Craggy 2: Another Last Flight for Craggy Read Free Page A

plants?'
    'I asked them that. They didn't want to risk it.'
    'Bloody typical,' said Cragg. 'Did they at least establish the internal voltage?'
    'About one ninety five, they said.'
    Cragg chuckled. 'I'd be surprised if it was similar to our system. Mind if I take a look?'
    'This way. Mind your head.'
    Stella opened up a passageway that led to the business end of the ship. It was a large area, relative to the ship.
    'At least we can stand up straight in here,' said Cragg.
    'This looks like where we can gain access to thrusters, plasma modules and propulsion systems, too. But I'm fairly sure this is what harnesses the solar energy and converts it to electrical current to power the whole ship.'
    Cragg studied the large cylindrical clear tank with the lime green liquid in it.
    'I think you're right. Those look like power lines going up to the top. I think that's power in, at a guess. They connect to the solar panels in the skin of the ship, pretty much the way our ships work. They might be well ahead of us in technology, but there have to be some basic laws of physics we both use. The solar energy would be for when landed, like now. The system would be charged up by the thermal generators once in flight.' Cragg bent low to look under the tank. 'If the power is coming in from the top, then this underneath is the power outlet.'
    'It goes in next to this hatch. No one has been down here, yet.'
    'What,' said Cragg. 'Not even engineering?'
    'No.'
    'I'll be having words with that lot. Not very nice ones. Come on, ladies first.'
    There were four securing mounts either side of the hatch and they slid those back so the hatch could be opened.
    'Pretty basic, for an advanced ship,' said Stella, opening the hatch.
    Cragg said, 'Keeping it simple. I approve of that. Less to go wrong.'
    'It's dark as hell down there. Wait. There's a sensor here. Let me...right. It's all illuminated. Not very bright, but light enough.'
    Stella wriggled through the hatch, but Cragg struggled, having gained weight and being over fifty years older. Once through, they found themselves in a no frills inspection tunnel, where banks of pipes and tubes were on every inch, apart from a narrow floor. The inspection tunnel went off in both directions with smaller spur tunnels branching off.
    'See these? They are the same as the wiring, only a larger diameter,' said Stella.
    'Yes. These should carry the power from the generating tank. Now, we use copper wire and filaments. This is a conductive liquid.  I'm no electrician, but I think electricity moves by the flow of electrons, hence electricity. It makes sense that current also flows in a liquid like this.'
    'From what I remember of school physics, water itself is a poor conductor of electricity, but put impurities in, say salt, then it conducts much better.'
    Cragg nodded. 'Sounds about right. This green stuff must work on that principle. Look. The lights in here are working, right?'
    'True. Just about.'
    'So, either the current isn't flowing fast enough, or the tank hasn't got the electricity stored in it to start with. Come on. I want to take another look at that tank.'
    They made their way back through the hatch and Cragg studied the tank.
    'Dunno why, but my instinct tells me this is the problem.' Cragg walked all around the huge tank of green liquid. 'Maybe the crash upset it.'
    'Upset it? It's a tank of green stuff.'
    'Craggy's number one rule when it comes to ships, even alien ones. Listen to the ship.'
    He placed his hands on the tank and closed his eyes.
    'Craggy.'
    'Shush. I'm listening. Hmm. She isn't happy.'
    'For goodness sake...'
    'Ah!' He lowered his hands towards the bottom of the tank. 'Hmm. Yes. Ok.'
    Had the old man lost the plot completely? 'Craggy. I just...'
    'Come here. Now. Put your hands high up. Here. Feel that?'
    'Just vibrations.'
    Cragg said, 'Vibrations are the ship's words. It's all it has to communicate with. Move your hands lower. More than that. Anything?'
    'Nothing. Oh. Maybe a little