‘Not much, really. Just that there was some kind of accident at the lab that caused an explosion. Mum went nuts, got on her phone and went off in the car.’

‘It was definitely an accident?’ I ask. ‘Someone didn’t blow up the lab on purpose?’

‘She seemed to think it was an accident, but we don’t know anything for sure. She was mostly worried about the possibility of experiments in the labs being compromised.’

‘What sort of experiments?’ I ask. I’ve never really wondered what goes on in there before, but it suddenly occurs to me that maybe I should have.

‘They have a few different departments,’ Karim says. ‘Obviously she mostly works on the XGen 16 stuff so she doesn’t know much about what happens in the other areas. Why? What are you thinking?’

‘I’m not sure,’ I say. ‘I guess I’m wondering if there was anything dangerous in the labs.’

‘So you’re thinking the town is going to be overrun with those creepy pink-eyed rabbits, spreading zombie germs through the population? You’ve been in too many life-or-death situations, my friend – you’ve gone straight to disaster movie mode.’

‘Yeah, I guess.’ I lower my voice so Mum won’t hear. ‘I just know that there are things out there in the universe that are dangerous. I don’t want to get taken by surprise again.’ Karim has heard all about Crater Lake, so he knows where I’m coming from.

‘Dude, it is so unlikely that anything like that would happen here. The only thing that Straybridge is known for is all the SMARTtown stuff – renewable energy and super-fast wifi. If I was an alien species, intent on destroying the human race, this is the last place I’d start. Besides, didn’t those spore things come out of a meteor hole or something?’ 17

‘Yeah,’ I laugh. ‘They came out of a meteor hole.’

‘Well, I haven’t seen any meteor holes around here, have you?’

‘No, I haven’t … but maybe there was something in the labs. I just want to be ready.’

‘Lance Sparshott, you were born ready. You are the readiest person I know. I have been secretly calling you “Mister Ready” since I met you.’

‘Alright, I hear you,’ I say. ‘Talk later?’

‘I’ll call you when I hear from Mum,’ Karim says. ‘Be ready.’

‘I will.’

‘I know you will.’

I laugh and hang up as Mum comes back into the room, looking a lot less upset than she did before. ‘Shall we decorate the tree now?’

‘Sure,’ I say. Nothing like something getting blown up to make you feel festive. ‘Shall I get the boxes down from the loft?’

‘No need,’ she beams. ‘I’ve already done it.’

‘Mum,’ I say, ‘that wasn’t smart – what if you’d fainted?’