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CHAPTER FOUR

Who’s in the Computer Room?

After leaving Mr Wilkinson’s house, Walter and I talked about our visit. Both of us felt very sorry about our behavior.

“I think we learned a big lesson today,” said Walter. “Some people seem strange because they have problems - big problems. But they’re people just like you and me, and they need our help and friendship.”

“I agree with you, Walter,” I said. “But we learned two important lessons today, thanks to Mr Wilkinson: we must help and understand others. And it’s not nice to invade someone’s privacy.”

I thought about Mr Kent and his artificial arm. He was another person with a big problem.

“Well, the mystery is solved,” I said. “Mr Wilkinson isn’t an alien! He’s a very nice teacher. We walked in silence for a few minutes. We were both thinking about Mr Wilkinson.

“Hey, do you want to get an ice cream now?” I finally asked Walter.

“Good idea!” Walter said. “Let’s invite Barbara.”

“Yeah, let’s,” I said. “It’s almost five o’clock and basketball practice is over. I’ll send her a text message.”

Thirty minutes later we met Barbara and we sat down by the sea and ate our three large ice creams.

“So, what’s happening?” asked Barbara.

“We have a lot of news for you,” I said.

“Really? Well, don’t make me wait. Tell me immediately!” said Barbara laughing.

We told her everything: the news about the comet, and the intergalactic voyages, and how we had the idea that Mr Wilkinson was an alien. We told her about what happened when we followed Mr Wilkinson home and the teacher’s sad story.

Barbara listened carefully and she was very surprised.

“The poor man,” she said sadly. “What a terrible problem! And he’s alone here in Seattle, isn’t he? Karen, let’s make him a delicious chocolate cake next weekend. My mom can help us. It’ll be a welcome present.”

“Yes, let’s do it on Sunday afternoon. Then we can take it to school on Monday,” I said. “He’ll love it!”

“Well, girls, I’m not a good cook, but the chocolate cake sounds great,” said Walter.

“Now tell me more about intergalactic voyages,” said Barbara.

“Yes, please do,” I said. “Perhaps aliens will come to visit Earth.”

Walter told us a lot of interesting things about UFOs and aliens.

I suddenly noticed that it was getting dark. I tried to look at my watch but it wasn’t on my arm.

“Oh, no!” I said. “Where’s my watch?” Then I remembered. “I took it off in the gym at lunchtime. I’m sure I left it there near the showers after volleyball. I must go and get it now!”

“Don’t worry, Karen, the janitor will find it and put it in a safe place. You can get it in the morning,” said Barbara.

“But that watch is really important to me: it was a present from my grandparents,” I said.

“But the school’s closed at this time,” said Walter.

“No, it’s not closed today because Mrs Wong is preparing some math tests for her classes,” I said.

“How do you know that?” asked Walter.

“I heard her talking to Miss Cruz this morning,” I said.

“You know everything!” said Barbara smiling. “OK then, we’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

Walter also smiled and said, “Good luck!”

I ran to Washington High and the main door was open. I went in and started going to the gym, but something stopped me. I had a strange feeling, but I didn’t know what it was. Something was pushing me upstairs. I was afraid because the school was dark and silent. I started going up the stairs to the first floor.

“Where am I going? The gym is downstairs. Why am I going upstairs?” I asked myself. My heart was beating faster and faster. Something was waiting for me at the top of the stairs - I knew it. But what was it? I wanted to run home but I could not do it. I had to find out.

When I got up to the third floor I saw a light on in the computer room. I went quietly to the door. Someone was working in front of a computer. It was Mr Kent! He was writing a long line of numbers and letters. Suddenly I saw the face of an alien on his computer screen! The alien had a green head and big red eyes. It didn’t have a nose or any hair. Its mouth and ears were very small.

Then Mr Kent put both of his hands on his head. He closed his eyes and started pulling his hair. He was taking his hair and his face off! Suddenly Mr Kent had a green face like the alien on the screen. He was an alien!

I was terrified but I could not run away. He started talking to the alien on the screen.

“Klyreg is calling home. Klyreg here,” he said.

“ALTANK PILLEX, Klyreg. This is your leader speaking. How are things going?” said the alien on the screen with a strange voice.

“Everything is fine, Gortz, but I’m tired of this mask. Life as a human is difficult,” he said.

“Your work on Earth is very important,” said the alien. “You have to stay there until everything is finished. Did you choose the student who will come to Mitrax?”

“No, I’m going to choose one tomorrow,” said Mr Kent.

“What?” I thought. “He’s going to take a student to another planet! This is terrible!”

“There’s little time, Klyreg. You have to hurry. Remember, we’ll meet you and the student at the old airfield behind the school on Friday night at 9/30 p.m. Don’t be late! When the comet leaves the Virgo constellation at midnight the intergalactic doors close. And then we can’t return to Mitrax for another six hundred years.”

“I know, Gortz. I won’t be late,” said Mr Kent.

“Good, but how will you get the student? You can’t touch him or her because you’re electric.”

“I have a plan,” said Mr Kent. “On Friday evening there’s a PTA meeting at school. There will be a lot of people here: teachers, parents and students. During the meeting I’ll ask a student to come with me to the science lab.

Then I’ll spray him with my special X-5 spray. With the X-5 spray humans can’t think anymore, they forget who they are - they can only obey. The student will follow me to the old airfield.”

“Everything on Mitrax is ready for the human,” said the alien. “We want to study him.”

“Good. ALTANK PILLEX, Gortz,” said Mr Kent to the alien. Then he wrote a long line of numbers and letters on the computer screen and it turned black. I went quickly and quietly down the stairs and ran out of the building.

I started running down the street and across the park. I could not stop thinking about the green head and the big red eyes of the alien.

And I could not believe that Mr Kent was an alien and he was planning something terrible. What could I do to stop him? I had to talk to Walter and Barbara. I felt cold and my heart was beating fast. I wanted to get home as fast as possible.