5 The Diversion

Five, the diversion FEELING DEFEATED, ZEKE WALKED slowly back over to Harris's house. "Our plan didn't work," he said to Harris. "Even a powerful space storm, like the one we saw on the cosmic imager, won't stop my parents from taking me back to Tragas."

"Why not?" asked Harris. "I thought you said that storm could tear your ship in half?" "My father installed a special shield onto the ship before we left Tragas," Zeke explained. "It can deflect anything it runs into out in space."

"Drats!" Harris flopped onto his bed and stared at the ceiling, trying to think of another way to stop Zeke from leaving. Zeke paced back and forth across the bedroom. A few seconds later, Harris sat up and jumped off his bed. Zeke could tell that he had a new idea.

"So your parents plan to go home in a spaceship?" Harris asked. "Yes, the same one we used to travel from Tragas to Earth," Zeke said. "And where is this ship?" Harris asked. "In our backyard." Harris was confused.

"How have you been able to hide it all this time?" he asked. "It must be pretty tiny. I've been in your backyard lots of times. I think I would have noticed a spaceship." "No, it's actually pretty big," Zeke said. "I can show you, but we can't do it now. My parents are still home packing."

"Hmm... what if I ask my parents to invite your parents out to say goodbye?" Harris suggested. "That would give us a chance to check out the spaceship." "Great idea!" said Zeke, feeling slightly hopeful again.