The Kicking Tree

by Trevor Stubbs

  Jalli was thrown backwards to the floor. The lights failed and, for a split second, a brilliant flash coming from the port side lit up the whole dome – then there was total darkness. The next thing Jalli was aware of was that the MEV started to hum loudly, and when she looked up she could see stars racing across the sky.

  Jalli picked herself up and, using the starlight, felt her way back to the lift. As she arrived a low emergency lighting came on and illuminated the control panels. The black uniformed invaders may not be far away from the Command Centre lift, she feared, and may be sending for it. Jalli did not want to be caught on her own with nowhere to hide.

  In fact the invaders had just reached the lift in the dock when the surge had sent them flying across the floor. During the two minute surge, power is diverted from every system except life support and gravity and, like everyone else, they were plunged into the dark. In the Command Centre Jalli worked by a combination of the emergency lighting and starlight.

  She tried to drag the commander from the lift but she was too heavy. But, leaving the commander half in and half out of the lift effectively deactivated it when the power was restored precisely two minutes later. The stars stopped moving, the lights came on and the usual hum resumed.

  The desperate invaders had taken to the stairs. They were not sure what was happening, but the answer was bound to lie in the nerve centre of the vessel, and they were making for the Command Centre. Jalli wanted to turn off the stunning device if she could.

  She picked it up and stared at it. She wondered what it’s range was. She ran to the other side of the Command Centre. Commander Juliet was still asleep. She must turn it off. Which way should she turn the knob? Anticlockwise was the Wanulkan direction for turning everything off, water, gas and electrical devices. She knew in England – and in the beach resort too – it went the opposite way for water and gas. Jack had laughed when she was unable to turn off the water tap above the sink because she was trying to turn it the wrong way. So which way was this going to work?

  She pondered. These people had spoken Wanulkan – it wasn’t a translation, she was sure of it. So if they came from Raika then perhaps their electrical devices obeyed the Raikan standard. Carefully she turned the knob one notch anticlockwise. The deputy twitched! Was that a good sign or a bad one? She turned it one more notch. This time both people seemed to be waking up. One more notch and they were definitely regaining some consciousness. Jalli turned the knob as far as it would go. To her relief, the commander and her deputy began to sit up.

  Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp – the invaders were coming up the last flights of stairs. Jalli pushed the commander as hard as she could back into the lift from where she had dragged her. The large woman was just trying to get up and fell backwards onto the lift floor. Jalli then stepped smartly into the lift herself and pressed the descend button just as the doors to the stairs swung open and the invaders entered the Command Centre. By the time the lift descended the two floors the commander and the deputy were on their feet.

  “Stay there,” ordered Jalli in a voice as authoritative as any the commander had heard since the Great Marton had left Earth Two space. Rubbing their necks they instinctively obeyed as Jalli bounded back onto the Main Deck, grabbed the devices on the table and turned the knobs anticlockwise. She saw people start to move. Then she sprinted back to the lift.

  “All is safe now. The stunning devices are turned off,” she panted. “They didn’t affect me – probably because I’m Raikan. The invaders are Raikan too, I think. They didn’t bargain on another like them being around!”

  Commander Juliet uttered a quiet thank you to Jalli followed by a gentle, “Perhaps ‘doing’ can be as important as ‘being’ for visitors after all.” She pulled at her clothes to straighten them and strode into the Main Deck. “Is everyone alright?” she spoke firmly.

  People nodded and grunted their assent. “We have two people claimed to be Intergalactic Police, but who are probably pirates, in the Command Centre. Their ship must be close by and they’ll be boarding soon. They have stunning devices that work with sound. Plug your ears at the first hint of contact.”

  “Excuse me,” interjected Jalli. “I think the pirate ship is a long way away. I pushed and rolled the red emergency ball and we surged away.”

  “Clever girl!” declared the deputy. “But they could still be on our tail. We must apprehend the two men in the Command Centre.”

  “At least one is a woman,” observed Jalli. Why should people assume they were both men? Interesting. But Jalli did not have time to think about it. The commander detailed half a dozen for the stairs, while she and four more went back up the lift. Jalli felt less important now everyone was awake. For a time she had been in charge of the MEV all by herself. She didn’t feel this for more than ten seconds, though, because Jack was beside her cuddling her. Matt and Sass were there too.

  “You saved us!” Sass was shouting. “You did have a job to do!”

  “It seems so,” said Jalli. “I am afraid that it is probably because these ‘pirates’ or whoever they are, are from my home planet. Probably my own city.”

  “Wanulka?” wondered Jack.

  “They spoke Wanulkish without an accent. It was because their stunning devices didn’t affect Raikans that I did not flake out like the rest of you.”

  “But you did all the right things.”

  “I hope so. There was a huge crash just after I hit the red ball. I hope there isn’t any damage.”

  *

  Half an hour later the commander and the arresting party returned to the Main Deck.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” she began, “it seems that we have two more visitors from Wanulka on Planet Raika with us today. Raikan pirates came on board with the express purpose of plundering the MEV Great Marton while we were incapacitated by clever devices. However, thanks to our other Raikan guest they did not succeed. Their fellow pirates are now stranded in their spaceship and will probably not make it to a suitable planet for repairs in less than two generations. Our guest Jalli here not only took us half a light year away from them, she also took out half their engines and one stabiliser it seems. Yet, I am pleased to report there is minimal damage to our mooring bar, the operation of which is unimpaired. The whole event was all recorded on the camera array that comes into operation when the emergency ball is operated. Thanks to the initiative and skill of Jalli Rarga, the most dramatic emergency in the life of MEV Great Marton to date has been overcome in less than,” she checked her watch, “an hour and five minutes. You will also be pleased to know that our estimated time of arrival has diminished by 1 year, 110 days, 16 hours, 33 minutes and 16 seconds.”

  A loud resounding cheer filled the Main Deck. The teenagers all began chanting, “Ja-lli, Ja-lli…” The commander allowed the chanting half a minute before raising her hand.

  “We will all return to our quarters and recover from our ordeal. Reconvene here in precisely twenty-four hours.”

  *

  That night neither Jalli nor anyone else slept much. Jack crept into her room.

  “Jalli, are you awake?”

  “Uh -huh…”

  Jack knelt beside the bed and kissed her.

  “Jalli, you were brilliant!”

  “I just followed my instincts. I made lots of mistakes. I was on the verge of panic. I was just going over everything and telling myself how I should have done things differently. Instead of throwing the device away, I kicked it and it bounced right back off the wall into the lift! I keep seeing that. And I was lucky with the red button. Jack, I could have wrecked the whole ship!”

  “But you didn’t Jalli. You did what you had to. You succeeded. What you did was more than good enough!”

  “I guess God was looking after me. God sent us, Jack. He chose us to be here. To do this.”

  “He chose you, Jalli.”

  “No, us. Without you I never would have dared to come here.”

  “But you went through your white gate on your own
without knowing who you might meet…”

  “Yes, but you forget. I was running away from someone!”

  “But you didn’t run away from what you had to do this time.”

  “I knew God was with me. As soon as I realised they were Raikan I knew why I was here.”

  “You did great Jalli. I love you.”

  “… and I love you! But we’d better try and sleep, Jack. I’m all in.”

  Jack leaned over her and kissed her again. By the time he had tip-toed back out of the room, Jalli was sound asleep.

  *

  At the appointed hour the assembly was reopened. Two unmasked people dressed in black accompanied them. Commander Juliet led them to the platform. She addressed the gathering.

  “Welcome everyone. I trust you have all slept well. These two misguided people,” she indicated the pirates, “realising the game was up, quickly surrendered. Ladies and gentlemen, whatever their backgrounds they have to remain with us. They were born on their pirate ship. They have no choice and we have no choice but to allow them to remain here. They will work – hard. I am putting them under the supervision of Henry in the recycling unit. Everyone knows how gentle and kind Henry is!”

  There was a ripple of laughter. Henry was a big man known for his insistence that no-one finished work until his deck was cleared, even if they had to work through tea!

  “Now, without more ado, we have interrupted business! Tellers, come forward.” At last the votes were counted – Jo and Pete moved close together.

  A teller mounted the dais. The hall was hushed. A teller stood forward and tapped the microphone. He cleared his throat and announced nervously, “Ladies and gentlemen, the petition is successful.” There was a moment’s silence, and then a resounding cheer from the teenagers. The commander raised her hand. The company fell silent. The teller continued. “Out of 128 votes cast, 98 were in favour with 30 against. This is 76%.” More cheers. Again the commander waved for silence. She replaced the teller at the microphone.

  “I applaud this decision. I think we have done the right thing. My own opinion was swayed by three things. First the readiness of Jo and Pete’s intended partners to release them on the ground that it would not work if their partners favoured another. Secondly, the apparent universal support the petition had among the young people themselves, even though they do not have a vote of course. But thirdly, because I overheard, yesterday, a young woman stating strongly that love must take precedence over human plans and human rulings, no matter how well-intentioned. So long as the love is genuine – not about self-gratification to the exclusion of the interests of others – I believe that to be true. There needs to be order, as Judge Joseph has quite rightly said, but I believe that if we live within the freedoms and constraints of true self-giving love, then we shall be governed by a higher power than a law of human construction. As Virgil said Omnia Vincit Amor – Love Conquers Everything. I congratulate Jo and Pete.” There was more cheering until the commander held up her hand to continue.

  “Before the celebrations, I must tell you. If there are to be other applications of this kind then they will all have to come before the whole company – and love will have to be proven. True love is not an infatuation or a passing fancy. You are dismissed. All but essential staff may have two days off work!” The commander sat down to more applause. Henry came forward to the platform out of the throng and fixed his eyes on the prisoners. “You two! Recycling is an essential service. You begin straight away. No holiday for you!” and he and his fellow department workers marched them off to the recycling unit.

  Matt and Jack watched them go.

  “Henry is against any changes,” said Matt, “it will take him time to come to forgive Jo and Pete. I hope he doesn’t take it out too much on those two.”

  “I think they have been let off lightly,” responded Jack. “I know people who would lock them up and throw away the key.”

  Meanwhile Jalli was mobbed. Everyone wanted to know about what she had done. Jo and Pete were also surrounded. They looked in a real state of shock. Their parents took them in charge and led them off to rest. An hour later and Yvonne came and rescued Jack and Jalli and took them and Sass and Matt back to their suite. “You know what,” said Sass as they entered, “I think Commander Juliet overheard me saying about Jo.”

  “I am sure she did. I keep telling you walls have ears!” said Will.

  “But she agreed with me!”

  “This time, maybe. But she won’t always agree with your rebellious ways… I think I’d better put in for a re-allocation!” said Matt with mock sarcasm. Sass sent a well-aimed cushion across the room. “Don’t you dare!” she yelled.

  “Just joking,” he laughed. “I just wanted to make sure you still love me.”

  “Well I did until just then!” Jack and Jalli smiled quietly.

  “You two must be exhausted!” breathed Yvonne.

  “Jalli might be. I spent a lot of it asleep I’m afraid.” He looked down and saw that Jalli was already asleep against him. He gently lifted her from the sofa and carried her through into the bedroom.

  *

  Jack and Jalli spent ten days on MEV Great Marton. They had sharing sessions and gave talks about the current happenings in their own worlds. The young people were full of questions like all teenagers. When they learned about wars and poverty in what Jack called the “third world” on Planet Earth they were quite upset. Terrorism was something they found extremely difficult to understand, living as they had done in a small, isolated community. Jalli told them about Wanulka, and for the first time told someone else about Maik Musula. The Great Marton young people concluded that, despite the risk to them from the very occasional space pirates (which Jalli had been sent to deal with anyway!) they were in an ideal situation. They were so safe they could not imagine how Jack and Jalli lived with all the threats in their worlds.

  “You don’t have to go back! I’m sure we can persuade the villagers to accept you. They did change the rules yesterday, after all,” volunteered Sass. “And we have gained two Raikans already.”

  “We’re very honoured!” responded Jalli. “But we can’t stay. My grandma would really miss me… us. And anyway, you’ve grown up here. I know this MEV is very big and, even with four hundred plus people, would be quite spacious – but we’re so used to bigger places, we’d feel restricted.”

  “They get around at least two galaxies,” pointed out Matt. “I can understand that. You don’t miss what you can’t see.”

  “We’ll miss you,” returned Sass, “is there anyway we can stay in touch?”

  “Not that we know of at the moment,” answered Jack. “But who knows what will happen in the future.”

  *

  They were exploring the MIVRE Experience in among lakes and snow clad mountains when Jack noticed the gate. He caught Jalli’s hand and directed her attention. She saw it too. “It looks as if it is time to go,” declared Jalli.

  “It looks like it,” said Jack. “Are you ready?”

  “I hate leaving, but we must have finished what we came here for. It’s about time we checked in with your mum and my grandma. I hope they are getting on OK. We’ve been long enough out of contact.”

  The others spotted Jack and Jalli looking at something. “What have you found?” asked Sass. She couldn’t see anything.

  “It’s one of your gates, isn’t it?” sighed Matt.

  “Yes,” acknowledged Jack simply.

  “So you have to go!?” Sass threw her arms around Jalli. Jalli hugged her in return.

  “We have to go!” stated Jalli. “But it’s been good, really good!”

  “Yes, thank you for everything!” agreed Jack.

  “No. It’s us that need to thank you!”

  “Give our love to your parents,” declared Jalli, “and thank them for their hospitality. We won’t be able to write I’m afraid. And give our regards to Commander Juliet. We’ll keep you in our prayers!”

  “What about your things?”r />
  “Keep them as a souvenir. They were meant just for this place. We have our own clothes the other side of the gate. Good luck on your venture. We’ll be thinking of you in twenty-four years time!”

  “And may your wedding be a good one,” added Jalli.

  “Thanks. Good luck in Wanulka. I hope you stay safe!”

  They all exchanged final hugs. Jack and Jalli found it specially hard to step through the gate but they finally managed it. Suddenly they were back in the familiar cottage garden.

  “That was something really special!” stated Jack. “It has been great. I like this robe.”

  “And I like this dress. We’ll keep them and wear them sometimes.” Reluctantly they changed into their everyday clothes suitable for Wanulka.

  “How dangerous is it? Wanulka.”

  “I never thought of it as dangerous at all. How those Wanulkans got aboard a pirate ship is something I keep wondering. If you can only ‘travel from Andromeda by IAS’,” Jalli spoke like the commander, “I can’t imagine how they got there.”

  “Perhaps they have been travelling many generations. It may simply be down to time. They could easily have left thousands of years ago. I guess they have been fleecing vulnerable space travellers for a long time… and now they have met their match in Jalli Rarga!”

  “Jack,” Jalli looked more troubled than Jack had even seen her. “I know everyone thinks I’m wonderful because I saved them, but it was mostly down to luck. I still shudder when I think about it. I didn’t think about steering. I could have run straight into the pirate ship and killed everybody.”

  “I don’t think so. I was talking to Matt and he told me that MEVs are fitted with deflector beams. It wouldn’t have hit straight on.”

  “Now you tell me! I’ve been worrying about that ever since I touched that red ball!” Jalli was quite upset. Jack took her in his arms.

  “You did exactly the right thing!”

  “More by luck than judgement,” she snuffled.

  “Don’t knock yourself. Most people would not have done what you did. I think what you did was brilliant! You’re quite a girl. We never get everything right, none of us, but what you did worked! It’s OK.” He gave her a special hug. “Now, let’s see if we can make a cup of tea in the kitchen.”