the Space Spectacular.
“It’s been a really full-on couple of months,” he told his friend. “Let’s hope we can get through next term without being in grave danger every five minutes.” He paused for a moment, then continued quietly, “That’s if I make it back next term. I totally messed up the Hyperspace History exam.”
For the first time, Kaal’s eyelids flickered. John leaned forward. “Kaal?” he whispered. “Can you hear me?”
The Meteor Medic floated forward. “ Visit terminated ,” it said.
“But he can hear me,” said John. “His eyes moved. I’m getting through to him.”
“ Leave immediately ,” the droid droned, “ or the Examiners will be informed .”
There was no choice but to leave. Telling Kaal he would be back as soon as possible, John walked out of the isolation room and into the reception area. It was empty now. He paused, guessing that the doctor had gone to the new emergency ward in the 4-D cinema. Turning, John looked through the screen to the quarantine ward. Emmie lay on a bed near the far end of the room, her fearful eyes staring up at the ceiling. As he watched, a pale blue tear ran down her cheek.
John felt his heart lurch in his chest.
Dr Kasaria didn’t say I couldn’t visit Emmie, too , he told himself, already moving towards the disinfectant field that led into the ward. I won’t disturb anyone; I’ll just spend a few minutes with her.
“ Stop ,” droned an electronic voice behind him. “ Rule number five-zero-four: no student is to enter the quarantine ward .”
Unseen by John, an Examiner had floated through the medical wing’s main doors.
But John didn’t stop. “It’s OK!” he called over his shoulder. “Dr Kasaria knows I’m here and I’m immune, there’s no dang—”
A haze of green appeared around John, holding him in place, one foot through the disinfectant field.
“ Rule number zero-zero-eight-three: Examiners are to be obeyed at all times. Punishment for non-compliance —”
A ball of light flashed through the wall and sparkled into the form of the headmaster. “I will deal with this,” Lorem said sternly.
The force field flicked off. Able to move again, John turned to face Lorem. The headmaster looked grave.
Uh-oh, I’m in trouble now.
“Take a walk with me, John,” Lorem said, striding towards the door.
The tone of his voice made John’s feet start moving before Lorem had even finished his sentence. “I just wanted to see Emmie, sir,” he explained, as he followed the headmaster out into the corridor. “I wasn’t going to stay long...”
Lorem raised his hand, and John immediately stopped talking, walking in silence as the white-robed headmaster turned and strode along an empty corridor that ended at one of Hyperspace High’s observation decks.
Ignoring the comfortable MorphSeats, Lorem crossed the floor, standing at the edge of the deck. John knew that a transparent dome surrounded them, but, even so, he had to stop himself from lunging forward to drag the headmaster out of danger. It seemed as if he were standing on the very edge of space. Nervously, John joined him, standing by his side and looking out at the glittering clusters of stars.
For a few heartbeats neither spoke. Eventually, John cleared his throat and said, “I’m sorry. I thought it might make Emmie feel better to see a friend.”
Lorem looked down at him. “Don’t worry about that,” he said kindly. “I would have done the same thing in your position. Still, it is never a good idea to disobey the Examiners. Next time wait for Dr Kasaria to return and ask permission.” The headmaster resumed watching the stars again.
“So, I’m... err... not going to be punished then?”
“John, I sense how troubled you are by your friends’ illness. I know exactly how you feel. When I was a young boy, many centuries ago, my best friend contracted Zhaldarian Flu. I still remember how helpless I felt watching him suffer.”
“What happened to
“It’s been a really full-on couple of months,” he told his friend. “Let’s hope we can get through next term without being in grave danger every five minutes.” He paused for a moment, then continued quietly, “That’s if I make it back next term. I totally messed up the Hyperspace History exam.”
For the first time, Kaal’s eyelids flickered. John leaned forward. “Kaal?” he whispered. “Can you hear me?”
The Meteor Medic floated forward. “ Visit terminated ,” it said.
“But he can hear me,” said John. “His eyes moved. I’m getting through to him.”
“ Leave immediately ,” the droid droned, “ or the Examiners will be informed .”
There was no choice but to leave. Telling Kaal he would be back as soon as possible, John walked out of the isolation room and into the reception area. It was empty now. He paused, guessing that the doctor had gone to the new emergency ward in the 4-D cinema. Turning, John looked through the screen to the quarantine ward. Emmie lay on a bed near the far end of the room, her fearful eyes staring up at the ceiling. As he watched, a pale blue tear ran down her cheek.
John felt his heart lurch in his chest.
Dr Kasaria didn’t say I couldn’t visit Emmie, too , he told himself, already moving towards the disinfectant field that led into the ward. I won’t disturb anyone; I’ll just spend a few minutes with her.
“ Stop ,” droned an electronic voice behind him. “ Rule number five-zero-four: no student is to enter the quarantine ward .”
Unseen by John, an Examiner had floated through the medical wing’s main doors.
But John didn’t stop. “It’s OK!” he called over his shoulder. “Dr Kasaria knows I’m here and I’m immune, there’s no dang—”
A haze of green appeared around John, holding him in place, one foot through the disinfectant field.
“ Rule number zero-zero-eight-three: Examiners are to be obeyed at all times. Punishment for non-compliance —”
A ball of light flashed through the wall and sparkled into the form of the headmaster. “I will deal with this,” Lorem said sternly.
The force field flicked off. Able to move again, John turned to face Lorem. The headmaster looked grave.
Uh-oh, I’m in trouble now.
“Take a walk with me, John,” Lorem said, striding towards the door.
The tone of his voice made John’s feet start moving before Lorem had even finished his sentence. “I just wanted to see Emmie, sir,” he explained, as he followed the headmaster out into the corridor. “I wasn’t going to stay long...”
Lorem raised his hand, and John immediately stopped talking, walking in silence as the white-robed headmaster turned and strode along an empty corridor that ended at one of Hyperspace High’s observation decks.
Ignoring the comfortable MorphSeats, Lorem crossed the floor, standing at the edge of the deck. John knew that a transparent dome surrounded them, but, even so, he had to stop himself from lunging forward to drag the headmaster out of danger. It seemed as if he were standing on the very edge of space. Nervously, John joined him, standing by his side and looking out at the glittering clusters of stars.
For a few heartbeats neither spoke. Eventually, John cleared his throat and said, “I’m sorry. I thought it might make Emmie feel better to see a friend.”
Lorem looked down at him. “Don’t worry about that,” he said kindly. “I would have done the same thing in your position. Still, it is never a good idea to disobey the Examiners. Next time wait for Dr Kasaria to return and ask permission.” The headmaster resumed watching the stars again.
“So, I’m... err... not going to be punished then?”
“John, I sense how troubled you are by your friends’ illness. I know exactly how you feel. When I was a young boy, many centuries ago, my best friend contracted Zhaldarian Flu. I still remember how helpless I felt watching him suffer.”
“What happened to
Similar Books
