Part 13
You smile at John's discomfiture but shake your head.
"I think two of us would be a bit more conspicuous than one." You tell him.
"I'm sorry, John," TIM adds, "but I am forced to agree. This is one mission you had better undertake alone."
You all manage to look suitably serious as John steps up to the jaunting pad and watch as he fades slowly from existence. It's only after he gone that the giggles start.
"Poor John!" Elizabeth gasps after several moments of general hilarity. "He looks so miserable!"
"He always teased Mike so for listening to fashions." Hsui Tai giggled. "I never realised how much he thinks of his own clothes."
"Really!" TIM sounds disapproving. "No one enjoys looking plain."
"That didn't stop you teasing though, did it TIM?" Andrew asks with a laugh.
"Come on, now." Elizabeth says, pulling herself together. "We'd better get this place tidied up before John gets back."
"But, Elizabeth," You complain. "It's the school holidays!"
"That doesn't excuse sloth, Jay." Elizabeth tells you pulling a duster from under one of the link tables and presenting it to you with a flourish. You look around for Andrew and Hsui Tai but suddenly they seem to be settled at one of the tables playing a training game as if they've been there all day.
"We're practicing our powers." Andrew tells you righteously as if you hadn't noticed. With a sigh, you accept the duster.
"Elizabeth! Hsui Tai! Andrew! Jay!" TIM's voice break the silence almost two hours after John's left the lab. You and Liz look up from the books you're reading and the kids from their game.
"TIM?" Elizabeth asks, her voice anxious. "TIM, what's wrong?"
"Look at the screen, Elizabeth." TIM says heavily and you all turn to stare.
One of TIM's monitors lights up with a view of a raging churning lake of fire.
"This is the view from our Watchdog satellite," TIM tells you, "Of the crater of the Seyveren volcano. It has just become active after a long period of complete dormancy. There has been a minor eruption within the last hour but I believe an explosive eruption is imminent!"
"Where is it, TIM?" For the first time since you've known him Andrew's voice is completely serious and focused.
"Will anyone be hurt?" Elizabeth adds with equal intensity.
"Deep in the Soviet region of Kamchatka and yes, hundreds of people live in villages around the base of the volcano. It was considered safe!"
"How can a volcano ever be safe?" Elizabeth asks shaking her head.
"What shall we do, Elizabeth?" You ask quietly.
Elizabeth tears her gaze from the liquid fire on the screen and raises it to TIM's spheres.
"TIM, have you informed the Russian authorities?" She asks firmly.
"I am attempting to do so now, Elizabeth." TIM tells her tensely. "The path through which the information should pass is...unclear."
"I see." Elizabeth shakes her head in frustration. "You'd have thought after so many years that even the Sap authorities would have little sense."
"If it were in Britain or the United States of America I would have little difficulty." TIM points out, "But in the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics there is rather more suspicion. Elizabeth, the people of the region have little time."
"I know, TIM." She frowns. "We'd better get out there, try to get the people clear. Perhaps we can convince the local authorities even without orders from Moscow."
Andrew and Hsui Tai are already heading for the jaunting pad and you join them.
"Jay," Elizabeth is frowning. "Perhaps you'd better go and find John. I'm a little reluctant to distract him during the interview. That's going to be difficult enough as it is."
Do you:
a) Agree to go for John?
b) Insist on going to Russia?
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