The Magnetic Stones, Chapter Three

As the Mini-Flashes filed out of the classroom, Miss Jade caught up with Mini-Flash Moon and said to walk with her. So Mini-Flash Moon did, making polite replies to the small talk until she and Miss Jade had put school premises beneath them and climbed the graven steps that zig-zagged to the cusp of the crater.

From this vantage-point they beheld the magnetic stones. Smooth and spherical and white, of size inconceivable, they bridged the black firmament in a sweeping elliptic. Countless like orbs beyond each mountainous horizon completed unseen the design of which this celestial span was but a segment. Miss Jade sat down on a bench and asked her small pupil to tell her what she saw.

Mini-Flash Moon thought quickly. Certain classmates were a pain in the knickers, being so good at this. You always had to be careful not to copy.

“Within our circle of magnetic stones,” was what Mini-Flash Moon settled on, “we are safe. Only a leader such as ours could have engineered this means to shield us not merely from attack, but even detection. Thus in secret, guarded by the stones, we learn and grow and gain in strength. The enemy will only know of us when it’s too late for them.”

“And you have a circle of your own,” hinted Miss Jade. Her jewel-like fingernails fleetingly skimmed over folds of tunic-skirt. “It keeps something secret too.”

Mini-Flash Moon closed her eyes, kicking herself. That was why old Semiprecious was always top. She’d have knit those two worlds seamlessly, without even having to think about it.

Miss Jade however laughed.

“You’ve had one test already, Mini-Flash Moon, and it’s a little late in the day for another,” she reassured her. “No, I just thought we’d have a chat about that very subject. There’s really no better example of how far ahead we are here. Our enemy sees power and invariably hesitates to embrace its full weaponizing potential. That’s a weakness which will contribute to their eventual defeat. Would you believe that out there in the galaxy right now are girls like you who genuinely believe it’s all just a game?”

Scorn for these parties was evident in Miss Jade’s smile, but there was also something confidential meant for Mini-Flash Moon.

“Yet you, likewise, have power you’re not putting to use,” declared Miss Jade. “I believe we’ve both noticed there’s a certain little someone who’s especially susceptible to it?”

Yes, Mini-Flash Moon had noticed. She’d not realised Miss Jade had too. Nor was that the reason she was suddenly lost.

“Mini-Flash Phytolith?” she queried. “But he’s my friend.”

Miss Jade looked long at her.

“That’s our enemies’ way of thinking,” she reminded Mini-Flash Moon. “It’s also the first vulnerability they’ll try to exploit. Second question this morning. You answered it correctly. And war means being ready to use your power whenever there’s an advantage. Against whomever you’re ordered to. We’re working hard to rid you all of dangerous false notions such as friendship, so that when you’re grown and on the front line, the enemy won’t have access to that means of harming you.”

“I understand,” said Mini-Flash Moon at once.

“In that case, you mustn’t shirk,” was Miss Jade’s reply. “The time for action’s coming upon us fast. Perfect illustration is this evening’s…ah. Actually, you’re going to have to miss the film. Don’t worry about your attendance record. I’ll see to it that that doesn’t matter.”

So saying she rose, and took the wondering Mini-Flash Moon by the hand.

“Tonight you’ll receive a little instruction,” said Miss Jade. “Then tomorrow you’re to give that power of yours its first proper deployment.”

END OF CHAPTER THREE