AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"So, did the princess just ignore everything you had to say?" Shimlara lay flat on her back, her hands behind her head.
"She liked it when I talked about tea bags landing on our faces," said Nicola. "She thought that was pretty funny. Actually, I think maybe she's just bored with life."
"Bored?" snorted Shimlara. "If I was a rich princess in charge of a whole planet, I would so not be bored!"
"She seemed almost interested when I told her about oceans, but then she got bored again. She's a horrible person."
"What are oceans?" asked Shimlara.
Nicola explained, and Shimlara rolled over onto her stomach and looked enthralled. "I'd love to swim in an ocean! When we go on vacation to Earth for Mom and Dad's wedding anniversary, I'll make sure they take me to an ocean. Oh--that's right ..." Her voice trailed off.
"Yep, no more vacations to Earth," said Nicola. "Unless you want to spend your vacation in a disgusting garbage can!"
But something Shimlara had said got her thinking.
With a splash, she sat upright on the water.
"Shimlara," she said, "I've got an idea, and I think I'll need your help."
"Great!"
"But it's illegal, probably dangerous, and we definitely can't tell your dad."
CHAPTER 16
"Are you sure you can't share your idea with us?" asked Georgio. "Or at least give us the teeniest hint?"
It was later that day and Nicola, Shimlara, Mully, and Georgio were all sitting around the kitchen table, drinking blueberry tea from gigantic china cups. (Nicola had to use both hands just to lift hers.) Squid was kicking a ball around the house and falling over each time his foot didn't connect.
"I can't tell you anything," said Nicola firmly.
She knew that if she told Georgio her idea, he would immediately forbid her to try anything so dangerous.
Georgio looked at her suspiciously and twirled the ends of his mustache.
Shimlara had taught Nicola that if you knew somebody was likely to try and read your mind, you could block them by reciting multiplication tables in your head.
Five sixes are thirty, thought Nicola carefully. Six sixes are ... um, six sixes are ... erm, thirty-six?
"Aha! You're blocking me!" Georgio pointed a finger at her. "I see Shimlara has been teaching you a thing or two. And yes, by the way, six sixes are thirty-six--goodness me, have they stopped teaching math on Earth, too?"
"You really must stop trying to read her mind, Georgio," said Mully.
"Oh well, it's no time to be worrying about etiquette," said Georgio gloomily. "The fate of a planet is at stake and I have no idea whether Nicola's idea is sensible or silly!"
"I'm going to be there to make sure Nicola doesn't do anything silly," said Shimlara.
"Oh PHEW!" Georgio wiped his hand dramatically across his forehead. "My very sensible daughter will be involved. GOSH.That's such a RELIEF!"
"I hate it when you're sarcastic like that, Dad," said Shimlara. "Just because I got lost that time when I went cloud-surfing ..."
"Did the Save the Little Earthlings Committee come up with any good ideas?" asked Nicola, to change the subject. She didn't like it when her dad was sarcastic, either.
"Well, we think it might be worth trying to reach the king and queen on their vacation again," answered Georgio. "They would put a stop to this nonsense immediately! Unfortunately, they're doing a three-month underground trek on the Planet of Doom and it's impossible to contact anyone on Doom, especially when they're underground.We're also trying to lobby other planets in preparation for the worst-case scenario. If Earth actually is destroyed, we'll need to find somewhere for you all to live. So far they've all said ..." Georgio lifted his hands in a hopeless gesture.
"Yes?" prompted Nicola.
"No," answered Georgio sadly. "They've all said absolutely not. Not enough space, Earthlings are too short and annoying, Earthlings would take all the jobs, that sort of thing."
