Hawking Lucy - Georges Secret Key to the Universe

About the Book

Ever wanted to travel into space?

Meet George hes just an ordinary boy, but all thats about to change with the arrival of his new next-door neighbours.

Thats because they own Cosmos a top-secret, talking super-computer who can whisk George away on a rollercoaster ride into outer space!

But Cosmos is in danger, and if he falls into the wrong hands George is headed for sure-fire deep space danger...

Contents

Note:

Some words and phrases in this book are underlined . These are links you can click to read more information. You can always find your way back to where you were in the story by clicking the link at the end of the section.

PIGS DONT JUST vanish, thought George to himself as he stood staring into the depths of the very obviously empty pigsty. He tried closing his eyes and then opening them again, to see if it was all some kind of horrible optical illusion. But when he looked again, the pig was still gone, his vast muddy pink bulk nowhere to be seen. In fact, when George examined the situation for a second time, it had got worse, not better. The side door of the pigsty, he noticed, was hanging open, which meant someone hadnt shut it properly. And that someone was probably him.

Georgie! he heard his mother call from the kitchen. Im going to start supper in a minute so youve only got about an hour. Have you done your homework?

Yes, Mum, he called back in a fake cheery voice.

Hows your pig?

Hes fine! Fine! said George squeakily. He threw in a few experimental oinks, just to make it sound as though everything was business as usual, here in the small back garden that was full of many, many vegetables and one enormous but now mysteriously absent pig. He grunted a few more times for effect it was very important his mother did not come out into the garden before George had time to think up a plan. Quite how he was going to find the pig, put it back in the sty, close the door and get back in time for supper, he had no idea. But he was working on it, and the last thing he needed was for one of his parents to appear before he had all the answers.

George knew the pig was not exactly popular with his parents. His mother and father had never wanted a pig in the back garden, and his dad in particular tended to grind his teeth quite hard when he remembered who lived beyond the vegetable patch. The pig had been a present: one cold Christmas Eve a few years back, a cardboard box full of squeaks and snuffles had been delivered to their front door. When George opened it up, he found a very indignant pink piglet inside. George lifted him carefully out of the box and watched with delight as his new friend skidded around the Christmas tree on his tiny hooflets. There had been a note taped to the box. Dear All! it read. Happy Christmas! This little chap needs a home can you give him one? Love Grandma xxx.

Georges dad hadnt been delighted by the new addition to his family. Just because he was a vegetarian, it didnt mean he liked animals. Actually, he preferred plants. They were much easier to deal with: they didnt make a mess or leave muddy trotter prints on the kitchen floor or break in and eat all the biscuits left out on the table. But George was thrilled to have his very own pig. The presents hed received from his mum and dad that year were, as usual, pretty dreadful. The home-knitted purple and orange striped jumper from his mum had sleeves which stretched right down to the floor; he had never wanted a set of panpipes and he had a hard time looking enthusiastic when he unwrapped a build-your-own-wormery kit.