Lutz drew a long breath.
“Which is forbidden to first years, along with all other forms of psychic behaviour. But I can scarcely credit a mere boy of fifteen capable of thinking himself up a hundred and fifty feet. Stick out your tongue!”
Startled, Zeke obeyed.
“Aha!” Lutz cried. “A pallid, greenish tongue, blood shot eyes, and,” she sniffed loudly, “a hint of malodorous sweat.”
Zeke blushed deeper. Did he stink?
“Cockroach pills! Only available through the black market. So we have breaking and entering, racketeering, lying. Do you wish to declare any other offences?”
Zeke took a long gulp.
“With respect, Ma’am, you can expel me as many times as you wish later on—”
Lutz jumped to her feet. “HOW DARE YOU TAKE THAT TONE WITH ME!”
“But Ma’am, right now Pin’s life is in danger.”
“I AM COMING TO THAT, BOY!”
Another silence. Lutz struggled to regain her composure.
“And the greatest of all your crimes. Kidnapping! Will you confess your part in this villainy.”
Zeke was dumbfounded. She was accusing him?
“Principal Lutz! I’m the one who reported it. I’m her friend.”
She smiled scornfully and pointed to the ancient Martian engraving on the wall behind her.
“Oh that’s right. My only indulgence over the long years spent in this godforsaken backwater, my treasure, issued you a prophecy!”
“I know it sounds crazy, Ma’am, but it’s true. It’s more than a picture, it’s some kind of mechanism.”
“STOP! Every Hesperian artefact is rigorously examined by our best scientists. If it were anything other than an old carving we’d know. So don’t insult me with your science fiction. Have the decency to own up.”
Zeke’s tears were building. He forced them back.
“Everything I said is true. The picture did come alive. I did step into it. And Pin was abducted by a dust devil.”
Lutz banged her fist down on the desk.
“LIES, LIES, LIES!”
“Why don’t you ask Trixie Cutter? What was she doing there?”
“More slander? Bad mouthing one of our finest students. Head of her year, straight A grades, exemplary conduct. How low will you stoop, Hailey?”
“She and Snod are involved in this.”
“She and Snod were searching for Pin-mei. I won’t hear any more false accusations from you.”
Zeke burned with the unfairness of it all. But he bit back the words he was yearning to say. Perhaps Lutz was in on the consp-iracy?
“May I ask what’s being done to find Pin?”
“The crime has been reported to the Governor’s Office. He has dispatched his Lieutenant-In-Chief from Tithonium Central. He’ll be here by morning and no doubt will deal with you. In the meantime our best remote viewers are in deep meditation. If anyone can locate the unfortunate waif they can.”
“I know exactly where she is. Professor Magma is behind all this. I know it.”
“DESIST!” Lutz shrieked. “I will not have you dragging persons of good honour into this scandal. That man is a reputable academic, recent benefactor to this school and, much to our good luck, a newly recruited lecturer. Tomorrow night he’s presenting a slideshow on his Martian digs. A good dose of science will cheer up all those Earth-sick newbies pining for their parents.”
Zeke could contain the tears no longer. They streamed down his cheeks.
“That won’t work on me, boy. Generations of duplicitous boys have tried and failed to find my soft spot. Sadly for you it’s a Martian quicksand.”
Lutz paused. When she next spoke her voice was softer.
“Tell me now, Hailey. Where is she?”
“Look,” he replied, wiping his eyes. “I broke into your office. I’ve admitted that. I wanted to see my father’s file. Yes I used cockroach pills. I didn’t bother with them on the way down as, believe me or not, I had a premonition. I was trying to save her. Honestly.”
A crafty look crept across Lutz’s wide features.
“Then answer me this, young Hailey. Did you break in alone, or did you have an accomplice?”
That was the last question Zeke wanted to answer. How could he incriminate Scuff? Luckily bluffing his way into the greatest school in the Solar System had given Zeke plenty of practice at lying. He looked the Principal straight in the eye.
“I acted alone, Ma’am. I promise.”
She leaned back, satisfied with his answer.
“Young Hailey you have been a troublemaker from the moment you fell from the skies. At the very least you will be drummed out of the school. If you are lucky you will be translocated Earthside to a reform school. Unlucky and you’ll be imprisoned at the Tithonium Detention Facility. Until the Lieutenant arrives you are confined to quarters. DO NOT step outside your room. Comprendez-vous?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Silence.
“So, Ma’am, could I possibly see my father’s file?”
“GET OUT OF MY SIGHT BEFORE I HAVE YOU VAPORISED!”
Chapter Sixteen
Zeke’s Cave
It was the day after the interrogation with Lutz. Zeke was lying on his bed staring at the pitted ceiling of his cave. Images of his father and Pin-mei danced through his brain. Should he postpone the hunt for his father in favour of his friend? Would his father understand?
Zeke was also puzzled by Scuff’s absence. His friend had neither visited nor returned any messages. He couldn’t understand why.
There was a knock on the door. At last!
“Scuff? Is that you?”
The door opened. It was not Scuff, but a broad-shouldered man in rust-coloured military fatigues. Zeke noticed immediately the stranger’s waxed moustache, wicked grin and twinkling eyes.
“Lieutenant Doughty at your service, young man,” he said, and bowed.
Lost for words Zeke boiled up some tea with the cold-fusion kettle. The Lieutenant made himself at home, pushing his huge frame into the old armchair.
“Don’t suppose you’ve any biscuits? Tea’s a bit too wet without one.” He smirked, sipping noisily from his mug. Zeke was taken aback. The last thing he expected from the Governor’s representative was a cosy chat. Doughty read the confusion on Zeke’s face.
“Now lets get one thing straight. I’m on your side. A man’s innocent until proven guilty, isn’t he?”
“Absolutely,” Zeke beamed.
“I told that Principal woman, I said, look lady, I’m in charge of this case and you’ll do as I say. And as for that young man you’ve got stowed below decks, as far as I’m concerned he’s only a witness at this stage of the proceedings.”
“Oh thank you, Sir, I mean, Lieutenant.”
“Call me Leo. Short for Leopold.”
“Thanks, um, Leo. What happens now?”
“His flaming Lordship the Governor-of-Mars has entrusted ten soldiers to my command. They’re out scouring Ophir Chasma for any clues to this young girlie’s whereabouts. None of this namby-pamby remote viewing nonsense. Your teachers might have faith in it but I prefer more old-fashioned methods of detection. In the meantime I will be conducting my-er-research, in the school.”
“But I know who the guilty party is. It’s that madman Magma.”
“Guilty is he? Can you prove that in a court of law? Anyway if you’re so convinced he did the dirty deed, you can help me interview him tonight after his lecture. I’ve never met the man, so I’d be grateful of your assistance.”
“Really? That’s great!” Zeke cried. “You do believe my story, don’t you, about the Dust Devil?”
“Dust Devil? First time I’ve heard one of them listed as a suspect. No, seems more likely your eyes were playing tricks. But I’ll keep an open mind. If there are any devil winds out there kidnapping the citizens of Mars they’ll have me to contend with.”
“What about me? Am I—”
“Free to go? Back
to class as if nothing ever happened. In fact you can be my eyes. Sort of undercover junior agent kind of thingy.”
“Yes please!”
Doughty offered his hand and they shook. Zeke tried hard not to wince as the big beefy man crushed his palm.
~~~
Zeke buzzed Scuff’s doorbell for the fourth time. The ‘at home’ light was on. So why wasn’t the Canadian answering?
“Finally!”
The door opened to reveal the spots and spiky hair of Jasper Snod.
“What are you doing here?” Zeke exclaimed.
“None of yours, freaky,” Snod replied tapping his long skinny nose. “Now hop it.”
“Scuff? Scuff?” Zeke called, peering over the boy’s shoulder. He could see Scuff’s back, hunched over his computer station. Apparently Scuff had no desire to greet his best pal. As Snod reached for the close button Zeke grabbed his arm.
“You know what’s going on, don’t you. With Pin-Mei, Magma, the Dust Devil. Just tell me and I’ll help you. Please!”
Their eyes met. For a split-second Snod’s face wavered. But this brief lapse disappeared beneath an angry scowl.
“You really are nuts,” Snod said with a curled lip. He pushed Zeke back outside and the door slid between them.
~~~
When Zeke arrived a few minutes early the auditorium was almost full. Every student in the school wanted to know about the ancient Martians. He spied Scuff in a far corner with Snod and a couple of Cutter’s goons. He waved but Scuff deliberately looked away. Lieutenant Doughty stood at the back while the Mariners were taking their seats in the upper gallery.
The curtains raised and Magma’s gaunt figure strode onto the stage.
“Boys, girls and Mariners, let me thank you for inviting me here today. I can promise you a most enthralling account of my life and work.”
He clicked the remote and the first holo-slide appeared, hovering in the air. A little boy was digging sandcastles on a beach.
“My love of archaeology began many years ago…”
Time crawled like a dying snail. Magma’s talk meandered through his life. Clearly he had two passions, archaeology and Tiberius Magma. The audience began dozing off. Some sneaked out whenever the Professor turned away. The older students used their psychic skills to escape. Several boys in the front row blurred and vanished.
Yet Magma droned on about ruins and lifetime achievement awards.
“Professor, what about the Martians?” Zeke called out, unable to bear another moment of the man’s vanity.
Magma threw him a curious look.
“Yes, well, what a lot they have to offer us.”
The remote clicked. A picture of the Martian landscape materialised. And then another and another, dreary views of nothing, a mud heap here, a hole in the ground there.
“Most discoveries have been found in the Noctis Labyrinthis, which is why I have my dig there. The name is Latin for night maze. Imagine a network of criss-crossing ravines, a staggering five miles high, but rarely more than a few feet wide. Too deep to catch the sunlight. A man could loose his way in there. Forever!”
Zeke raised a hand.
“Sir, what can you tell us about the Martian artefacts? The orbs for instance?
Magma smiled maliciously.
“Useless lumps of rock of no interest whatsoever.”
Zeke sat back in his chair. The man was lying. Perhaps Magma had come to the school deliberately to cover his tracks. But there was no point trying to get at the truth. Zeke decided to stay quiet.
The presentation dragged on. The professor explained about the three geological ages of Mars, the Noachian, the Hesperian, and lastly the Amazonian. The first was an era of chaos, with oceans of lava and meteor storms. The second was Mars’ most Earth-like period, when water flowed and life evolved. Then something happened, turning that watery world into a dry, airless wasteland.
“Why did Mars change?” somebody asked at the front. It was Scuff.
Magma smiled back. “Oh, we’re nowhere near solving that puzzle, young man.”
More deception, Zeke thought. Some cataclysm destroyed the Hesperians, something to do with the Spiral, whatever that was. And Magma knew everything. Zeke could see it in his eyes.
Somebody coughed in the gallery. It was Lutz.
“Forgive me interrupting, Professor Magma, but time is against us. I must reluctantly ask you to draw your, um, fascinating lecture to an end.”
“It’s been a pleasure.”
“Let’s show our appreciation, shall we,” Lutz said. A half-hearted round of applause lasted for a few seconds before the spectators hurried from the hall.
Lieutenant Doughty forced his way against the tide of people. As he reached Zeke he bent over and whispered, “Come on! Let’s make that old scoundrel sing like a canary.”
Chapter Seventeen
The Auditorium
Doughty bounded up the steps onto the stage, with Zeke at his heels.
“Professor Magma, not so fast.”
Magma was tidying up his notes.
“Ah! Lieutenant Doughty. How can I help you?”
Doughty reddened with anger. “You can help a whole lot Professor. With the disappearance of a student from this school. The Chinese girl.”
“Ah yes. I saw the missing posters on my way in. How terribly distressing.”
“TELL US WHERE SHE IS!” Zeke bellowed, boiling with frustration.
“HAILEY!”
Zeke and Doughty spun round. Principal Lutz was standing where a moment before there was no one. She glared at Zeke.
“How dare you speak so insolently to a guest of my school.”
She said to Doughty, “Lieutenant, may I remind you the students take their orders from me.”
“And may I remind you, Madam, that as a representative of the Governor of Mars my powers exceed yours.”
“Lieutenant, I wish to speak to you in private. This way,” Lutz snapped, and strode off the stage.
Doughty sauntered after her. “Zeke, keep an eye on the suspect. I won’t be long.”
Zeke was speechless. Quite unexpectedly he was alone with Magma. Zeke turned and faced the man’s alligator smile. Zeke gulped.
“Well we find ourselves at a bit of an impasse boy, don’t we?” the Professor grinned. “Let’s drop the little charade. In fact I want you to help me.”
“Never!”
“Are you so sure, boy? Wouldn’t you like to see another artefact?”
“What?”
Magma licked his lips.
“The Martian artefacts you were curious about earlier. I must say you were the only one paying attention. That deserves a reward.”
Zeke bit his lip. What was Magma playing at?
“There are indeed five Martian artefacts. Four are secretly gathering dust on Earth, except, ahem, I borrowed one. I call it The Orb of Words. But you know all about that, don’t you?”
“I haven’t a clue what you’re on about,” Zeke replied.
With a sudden movement the Professor flicked a note card at him. Zeke instinctively caught it. One side was covered in Martian scrawl.
“Thvrygsh zhhahoo gfeechi mneu,” Zeke read aloud without thinking. Then his face coloured.
“You’re evil! Evil!” he shouted.
Magma gurgled in delight. “You see we both know what that means. ‘Little girl is my prisoner’.”
“Except you’ve spelt ‘girl’ wrong, and used a verb where you needed a noun.”
“Oh bravo! A grasp of Hesperian years ahead of mine. How very useful.”
“I’m going to tell on you. I’ll make them believe me.”
“Oh, I seriously doubt that. Nobody’s going to believe a child. How old are you? Ah yes. I’m fifteen, not a little boy.” Magma said the last sentence in a baby voice.
Zeke clenched his teeth, but said nothing.
“We’ve gone off the subject. Don’t you want to know about the fifth orb? I can show it to you right now. It’s in
the side room.”
Magma beckoned Zeke to follow. Zeke scanned the auditorium for a sign of Doughty or one of the Mariners. The hall was deserted.
Magma was springing some kind of trap. Zeke could see that, but as long as the madman had Pin-mei he had to play along. Any risk was worth it to save her.
“Okay, I’m coming.”
Magma walked briskly across the stage and through the side door. Zeke shadowed him inside. They were in a small room where Magma had prepared his talk. A leather case rested on a table.
“Go on, open it.” Magma beamed.
“No, you.”
“Tsk, tsk, are all today’s youngsters so suspicious?”
Magma lifted the top. There was an orb inside, but not the one from the Televator. This one was orangey-red, as smooth and shiny as marble and without any markings.
Zeke gasped sharply. It was beautiful, more beautiful than the Orb of Words. An odd desire overwhelmed him. Its sheen and subtle colouring was crying out to be touched. The little voice inside his head whispered, ‘don’t’, but Zeke ignored it. He reached out a finger.
The moment he made contact he knew it was a mistake. The orb expanded at phenomenal speed. In an instant it was the size of a house and still growing. Zeke’s finger had fused to the surface. He was yanked upwards, dangling against its glossy side as it exploded. After ten seconds it was as huge as a city. Twenty seconds and bigger than a country. It stopped after thirty seconds. The orb was now a planet.
Zeke lay on its ground, forcing slow deep breaths into his lungs. The nausea ebbed away. He stood up shakily and looked around, feeling light-headed in the Orb’s low gravity. The orange plain radiated away in all directions, flat and gleaming. Nothing disturbed its pristine condition, not a hill, not a ridge, not a single scratch. This was a perfectly formed world.
“Oh no!” he groaned, clutching his scrambled guts. The orb hadn’t inflated into a planetary body. It was him. He had shrunk to microscopic dimensions!
Sure enough, what passed for a sun was really the room’s photon lamp. The sky was square and white with four colossal corners. Zeke was looking at the ceiling. Beneath the square the sky turned woody yellow, the walls.
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