Chapter 13p5 – How to Install One of These Things

When Pelly landed in the museum’s loading bay, a museum staffer was ready and waiting with the Jitterdrive. He rolled the engine over to the gap in the floor. For a few seconds, everyone stood around, looking expectantly at one another.

“Er,” said Milly, “Does anyone know how to install one of these things?”

Haglyn shook her head and shrugged.

“Not a clue,” said Overard, cheerfully. “Hadn’t thought that far ahead, to be honest. What about you, Mister…” He scrutinized the museum staffer’s name tag. “Mister Cogs. Ever hooked up a faster-than-light engine before?”

“Actually,” said Cogs, a pencil-thin man with a long, narrow nose, “I have, once. Helped my grandpa do one last year.”

“Great!” said Overard. “We’ve got a hundred litres for you if you help out. Right, Milly?”

Before Milly could protest, Cogs said, “Sure thing!” and got to work. In minutes, he and Overard had the old Origami Engine out and had lowered the Jitterdrive into the slot. Cogs wheeled the Origami Engine away and returned with a box of tools.

Haglyn went to check on Tic and Dr. Fester, both of whom had been drugged into deep sleep to let their bodies focus on the healing process.

Milly wandered into the cockpit to wait. She was just sitting down when Pelly said, “Oh dear.”

“What?” said Milly.

“Is Mr. Bolter still sleeping?”

“I think so.”

“Oh, good,” said Pely. “So this probably isn’t his fault, then. I’ve gotten quite used to this kind of thing being his fault.”

“What isn’t his fault?”

Pelly lit up the viewscreen, revealing three approaching black-and-white ships, emblazoned with red and blue lights.

“Oh dear,” said Milly.

“Precisely,” said Pelly. “So, what would you like me to do?”

About Tim Sevenhuysen

Tim Sevenhuysen writes sci-fi and other genre fiction. He is a microfiction expert, having written over 600 fifty-word stories. He is also a noncertifiable lunatic.

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