Of course, Jasper’s ray gun hadn’t done him much good. It had basically been sucked dry by the electrical people, so it was completely out of juice.
But Jasper had also studied hand-to-hand combat, and he sprang into action.
The Dirrillill stabbed at him with forks and knives!
Jasper leaped!
He kicked!
He hit the Dirrillill squarely in some of the faces!
The Dirrillill aimed a swift left and three rights at Jasper’s head. The Boy Technonaut dodged just in time, and each punch flew—swish!—swish!—swish!—SWASH!—right past his skull.
Jasper punched, but hands repelled him.
He kicked—and connected—but the Dirrillill had grabbed his leg.
Jasper hopped on one leg, fists wheeling.
The Dirrillill threw him down—then, with a spare hand, grabbed a gadget, aimed, and fired.
Suddenly Jasper was frozen. He tried to push himself up, but his arms wouldn’t move. He tried to turn his head, but his neck wouldn’t move. He could see everything, but he was helpless.
The Dirrillill picked up the paralyzed Boy Technonaut. “Very sorry, son,” said the Dirrillill. “I know this isn’t what you were expecting here in the Horsehead Nebula. But don’t worry. Very soon—very soon—your Earth will be part of my empire. So in a way, ha ha, you’ll be home, even when you’re imprisoned here forever.”I
I One day Busby Spence got home from school and found his mother sitting in the living room with both her hands and a letter pressed between her knees. It was a letter from the US government about his dad. She gave it to Busby to read.
Dear Mrs. Spence:
On behalf of the United States Armed Services, we regret to inform you that your husband, Lt. Henry Spence, has been wounded in action and has been removed to a hospital facility. He will receive a medical discharge upon the removal of his casts and a period of psychological evaluation.
From what Busby understood, it meant that his father wasn’t going to be in the Marines anymore. He was going to get an honorable discharge. Busby was so happy he yelped. He couldn’t understand why his mother wasn’t more thrilled.
After years of Busby never even seeing his father, his dad was finally coming home.