Read Online Don't Look Back (Warders of Earth) by S E Gilchrist - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: S E Gilchrist
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the beeper, Tara.”
“No, Mum, I didn’t.” I folded my arms.
“Humph. Have you heard the news?”
Unfolding my arms, I attended to the drinks, added milk and filled them with hot water from the kettle. “It’s no biggie. A couple of meteors miles from Earth, I don’t see any cause for you to be worried, Mum. The government certainly isn’t.”
Turning around, I caught the quick look my parents exchanged and Dad’s raised left eyebrow. What was that about?
“Recalling our armed forces back to home soil is serious.” Mum’s lips tightened as if she’d been sucking lemons.
I frowned, thinking about it.
“Do you really think so, Mrs Ferguson?” Still in the doorway and giving the impression she was contemplating a quick getaway, Em’s eyes widened.
She looks just like a startled rabbit. I handed out mugs of fragrant dandelion tea. Dad shook his head when I offered him one. Instead he opened the fridge door and took out a can of beer which he snapped open and raised to his lips.
After wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he said, “At the observatory, they’ve had their eyes on these meteors for some time. There’s been a lot of chatter twenty-four-seven between NASA and other countries. I know for a fact that a lot of time and energy has been spent on analysing trajectory models recently.”
“Are you certain, Mr Ferguson?” queried Em. “I mean…”
I knew she wanted to ask how a cleaner would have privy to this information but didn’t know how to word it. It was a good question. I wouldn’t mind learning the answer myself. I had to wait though, while Dad chugged down more beer.
Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he considered Em before saying, “Cleaners are like servants, people don’t really see us. You’d be surprised at the amount of gossip we pick up.”
“Then it’s true?” I eyed Dad, wondering whether he’d actually heard this information himself or whether he’d been utilising his awesome computer skills to hack into the observatory’s mainframe.
Dad placed his right hand over his heart in an almost theatrical gesture.
“Oh my god!” Em hugged herself. Her voice rose. “They’re going to hit Earth. We have to tell everyone. We have to find shelter!”
“No need to shriek, young woman. Settle down,” ordered Dad, a heavy scowl wrinkling his forehead. “You’ve got a voice like a train whistle. Never heard anything like it in my life.”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed and Dad winked at me. If only things could go back the way they used to be; Mum and Dad together, with us.
“I don’t see any reason to laugh, Tara,” snapped Em, her eyes suspiciously shiny.
My happy moment snuffed out like a lit match in a thunderstorm. “Sorry, Em. I wasn’t laughing at you.” All I seemed to do these days was apologise. Why couldn’t I learn to think before I acted or spoke?
“Hey, Astro. Hurry up in there.” The yell from outside came loud and clear through the open window. And female.
“Astro?” Damn, now both Mum and Dan knew there was a chick waiting for Dad outside.
My brother ducked his head, thin shoulders hunched, his hands bunched into fists where they lay on the table. I stared down into my mug. I couldn’t bear to see the hurt lining Mum’s face.
“Yeah, it seemed appropriate. Loved that cartoon show.” Dad swigged more beer then set the empty down. Taking a clean handkerchief from his pocket, he dried his silver ring nose, fiddling it round and round.
Was he stalling?
Dad thumped his chest and belched.
Mum sighed long and loud but her lips were curved upwards; just a tiny bit.
And for a few seconds, everything was like it used to be; Dad acting the bogan teasing Mum and Mum pretending to be the long-suffering, put-upon wife.
I blinked away stupid tears as they shared another one of those damned glances that really puzzled me. Like they knew something I didn’t.
Finally Dad stuffed the cloth away and cleared his throat.
“No, Mum, I didn’t.” I folded my arms.
“Humph. Have you heard the news?”
Unfolding my arms, I attended to the drinks, added milk and filled them with hot water from the kettle. “It’s no biggie. A couple of meteors miles from Earth, I don’t see any cause for you to be worried, Mum. The government certainly isn’t.”
Turning around, I caught the quick look my parents exchanged and Dad’s raised left eyebrow. What was that about?
“Recalling our armed forces back to home soil is serious.” Mum’s lips tightened as if she’d been sucking lemons.
I frowned, thinking about it.
“Do you really think so, Mrs Ferguson?” Still in the doorway and giving the impression she was contemplating a quick getaway, Em’s eyes widened.
She looks just like a startled rabbit. I handed out mugs of fragrant dandelion tea. Dad shook his head when I offered him one. Instead he opened the fridge door and took out a can of beer which he snapped open and raised to his lips.
After wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he said, “At the observatory, they’ve had their eyes on these meteors for some time. There’s been a lot of chatter twenty-four-seven between NASA and other countries. I know for a fact that a lot of time and energy has been spent on analysing trajectory models recently.”
“Are you certain, Mr Ferguson?” queried Em. “I mean…”
I knew she wanted to ask how a cleaner would have privy to this information but didn’t know how to word it. It was a good question. I wouldn’t mind learning the answer myself. I had to wait though, while Dad chugged down more beer.
Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he considered Em before saying, “Cleaners are like servants, people don’t really see us. You’d be surprised at the amount of gossip we pick up.”
“Then it’s true?” I eyed Dad, wondering whether he’d actually heard this information himself or whether he’d been utilising his awesome computer skills to hack into the observatory’s mainframe.
Dad placed his right hand over his heart in an almost theatrical gesture.
“Oh my god!” Em hugged herself. Her voice rose. “They’re going to hit Earth. We have to tell everyone. We have to find shelter!”
“No need to shriek, young woman. Settle down,” ordered Dad, a heavy scowl wrinkling his forehead. “You’ve got a voice like a train whistle. Never heard anything like it in my life.”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed and Dad winked at me. If only things could go back the way they used to be; Mum and Dad together, with us.
“I don’t see any reason to laugh, Tara,” snapped Em, her eyes suspiciously shiny.
My happy moment snuffed out like a lit match in a thunderstorm. “Sorry, Em. I wasn’t laughing at you.” All I seemed to do these days was apologise. Why couldn’t I learn to think before I acted or spoke?
“Hey, Astro. Hurry up in there.” The yell from outside came loud and clear through the open window. And female.
“Astro?” Damn, now both Mum and Dan knew there was a chick waiting for Dad outside.
My brother ducked his head, thin shoulders hunched, his hands bunched into fists where they lay on the table. I stared down into my mug. I couldn’t bear to see the hurt lining Mum’s face.
“Yeah, it seemed appropriate. Loved that cartoon show.” Dad swigged more beer then set the empty down. Taking a clean handkerchief from his pocket, he dried his silver ring nose, fiddling it round and round.
Was he stalling?
Dad thumped his chest and belched.
Mum sighed long and loud but her lips were curved upwards; just a tiny bit.
And for a few seconds, everything was like it used to be; Dad acting the bogan teasing Mum and Mum pretending to be the long-suffering, put-upon wife.
I blinked away stupid tears as they shared another one of those damned glances that really puzzled me. Like they knew something I didn’t.
Finally Dad stuffed the cloth away and cleared his throat.
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