The Shrinking Race Read Online Free Page B

clashing against their metal bodies.
    Kip felt a steely claw scrape the back of his spacesuit.
    The claw closed around his shoulder and Kip’s feet lifted off the ground. An Aerobot had him in its clutches! It was trying to fly off with him.
    â€˜Nooooooooooo!’ howled Finbar.
    Then suddenly, the Aerobots’ screeching stopped. Their wings fell silent and still.
    The Aerobot let go of Kip. He dropped to the ground, and commando-rolled to a stop.
    The other Aerobots started dropping from the sky too. They landed with a loud clanging of metal, and then sat perfectly still on the ground. A gentle electronic hum filled the air. It was the sound of robots in stand-by mode.
    HUMMMMMMM
    â€˜It worked!’ grinned Kip, getting up. ‘MoNa’s MagnaSweep’s magnetic field wiped their memories.’
    MoNa 4000

    â€˜Let’s trek back to Cobaltville and share the good news,’ Finbar said.
    Kip’s gaze settled on a nearby Aerobot. ‘Why walk?’ he asked, a smile spreading across his face. ‘We’ve got winged robots at our service.’
    Finbar looked doubtful.
    â€˜Don’t be boring,’ said Kip, giving Finbar a friendly punch on the shoulder.
    Kip cracked open a can of liquid teeth cleaner from his backpack. After all those sugarmelons, his teeth felt furry.
    Kip sucked up the entire can of tooth cleaner through the airlock in his helmet. He swilled it around in his mouth and then spat it back through the airlock.
    Then Kip and Finbar sat on the back of an Aerobot. Kip programmed Cobaltville’s co-ordinates into the robot’s computer.
    The Aerobot flapped its powerful wings and lifted off. Twisting and turning, it weaved through the rock formations easily. It rose even higher, soaring on each gust of wind.
    â€˜You were right,’ said Finbar, holding Kip around the waist. ‘This is better than trekking!’
    But Kip wasn’t listening. He was thinking about sugarmelons. His teeth felt better after being cleaned, but his tummy ached from all the sugar.
    Kip wouldn’t have admitted it to his mum or even a Teacherbot, but he felt like he’d had enough lollies for a week!
    â€˜The Baltians live on lollies. They don’t eat vegies or anything healthy,’ he suddenly called over his shoulder to Finbar, thinking aloud.
    Far below them, Cobaltville was coming into view.
    â€˜Their diet’s not nutritious. Maybe that’s why they’re shrinking!’ Kip went on.
    He was sure his theory was right.
    Blutor said the shrinking began two years ago. That’s when sugarmelons were invented!

    The Aerobot touched down in the field in the middle of Cobaltville. When the Baltians caught sight of the Aerobot, they ran for cover.
    Just in time, Finbar spotted Blutor. ‘It’s OK!’ Finbar called. ‘We’ve deprogrammed the Aerobots!’
    â€˜It’s safe to come out!’ Blutor yelled to the other blue people.
    Blutor ran over to Kip and Finbar as quickly as his little legs could carry him.
    â€˜I think I know why you’re shrinking, too,’ Kip said, when Blutor got closer.
    Can’t believe I’m about to give a lecture about healthy eating! Kip thought.
    â€˜Maybe it’s your diet,’ he suggested. ‘You aren’t getting any nutrients from fresh vegetables.’
    â€˜Lollies growing on trees,’ Blutor said slowly, shaking his head. ‘I knew there had to be a downside.’
    The streets of Cobaltville were filling up with tiny blue people. Everyone wanted to clap and cheer for Kip and Finbar.
    So this is how it feels to be a hero , thought Kip. He desperately wanted to beat Candy to the shield and be a hero on Earth too.
    But deep down, Kip knew Cobalt wasn’t the new Earth he was looking for. The Baltians weren’t ready for planet-mates just yet.
    After all, it could take the Baltians years to grow back to their normal size. And they’d have to regrow their