Telstar 4

Chapter 14.

Chapter 14.

The insects that had landed on the Explorer seemed reluctant to leave. After the initial shock of their attack had worn off the guests started to get restless. They were hungry, they were bored and they were uncomfortable.

Two of the insects had found their way inside only to be squashed thoroughly by Sia's gloved fist.

Then suddenly they all took off at once and flew back the way they had come from.

"Look," Henry Bently this time. "The others are coming back too."

And it was true. The large cloud of bugs was returning from the direction of the Colony. They showed no interest in the Explorer this time but flew straight past on their way to join the others.

"Strange behaviour for insects," Harvey remarked.

Sia shrugged. "I hope that will be the last I see of them, that's all I can say."

Harvey started up the Explorer and Sia radioed through to Erik Storr.

"Sounds as though they were lucky too." Sia smiled as she removed her helmet. "You can all take them off now if you like. Respirators can go off as well. This crisis at least seems to be over and you all coped really well. Congratulations!"

"Well, that will be something to talk about on our return home." Henry said to Susanah. "This place has started to grow on me now. I think I'll miss it."

"So will I, Henry. Believe me." Susanah sounded really sad about the prospect of leaving the Colony.

"Well, you haven't gone home yet, you know." Harvey said from the front of the Explorer.

"But I don't suppose it will be long." Sia also sounded sad. She would miss the guests, especially Riley, Tony and Susanah. And Aiden had proved himself to be very handy to have around. She even had to admit that she would miss Henry Bently – at least a little bit.

The Explorer was still a good way off from the Colony when there was a jolt that ran through the entire vehicle.

"What was that?" Riley asked.

"We've not broken down with the insects from hell around, surely." Tony was only half joking.

Sia and Harvey scanned the Explorer's consoles. "Can you see anything?" Sai asked.

"No. Everything appears to be running perfectly. I don't think that jolt came from us."

"Not another ice eruption," Aiden said.

"Don't think so. I haven't seen any sign of any mounds, lumps or anything apart from flat ground." Harvey was scanning all around the exterior of the vehicle.

Sia picked up the radio to report to Commander Storr but just as she was about to speak there was a stronger jolt that tipped the vehicle sideways.

"Helmets. Respirators. And hold on tight." Sia shouted as she pulled on her own helmet. "What the hell is happening Harvey?"

Before he had a chance to answer a large crack appeared in the ground alongside the Explorer. Its appearance was so sudden that Harvey almost let the Explorer fall into the crevice before righting it and driving away from the crack.

From the windows all the occupants of the Explorer watched in stunned silence as the ground that they had just been driving on was sucked away into an ever-widening crack.

"What's happening?" Aiden asked. "Is it caused by the ground drying out from all that rain or something?"

Sia stared at the crack. She was almost sure that she saw something moving inside it. Something big. She wanted to tell Harvey. She wanted to tell Erik Storr. But she said nothing because she didn't want to cause any more panic, and also because she didn't quite believe it herself.

The crack seemed to stop as suddenly as it started. It remained an ugly scar on the ground but it was behind them now, not alongside them.

"Does anyone see any more of these cracks opening up anywhere?" Harvey asked.

Seven faces looked in all directions but there were no more fissures to be seen.

Sia didn't think she would ever be so pleased to see the Colony as she was when it came into view. It wasn't until they were safely back inside that she breathed a sigh of relief.