‘Order in the court!’ demanded Judge Wanda. ‘Is any of this more important than stopping the Abell 2218s?’
The ambassadors hung their heads. Old rivalries died hard.
‘There must be something we can do!’ said Number 12, stomping the ground.
The President scratched his head. ‘If we attack now, we lose our most important city. If we do nothing, it may be the end of civilization as we know it – even the end of the Earth. Can I make that choice?’
They all looked at him. No one said a thing.
Finally, Madonna bent down to him and managed a smile. ‘Do whatever you have to, Mr President. No one will blame you for that.’
Just then, there was a tremendous burst of fire from the lead starship. Rather than striking the closest building in its path, the laser beam weaved its way around buildings as if it had a special destination in mind.
The President leaned down to the screen. ‘Oh, no, it’s heading for… the EMPIRE STATE BUILDING!’
Tiger didn’t know many famous American buildings, except for the Statue of Liberty that they had already seen, but he had seen the Empire State Building in one of Alexander’s National Geographic magazines, so he knew how important it was to the people here. It would be like an attack on the Opera House back home.
Just before the beam struck, they saw a jet diving down at full speed. The pilot could only have one thing in mind.
At the very instant of what should have been impact on the jet, the laser beam seemed to hit something, something invisible, something that shattered the beam into a million particles that either bounced off nearby buildings or drifted ever more faintly to the ground.
‘What is it?’ said Tiger, gripping the console so he could look at it all the more closely.
‘I know,’ Tark said, dancing up and down. ‘It’s an Anti-Matter Screen.’
‘Anti-matter?’ said the President. ‘We don’t have anything like that – not that I know of, anyway.’
‘Of course not,’ said Tark. ‘It was something, well... experimental, even for our Griff scientists up until recently. The beauty of it is that, in its native state, it’s as thin as one of your sheets of paper, and not much bigger. But it can be coded to expand in length and width to suit a given space – in this case, between skyscrapers – and even to thicken for that heavy duty task such as neutralizing the most powerful of Abell 2218 killer beams!’
‘Yes,’ said Tiger. ‘That’s great. But where did it come from? There are no Griffs here, except for you!’
‘That’s where you’re wrong,’ Tark said, scanning the horizon with an ultraviolet beam from his toe. ‘They’re here. Eudora’s come through for us, and just in the nick of time!’
‘Great,’ said the President. ‘Wonderful. But what can one magic… mat do against all of these starships?’
Tark smiled. ‘I think you’re about to see Inter-Galactic Strike Force in its best form!’
Sure enough, every Abell starship came to a halt in mid-air, and, more than that, was being pushed back toward the harbor. Once over the water, safely beyond the Statue of Liberty and even the remaining warships below, the starships were somehow herded into an ever-tightening circle, until their noses and tails had nowhere to go. Then the circle began to revolve, slowly at first, then gaining speed and height, shrinking all the more as it lifted into the atmosphere, shrinking, shrinking, until it was out of sight.
The whole time, the President and the ambassadors stood stunned, open mouthed, amazed by it all.
‘It’s a miracle,’ said the President, rubbing his eyes. ‘But if the Strike Force is here, why can’t we see them?’
‘In invisibility there is strength,’ smiled Tark. ‘Why make yourself a target when you don’t have to?’
‘S-so the Abell 2218s are gone?’ said the Russian ambassador. ‘We’re out of danger?’
‘Yes,’ said a voice behind them.
It was Prince, and, just behind him, Eudora.
‘For the time being,’ Eudora added. ‘So long as you keep to your part of the bargain.’
‘Make sure that Project Earth-mend is a success,’ Prince said, sternly. ‘No excuses anymore.’ He pointed a paw at each of the ambassadors in turn. ‘No exceptions.’
‘I went out on a limb for you,’ said Eudora, ‘if you’ll excuse the expression. There were many on our Supreme Council who thought you deserved what the Abells were going to do to you. And probably still do. It’s up to you humans, and your animal cousins, to prove them wrong. Otherwise—’
‘You’ll have us to answer to,’ said Prince. And he wasn’t smiling.
There was silence for a minute or so, while it all sunk in.
Finally, Tiger decided someone had to say something. ‘I am a Member of the Sacred Few,’ he said. ‘And I take my vows seriously. I will make sure that all Introduced Species, and every human I see, stays true to Project Earth-mend.’
‘I speak for the Native animals,’ Judge Wanda said. ‘Anything an Introduced Species can do, we can do better!’
‘Yeah!’ shouted Number 12.
‘Yeah!!’ crowed Syd.
Madonna patted Wanda and gave Tiger a scratch behind the ears. ‘With such noble animals to show us the way, how can we go wrong?’
The President nodded. ‘I speak for all Americans, and I hope for the rest of humankind as well, firstly to thank you, Eudora, Prince, and our faithful and ever-patient companion Lieutenant Tark, for all you have done here today. The people – no, all living beings on Planet Earth – owe you a debt of gratitude, more than we can ever repay. I swear that we will not disappoint you. And when we have shown ourselves worthy, sometime in the future, my children, or their children, or their children’s children may seek membership on your Inter-Galactic Counsel, so that this galaxy and the multitude of other galaxies out there can live in harmony and peace.’
With a trembling lower lip, the Russian ambassador took the President by one hand and Madonna by the other. ‘We all agree, yes? Then let us dance – a Russian dance!’
At first it was just the three of them, following the Russian’s lead with his native steps, but soon the French and United Kingdom ambassadors joined in and there was a tight circle of them twisting and bounding around on the grass. Soon after, the other delegates linked arms and formed a larger circle around them.
Number 12 did his best at a camel four-step off to one side, with Syd doing a crow rap on his hump. Tiger looked at Wanda, and Wanda at Tiger.
‘May I have this dance?’ Tiger said with a low bow.
‘How could I refuse the most handsome cat in the neighborhood?’ winked Wanda.
The first rays of morning were etching themselves into the sky. It’s going to be a fine day, thought Tiger. A really fine one!
in which Greenhouse Ginger Cheesecake
goes inter-stellar
When the Teleportation Module set them down by the Sacred Pool once again, Tiger couldn’t help but notice how still the night air was. The other frogs had gone all out, decorating the bank around the pool with Chinese lanterns lit by candles in every imaginable color. There was music playing softly in the background that Tiger tried to hum along with, even though Alexander had told him more than once how painful it was when he tried to keep in tune. There was also a jasmine scent – Tiger’s favorite – other than a freshly opened can of Cat Gourmet – wafting through the air.
Prince’s boulder was ringed with blue winking fairy lights – solar-powered, of course – but there was no sign of Prince, and no hint of Eudora in the branches overhanging the pool.
Tiger heard a rustle in the grass behind him and a triangular head popped up from between the dandelions. It was a brown snake, and he looked familiar.
‘Are you...?’ Tiger asked.
‘Yes,’ said the snake. ‘You nearly tripped over me your first night on Greenhouse Place, remember?’
‘H-how could I forget?’ said Tiger, thinking the snake didn’t seem nearly as nasty as he had that f
irst night.
Wanda, Number 12, and Syd gathered around to watch, but Tark was already on his way down the bank. Number 12 stamped the ground, as if to frighten the snake away, but Tiger put up a paw.
‘Let’s hear him out,’ said Tiger.
‘Haven’t you come a long way?’ said the snake, wrinkling his nose into something of a grin, or the closest to one that a snake could manage. ‘Member of the Sacred Few – well, dingy dong!’
‘Thanks,’ said Tiger, not sure if dingy dong was intended to be a compliment. ‘I’ve done my best for the Project.’ Then he added, ‘Have you snakes signed up?’
‘You’re kidding,’ said the snake. ‘We were the first native species to get on board – after my little... mishap.’
‘Oh?’ asked Tiger.
The snake dipped his head a bit. ‘Yeah, they couldn’t blame me for mistaking an ET for a real frog, now could they?’
‘You tried to eat one?’
‘The pickings can be pretty thin down here in the park, especially after the grass has been mown,’ said the snake. ‘I grabbed it as usual and started to swallow, but things got pretty hairy after that.’
Tiger stifled a smile. ‘What happened?’
‘It was like being struck by lightning,’ sniffed the snake. ‘Not that I’ve ever been, but I can imagine it. More than a few of my scales got fried before I let him go. Whew!’
‘But you’re still here,’ said Tiger. ‘Lucky for you.’
‘Yeah,’ said the snake. ‘They’ve invited me to say a few words at the farewell.’
The Crew, minus Tark, were stunned. ‘What farewell?’ demanded Judge Wanda.
‘Didn’t they tell you?’ said the snake. ‘Project Earth-mend seems to be a success. You’ve got the humans and their United Nations to agree, and Mick and his Abell 2218s heading for extinction in the nearest black hole.’
‘Not that I don’t trust you,’ said Tiger, thinking just that, ‘but we’d better hear it from the horse’s mouth!’
‘Pardon the expression,’ snorted Number 12, following Tiger and Wanda on their way to find Tark, with Syd hovering overhead. ‘You should know by now that camels are far more trustworthy!’
Tiger could see it in Tark’s eyes even before he asked the question. ‘Is it true...?’
‘Yes,’ said Tark. ‘Now that Project Earth-mend is well and truly on its way, we’ve been... reassigned.’
‘Where?’ said Syd. ‘Can we tag along?’
‘I think not,’ Tark said slowly. ‘I’m heading for M31.’
‘M31?’ asked Tiger. ‘Is that another planet?’
‘No,’ said Tark. ‘It’s a galaxy, one of the closest to your Milky Way. Humans call it Andromeda. I think that was one of their Greek gods.’
‘Wow,’ said Tiger. ‘What will you do there?’
‘Research,’ said Tark. ‘Certainly boring stuff, compared to Project Earth-mend. Our job is to chart M31’s blueshift.’
‘Sounds complicated,’ said Number 12. ‘Whatever a blueshift is.’
Tark smiled. ‘It’s about how certain galaxies shift toward each other.’
‘Let me guess,’ said Wanda. ‘M31 is blue-shifting toward the Milky Way?’
Tark cocked his head. ‘You have learned many things during the Project, lizard.’
‘My friends call me Wanda,’ Wanda reminded him.
‘Of course... Wanda,’ said Tark. ‘I’m just entering Farewell Mode, so I thought—’
Wanda shuffled up to him and gave him a big hug. ‘No need to get all gushy, Tark,’ she said. ‘It’s been grand to team up with you, even though I have been feeling a bit homesick for my drainpipe.’
‘Aw,’ said Number 12, crossing his front legs at the sight. ‘If I weren’t so tall, I would—’
Tark levitated up to camel head level and gave Number 12’s nose a big hug. ‘Time to go back into retirement,’ he said. ‘You deserve a good rest.’
‘Yeah,’ said Number 12. ‘I suppose so.’
All eyes were on Tiger as Tark floated back down to the ground.
I won’t cry, Tiger told himself. Grown-up cats don’t cry.
Still, a few crocodile tears escaped as Tiger got his hug from Tark. As he shut his eyes tightly to stem the flow, he felt himself being lifted up to stare into the face of... Elvis.
‘Love me tender...’ Elvis was singing softly. ‘Member Tiger, you’ve been a hero,’ the song became, although the rhythm wasn’t quite right.
‘Thanks, mate,’ Tiger said, not sure whether to call him Tark when he was in his Elvis guise. ‘I-I couldn’t have done it without you.’
‘What about me?’ cawed Syd, landing on Tiger’s head. ‘Don’t I get a hug, too?’
‘Of course,’ said Elvis, setting Tiger down and starting to give Syd a hug, though it was a bit hard with his beak in the way, and the first attempt got Elvis pecked in the nose.
‘OK, Tiggie,’ Tark said, becoming Tark again, once Elvis was finished with Syd. ‘As the first Introduced Species to be inducted into the Sacred Few, you get one last wish before we have to take off.’
‘Oh,’ said Tiger. ‘A wish? Let me think... I wish... that all the Climate Skeptics will sign up to the Project, and soon!’
‘So do we, mate!’ said a familiar voice behind him. It was Alexander. And just behind him, Myrtle and Bradley. And to one side of Myrtle and Bradley, Cleo and Tony!
Tiger took a deep breath and let it out slowly. ‘We’re all here, then. Everyone from Greenhouse Place.’
‘Everyone who matters, anyway,’ snorted Tony.
‘Wouldn’t have missed it for the world,’ said Bradley. ‘Even if the Masters Golf is on!’
Myrtle gave him a swift jab in the side. ‘It was his idea to come down,’ she said. ‘Own up to it, Bradley!’
Bradley shrugged. ‘I guess I was one of your worst skeptics at the start. But my eyes are open now. I got Greg Norman to agree to put no more new golf courses on prime farm land, and all his other ones will be using recycled water for their greens as soon as possible!’
‘Way to go, Brad!’ Tiger said, giving him a High-Five.
‘I’ve got good news, too,’ said Myrtle. ‘Richard Branson’s space shuttles will be serving Greenhouse Ginger Cheesecake for dessert – once he gets them off the ground. And every penny of sales will come back to the Project!’
‘Greenhouse Ginger Cheesecake goes inter-stellar!’ laughed Alexander. ‘I’ll be sending out media releases about that!’
Tark nodded. ‘On behalf of Prince and Eudora, who I expect are already reporting back to Inter-Galactic Command, I do declare this Project a success. But remember to keep the pressure on. We know what humans are like.’
‘Yes,’ said Judge Wanda. ‘They’ll take the easy way out if they can find it.’
‘Don’t be too hard on us,’ Alexander said. ‘When we know what has to be done, especially for future generations, we get it done. We won’t let you down, Tark.’
‘That’s a cat-promise,’ said Tiger.
‘Never heard of that one,’ laughed Myrtle. ‘What’s a cat-promise?’
‘Sacred,’ said Tiger, putting a paw over his heart. ‘Unbreakable. That’s why the Egyptians regarded us as gods!’
‘They had good taste – those Egyptians,’ said Tark. Then he sighed. ‘Time to go now, I’m afraid.’
Instantly, there was a flash of light across the sky, coming closer, and it was no meteorite but an egg-shaped starship not unlike the one that had hovered over Bradley and Myrtle’s backyard that first night of the Arrival.
It landed just down the path from the Sacred Pool, and everyone traipsed down to it for the departure, including the hundreds of frogs that had been gathered around the bank.
A shiny gangplank edged with ultraviolet lights was waiting for Tark, and he didn’t hesitate in hopping onto it, only turning around when he’d reached the entry of the starship.
‘Wait,’ said Tiger, pointing at the frogs in semi-circle around the ship. ‘A
ren’t they coming with you?’
‘No, said Tark. ‘You’ll need lots of eyes and ears to keep the Project on target. And, as you’ll see, I’ve taught them well.’
As if on cue, the frogs shape-shifted at random into a myriad of hopping, jumping somersaulting beings – some familiar, and some, well, not so familiar to Tiger.
‘Eat your heart out, Dr Who!’ Tiger said.
Tark swelled to several sizes larger than his usual size then waved to them very much like Tiger remembered the President waving just before he and Madonna disappeared into Air Force One.
The frogs were cheering like fans at the grandest of Grand Finals, and there was nothing better to do at the moment than just join in.
Have you read the first three books in the Project Earth-mend series?
The Greenhouse Effect
by David P Reiter
ISBN 9781921479250
AU$15
Global Cooling
ISBN 9781876819767
AU$16
Tiger Tames the Min Min
ISBN 9781921479748
AU$17
Tiger Takes the Big Apple Page 17
