The Earthrise Trilogy by Colin Owen Page B

announced, "let's celebrate this momentous event."  
    There were more cheers and calls of approval. A party atmosphere invaded Lark that day, and little was done of any scientific value.
    Some days later, John was disturbed by screams coming from the lake. He ran out to see what it was all about only to see Lisa, distraught, and standing over Katy who was lying on the ground at the waters edge. John took off towards them calling as he ran,  
    "What's wrong, what's happened?"  
    "It's Katy," Lisa called to him, "there's been an accident."  
    "What accident?" he said, breathlessly when he got to them.  
    "Katy was diving into the water when she hit her head on something. She wasn't spotted for four or five minutes. She's not breathing."  
    "Where's Sam?" John shouted just as Sam arrived from behind him. Sam fell down at Katy's side and put his head to her chest. A few seconds later he reared up and struck Katy a heavy blow to the chest. He breathed into her mouth several times and hit her again. He dropped his head to listen, "We have a heartbeat," he said, and Katy gasped in air just after he said it.  
    "Thank God, O thank God," Lisa sobbed, kneeling by her daughter. "You're OK now Kats, you're Ok." John picked her up and carried her back to their apartment and laid her on her bed.  
    "Just rest a while love," he said, "you'll be right as nine pence in no time."
    A little later, John and Steve got together to talk about the incident.  
    "We must be more careful," Steve said, "every life here is precious, we can't afford to lose a single one. I don't like rules, but it looks as though we'll have to make some where the children are concerned."  
    "Agreed," said John, "we'll have to have some sort of supervision for them at the lake, I'll see to it."  
    "Good," Steve said, then, looking straight at John, he asked, "Are you Ok?" Steve's hand found it's way to John's shoulder. John let go and burst into tears.  
    "We nearly lost her Steve, our little angel." He sobbed for a while with Steve comforting him as best he could.  
    Katy made a full recovery and was back at school the following day.  
    "It was a close call," Lisa said to the class, "now what can we learn from this?"  
    She looked around for a volunteer to pick on.  
    "Daniel, how about you, what have you learned by this incident?"  
    Daniel looked a little embarrassed but said, "We should be more careful near the lake miss."  
    "Yes, good, but what else? Shelley, how about you?"  
    "We should never give up miss."  
    "How so?" Lisa asked a little bemused.  
    "Well, Katy looked to be dead, she had stopped breathing and there was no pulse, but Sam came along and changed what he saw. He didn't give up just because it looked hopeless."  
    "Excellent Shelley," Lisa complimented her, "that is wonderful, a lesson well learned. Now, is there anyone else?"  
    Chris' hand went up, "Yes Christopher."  
    "All life here is precious, we are the remnant of the whole human race, and we should face up to the responsibility of that."  
    Lisa was taken aback, she hadn't expected such answers.  
    "Class," she said, and paused, leaning on her table, "I have a confession to make." All ears pricked up. "I had not realised just how much you have all grown up in the time we've been here. It's obvious to me now that you are more aware of our situation than I am. I apologise for not giving you credit for who, and what you are."  
    This last sentence cost Lisa some tears. The class gathered around her but it was Katy who spoke.  
    "And I apologise to you all," she sobbed, "I was careless and could have caused you all much pain. We are here for a purpose, and I nearly let you down by not fulfilling mine. I'm sorry."  
    There were hugs a-plenty until it was time to end the lessons. When Lisa got home she hugged John and said, "I have not been the teacher I should have been to the children, but today, they have become my teacher. I am so humbled John, just to be here."