T is for Time

  Chapter Thirty Six

  “There’s nothing like a brisk walk to raise the spirit of adventure.” Fate commented as Team B reached the brow of the basin the Jefferians had parked in. He threw the wings to the floor in the hope they would be forgotten when they left.

  “If I ha……had the energy………to……to speak…….I’d tell you to…..shut up. It seems……I do have the……the energy…….shut up!” Karma didn’t agree.

  “This is why……I said we should just……transport ourselves to the top. We’re…..in no state to do anything now.” Irony fell to the floor and lay on her back. Karma arrived and similarly collapsed. Fut, who had been lying down for five minutes, had taken the opportunity for a moment's relaxation. Fate joined the group but remained kneeling as he pleaded his case.

  “I thought we should experience the adventure in full. It’s no fun transporting ourselves everywhere. We do too much of that. We should see the bits in between destinations. It’ll be a reminder as to what we wish to save.” The words went unheard as the heavy breathing continued. Fate crawled to the lip. After a while he was joined by the others, all peering on their bellies. Irony voiced the words that appeared to hang around this particular part of the hill.

  “That’s a lot of aliens.”

  “With only one direction in mind.” Fut rolled on his front and commented on the uniform goal they all sought.

  “At a speed greater than you’d suspect possible.” Fate offered the velocity.

  “Wimps.” Karma had nothing but disdain for their fleeing behaviour.

  “I suppose they’ve all heard about the spider.” Fate offered a reason as the aliens scrabbled back on board their ship. A loudspeaker called out for everyone to pile on board in an orderly fashion. Health and safety still had to be followed no matter what the emergency. The aliens were also warned the doors would be sealed in a quarter of a harlen, about one Earth hour. Irony raised a point that suggested her interest in the mission was growing.

  “If all the aliens are going back to the ship and locking the doors, how will Brick and Spiritwind get on board and complete their plan?”

  “I suppose they’ll have to change it, or find a way around the problem. Guess that’s why they left the plan so free of specifics.” Fate answered as best he could.

  “Of course, ‘that’s’ why they left the plan so free of specifics.” Karma didn’t share the faith of Fate.

  “Whatever the reason be, the owners of the idea need to know the game’s changed.” Fut moved on to solutions.

  “Somebody will have to go and tell them. We can’t let them walk up to the ship thinking it’s deserted.” Fate joined Fut’s quest for an answer.

  “Maybe they already know. They seem to be fluking every other part of the mission.” Irony opted out of going, in her own subtle manner.

  “We can’t take that chance. I’m happy to go.” Fate held up his hand.

  “I’ll bet you are.” Karma clearly had a problem, and a newly formed foul mood to discuss it with.

  “Well of course I am. It’s my job.” Fate tried to ignore the tone. It was clear Karma wanted to fight. He hoped ignorance would skirt conflict.

  “Nothing to do with wanting to swan off with good old Brick and Spiritwind and have some fun, while we wait here surrounded by invading aliens? Typical.” Karma’s mood would not be ignored.

  “I fail to see how delivering a message can be seen as sneaking off for fun?” Fate may as well have punched his girlfriend for the level of insult she reacted with.

  “It’s probably as much fun as walking down the street staring at pretty girls.” Karma pulled a gem from the bag of supposedly forgiven misdemeanours. The fact it was irrelevant to the current discussion held no merit.

  “Now, we’ve discussed that and you said it was all forgotten. Plus there aren’t any pretty girls anywhere near Team A.” Fut winced for his friend as Fate realised his own error. He should have stopped at ‘forgotten'.

  “So if there were any pretty girls around you’d be off with them in a flash?” Fate looked towards Fut with complete bemusement as to where such a conclusion had come from. Fut had nothing but a downward stare in response. “And how can you be so sure there aren’t any girls around? Unless you’ve already checked?”

  “I’m not sure what to say to that.” Fate was drowning in a sea of female logic.

  “Why? Because I’m right?” Karma had a lot left to vent.

  “No. Because I don’t have a clue which type of logic you’re using.” Fate gave her ample material to release it on.

  Fut sensed the argument had a long way to go and decided to take the next step of the mission in to his own hands. He felt confident he could visit Team A and be back before anyone noticed. He promptly disappeared, arriving in the kitchen of the hideout house almost instantly. Everybody sat in the living room, except for Coincidence who was still tidying up.

  “Fut. Welcome. To what do we owe this pleasure?” Coincidence’s initial shock was quelled by Fut’s emanating warmth.

  “My need to be is a message that affects the ride we’re all on.” Fut bobbed as he spoke.

  “Would you like a drink while you tell us?” Coincidence continued to wipe the surfaces as he spoke.

  “Your offer stems from the kind soul within but I must decline. Your brother and lady found some words to hurl at each other. I opted to take this short ride while they count the points. My message is for you to relay.”

  “Then speak away.” Coincidence turned to give Fut his full attention.

  “The sounds that fill the air been coming from a mouth beneath eight flying eyes….”

  “The cacklejack?”

  “Cacklejack! A label never suited such a sound so sweetly.” Fut nodded in agreement at the name before remembering he was in the middle of talking. “Sorry my man, the distractions in my mind are endless. Karma met the cackling jack and took away its flight. The sight won’t ever leave my eyes. The terror she unleashed has all the little green dudes heading back to the ship, and they be closing the doors and not letting anyone in.”

  “Right. That messes up the plan somewhat.”

  “Hence my call.” Fut struck a pose that dripped cool all over the floor.

  “I’ll let the others know. We’ll have to factor it into the plan.” Coincidence rubbed his cheek. He knew things had been going too well.

  “I’d better slide my friend. There’s a patch of hill waiting for my mind, body and soul.”

  “Okay. Thanks for coming to tell us. And tell that brother of mine to just nod and agree.”

  “I may wait a while to pass on any tips. The heat from those two cats scorches my mind. Remain the same my man. Until later.” Fut disappeared in a pointing pose as Coincidence headed to the living room. When Fut reappeared on the hill the argument was still in full flow. Irony had remained on her back covering her eyes. Nobody had noticed Fut’s absence.

  “I’m argumentative!” Karma still had a lot inside.

  “You’re proving it with every word.”

  “I knew it would be my fault.”

  “Well I don’t see how it’s mine.”

  “You never do…….”

  Fut rolled on to his own ample back and toyed with a blade of grass. He stared in to the sky and pondered nothingness whilst waiting for peace to descend. He wasn’t expecting it to arrive anytime soon.

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