Connor Clover and the Lost Children (Book 1)

by Helen Oghenegweke

  ‘Come. It’s our turn to go now,’ Obi announced, lifting out a pen-shaped object from his hand. ‘This is what is known as a bridge. It’ll connect us straightaway to the AAA.’

  ‘Why don’t we go through that portal doorway like the lost children did?’ questioned Connor.

  ‘Because they went straight to the segregation unit, to have their identities checked and then they will have to go to hospital for a check up. When we use the bridge you’ll be coming back with me to my quarters at the AAA. You’ll be able to rest there without people harassing you for your autograph.’

  ‘Oh, that won’t happen will it?’ replied Connor.

  ‘You wanna bet?’

  He watched Obi twist the tip of the bridge and suddenly a blue doorway appeared in front of them. ‘Come on, let’s go!’

  ‘But what about Jeremy?’ asked Connor. ‘Has he been found?’

  ‘A person is only found when they want to be,’ Obi replied gently.

  So the four of them disappeared off the face of Dramian, unaware that someone had been watching them - a figure slouched behind the stronghold walls, watching and listening to every word as he rubbed his hands excitedly. He muttered something under his breath before throwing some dust on the ground where a temporary portal appeared taking him directly to Definastine’s castle.

  Back at the AAA establishment, Connor was feeling strange. He’d just walked through the blue portal door into a chasm of blackness, where he discovered a blue path leading straight towards a purple door. It was scary. It had been a short walk but when they came to the purple light he walked right through it and found himself in a strange room.

  ‘What happens if you step off the path?’ Connor asked.

  ‘I don’t know, it’s never happened to anyone I know,’ Obi replied. ‘This is my room, please make yourself at home, Connor.’

  The room looked homely enough and was full of surprises. It seemed Obi had a remote control for everything. Connor slumped himself down on the leather sofa, feeling emotionally exhausted and drained. A massive five-foot television screen appeared as the walls parted opposite where Connor sat.

  He sank down on the sofa and tucked his legs beneath him in order to get comfortable. He could hear the others talking, close to him, but their voices sounded far away as if they were in the next room. Connor closed his eyes briefly, not wanting to sleep in case he missed something.

  ‘I’ll be off now.’ He heard Tookar saying. ‘Thanks for the rescue. Keep an eye on Connor for me. I’ll be back in the morning to see how he’s doing. I’m off to check on Sparkie now. He was in a right state when I last saw him.’

  ‘Okay, Tookar, we’ll see you soon. Give Sparkie our regards and don’t forget to take a rest too.’

  Connor heard the door slide open and close again. That was the last thing he remembered before falling asleep and missing anything else that might have happened.

  It was several hours later when Connor eventually woke up. There wasn’t a window in the room but the television was still on, though much quieter than he remembered it from last night. Someone had draped a blanket over his body and placed a pillow under his head, as he lay sprawled out on the sofa, with one leg hanging down to the floor.

  He groaned as he stretched, and then gave a yawn. He saw Bromie sleeping on another chair. He opened one eye as he heard Connor stir.

  ‘So, the hero has decided to wake up after all,’ he grinned, stretching.

  ‘What’s the time?’ Connor asked, feeling his stomach rumble.

  ‘Ten o’clock on Saturday morning,’ Bromie replied. ‘Are you feeling hungry?’

  Connor nodded. ‘Definitely. Where’s Obi?’

  ‘He was feeling upset about his sword breaking so he’s gone to get another one. He should be back later.’

  ‘Bromie,’ said Connor, ‘you were going to tell me why you were upset yesterday. Is it a good time to talk?’

  ‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘It concerns you.’

  ‘What is it? What’s wrong?’

  He pulled out a shrouded letter from his pocket and handed it to Connor.

  ‘Who’s it from?’ he asked.

  ‘Read it and you’ll see.’ Bromie pulled out a parcel and placed it on the table. It moved as if in protest.

  ‘What’s that?’ Connor asked. ‘It just moved didn’t it?’

  ‘Yes,’ Bromie smiled, ‘read the letter, it should explain everything to you.’

  Connor sat cross-legged on the sofa and looked at the letter curiously. He opened the envelope carefully, pulling out a piece of blue tinted paper. Holding it in both hands he watched as the letters on it unscrambled themselves into readable words. Although he’d seen a shrouded letter before it still astounded him.

  The letter read:

  Dear Connor,

  Lidena was kind enough to pass on this letter and gift we wanted you to have. Be brave Connor. We’re so sorry we can’t be there with you now, but times are hard and unpredictable. Your father and I have been sent on an urgent mission to save a planet at war with Definastine. We have been asked to help them fight, so we have taken the best fighters to help defend their planet. We love you so much.

  We were thrilled to hear the lost children had been found at last. Well done son, always do your best and don’t be afraid. The Starstone will not let you down.

  We will meet soon, and that’s a promise,

  Loving you always

  Mum and Dad

  P.S. We have sent you another family member. His name is Hank and although he tends to talk too much, he’s very loyal to his owners. Try not to upset him as he may turn himself invisible and sulk (and don’t leave him alone with food, he will eat you out of house and home in a couple of hours).

  ‘Was this why you were upset?’ asked Connor.

  Bromie nodded. ‘I know how much you have wanted to meet your parents after all this time.’

  ‘It’s okay,’ said Connor, feeling surprisingly calm about the news. ‘I’ve waited a long time to meet them. I think I can wait a bit longer.’

  Bromie cheered up in an instant. ‘Really? Well, that’s good.’

  ‘Do you know what’s inside the parcel?’

  ‘I’ve got a good idea. Most people have one in this place.’

  ‘Do they?’ quizzed Connor. ‘It’s a family pet apparently. It talks and turns itself invisible.’

  ‘I think it will appreciate being unwrapped at last. It must be hungry. While you do that I’ll go and rustle up something for you both to eat.’

  Connor couldn’t wait to find out what his parents had given him. He clutched the parcel and felt something moving and stirring inside. He wanted to drop it but curiosity made him hold on to it tightly. What was hiding inside the parcel?

  He tore at the wrapping.

  ‘Ahhh!’ screamed Connor.

  ‘Ahhh!’ screamed an unrecognisable hairball.

  On his lap sat a ginger and white striped, unrecognisable ball of fluff. Its mouth was opened wide with four rows of thin razor sharp teeth jutting out. Its eyes widened in shock and surprise mirroring Connor’s expression, or vice versa. It seemed a long time they both remained rigid in the same position screaming their heads off without taking in any deep breaths.

  ‘What’s happened,’ Bromie rushed back into the room.

  ‘There’s a – there’s a – thing on my legs,’ Connor stuttered.

  ‘A thing!’ the thing replied indignantly. ‘I am not a thing! I am a frump called Hank.’

  ‘It really does talk!’ Connor exclaimed.

  ‘So do you!’ it squawked back at him. ‘I’ve got no time for this lark. Are you Connor?’

  Connor nodded stiffly.

  ‘I am your entrusted guardian,’ Hank replied proudly, lifting his little head in the air. ‘I’m here to guard you. Your parents sent me to help you keep out of trouble.’

  ‘Well I’m in plenty of that,’ he said, scratching his head. ‘Trouble seems to have a way of following me around.’


  ‘Connor has never seen a frump before,’ said Bromie. ‘You’d better explain more about yourself.’ He left them alone to continue with the food preparations.

  ‘Your parents saved me from a nasty situation a few years ago. I was rescued from another galaxy. My owner enjoyed playing football with me!’ Hank informed him sadly.

  ‘But that isn’t a bad thing. Boys at my school enjoy playing football with their dads,’ Connor butted in.

  ‘It is when you become the football. My owner had six legs and frequently enjoyed kicking me from one foot to another.’

  Connor gasped. ‘You poor thing.’

  ‘I’m not a thing,’ Hank reminded him.

  ‘Oh yeah… sorry.’

  Connor was delighted with his present. He couldn’t help staring at him. Hank’s eyes were the size of two golf balls, with small brown pupils. His mouth had temporarily disappeared beneath his fur, a huge contrast to the previous piranha imitation. Since Hank had calmed down he now resembled a guinea pig, being the same size and looking just as cuddly. Without warning Hank sat back on his bottom and folded his arms.

  ‘Don’t think about it cowboy!’ growled Hank.

  ‘Don’t think about what?’ asked Connor, looking somewhat confused to say the least.

  ‘You’re looking at me as if you want to eat me!’ said Hank restlessly.

  Connor started laughing.

  ‘Your stomach is rumbling and you won’t stop staring at me,’ snapped Hank.

  ‘I’m just amazed, that’s all,’ said Connor, still laughing.

  ‘Oh, but talking about food – I love the stuff. Is there any going spare?’ Hank asked bluntly.

  Bromie came back with a tray of peanut butter sandwiches, crisps and fruit. Hank dived in straightaway. Bromie picked him up by his small tail so he dangled in the air, kicking his legs madly.

  ‘What happened to table manners?’ Bromie asked.

  ‘When you’re as hungry as I am, you’d forget too! Don’t forget that I’ve been stuffed in a box for an entire night!’ groaned Hank. ‘Now put me down!’

  ‘Only if you sit over there and don’t move. I’ll bring the food to you,’ Bromie ordered.

  Muttering under his breath, Hank went reluctantly to the chair and waited impatiently for a full plate of food. When it finally arrived, he ate it in seconds, including the plate. Bromie shook his head.

  ‘You’d come in useful at school dinner times. I haven’t been often but I hate the stuff they give us, it’s always rubbery and cold but I bet you’d gobble it up, including the squashy green peas they insist on putting on every plate.’

  Connor could tell Hank was excited at the prospect of going to school. He watched Hank jump off his chair and on to his lap, pinching a crisp on his way. He climbed up to Connor’s shoulder and curled up, falling asleep immediately. Connor couldn’t understand why he’d screamed at Hank before, because from where he was sitting Hank looked as cute as a little teddy bear.

  A short time later they were joined by Tookar and Sparkie who looked much better than when Connor had last seen him. Bromie offered them some peanuts.

  ‘His pride has taken a fall but apart from that he’s okay,’ Tookar informed them.

  ‘I’ll have you know there’s nothing wrong with me that a wholesome pie couldn’t fix. I only regret not saying goodbye to that lovely girl Kia,’ said Sparkie.

  ‘You weren’t really up to saying goodbyes though, were you,’ Tookar smiled. ‘If I’d only known a pie would have woken you up, I’d have fed you one immediately.’

  ‘Blah!’ Sparkie grumbled.

  The doorbell rang and everyone looked towards the door. Bromie pressed a button and a picture of Marion, K and Deana standing outside the room, showed on the television set. He pressed another button for the doors to open wide.

  ‘Marion!’ Tookar embraced her with a reassuring hug.

  ‘My dear Tookar!’ she said, kissing his cheek.

  At that moment something was bleeping in Tookar’s pocket. ‘Excuse me, but I must take this call.’ He walked quickly into another room.

  Turning to Sparkie, Marion noticed his fragile state. ‘Sparkie, whatever has happened to you? What’s been going on around here?’

  ‘It’s a long story, and before you say anything, I’ve officially retired. How are you feeling?’

  ‘A lot better, thank you,’ she smiled walking over to Connor. ‘And how are you?’

  ‘I’m okay,’ he replied.

  K looked tired. ‘It was a horrible night, until Sparkie informed us of Dad’s plan to rescue my brother Daven. I didn’t even know I had a brother. It’s amazing. Except we haven’t heard a word from him. And none of the children brought here was Daven. So at the moment Dad and Daven are still missing. I tell you what, it’s made me realise not to take my friends for granted and not waste the precious time we have. I only wish Dad and Daven were here to witness me asking this wonderful woman for her hand in marriage.’ He knelt down on one knee and grasped hold of Deana’s hand. ‘Deana, will you please marry me?’

  Deana tightened her lips as tears came to her eyes. She nodded her head. ‘Yes, K, I’ll marry you!’

  ‘Yippee!’ K said, picking her up and spinning her round.

  ‘Urgh!’ grumbled Hank. ‘Can’t stand this mushy, lovey, dovey stuff!’

  Ignoring Hank, Marion smiled and stood up to give Deana a hug. ‘I’ll be glad to have you in the family. I can’t think of anyone else K should settle down with. You’ve been with us and supported us through our darkest day and now, just as Jeremy would have wanted, you’ve lighted a candle in our lives.’

  Tookar arrived looking much happier.

  ‘I’ve just received some news concerning Jeremy,’ Tookar announced. ‘One of our men came across him by accident on Dramian. Jeremy had told him how he’d disguised himself as a child and was taken prisoner by the atropertries. He was brought to Dramian through the portal gateway. Once he’d made it to the other side, Jeremy transformed himself into a monster and killed the little devils. Since then, he has turned himself into an insect and is currently surveying the area. Apparently he heard news that a young boy with amazing abilities was being kept alive, especially for Definastine’s use. This boy was different from the others. He was able to turn into different creatures.’

  ‘Daven!’ Marion cried out.

  ‘It seems very likely,’ smiled Tookar. ‘But as this child isn’t kept with the other children, Jeremy is trying to find out where he is. He passed on a message to you as well. He wanted to say sorry for the pain he put you through. He only wished he could’ve made things right by bringing Daven home earlier to ease your pain.’

  ‘He’ll find him,’ Marion beamed, her eyes misting with tears. ‘My Jeremy will find Daven and we’ll be a happy family again soon.’

  There was much happiness in the room and as Marion sat back down next to Connor, she said, ‘I understand your parents have been called away.’ Connor nodded. ‘Well, you’ll be looking for somewhere else to live now since your entrusted guardians are receiving treatment here. I was wondering… would you like to come and live with me? I could certainly do with your company and all.’

  ‘I wouldn’t think you’d want me. I’m a liability now, what with the Starstone and everything. Bad luck follows me around like a bad smell. And it’s not just me, it’s Hank too!’

  Marion chuckled. ‘We’ve all suffered from bad smells from time to time and I don’t think this little guy will be too much of a problem. But think seriously about it, Connor. I mean it. I’d love you to come back home with me.’

  Before she could get all her words out, Connor threw his arms around her. ‘I’d love to come and live with you. I really would. I can’t believe you’re asking me.’

  ‘You’ll be doing me a favour too,’ she chuckled, nodding towards K and Deana. ‘Can’t imagine K wanting to live with me much longer, can you?’

  Connor was laughing and shaking his head.

  ‘Besides,
you’ll be able to keep me company while Jeremy is trying to find Daven. I only hope nothing awful has happened to him. Do you like apple pies?’

  ‘Yes,’ smiled Connor.

  ‘Good, because I make the best ones in town.’

  Marion stood up from the chair and said to K, ‘I’m ready to go home, dear, will you take me back?’

  ‘But mum, you know we can’t go back home,’ K said, looking concerned.

  ‘Oh, I know that,’ she said. ‘While you were getting a drink earlier with Deana, someone came and told me our new home is ready and waiting for us, somewhere in a place called Hampton.’

  ‘I didn’t realise anyone had told you,’ said K. ‘Do you feel all right about it?’

  ‘Look son, I’ve been living with an alien husband for thirty-six years, who went missing yesterday. It’s him I miss, not the bricks and mortar. I would have left that cottage years ago if I had my way. Anyway they’ve taken all our belongings to our new home. All I want to do is get settled in now.’

  ‘It looks as if it’s time to say goodbye,’ whispered Bromie. He pulled out the ointment from his pocket and handed it to Connor. ‘Take this. You never know when you might need it. Perhaps I’ll be seeing you soon, perhaps I won’t. But don’t forget me, will you.’

  Connor gratefully took the ointment and placed it in his pocket where he suddenly felt the necklace Tookar had passed on to him from his parents. How strange it was to have forgotten all about it until now. It was a communication device to make contact with his parents. He vowed to try and speak to them as soon as possible.

  ‘Thanks Bromie,’ said Connor, ‘for everything. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t shown up on Dramian when you did.’

  ‘It was a pleasure,’ Bromie said, ruffling Connor’s hair affectionately. ‘Take care of yourself. You might as well arrive at your new home by using my bridge. I could dial up the co-ordinates right away. You’d be there in seconds.’

  ‘That’s lovely of you Bromie,’ Marion smiled. ‘After a hectic night here, I could do with getting home quickly.’