Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow by Nathan Bransford Page A

Moonman McGillicutty’s intentions, Jacob knew they only had one choice: Make friends with the locals and try to think of a plan.
    â€œWe’d love to,” Jacob said.
    Dexter started coughing again.
    Moonman beamed. “Right this way! It’s a ten-day walk, so I hope you boys are well rested.”
    Dexter and Jacob bounced after Moonman and tried to get used to walking with less gravity. They made their way over the horizon, stopping every thirty seconds so Moonman could get his nightly sleep, and soon spied a large, crashed silver spaceship along with some small huts made out of the Numonian dust.
    â€œThat’s the spaceship Swift. Our wonderful ancestors were exploring this region of the galaxy when they hit a big diamond and crashed. Turned out they got something better than a diamond.” Moonman beamed, putting his arms around Dexter’s and Jacob’s shoulders and giving them a collegial hug. “They got Numonia.”
    â€œHaven’t you ever tried to leave?” Dexter asked.
    Moonman stopped and sputtered, searching for words. “What . . . Why ... Why would we want to do a thing like that? I . . . Have you noticed this weather? One hundred four thousand, seven hundred eightythree days of sunshine a year!”
    The boys heard a whoop, and a large woman with long blond hair came rushing over from one of the huts.
    â€œThat would be Stargirl McGillicutty,” Moonman said with a wink. “My better half.”
    Just before Stargirl reached them, night fell and Moonman and Stargirl promptly went to sleep, snoring loudly in concert. Jacob and Dexter waited for them to wake up.
    â€œGood morning, children!” Stargirl shouted when she awoke, pressing Dexter and Jacob to her large body in an enveloping hug. “Welcome to Numonia! Did you sleep well? Has Moonman told you about the Tree of Life? Did you, Moonman?”
    â€œDidn’t want to overwhelm the boys. There will be plenty of time to show them the wonders of Numonia. I suspect they’ll be here awhile.” He winked at the boys again.
    â€œOh, but you have to!” Stargirl turned to the boys. “It is the most incredible sight you will ever see in your lives. You must see it, you simply must.”
    â€œWhaddya say, boys? It’s a five-week walk. You up for it?”
    Jacob turned away and looked over at the spaceship Swift. It had a large dent in the front from the Dragon’s Eye, but it looked like it might be space-worthy. Jacob wanted to rush over there and fly off the planet and go find Sarah, but when he looked back at Moonman McGillicutty he saw such hopefulness and eagerness in his face. Jacob knew he had to keep the locals happy if he was going to have a shot at stealing their ship.
    â€œActually,” Dexter said. “What we really need is to—”
    â€œSure,” Jacob said. “Let’s go see the Tree of Life.”
    â€œJacob . . .” Dexter whispered. “Maybe we should—”
    â€œDexter is even more excited to see it than I am.” Jacob smirked at Dexter.
    Dexter crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at Jacob, but he didn’t argue.
    The McGillicuttys whooped with excitement, and the four of them began the less-than-arduous five-week walk to the Tree of Life. The rest of the planet looked identical to the stretches Jacob and Dexter had already seen. Gray, gray, and more gray. As they walked, Moonman told them about the North and South poles of Numonia, which they never visited because it never got completely dark there and they couldn’t sleep. “We stay in the middle of the planet so we can get our rest,” Stargirl said. Jacob kicked the dust and jumped a few times just for fun, but the trip was slow going with the McGillicuttys stopping to sleep (and snore) every time it was night.

    Finally, after a little over a half hour of walking, they were on the other side of the planet. That’s when Jacob saw the Tree of