in training would appreciate schoolchildren coming to sing while they trained. But knitted clothes would probably be welcome ...
“There’s a war on,” he said, instead. The government departments responsible for monitoring public sentiment had noted that people were growing less and less inclined to prepare for the future, a future that might be suddenly terminated by the aliens. “They’re just trying to live while they can.”
Chapter Six
Kurt scrambled off the train, paused long enough to help an elderly woman who had been chatting to him for the last hour after spying his uniform, then headed down towards the ticket barrier. The ticket inspector took one look at his uniform and waved him through without even bothering to check his ticket, making Kurt smile inwardly. Who would have thought he could avoid paying for a ticket just by wearing his uniform?
Outside, he looked around for the family car and saw ... nothing. There were dozens of mums and dads and children running around – more than normal, suggesting that those who could avoid it had relocated themselves away from the city – but no sign of his wife. Or of his children and the nanny, for that matter. He hesitated, knowing they could be late, then reached for his terminal and switched it to the civilian network. There was no message from any of them.
He paused, then tapped their number into the terminal. There was a long pause, then the phone started to ring. It was several minutes before it was picked up, giving Kurt just enough time to worry. He loved his children and his imagination provided far too many unpleasant possibilities that could have happened to them.
It was Penny, his daughter, who answered. “Hello?”
“Penny,” Kurt said, relaxing slightly. “I’m at the train station. Is your mother on the way?”
“I don’t think so,” Penny said. She sounded surprised to hear from him. “Dad, I didn't even know you were coming home.”
Kurt felt cold water pouring down his spine. “Well, I am,” he said. He’d sent Molly a message telling her he was coming home for a brief period of leave. “I’ll try to call her, then get a taxi if she doesn't answer.”
Worried, he tapped in Molly’s number. There was no answer. He hesitated, cold suspicion running through his mind, then switched off the Caller ID and tried again. This time, he received an automated message stating that Molly’s number didn't accept callers without Caller ID. Unsurprised – Molly had been harassed as a younger girl and never quite gotten over it – but annoyed, he turned and started to walk towards the taxis. The cabbie he found chatted aimlessly as they drove out into the suburbs, where his family lived.
He paid the cabbie and stepped out of the cab, then paused as the door burst open to reveal Penny. She practically ran down the garden path to give him a hug, then remembered she was supposed to be a sulky teenager and let go quickly. Kurt patted her on the back, then inspected her hair. She'd dyed it white and black, creating a striking look that, combined with her clothes, reminded him far too much of some of the
Ted shrugged. He’d made more than a few speeches at various schools, during his time on Earth, and he had to admit that plenty of kids wanted to join the navy, now there was a war on. But it would be years before the oldest of them could join, unless conscription became a very real possibility. Until then, they would just have to study hard and join the various campaigns to help with the war effort. Most of the campaigns, Ted suspected, were worse than useless
He smiled. Somehow, he doubted soldiers and spacers in training would appreciate schoolchildren coming to sing while they trained. But knitted clothes would probably be welcome ...
“There’s a war on,” he said, instead. The government departments responsible for monitoring public sentiment had noted that people were growing less and less inclined to prepare for the future, a future that might be suddenly terminated by the aliens. “They’re just trying to live while they can.”
Chapter Six
Kurt scrambled off the train, paused long enough to help an elderly woman who had been chatting to him for the last hour after spying his uniform, then headed down towards the ticket barrier. The ticket inspector took one look at his uniform and waved him through without even bothering to check his ticket, making Kurt smile inwardly. Who would have thought he could avoid paying for a ticket just by wearing his uniform?
Outside, he looked around for the family car and saw ... nothing. There were dozens of mums and dads and children running around – more than normal, suggesting that those who could avoid it had relocated themselves away from the city – but no sign of his wife. Or of his children and the nanny, for that matter. He hesitated, knowing they could be late, then reached for his terminal and switched it to the civilian network. There was no message from any of them.
He paused, then tapped their number into the terminal. There was a long pause, then the phone started to ring. It was several minutes before it was picked up, giving Kurt just enough time to worry. He loved his children and his imagination provided far too many unpleasant possibilities that could have happened to them.
It was Penny, his daughter, who answered. “Hello?”
“Penny,” Kurt said, relaxing slightly. “I’m at the train station. Is your mother on the way?”
“I don’t think so,” Penny said. She sounded surprised to hear from him. “Dad, I didn't even know you were coming home.”
Kurt felt cold water pouring down his spine. “Well, I am,” he said. He’d sent Molly a message telling her he was coming home for a brief period of leave. “I’ll try to call her, then get a taxi if she doesn't answer.”
Worried, he tapped in Molly’s number. There was no answer. He hesitated, cold suspicion running through his mind, then switched off the Caller ID and tried again. This time, he received an automated message stating that Molly’s number didn't accept callers without Caller ID. Unsurprised – Molly had been harassed as a younger girl and never quite gotten over it – but annoyed, he turned and started to walk towards the taxis. The cabbie he found chatted aimlessly as they drove out into the suburbs, where his family lived.
He paid the cabbie and stepped out of the cab, then paused as the door burst open to reveal Penny. She practically ran down the garden path to give him a hug, then remembered she was supposed to be a sulky teenager and let go quickly. Kurt patted her on the back, then inspected her hair. She'd dyed it white and black, creating a striking look that, combined with her clothes, reminded him far too much of some of the
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