Trouble on Quaha 10 (Troubleshooters 7)

By Dr E J Yeaman

Hi. I’m Tony. Bea (my girl cousin) and I are agents – Troubleshooters – of the Galactic Federation. A boy’s cry, “Help!” sent us to Quaha 10, where the people lived behind a wide, deep, water-filled trench. By the time Bea and I learned its secrets, we could’ve used a bit of help ourselves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr E J Yeaman
• Release date: May 12, 2020

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 7

TROUBLE

ON

QUAHA 10

Published by EJY at Smashwords

Copyright 2020 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. NO CHANCE.

2. AN INSPECTION TEAM?

3. WELCOME TO QUAHA 10.

4. IS THAT A GATEWAY?

5. GO AHEAD.

6. HI, SERI.

7. PUNISHED?

8. SERI IS A TRUE FRIEND.

9. A ROPE?

10. COME WITH ME.

11. CUDDLES! COME HERE.

12. KEEP GOING, BEAN!

13. HE’S A LITTLE HERO.

TROUBLESHOOTERS

INSIDE STORY

SIXY AND BB

MY STORY

1

NO CHANCE.

Tony, come and see this. The Bean led me to an empty office in the headquarters of the Galactic Federation on the planet Yband 4.

She took me to the command chair, the bottom of the U of seats facing the screen of Victor, the Federation computer.. Would you hold Cuddles here?

Cuddles is a baby frong, an animal from the planet Xavu 6. He looks like a pea-green dragon about the size of a cat. The Bean rescued him from a huge bird that killed his mother. Now he seems to think she’s his mother – and I reckon she thinks so too.

When Cuddles wasn’t with the Bean, he moped and refused to eat. But Federation rules say animals must not be removed from their native planets.

The Bean’s my cousin, and we’re agents – Troubleshooters – of the Federation. Martin, our commander, had sent us to this spare office while he tried to get special permission for Cuddles to stay on a planet near Earth, so the Bean could visit him until he was older.

She put a yellow rubber dog’s bone on the floor to the left of the screen, and a lump of broccoli at the right.

She stood beside me. Tony, let go of Cuddles. Cuddles, show Tony what you can do.

Cuddles trotted forward. Knowing him, I reckoned he was going straight for the broccoli: he’s mad about the stuff.

I glanced at the Bean. She was crouching, watching Cuddles.

Near the screen, Cuddles slowed, and his head swung from side to side as he looked at the bone and the broccoli. He glanced over his shoulder at the Bean, staring at him.

The office door slid open, and Martin leaned in. Bea! Tony!

Cuddles shot to the broccoli and gobbled it.

I couldn’t help laughing. Well, Bean. That was a surprise!

As we followed Martin to his office, she said, Cuddles seems to know what I’m thinking, so I’ve been training him to do what I want, just by concentrating.

Young people from Earth, like the Bean and me, can sense the feelings of people and animals from other planets. Since the Bean and Cuddles loved each other so much, I understood why she would try it. But I said, No chance.

I think he was starting to....

Nah. He’ll never do it.

We’ve been practising.

No way. If you can persuade Cuddles to do what you want, just by thinking, I’ll kneel in front of him, kiss his nose, shake his paw and apologise to him.

Do you promise?

Something in her voice made me glance at her. She was smiling.

Oh! Had my big mouth got me in trouble again? But I wasn’t backing down. I said, Sure!

As we went into Martin’s office, the Bean asked him, Do you have the permission for Cuddles already?

No. But I may have a job for you. He took the commander’s chair. The Bean and Cuddles sat on the settee that made the left arm of the U, and I took the one at the right.

Simon said, Listen to this. Victor, wake. Play that message.

A boy’s voice came from the terminal. To the Galactic Federation. Send help. Please! My friend… my friend, Elmonel, has been banished to the Outer Lands. She will… she will die if… if…. Oh!

2

AN INSPECTION TEAM?

That’s it, said Martin. Victor, tell us how you received that.

Someone came to the terminal on Quaha 10 and gave that message. He did not order it to be transmitted but, because of the content, I informed sector headquarters.

Bea, Tony, what do you think of it?

The Bean said, He was desperate.

Do you think it’s genuine? He sounded young. Could he be playing a game?

No. I’m sure he meant it.

Yeah, I said. It was something in his voice.

That’s what I thought, said Martin. In that case, you’ve been ordered to investigate. You’ll have no problem with the conditions. The climate is warmer and drier than Sol 3 Scotland.

Then we won’t need our expedition suits. Victor, let’s see an aerial photo of the place.

It came up on the screen – a ragged island in a grey