‘Well, probably ’cos I have a really strong mind,’ said Prawn. ‘Like, he tried, but he just couldn’t break me down. Oh yeah!’
Sinclair smiled. ‘Or perhaps because you were concentrating so fiercely on something else that your mind blocked him out.’
‘That’d be that game, hey, Prawn,’ suggested Daisy.
‘Awesome!’ said Prawn. ‘Doomfinder 4 rocks! Which reminds me, like, I’ve, like, gotta get back to it soon or else –’
‘Or else what?’ asked Daisy.
‘Er … or else nothing really. I guess maybe I am a bit addicted.’
Crab put his arm around his son’s shoulders. ‘To be honest, son, I think I am too, a bit. I love that game. But we’ll beat it together.’
‘Thanks, Dad,’ replied Prawn.
Daisy continued. When she explained how her father had saved them in the caves by attacking Gamion, Jackie Malone’s eyes widened and she stared at her husband in admiration. Her eyes got even wider when Daisy described how they had got the stone back from Gamion and travelled back in time to replace it.
‘Mum, can you remember anything about being hypnotised?’ asked Daisy when she had finished.
‘Yes, sort of. It was like I was doing things, but I had no control over them. And then when that horrible man made me tell him things, I tried to stop myself.’
‘How did you know about the short cut to where the red stone was?’
‘When I had the blue stone I was sort of drawn down the passage that led towards the red stone, but I never went all the way. I saw another little passage halfway up the wall, and it seemed to lead the right way and … I just sort of guessed really.’
‘It was a good guess,’ said Daisy. She turned to her father. ‘What happened to Professor Blont after you got out of the cave?’
‘He explained a bit about what was going on and then he just kept apologising,’ replied Brian Malone, ‘and then when we got out he offered us a lift home. I told him we weren’t going anywhere without you, and he offered to stay with us, but it was pretty obvious he just wanted to get out of here, so we told him to go.’
‘It’s a shame about his leg,’ said Dennis.
‘It’s a shame he decided to help an evil alien who wanted to take over the universe,’ said Daisy. ‘But I guess he did try and do the right thing in the end.’ She looked up at Sinclair. ‘Now that you have two blue stones, I wonder if maybe you could fix his leg.’
Sinclair smiled at her. ‘You are very merciful, Daisy. Personally, I’d prefer to damage his other one. But I will try.’
Sinclair held a blue stone in each hand and closed his eyes. About half a minute passed and then he opened them again. ‘It is done.’
‘Now he really owes us,’ said Daisy. ‘I might get him to repay me with a year’s supply of cream buns.’
Jackie Malone turned to Sinclair and Dennis. ‘So you’re aliens, are you?’
‘We could take our heads off to prove it if you like,’ suggested Dennis.
‘No, don’t,’ said Daisy quickly, remembering how she had fainted when she had seen inside their bodies. ‘We’ve all had a pretty big day already, don’t you think?’
‘Can I ask you something?’ said Jackie Malone to Sinclair. ‘I’ve been puzzling over this for years. When we first explored the caves we found a black object that looked very much like a television remote control. Do you know what it might be?’
‘Oh,’ said Sinclair, looking a bit sheepish. ‘That would have been a television remote control. We have television on our planet too. And those who came here to dig the tunnels and place the stone would have brought one with them. It’s a good way to relax and forget that you are half a universe away from home. They must have left the remote control behind.’
‘Mystery solved,’ said Jackie Malone. She turned to her husband. ‘I’m so proud of you, Brian. You came and rescued us, and then you went back down there again during an earthquake! I can hardly believe it!’
Brian Malone smiled shyly, looking both embarrassed and proud.
‘Brian and Daisy Malone saving the world!’ exclaimed Jackie Malone. ‘Who would have thought?’
Ben had, up to now, with a supreme effort, managed to stop himself from speaking. But he could contain himself no longer. ‘Don’t forget me!’
Jackie Malone stared at him and her hand went to her mouth. ‘Oh my goodness!’
‘Whoops,’ said Ben.
Chapter 24
A FAREWELL
Sinclair and Dennis stood at the top of the hill with Daisy, Ben, Jackie Malone, Brian Malone, Prawn and Crab. It was early evening, that time of day when sometimes, if you’re lucky, things feel exactly right.
‘I think we may have to reappraise our view of Earth,’ said Sinclair dryly. ‘It may well be that the ants are not the only intelligent species here.’
‘Finally you’ve realised us dogs are not just pretty pets,’ said Ben.
‘Although the ants did help to save our lives,’ continued Sinclair.
‘What do you mean?’ demanded Daisy. ‘Ben and I saved your lives.’
‘And the ants,’ said Sinclair. ‘Remember I told you that I thought ants may be able to communicate telepathically? When I was unconscious – it must have been just after you replaced our heartstones – I suddenly felt a strong message to wake up. When I opened my eyes, a row of ants was sitting on my arm staring at me! The ants had communicated with me to wake me up! It’s a breakthrough! We will have to come back to study them further.’
‘Well, make sure you call in when you do,’ said Daisy. ‘But this time, how about you knock on the front door rather than breaking in through the back one?’
‘Certainly,’ said Sinclair, smiling. He shook hands with everyone. Dennis followed, looking as if he wasn’t quite sure why he was doing it.
Finally, Sinclair turned again to Daisy. ‘We only need one blue stone to return home,’ he said, ‘which of course means that there is one left. The one that your mother found hidden in the caves.’
Sinclair pulled it from his pocket. ‘I think we should entrust it to you and your mother, Daisy.’
Daisy stared at the stone. She remembered the power of the stones, and the things she had been able to do with them. Travel across the universe and time, fill herself with energy. Imagine if she could …
‘No!’ she said, so fiercely it surprised her. ‘Sorry. It’s just that … I want to be normal again. I know how powerful it is and … I don’t want to be tempted. Besides, the stones have caused so much trouble already. I think it’d be better if you took it with you.’
‘I understand,’ said Sinclair.
Daisy remembered something. ‘The red stone we replaced. We couldn’t lock it back into place. Fiona is guarding it, but still … ’
Sinclair nodded. ‘I will report it as soon as we return and it will be locked. We can do it from Hankarania.’
He took both of Daisy’s hands in his and looked her in the eye. ‘You saved our lives, Daisy. And you saved your planet. Thank you.’
Daisy felt a bit special. She wasn’t sure what to say.
Dennis stepped awkwardly towards Daisy. ‘Er, what the boss said. But yeah, thanks.’ He smiled.
Sinclair put his arm around Dennis. ‘Farewell, Earth people and dog,’ he said. He held the blue glowing stone up and closed his eyes.
Dennis said, ‘Wait! This isn’t going to hurt, is –’ and then a blue light enveloped them and they vanished.
‘Wow!! That was soooo, like, awesome!!’ said two people at the same time. And if you don’t know who they were, you haven’t been paying attention.
Daisy turned to her father. ‘So, Dad, now that you’ve helped save the world, do you think you might be up for a few more adventures?’
‘Per … haps,’ responded Brian Malone uncertainly.
�
�Great. Let’s do something really dangerous together next weekend. Ever been parachuting? I’d love to try that.’
‘Um, maybe not quite that soon. How about a game of chess instead?’
Daisy stared at the empty spot where Sinclair and Dennis had been and then bent to cuddle Ben. Ben put his mouth to her ear. ‘Daisy, do you remember how this all began? When we went for that walk behind our house and I heard voices in the forest, and I wanted to ignore them, but you were curious. Daisy, your curiosity saved the world!’
Daisy squeezed him tight and whispered back, ‘Ben, we saved the world.’
For the first time in his life Ben wished he had arms, so he could hug her back.
‘Come on then,’ interrupted Brian Malone. ‘If we leave now, we should get home in time for dinner. If your mother drives, that is. And maybe I’ll make spaghetti bolognese.’
‘Great,’ said Daisy, rising to her feet. ‘But we have to stop at the shops on the way because Mum, you owe me a proper birthday present.’
And then a giant piano fell out of the sky and squashed everyone.
Not really.
We don’t know what happened next because this is …
THE END
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to everyone at Pan Macmillan for being so nice to Daisy and for having so many ideas that improved the story. Special thanks to Claire Craig for her enthusiasm, great judgement, many helpful suggestions and general niceness. Thanks also to Libby Turner for skilfully guiding everything along in the right direction, and to Brianne Collins for her excellent editing.
Thanks to my daughters Bibi, Nina and Lily for listening to an early version of the story and telling me when:
a. they were enjoying it, and
b. it was getting a bit boring (or, as Nina says, ‘snore-worthy’).
Thanks to Lucy for being Lucy.
Finally, a big thankyou to curiosity. Daisy is driven by curiosity and so am I. Curiosity prompts us to try new things, and to find out how things happen, and why they happen. When you hear your own curiosity speaking inside yourself, it’s often a good idea to listen to it because it can take you to some wonderful and exciting places.
About James O’Loghlin
James O’Loghlin has been a stand-up comedian, a criminal lawyer, a radio presenter, a television host and a milk deliverer. He has written several other books, including The Adventures of Sir Roderick the Not-Very Brave, which won the 2014 Speech Pathology Award for the best book for 8 to 10 year olds. James is married with three daughters and has a dog who doesn’t talk. As far as he knows.
Also by James O’Loghlin
The Adventures of Sir Roderick the Not-Very Brave
James O’Loghlin
The Adventures of Sir Roderick the Not-Very Brave
In a land where peace is threatened by assassins, invading armies and unhappy peasants, one knight must be brave enough to journey forth on a great quest.
‘But that can’t be me,’ thought Sir Roderick.
‘I’m the most junior knight in the kingdom. And definitely the most hopeless.
They wouldn’t pick me to go somewhere so dangerous …
Would they?’
First published 2015 in Pan by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Limited
1 Market Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2000
Copyright © James O’Loghlin 2015
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
All rights reserved. This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations), in any form (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise) without prior written permission from the publisher.
This ebook may not include illustrations and/or photographs that may have been in the print edition.
Cataloguing-in-Publication entry is available
from the National Library of Australia
http://catalogue.nla.gov.au
EPUB format: 9781743537329
Typeset by Post Pre-press Group
Cover illustration by J. Yi
Cover design: i2i Design
The characters in this book are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
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