Devon Blake and the Starship Crash by Douglas Warren Read Free Book Online Page B

prodded
     
Deke. The unconscious man stirred, moaning in pain.
     
Devon prodded him again.
     
“Mr. Jacobs, we need your help,” he said, trying to wake Deke.
     
Deke’s eyes fluttered open. He turned to Devon, looking at him in confusion.
     
“What happened?”
“I think we crashed”
     
Deke reached up to feel his head. He winced in pain when he felt the bump. “I must
     
have hit my head. Where is the crew?”
     
“I’m not sure if they made it,” he whispered. “I tried to get into the crew cabin, but the
     
door won’t open.”
     
Deke rubbed his head again, trying to gather his wits.
     
“I had better check it out. Is anyone else hurt?” Deke asked, wearing a worried
     
expression.
     
“I don’t know. You were he first one I really checked on.”
     
Deke unbuckled his seat belt and nearly swooned as he tried to stand up.
     
“Whoa, Mr. Jacobs. I don’t know if you should try to get up yet.
     
“Maybe you’re right, but we need to check on the crew. We need to find out if they were
     
able to send a distress call.”
     
Deke sat silently for a moment, gingerly probing the bump on his head.
     
“Devon, I need you to do some things for me. First, I need you to check the emergency
     
exit and see if it is blocked. We may need to get out that way if there is a problem.”
     
He paused for a moment, blinking slowly.
     
“Second, I need you to keep an eye on the other kids. You are the only one who
     
managed to keep their head. If I get worse, I need you to keep everyone calm. I’m betting that
     
the Boadicea is already mounting a rescue operation. It is just a matter of time before they come
     
for us. We need to sit tight and not panic.”
     
Devon nodded, “I can handle that. How long do you think it will be before they come?”
“I can’t be sure. It shouldn’t be more than a day or two. We will need water and food in
     
the meantime. There should be plenty in the galley at the front of the ship. If we can’t get that
     
door open we may have to look elsewhere. That means we have to get to the baggage
     
compartment in the belly of the ship.”
     
“So, what should I do now?”
     
Deke looked thoughtful for a moment.
     
“See if you can find the hatch that leads below deck.” He closed his eyes and moaned.
     
His chin fell to his chest, unconscious.
     
Devon gently prodded Deke. “Mr. Jacobs, what do I do after that? Mr. Jacobs?”
     
Devon turned with a sigh. The only thing he knew was that he had to check the
     
emergency exit and then find the hatch that led to the cargo compartment. Before the drop the
     
crew had pointed out the emergency exits. One of them was just down the aisle. He walked
     
over to the row with the emergency exit as casually as he could.
     
“Excuse me,” Devon said as he leaned over the students sitting in that row. “How are
     
you feeling? Any injuries to report? Mr. Jacobs asked me to check around.” He tried to keep
     
the attention of the children as he checked out the emergency exit. Everything appeared in order
     
and the door did not appear to be blocked from the outside.
     
Satisfied that they could use that exit if necessary, Devon excused himself. He then
     
began moving back toward the front of the ship, eyes focused downward, searching for anything
     
that might be a hatch. He noticed a seam in the carpeting. Devon kneeled down, trying to peel
     
back the carpet. It took him a moment, but he found a recessed release switch at the edge of the
     
aisle. The children sitting in the nearby seats watched him intently. Devon gave them friendly
     
nod.
“Just running an errand for Mr. Jacobs, nothing to worry about.”
     
The children relaxed visibly, reassured by his casual attitude. Pulling the switch, Devon
     
stood back as a section of the floor slid back. He could see a flashing yellow light below,
     
illuminating a metal ladder leading below. Devon peered into the opening, trying to see if