From the roll of purple he looked across to where his craft had landed. It was no longer there. It was now hovering above the trees, turning slowly, like a leaf hanging on a string. The pilot was learning to fly, trying out the controls.

"No!" yelled Ed, running down the hillside. He tripped and fell, rolling over and over, then he scrambled to his feet and ran again, yelling and waving his arms.

But whoever, or whatever was flying the craft was becoming expert very quickly. It rose steadily into the sky then the rear rockets fired and it shot across the valley towards Ed, rolling slightly to one side. It roared triumphantly past him. Ed watched it in dismay as it gained height and faded into the clouds, heading for the mothership.