Rhescue

By Drew Herdman

Rhes is looking for a new home earth for his dying planet. Crashing here he is saved by the twins Robin and Robina. Promising to help them in return if trouble comes. It does, and he is only just able to beat the evil Rex and his gang after many adventures, with the help of all his special equipment. With a ship hijacking, near drowning, shooting, and more. his life is full of exciting adventures.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Drew Herdman
• Release date: Jan 27, 2010
• ISBN: 9781452329864

Drew Herdman

Several years ago my grandson asked me to tell him a story. This I did and it started a long adventure story. One day my daughter, listening unseen, later suggested that it would be a good idea if I wrote these adventures down. In her opinion, as an English teacher, they were better than most of the literature she encountered in her profession.This I duly did and since then the writing bug has never let me stop writing. To date I have written two complete novels, both thrillers, one for adults and one for children and have nearly finished a third adult novel. Also, I have produced short stories, audio plays, poetry and videos, to name a few.I spent most of my working life in engineering in Liverpool. When I retired I returned to live on the Isle of Man after spending my childhood here. I now have the free time to follow all of my hobbies, which include photography, playing the keyboard, boating, and computers, in addition to writing.

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Rhescue

Drew Herdman

Smashwords Edition

Copyright Drew Herdman 2010

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Chapter 1.

RHES ARRIVES.

Grey smoke leaked into the cabin. The fire had started in the engine room at the back of the space ship, where two wires had rubbed together, until a spark had set fire to the plastic covering

Rhes, the pilot, sat looking into a television screen. His reflection showed a dark-skinned man like being. His hands, as they moved lightly over the controls, were long and thin, and he wore a one-piece, silvery suit that showed how thin he was. The only difference from a real human being was when his eyes were visible. The centres were dark, with a yellow slit, just like cat, instead of normal colours with black centres.

Back in the engine room, the smoke was getting thicker. It forced its way up the passage towards the cabin, in thick coils and loops. The fire alarm had not sounded because the fire had eaten its way through the wires and disconnected the bells.

Because Rhes was so busy looking into the screen, it was only when he smelled the smoke that he turned to see what was happening. His hand leaped to the fire extinguisher switch, but when he pushed it, nothing happened. Again the fire had destroyed the wiring.

The space ship gave a lurch as the autopilot cut out and started to descend. Rhes grabbed for a support but missed, and hit his hand on the corner of the table. The pain made him shout, but when he took another breath, he took a lung full of smoke which made him choke, and breath in even more of the foul-smelling air. His eyes watered and he was now so dizzy that he fell to the floor. The ship tilted down more steeply, and he slid to the wall where he lay unable to move. He knew that the ship was going to crash, and hoped that when it happened, it would not be too bad, and he would survive.

He had been sent from his own planet, to scout earth, and find out whether it would be possible or desirable for his race to contact earth. His own planet was cold, and the next few thousand years would make it uninhabitable. Even though there was plenty of time, scouts had been sent all over the universe, to try to find an uninhabited place for them go to. They would have preferred a lone planet, but if there weren't any, perhaps co-operation might be a good thing.

The twins, both fair haired and blue eyed, had just passed their twelfth birthday, and were walking home from their Uncle Josh’s' house. They had been there to thank him for their presents.

Uncle Josh was a large round man, always smiling, and ready with a laugh. He had always been a fisherman, and had lived in a cottage near the harbour, where his boat, the REDWING was kept. She was his pride and joy, and many times he had taken the twins out with him when he went to lift his crab and lobster pots, or let them help as he hauled in his net, usually full of slithering, flapping, shiny fish. The twins had learned about sailing, and boat handling from him, and were good sailors, able to handle a boat in most weathers.

Now, however, it was just twilight, and the setting sun cast long shadows along the beach and cliffs. The twins had walked along the beach, up the winding path to the top of the cliffs and into the forest. They had often taken this short cut, so the trees, even though they looked rather clawlike, as they swayed gently in the evening breeze, held no terrors for them.

Because the path was rather narrow, they had to walk in single file, and when Robin suddenly stopped and held up his hand, Robina trod sharply on his heels.

What on earth are you doing? she asked in a very surprised tone.

Look, said Robin, pointing upwards. There's a shooting star. Quick, make a wish!

That's not a shooting star. replied Robina, with a quiet chuckle. Shooting stars go out. Well, if its not a shooting star, what is it?"

I don't know replied Robina, but it seems to coming this way.

Sure enough the star was sliding down the sky, and it seemed to be curving towards them.

They stood still, unable to move, while the shape grew bigger and bigger, until it passed over head with a swoosh. The blast nearly knocked them over, and as they staggered about, they saw a jet of flame spout from what was now easily seen to be a space ship.

The braking rockets had fired from the front in a final attempt to stop the ship from smashing itself to pieces. They heard a crashing among the trees, then silence.

Without thinking, they ran through the trees, until they could see the shining space ship, half buried in a mound of earth. Broken branches lay higgleddy piggledy all around. The nose of the ship was well buried, and this had put out any fire. As the twins came nearer, they could see a window with a light shining out. But that was all. There seemed to be a shadow moving about, but the twins could see no more than that.

Robin started forward, but Robina grabbed his sleeve

What do you think you are doing? she asked.

I'm going to see what I can do to help, replied Robin, as he tugged his sleeve out of Robina’s' hand.

Don't be silly, said Robina, her voice rising, There could be anything in there!

Don't worry, came the reply, I can look after myself.

He stepped up to the space ship and peered in. It was just as he said, There's nothing in here, that he saw the still figure of what seemed to be a man, lying on the floor, crushed against the wall, with smoke billowing round him.

There's a man trapped in there. He shouted. We've got to get him out.

By this time Robina had joined him, and she too, saw the figure on the floor. The smoke seemed to be getting thicker. Robin was looking for a way in, and soon saw a doorway with a smooth closed door with no handle showing.

Beside it was a small hollow with a push button in it.

This must be the way in, he said as he pushed the button. At first, nothing happened, until with a click, and a hiss, the door slid sideways. Black smoke gushed out, and the twins jumped back out of the way.

You can't go in there, said Robina, but Robin just laughed and said,

Watch me!

He pulled his hanky out of his pocket and covered his mouth and nose with it. Taking a deep breath, he jumped into the doorway and vanished from sight. He soon found the door into the cabin, but when he turned the handle, he found that it was jammed. The crash must have bent something. Without wasting a second, he stood back, and kicked out, his heel smashing into the lock just by the handle. The door flew open, and a fresh cloud of smoke