Trouble on Cotic 2 (Troubleshooters 70)

By Dr E J Yeaman

Hello. My name is Bea, and I am a young Troubleshooter of the Galactic Federation. A friend asked me to go to the planet Cotic 2 to show the King’s daughter how to operate a solo flying machine. But she used it to go on a hunting trip, and that took us into great trouble.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr E J Yeaman
• Release date: Jun 6, 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 70

TROUBLE

ON

COTIC 2

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. "WHAT’S THAT?

2. FIZZING WITH FURY.

3. ATTEMPTED MURDER.

4. A FAINT CLUNK.

5. WRIGGLE!

6. DORIAC.

7. ONE LAST HOPE.

8. THEN WHO...?

9. I HAD TO TRY IT.

10. POOR DORIAC!

TROUBLESHOOTERS

INSIDE STORY

SIXY AND BB

MY STORY

TROUBLE ON COTIC 2

1

WHAT’S THAT?

From her backpack, Feix brought a large, dark grey pistol. She slid a metal dart into the barrel.

In alarm, I asked, What’s that?

Do not ask stupid questions. It is a gun.

What are you going to do with it?

What do you expect me to do with it? I am going to shoot animals.

But... you told your father we were going for a walk and a picnic.

She beamed. I am going to give him a surprise.

But you mustn’t shoot animals!

Why not?

It’s wrong to get pleasure by killing animals.

Wrong? What do you mean, Bea? It is not wrong. But it is hard to shoot these animals. They are cautious. In many visits, my father has shot four. My brother has been here eight times, shot at five but missed them. Now I shall show them what I can do. So cease your chatter and come. She started walking across the stony plain to the high brown cliffs.

As I followed her, I worried. On this planet, Cotic 2, the King wanted to buy a pegasus, a solo flying machine, for Feix, his daughter. He’d insisted that a girl about Feix’s age, 11, should show her how to use it. Since I was a friend of the maker of the pegasus, I’d happily agreed to do it. Now I was horrified.

The pistol explained a lot. Why we’d flown for half an hour over that dull stony plain. Why Feix had wanted to leave our pegasuses behind a rock, out of sight from the cliffs.

Could I stop her? Although she was nearly twice as tall as me, her body was no thicker than my leg, and her arms and legs were much thinner than mine. But I couldn’t try to stop her by force. For now, I had to go with her. If her brother hadn’t shot any animals, perhaps she wouldn’t.

And any half-awake animal would spot her from far off. She was white – milk-white – and her tunic and slacks had dazzling swirls of red and white.

The cliffs were high, with caves of different sizes; most at ground level, but a few higher up. The ground