Here is an extract from this work in progress.
Chapter 1
It had sort of been expected all week, that knock at the door. Ben Johnson was in a quandary he was not ready, he was still in his pyjamas. It wasn't supposed to happen today, not with dad at work and mum visiting Gran! Ben was not in the mood for handling extra responsibilities. Lately he had been feeling rebellious, he could not explain why, just that he felt that way. This was half term, time off from responsibility and all the fuss. Why can’t he just be left in peace? Still this could be that important visitor, if so he had no choice but to answer the door.
There was a second knock. It filled Ben with excitement and panic simultaneously. This was a firm knock, how one would expect a policeman to knock at the door, loud, hard, with an air of urgent authority about it. This couldn’t be a policeman, the silhouette behind the frosted glass bore no resemblance to one. Remembering what dad had told him to do he found the courage and opened the door.
Standing on the door step was a tall thin pale man. He had the subtle hint of blue in his complexion that made him look as if he was so starved of oxygen that he was ready to drop dead there and then on the doorstep. He wore a silver overall which gave him a frosty look that seemed fitting for this cold frosty February morning. On the step next to his left leg was an equally frosty looking silver briefcase. Holding up a small device that resembled a pocket calculator the man kept prodding the buttons with his finger.
"Squiddle wig," he said as he poked another button.
"Squiddle wig" he repeated. He seemed to be having trouble with the device, his face slowly turning a darker shade of blue as he slapped the side of the device with the palm of his hand.
Ben held out his hands ready to catch him half expecting the man to fall forward gasping his last breath in the hallway. Panic drowned his excitement, his knowledge of first aid was rather skimpy and his experience confined only to the application of the odd sticking plaster. He didn’t know if he was brave enough to give a complete stranger mouth to mouth in his hallway while wearing only his pyjamas. What if he made him worse? Was it really down to him to save this mans life? Surely fourteen year old's aren’t supposed to be given such responsibilities.
The man gurgled and seemed to stop breathing.
Ben watched the mans face anticipating the worst. "Uh are you ok sir? You're not looking too well."
The man breathed out a loud gurgling sigh. "Aaah,"
Ben's heart missed a beat, surely this was it the last breath. "Oh God!"
The man bent forward as if about to crumple to the floor.
"God, no, please don't die on me! No!"
The man stood up straight and smiled, his eyes fixed on Ben.
"Got it. Teran, Teran. You speak Teran," he said.
"Wha - What? Pardon?"
"Greetings winner. My name is Telud Zuraan. I am a sales representative from the great factory. I have come to finalise the details of your new transportation."
That sort of confirmed it, this had to be the expected visitor. The man from the Psion Motor Company, he did after all say: "Greetings winner." Two weeks ago dad had received the letter announcing that he'd won the competition in Top Car magazine a publication from the Top Car TV show. The prize being: The Auto Galactic Ranger two thousand, the most technically advanced production car ever to be made. This prize would be the first one off the production line with the specifications chosen by the winner. Telud must have come to sort out those specifications. Ben decide to invite Telud in and get him to sit down. Perhaps he would start looking better after a cup of tea or something.
"You had better come inside. You look as if you need a sit down."
Telud stepped into the hallway. He looked around as he walked as if to admire the decor. "Interesting you keep it all so low tech," he said. "Very low tech. Still I suppose it is typical Krazenti all so covert, so fashionable." The blue in his face now turning a shade lighter.
Ben ushered him into the front room, pointing to the brown leather settee, he motioned for him to sit down. "Er feel free to lie down if you're still feeling unwell." he said.
Telud sat placing the silver briefcase on his lap, he opened it and put the small device inside then snapped it shut. " Now to business. We have the core specifications but we must finalise the design then we can start production."
"Wouldn't you like a nice cup of tea first? It might help you feel better. Milk and sugar?"
Telud smiled. "How kind that you the winner desire to serve me when I have come to serve you. I am not in any need of sustenance. I feel quite well but thank you all the same."
That was the second time he had called him winner and Ben felt it would be wise to put him straight.
"Actually I'm not the winner," he said nervously. "Well, maybe I am unofficially, it was my idea to enter and my answer that dad used. I was to young, you see, but My dad is the one who entered and won the competition. I've been given instructions to give you any details you require."
"Indeed so to business then. Please give me the final specifications of your vehicle."
He sounded a little persistent so Ben thought it best to oblige.
"Oh dad wants it just like the one in the magazine with all the latest gizmos and stuff."
"Latest gizmos?" Telud sounded puzzled.
"You know the latest advancements in technology."
"Ah latest Technology," he smiled. "Then you shall have all. Yes all the very latest developments."
"The mag is upstairs I'll just go and get it for you."
Ben ran out of the room and went upstairs into his bedroom, picking up the magazine from his bedside cabinet he turned to quickly make his exit and came face to face with Telud in the doorway. The shock made him drop the magazine. He bent down to pick it up.
Telud walked past him and made his way over to the desk top computer which sat on a table next to the window. "Interesting," he said. "Ah, interface, interface. Oh not good, low tech far too low tech." Opening the silver briefcase he took out some strange looking silver tools and started to pull the computer to pieces.
Ben was not amused. "No! What are you doing? Stop you're breaking my computer."
"Upgrade, you must have an upgrade, very essential, very, very necessary." he started pulling gadgets out of his briefcase and putting them into the back of the computer casing."
Ben did not know what to do. He felt powerless to stop the man. He was not going to get physical with him in case he turned dark blue and keeled over. A dead man in his bedroom was not what he needed and certainly not the man who was supposed to be organising dads prize. He held up the magazine holding it open at the centrefold with the picture of the car. “Look this is what we want,” he said in desperation, hoping Telud would stop messing with his computer.
Telud stopped, looked over at the magazine momentarily then turned back and continued to put things into the computer.
Ben had no option but to watch his computer getting trashed.
It wasn't really being trashed though. Telud looked as if he really knew what he was doing and he was working very fast. It only took five minutes or so before the computer had been reassembled then switched on. It started up faster than Ben had ever seen a computer start. Surprising seeing as half its internal contents, circuit boards and other bits and bobs were in a pile on the bedroom floor. Even more surprising was the fact that the computer wasn't even plugged into the mains.
Telud turned round, took the magazine Ben was holding and flipped it open.
Ben pointed to the section with the details of the car.
Telud pulled out the exploded diagram of the car and gasped." Low tech, not good, may I take this?"
Ben nodded. "Please, at least keep the same colour?" he asked.
“We can do better much better. Leave it with me,” Telud smiled. He packed his briefcase then went downstairs and left the house.
Ben looked at his computer. It was whirring away quite happily. Ben started to pick up the bits from the floor. What is dad going to say when he see’s this?
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