[Galaxy Of Fear] - 06(16)

“This isn’t natural,” Meex said suspiciously.

“I must agree with you,” Deevee said. “Obviously, we did not rescue this child before Gog began his experiments. Something has been done to the poor boy.”

Meex took a step forward. “I hate to say it, but maybe that kid is more trouble than he’s worth.”

Tash pulled Eppon closer to her. He was now almost too heavy to lift, but she hugged him tight. “No! There are obviously plenty more dangerous things in this place.”

Zak came to his sister’s defense. “So what do you want to do, just leave Eppon out here? Let him die of thirst? Look at him! He’s still just a kid.” Zak looked into Eppon’s eyes. “Eppon, can you talk? Can you say anything? Is your brain growing just like your body?”

For an answer, Eppon simply smiled as sweetly as a newborn baby and laughed. He hugged Tash. “Eppon!”

Meex’s face softened, and Zak and Tash could tell they’d won the argument.

Eppon had grown out of the tiny coverall he’d been dressed in. Meex grudgingly pulled a tunic out of his pack. It was far too large for Eppon, but they rolled up the sleeves, and tied it around the waist with a length of cord. It looked like an enormous robe, but it did the job, and they started off again.

They hurried on under a dark cloud. Tash and Zak were concerned about Uncle Hoole. They were all worried about who might vanish next. Only Eppon seemed unaffected. He still could not speak, but he laughed and skipped along beside Tash, croaking “Eppon!” at anything that interested him.

Their gloom lifted slightly as they scrambled up a rocky hill and saw, on the far side, two starships nestled in a dry, dusty field. One of the vessels was a simple cargo ship. The other was shaped like a saucer, and looked like it had been strung together with glue and good luck. But those who recognized it knew that it was one of the fastest ships in the galaxy.

“The Millennium Falcon,” Zak said admiringly. “Safety!” Deevee sighed. “At last.”

Meex nodded, “Let’s hope the technicians have made all the repairs.”

They ran down the slope and hurried to the ships. Meex called out, but there was no reply. They checked the Millennium Falcon. No one was aboard.

Tash shuddered, thinking of the wraiths. “Do you suppose-?”

“You stay here,” Meex ordered. “I’m going to check out the other ship.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Zak argued. “We should stick together. Maybe we could fly one of these ships to get the others, and then scan for Uncle Hoole.”

“Not until I find out what happened to the crew we left here,” Meex said. He looked suspiciously at Eppon. “If the wraiths got them, I want proof.”

Through the Falcon’s cockpit window, Tash, Zak, and Deevee watched Meex creep slowly to the other ship, moving quietly, his weapon drawn. Meex reached the ship and pressed himself against the hull, holding his blaster steady. Then he opened the hatch, and quickly jabbed his blaster inside.

Nothing happened.

Cautiously, he slipped inside the cargo ship.

Tash and Zak waited for three minutes. Five minutes. Seven minutes.

When ten minutes had passed, Tash whispered, “It seems like we’ve been waiting forever. Should we go after him?”

Zak shook his head. “Not yet.”

Eppon’s eyes were riveted on the other ship. “Eppon,” he whispered.

“What if he doesn’t come back?” Tash wondered aloud.

“At least we’re safe for the moment,” said Deevee.

“Eppon!” Eppon suddenly shouted. Before they could stop him, he scampered out of the cockpit and toward the exit.

“Stop!” Tash and Zak yelled, starting after him. “Wait!” Deevee called out.

Tash and Zak were faster, and they reached the hatch ahead of the droid. They dashed outside to see Eppon streaking toward the other ship. They were both surprised at his speed-hours ago Eppon couldn’t even walk. Now he was running faster than any five-year-old possibly could.

“Eppon, stop!” the two Arrandas yelled.

They were so busy watching the boy, they did not notice the shadows creeping toward them.

“What’s he doing?” Tash gasped to Zak.

“What makes you think I know?” Zak retorted. “I can’t even see him anymore. He ran into the shadow of the ship.”

Zak pulled up short, his heart suddenly leaping into his throat.

The shadow of the starship had suddenly grown enormous.

And it was still growing.

In seconds, the giant shadow had surrounded them. “Oh, no.”

That was all Zak had time to whisper before a great wave of darkness rose up and fell crashing down around them, and everything went black.