Cloud Riders(138)

She ran over to her father for protection, pretending Conom scared her and laughing at how quickly he reacted. His mood is going to make today so much more fun, she thought.

‘Being Daddy’s little girl is not going to protect you today, young lady.’ Conom put his arm around Kayden and whispered something. They both came over and kidnapped her from her father’s arms.

‘My own husband!’ she laughed as they took an arm each. ‘Traitor!’ she added, stretching up and kissing his cheek, loving every minute of it.

Kayden told her they had landed on the Big Dipper constellation which is part of the Ursa Major Great Bear constellation. He and Conom took her through to the main entrance. She could now see that the Big Dipper was just a big fun park with heaps of rides and games to play.

To get to the rides, they had to pass by some of the Great Bear constellation and could see bears roaming in their natural habitat. She would have loved to have gone in for a closer look as they were quite magnificent to watch; however Conom was dragging her away.

‘Come, inquisitive one, I’ll bring you back another day.’

They stopped in front of a set of carts. ‘Here we are,’ Conom said with a little snigger in his tone. ‘The longest ride in the universe: the Big Dipper. It starts here and curves around like a big snake, the speed whips you around and goes so fast it almost takes your breath away, it drops you so rapidly, so be ready,’ Conom explained, putting her between Kayden and himself. ‘Do you need a spew bag?’ he joked.

‘No, it’s okay. I’ll just use your lap.’ She stirred him up.

‘You dare!’ He looked at her, shocked, and Kayden cracked up laughing.

‘Don’t worry, Conom, she’s just having a lend of you. She’s tougher than that.’ He calmed him as they took off.

The ride was nothing like those at the fun parks she knew: it was way cooler. They dropped so fast it felt like their stomachs were in their throats and it corkscrewed around until their heads spun. With all the stars, you couldn’t even focus on a horizon to steady yourself. They just looked out at the atmosphere. When they reached the whip-around they thought they were going to fly off the edge and each felt as though they would continue to travel out into space with no end. It was freaky and scary, exhilarating and fun.

When they pulled up it was Conom and Kayden who looked a bit green. After Cassie laughed heaps, she got back in with her father and went around one more time. He held her all the way around and when they reached the whip, both put their arms up and screamed really loudly and then laughed all the way back. When they stopped, her father gave her a big hug for including him by going around again, just with him.

Kayden raced over, grabbing her for the next ride. ‘Come and have a look at this one,’ he said, keyed up. ‘It’ll blow your mind, Cass.’ He explained it. ‘You have to sit on a rubber tube with handles. It shoots you through a tube and up high into space. You came down and land on a white puffy cloud that softens your fall. But it’s like a trampoline that bounces you up and onto another four clouds before you stop. The whole time you spin and have to hold on or you end up in space and they have to come get you.’

‘Cool, let’s go,’ she said as he took her hand and they ran over to it. Luckily they could fit four on the tube so this time they could all go on the ride together.

The first time Cassie’s hand slipped off, her father grabbed her and held her until she steadied herself again. The second time, Kayden and Cassie were laughing so much they both let go, accidentally on purpose, so they had to be rescued. It was so much more fun floating, waiting for pick up. They copped a scolding from Aldebaran for deliberately doing it to see what would happen.

He is so cute the way he worries .

The park was closing so they only had time for one more ride. Kayden wanted to go on a star ride that spun you while dipping five ways before spinning high into the atmosphere and down fast like a top.

‘You’re used to chasing stars and catching them. This is right up your alley but for me, not so much.’ She was unsure. ‘However, I might not get up here for a holiday again for a while so will give it a go.’

Boy, was she sorry she’d agreed to go. By the time the ride finished she was dizzy and they had to hold her while she steadied herself. Conom transported her directly to the top deck, helping her onto the lounge by the pool.

‘She looks pale, Kayden. Is she going to be alright?’

‘I’ll live.’ She frowned at their fussing.

‘She just needs a rest. Don’t forget we had a late night as well. I’ll take her for a sleep. She’ll be fine.’