"It's a bus," said Nicola.
"It's a school bus," said Greta. "How embarrassing. We're not going to look like traveling journalists. We're going to look like . . . school kids!"
Nicola refrained from pointing out that they were, in fact, school kids.
JJ-11 didn't seem to have heard their comments. He was walking alongside the bus, running his hand along the paintwork.
"It's a strange, wonderful machine," he said. "The engineering is delightfully basic." He turned to look at them. "I assume this is the sort of vehicle Earthling journalists would use?"
"Erm, possibly," said Nicola. It seemed unlikely that anyone on Volcomania would recognize it as a school bus, and she didn't want to irritate JJ-11 any further.
"These are the keys," said JJ-11, handing Nicola a set of keys.
"Thank you," said Nicola.
"Keys," repeated JJ-11. "That's what they're called. You use them to turn on the vehicle."
"Yes," said Nicola. "I'm an Earthling. I know."
"I should think so," snapped JJ-11.
Goodness. He really was a difficult person.
"This is where you'll sleep tonight," said JJ-11. He indicated a small stone hut they hadn't noticed while they'd been looking at the bus. "You'll find food and drink inside, and all your props, passports, and clothing."
"You've done a great job," said Katie to JJ-11. "It must have been a lot of work setting all this up for us."
JJ-11 looked startled. Suddenly he smiled and his sour face was transformed.
"Well, yes, it was a lot of work, but that's my job, so I obviously don't begrudge . . . but certainly, yes, it took some time . . . and, ah, I do like to do things properly, but of course any professional does, but, ah . . . !" He clapped his hands together and his smile vanished. "Any questions?"
"What about scuba diving gear for when we go through the Underground Sea?" asked Sean. Nicola shivered. Sean was obviously looking forward to that part.
"On the conveyance." JJ-11 jerked his head at the bus.
"What about maps?" asked Tyler.
"No need for maps on Volcomania," said JJ-11. "Follow the Blue-5 road. All the way to the Underground Sea. Once you get to Whimsy, you'll just have to ask people for directions. Not that anybody will give you any.They'll just recite poetry, or stare into your eyes for twenty minutes without saying a word. The Whimsian personality is somewhat frustrating." JJ-11 gave an irritated grimace at the thought of the Whimsian personality.
"Any more questions?" he barked, as if they were all annoying Whimsians.
Nicola could think of lots of questions. Where does the Blue-5 road begin? How will we find Georgio and Mully once we get to Whimsy? How safe is that scuba diving equipment?
But she could see JJ-11 trying to hide a yawn. He obviously wanted to get back to his own bed.
"No, that's all," she said. She tried to follow Katie's example by sounding grateful and polite. "Thank you very much for your help."
JJ-11 ignored her. For some reason, Nicola never got the same response as Katie did when she tried to be nice to unpleasant people. Perhaps they could tell she was faking it.
"Good night then," said JJ-11. He suddenly bent over and shook each of their hands vigorously. "Good luck." Then he turned around and vanished off into the dark, fiery night.
Nicola and the rest of the Space Brigade looked at one another. Their shoulders were slumped and their filthy, ashy faces suddenly looked deflated and weary. Nobody said a word as they followed Nicola inside the stone hut--exhausted and drained.
What would tomorrow bring?
CHAPTER 12
Nicola's mother was right: Everything did seem better the next day. ("One day," Nicola's mother had once said, "you will realize that I am right about everything." This day had not yet come. For example, her belief that Nicola looked so much "prettier" with her hair pulled out of her eyes was plainly, demonstrably wrong.)