Singing the Dogstar Blues Read Free Page A

Chorian friend and workmate has not completed these tests, the Chorian government has requested that Mavkel choose its own partner by scanning the minds of our students.’
    A buzz of voices broke out in the audience and around me. Camden-Stone turned to face us.
    A mind scan. Holy screte. That would rattle a few cages. There’s a lot of tox floating around about Chorian mind scans. You know the stuff. Heads exploding, faces falling off, brains being wiped. Garbage like that.
    â€˜Naturally, if anyone is opposed to being scanned they may step down as a candidate for the honour of being Mavkel’s partner. If you are opposed, please indicate your choice by moving to the left of the stage.’
    I knew for a fact that Tonio would be opposed. Chaney too. But not me. What a chance to meet an alien. Mind tomind. I never thought I’d see one up close, let alone get mind scanned. On the other hand, if I crossed over to the left side of the stage I could slip out while everyone was focused on the Chorian. Get out of Camden-Stone’s sight for a while until he calmed down. What a choice.
    The alien won by two short noses.
    Chaney was the first to move across the stage. Jorel was next. That started the avalanche. Every hyphen kid in our class moved across. That left four of us: Peter, Sara, Jason and yours truly.
    The Chorian student stepped forward. It looked nervous, gulping with its primary mouth, its secondary tightly closed. Even its skin was dull. Well, as dull as a sparkly white skin can be under bright spotlights. Camden-Stone ushered it forward.
    â€˜Do you all agree to be mind scanned by the Chorian named Mavkel?’ he asked. He was leaning away from Mavkel ever so slightly. ‘Please state your answer for the record. Sara Ferrins?’
    Sara looked like a rabbit going under the wheels. She stared at the Chorian, then at Camden-Stone and baulked. Now there were three.
    Peter was scanned first. It was pretty anticlimactic. Mavkel made a complicated gesture then Peter’s face kind of froze for a second. That was it. Mavkel bowed to him.
    â€˜My thanks. But you are not my partner.’ Its voice was a deep furry harmony that reached to the corners of the hall. Kind of like Billie Holiday with a cold.
    Jason was up next. He was a total brown-noser and Camden-Stone loved him. But would Mavkel? Jason was scanned, but it was the same biz. Thanks, but no thanks.
    It was my turn.
    Forget the rumours about mind scans; all you feel is warmth and a slight pressure. That’s it. That’s all I felt. Kindof like having someone placing their hands on your head and blowing in between their fingers.
    Suddenly the four Chorian Elders went crazy: harmonised gabbling, bouncing up and down on the spot, ears flapping. Then all at once, they stopped screeching. I felt a burst of incredible pressure in my head, like a migraine gone nova. Everything went black for a second. Mavkel grabbed my arm.
    â€˜Partner, pair,’ it sang loudly.
    Camden-Stone turned almost as white as the Chorians.
    â€˜There is some mistake,’ he said, but his voice was lost in the song of the four Chorian Elders. They had walked over to us, carolling their congratulations. The biggest pair, with enormous jowls that hung down to their chests, stopped beside Camden-Stone.
    â€˜This human is one of two. How did this happen?’ one of them sang loudly. It leaned forward, its forehead almost touching Camden-Stone’s.
    Camden-Stone stepped back.
    â€˜I don’t know what you mean?’ he said.
    He looked over at me, his eyes narrow. Obviously I had wrecked his plan. Someone else was supposed to be Mavkel’s partner. Probably Jason.
    â€˜Aaronson isn’t a good choice,’ Camden-Stone said. ‘Mavkel must try again.’
    â€˜No,’ the Elder sang. ‘Mavkel has found its pair. The duality of life is restored.’ Its pair nodded.
    Camden-Stone wasn’t pale any more. He was bright red.