ReaderPaul

@quokka, if you decided to extend this story past 39 chapters, I am sure you would still have an audience.

"No man has ever won a game of ‘Notice anything different about me?’” ~ Unknown

“Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves – slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

“Diligence is the mother of good luck.” ~ Benjamin Franklin in Poor Richard’s Almanack.

Good chapter, @quokka.

How old is Tom? In Chapter 5, Tom is described as "about 11."

@quokka, I forgot whether you mentioned an emergency generator or not for the cavern in case of long, stormy days or in case the solar panels were damaged and unable to function. If it is not in this story so far, it would be easy to get a couple of good generators and have them picked up on a future trip.

I like Tom's sense of humor, as is showing up in various ways.

I like the emphasis on privacy. I have seen too much recent invasion of privacy. And, many years ago, I worked for a chain of retail stores with over 200 locations. I foresaw a problem, and over the PA system I would call (examples of made up names) "Jane in Jewelry" or "Sam in Sporting Goods" or "Ella in Electronics" "Peter in Pharmacy," as a few examples. Most of the other folks who worked there would call, Jane Jones, or Sam Smith, or Ella Edwards, or Peter Pipe or whatever. One day a lady in a particular department started getting phone calls at home. (This was WAY before cell phones became common or inexpensive; if you are paying $2.00 a minute for air time, you tend to think several times before buying a cell.) These harassing calls caused her to get the phone company to change her number. The caller had put the first and last name together and looked her up.... Someone at another location was attacked at home by a stalker. With the number of nuts in the world now, @quokka is right to emphasize privacy, in my opinion.

Yes, it's good to see this one again.

“We will never have true civilization until we have learned to recognize the rights of others.” ~ Will Rogers

“Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.” ~ Doug Larson

And I get to read it again, as well!

I have read a story something like that. You are not alone in wondering about that story. I hoope someone can inform both of us where we might find it.

Up to a point, I agree. However, it was on a school trip from Port Lincoln that the school transportation vehicle was hijacked. Actually, if Tom thinks about it, associating with Gres has caused him much of his trouble. I don't quite remember how many chapters back that was. But it was more than one. This is another good chapter. Quokka, have you recovered the different story where one of your characters discovered the tunnels built back in the 1920s to 1940s era?

At least, here in the United States it is "Attorneys General," i cannot say if the same language rule holds in Australia. Good chapter.

Another good chapter. @quokka, how many chapters will there be to this story?

“Science fiction is any idea that occurs in the head and doesn't exist yet, but soon will, and will change everything for everybody, and nothing will ever be the same again. As soon as you have an idea that changes some small part of the world you are writing science fiction. It is always the art of the possible, never the impossible.” ~ Ray Bradbury

Spiral staircases are horrible for bringing furniture up and down. However, you did say somewhere that these are large ones, so that would help.

Ah, from Operation Hammerhead, I believe. Great story.

“Never tell the truth to people who are not worthy of it.” ~ Mark Twain was writing in: Notebook, in 1902.

“If you’re going to write about someone’s life, you don’t just use them for wallpaper. You have to honor and respect that life.” ~ Nick Flynn

“Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not.” ~ Samuel Johnson

“That’s what we storytellers do. We restore order with imagination. We instill hope again and again and again.” ~ Walt Disney

@quokka did you re-edit this story as a whole and add just a bit to it in places? It seems to have more dialogue than I recall, and fewer spelling and grammar errors. Both of those are good things. It also seems to have a slightly better "flow" in the way the story is being told. Please continue the good work!