Trouble on Ta-a-a 7 (Troubleshooters 61)

By Dr E J Yeaman

Hi. I’m Tony. Bea (my girl cousin) and I are agents of the Galactic Federation – Troubleshooters. When our mates, Chip and Ed, went out in the unexplored jungle of the planet Ta-a-a 7, they found more than they expected. That meant an emergency call to Bea and me.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr E J Yeaman
• Release date: Nov 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370241637

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 61

TROUBLE ON TA-A-A 7

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. WELCOME TO TA-A-A 8.

2. JUNGLE WORK.

3. AN AMOEBAL.

4. CAN YOU CUT THEM?

5. SEE YOU, ED.

6. SAVE IT!

7. THIS IS BIG!

8. COLUMBUS?

9. MR COBALT!

10. 1-0.

11. WHY DON’T YOU ASK HER?

12. GO!

13. GENTLEMAN?

FROM DOC Y

TROUBLESHOOTERS

HAVE YOU MET JAM?

TROUBLE ON TA-A-A 7

1

WELCOME TO TA-A-A 8.

On the planet Koyok 4, Chip and I went into a transporter, like a lift. She called, Close, but, as the door started to slide shut, a man rushed up and stopped it so he could come in too. He was dark grey and diamond-shaped, with no separate head: his (big) eyes, nose and mouth were at the top of the front of his body. He wasn’t much taller than me, and was wearing a scruffy blue tunic.

He grinned to us, and put his wrist unit to his mouth. The translation came through ours. Just made it.

He ordered the door, Close. It slid shut. Operate. I felt the twist inside as the transporter took us to the planet Ta-a-a 8.

Open. When the door slid aside, the man hurried away.

Chip stared at me. What’s wrong, Ed?

Chip! I said. That guy was a crook!

Are you sure?

Yeah. He was crooked. And frightened – very frightened. My parents came from Earth, so I can sense the minds of people from other planets.

Chip hesitated, but said, We can’t prove anything, and he’s gone now. As we walked along the corridor, she went on, Somebody was supposed to meet us.

As soon as we reached the waiting room, a man beamed and headed towards us. He was human-like and dark green, almost black. He was wearing casual gear, like a grey tracksuit.

He said, Chip! Ed! Welcome to Ta-a-a 8. My name is Ejraop. The base Commander will see you at her house.

He led us through an arch into a wide, sunny street with one-storey houses on both sides, and a narrow garden in the middle, with trees and big yellow flowers.

Ejraop chatted to us. I couldn’t sense his mind, but he seemed friendly. He took us into a house on the left, and out through French windows into a courtyard at the back. The sides were the high white walls of the gardens next door. The far end had a dark green hedge. In the middle was a round swimming pool. In the hot sun, the water looked great.

One person sat at a table in the far left corner. She was another native but she was wearing a sleeveless shirt, shorts and trainers. In the sunshine, her arms and legs looked deep dark green.

Ejraop told her, Chip and Ed.

She frowned at us. I expected… older agents.

I sensed Chip’s annoyance. I’m an agent of the Galactic Federation. She spread her arms to show her uniform, like a grey tracksuit with the dark green bands round the chest and cuffs, showing she was a Troubleshooter. Ed is a trainee agent. The band on my chest was outlined in black on the grey uniform. He’s here for experience on a simple mission. Do you have problems with our age? Chip and I are 12. Chip comes from a planet called Dancer 61. She looks like an Earth girl but she’s bright red-brown.

The woman laughed. No! Please forgive my surprise. I didn’t mean to insult you. My name is Jowftu. I’m Commander of the base here. Are you expecting trouble?

Trouble? asked Chip.

Those weapons. Chip and I had stun-guns on clips at our waists.

Chip said, Our leader ordered us to carry them at all times.

Chip was annoyed: she didn’t explain. So I added, Interplanetary criminals have attacked Troubleshooters. We’re ordered to keep our mind-sensing secret, but an interplanetary crook, Mr Silver, had learned about it and was worried it might help us to track him down.

Jowftu laughed again. You’re safe here. Do sit down. We sat, but Chip was still annoyed.

A girl came from the house, carrying a tray with