The Spark (White Gates Adventures Book 4)

by Trevor Stubbs

  But the waves did not advance beyond the beach and instead of getting bigger, diminished. Within minutes all was calm again and the seabirds recommenced their wheeling. Nature had coughed and spluttered but was now back to its most docile. Lone Island basked in the warmth of a bright sunny day as if nothing had happened. The emergency appeared to have passed – for the moment.

  “What’s happening?” demanded Kakko. “Are we in the middle of a temporary lull or what?”

  “I reckon it’s missed,” answered Tam. “By now we would have felt it through the rocks if there had been a strike. We were face down on the grass; we would have detected any seismic shock.”

  “Wowee! Are you sure?”

  “Pretty sure. Something happened but I don’t think it was a strike. The asteroid was on our side of the planet; we saw it over there. If it had hit, we’d know. I reckon it just skimmed the atmosphere – that would explain the shock waves we experienced.”

  “That close but gone? I can’t believe it. God, I don’t want to go through anything like that again. I thought I was a goner… Let’s get back to the yacht.” She jumped around with a joy.

  In contrast to his excited sister, Shaun stood up slowly and looked down at Wennai who remained sitting on the grass. He still had hold her of hand; he had crushed it in his own in an attempt to keep her close. Looking up at the sky, he said quietly, “I’m getting used to this. For some reason this universe is not yet done with me.”

  Wennai looked up at him. “You’re telling me that I am not dead? I was just bracing myself to hear you say, ‘I told you so’.”

  “No. We haven’t died. We still have that to come.”

  “Can I have my hand back?”

  “Oh. Yeah. Sorry. I didn’t want to let you go.”

  “Thought you would pull me through, did you?”

  “Something like that, I guess.”

  Tam called on the children to stop racing up the hill. “Time to go back,” yelled Kakko. Some of the children were beginning to get a bit naughty. They sensed something momentous had happened. The wind had given them extra energy; they didn’t want to go home to the mainland and they were applying all the usual delaying tactics.

  When they came in sight of the boat, the captain was waving to them.

  “It’s over!” he was shouting. “It’s over!”

  As Kakko, Tam, Shaun and Wennai puffed up to him, he spluttered, “Just point two of a degree to starboard. Skimmed the upper atmosphere, swung round us, and hightailed it back to outer space! We’re safe.”

  The housemother was coming over with her party of children, too. Soon they were all reunited and cuddling each other. The children were bemused at this zealous joy.

  “What should we do now?” asked the housemother.

  “I think… I think we should stay here a bit longer,” suggested Jalli. “The celebrations in the city might be a bit extreme for a few hours.”

  “You’re right,” said the housemother. “Captain,” she called, “are you OK for staying a bit longer?”

  “We might be able to do another frugal breakfast,” he replied. “But beyond that things will be getting a bit tight. Water will be an issue by tomorrow afternoon. Let me radio Zookas.”

  They boarded the yacht and listened into the radio station which was transmitting from the streets of the capital. Everyone was going berserk it seemed. But the criminality had evaporated. The captain shut it off before he called Zookas. Zookas answered immediately.

  “All present and accounted for,” reported the captain. “Plus ten idiots from up the coast recovering from drug overdoses, over… Yeah, I reckon they’ll make it. They’re very sore though. They are severely sunburned, over… Yes, until tomorrow midday, over… We’ll see you mid-afternoon, then. Out.” They were to stay until midday the next day.

  The housemother called for attention. No-one heard her, so Jack bawled for silence – and got it.

  “I don’t know what I would do without your voice,” smiled the housemother. “Ting, Kloa, settle down… I’m not going to shout… Children, we have just been talking to Mr Zookas and he says we can stay one more night… that is… shush… that is, if you behave yourselves, and if these wonderful angels have got the energy to entertain you until then.”

  “Who wants to go swimming?” called Shaun.

  Kakko, Tam, Shaun, Wennai and the other volunteers managed to keep some semblance of order as the children stripped off and dived into the water.

  The captain radioed the coastguard and was surprised to hear someone was manning the station.

  “I’m here for a bit of peace,” said the operator.

  “Thought you would be busy,” said the captain.

  “If these celebrations keep up, we’re going to get busy later.”

  “Sorry to say this but I have some work for you now. We have a couple of dozen dead bodies on the beach on Lone Island – the results of a drug-fest that didn’t see them survive. I have ten who are recovering but they are in a pretty bad way – dehydrated and badly sunburned…”

  “That’s awful. Who are they?”

  “I don’t know. Young people in their late teens and twenties mostly. They have been too sick to answer many questions and, to be honest, I didn’t think there was much point but—”

  “We’ll send a boat out and get them.”

  “Thanks. There are ninety-five in our party, including eighty children. All of them well. We plan to return at midday tomorrow.”

  An hour later the coastguard pulled into the bay. A doctor leapt ashore and examined the cave-dwellers who were now really feeling the pain. The doctor was reluctant to give them any painkillers because he could not be sure what was still in their systems. They were transferred, grumbling and groaning, to the coastguard vessel. They didn’t ask any questions – about the strike or their dead friends. That level of consciousness was still to return.

  A small group of children formed a line on the water’s edge and watched.

  “That’s what drugs and drink do to you,” Kakko explained.

  “I know,” said one sombrely. “That killed my mummy… Why do they make them?”

  “What, drugs? Sometimes they can make you better – but only if a doctor gives them to you.”

  “I ain’t ever going to drink booze,” said a little girl. “My mummy was horrible when she drank it. She said it was telling her to drink it – but I didn’t hear it.”

  “Yes,” said Kakko. “You stick to water and fruit juice.”

  “That’s what Mummy said.”

  “She was right. Good advice. Then you will not ever hear the booze talking to you.”

  ***

  When they had got all the children safely back into the centre, Kakko and Tam ventured out along the esplanade. The celebrations were mostly over and an army of people were out clearing up the debris. Kakko wanted to check to see if there was a white gate next to the toilet block. The gates to the toilets were chained but their white gate stood pristine and bright next to them.

  It was hard taking their leave of the Paradise people. When you have been through so much together, even if it was only a few days, the bonds become very strong. But Jalli and Jack were desperate to get back to Yeka, so they joined in with some cake that Zookas brought, and then stood up to leave.

  “Children, our holiday is coming to an end and our friends have to go home,” smiled the housemother. “Thank you all so much for coming. You have no idea—”

  “We’ll see you all again, I’m sure,” said Jalli. “The Creator keeps connecting us up. Next time, I hope the adventure isn’t quite so extreme.”

  “So do I. So do we all. Safe travels.”

  “It won’t take long,” said Jack with a shrug. “Four steps through our gate and we’ll be in our garden.”

  33

  Back home in White Gates Cottage, Yeka seemed extraordinarily calm.

  “Did you miss us?” said Jalli as the three-year-old continued to play with her dolls. Yeka shr
ugged. Jalli picked her up and tried to cuddle her. She resisted but not for long.

  “Has Nan been good?”

  “Don’t be silly. Of course she has,” said Yeka. She was cross with her family for deserting her.

  It wasn’t long before they were joined by Bandi and Abby from Earth One. They listened, enthralled by the account of the adventure.

  “I’m glad I missed that one,” said Bandi with a deep sigh.

  “I’m not,” said Shaun, gently. “It was what I needed. It kind of helped me get things into perspective. It’s difficult to put into words.”

  Wennai nodded. “He’s right. I have been angry for a long time – inside – because my mum died. But going through all that with the children, and the whole planet… It kind of puts things into context. I’m glad I can come with you through the white gates. But words… there just aren’t any—”

  “Sometimes there might just be,” said Abby; “as a matter of fact I was just thinking of some:

  ‘Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

  But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

  If this be error and upon me proved,

  I never writ, nor no man ever loved,’” she quoted.

  “Even to the edge of doom – how very true,” said Wennai. “Who wrote that?”

  “Shakespeare. Sonnet 116,” said Abby.

  “Hur-ray!” exclaimed Kakko. “It took you to the edge of doom but hey, you have eventually seen what everyone has known, like, forever… And the quicker you two can shack up together, the better. Then we can all get a look in at the bathroom.”

  “Kakko!” exclaimed Jalli.

  “Sorry, Wennai,” said Kakko. “Only joking.” She put her tongue out at her mother.

  “Apologies accepted,” said Wennai, quickly. “I take that as a compliment – it means I’m part of the family.”

  “Precisely,” said Kakko. “See, Mum, she understands…”

  “But I don’t do ‘shaking up’,” said Wennai.

  “Quite right,” replied Nan, who was glad to have the house full again.

  ***

  Back in Joh City, Shaun lay beside Wennai on a grassy bank in the park. Looking into the sky, Shaun reflected on the last time they had lain down on the grass of a hillside, expecting to die together. One day they would but not then and not today. Wennai was breathing heavily after a couple of circuits. Shaun had exercised as well as he could by jogging from one side of the rise to the other. It was getting easier. Walking and swimming on Lone Island had been good for him.

  “Thanks, coach. Without you keeping me to it, I would be lazy,” breathed Wennai.

  “No. The thanks are mine. You get me out and about and you are patient with me.”

  “No patience needed.”

  “Wennai… I’ve been… I thought a lot when I was away on that last mission. About you and I being boy and girlfriend…”

  “What’s all this about, Shaun?” said Wennai sitting up with a start and looking intently at him. “I thought… I thought we had decided… What is it that you want to say now?”

  “I’m saying that I had doubts in the past but that’s finished. I’m ready to be all yours now – if you want me.”

  Wennai understood. It had taken a long time for Shaun and a lot of courage to allow himself to do this.

  “Are you telling me there is no going back – ever?”

  “Yes. I know that for certain. I’ve always wanted you but I couldn’t see how it could work. I can now – because it’s been working all along but I didn’t realise it…”

  “Well, then. You know what my answer is. Of course I want you. There has never been anyone else, Shaun. And there never can be.”

  “Gollip?”

  “Oh. Gollip. I went out with him to make you jealous. I shouldn’t have; it didn’t work. You just gave in.”

  “I was jealous. It did make me think. But… I’ve been so mixed up. I didn’t know where or who I was some of the time.”

  “But you’ve found yourself now?”

  “Finding. Getting there. I now know that I can’t be fully myself without you.”

  “What about God?”

  “He’s there too. Always will be – that’s the wonderful thing about God. Never gives up on anyone…”

  “So God’s a ‘He’ now?”

  “Whatever. I was thinking of when God came in human form, as Jesus on Earth One. God was a ‘He’ in him.”

  “OK. I think I can put up with Him/Her being around. It’s who you are, and the one thing you have always done is let me be me… So if I am to be your proper forever girlfriend, are you going to kiss me?”

  “Yeah, of course… Wennai, I’ve always wanted to kiss you. Very much.”

  “So what are you waiting for?”

  “What, here, in the middle of the park?”

  “Oh. Shaun, just come here!” Wennai rolled over, put her arms around him and, as their lips met, the world of the park receded. They were only vaguely aware of the scent of the grass, the sounds of the children on the swings, the distant murmur of the traffic and the gradual setting of Daan in the east, as they lost themselves in each other – the years of confusion and doubt ebbing from their souls.

  Epilogue

  Six years on…

  Living on two different planets with two distinct sets of family is a hard thing to do – especially when it comes to a wedding. After graduating with honours degrees, Bandi and Abby were impatient to be married. In Persham they had to get special permission to marry at the YAC but it seemed quite the natural place – they had no real connection to the parish in which Dave and Lynn’s house belonged. They had rarely attended that particular church. But what about Planet Joh? There was nothing for it but another ceremony there. All were praying for a white gate for as many to get to both events as possible.

  A week before the ceremony on Planet Earth, Bandi had a party and said goodbye to everyone at White Gates Cottage. They wished him well but longed to be there with him and Abby on such a special occasion.

  Pastor Ruk was very aware of how the family must be feeling. Despite all the praying, they had seen no white gate. On the eve of the wedding, the pastor called in to pray with the Smiths.

  Jack had said that it was all part of letting go. “We only borrow our children – one day we have to wave them goodbye,” he said, trying to sound wise. He became what his mother called philosophical. But Ruk knew that no matter how philosophical – accepting – a person was about things, they still grieved, and the Smiths were all grieving.

  While he was there and they were sitting quietly together in the sitting room, Kakko got up to put the kettle on. In the kitchen she let out such a whoop that Jalli rushed out of the room wondering what she had done. She found her daughter standing in front of the kitchen window, bouncing up and down with excitement and yelling, “White gate! White gate!”

  Jalli followed her gaze and, indeed, there in the back hedge was a white gate. Jack had already joined them. “Me too,” he said.

  Two minutes later, everyone, including Pastor Ruk, was standing in the garden admiring a brilliant white gate. The pastor wept. Perhaps, after all these years, he might get to the home planet of the human race and meet and talk with Abby’s father.

  And that is how it happened. Bandi and Abby were astounded and delighted to see nine people from Planet Joh, including Pastor Ruk, walk up the garden path of Abby’s house on the night before their wedding.

  Dave rang his assistant at the YAC, who swung into action to ensure all the necessary alterations to the arrangements were made.

  The wedding was even happier than Abby and Bandi had even dared to hope. And Ruk and Dave had three whole days together, exploring the deepest truths of the universe. God, they concluded, was one and the same wherever you were.

  ***

  Following their honeymoon – a passionate fortnight in the English Lake District – Abby and Bandi went to St Augustine’s for a Sunday service to meet some of
Abby’s old youth group friends. They walked via Renson Park Road. As they passed number sixty-eight, where Jack had lived all his young life, a strong gust of wind blew and a cloud of winged seeds floated down from the tree and lodged in their hair and clothes like confetti. “Look,” danced Abby, “the trees are celebrating with us!”

  ***

  After that, Bandi got into serious study at Oxford. They took a small apartment in the city. Although they struggled on next to nothing, they were intensely happy and soon announced that a baby was on the way. How they would manage it all financially didn’t seem to bother them.

  Jalli remarked that it was interesting that her third-born was providing a grandchild before either of his older siblings.

  ***

  Kakko was so keen on doing all the different things that presented themselves, she could not imagine having the patience she would need to be a mother. Tam had suggested that he work only part-time from home and look after any children they might have – but Kakko reminded him that, for several months at least, it was she who was going to have to abandon her adventures in order to bear and give birth to a baby. One day, when she was ready, they would have a family, she declared but not yet.

  ***

  Everyone knew Shaun and Wennai would be friends for life but it had taken until Shaun was twenty-four to ask her to marry him. Wennai no longer worried that God was in any way a rival – God didn’t work like that. And anyway, she had long concluded that, if God existed, She or He was telling Shaun that he belonged to her.

  But if the Creator was no longer a rival, nine-year-old Yeka most certainly was. She made it abundantly clear that Shaun was her favourite brother. She adored him. In her eyes he could do no wrong – until, that is, he had talked about moving away. Shaun had asked Wennai to marry him. She had accepted but Yeka had objected.

  One sunny day, when Yeka was watching the bees busy among the blossom in the White Gates Cottage garden, Wennai sat down beside her on the grass.