The Distant Home Read online

  Mrs Webster and Sally moved into the centre of the focused light. The others were watching them go, knowing that at any moment they would be drawn up into the dark mass of the starship hovering above.

  And then ‘No!’ Bobby yelled, and he was moving forward to join Sally and Mrs Webster. ‘No, it’s not going to be like this!’ He looked back at Jim and Maria. ‘You heard what Sally said. Just because she has to go doesn’t mean we have to stay! We’ve got a choice. Stay or go. I’m going with my twin sister!’

  Maria looked at Jim. It was a question. He nodded. ‘They’re bound to need accountants out there,’ he said.

  ‘And starship pilots!’ Bobby said, and looked at Mrs Webster. ‘Can an alien like me be a starship pilot?’

  ‘Some of the best are,’ she answered.

  Jim and Maria were moving forward, and joining Sally and Bobby and Mrs Webster. Maria turned to Kate. ‘Fix the details for us will you, Kate?’ she called.

  Kate stared at Maria. ‘The details?’ she yelled. ‘You call what you’re leaving me the details?’ And then, ‘Okay! I’ll do it!’

  The focused light from the starship was growing more intense. ‘Goggles!’ yelled Mrs Webster. ‘Put on your goggles!’

  Bobby, Jim, Maria and Kate adjusted their goggles. First Mrs Webster and then Sally were growing, becoming creatures of light.

  The beautiful energy creature who was once Sally Harrison of Middle Street turned and lifted an arm in salute and farewell to Kate. ‘Bye, Auntie Kate!’ she said in a voice that was deeper than Sally’s and seemed to chime like a silver bell. ‘Goodbye.’

  Then Sally and Bobby and Mrs Webster and Jim and Maria were dissolving into the beam of light, being drawn up into the starship. The throbbing roar of the starship receded, and the backyard was again as it always had been. Kate was left staring upwards, slowly removing her goggles. ‘Fix the details,’ she said. ‘Simple.’

  And for one moment, she saw the starship draw a dark line across the stars, and then it was gone.