Kayleb went back to the police headquarters and ran along what he hoped was the east side of the building. Max followed, enjoying the exercise. It was dark now and Kayleb felt at risk. Teenagers were not allowed to be in the streets after the curfew. Any that were, were arrested, charged with loitering with intent and then cast out. Kayleb was wondering if David would make a hole in the wall for him to get through when he saw David step out of the building through a fire exit. David pulled Kayleb back into the building.
‘Where is the broadcasting centre? I know I’m near but I can’t find it. You’ve been here before, I know.’
Kayleb looked down the corridor they were standing in. He vaguely remembered it. ‘We need to go down this corridor and turn right. I think the studio is at the end of that second corridor.’
Kayleb had been fascinated by the broadcasting room. Conrad had made many broadcasts to the people of London, advising them of the consequences if they failed to obey society’s rules. Kayleb smiled. As a child, he had always felt immensely proud of his mentor for being such a powerful public figure but now Conrad’s broadcasts seemed absurd. Kayleb led David towards the broadcasting room.
David looked at Kayleb with concern. ‘You mustn’t worry about your mother, Kayleb. You will see her again.’
Kayleb was taken aback. He had not expected David to say that.
‘I hope so. It’s been a long time. So you’re going ahead with the broadcast?’
‘Yes,’ said David. ‘I need to reassure everyone and explain to them what is about to happen. I need you to stand by me and back me up. If everyone thinks that Commander Conrad’s charge is fine about our arrival then they will understand and will not be distressed when we land. We must be quick! The police will be coming back into the building soon,’ said David as they reached the broadcasting room.
David pushed opened the door. The power was down and the door wasn’t locked. Max refused to go into the room and waited outside in the corridor.
Kayleb looked at the control panel and looked for the screen. It was tucked away within the desktop.
‘There’s no power to the broadcaster. They must have cut the power while the fire was being extinguished.’
‘That’s OK, Kayleb. How do you start this machine, voice or thought?
‘By voice, I guess, but it won’t work without power.’
David went to the control panel and looked for the power cord. He pulled it out of the back of the console and looked at the socket.
‘It’s really not going to work now,’ said Kayleb.
‘It will,’ said David, rummaging in his rucksack. David took out of his bag a piece of crystal. Kayleb had seen the crystal before. It was the same gemstone that had lit Zordar’s hideaway when they had been in France. The crystal began to glow. David broke a piece off and fitted it into the socket of the broadcasting machine. The crystal turned white.
‘START!’ David said to the broadcaster. The screen lit up.
Kayleb was lost for words. ‘What is that stuff? Where did you get it from?’
‘It’s called gilth,’ said David. ‘It is abundant on Veenah. Gilth has amazing properties and will make a big difference to your planet. Let’s make our broadcast, Kayleb, and then escape.’
Kayleb and David stood in front of the screen and the camera eye blinked at them. Kayleb looked at the screen and could only see David’s body and not his head.
‘We will have to stand back a bit if you want me in it as well,’ continued Kayleb. He was starting to feel nervous as the broadcast they were about to make would be seen by everyone in London on their digi-screens. Kayleb knew there would be no turning back: he was now fully committed to helping David.
Kayleb and David stepped back.
‘RECORD!’ David called to the broadcaster.
The camera eye started to blink red. David smiled and began to speak. Kayleb held his breath. He felt very self-conscious and awkward.
‘People of London,’ said David. ‘I have an announcement to make. For millennia your sister planet, Veenah, has accepted your spent spirits and has maintained and looked after them with love and care. We have welcomed your spirits without question since humankind began. We now find that we have a dilemma. Our star that keeps our planet alive is dying and we have no alternative but to join you here on Earth.
‘My people and your people are similar but our civilisation is more advanced than yours and we will be able to help you all in many ways. We have a resource called gilth. It is able to mimic any substance and can be used as a building material. You may have all wondered how the crystal-like towers appeared on the Isle of Wight. The building material was brought over by Staan and he used gilth to construct these mega-structures. Gilth can be used as an energy source as it absorbs sunlight and can power your appliances and light up your apartments.’
David held up the piece of gilth so that everyone could see the crystal glowing in the dark broadcasting room.
‘This is a renewable resource. It will grow at an amazing rate if it is kept in darkness and at the right temperature. Earth’s resources, fuel and building materials are at an all-time low. You are suffering and gilth and Veenah’s advanced technologies can only make things better for you all.
‘Tomorrow morning, in Green Park, our gilth-constructed people carriers will land here in the centre of London and the people of Veenah will join you. The same thing will happen in every city of the world. Please keep the carriers to assist your own space research. As you all know, your sun will not last for ever and eventually we all have to evacuate. We will have to travel a lot further than this solar system to find a new home.
‘I know this may all sound a bit hard to believe. I have Commander Conrad Heinz’s charge here to speak to you, so that you can see that all I have told you is true and there is nothing to fear.’
Kayleb could feel himself turning bright red. He hadn’t expected to have to speak and he wasn’t sure what to say. Kayleb didn’t realise that the whole of the world would be accommodating David’s people.
‘David ... David is right,’ stammered Kayleb at last. ‘He will be able to help us all. He can heal people. I’ve seen him cure a police agent. He will be able to stop the AIDS II virus from killing any more people. This is a golden opportunity, a once in a lifetime chance. David needs our help and we need David’s help.’
The lights in the broadcasting room turned on and Max began to bark. The signal had been scrambled and the record button blinked green again. Kayleb was relieved to finish his speech. He had run out of things to say.
‘You did well, Kayleb,’ said David. ‘Thank you.’
‘Thanks,’ replied Kayleb. ‘What are we going to do now? How are you going to land here tomorrow? There is an anti-terrorist shield over London. You won’t be able to break through.’
‘Our ships are made of gilth. They will be able to simulate the shield’s properties and fuse with it, and then break through,’ David explained, looking anxiously over his shoulder. Max was now barking at them to leave the room.
‘You and your people are not made of gilth. Your ships may be able to get through but your people will not.’
Kayleb imagined David’s people sliding down the sides of the shield and falling to their deaths and the spaceships hurtling to Earth unmanned and out of control.
‘Do not worry yourself, Kayleb. All will be well as long as the people of London accept us.’
‘They won’t have to. Nobody will be invading Earth!’
Kayleb spun round. His mentor Conrad stood in the doorway with two other officers.
‘Did you see the broadcast, Conrad?’ Kayleb asked.
‘Yes,’ said Conrad. ‘I am disgusted that you have been sucked into this man’s cruel game he is playing. Can’t you see he is a madman, a fake and a warmonger? The sooner we get you to the brain-cleansing centre, the better it will be for you, Kayleb. Now, thanks to your public broadcast, I’ll have to protect you from society so that you’re not attacked. I will be ridiculed for having a simpleton for my charge!’
‘No, Conrad!’ shouted Kayleb. ‘David is a good man. I’ll prove it to you. Take him to Helen. He will be able to heal her and prove that he and his people will be valuable members of our society.’
Conrad looked uncomfortable for a moment and Kayleb sensed his unease. ‘Helen died two weeks ago. I’m sorry to tell you that. She tried to hang on until you got home but she wasn’t strong enough.’
Kayleb quickly turned to David. He was enraged. ‘You said I would see Helen again. You said that to me today. How could you lie to me after all I’ve done to help you?’
‘Trust me, Kayleb, you will!’ called David urgently.
‘I’ve had enough of this nonsense!’ shouted Conrad. ‘Take that madman to the cells. He is a danger to us all.’
Kayleb watched as two officers grabbed David. David did not protect himself and allowed them to take him out of the broadcasting room. Kayleb didn’t care; David had lied to him. He had waited weeks to see Helen and he had felt elated when David said he would see her again. Now he felt that he had been kicked in the teeth. He agreed with Conrad: David had fooled them all; he really was a madman.
‘Come on, Kayleb,’ said Conrad gently. He could see the pain in Kayleb’s eyes. ‘Let’s go home ... I miss Helen too.’
Kayleb nodded and followed Conrad out of the broadcasting room. Max followed them as they walked down the corridor towards the car park. Conrad did not seem to notice Max being there.