My Friend is an Alien - Edlund Niklas - Страница 45

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Arion and Davy moved off, but Jahv studied the images. "Excuse me," he said to the employee, "can you tell me what the technological basis for the — uhm — targets is? They appear to be a more advanced form of holography than — than I have generally seen."

"Sorry, kid," replied the employee. "I just work here. I didn't design the place. All I know is the guy who designed the place had everything from engineers to scientists working on it. There's a book you can buy on the building of the park, but don't expect it to divulge many of the secrets. Mr. Keisner's got copyrights and legal protections like you wouldn't believe on every last bit of it."

"I see." said Jahv. "Thank you."

The group made their way over to the Runaway Wester-Trains. Martin remained reluctant to go on another roller coaster, but the more open environment, and the far larger vehicles — comical trains with seven cars (three rows each) barreling around the track within a highly detailed Western setting, persuaded him to stay with his friends.

With eight boys, they were divided into three rows. Martin sat between Davy and Keith, Niklas ended up with Keyro and Morik, and Jahv and Arion sat together. The ride, in some respects, was wilder than Star Screamer. It was certainly more varied, with a lot more to see along the way. Towards the end of the ride, it entered a dark tunnel with uneven track. The train seemed to just miss a mine car and go careening down a second tunnel, which seemed to collapse from the force of simulated explosions. Amidst a cloud of dust, the train emerged safely from the tunnel and pulled back into the "train station". As they got off at the end, the alien kids finally seemed to be picking up on the nature of the park, and even Martin didn't seem to have minded the ride. "I think I'm getting used to these." he said.

Davy next suggested Ghost House, which wasn't too far away. It was supposed to be one of the most visually advanced rides in the entire park, although it wasn't a roller-coaster. The exterior of the place looked like something that would've scared the Addams Family. Martin was a little nervous and clung to Keith rather tightly. The initial portion of the ride was a walk-through some increasingly creepy rooms with a haunting voiceover. Eventually the group got into small moving vehicles that slowly made their way along a track, and wound their way through more of the huge «house» and outside into a backyard miasma of Halloween nightmares come to life. Martin was scared out of his wits, the other boys were getting a kick out of it — even Arion — and Jahv was getting increasingly analytical.

"The more I see around here," said Jahv as they emerged, "the more convinced I am that aspects of this place are simply beyond your standard technology."

Keith swore and detached himself from Martin. "If you don't knock it off and try to have some fun, I'm gonna haul you into Jungle Realm and toss you into the river of the Safari Boats! What's your problem!?"

"Yeah, Jahv, I'm with Keith." said Davy. "Besides, places like these always seem to have technology more advanced than anyplace else. That's what makes them so interesting. But it's really just how they use what's available. Stop being so suspicious and try to have some fun."

Jahv looked at Davy. "You are certain of that?"

Davy nodded. "Stop studying the place and just try to enjoy it."

Jahv sighed and shrugged. "All right. I give up. It's just how I am, I guess. I want to understand the technology. But I'll try."

"Is anyone else hungry?" asked Niklas. His stomach had growled loudly during the argument.

"Yo, right here," said Keith, "but this place is probably pretty expensive."

"Let's see what we can afford." said Davy. So the boys — at least Niklas, Davy, Keith, and Martin, pooled whatever money they had with them. It wasn't much. About ten dollars. "That's not likely to buy much food in this place." said Davy.

"Let's see what it will get us." suggested Keith. "And I think I saw a place to cool off in Future Realm."

The group headed back in that direction, mostly checking food carts along the way. They discovered that they had just enough money to get two large containers of popcorn — which fortunately none of the aliens was allergic to — and two soft-frozen lemonades. Jahv and Keyro would have to find some water someplace. Fortunately, there were drinking fountains throughout the park.

The group found themselves making their way back gradually to the other side of the park, where they'd more or less started, as they made short work of the popcorn and lemonade. In Future Realm was a large area of ground-level fountains, called the "Galactic Waves". The floor beneath these fountains was soft and rubbery, and was intended for children to run through and play in. Numerous children were already running through the fountains, some fully dressed, others without their shirts, some in swim shorts. In the center was a constant mist of water on which images of stars and planets was projected.

"Now that looks like fun!" said Niklas, finishing off his share of the popcorn.

"Yeah!" agreed Davy, already removing his shirt. The two boys gave each other a stare that more or less said, "Dare ya to run right through 'em." and they took off. They got caught in several of the sporadic bursts of water, and shrieked on their way to the center. Davy had caught the worst of it, and was pretty well soaked. Niklas had caught a blast of water across his front, and his shirt, which he'd left on, was dripping.

Keith was next, at first running through until he got caught by a blast of water that soaked him head to toe. Amused more than angry, he decided to see what would happen if he sat down right on top of one of the ground-based fountains. The next time it blasted water, it sprayed out from under Keith and nearly knocked him off his feet. So he decided to try lying on his back over several of them. Unfortunately, one of the fountains was right about at his neck, and he caught a faceful of water as a result.

He got up, and started chasing Martin, who had yet to enter the fountains. Martin was fairly elusive, but the area was just too crowded, and Keith caught him by the shirt. Martin decided to squirm out of the shirt, but that was only a brief reprieve. Keith caught up to Martin again, and essentially carried the screaming-but-laughing Martin through the highest-shooting fountains.

Jahv and Keyro had run into the fountains as well, quickly followed by Morik. Arion remained uncertain, but finally realized that if he was the only one of the group to remain outside the area, he would likely be overpowered and dragged in much as Martin had been, and flying to escape was not an option. Arion had no intention of allowing himself to be treated in such an undignified manner. But neither was he really of a mind to get soaking wet. He studied the patterns of the sporadic fountains long enough to figure out where there would be a break in them, and then ran towards the center and joined Niklas and Davy in playing with the huge projection area in the center. Getting slightly sprayed with water he didn't mind. He just didn't want to get soaked.

Not long after, though, there was an outcry of some sort. Arion turned to see all eyes on Morik, Jahv, and Keyro. They were shooting sparks. Arion cursed under his breath. Something about the teleportation discs, or at least the holo-disguise feature, was obviously not waterproof.

The other boys had noticed it, as well. Niklas, Davy, and Martin stood in shock, and Keith looked about ready to swear a blue streak. Arion felt his own device starting to malfunction. He'd gotten a spray of water right against the pocket where he was keeping it. He briefly thought about flying away, but that wouldn't solve anything and would probably just make matters worse.

Seconds later, before anyone could act, Jahv, Keyro, and Morik all gave off a bright flash of light, and were then back to their alien forms. Three seconds after that, so did Arion.

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