Telstar 4

Chapter 12.

Chapter 12.

Sia bent down to collect a small sample of the soil that made up the mound. It didn't look any different to the rest of it but Arno would be able to tell more back in the lab. Harvey filmed the mound and took still images of it from every direction.

"It's not very exciting is it." Henry said to Susanah.

"It might be the equivalent of a mountain here. Just think, Henry. They might name it after you. Mount Bently! It's got a certain ring to it, don't you think."

Henry looked at his wife. He wasn't sure if she was being serious or if she was laughing at him. This holiday had certainly changed her and he wasn't sure if he liked it.

Aiden leant towards the mound. There was a slight crater in the top of it and he was convinced that there was a noise coming from inside. "Listen! Can you hear it, Sia? Harvey? A sort of popping?"

"Get back! Move away from it Aiden. Now!" But Sia was too late with her warning. The mound erupted, not with lava like volcanoes on Earth but with ice. Great big sharp shards of ice shot up from the ground with a tremendous force, one of which caught Aiden in the side of the head. The helmet protected him but the force of the blow knocked him sideways.

"Get back in the Explorer. Everyone, now." Harvey helped Aiden to his feet and held on to him as they made their way back to the vehicle. Only Sia stayed behind. She would not leave until she had samples of the shards for Arno to study. Hopefully they would not melt before they got back to the Colony.

Once they were all safely back in the Explorer Sia turned to Aiden. "Are you okay? Let's get that helmet off and have a look."

There was a large bruise forming on the side of Aiden's head. Sia removed a cold patch from the first aid kit and attached it firmly in place.

"Lucky you had the helmet on." Riley said. "It would have probably gone straight through otherwise."

Aiden shuddered. "Yeah. But no harm done. I wouldn't have missed it for the world."

"You know, Mount Bently doesn't sound too bad." Henry was talking to Susanah but everyone burst out laughing. It took him a moment but then Henry joined in.

"Okay. I think that's enough excitement for one day. Strap in and we'll head back to the Colony." Harvey started up the Explorer while Sia was radioing a report to Arno and Commander Storr.

They were not far from the mound when Tony pointed towards the back window. "What's that? Is it a dirty smudge or something?"

"What? Where?" Riley said. "No, I don't think so. It seems to be moving. And faster than we are too! Sia, Harvey! Look out the back."

Sia climbed out of her seat and made her way to the back of the Explorer. "Oh, no. Harvey, go as fast as you can. We've got company catching up on us fast and I don't fancy another meeting with these guys. Helmets and respirators on, you lot. I don't think any of them will be able to get in here but it's way better to be safe. Believe me, I know."

Once back in her seat at the front of the Explorer, Sia radioed again with a warning. "There's a swarm of our insect friends heading your way. It's a big swarm. Several hundred of the things at least and they are moving fast."

"Can you go any faster?" Erik Storr sounded worried.

Harvey shook his head. "We're all out now. I'm not sure how long we can keep this up."

"I've got you on screen and I can see the swarm too. They are going to pass you before you get back."

Sia made a decision. "Seal the Colony, Commander. We'll sit it out in the Explorer."

"I can't do that, Sia. Especially not with the guests on board."

"You have to, Commander. They are not far behind us now. If we stop moving, and sit tight the chances are they won't even notice our presence."

Surprisingly, Henry Bently spoke up from the back of the Explorer. "She's right, Commander Storr. You really don't have any choice and we all accepted that there was a risk when we set out earlier."

"Okay, Commander. I'm cutting off radio contact now and we are shutting the Explorer down. See you soon. And keep those things outside."