Free Martin King and the Space Angels (Martin King Series) by James McGovern Page A

inside my office?’
    Martin nodded.
    ‘That was Moonstone. Her voice was disguised, but that was her. Although she managed to escape from the City of Serenity she is still unable to leave this planet. An Axis satellite is in continual orbit around the Earth, which is programmed to respond to the DNA of the descendants of any Axis rebels. It would shoot her down the moment she left the planet’s atmosphere. She cannot leave, so she seeks to destroy the Earth instead—a last vengeful act of pure evil.’
    ‘And you’re helping her?’ said Martin.
    Mr Slater uncomfortably tugged the lapels of his tweed jacket.
    ‘This is difficult to explain—and it will be even more difficult for you to believe me—but I am only pretending to help Moonstone. She has provided me with invaluable information in my quest to find what we now know is the Isis Crystal. It was Moonstone who sold me the Foreteller, who helped me to get the teaching job at Gateway School, who told me that Harvey Longfellow possessed the Monograph we so sorely needed. Without her, none of this would have been possible.’
    Martin looked at his friends. None of them were sure they could trust Slater.
    ‘So,’ said Tommy, ‘let me get this straight. You’re saying that Moonstone wants the Isis Crystal too, right? She wants to help us find the crystal so she can steal it from us—and use it to destroy the Earth.’
    ‘Precisely,’ said Slater. ‘She has only been helping me for her own ends. But she does not realise that I do not intend for her to ever gain possession of the Isis Crystal. If Moonstone ever got her hands on it the consequences would be, quite literally, disastrous.’
    ‘Even though we don’t know what it does?’ said Tommy.
    ‘We do know from the experiment you just watched that the Isis Crystal has amazing creative powers. And anything that can be used to create can—sadly—be used to destroy.’
    The chiming of a bell rang out suddenly throughout the ship, and Slater leapt to his feet.
    ‘That’s a distress call!’ he shouted.
    They followed Mr Slater as he ran to the control room; once inside, his eyes darted around at the several displays. The control room was spacious, and was filled with various wooden panels and brass switches. A large, golden-framed window looked out onto the sky.
    ‘A distress call from who?’ said Darcy.
    ‘The signature is unmistakeable,’ said Slater. ‘It is one of my people. An Axis Lord is in danger.’ He sighed. ‘Forgive me, but we cannot delay. I must set the coordinates straight away—I have to help.’
    Mr Slater jumped into the operator seat and punched in some coordinates, his fingers sliding quickly over various controls. Then Mr Slater took hold of the wheel, which looked like a ship’s rudder. Through the window that lay in front of them, Martin watched as the ship began to move.
    Valiant Star drifted away from the roof of Gateway School, gradually picking up speed and altitude.
    ‘Where’s the signal coming from?’ said Tommy. ‘Somewhere on Earth?’
    Slater nodded. ‘Quite close, in fact. Somewhere in Cambridge.’ He turned his neck to look at them. ‘We will be there in ten minutes. Make yourselves comfortable in the lounge.’
    ‘In other words—get lost,’ muttered Darcy, out of earshot.
    They returned to the lounge, sat down, and waited. Through the portholes, they could see clouds rushing past as Valiant Star sailed through the sky. A few minutes later, they heard Slater’s voice over the communication system.
    ‘We are about to land,’ he said. ‘Make sure you are seated for the descent.’
    They were already sitting down, so they did nothing. The ship’s engines became louder as it touched down, and then the ship fell silent. Mr Slater marched out from the control room.
    ‘You can wait here if you wish,’ he said. ‘However, I would be much obliged if you could offer assistance.’
    ‘Of course we’ll help,’ said Darcy. Martin and Tommy