The Serpents of Arakesh by V M Jones Page A

size of a basketball. I knew it was resting on some kind of stand or table, but in the pitch dark it seemed to be hanging in midair, as if by magic.
    Lightning was held captive inside the sphere. Brilliant purple-blue electric streamers danced up from the base in a magical display of light. Ever-changing, utterly silent, totally mystical; so beautiful it took my breath away.
    I realised Q was talking softly — had been talking for some time. ‘The plasma globe is one of the most beautiful manifestations of plasma. Put simply, plasma is the fourth state of matter — a hot, ionised gas. The pressure in a plasma globe is high — so high that when plasma is generated, it heats up. Since hot air rises, the streamers oflight tend to move up the sides of the globe. They keep moving because the charged gas areas keep moving. You can become a return path for a plasma trail by touching the glass surface.’
    Q reached out one hand, and laid his palm flat on the side of the globe. Instantly, the blue streamers were drawn to his hand as if to a magnet, glowing and dancing under his palm. He placed his other hand on the other side of the globe, and the streamers divided and flickered between them. I sighed. I could have watched forever.
    Even Jamie sounded strangely subdued. ‘Do we get to touch it too?’ he whispered.
    In the bluish light reflecting upwards into his face, I saw Q smile. ‘Yes, you do,’ he said. ‘That’s why you’re here. Would you like to go first, Jamie? It’s quite safe.’
    One by one, the kids shuffled forward in the dark and put their hands on the globe. Richard laid his palms flat, just as Q had done, and stood motionless, gazing soberly at the streamers twisting between them. Genevieve rested the ends of her fingers on the glass, tracing patterns with the lightning as it followed her fingertips. I hung back, imagining the cold blue light playing on my skin through the glass. I wanted to be last.
    With some of the kids, the light seemed to be brighter and more intense. I wondered if it had anything to do with the temperature of your skin, or maybe how sweaty your hands were.
    At last, I was the only one left. ‘Adam,’ said Q, ‘it’s your turn.’ I felt drawn to the globe by an almost gravitational pull. Of their own accord, my hands lifted, spread, and lowered themselves as softly as feathers onto the smooth surface of the globe.
    Instantly, the lightning arced upwards in a blinding flash like a thunderbolt. A searing shock jolted through my palms and knifed up into my shoulders, setting them onfire with pain. I was hurled backwards, smashing into whoever was behind me. Fluorescent blue stars spun before my eyes and a weird electric humming buzzed in my ears.
    Gradually the room came back into focus. Q was kneeling over me, looking distraught. His mouth was moving. I couldn’t hear what he was saying — couldn’t hear anything. I dimly realised someone must have turned the light on again. I blinked, and shook my head, trying to clear it. I felt numb. Q seemed very small and far away.
    I felt a pair of strong arms lift me, and carry me through the silent group of children like a baby. Shaw carried me all the way up to my room. By the time we reached it, my mouth was still dry and I was trembling, but I felt a lot more normal. ‘Well, yer sure are no lightweight,’ Shaw grunted, depositing me gently on the bedspread. ‘It’s good ter see the colour back in yer face, Adam.’ He took a blanket from the wardrobe and tucked it round me. ‘Old Q and ’is gadgets. Usherwood ’ad a shock off that contraption once. Won’t go near it meself, that’s fer certain. But we’ve never seen nothin’ like that before.’
    â€˜That’s quite true, we haven’t,’ said Q, who had followed us in and was hovering anxiously beside the bed. He still looked upset. ‘How are you feeling,