“Well I'll be...” The general took a couple of steps towards it. The door appeared to be a single piece of polished metal with alien characters carved around its edge and a massive, complex locking mechanism at its centre.
“At least we know what must be inside it now,” said the PM.
“Inside it?” The general was too stunned to think clearly yet.
The Defence Minister said, “Seismographic and radar surveys show this is the entrance to a cube almost three thousand metres on each edge.”
“And that's a very big box,” said the PM.
The general's composure was returning. “And you think it is the treasure thing the Vinggans wanted?”
“Don't you?”
“The Mechazoid Hoard,” said the Defence Minister in a dreamy voice. “We've had no idea at all what might be in there until now. It's completely impenetrable. Maybe we should redouble our efforts to find out, considering.”
The general looked at her. “Considering that we now know what's out there in the rest of the galaxy.”
“We need weapons,” said the Defence Minister.
“Or, at least, something to bargain with,” said the PM.
Together they stared at the huge, silver door, none of them realising just how urgent the need to open it would soon become.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: After the Crash
Chapter 2: Sam
Chapter 3: Metamorphosis
Chapter 4: First Contact
Chapter 5: O'Shaunessey's
Chapter 6: Steiner's
Chapter 7: Wayne
Chapter 8: A Baffling Case
Chapter 9: Sam's Big Break
Chapter 10: The Bus
Chapter 11: The Space Station
Chapter 12: The Chase
Chapter 13: The Other Chase
Chapter 14: Kidnapped
Chapter 15: Convergence
Chapter 16: Digging In
Chapter 17: The Night Before
Chapter 18: The Morning After
Chapter 19: Happy Ending
Chapter 20: Aftermath
Chapter 21: Chuwar
Chapter 22: Fomenting Rebellion
Chapter 23: Crises
Chapter 24: Blows for Freedom
Chapter 26: Out of the Frying Pan
Chapter 27: Little Mistakes
Chapter 28: Stealing, Fighting, Haggling
Chapter 29: Leadership
Chapter 30: Sluggie's
Chapter 31: The Mechazoid Hoard
Chapter 32: Fait Accompli
Chapter 33: All Roads Lead to Earth
Chapter 34: And Then to Amberley
Chapter 35: Landing
Chapter 36: Götterdämmerung
Chapter 37: Talking to the Treasure
Chapter 38: The Vinggan Way
Chapter 39: In the Rubble
Chapter 40: Convergence (Remix)
Chapter 41: Climax-Anticlimax
Chapter 42: New Directions
Table of Contents
About the Author
Cover
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About the Author
Graham Storrs is a science fiction writer living in Queensland, Australia. A former research scientist, IT consultant and award-winning software designer, he now lives and writes in a quiet corner of the Australian bush with his wife, Christine, an Airedale terrier called Bertie, and a Tonkinese cat called Minsky. His writing credits include three children's science books, and a great many magazine articles, academic papers and book chapters. Since turning his attention to writing fiction he has had short stories published in a wide range of magazines and anthologies. Cargo Cult is his fourth novel.
Other Books By Graham Storrs
Graham's début novel, Timesplash, a near-future, time travel thriller, was a best-seller. It is now published by Pan Macmillan (Momentum), as is the Aurealis Award shortlisted sequel, True Path. A third novel in the Timesplash series is in production.
Heaven is a Place on Earth, Graham's third novel, takes place in a near future dominated by augmented reality and virtual reality technologies, with all the opportunities for deception they bring.
Contact the Author
Graham is always happy to hear from readers, so don't be shy. And if you enjoyed this book, a review on your favourite book retail or review site, or your own blog would be greatly appreciated.
Follow Graham Storrs on his blog: http://grahamstorrs.cantalibre.com
and on Twitter: http://twitter.com/graywave
For details of all Graham's novels and short stories, visit http://www.grahamstorrs.com/