Behind him, he heard the sound of loud voices. He tried to go
faster, but the thick grass held him back. He had to push his way
through it step by step. Varon had come about three kilometres from
the Zeron strongroom and was very tired.
The first part of Varon's plan had been successful. He had got into
the strongroom deep under the ground - he had found the crystal -
and he had got out again. He had succeeded in stealing one of the
most valuable crystals in the Universe. And no one had seen him.
But the second part of his plan had gone completely wrong. The
guards on the planet Zeron had found his spaceship. Varon had been
told that only the strongroom on Zeron was guarded. But now he
knew that was wrong. There were guards all over the planet. The
guards had been waiting for him when he got back to the spaceship.
And now they were chasing him and there was no way he could
escape.
Varon pushed his way through the grass and fell into a pool of
dirty, green water. The shouts were coming closer. He had to keep
moving.
Varon pulled himself slowly to his feet. His face, hands and
overalls were covered in thick green mud. Varon wiped his hands on
his overalls and felt in his pocket. The small, square box was still there.
And in the box, there was the Zeron crystal. The crystal would make
him rich - very, very rich. But first, he had to get back inside hi