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Narrowing his eyes, trying to see through the mist Paul peered upwards. 'Where on earth did that mist come from? It's getting thicker by the second.'
'Yes,' agreed Conor. 'But at least we know which way is up. He smiled at Paul. 'Come on, it's not much further.' He studied Robert. He was hardly breathing. Sarah moved to look at Robert too. She could see his face was as white as the cooled lava that streaked the mountain. 'Look if I carried Robert's legs,' she volunteered. 'You two could carry his body. We’ll get to the top much quicker that way.'
Soon, grunting and pulling, the three children began again to haul Robert's limp body to the top of the mountain.
****
Smith squinted, trying to see through the thick mist. It was no use. He could only see about three meters in front of him.
'Where the blazes did this mist come from anyway?' he snarled.
'And it came so quickly,' exclaimed Walker, taking off his glasses to clean them. 'It's unnatural,' he added, looking around.
Smith glared at him. 'What’s unnatural about mist, there's always mist on mountain-tops. There's nothing unnatural about it,' he snapped.
'I was only...'
'Shut it,' snarled Smith, suddenly sitting up and cocking his head to one side. 'And listen. I thought I heard something. Listen. Can't you hear it?’
****
'I...I...think we're almost there,' gasped Conor. He glanced at Paul. The heavy boy was gasping for breath. His whole body was soaked with sweat. 'You've done well, Paul,' he said encouraging him. Paul looked at Sarah who smiled and nodded.
'Come on,' said Conor. 'Let's get up there.'
****
'Can't you hear it?' repeated Smith.
'Yes,' whispered Walker, frowning.
They both could hear a low whirring sound that seemed to be coming from above and all around them.
'What is it?' asked Walker. 'A helicopter?'
'In this soup,' snapped Smith. 'Don't be stupid. They wouldn’t risk landing or flying up here now.' He stood up.
The sound grew louder.
****
'What's that noise?' asked Sarah.
'It's a helicopter,' whispered Paul, looking up into the mist. 'They're landing on top of the mountain. We're caught.' Frightened he sat down. At the same time he released Robert's arm.
Looking up Conor frowned. 'I don't see how a helicopter could land in this mist. It doesn't sound like a helicopter. It sounds bigger, like a plane.’
'A plane,' exclaimed Paul gaping at him. 'Don't be stupid. A plane couldn't land up here.'
'Then what is it?' asked Sarah, easing Robert's legs onto the ground as Conor lowered his other arm.
'I don't know,' said Paul. He looked at Conor. 'What are we going to do?'
Just then Robert gave a loud groan and began to twitch. Suddenly his whole body began to shake violently, then just as suddenly he became still. They all studied him. Bending, Conor looked into Robert's chalky face then gently lifted one of his eyelids. The dead eye stared unseeing at him.
'What is it, Conor? What's wrong?' asked Sarah, when she saw him turn away.
Sniffing, Conor turned back. Sarah and Paul were shocked to see he was crying. 'I think he's dead,' he cried.
'Dead,' choked Sarah. 'No.' Bending she studied Robert's face. Paul gaped at Conor. He didn't believe him. Robert couldn't be dead, he thought. He edged towards the alien.
Standing up, Sarah looked down the mountain. Suddenly she bent over and began to cry. 'He's dead!' she screamed. 'He's dead! Dead.'
'Is...is...he really...?' Paul stammered looking at Conor.
Conor nodded.
'What are we going to do now,' whispered Paul sniffing back a tear.
Conor glared at him. 'We're going to carry Robert up to the top, that's what we're going to do,' he snapped.
'But... but he's dead,' exclaimed Paul, growing angry. 'What's the point now? He's dead.'
'The point is, Paul,' said Sarah, turning to him. 'Robert wanted to get to the top because his parents are coming for him. And we're going to get him there.'
Paul gaped at her. Then bending, Conor said, 'Come on, let’s get him to the top.'
'This is stupid,' grumbled Paul. 'Let's leave him here. We're in enough trouble as it is.' The shocked look on Sarah's face angered him further. 'He's dead, for flips sake!' he shouted. 'We don't have to...'
'We do!' screamed Sarah. She was crying. 'We said we would.' Lowering her voice she cried, 'Please, Paul, help us.'
'Ah come on, Sarah let's do it ourselves. It isn't that far to go now,' said Conor, giving Paul a cold look.
Paul stared at them as they struggled to lift Robert. Then sighing heavily he scrambled to his feet saying, 'Here, let me help. This is stupid, for flips sake.'
****
They reached the top of Mount Errigal ten minutes later. By then the whirring sound had changed. Now it was a loud thudding sound that seemed to shake the whole mountain.
Suddenly a voice rang out. 'Stay where you are!'
Startled, the children, still holding onto Robert, stared into the mist. They could see no one.
'Lower him to the ground,' whispered Conor.
'We've had it now,' exclaimed Paul, as he helped Conor lower Robert's body onto the damp ground. They saw two figures come out of the mist towards them. It was Smith and Walker. The children could see they were carrying guns. Although it was misty, the children became aware that there were other men behind, watching them.
'Don't move,' snapped Smith, his eyes fixed on Robert, as he walked towards them. When he was three meters from them he snarled, 'Move away from... that.' With his gun he indicated Robert's body.
Silently the children moved back a few steps. They watched, as Smith bent to peer into Robert's face. Then he lifted Robert's arm and felt for his pulse. Dropping Robert’s arm he glared at the children then straightened.
By then the mist was suddenly clearing. The thudding noise had stopped. Now the children could see the other men. Each of them of them held a rifle at the ready.
'You,' snapped Smith, pointing at Paul, 'What happened to him?'
Paul gulped and glanced at the others. 'He died,' he said, staring at Smith's gun.
'How? How did he die?' barked Smith, his cold eyes fixed on Paul's sweating face.
'He died. He just died. How do I know how he died?' exclaimed Paul, suddenly growing angry.
Smith studied him for a few seconds, then he turned to Sarah. 'Sarah,' he said coldly. 'Tell me what happened to the alien.'
Sarah glanced at Conor, then stepped towards Smith. 'He died on the way up the mountain. He hadn't been well. He said it was our air that was killing him, our climate. He needed help to get to the top of Errigal. That's why he sent word for us to come and help him.'
'Word? Who?' asked Smith, moving closer to Sarah. 'Who told you to come for him?'
'He did.'
'Who?'
'Robert. He phoned us.'
Smith stared at her. 'Go on,' he snapped. 'Tell me why he wanted to come up here?'
Sarah looked at Conor again and licked her lips. 'He said the air was much cleaner up here. He said it would prolong his life.'
Smith narrowed his eyes as he studied the pale-faced girl. 'And that's why you carried him all the way up here?' he asked.
'Yes,' said Sarah.
Suddenly Smith swung back to Paul. 'You!' he shouted, pointing his gun at the frightened, sweating boy. 'Tell me the real reason he got you to bring him up here. Tell me, or I'll shoot you.'
Frightened for Paul, Sarah stepped between them. 'I'll tell you. Don't shoot him. He said they would come for him,' she cried.
Smith frowned. 'Who? Who would come for him? Come from where?'
'From out there,' said Sarah pointing upwards. Suddenly she gasped and took a step back. 'It's them,' she gasped. 'They've come. It's Robert's parents.'
The gigantic egg-shaped craft hung low over the mountain. Its size was so big that it covered the whole mountain and beyond. It glowed a dull eerie green colour and it had five long narrow windows on the side they could see.
'What the hell?' Walker exclaimed, moving closer to Smith.
Smith gaped disbelievingly, his hand tightening on the trigger of his gun.
Now they all heard a low whine. Suddenly a broad shaft of red light flashed onto the mountain about twenty meters from where the children stood. The light grew brighter for a few seconds then with a 'Phfft!' it disappeared. And now everyone could see standing there two strange looking creatures.
'Who are they?' gulped Paul staring at them.
Sarah licked her dry lips. 'I think it's Robert's parents. They've come to take him home. They've...'
'YES,' the voice came to them all. 'WE ARE RAOBEORTAT'S CREATORS, OR PARENTS AS YOU CALL US. WE HAVE TRAVELLED MANY MILES ACROSS THE UNIVERSE TO GET HERE. WE WISH TO TAKE OUR SON HOME.'
The aliens were about three meters tall. Each had a bulbous head, two huge red eyes with no pupils, long pointed ears and skin that was a dark green colour. They stood on two reptilian like scaly legs. They wore long silver boots. Each of Robert's parents had a long tiered neck. Four arms grew from each side of their bodies. Each hand had long fingers with small suckers on the tips of them. Now one of the aliens took a step closer.
'You're too late,' said Sarah sadly. 'Robert died about fifteen minutes ago.'
One of Robert's parents turned to the other and made a sharp clicking sound followed by some words of the language the children had heard Robert speak into the communicator.
'NO EARTH GIRL OUR SON IS NOT DEAD. HIS LIFE FORCE STILL LIVES. WE JUST NEED TO GET HIM TO OUR TRAVELLING SPHERE. THERE, HE WILL BE TENDED BY OUR HEALER.’ The alien took another step closer. ‘WE WILL TAKE HIM NOW.'
The other alien clicked again. Now both of Robert's parents took a step towards the children.
Suddenly Smith shouted, 'Stay where you are! You aren't taking anyone anywhere!' Stepping between the children and the aliens, Smith held his revolver steady, ready to fire. Beside him, Walker, though terrified, did the same.
With a few quick clicks, Robert's parents stopped. Their eyes glowed brightly as they studied the little men barring their way.
'WE DO NOT WISH TO HARM YOU, EARTH MEN. WE ARE A PEACEFUL RACE,' the tallest of the aliens said softly. 'WE ONLY WANT TO TAKE OUR SON TO OUR TRAVELLING CRAFT SO OUR HEALER CAN CURE HIM.'
'Well you're not taking him anywhere,' snarled Smith. Suddenly he shouted, 'Surround the aliens! Do not shoot until I tell you!'
The children watched, frightened, as Walker's men closed in around the two aliens. Each man had his weapon pointing up at them.
'WHY DO YOU DISPLAY AGGRESSION TOWARDS US?' said the smallest of Robert's parents. 'IT IS NOT OUR INTENTION TO DO YOU HARM. ALL WE WANT NOW IS OUR SON. HE MUST BE TENDED QUICKLY BY OUR HEALER FOR THE LIFE FORCE WITHIN HIM IS PASSING.'
'Perhaps you didn't hear me,' snarled Smith, stepping closer to the children and glaring at the prone figure of Robert. 'I said you're not taking him anywhere.'
At this the tallest of Robert's parents began to click loudly.
'NO,' the children heard the voice in their heads say. 'MY HUSBAND, DO NOT SUMMON THE KKLOPS. I WILL REASON WITH THE EARTH PEOPLE'S LEADER.' Clicking loudly, Robert's mother took a step forward.
'Look out!' shouted Walker backing away. 'They're attacking!'
The crack of his revolver reverberated around the mountain. At once Walker's men dropped to their knees ready to shoot too. Horrified the children heard Robert's mother moan as she reached with one of her four arms to hold her shoulder. Green blood oozed through her suckered fingers as she slowly fell to her knees.
'Do not shoot until I tell you!' shouted Smith. 'Hold your fire!'
As he shouted, a bright light surrounded Robert's parents protecting them.
'NO. DO NOT HARM THEM!' the children heard Robert's mother cry. 'LET THE KKLOPS GO DOWN TO THEM. THEY WILL TAKE OUR SON FROM THEM, BUT PLEASE MY HUSBAND, DO NOT ORDER THEM TO HARM THE EARTH PEOPLE.'
Suddenly, with a 'Phfft!' the aliens and the light shot back to their spacecraft. At the same time, all around the mountain, yellow beams shot from it. A second after the last had hit the mountain everyone saw them, the Kklops.
Five meters tall, with a single round eye glowing from the center of their metallic heads, each Kklop stood perfectly still, waiting. Their four arms were concertina shaped. Their hands were like crab's pincers. Long lamppost thin legs held their dull, gray, bollard-shaped bodies.
'We are ordered not to harm you,' a booming voice came from the Kklop nearest to Smith and the children. 'Drop your weapons and allow us to take Raobeortat to the sphere.'
Walker stared fearfully at the nearest Kklop. 'What are you going to do now, Smith?' he whispered out of the side of his mouth.
Scowling Smith backed towards the children again. Suddenly he swung around and pointed his gun at Robert's head. 'Now!' he shouted triumphantly. 'Drop your weapons or I'll blow the kid away! I mean it! I'll finish him for good.'
The Kklop who had spoken didn't move, but his eye glowed brighter.
Paul stared at the gun Smith was holding to Robert's head. Sweat trickled down his face. Suddenly, without thinking about it, he kicked out, knocking the gun from Smith's hand. The weapon skittered along the ground. In a flash Conor dived to pick it up, then turning quickly he threw it down the mountain.
But now, with his face contorted with rage, Smith grabbed Paul by the throat screaming, 'Fire! Open Fire on them!'
The Kklops still didn't move as Paul, struggling fiercely, managed to pull away from Smith. They all stared as the bullets bounced off the Kklop's bodies. The mountain echoed for two minutes as Walker's men kept firing on the Kklops. When the shooting had stopped and the men saw they had not harmed one Kklop, they grew afraid.
Now a voice came from the spacecraft. 'YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. HERE IS THE FINAL WARNING.'
At once the Kklop's eyes began to glow. Their heads began to revolve. In seconds the beams from each of their eyes hit Walker's men. One by one they fell unconscious to the ground, their weapons falling from their hands. The beams now focused on the weapons. Seconds later the rifles were molten, bubbling metal.
Now, only the children, Smith and Walker stood on their feet surrounded by the Kklops.
'Waw-ker you will go,' the Kklop nearest them commanded. 'GO!'
'Go?' muttered Walker stupidly, staring through his horn-rimmed glasses at the fearful Kklop.
'Go!' the voice boomed. 'Or we will destroy you.'
With a loud, frightened cry, Walker turned and ran to the edge of the mountain. Seconds later he was slithering down it. At the same time, one by one, the Kklops were shooting back to the spacecraft. As they did, another beam shot from it onto the ground. It was Robert's father. He stepped towards Smith. Gulping Smith cowered back.
'I WILL TAKE MY SON NOW, SMITH,' said Robert's father. Bending he easily lifted Robert's limp body into his two lower arms. Ignoring Smith, he turned to the children. 'I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR AIDING MY SON. WHEN HE IS WELL HE WILL SEND YOU HIS OWN GRATITUDE. YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT MY MATE,' Robert's father said looking at Sarah. 'DO NOT WORRY. OUR HEALER WILL REPAIR HER AFTER SHE HAS SEEN TO OUR SON. NOW I MUST GO. THERE IS LITTLE TIME. THANK YOU AGAIN.' Turning he looked down at Smith and said, 'THERE ARE MANY OTHER RACES OUT IN THE VASTNESS OF THE GALAXIES. I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO GREET THEM MUCH MORE PEACEFULLY. YOU ARE A FOOL. I HOPE ALL EARTH MEN ARE NOT LIKE YOU. WE COULD HAVE HELPED YOU.' Suddenly he turned. With three long steps he walked to a fizzling beam. In a flash Robert’s father and Robert had shot up to the space ship.
Now, Smith and the children heard the low whirring. Seconds later they saw the spacecraft slowly revolve. Suddenly it shot up into the clear sky and was lost in the stars.
****
Smith was still staring up at the sky as the children were making their way down the mountain.
'Do you think we'll ever see Robert again?' asked Paul leading the way.
'Yes,' said Sarah. 'I do.'
Conor smiled, 'I hope we do.' He looked at Sarah and Paul. 'I hope we keep in touch. Maybe you could come over and visit me some time.'
'Sure,' said Paul.
Sarah smiled and nodded.
As they headed on down the mountain Paul asked again, 'Do you really think we'll see Robert again?'
They all smiled as Robert's voice came to them.
'You'd better believe it...’
The End