Ludokrus worked frantically, setting switches and studying the calculator’s tiny screen.
‘I’m guessing you’ll need raw materials.’ Tim said.
‘No, nothing thank you. Code only. Please, I must concentrate.’
Tim left him to it, went back to the brow of the hill and looked down to see his sister greeting Crystal and Eric.
‘When I am done, you will deliver?’ Ludokrus called.
‘Yeah, sure.’
‘Almost there ... OK. Quick.’
Ludokrus held the calculator out, Tim cupped his hand beneath the little trap door and a blob plopped into his palm.
‘Access port will be in the base. Sit phone on the blob. It will do the rest.’
He raced off, not fully understanding what was going on, but fired with the urgency of the task.
Ludokrus blew out his cheeks and watched him go.
Alkemy said, ‘Explain please. What do you do?’
‘We need to send a signal to our ship, yes? Very powerful, also much precise. Normally, we would need the big dish. And computer. And machine to make steer. But think; there are satellites all around this planet for these phone. Already they link together, so we can use. Make one big planet-sized transmitter. Send our signal to all corner of the solar system at the one time.’
‘But they point down here. They send signals down to Earth,’ Norman said.
‘We need to change. My program do this. Tell them all to turn from Earth, send our signal, then turn back. Take ten, maybe fifteen seconds at the most.’
‘And then our ship will come?’
He nodded.
Alkemy’s face lit up. ‘We must work hard to then find Albert. Take him with us.’ She nudged Norman and the pair of them raced back to the resource pit.
* * *
Tim heard Coral and Crystal’s voices as he approached the caravan. He kept it between them so he wouldn’t be seen, his left hand cupped tightly round the blob.
‘Any idea what time they’ll be back?’ Crystal said.
‘Won’t be till late this evening. I didn’t fancy such a long walk. That’s why I came back early.’
‘I don’t blame you. That outdoors stuff is wildly overrated. Give me a shopping mall any day.’
‘Me too!’
‘Tell me, do you know much about the tourists? That Albert character, for example? What’s he like?’
‘Just ... ordinary. Middle-aged. A bit eccentric. Nothing special.’
‘D’you know what he does for a job.’
‘Um ... architect, I think.’
‘He’s not a government agent or something?’
‘What, Albert?’ Coral laughed. ‘No, why do you ask?’
‘Oh, no reason. Small town gossip.’
Tim edged around the side of the caravan and caught his sister’s eye. When Crystal turned to talk to Eric, Coral sidled over and he handed her the blob. ‘Set the base of the phone in it. Stay on the line for at least a minute. It’ll do the rest.’
Coral nodded. Tim ducked away and headed back to the reserve.
‘Do you mind if I ask you something personal?’ Coral said when Crystal turned back. ‘Only, there’s no one cool round here I can talk to.’
‘Sure, doll.’
‘I’ve got this ... friend back home. But I’ve been stuck down here for weeks now and ... well, you know what guys are like. There’s no computer back at the farm so I can’t email him. The only phone’s right in the middle of the kitchen — and my aunt and uncle practically live in there. And the whole area’s a black spot for mobile phones. I was wondering if I should write to him.’
‘Write? You mean a letter? My god, how positively Victorian. Do men still read?’
‘Pretty sad, eh? But what else can I do?’
‘Take it from me doll, you can’t beat the direct approach. Here.’ There was a rustling sound. ‘Use this.’
‘But cellphones don’t—’
‘It’s a satellite phone. You can use it anywhere. Just don’t be too long. The calls cost a fortune.’
‘Gosh. Thanks. You don’t mind?’
‘Go for it. Who am I to stand in the way of young love?’
Coral checked the bottom of the phone. There was a socket for a power lead and wide connector slot. She pressed the nanomachine blob against it and, like a tiny creature seeking shelter from the light, it slurped inside and vanished.
She studied the handset. Nothing happened. Then it gave a faint beep and the screen lit up. She guessed that meant it was ready.
Derek’s number was about the only one she knew by heart. When they first started going out, she hadn’t worked out how to use speed-dialling on her new phone so she’d carefully memorised it. The thought made her cringe now. How could she have been so soppy?
She dialled.
The ideal situation would be for him not to answer. She could just leave a voice message. Something cool and enigmatic. But when a giggly female voice said, ‘Hello,’ all she could manage was, ‘Derek?’
The giggly voice assured her it wasn’t Derek.
Tim said to stay on line for at least a minute.
She checked her watch but suddenly couldn’t think of anything to say.
‘Who’s this?’ the voice enquired.
‘Is that you Mel?’ she managed at last. ‘What are you doing on Derek’s phone? ... Who’s asking? It’s Coral ... Coral ... Coral Townsend ... Ha ha ha. Yeah. Hi ... So where’s ...? Gone for a swim? ... Oh, you’re at Piha? Nice. What, with the whole gang? ... Oh, just you and Derek? ... No, no of course I don’t mind. Not if he asked you ...’
She snatched the phone from her ear.
Melanie bloody Johnson! How dare she?
‘What? Yeah, yeah, I’m still here ... Oh, probably till the end of term now ... Actually it’s quite cool ... No, really ... Oh, this and that. Hey, you didn’t see the news last night, did you? Nine News at Nine?’
The phone was getting warm. She checked her watch and changed hands.
‘Sorry, you went where last night?’
Come on time, hurry up!
‘And they let you in? ... No way! ... Really? ... Just you and Derek ...?’
The phone gave a low beep and particles of dust drifted from the connection socket.
Finally!
‘Sorry Mel, Crystal’s calling. I’ve got to dash. She wants her satellite phone back. I just borrowed it to say hi ... Yeah, satellite phone ... Crystal Starbrite ... Well of course the Crystal Starbrite. How many do you think there are? ... No, really. You should watch the news some time ... Oh, we were just having a girlie chat, but I can’t stop now, we’ve got another interview to shoot. Tell Derek I said hi. Bye!’
She stabbed the disconnect button and added, ‘Cow!’