Read Of Hearts And Stars (Classic Editon) (The Cadet Starship Chronicles) for Free Online

leave and never come back.”
    Ollie gave Swift a sober look and said “Crazy.”
    “ Crazy enough to-”
    Ollie gave him a weary look “C'mon dude...”
    Swift crossed his arms and said “I wanna know when hence I've given you reason to doubt me.”
    Ollie held his palm up and replied “I wanna know why you said 'when hence' instead of since when. Do people even talk like that? It doesn't make sense.”
    “ Anyway, word police,” Swift scratched his head and went on with detailing the plan “I decided to bust this joint when I found out that my dad died. I've been doing research at school during lunch and recess on possible routes. I've calculated which routes are unlikely to have any monitors by search parties once it becomes know that we are missing. If we follow the path I drew on the map then we should safely and quickly escape the city.”
    Ollie shook his head and said “There goes that 'we' again. What do you propose we do once we 'bust this joint'?”
    “ Initially I had planned to start a new life, doing what work we can find-”
    “ YES!” Ollie exclaimed and held his hands towards the ceiling, as if the answer had come down from on high.
    Swift swatted down both of Ollie's hands and said “Dude let me finish. After I thought about it I remembered that there's someone who will help us out no matter what.”
    “ Who?” Ollie asked.
    “ My uncle Zach. The problem is that I can't contact him from in here. When I asked the caregivers for permission to send an email to him they said that he isn't a real person, and that I made him up. Then they whipped me for lying.”
    Ollie's nose wrinkled as his face contorted in a look of distress “Holy crap dude!” Just how many times a week did Swift get whipped he wondered.
    “ I know right? What's worse is that even if I am given permission to send him an email, they will screen it first and reject it if contains anything about abuse or neglect. Then comes the whipping for telling lies of course.” Swift said.
    “ So you need to escape so that you can contact your uncle for help.” Ollie concluded.
    “ Almost, but not quite. I intend for us to escape so we can contact my uncle for help. Notice how I kept saying 'we' instead of 'I'. It implies multiple people.”
    Ollie pulled his knees in closer and sighed. When he spoke the sound of defeat rang clearly in his voice “I'd just slow you down...”
    Swift waved his hand sharply as if to wipe away Ollie's doubts and fears and said “What? No! Where are you getting these ideas? You're my best friend! I need your help with this!”
    Ollie smiled. This was the first time he had ever been someone's best friend.
    “ I can help even if I don't come along.” he said.
    Swift huffed and folded his arms again. He didn't want to argue with Ollie, but he also did not want to leave him behind.
    “ What about Butch and his goon squad? Can you beat them alone?” he asked.
    Ollie laughed so suddenly that it surprised Swift.
    “ Are you kidding me? I'm gonna avoid'em like the plague.”
    Swift sucked his teeth and said “Yeah, cause that's worked so well in the past. If that's the case then you're a chronic plague victim.”
    This did not bother Ollie, who came back with “One can only be a chronic plague victim if one is a chronic plague survivor. I've made it all of this time without your mighty iron fists after all. Either we keep debating this or we prepare to start the plan.”
    “ Escape is the plan. The plan is freedom.” Swift said solemnly.
    “ Yes.” Ollie said and this time he meant it.

    - 15 -
    The morning they had decided upon arrived, and Ollie stopped by Swift's room. After they exchanged their usual greeting by fist bump Ollie presented Swift with a white envelope. In it was a small amount of money.
    “ What's this?” Swift asked without taking the envelope.
    “ Money, a common article for bartering.” Ollie quipped.
    “ I know what money is butt-head. I mean where did you get it and why are