computer was collected, and delivered to the SPs mother ship. Then they had returned Calvan back down again, and close to his own home.
Tom had told the Leader about the desert people and their legend of the Ancestors – waiting as the generations changed, and the centuries rolled on.
“Each of them will have the choice of coming with us to Two Stars,” he told Tom.
Tom shook hands with Calvan , as they stood at the bottom of the short exit ladder. The SPs mother ship had remained in orbit. The Leader had insisted that they kept the missile shield up, as a precaution. He told Tom that these Earth people would be a threat if the mother ship were mistaken for a hostile object, so they needed to be careful.
“It’s a shame that you didn’t see our world, but you choose to come home, and we respect that decision,” Tom said. He handed a small device to Calvan. “Look after this. If you ever need help call me , by just pressing these buttons, like I showed you,” he said.
“Here’s something else, from the Leader himself.” It was a small bag of precious medicine, he explained. Calvan didn’t seem to understand this, or its worth. “Take only tiny bits every now and again , and it will stop you from growing old.” Tom had explained. “That’s so you will be around, when I call again next time.”
Then Tom saluted, and then spun around quickly. He climbed the ladder, and entered the craft without looking back. Calvan stood back and waved, as the small craft lifted upwards. He was still waving when Tom’s craft became a speck in the sky, and then disappeared from view.
His parents would be pleased to see him, and would want to know all about his holiday. Calvan needed a story; there was some explaining to do.
15 Contact
It had been an uneventful two years for Calvan, but what did he expect? This was everyday life, and as it should be. He was making progress with his college work though, and studying science now.
Tom and Calvan had had been good friends, and he missed the adventures that they had been through together. In some ways these experiences, and the knowledge they had brought , separated him from his friends now. If he told anyone else about them, they would laugh, and think he was either a bit crazy or a liar.
Each day he would take the beacon from its secret place in his room, and roll it around in his hand. This was a link to other worlds up there, and if he ever started to think it was all just a dream, then here was the proof that it was real.
He was sitting on his bed thinking about this, and then suddenly it happened. First he wondered if the device had simply sprung a fault. The thing was glowing softly.
B efore Tom had left for home, he had told Calvan how to use the beacon. He knew that the glow was a message, waiting to stream. His imagination was running wild now. Maybe there was a ship in orbit, and it had gone below the horizon, so couldn’t communicate. If it were Tom he would try again.
Slow down! Or he would be headed for a big disappointment. Maybe the beacon had been dropped too many times. He should have just left it alone. What was he expecting, Tom to come back from Two Stars, half way across the galaxy, because a kid on Earth was bored?
But then the communicator had changed color slightly again. This could only mean one thing , he convinced himself. There was a ship in orbit, and it was trying to contact him!
Calvan walked downstairs and strolled to the door as casually as he could “I’m going down the beach for a walk Mom ,” he said.
As he walked down the path, his eyes scanned the sky. Even if there was a ship up there, he couldn’t possibly see it, but the sky looked deep blue, massive, and full of possibilities. He was feeling excited.
He was in the privacy of the cave now, and it was time to find out the truth. Calvan’s finger pressed hard down on the ‘SEND’ button.
“Hey Calvan, you took your time.” It was Tom’s voice.
Calvan nearly
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