Trouble on Java 19 (Troubleshooters 45)

By Dr E J Yeaman

Hi. I’m Tony. Bea (my girl cousin) and I are agents of the Galactic Federation – Troubleshooters. Suspecting trouble on the planet Java 19, we made a secret night landing by spaceship. Secret – huh! We’d taken about ten steps out of the ship when a gang of bruisers ambushed us. After that, things got kinda nasty.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr E J Yeaman
• Release date: Nov 28, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370441891

Dr E J Yeaman

I retired (early) and started a new career as a writer. I wrote short stories and articles. Some were published; some won prizes; some sank without trace.Having heard my stories, two friends suggested I should write for children. I’d never thought of that, although I’d spent my first career communicating with young people – as a Chemistry teacher, and running clubs for badminton, chess, table tennis and hillwalking.I tried writing for young people – and I loved it. It became my main occupation. I sent samples to publishers. One asked to see a complete story. In excitement, I sent it off. Then nothing. After four months, I rang, and was told the manuscript was being considered: I would be notified. Then more nothing. Now, after eight years, I no longer rush to the door when the letter box rattles.But I kept writing the stories because I enjoyed it so much. Until, in late 2013, I learned I could publish my stories and games as e-books. Since then, I’ve been polishing and issuing some of them. I hope everyone enjoys reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.Check out the series:C: Charades – party game – a new twist to the traditional game.D: Diagags – party game – gags written as plays for two people.M: My Story – novels – classical stories, told by the heroes.O: One-Offs – party game – guess the titles, not quite the classical ones.P: Pop Tales – short stories – inspired by 60s and 70s hit songs.Q: Quote-Outs – word games – can you deduce the missing words?S: Inside Story – novels – a boy’s adventures inside classical stories.T: Troubleshooters – novels – space adventures for young people.

Book preview

TROUBLESHOOTERS 45

TROUBLE ON JAVA 19

by

Dr E J Yeaman

Published by EJY at Smashwords

Copyright 2016 Dr E J Yeaman

All characters in this publication are fictional. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be resold, or given away, to other people. If you would like to share this e-book with other people, please buy additional copies. If you did not buy this e-book, or it was not bought for you, then please go to Smashwords.com and buy your own copy. Thank you for respecting the work of this author.

CONTENTS

1. WHERE ARE WE?

2. WHO ARE YOU?

3. PEM

4. I’M LIV.

5. TONY HAS A PLAN.

6. FOUR.

7. THAT IS AWESOME!

8. DON’T DO IT!

9. OK.

10. COME ON, TONY.

11. PRINCE PEM?

12. TWO MEN.

13. THESE ARE MY DREAMS.

14. BACK TO THE PALACE.

FROM DOC Y

TROUBLESHOOTERS

HAVE YOU MET JAM?

TROUBLE ON JAVA 19

1

WHERE ARE WE?

We look weird. I flexed my right hand because I could hardly believe it was mine. It’s usually white, but the Bean and I had taken special pills which made us darker than black Africans, with a shiny green tinge.

The Bean’s teeth looked white in her black face as she smiled. Not as weird as our usual colour would look on Java 19.

Yeah. At least their gear is OK. We were wearing the usual casual gear of the natives of the planet Java 19 – like a grey tracksuit with matching trainers.

She said, We’ll wear the wrist units, and put the stun-guns and the signallers in our pockets. Would you take the rest of the stuff in the backpack?

Sure.

Thanks, Tony.

As I packed it, she checked her wrist unit. Tarpec said we’d land at 90%, local time, but I haven’t heard him giving the orders.

We went through to the control room of the spaceship, where Tarpec, our pilot, a skinny young guy, was lounging in the command chair facing the terminal of Victor, the Federation computer. I felt the twist in my guts as we came out of the fourth dimension, and Tarpec announced, We landed. Right on time.

I asked, Where?

On Java 19, of course. Where d’you think we’ve been going for the last 2½ days?

Where on Java 19?

The reserve landing site. You ordered me not to land at the main one.

I shouted at him, Why didn’t we want to land at the main one? And why are we landing at night? Because this is supposed to be an undercover trip. We told you we wanted a secret landing.

Well, this is not the usual landing site. D’you think I’m a mind-reader?

No! I think you’re too lazy to land at a place that’s not on Victor’s database.

Tony! said the Bean. Let it go. It’s done now.

I opened my mouth to argue, but shut it. She was right – as usual. As I glared at Tarpec, she ordered, Victor, let’s see the pictures from the outside cameras. The big screen divided into four black patches – a big one at the top and three smaller ones underneath.

Use the low-light booster.

The pictures came up in shades of grey. The main one showed the bottom of a cliff which stretched up, out of sight.

Tarpec asked, What are those square marks on the rock?

The Bean answered, A door and a window.

What?

The Bean used her snippy voice. If you had bothered to ask Victor about Java 19, he would have told you the people cut their houses out of cliffs.

Is that a house?

Perhaps. Victor said that, when the planet started making money, everyone moved to the main cliff. There’s no light in that window, so let’s hope the place is deserted. Would the natives know about this landing site?

He shrugged his shoulders. I dunno.

I asked, Bean, what do we do? I hate to admit it, but, although I’m 13 and the Bean’s only 11, she has a higher rank than me, so she was in command of the mission.

She frowned at Tarpec. We ought to leave here and land somewhere else.

We don’t have time for that, I said. And, if the natives have seen the ship here, our visit isn’t a secret now.

Tarpec said, Who d’you think has seen the ship? There’s nobody around.

As far as we can see, said the Bean. If they know about this place, they may be watching it. This would be a perfect place for an ambush. A hundred people could hide in those bushes.

Alongside the cliff, the ground was flat and stony – maybe a rough road. Beyond that, a row of high bushes stretched in each direction as far as the camera could see.

Tarpec asked, D’you really believe there’s anyone in those bushes?

No, but someone may come along at any time.

In the middle of the night?

The Bean went on as if he hadn’t spoken. I wanted to wait for a while before we went out, but we’d better go as soon as we can. Victor, warn us of anything suspicious. In the meantime, let’s see an aerial photo of this part of the planet.

It came up on the screen, mainly big green patches – fields – with stony roads between.

Where are we? A white dot appeared on one of the roads.

The Bean pointed. There’s the big cliff where the people live. It’s behind that cliff outside. Victor, how far away is it?

1.38 kilometres.

Tarpec, do you know our plans?

No. Should I?

We suspect there’s been trouble on this planet. We hope to hide until daylight, then find a native who can tell us. As soon as we’ve left the ship, take off. Go into orbit. You’re safe there: the natives don’t have space travel. We have signallers. When we’re ready to leave, we’ll call you down.

Here?

Where else? If everything goes well, it’ll be tomorrow after dark.

What’ll I do if you don’t call me down?

Give us two days. If we haven’t called you down by the morning of the third day from now, go back and report to Moderato.

Are you asking me to hang around in orbit for more than two days?

"If necessary. Would you rather go out there