That really is all now. I’ll be in touch. Love. D.
∞∞∞
The Cahill Express streaked through space heading back to Urun. Secure in Ian’s safe was a new trade agreement for the formerly lost planet of Vogel and the region around it.
How this will play out will be a most interesting process, and profitable too! Ian thought happily. Tyrone should be happy too, since he funded the expedition that led to this whole ordeal. We’ll both be richer than the Prince of Avarice.
Reflecting on his brief visit to the Red-tail galaxy, Ian was glad to be back in familiar space plying his own trade.
“That Ert character was something else!” Ian said to Lyyle who nodded his agreement.
“A living computer!” Lyyle exclaimed. “And those little ships were alive too. If they can come up with living spaceships, who knows what they’ll come up with next?”
“What did you think of that kid we met at the chow hall on Shalimar?” Ian asked. “Where did he say he was from?”
“Erdinata,” Lyyle said. “An agricultural planet in the middle of nowhere.”
Ian laughed at the thought of a farm boy training as an Axia scout captain. “Guess it takes all kinds.”
“Make fun if you want to,” Lyyle said. “But I checked him out. His name is Delmar Eagleman. You owe that boy your life and your fortune.”
“What?”
“That farm boy is one of the whiz-kid students that discovered Ert. So without him, you wouldn’t have your lucrative trade agreement with the Axia. Not to mention we’d still be stuck in the Hadeous galaxy.”
“Without Ert or that farm-fresh boy,” Ian countered, “we wouldn’t have been in the Red-tail galaxy in the first place.”
“And get this,” Lyyle continued, ignoring Ian’s sarcasm, “that boy is an actual combat hero, and he was decorated for valor by Empress Ane herself. That’s more than either of us can claim.”
“Yeah, maybe so,” Ian answered. “But can he do this?”
Ian reached over and flipped the Optiveil switch. The Cahill Express shimmered for only a moment then disappeared from any sensors that may have been tracking her.
Epilogue
Twilight was coloring the sky when Professor Orilious Angle emerged from the computer lab. Bundled against the fall chill, he strolled slowly through the campus grounds on his way to his small home. A chittering sound from an overhead tree limb caught Angle’s attention. Stopping and looking up, the professor saw a small chipmunk staring back at him, the white stripes on its brown fur distinct in the early evening light.
Strange, Angle thought. It’s too late in the season for chipmunks. The chipmunk chittered noisily at him again and then bounded off among the limbs.
“Keep warm, little friend,” the professor said and then paused. Looking after the chipmunk that was fast disappearing toward the old stone lab buildings, Professor Angle briefly entertained a thought.
I wonder… Surely not, he mused and then dismissed it as idle speculation.
Resuming his walk, Professor Orilious Angle was soon lost in thought about the latest project Ert had cooked up.
∞∞∞
The computer lab was dark and quiet except for the humming of the ancient Horicon computer, only to be disturbed by the scratching at one of the high windows in a side room off the main lab. Mysteriously, the window opened just wide enough for a small furry animal to enter.
Books of the Galactic Axia
Adventure Series
1. Escape to Destiny
Kindle
2. The Horicon Experience
Kindle
3. Space Trader
Kindle
4. First Contact
Kindle
Ghost Series
1. Ghost in the Dark
Coming soon
2. The Blue Ghost
Coming soon
Other books by Jim Laughter
From Victim to Hero:
The Untold Story of Steven Stayner
(True story of the Steven Stayner kidnapping)
Kindle – Nook
The Apostle Murders
(A psychological thriller)
Kindle – Nook - Kobo
Polar City Red
(Climate fiction)
Kindle
∞∞∞
http://www.jimlaughter.com
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Epilogue
Books of the Galactic Axia
Space Trader (Galactic Axia Adventure) Page 24