Beryl’s Nokia rumbled. She pulled it out.
“Just a quick word,” messaged H2, “about that virus on Earth . . .”
---
The camper van was silent; no one knew what to say. Beryl’s suppressed anger had put a strain on all.
“Beryl’s not so bad,” Hilda finally said.
“She’ll come around,” said Archie.
Legless nodded.
DJ had his doubts. He had just spent the better part of an hour with Beryl, who had misunderstood the whole concept of a ball-breaker.
She thought it was a compliment.
“Beryl will take some time,” he muttered, and he was about to expand when Beryl charged in.
“Apparently, rats in space are not just carriers,” she said.
“I didn’t know,” said Legless.
“Well, they are more,” said Beryl. “And they are currently rampaging via the portal to Planet Hy Man like, well . . .”
“Rats,”
