Trouble on Lumna 2 (Troubleshooters 21)

By Dr E J Yeaman

Hi. I’m Tony, an agent – Troubleshooter – of the Galactic Federation. When somebody tried to shoot the President of the planet Lumna 2, I was sent to investigate. But women ruled the planet, thinking men had strength but no brains. So what chance did that give me?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr E J Yeaman
• Release date: Oct 20, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370608072

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 21

TROUBLE

ON

LUMNA 2

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. ONE MIND.

2. HIS?

3. A HEAP OF PEOPLE.

4. WHAT IS TROUBLING YOU?

5. ASK YOUR QUESTIONS.

6. AN HONORARY ADVISER.

7. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

8. HELP! MBELLO!

TROUBLESHOOTERS

INSIDE STORY

TROUBLE ON LUMNA 2

1

ONE MIND.

I checked my wrist unit as I hurried through the shuttle station on the planet Yband 4. I was late for a meeting with Martin, my boss. Not very late, but he’d asked me to meet the President of a planet, and presidents of planets don’t like to be kept waiting.

That shuttle station was as busy as usual. Since I’m from Earth, I can sense the feelings of other peoples of the Galaxy. Around me, I sensed a lot as other travellers gave out the usual mixture of feelings – interest, relief, impatience and boredom. I was used to it so I didn’t notice it, like the babble of voices in a busy Earth railway station.

Until I sensed one mind, clear above the others. It was excited – and murderous.

2

HIS?

A shuttle station is a wide corridor. Along one side are the deep bays containing the doors of the shuttles, for travelling to distant planets. The opposite side has bays with seats across the back.

I strolled along, acting casual, and traced the feeling to a man at one end of a seat. When I sat at the other end, he gave me an unfriendly look but, deciding I was just a kid, went back to watching the travellers streaming past.

I studied him secretly, ready to look innocently away if he glanced at me again. He was human-like, with white skin that looked pale, like a white European who never went outside. His hair and eyebrows were black, above deep, dark eyes. His gear….

His? Forgetting to be cautious, I stared at her. Because this wasn’t a man: it was a woman. It’s usually easy to tell a man’s mind from a woman’s. A woman’s feelings are… softer. It’s hard to explain. In this person, the woman-type thoughts were almost submerged by the ruthless determination.

The gear didn’t help. She wore a shapeless black tunic and trousers which looked as rough and thick as canvas. Her right hand, nearer me, was in her pocket. Her mind signal was strong. She was planning to kill somebody.

What should I do? Could I call another Federation agent to help? But, among the colourful crowds that jostled past, I couldn’t see one single grey uniform.

Could I use