Rust spread across its metal surface, eating it away in an instant, until only an ordinary tuft of animal-like hair remained. The hairs unraveled strand by strand, scattering in the breeze, until just one stayed behind. That single hair rose gracefully into the air.
It didn’t fly as fast as a shuttle, but it could’ve raced a fighter jet and held its own. Nothing stood in its way. Soon, it was nearly at the stratosphere—the ozone layer that shields our planet from ultraviolet light.
It swooped there a few times, as if shaking its head, then suddenly changed its mind and plunged downward like a stone. Falling was even easier. One moment it was in the sky, the next—buried in a small mound of earth, vanishing into it as if absorbed. And then…
At the scientific institute, chaos broke out.
There worked the renowned Professor of Astronomy—her official title and degree—who carried another, far more important title for herself: Erich’s Mom.
She was at her desk, happily running calculations on her tablet, humming with satisfaction when everything clicked. That’s when she was shaken—literally—by her colleague from the Climate Department, head of Ecology, who was panicking.
“This is impossible! Do you see what’s happening? What we predicted thousands of years in the future is unfolding right before our eyes!”
“What? What could be that important?” The Professor-Mom snapped out of her math.
“See for yourself!”
Colleagues from every department clustered around, gasping and exclaiming at the data. Earth’s axis was tilting wildly, rocking back and forth as though the planet itself had gone mad.
“Yes, exactly!” the colleague shouted. “And on top of that—”
“I’d bet my life the amount of solar energy reaching us has dropped, too,” the Professor whispered, lips gone pale.
“What does that mean? Explain it to us!” voices clamored from all sides.
But she wasn’t listening anymore. With trembling fingers, she fumbled for her phone, hurriedly dialing Erich’s number. She had to warn him. Hurry, hurry!
Behind her, panicked cries rose louder and louder:
“A new Ice Age is coming! Not this—not now!”
The call from Mom caught Erich halfway home. On the line was the most alarmed voice in the world—a voice no one else could possibly have, except his mom when she used it to fire off urgent instructions:
“Get out of school and head home right now. Lock every door and go down to the basement. You three—yourself, Nibi, and Pobbi—wait there for me. I’ll tell you what to do next. Ask your teacher for permission to leave immediately.”
His heart thumped in rhythm with her words, and he could feel her fear and pain in every beat. As soon as she finished, he reported back:
“I’ll do it, Mom!” He ended the call and snapped into rescue mode. How would those brave people who always saved others in movies act in a moment like this?
Run to Pobbi first? Or straight home? But the pup was already at the house. Nibi, though—she was still outside, like him. Only she was even farther away. Which meant she was in greater danger than anyone.
Decision made! He squared his shoulders, feeling strong and brave for the very first time in his life—even though his legs trembled and his whole body shook. This time, he couldn’t mess up. No more cowardice.
“That’s who you are, Big Snotty Er.” In his mind, Maris and Mary’s mocking voices rang out in chorus. For a moment, it froze him. But he shook it off quickly, realizing this was bigger, far more serious, than any schoolyard insult.
How do you spread your wings? Nibi probably knew how—maybe she could actually do it. All he could manage was running, harder and faster, barely feeling his legs.
How long had he been running? A couple of years at least—it sure felt that way. When they finally made it home, he’d have to measure his height; he was sure he must’ve grown from all that running.
The familiar road blurred before his eyes… and there she was. Nibi hadn’t disappeared this time. She was pacing back and forth, counting her steps, constantly changing her rhythm. She’d pause for a moment, then start again.
“Fast… slow,” she announced each time. “Here I go faster, then slower. That’s what Earth is doing now. Sometimes rushing, sometimes stalling.”
“We really have to rush!” shouted the fastest person alive (at least in his opinion). “Mom called—she said a disaster’s about to happen! We have to hide and save Pobbi!”
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and then Add to home screen.