Read Space Plague for Free Online Page B

doctor replied, pulling John back. “The Examiner will stop him hurting himself until then. Come with me.”
    Looking over his shoulder at his tortured friend, John allowed Dr Kasaria to guide him out of the quarantine room. Outside, Kaal’s shouts and groans were muffled, but John could still hear him.
    “You need to walk through the disinfectant portal,” said the doctor. “You’ve been exposed again, and we must take every precaution.”
    John removed his protective suit and did as he was ordered. Once again pink light wrapped around him as the machine puffed mist across his clothes and skin. When he had finished, Kaal was still twisting and roaring on his bed. Dr Kasaria was watching him intently, her forehead creased. She turned to John.
    “Once I am able to get close enough, I’ll give him some medicine to will make him sleep,” she said. “I’ll make him as comfortable as I possibly can, believe me.”
    John knew that beneath the doctor’s brisk exterior, she cared deeply for Hyperspace High’s students. “I know,” he replied simply.
    “For you, there is good news,” the doctor continued, her efficient manner returning. She pointed at the ThinScreen on her desk. What looked like a spiralling ladder was spinning in 3-D. “Human DNA has some peculiarities.”
    “What sort of peculiarities?”
    “Well, for one, you appear to be completely immune to Zhaldarian Flu.”

Chapter 7
    John slouched away from the medical wing towards the TravelTube at the end of the corridor, hands in pockets and a puzzled frown etched into his face. Even though Dr Kasaria’s news should have made him feel relieved, it just served to confuse him. Why were humans immune? He just couldn’t stop thinking about Kaal and what this sickness had done to him. He knew he should be hurrying to revise, but after everything he had seen in the quarantine room he knew there was no way that he would be able to concentrate on Galactic Geography or Hyperspace History. Pressing a panel to call the TravelTube, he sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
    A ball of light flashed through the wall at the end of the passage. It streamed towards him, trailing coloured ribbons of light. Stopping at his side, it morphed into the form of Lorem, the headmaster of Hyperspace High. Robed in white, he was an alien of medium height whose age John had never been able to guess. Bald, with the lined face of an old sage, Lorem’s skin glimmered softly and his purple eyes twinkled with youth.
    “Good evening, sir,” John said politely.
    “And to you, John Riley,” the headmaster replied. “You’ve been to see Kaal?”
    “Yes.” John paused for a moment, feeling sadness well up. “He’s... he’s in a bad way.”
    “Zhaldarian Flu is a terrible disease, John,” the headmaster replied softly.
    John glanced up sharply, as a thought occurred to him. Lorem had the ability to sense events that had yet to happen. Quickly, John said, “Have you looked into the future, sir? Will Kaal get better?”
    The headmaster looked back at him calmly. Crossing his arms, he replied. “As I have told you before, John, the shape of the future is not easy to see. There are many possible futures, each of which may or may not come to be, depending on the choices we all make. If different choices are made...” the headmaster shrugged, “then the shape can change at any moment.”
    John’s face fell. “So you can’t tell?” he said flatly.
    Uncrossing his arms, Lorem said enigmatically, “Choices, John. Choices.”
    John shook his head, even more confused than before.
    Lorem patted him on the shoulder and said, “Nothing is ever certain, but a certain train of events is possible. A train of events that gives me hope.” Lorem smiled at John, and continued briskly, “But for now, I suggest you eat and rest. Flu or no flu, you have a Hyperspace History exam tomorrow. Now, if you will excuse me, I am on my way to visit Kaal.”
    In front of John the TravelTube