Trouble on Heaj 4 (Troubleshooters 69)

By Dr E J Yeaman

Hi. I’m Bea, a young agent – Troubleshooter – of the Galactic Federation. When a drug dealer pushed past me on the planet Trohi 11, I noticed a strange smell – which led me to an amazing discovery on Heaj 4.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr E J Yeaman
• Release date: Jan 24, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463212585

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 69

TROUBLE

ON

HEAJ 4

Published by EJY at Smashwords

Copyright 2019 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. JUST A LITTLE GIRL.

2. WHAT DO YOU WANT?

3. WHAT DO YOU HAVE THERE?

4. NO ANIMAL LIFE!

5. TWENTY HOURS

6. A HINT OF LIFE.

7. LIEN.

8. IS THAT AN ORDER?

9. I’LL TELL YOU MY PLAN.

10. THEY ARE NOT PEOPLE.

11. I CONCENTRATED.

12. ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

13. CHEERS FROM THE CROWD.

TROUBLESHOOTERS

INSIDE STORY

TROUBLE ON HEAJ 4

1

JUST A LITTLE GIRL.

As I walked through the arch from the main city to the travel centre of the planet Trohi 11, a man barged past me. Perhaps he thought, Just a little girl. Perhaps he didn’t even notice me. But I noticed him.

As he crossed the waiting room, I dodged through the crowds after him. He was easy to see – human-like; tall and broad; black with a blue shine, like a bluebottle.

He pushed through to the door of the spaceport, ordered it to open and went out.

When the door opened for me, I looked cautiously around. The weather was dull but fair. One or two people were crossing the gravel between the travel centre and the scattered ships – flat-topped black boxes about the size of cottages. The man was striding towards one at the right.

I followed him – at a safe distance, I hoped. He went round, behind the ship. I had to see its number, beside the door, before it took off – vanished into the fourth dimension.

I ran to the ship and round it. There was the number – 071887. There was the door. And there was the man, coming out of it.

2

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

The bluebottle man glared down at me and spoke into his wrist unit. The translation came from mine. What are you doing?

I used my wrist unit. I... I’m looking for ship 514337.

This is not that ship.

So I see. Thank you. I hurried to another ship. When I reached it, I couldn’t resist glancing round. The man was standing at his ship, watching me. By the time I went round the other one, he was heading for the travel centre, carrying a brown parcel.

As soon as he was inside, I ran for the door. I crept through – and saw the shiny blue-black head among the crowds going into the city.

I hurried to the base of the Galactic Federation. I’m an agent of the Federation – a Troubleshooter. Earlier that day, I’d popped into this base to tell the Commander I was going to the city.

At that time, he hadn’t been interested in me, and he wasn’t interested now when I found him in his control room. He was a small old man who might have been a balding white European – if his skin hadn’t had a green tinge. His name was easy to remember.

I asked him, Narrobum, would you help me?

What do you want? He was in his command chair, the bottom of the U of seats facing the terminal of Victor, the Federation computer. He didn’t ask me to sit, but I went to the settee to his right and began, As I told you earlier, I was sent to the city here on Trohi 11.

Yes.

I must explain why I went there. To do that, I must give you confidential information and trust you not to tell anyone.

Yes. Seeing my Federation uniform,