Valley of Light , livre ebook

Title Page
VALLEY OF LIGHT
The Third Book In The Saskia Story
by
Ian Berry



Publisher Information
Valley of Light Published in 2013 by
Andrews UK Limited
www.andrewsuk.com
The right of Ian Berry to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1998
Copyright © 2013 Ian Berry
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Any person who does so may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.



One
“Saskia? Seen my denim skirt?”
“You were wearing it the last night when you changed to be ready for bed. Your skirt isn’t anywhere, you disappeared it.”
“Oh. That’s alright then. I’ll just - make it appear again. There.”
I changed to be wearing what I’d been wearing last night. I didn’t want the top but it needed to reappear anyway. We did try to be normal girls, but it gets difficult when you can change shape and clothes at will and have super powers.
“What’s on the agenda for today then?”
“Shopping. Fridge is empty. Need to look after Dad.”
It had been nearly a year since Saskia had vowed to look after her dad and devote herself to making him happy at the shuttle launch in Florida. Rob remembered nothing of this, of course, but Saskia and I remembered all too well.
The year or so between had been kind to all of us, Saskia was now eighteen and I was coming up to my eighteenth birthday as well, although in my case this was an arbitrary date, precedent having been set when I turned seventeen, and now it was always the same day.
Rob seemed really happy as well. He looked on both of us as his daughters. I would always remember his words on the blanket in Florida, ‘Daughters plural - I like that’. He didn’t remember that but I did. He made me happy so as we said at the time - I would remember it for him!
“I will remember it for you.”
“Pardon? Hello? Earth calling Saskia? And you may answer.”
“Oh, sorry Saskia. I was miles away - in both time and space.”
“Did you just say what I thought you said?”
“Did I say it out loud? Sorry.”
“No, don’t be silly. Don’t be sorry. I think those words as well you know.”
“I’m all grown up now so I’m not going to cry. Are we ready to carry out the Prime Directive?”
“Yes Captain!”
“Then make it so.”
“Err - no Starship Enterprise available, Captain. Will the bus do?”
I sighed theatrically, “I suppose so. What’s the world coming to.”
“Well, I’m eighteen, how about teaching me to drive?”
“Saskia, you know we talked about this. If I show you how to drive it’ll have to be off the road. Then you won’t pass your test despite being able to drive as well as me. As soon as I can drive on the road we’ll be cooking on gas.”
“Hurry up and be eighteen then.”
“I know you’re in a rush, but just be patient.”
“Not helped by them raising the age limit to eighteen.”
I knew what she meant, another month or so and we’d have been behind the wheel already.
“What’s the thing about driving anyway? We can fly for Heaven sake,” I said. “Who needs a car?” I thought about it for a moment. “Saskia Hunt! You’re jealous of Emma, aren’t you?”
“She’s been eighteen for ages . She’s already got a little car. Her dad got Dad to find her a nice one.”
“He’ll do the same for you as soon as we sort it out, you know that.”
“Yeah. You’re right. Jealousy ill becomes us. I’ll wait, I’m a good girl.”
“ You might think that.....”
She thumped me - hard. I grinned. Her thump would probably have knocked down your average wall. Didn’t bother me. I didn’t even bother to say ‘owe’ for the look of the thing.
“Come on. Let’s ride the Starship Bus. The Prime Directive beckons.”
“Got any money? No? Didn’t your dad leave any?” I sighed, then changed to be holding money. “Will this be enough?”
We rode the bus into the town. On the way I told Saskia I wanted to call at the American Diner. “Just to pass the time of day with Chloe.”
“And see Jim’s face when you tell him we still won’t join his counter dancers.”
It was easier to call on Chloe first, without being loaded down with bags.
“Hi, Saskias. How are you today?”
“Hi, Chloe. We’re fine. How’s the counter dancing business?”
“It’s up and down.” She grinned. “I’m glad you’ve dropped in, saved me a phone call. When’s your birthday, Saskia? Exactly, I mean?”
“Two weeks today. Why? You’ll not get us on your counter you know. We’ve retired.”
“No, no. Nothing like that. Do you remember Alex - and that hunky Marco?”
“Ye-ss. What’s going on this time?”
“Alex and Marco are involved in a West End production in London. Opening night is the Saturday of your birthday. They’ve invited you to go to the first performance on the Saturday afternoon.”
“Not more dancing? What’s the production?”
“Don’t worry, no participation required. It’s a brand new production so even you won’t be able to join in.”
I thought ‘don’t be too sure of that, Chloe. Watch one run through and I could probably replace any of the cast’. I didn’t say that of course. Chloe didn’t know about our - abilities.
“Got to ask the bill payers permission first but it should be ok. Can we get back to you? Oh, by the way, is it just us or can we take some of the girls?”
“As many as you like. I think they’d be pleased to see them again.”
We escaped without running into Jim. He still tried to get us to dance on his counter again. It was easier to run away than explain we’d retired each time.
“Saskia, how many of the girls are still here? I lose count.”
“Only four out of the original eight. There’s Ellie Harrison, Emma, obviously, Sophie and Hailey. Tasha is about to go and live with that cousin she’s in love with. Nikki moved to Scotland with her parents. The other Ellie emigrated with her parents. Charlie moved to Newcastle with her mum after her parents split up. Only four left, plus us two.”
“That’s a shame. D’you think the remaining four would like to accompany us to celebrate my birthday?”
“I’d think so. Have to ask. You’re planning something - I know the signs.”
“What I’d really like to do is stay at that hotel we went to with James when he was knighted, and see Angelo again. I know Maria’s cancer is in remission but it’d be nice to see him again.”
“Saskia, that is such a good idea! Mmm. Maybe we need to see James and see how much money we’ll need to do that?”
“Yeah. Won’t come cheap. We’ll probably need to see how much we can get out of Voice’s piggy bank. Hope it’ll be enough.”
“Go see James this afternoon?”
“Why not. We can blag a go in his pool as usual.”
Rob came home for lunch. We did beans on toast with some nice cream cakes we’d bought for afters.
“Dad, we, that is to say Saskia really, have been invited to London to the opening night of a production that Alex and Marco are involved in. You remember? The Grease thing in Manchester?”
“How could I forget”
“We’d spend Saturday night in London. We need you to say yes. There’ll be about five or six of us.”
“Six of you lot? London won’t know what’s hit it. Yes, you can go - subject to a review of arrangements and itinerary once you’ve sorted it.”
Saskia jumped up and gave him a hug and a kiss.
“Thanks, Dad. We’re going to see James after lunch to get some information from him.”
“And use his pool or something, no doubt.” Rob chuckled. “You use his pool more than he does.”
We flew to James and Lydia’s. We didn’t want to bother Rob and the buses weren’t handy. It was easier.
Jeeves answered the door. “Good afternoon, Saskia and Saskia. Sir James is in the conservatory. Would you like your usual hot chocolate.”
“Jeeves - you can read minds. I always said you could.”
“I will assume your answer to be in the affirmative. You will find your own way?”
“No problem. I’ve got the ball of string to pay out so we don’t get lost.”
Jeeves turned away, but not before we saw the beginnings of a smile on his face.
We presented ourselves at the conservatory. “Knock, knock.”
“Oh, hello, you two. Come on in. How’s the SuperTwins business?”
“Shh, James. Walls have ears. In answer to your question, much as usual. Nothing big at the moment.”
James and Lydia were the only people who knew who we really were. They knew all about us - including that I was really Richie. We knew nobody could have heard James. If anybody had been able to, he wouldn’t have been able to ask the question.
“I suppose you want to use the pool? Do you know, I think you use it more than we do.”
“That’s just what Dad said.”
“James, please tell us if we’re doing anything you don’t like or if you think we’re taking advantage of you.”
“Saskia, you could never take advantage of us. It’s always quite the reverse. You’ve done so much for Lydia and me we can’t begin to repay you so shush and get on with it. By the way, when’s your birthday?”
“Two weeks today. That’s what we want to talk to you about. We’ve been invited to London by some members of the Grease cast we saw a couple of years ago in Manchester. We’d like to stay in that hotel you took us to when you were knighted. We’d like to talk to Angelo again. What we need to know is how much it might cost us.”
There was silence for a few seconds then James said, “Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Nothing. It’ll be our birthday present to you.”
“But James you can’t! There’ll be six of us anyway. W