THE PLANET THAT LOVED PEOPLE (standard:science fiction, 3108 words) [8/12] show all parts
Author: Danny Raven	Added: Mar 12 2016	Views/Reads: 1823/1379	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
PART 3 - CH 8

EIGHT 

On the following day the sun was shining when they woke. The view from
the Observation Screen in the Bridge showed clear blue skies, bright 
sunshine and sparkling seas. 

After breakfast, which Kane and Blaze made, complete with burned toast
courtesy of the apprentice chef, they were sitting drinking coffee, 
planning their day. 

Since they all liked the little bay bordered by the palm trees, Kane and
Blaze decided to build a simple beach hut there. Sarah decided that the 
Galley ‘needed a good scrub' then she would pack some lunch for them 
all and join them later. 

Kane took Blaze down to the Falcon's store room and they looked out some
lengths of wood, rope, battery powered hammers and a couple of laser 
saws. 

They carried everything outside, packed the lot into the white Pod and
set off for the bay. 

***** 

When Sarah joined them towards midday she was impressed by their
efforts. Both were stripped to their shorts and were standing looking 
at the simple framework they'd built on a grassy bank just above the 
beach. Kane looked hard and muscular and Blaze seemed slim beside him. 

They had completed the circular framework and doorway and had lengths of
trimmed branches in place on the roof. A large bundle of long palm 
fronds lay on the grass and these would be used as the roof cover. 

“It's looking good!” Sarah told them, laying down the food box. 

“Yeah, not bad,” agreed Kane. “We'll have something to eat and then put
the palm fronds on.” 

Sarah strolled around inside the framework. “If the weather stays warm
we could bring some mattresses out and sleep here,” she suggested. 

“Somebody's already staying here tonight!” Kane told her. 

“Me!” Blaze told her. “And the birds!” 

The two red and green birds were perched amongst the palm fronds,
happily trilling. 

“How did you get all the palm branches down from way up there?” Sarah
asked, peering up at the tall trees. 

“Easy!” said Blaze. 

He picked up a laser saw, glanced up at the top of a nearby palm tree
and seconds later was standing on top of it. He bent, quickly sawed 
through a long frond and then appeared beside her again as the branch 
floated down to the sand. 

Sarah hugged him. “You've done well!” she said. 

“Yeah, he almost cut my hand off with the laser saw first time I let him
use it!” said Kane. 

Blaze grinned and Sarah spread a blanket for them in the shade and they
sat and had some sandwiches and fresh orange juice. 

“When we finish the roof, I'm taking the Pod out for a trip,” Kane told
her. 

She frowned. “Where to?” 

Kane jerked his thumb back inland. “Into the wilds,” he said. “Just me.”


“Why?” 


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