The Hathaways and the Moon Keys

By Kass Harker

Edward, Gemma and Will are home again but not for long. The two children find their reputations in tatters when a pair of clones in their image run amok in their locale. To repair their reputations they have to return the clones to their own dimension. But this proves easier said than done and they have to team up with a nutty professor, Ants, and there friend Cliff to find a moon key to unlock the portal and return the troublesome clones to their home. The search for the moon key again takes the team into adventure and sometimes danger. But along the way they meet old and new friends and alone or with help they solve riddles and use their smart minds to keep moving to the end goal. Will the Futuristicator again proves his space age sophistication is more valuable than gold as he moves them out of harm’s way and helps them solve the puzzle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris NZ
• Release date: Mar 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9781543496987

Kass Harker

Kass loves to write for children. In her home studio in Nelson she loves nothing more than to let her imagination run wild. ‘Children are great critics. They have no hesitation in telling you something stinks so it is especially rewarding when they tell you they love your book.’ With the support of her partner of 30 years she has travelled around New Zealand and talked to kids about her writing. Sunny Nelson has been home for more than 30 years now and she loves to stroll the many beach and river walks with her sidekick Pippy (6 year old fox terrier). Kass also works fulltime as a public servant and enjoys the interaction she has with fellow staff and customers. Her hobbies include biking, hiking, digital games and reading.

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Copyright © 2021 by Kass Harker.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including

photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval

system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either

are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and

any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is

entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are

models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Cover illustration by Rana K Goossens

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Rev. date: 02/18/2021

Xlibris

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820989

In loving

memory of Judy 1937 - 2019

Contents

Chapter One – Just normal

Chapter Two – Reporting home

Chapter Three – A spooky story

Chapter Four – Trip to the pumphouse

Chapter Five – Ants in the Bush

Chapter Six – The Catchpool

Chapter Seven – Huntin’ an’ a Fishin’

Chapter Eight – To the Ruin

Chapter Nine – New Clues No Answers

Chapter Ten – What to do with Cliff

Chapter Eleven – New Home for Cliff

Chapter Twelve – Who’s a bad boy then?

Chapter Thirteen – Grounded

Chapter Fourteen – Is the gig up?

Chapter Fifteen – Back to Marchen

Chapter Sixteen – In Hiding

Chapter Seventeen – Could this be proof?

Chapter Eighteen – And now they’re fugitives

Chapter Nineteen – Back to Five Renown

Chapter Twenty – Cliff comes through

Chapter Twenty-one – An Answer in Kikamar

Chapter Twenty-two – Laying Low

Chapter Twenty-three – Where’s Gemma?

Chapter Twenty-four – Prisoner of the Little Ones

Chapter Twenty-five – Running Riot

Chapter Twenty-Six – To find a Parlour Stone

Chapter Twenty-Seven – First steps to treasures

Chapter Twenty-Eight – Can’t stop the Mischief

Chapter Twenty-Nine – Thumberland

Chapter Thirty – Cliff and the Piskies

Chapter Thirty-one – To Break a Piskie Spell

Chapter Thirty-two – Bubbles and Chains

Chapter Thirty-Three – Hiding at Windy Farm

Chapter Thirty-four – Grandies on-side

Chapter Thirty-five – Wrong Kind of Drone

Chapter Thirty-Six – Putting the Stone to Use

Chapter Thirty-Seven – Key to Open Eyes

Chapter Thirty-Eight – One Problem Solved

Chapter Thirty-nine – Innocence Proven

Chapter Forty – A Waiting Game

Chapter Forty-one – Mum and Dad in Action

Chapter Forty-Two – Coded Clues

Chapter Forty-Three – Parents in Trouble

Chapter Forty-Four – The Tin Machine Strikes

Chapter Forty-Five – Evil Plan Afoot

Chapter Forty-Six – Ants and his Gizmo

Chapter Forty-Seven – The Keys Together

From the Author

Other books by this author

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Chapter One – Just normal

M onday! ‘Urg!’ thought Edward. He looked out of the window as his pulled on his school gear. It wasn’t that he didn’t like school. He did. But school now seemed so dull and ordinary after all he’d recently been through.

The day outside was a typical mid-spring day, with a blustery wind and sun that came and went behind the fast race of cloud overhead. He started to think about the approaching summer, but his thoughts were soon interrupted.

Edward. Are you up? his mother called as she made her way to the kitchen.

Yes, he called back, in a very despondent sounding voice. Just at that moment his bedroom door flung open wide and Gemma strolled in looking very trim in her school gear.

So, Earth boy, ready for another day at the office?

Spose.

Well don’t sound too excited about it, Gemma said sarcastically.

How am I supposed to feel? Life is back to normal. Dull! And I don’t even have Will to cheer me up.

They both sat down on Edwards bed and let their minds wander.

They had had a wonderful time on the last night in Kikamar with all their new friends. But as the sun rose over the Glass mountains they had packed up their belongings and the small gifts they’d each received during the nights celebration, ready to go home.

Edward was thinking about the leather wrist band with silver studs he’d received from the Dogas. Martta had made a small speech. He’d told Edward that the wrist band made him a member of the Dogarean dimension. It was like a key and he could come and go as he liked. This was the Dogareans way of showing just how special Edward had become to them.

Funnily enough Gemma was thinking about that night too. Martta had said ‘Gemma, you too will always be welcome back in Dogarea. We have enjoyed your visit and our adventures together.’ Martta had then given her a sparkling ear stud.

Then it was the turn of the Kikamyers.

Edward and Gemma. We have come to think of you as family. We hope we will see you again. To help you return to us, we too have a key of sorts.

Nonin had stepped up to them and flicked her fingers. With that, two small Kikamyers had scurried forward with a chair and helped Nonin to stand on it. This was so she could stand eye-to-eye with Gemma, who she spoke to first.

Gemma, you have become like a sister to me in our journeys together. And she reached out and pinned a small, but finely crafted golden bee onto Gemma’s collar.

Gemma had lifted her collar to look at the gift. It was exquisite in its detail. So much so a shiver had run up her spine as she remembered their encounter with the Rumble bees.

She remembered also Nonin attaching one to Edwards collar. Nonin had turned to look over her shoulder at Gemma saying, I know your experience with our bees wasn’t the best. They are vital to our health and wellbeing though, so I can’t stress how important they are to us. This is one of our highest honors and it will mean you can gain access to Kikamar whenever you wish to visit us.

When she’d stepped down from the chair she’d looked up at the pair.

How come I didn’t get a speech about being like a brother to you? Edward asked almost in a pout.

Nonin had laughed.

Because you are more like a naughty child Edward. With that everyone erupted into laughter. Well, everyone except Edward.

Of course, like any parent Edward, I still love you. Nonin had said with a smile and a wink.

Now together back home, they looked out of Edwards bedroom window and thought how different the view was to the view on that last morning. That morning there had been fingers of pink slowly creeping down the snowy peaks of the tallest mountains in the Glass mountain range.

Here all they saw were a few trees starting to blossom and the roof-tops of neighbouring houses.

It’s been an amazing ride eh? said Edward thinking to himself out loud.

Gemma said nothing. She was looking forward to going school, but she was also feeling quite gloomy. The thought of having left so many good friends behind and saying goodbye to their adventures was heart-wrenching.

Edward sensed his sisters’ mood and slapped her on the back as an act of love that could only come from a little brother.

Okay bug lady. Let’s be doing this. And he jumped to his feet and stretched a hand out. Come on.

You know Edward you’re right.

Edward was wondering what he was finally right about.

It has been an amazing ride. We must be the luckiest kids ever, continued Gemma, not moving. I mean, who do you know who’s travelled to amazing inter-worlds and dimensions like we have?

Edward lowered his arm and sat back down next to his sister.

Yes, and Gem I met some amazing creatures in Neverworld. Faeries, Left-behind children, pig pirates, old sailors. It’s pretty special that you and me shared these stories. Something only you and me understand, eh?

Gemma linked her arm into Edwards.

I did some pretty amazing and sometime scary things too. Even dad would have been proud of his ‘sissy daughter’, wandering alone in dim tunnels with creepy-crawlies under a seriously spooky manor house. Finding my way into a bubble and walking across a humongous ravine using just a tree branch as a bridge. Oh, and Edward I climbed the most massive tree all the way into the sky. And … you’ll never guess!

What? demanded Edward, when Gemma wasn’t forth coming. She had paused for effect.

At the top of the tree it poked right through the bubble and it came out in a park. Guess where?

Come on Gem. Give me a break. Where?

Only into Percy’s reserve in the Hutt!

You have to be kidding me!

Nope. That’s where I left the Translators after I had found them down there. But we should keep that quiet in case we ever want to get back into that dimension again in a hurry or something.

Good thinking Slime Foot. But get a wriggle on. We need to get going.

Edward was still thinking about the last morning in Kikamyer.

He was remembering the moment they’d walked out into the living area of their rooms, Will had been stationary and dark. Edward coughed. Nothing happened. Now a bit concerned, both Edward and Gemma stepped closer to the powered-down drone. Still nothing. Edward put an eye within a hairs breath of Wills LEDs and whispered, You in there, Big Ears?

Will suddenly came to life. His response was so quick, Edward fell backwards in fright. He lay sprawled on the ground with his legs in the air, doing a great impression of a dead ant.

Will roared with laughter in his usual drone way.

Slowly making his way back onto his feet, Edward arched his back saying, very funny, Big Ears. And he turned and walked out of the room.

Ooh hoo hoo! Me thinks the drone is in the bad books. Gemma had said, as she and Will had followed Edward.

In the Great Hall they’d met Cliff. He was still eating when they arrived. Dash and the other Translators had already headed back to Earth. Edward and Gemma had grabbed a couple of honey cakes and the group, having said all their farewells the night before, had made their way straight to the Neutra-Regis. Luckily Micklemair was doing border duty. He’d opened the portal almost immediately and waved them through. As the portal slowly melted away leaving them back in the Earth dimension they had made their way back home and just at that moment Will had gone into a hyper-drive spin.

When he’d finally stopped spinning Edward asked, Wot up?

Edward, now rubbed his ribs remembering that Gemma had giving him a dig there with her elbow and said Stop talking like a street kid Edward. You can’t pull it off.

Can too!

Can’t

Can!

Cannot!

You two! Pull out of it! Cliff had yelled. We’re home. Let’s go get a Spider.

I want to know what Will was all in a spin about, Edward had said.

And as they’d started to walk, Will simply said, Just releasing the dimension from the freeze. We have three hours before your parents will be home.

While they’d been away Will had put a freeze on dimension Earth. This was so they wouldn’t be missed. But of course, it couldn’t last too long, so he’d taken it off the minute they returned.

At the corner of Williams and Collins Streets, they’d stopped. This was usually where Cliff left them. But after a short chat they’d decided he was going to go home with them.

Now back in his room at home Edward suddenly thought to ask, Did anyone wake Cliff?

The two peeked into an empty room across the hall and quickly headed to the kitchen. As always Edward was hungry and burst through the door with great speed and anticipation.

Cliff was already scoffing his breakfast.

What’s on the menu? asked Edward.

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Chapter Two – Reporting home

T he week at school had seemed endless and the nights at home had been even worse for Edward. Cliff and Gemma had formed an almost inseparable friendship which more often than not left Edward to find his own entertainment. He was going stir without Will.

‘I wish I hadn’t let him go home,’ he was thinking in a sulk.

The first couple of days back in dimension Earth John and Cally had taken Cliff off to the authorities to see if they could get legal guardianship of him. Both Edward and Gemma were really keen for this to happen. And while they were away doing that, Gemma, Edward and Will had gone around to Dash’s house to see what was happening about all the repatriated Translators.

As they walked around to Dash’s, Will started to explain what usually happened when Skrow, the president of Perceptoria, needed to get the full story of an event.

The event Will was talking about of course, was the fact that Translators, placed as humans in the Earth dimension to study Earth ways, had gone missing.

Then Will, who was a first-class supertron drone, was sent to Edward in the guise of a Futuristicator toy. He got the ‘toy’ as a birthday present. But Will, the Futuristicator, was in fact Part one of Skrow’s plan to find out what was happening to his disappearing people.

Part two, was Dash arriving. The head of Skrow’s security, he was the best Translator to be sent to the Earth dimension to find out what’d happened and then make a search plan.

Part three as we now all know, was the search that’d seen Gemma and Edward and later Cliff visit the weird and wonderful inter-worlds and dimension in search of the missing Translators. And now that task was complete, and all the missing were back in dimension Earth, Skrow needed a full report. This is what Will was now explaining.

It is likely that Skrow will need the video capture from my memory banks and some of the other diagnostics I have on record, Will explained.

How do you do that Will? Edward asked. Do you plug into a comms line or something?

No. It’s more complex than that. I think you may have to let me go home.

"But you are home Will," Edward complained.

Alright. Then back to Perceptoria, said Will, trying to placate Edward.

How long would that be for? What about the week holiday Mum and Dad are talking about? It won’t be any fun without you Will.

Edward was trying to find reasons to keep Will from going.

"We’re gonna to stay with our grandparents on the farm. I wanna show you the old ruins on the hill top. You have to come on holiday."

Will could see he was going to have to be very diplomatic. He knew already that Skrow wanted him back in Perceptoria for a debrief and analysis of all the data he had captured. It would be invaluable for them in the future. So, he just let the conversation drop for now. He thought it best if Edward could just think about it for a bit.

When they arrived at Dash’s house it was beldam. They had let themselves in because after knocking several times no one had answered and from all the racket it was clear someone was home.

Dash had seven other Translators staying in his small house and they were all doing their own thing. Some were doing exercises, some listening to music. Well at least that’s probably what it was. One was doing what looked like acrobatics and bounced off the walls and ceiling in Dash’s lounge.

Another was blowing through the weirdest machine. Gemma recognised that behind this weird instrument was Jax. She moved closer to investigate. She guessed it was some kind of musical instrument but unlike anything she had ever seen and the noise that came out of it was anything but music to her ears.

Gemma ducked her head down to see a row of bizarre levers and button that seem to pop and dip and click and clack, all without any action from Jax. But Jax was busy rolling balls set into the machine. One with her right hand and another with her left. Clashing and clomping and twanging noises came from the instrument but without any rhythm or beat. Then lights started to beam out of it in all directions and in all colours, including some that Gemma just couldn’t begin to describe.

When Jax finally saw Gemma, she slapped her hand down hard on what looked like a large stapler arm and the instrument let out a shrill scream, a burst of brilliant white light and a rumbling sound. Then it was finally still and silent.

Edward stepped forward.

Thank the Gorse Gog for that. What in the name of burnt pizzas is that gaud awful thing? Before he could say anything else, he yelped in pain as Gemma jabbed him powerfully with her elbow. He turned to give her a ‘hey what did ya do that for?’ look, but saw her looking stern and mouthing, don’t be so rude.

Jax, ignoring all this, got up and hugged first Gemma and then Edward. She gave Will a wink. So, you don’t think much of the Egag. I’m actually a top player back home and people pay to come and see me.

But before the conversation could continue Dash walked into the room. He was looking tired and unhappy. But a smile broke across his face when he saw his three visitors.

My good friends. So nice to see you. Heberd stop your stubowling. We have guests. And tell Keeg and Lup to turn their music off and come into the lounge.

Soon they were all squashed into Dash’s lounge and enjoying a morning snack. Edwards favorite time of the day. Anytime it was time to eat was Edwards favorite time of the day.

They talked about their time in the other dimensions and inter-worlds and shared their different adventures and sometimes moments of horror. But soon Dash called this all to a halt.

We need to discuss what has to be done now. I have talked with Skrow. He of course isn’t happy that you left your tasked assignments here in dimension Earth. Dash said this as he look at each of his Translator companions one-by-one. He will want each of you to report to him in person and then most likely you will all have to appear before the Integration committee.

Will Skrow want anything from us? Gemma asked.

He has left that with Will. Will is to gather all your data and he is to appear personally before Skrow and then the Integration committee.

With that Edwards shoulders slumped. He would have to let Will go. Skrow, after all, did own Will. If he didn’t let him go back now, Skrow might just get pusy and take him back for good. That couldn’t happen. Will was like Edwards right side. He couldn’t function without him forever. He could cope for a short time though, and he’d just have to suck it up.

Dash, Will and all the other Translators were to head back to Perceptoria that evening. It was unlikely that the Translators would be back in the Earth dimension. At least not for a few decades. Skrows scientists had a more pressing interest in a dimension called Duplicareon.

Gemma was sad to see Dash go. She had got over her crush on him, but she still really liked him as a friend. He was easy to chat with and had a wicked sense of humour.

I need to spend some time with you two, Will said, I need to take you through a full debrief so I can record all your observations and interactions in the worlds you each went into. It will take a couple of hours at least. Let’s go out into the backyard.

After what felt like an interrogation Gemma and Edward were exhausted. It was almost tea time as well. They said goodbye to their Translator friends and Will, then the two Hathaways started for home.

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Chapter Three – A spooky story

I t was finally Friday night and the family were getting ready to travel over to the Orongorongos to stay the week with Cally’s parents. Edward was really excited. Grandad had a set of the latest Laser-rays and the bush up the Orongorongo river had a Laser-ray park set up for recreational users. They’d spend at least one day in the park. If he was really lucky Grandad might take him in to the overnight park shelter. Last time they stayed there a wild pig had come right up to the door.

Gemma wasn’t quite as happy with the week away. In all the discussions with the various social agencies involved in the guardianship process, one group had suggested that Cliff go stay with his uncle Tama. He lived in Kawarau. Because the Litz-train only went there on a Friday it was decided Cliff would go for the week while the Hathaway family were on holiday.

What a bummer, Gemma told Cliff when they were sitting on the front step.

"An absolute bummer you mean. I was really looking forward to seeing the farm and shooting some virtual game."

Just as Cliff said that John came out through the door. He was heading off to pick up some last-minute supplies to pack. He put his hand on Cliff’s shoulder. Not to worry son. If you come and stay with us long-term there’ll be plenty of visits to the farm. And he walked away and got into the car.

Yeah, easy for him to say. He’s not the sucker whose gotta go stay with some dude he doesn’t even know. Life sux! And with that Cliff got up abruptly and stormed into the house.

When John arrived home, Cliff was packed and waiting on the front deck. John took his parcels into the house and handed them to Cally.

That’s a pretty glum face, outside.

Yes. He won’t even say goodbye properly. He’s in a right peeve. Cally looked at the digital time on the fridge door. You better get him to that Litz-train. It goes in twenty minutes.

John gave her a quick peck on the cheek and headed out.

Okay my boy. Best we get you to the train.

Cliff said nothing. He grabbed up his small bag, threw it into the car and himself after it.

‘Yep! That boy is a tad annoyed,’ thought John.

Back home John told Cally that a really unhappy chappy had boarded the Litz-train and hadn’t even waved as it pulled out of the station.

Hopefully he’ll come back in a happier frame-of-mind. And with that Cally resumed packing a box of goodies to take away with them.

Meanwhile, up in Gemma’s bedroom she was packing and unpacking her case. She picked up a dress she had packed and held it out in front of her.

Will I need that? she said to herself. Nah, I don’t think so. And she threw it on a pile of discarded clothes now heaped on the bed.

Forget girlie stuff.

Gemma whirled round to see Edward standing in the doorway.

"You’ll need farm stuff. Take your clarkovas and plenty of hoodies. We’ll go out into the wilds, so girlie stuff won’t