The White Death Read Online Free Page B

for such an invention. They had appeared without notice down a small side alley to one of its bustling streets. They headed on down the alley, passing the occasional homeless person and stray dog, both of which seemed all too common for the British capital at the moment. 
    “Remember when you first saw snow?” said Christopher.
    “And I thought we were under attack,” she said, laughing. Her own home world was much hotter and more exotic than Earth. Snow was something she had only heard about, and she found it to be a hindrance. She worried about Christopher. A fall at his age could be deadly.
    A small coffee shop called Maggy’s was a welcome sight for the pair, and Christopher couldn’t wait to get into the warmth.
    “Freda, darling,” said Bernadette, hugging the small woman. Bernadette—or Bernie, as she was better known—was in her seventies now. Her children had been urging her to retire for a while now, but she insisted she wanted to work till the end. Maggy’s was too important to her and others to hand over the reins. Bernie had known Freda since she was a little girl, when Bernie’s mother ran the shop. While she knew Freda was not of this world, she never asked any questions.
    “Bernadette, lovely to see you,” said Freda, placing a tender hand on the doting coffee shop owner. “Just the usual, please.”
    “Coming right up,” she replied. Giving Christopher a hug, she quickly set off to whip up some lattes.
    “It amazes me how this exact booth is free every time we come here,” said Christopher. He dusted some snowflakes from his shoulders.
    “We need to have some luck on our side,” said Freda.
    A flash of light caught Bernie’s eye. She opened the stock room door to find Cecil standing there. She didn’t know who he was, but with Freda and Christopher here, she knew the procedure.
    “Over towards the corner, darling. Freda has just arrived. Fabulous coffee is on the way.”
    “Thank you,” he replied cautiously.
    “Relax,” said Freda, projecting her voice. In her whole time here, Cecil had only visited Earth once before. He considered the inhabitants the most “unique” of the up-and-coming civilizations. Freda always argued it contributed to their charm and longevity. She smiled at him as he approached the small booth and sat down facing her and Christopher.
    “Interesting place,” said Cecil, the strong coffee smell catching attention. He couldn’t help but think how quickly humans aged. Christopher, whom he met around forty years ago, was almost unrecognizable now.
    “I find it charming,” replied Freda, taking her gloves off. Cecil himself had aged, and his modern purple tunic only emphasized his increasingly lined face.
    “Indeed,” he said, trying to get comfortable.
    “Here we go, ladies and gents. Three hot caramel lattes. Extra caramel for you, Freda,” interrupted Bernie in her usual bubbly manner. She was careful to place a nice red napkin under each latte and a warm plate in the middle, holding some double chocolate muffins with oozing warm caramel in the center. “Enjoy now.”
    “Thank you, Bernie,” said Freda graciously as the plump older woman scuffled off to serve a gentleman covered in snow, who had just arrived.
    “Cecil, what’s going on? Your call sounded urgent.” Freda stirred her latte with a long, thin spoon, mixing it all around until it was totally blended. She broke off a piece of the warm, sticky muffin.
    “Freda,” he began quietly, leaning forward across the table. His eyes darted around the quaint café, nervous. “We have a situation developing. The Council is planning to intervene on Earth.”
    “What?” She set the remainder of her muffin down on a crumpled napkin, pushing the latte aside. Christopher did the same, their interest in the fantastic food vanishing.
    “You heard me,” he replied. “Do you recall this report?” He pushed an A4-sized pad across the table.
    “This was years ago,” said Freda, shocked.
    “1982,