He jumped nimbly off the roof and stood looking down at them grimly. Nicola had forgotten about his height. It was like looking up at a small tree.

‘We’re very sorry,’ said Nicola humbly.

Georgio’s face broke into an enormous smile. ‘You know what that was like? Swimming on one of your Earth beaches! What do you call it again? Grabbing a wave?’

‘Catching a wave,’ said Sean. ‘Or surfing.’

‘Ah, yes! I remember! Well, I admit, that wasn’t quite what I expected while I was enjoying a peaceful afternoon in the pool, but never let it be said that I can’t deal with the unexpected. Hello, Nicola, Sean, Katie and Tyler! It’s a pleasure to see you all again!’ He shook hands warmly with each of them. His voice changed slightly as he spotted Greta. ‘Oh, and you too, of course, Greta.’

At that moment Shimlara’s mother, Mully, appeared around the side of the house. Apart from her height, she looked just like an ordinary mum, but Nicola knew that Mully was actually a former officer in the Globagaskarian Army and as tough as nails.

‘Look where our young Earthling friends decided to land their spaceship,’ said Georgio, pointing at the swimming pool. ‘Aren’t they creative?!’

Mully smiled. ‘I hope you’ve all got time to come in for a cup of blueberry tea before you leave, Nicola?’

‘Definitely,’ said Nicola gratefully.

They followed her into the house. All the rooms were circular, instead of square, with huge murals and mirrors on the walls. Everything was on a bigger scale than on Earth. Nicola walked by a coffee table that came up to her waist; the dining-room table was above her head.

Shimlara’s little brother Squid appeared with his thumb in his mouth, dragging a scruffy old blue security blanket behind him. Although he was only three years old, he was exactly the same height as Nicola. ‘Earthling!’ he cried when he saw Nicola. He saw the others and hugged his blanket ecstatically. ‘Lots of Earthlings!’

‘Hey there, Space Brigade! I was so excited when I got your i-mail!’ Shimlara bounced into the room, ponytail bobbing, eyes sparkling. She had wild curly hair like Nicola, except that hers was dark brown while Nicola’s was light brown. She was about the same height as Nicola’s dad.

They all sat around the enormous dining-room table and Mully served giant cups of blueberry tea and crunchy almond biscuits the size of dinner plates.

‘So, who is your client?’ she asked.

‘He’s the Commander-in-Chief of Shobble,’ said Nicola.

‘Oh, you mean Enrico,’ said Mully with a faraway look in her eyes. ‘I knew him many years ago in my army days. He’s a handsome, charming man. We actually went on a few dates before I met Georgio.’

‘Imagine,’ said Shimlara. ‘My dad could have been a handsome, charming man.’