Skratch took the helm and dived and
they all waited. But something didn't feel right and Skratch upped the
submarine periscope and squinted into the viewfinder. The Wabbit flinched but
said he nothing. Skratch turned to look at the Wabbit and addressed him
formally. "Commander, we appear to be in space." Lapinette caught the Wabbit's eye. "You
knew?" "I more or less thought I knew," frowned the Wabbit.
"What can you see?" "There are four astral bodies,"
reported Skratch, "and one of them is probably us." "Are we
communicating?" asked the Wabbit. "Our craft is sending and the
others are receiving," said Skratch. "They're beaming energy photonically,"
breathed Ghost Bunny. Skratch the Cat purred with delight.
"Then this periscope is probably the control unit for the beam." The
Wabbit had an idea. "Perform a 180° sweep, Skratch!" Skratch gradually
twisted the scope to port and then to starboard. "Report!" snapped
the Wabbit. Skratch paused for a second. "It varies the
quantity of energy to each of the other bodies in the system."
"Switch it off," said the Wabbit. Skratch looked nonplussed, but Lapinette pointed to a red button and jabbed it with a paw.
"And now?" asked the Wabbit. "The beams have faded Commander,"
mouthed Skratch but he could hardly be heard as an enormous bang
split the air and their compartment hatch shook and started to open ...
