The Serpents of Arakesh by V M Jones Page B

Adam? I am so sorry — I had no idea the reaction could be so strong. It is extraordinary … simply extraordinary.’
    I gave him what I hoped was a reassuring smile, but my lips felt numb and stiff. My voice came out kind of croaky. ‘I’m fine now … but it was weird … it felt like an electric shock, and the glass was hot. Burning hot, like fire. How come the other kids didn’t get burnt?’ I was feeling better by the second. I sat up. ‘Was it a power surge or something?’
    Shaw paused at the door, listening. ‘No, Adam,’ Q said, and there was a strange look on his face. ‘At least, not in the way you mean.’ He put his hand on my shoulder, and gave it a gentle squeeze. ‘I’d recommend you lie down forhalf an hour or so. I’ll draw the curtains.’
    After they’d left, I lay in the semi-darkness and thought about what had happened. I hoped I hadn’t broken the globe. It was so beautiful. Even now, etched on my retina, was a faint after-image of the dancing patterns of light, and of blue stars drifting in the wake of that savage explosion of power.

The final five
    I must have slept, though not for long. When I woke the light in the room was dimmer. My shawl was snuggled into the crook of my neck, and something warm and heavy was resting against my leg. I put my hand down and touched it. A sandpapery tongue gave my hand a couple of businesslike licks. I smiled. Tiger Lily.
    But how had she got in? And how had my shawl …
    I turned my head. Hannah sat cross-legged on Richard’s bed, her eyes very round. ‘Hi, Adam,’ she whispered.
    â€˜Hi,’ I whispered back.
    â€˜Are you OK?’
    â€˜Yeah. At least, I think so.’
    â€˜I heard Q and Shaw talking about what happened. I brought you Tiger Lily to make you feel better.’
    â€˜Thanks. It worked, see?’ I swung my legs onto the floor, and stood up. Apart from a kind of stiff feeling in my shoulders, I felt fine.
    Hannah gave me a sparkly, secretive look. ‘And I broughtyou something else, too. Look.’
    She hopped off the bed. There behind her was a white, shiny plastic bag. Pinned onto it was a note, in slanty, grown-up writing. I turned on the bedside light so I could read it.
    For Adam — a nice surprise to make up for a nasty shock! Please accept these with my apologies. Q.
    I opened the packet. Inside were a pair of brand new jeans — the pre-faded kind — and a bright red hoodie. There were two T-shirts with designer logos on the front, one dark green, and the other black. And right at the bottom were two pairs of satin boxers, one a wine-red colour, and the other shiny sky blue.
    Hannah was hopping up and down. ‘Do you like them? Are you pleased? Usherwood went into Winterton to get them while you were asleep. I wanted to go too, to help choose, but Nanny said I had to rest, and Usherwood said it would take twice as long if I was helping.’ She made a face.
    I stood gaping at the clothes scattered on Richard’s bed. The rich colours glowed like jewels in the soft light. They were the first new clothes I’d ever had, the first present I’d ever been given. For some crazy reason I could feel tears pricking the backs of my eyes. I blinked them away. More to myself than to Hannah, I muttered, ‘I shouldn’t really accept them.’
    â€˜Adam,’ Hannah explained patiently, ‘don’t you know anything? When someone gives you a present, you have to accept it. If you don’t, it’ll hurt their feelings. And you have to say thank you, and tell them how much you like it,’ she lowered her voice, ‘even if you really don’t. And sometimes you draw them a picture as a thank-you letter — unless you’re big enough to write real words. That’s what you do when you get presents.’
    Well, I know when I’m beat. ‘OK, Hannah,’ I said,‘thanks for