Children of the Moon. Evadeen Brickwood

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СКАЧАТЬ match on the tennis court was not her cup of tea.

      “I would have liked a bit of action for a change,” Trevor said and added on a whiny note, “I’ve been working in the lab on our project nonstop for two weeks.”

      “Yes, we all have. We’ll get plenty of action, trust me.” Chryséis curled up in her chair and angled for her iced tea. “I’m hooked on this time travel idea.”

      “More than an idea by now,” Trevor corrected her.

      “Are you sure we won’t end up in the future, when we get into the vortex?” Katherine shivered a little at the thought. “The future! Food shortages, wars, global warming and things like that. Yikes!”

      More students came pouring through the open French doors and settled noisily around the low tables.

      Katherine took a juicy orange quarter from the glass plate in front of her. She enjoyed these occasional downpours. They were much more pleasant than the endless drizzle on the British Isles.

      Even so, it made her feel a bit homesick. She missed English food in particular. Luckily, her mother often sent food parcels with Marmite, mince pies, anchovy paste and Branston Pickle.

      “Don’t worry, the time spans are all set. In any case, it’s a lot harder to travel forward in time than backward,” Trevor said, stretching himself lazily.

      He couldn’t understand what was still bothering Katherine. Everything was under control. After all, he’d done it before. Trevor waved a brief impression of greenish, slithering scales aside and took a few hasty sips of iced tea.

      “We can program the exact time of departure as a long-term reference point. Then we can take our time. Nobody will ever know we’re gone. We’ll just arrive back at the same time we left.”

      “We’ve two VIC-tests under our belts and the last TPF-test happens next weekend. Easy peasy.”

      “Alright, if you say so…”

      “What’s a Tippi Eff?” Bradley turned around grinning at them. That’s all they needed!

      Chryséis kept her cool and said casually, “Something to eat, smartass. None of your business anyway.”

      “Okay whatever,” Bradley said and took the glass jug to the kitchen for a refill. Katherine just managed to control another urge to giggle.

      “I don’t think he heard anything with all the noise around,” Trevor said.

      “Okay then, let’s talk shop,” Chryséis said in a soft voice. “The invisibility devices are sorted. And we’ve got the big experiment planned for the excursion. What do we take with us into the vortex?”

      “Sounds scary: into the vortex. What if the vacuum battery doesn’t give us enough juice and we can’t get out again? Will our skeletons keep spinning in it forever?”

      “Oh rubbish Katherine MacDougal! The battery is working just fine. Don’t get all scaredy-cat on us. What kind of scientists worry about something like that?”

      “Yes, okay,” Katherine said, but she didn’t sound at all convinced.

      “Stop going nuts on us, please, we still have so much to do,” Chryséis said.

      “Actually, we don’t need that much. Just a few provisions. Food, sleeping bags. Stuff like that,” Trevor said.

      “Good idea. Chris, why don’t you write down a list?” Katherine was back on track.

      “Sure, why not.” Chryséis scribbled on a serviette. “If it doesn’t work out, we’ll just try again some other time. At least we’ll be all packed up.”

      “Not a chance. We’re going in Carter Valley as planned.” Trevor wondered for a second, if they would really manage to do it in such a short time. But then he relaxed. Sure they would manage.

      “Okay then, next weekend then. We need some food, at least snacks and something to drink. Any ideas?”

      The rain was letting up now and the sun broke through the thinning cloud blanket. Bradley Benson laughed out loud. He sat at a table with Holly and two other girls not far away. The three friends jumped, but Bradley didn’t pay attention to them.

      “He’s making me all nervous,” Chryséis said.

      “Oh, just ignore him,” Trevor growled.

      “Talking about food provisions—,” Katherine said, “I just received a food parcel from home. Fancy some toast with anchovy paste?”

      “No thanks Your Royal Highness that’s too British for me. I can do without yucky English food. How can anyone get used to that fish paste stuff and brown yeast spread and what not?”

      “Thanks a lot! It can’t be that bad, if so many people in Britain like it!” Katherine snarled back.

      She fought an uphill battle to get her friends interested in delicacies from England.

      ”And in any case, what about yucky American food?”

      Trevor stopped a full-blown argument about food.

      “I’ll get some chips from the tuck shop. What about you, want some? Thai Chili or Sour Cream and Onion?”

      “Thai Chili for me, please.” Chryséis rather enjoyed the occasional junk food.

      “Okay, I’ll have some Thai Chili, too,” Katherine squeaked still offended. She mumbled something under her breath about ignorance and pampered American taste buds, but then she also enjoyed her potato chips.

      Later at dusk, Trevor searched for another time warp in the school garden. He didn’t tell the girls. They wouldn’t like it after all the trouble with Natasha. But what if Katherine was right and things didn’t pan out? He had to find out. By himself.

      The warp was weak. He detected some faint vertical waves, but no sign of a vortex. Trevor managed to keep the waves going for half a minute.

      Not a bad result so close to the school building. He was convinced that the device would do its job in Carter Valley. During the week, Katherine and Trevor were busy with last-minute changes in the lab, while Chryséis made a provisions list. On top of the list, she wrote plastic water bottles and cans of soft drink. They were useful even when empty.

      Then emergency food like granola bars, peanuts, beef jerky and dried fruit. Chryséis wrote down lighters and matches; toothbrushes, water purifying tablets and aspirin. Something for stomach problems, antiseptic cream, lip balm, underwear and sandals. An old discman, which could also record and three music CDs. One CD for each of them.

      A palmtop computer with memory stick (the vacuum battery could now be used for recharging) and a tiny digital camera. A Swiss army knife would come in handy and sunglasses, plastic bags and paper tissues. Then the smallest and lightest Sherpa sleeping bags available. She read the list again.

      Was that overkill for a short trip? Maybe, but better safe than sorry.

      A Frisbee maybe... no, a rainfly which could be folded really small… and СКАЧАТЬ