"Let's try to escape," you say.

It takes Angus only a few minutes to find the portal leading to the shuttlecraft. At his touch, the wall opens, revealing a sleek saucer-shaped vehicle.

"It really looks like a flying saucer!" you exclaim.

"That's not a coincidence," says Angus. "It's the most efficient shape for a spacecraft."

In a moment the two of you are seated in the cockpit. We are lucky, indeed," Angus says. "This craft is controlled automatically. Watch." Instantly,  the craft catapults into space, then veers toward Earth. Within a few hours, you are looking down at farms and woodland below as the craft rapidly descends, brakes, and seems to float for a few moments before gently setting down in a cornfield. Looking through the side ports, you can see two farmers standing by a pickup truck. They are pointing at you, obviously excited by your arrival.

The hatch opens and you leap to the ground.

"Come on," you call to Angus. "I'll give you a hand."

But the kindly old man shakes his head. "Thanks, but when I was captured 1200 years ago I had only a few years to live. So I'll stay on this ship, where I won't grow any older. Besides, my family and friends died long ago."

You're still holding your hand out toward Angus when the port closes and the craft suddenly and completely disappears, leaving you staring in disbelief at the cornfield where you landed minutes before.

"Hey, what was that?" "Where did you come from?" "Where did that thing go?" the farmers yell as they run toward you.

/ENDING Nº13/