Read Battle for Earth for Free Online Page B

Johnny could make his way out of Miss Hewitt’s laboratory and down to the school playing fields for games, the final lesson of the day. They spent most of their time playing two-touch six-a-side within quite a small area. Mr. Davenport, their coach and PE teacher, was emphasizing the importance of close control and moving the ball quickly, with the qualifiers for the National Schools Trophy fast approaching. It was a good session and, as Johnny jogged in the early evening sunshine, warming down on the way to the changing rooms, he was joined on either side by Dave Spedding and Ashvin Gupta, his two best friends in the team.
    â€œWe’ve been thinking,” said Dave a little nervously.
    â€œNot something Dave’s especially used to,” Ashvin added.
    Johnny had the feeling this was some kind of prepared speech.
    â€œWhy you never have us back to your place after school,” said Dave, cutting to the chase.
    â€œHave you ever
been
to a children’s home?” asked Johnny.
    â€œWell, no,” said Dave, looking a little awkward.
    â€œBut that’s kind of the point,” said Ash, who wasn’t going to be put off quite so easily. “We could come back now … for tea.”
    â€œIf you’d ever eaten our cook’s food, you wouldn’t be saying that,” said Johnny.
    â€œCool—we’ll get chips on the way,” said Ash.
    Johnny had planned to check up on Clara and make sure she was OK, but he’d never had friends come back to Halader House. He also reminded himself that it was important tospend more time there. He’d neglected the home to his cost a few months ago, allowing Nicky—or rather his alter ego Nymac—to clone him and have the double take Johnny’s place. It was a very close call and Johnny had nearly been killed. He’d resolved from then on to make more regular appearances at the home, just in case. Having friends with him might also stop his social worker reraising the thorny question of maternal visits.
    â€œYou’re on,” said Johnny, “but it definitely has to be fish and chips.”

    As they walked through the main Halader House doors, reeking of vinegar, Johnny caught sight of Miss Harutunian smiling at him, but she didn’t come over. He led Ash and Dave up the stairs and along the corridor and laughed at their reaction when they stopped in front of his very own spiral staircase.
    â€œVery cool,” said Dave, admiring the official looking “No Entry” sign screwed into the trapdoor. “Where’d you get it?”
    â€œIn the basement,” Johnny replied. “I took it off some door down there.”
    â€œWhat was behind it?” Ash asked, clearly hoping for an exciting mystery.
    â€œI don’t know, do I?” Johnny replied. “It was locked. I just thought the sign would look good up here. Come on.” He pulled down the trapdoor and led the way inside. The bedroom was messy, but not too bad and his two friends didn’t bat an eyelid. Instead they were drawn straight to the space posters covering every square centimeter of the attic room’s sloping walls.
    â€œWhere’d you get these?” Ash asked, particularly admiring the picture of Sagittarius A*, the black hole at the very center of the galaxy that Johnny had snapped himself. The others had been a Christmas present from Alf, reprinted from the android’s memory circuits.
    â€œYou know … around,” said Johnny.
    â€œWow—this is all yours?” said Dave, as though amazed someone could have their own room. “It must be great not having people bossing you around … always telling you what to do.”
    â€œI think I’d rather still have my parents,” said Johnny matter of factly.
    â€œYeah, but your dad was a murderer, wasn’t he?” asked Dave. “Didn’t he kill your brother or something?” He ignored Ash elbowing him in the ribs.