Milo Moon: It Never Happened Read Online Free

composed of very small light blue scales. More like fish than snake or lizard he thought, just before he feinted again. George started all over again in trying to wake him up, and wondered why he continued in this job.
    ‘Ladies and gentlemen. This is your automated cabin supervisor speaking. Please leave the beam transporter by the side exit door immediately. Dematerialisation will begin in four minutes. We remind you that we take no responsibility for lost hand luggage, bodies or body parts, after the red dematerialisation warning light is illuminated. Thank you for your understanding.’
    George manhandled Milo to his feet and managed to get his semi-conscious body near the exit door. He pushed the button and waited for it to open.
    ‘Right, come on Milo. Let’s get moving,’ George said, as he walked Milo through the door.
    ‘George?’
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘I can see where I’ve been,’ he said, as he suddenly realised he could see the ‘ Welcome to ARC’ sign in front of him at the end of a white hall, and at the same time, the door closing behind him.
    ‘So you’re awake then?’
    ‘Almost,’ he said, with no sense of surety whatsoever.
    ‘Good. Now let’s get through the EVR procedure and we can be on our way.’
    ‘Silly question I know George. But what is an EVR procedure?’
    ‘Exit Virtual Reality.’
    ‘So by that you mean we are not in real reality just yet then?’
    ‘That’s right.’
    ‘So, eh, that means what exactly?’
    ‘You’ll be de-scaled soon.’
    ‘Did I tell you that I don’t like Wednesdays?’
    For something that sounded very complex, returning to reality was really a very simple process. George and Milo walked the length of the white entry hall. Six doors were located at the end of the hall with signs above each door.
    ‘RE-ENTER HERE’
    Each door shimmered slightly, and had a silvery, almost watery translucent look to them. They were numbered from one to six, but in a jumbled order.
    ‘Why are the doors numbered five, three, two, one, four, six?’
    ‘Because they are.’
    ‘Am I asking too many questions?’
    ‘Yes.’
    George ushered Milo into door three, and George went though door six. Milo had never been in a front-loading washing machine, but imagined the sensation he was feeling after entering the door must be very similar. He was floating in a gassy liquid and turning head over heel, spinning and twisting, but never touching the sides of whatever he was in. He couldn’t see any walls, edges, floors or anything that resembled firmness. At first everything was a very pale green, and then a pale blue and now turning into a vague off-white sort of colour. He could only think that these colour changes indicated a change in cycle. Wash, rinse, and soften.
    Milo tried to look at his watch, but the face was blurred. He thought he had been spinning for a few minutes now, and was rather hoping it would stop soon, as he was starting to feel a little nausea. Luckily, before his nausea could manifest itself, he noticed that he was now almost upright, and starting to be lowered. He wasn’t sure, but he had a feeling of being lowered. Difficult to know exactly when you have no concept of up, down or sideways. There was a green light flashing just above his head, just as an announcement was made.
    ‘Please move forward, and watch your step. Welcome to ARC. We wish you a pleasant return to reality.’
    Milo carefully put out his left leg in an attempt to start walking, and was surprised to find some solidity below his foot. His right foot made the same conclusion; as did the left again immediately after that. He noticed that the gassy liquid was dissolving away, and very soon found himself standing next to George again.
    ‘All right Milo?’
    ‘Um, yes, I think so.’
    ‘Good.’
    ‘George?’
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘Where have your scales gone?’
    ‘They protect your matter when you are in beam travel.’
    ‘So, I’m not a fish then?’
    ‘No, you’re not a fish.’
    ‘But