could hang out in the Centre.”
“I’d keep you company, but I’ve got singing practice and a heap of studying,” said Emmie apologetically as she stood up. “See you in the morning.”
“It’s OK, I’d better make a start on all this reading. I’ll make my own way back,” John groaned as his new friends hurried away.
Ten minutes later he was hopelessly lost. He couldn’t even remember his room number, let alone where the dormitory was. Exhausted and despairing, he padded down softly carpeted, empty corridors trying to find his way back to his room. Outside the viewing windows, the glories of the galaxy swept by but John was in no mood to admire the view. I’m never going to fit in here , he told himself.
The corridor suddenly echoed with a chiming sound. A voice said, “John Riley.”
John spun around. He was all alone in the dimly lit passage.
“Uh... yes?” he said. “Who’s there?”
“Ship’s computer. The headmaster gave me instructions to monitor Earth’s communications systems. You have received an email. Would you like to read it?”
“I guess so, but I don’t have a... what do you call them? ThinScreen?”
“That will not be a problem, John Riley.”
In the air before John’s eyes, an email appeared.
- - -
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Re: First Day
Hi John, your dad and I are dying to know about your first day at school. Let us know how it went if you have the time. We miss you already. The house is so quiet without you.
Sending all our love,
Mum
xx
PS: Your dad’s “borrowed” your games console. He says to tell you that he’s going to totally kick your butt at Doom Hammer by the time you get back.
- - -
John blinked back sudden tears. His parents were so far away. He hadn’t realized how much he was missing them, as well as everything else that he usually took for granted: other human beings, decent food, the sky above his head...
The computer interrupted his thoughts. “Would you like to send a reply?”
“Yes, please. How do I do that?”
A new email window opened in the space before him. “Dictate your message,” said the computer.
“Hi Mum—” John started, stopping in surprise as his words appeared in the air. After a few moments, he started again. “It’s been a really weird day. It’s like I’m trillion miles from home...” As homesickness welled up, he let all his feelings out, telling his parents how out of his depth he felt and that he was the most stupid student in the school. The only thing he left out was that he was, in fact, trillions of miles away from Wortham Court, on a spaceship travelling among distant stars. “Love, John,” he finished eventually.
“Sending,” the computer told him.
A frown furrowed John’s forehead. “Could you tell me how to get back to my dormitory?” he asked.
“Of course. You are in dormitory sixteeen. There is a TravelTube at the end of this corridor that will take you straight there.”
“Thanks.” John walked on, silent for a few moments, but hearing a sympathetic voice – even if it belonged to a computer – made him want to talk. “I shouldn’t be here,” he said gloomily. “Us humans are too primitive ...” he spat the word out, “...to belong in a place like this.”
“Perhaps some music might make you feel better,” murmured the computer.
A tune started playing in the background. It was a soothing track sung by a soft-voiced woman. John recognized it instantly. “That’s one of my mum’s favourites,” he said.
“Mine, too. Earth music is excellent,” the computer replied. “No species that can make such music could be described as ‘primitive’.”
“Well, I feel primitive. I’ll never catch up with the other students. Anyway, nobody wanted me here. It was just an accident.”
“Very little on Hyperspace High happens by accident,” the computer responded. “Sometimes it is difficult to understand the headmaster’s plans, but he
“I’d keep you company, but I’ve got singing practice and a heap of studying,” said Emmie apologetically as she stood up. “See you in the morning.”
“It’s OK, I’d better make a start on all this reading. I’ll make my own way back,” John groaned as his new friends hurried away.
Ten minutes later he was hopelessly lost. He couldn’t even remember his room number, let alone where the dormitory was. Exhausted and despairing, he padded down softly carpeted, empty corridors trying to find his way back to his room. Outside the viewing windows, the glories of the galaxy swept by but John was in no mood to admire the view. I’m never going to fit in here , he told himself.
The corridor suddenly echoed with a chiming sound. A voice said, “John Riley.”
John spun around. He was all alone in the dimly lit passage.
“Uh... yes?” he said. “Who’s there?”
“Ship’s computer. The headmaster gave me instructions to monitor Earth’s communications systems. You have received an email. Would you like to read it?”
“I guess so, but I don’t have a... what do you call them? ThinScreen?”
“That will not be a problem, John Riley.”
In the air before John’s eyes, an email appeared.
- - -
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Re: First Day
Hi John, your dad and I are dying to know about your first day at school. Let us know how it went if you have the time. We miss you already. The house is so quiet without you.
Sending all our love,
Mum
xx
PS: Your dad’s “borrowed” your games console. He says to tell you that he’s going to totally kick your butt at Doom Hammer by the time you get back.
- - -
John blinked back sudden tears. His parents were so far away. He hadn’t realized how much he was missing them, as well as everything else that he usually took for granted: other human beings, decent food, the sky above his head...
The computer interrupted his thoughts. “Would you like to send a reply?”
“Yes, please. How do I do that?”
A new email window opened in the space before him. “Dictate your message,” said the computer.
“Hi Mum—” John started, stopping in surprise as his words appeared in the air. After a few moments, he started again. “It’s been a really weird day. It’s like I’m trillion miles from home...” As homesickness welled up, he let all his feelings out, telling his parents how out of his depth he felt and that he was the most stupid student in the school. The only thing he left out was that he was, in fact, trillions of miles away from Wortham Court, on a spaceship travelling among distant stars. “Love, John,” he finished eventually.
“Sending,” the computer told him.
A frown furrowed John’s forehead. “Could you tell me how to get back to my dormitory?” he asked.
“Of course. You are in dormitory sixteeen. There is a TravelTube at the end of this corridor that will take you straight there.”
“Thanks.” John walked on, silent for a few moments, but hearing a sympathetic voice – even if it belonged to a computer – made him want to talk. “I shouldn’t be here,” he said gloomily. “Us humans are too primitive ...” he spat the word out, “...to belong in a place like this.”
“Perhaps some music might make you feel better,” murmured the computer.
A tune started playing in the background. It was a soothing track sung by a soft-voiced woman. John recognized it instantly. “That’s one of my mum’s favourites,” he said.
“Mine, too. Earth music is excellent,” the computer replied. “No species that can make such music could be described as ‘primitive’.”
“Well, I feel primitive. I’ll never catch up with the other students. Anyway, nobody wanted me here. It was just an accident.”
“Very little on Hyperspace High happens by accident,” the computer responded. “Sometimes it is difficult to understand the headmaster’s plans, but he
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