Trouble on Baboo 9 (Troubleshooters 23)

By Dr E J Yeaman

Hi. I’m Tony. Bea (my girl cousin) and I are agents – Troubleshooters – of the Galactic Federation. Was Columbus’s ‘Water of Youth’ a scam? The investigation took me to a weird village in a crater on the planet Baboo 9. And what was the secret of the Lord of the Mighty Water?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr E J Yeaman
• Release date: Oct 18, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370900879

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 23

TROUBLE

ON

BABOO 9

Published by EJY at Smashwords

Copyright 2017 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. HOW OLD DO I LOOK?

2. WHAT NOW?

3. GREETINGS.

4. LORD OF THE MIGHTY WATER.

5. UP THE RAMP.

6. I WAS TEMPTED.

7. DOWN THE RAMP.

8. GO UP THE RAMP?

9. SIXTEEN TROLLEYS.

10. HOW DID YOU FIND ME?

11. REPORT TO ADRIANA.

TROUBLESHOOTERS

INSIDE STORY

TROUBLE ON BABOO 9

1

HOW OLD DO I LOOK?

Adriana wrinkled her nose at me. How old are you, young man?

Thirteen.

She turned to the Bean. And you, little girl?

Nearly twelve. The Bean used her snippy voice. She doesn’t like being called, ‘little girl’.

Hmm. You are very young. Are you agents of the Galactic Federation?

I thought, Stupid question! We were wearing our Federation uniforms, like grey tracksuits. I pointed to the dark green band round my chest. That shows we’re Troubleshooters. We get the tricky jobs.

Hmm. Mine is not a difficult problem, but I hoped my friend Obsidian would send agents who could tackle it properly. She frowned at us for a few seconds then said in a dramatic voice, Look at me!

We looked at her. That wasn’t much of a treat. Her eyes were bright, but her face was wrinkled. She wore a long maroon gown and a tiara which twinkled among her grey curls. She asked, How old do I look?

We mumbled. Being tactful, I would’ve said sixty. Being truthful, I would’ve guessed a hundred and sixty.

She answered herself. "I’ll tell you how old I look. I look seventy-five because I am seventy-five." She picked up a big white bottle labelled Water of Youth. The salesman promised me that this would stop me ageing. He said it might even make me look younger. As he ordered, I’ve taken it every day for nearly a year, and it has made not the slightest difference to me. Not the slightest difference.

I asked, Where did it come from?

The salesman claims it is water from a holy pool, and the people who drink it live to a great age. She snorted. A fine story!

What do you want us to do?

What do you think I want you to do? I want you to investigate that salesman’s claims. Will this water enable me to age more slowly, or am I wasting my money?

The Bean asked, May I ask how much the water cost?

I’ll tell you how much it cost. That bottle cost me two thousand mus.

I whistled under my breath. Mus are Federation money units. If we want to spend our Federation money at home in Scotland, they give us £1 for every mu.

The Bean asked, If the water is not helping you, why don’t you stop taking it?

Stop taking it? I am reluctant to do that. The salesman claimed it might take some time before the effects begin to show. Some time! So far, they are not showing at all. No. For the moment, I intend to continue taking the water, but you will investigate the salesman’s claims.

I sighed. We’ll see what we can do. Where is the holy pool? Which planet?

The salesman did not tell me that.

What can you tell us about him?

His name is Columbus, or so he….

Columbus! The Bean and I made a chorus of it.

Yes. Do you know him?

We know him, I said. He’s a criminal, but we haven’t been able to prove it.

A criminal, said Adriana. "I was beginning to suspect as much. I shall cease buying his so-called Water of Youth."

Don’t do that. Not yet. Columbus’s medicines may work, but he’s not fussy about how he gets them.

I see. Then what do you suggest I should do?

Would you keep buying the water? That’s what you want to do, and it’ll help us to find out what Columbus is doing.

"I shall do that. In fact I called Obsidian because Columbus is due here tomorrow to deliver a fresh supply of Water. Do you wish to confront him then?"

I don’t think so, said the Bean. It’s better if he doesn’t suspect he’s under investigation.

As you wish. Please keep me informed.