Erhalten Sie Zugang zu diesem und mehr als 300000 Büchern ab EUR 5,99 monatlich.
- Herausgeber: Nosy Crow
- Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
- Serie: Cosmic Creatures
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022
On a faraway planet, cute alien animals need help! Luckily, Charlie and her robot friend, Random, are ready for any rescue adventure... Charlie and Random discover an amazing underground cave filled with incredible animals. But the captain wants to start drilling for a new energy source. Charlie will have to think fast to save these cute creatures and their unusual home! Fans of Zoe's Rescue Zoo and Holly Webb will love Cosmic Creatures! Beautifully illustrated throughout by Sophy Williams, Cosmic Creatures is perfect for animal-mad readers aged 5+. Look out for the other Cosmic Creatures stories! - The Runaway Rumblebear - The Friendly Firecat
Sie lesen das E-Book in den Legimi-Apps auf:
Seitenzahl: 50
Das E-Book (TTS) können Sie hören im Abo „Legimi Premium” in Legimi-Apps auf:
Ähnliche
“SQUAWK!” the robot repeated, then he flapped what appeared to be a pair of fluffy wings. “HOO!” he added, and Charlie took a cautious step closer.
She reached out a hand, feeling carefully. But instead of smooth metal she felt her hand sinking into warm, soft feathers.
Chapter One
The Shimmering Pools
Charlie floated happily on her back, held up by the warm water. Thin clouds of steam swirled over her head, allowing shafts of sunlight to sparkle on the water’s surface.
That was how the Shimmering Pools got their name, and it made them one of the most beautiful places Charlie knew. There were deep pools and shallow pools, waterfalls and streams, all heated by springs that flowed from deep caves in the mountainside. They were the perfect temperature for bathing. On a hot day the water seemed cool and refreshing, while on a chilly day like this one it made you feel warm and relaxed.
“It’s so lovely, you should come in,” Charlie said, peering up at her little brother, Maki. He sat perched on the bank, wrapped in his fleece jacket.
But Maki shook his head. “I don’t feel like it. Besides, I want to finish this game.” He looked back down at the silver tablet propped on his knees. He tapped buttons and the game let out high-pitched beep-bloop noises.
Charlie knew that Maki wasn’t really telling the whole truth. He wasn’t afraid of the water, exactly – he was fine in the town baths, where all the children of First Landing learned to swim. He just didn’t like the Shimmering Pools.
She wondered if it was because there were fish in here – little shoals of silver sprats and large, purple catfish with long dark whiskers. Or perhaps it was the slippery green algae on the rocks all around that put him off. Either way, Charlie wasn’t going to push if her brother didn’t feel brave enough.
“I’m hungry,” Maki said, putting the game down at last. “Is it time for our sandwiches yet?”
Charlie stood, and found her balance on the slippery rocks. “It must be,” she said, “because I’m hungry too.”
She waded to the bank and clambered up, shivering as she wrapped herself in a towel. From up here she could see right down the mountain slope to First Landing, a dark jumble of buildings spread out beneath the clear, cold sky.
The town was the first human colony on planet Vela. It had been founded by Charlie’s parents and their fellow settlers from Earth, who had come here to study the local plants and wildlife and to build a new home in balance with nature.
But the streets of the town seemed unusually quiet today. Normally they would be packed with vehicles, from small one-person transporters to huge electric haulers carrying building materials. Instead, every person she could see was on foot, and they were all bundled up in layers of clothing.
Charlie knew why straight away. They’d been having problems with First Landing’s power supply for weeks, which meant that no one could charge up their vehicles, heat their water or run their radiators. And now the weather had turned cooler, it was making things rather uncomfortable.
The power shortages had even affected Charlie’s robot friend, Random. She could see him just along the bank, his rounded steel body resting beneath a gold-leafed tree, his systems shut down to save energy. She hoped they could find a new power source soon – these “naps” of his were getting longer and longer.
“So, what did Dad put in the sandwiches?” Charlie asked, pulling on her jacket and turning towards Maki. “I hope it’s not that nasty fish paste ag—”
She broke off in surprise as something soared through the steam. She didn’t see it clearly. It was just a shadow, darting past Maki then vanishing again.
Her brother didn’t notice, he was too busy investigating their packed lunch. But he looked up at Charlie as she rubbed her eyes and blinked.
“Are you OK?” he asked.
Charlie frowned. “Yes, I just thought… Never mind. Pass me a sandwich.”
Maki handed her the bag, munching his sandwich happily. Then he reached for his silver tablet, feeling around in the grass. “Hey, that’s weird.”
He picked up his jacket and his backpack and looked underneath.
“My game’s disappeared. I swear I put it right there.”
Charlie scanned the grassy bank. “It’s got to be here somewhere,” she said. “It can’t have just got up and walked away. Can it?”
Maki had all sorts of weird toys, most of them built by their mother, who was an engineer. Charlie never knew what any of them might do.
But her brother shook his head. “No, it’s just a regular pocket-game. But I was right on the last level so—”
He was interrupted by a sudden electronic alarm. Charlie heard the wail of a siren and a deafening robotic voice.
“WARNING!” it cried. “STRANGERS APPROACHING!”
She turned towards Random in surprise. The robot was rising off the bank. His eyes flashed and his arms waved madly.
“WARNING!” he shouted again. “WARNING!”
Then he blinked and seemed to remember where he was.
“Random,” Charlie asked, “are you okay?”
The robot floated closer, looking sheepish. “Apologies,” he said. “Being on low battery makes my systems act strangely. And I was in a very deep sleep.”
Charlie smiled. She knew that Random’s circuits were a bit rusty, but he was still her favourite robot in the universe – and her best friend, too.
“So there aren’t any strangers approaching?” Maki asked, looking around.
“Yes,” Random said. “There are. From that direction.”
Charlie saw a large, dark shadow in the mist above the water, moving towards them. A red light flickered in the gloom and Maki took hold of Charlie’s arm.
Then the fog parted and a robot was revealed, much larger than Random and built from black steel. It hummed as it approached, its single eye gleaming.
Random looked up at the newcomer nervously. “G-greetings,” he said. “What’s your name, friend?”
But the robot didn’t respond. It loomed closer, reaching the bank.
