The Space Explorer: Jimmy Philips and the Knot Civilization
Page 7
Chapter 7
Dad Is Found!
Inside the small burrow, Jimmy asked Amy to turn on her night lights so that they could see. Amy was crawling in front of Jimmy as they moved through these tight spaces.
Jimmy thought to take A.R. off the silent mode for a moment. “A.R. silent mode—off!”
“Silent – Mode – Off.” A.R. replied loud enough that the sound echoed through the burrow and into the room where kid Knot was sleeping. It woke him up, but not his mother.
“Damn it, A.R. do you have to be so loud!” Jimmy stressed. “Lower your volume to 29%!”
“Command acknowledged.” A.R. confirmed as the sound of its automated voice faded away. “Lowering volume...”
“Now, where is suit number 1?” Jimmy asked A.R.
“Suit 1 is 42 meters due south.”
“Yes! We’re close!” Jimmy looked at his compass and realized, “If we keep following this tunnel, we should be there in no time.”
A crawling sensation along his leg, brought Jimmy to utter, “A.R. would you get off me, please?”
“Error!” A.R. informed. “Cannot perform task due to the fact I am not on you!”
“What?” Jimmy wondered as he saw A.R. standing beside him. “Then, who is touching my leg?”
When Jimmy looked back and saw the kid Knot staring back at him with his big dark round eyes, he screamed.
“HI!” Knot exclaimed happily.
“It’s Knot!” Amy excitedly cried.
“Oh. It’s you.” Jimmy sighed in relief.
“HI!” Knot repeated.
“Could you stop saying that?” Jimmy insisted. “You’ve said it like a million times already!”
Knot replied with some words in his native language, tilting his head as if confused.
“Just keep moving Amy we are almost there.” Jimmy urged and Amy began to crawl up the tunnel and everyone else, including Knot, followed after.
They came up to a large, breathtaking room filled with all sorts of local fruits, crystals and minerals.
They exited the tunnel and explored the room. At the edge of the room, facing the entrance was what appeared to be a throne made of hardened mud with two violet glowing crystals at the top.
Knot was running around joyfully, excited to be playing with aliens from another world. In the center of the room there was a huge hole.
Jimmy approached the shiny minerals scattered across the floor. He reached into his backpack and grabbed a little box. He filled the box with the minerals and said, “I’m going to show this to dad when we find him.”
The voice of a man resonated from within the dark hole in the center of the room, “Jimmy? Is that you?”
“Dad?” Jimmy searched the room but did not see him.
“Jimmy! In here!”
Jimmy went over and peeked inside the hole, “DAD!”
The Knot creatures had thrown Dr. Sean Philips inside the hole. Amy ran over as well, “Dad! You’re ok!”
“Jimmy be careful, they are still out there.” Dad said as Knot approached the hole to look down. Concerned for his children, Sean immediately stood up. “There’s one beside you. Run!”
Jimmy chuckled, “It’s ok, dad. He is a kid just like us.”
“His name is Knot.” Amy added.
Suddenly, deep voices were heard getting closer to the throne room. “Quickly Jimmy! Take your sister and hide. They’re coming.”
“Come on, Amy!” Jimmy grabbed Amy by her suit and back into the tunnel they went. A.R. followed, but Knot stayed behind, curiously staring at Sean.
From inside the tunnel, the children watched as two large male Knot creatures enter the throne room. One was Papa Knot with the crown. The other was missing his upper left arm, an arm that was most likely lost to predators or violent conflicts with other Knots. So, he only had 5 arms left.
Papa Knot noticed kid Knot in the room and ordered him to go back to his room with his mother.
Kid Knot tried to tell him about the aliens from another world, but Papa Knot, again, would not listen. He grabbed kid Knot and the dragged him out of the throne room. Papa Knot had to discuss matters with the 5-arm Knot.
Upset, Kid Knot returned to his room and the children watched as Papa Knot circled the hole on the ground while he spoke his native language with the 5-arm Knot.
The children could not understand but body language revealed that the 5-arm Knot was upset with Papa Knot, and the reason for this seemed to be their dad.
The 5-arm Knot walked closer to Papa Knot and grabbed his arm as if trying to convince him. But, Papa Knot retaliated in anger and threw him across the room towards where the children were hiding.
Papa Knot angrily approached the 5-arm Knot, appearing larger and larger in the eyes of the children. He uttered, “Vak beahnin sor tunum.”
Papa Knot made his point. He had the crown—he made the decisions. 5-arm Knot slowly stood up and growled in disappointment.
The 5-arm Knot left the throne room in resentment. Papa Knot, the king, sat upon his throne, engulfed in his thoughts.
The children could do nothing but wait for as long as Papa Knot remained in the room, they could not risk saving their father.
Suddenly, a commotion was heard outside the throne room. The Knot people were in peril. King Papa Knot left the room to put an end to the turmoil.