2017 School Magazine

‘MARRAPATTA 30’ SHORT STORY: AN ASTRONOMICAL NIGHT AT MARRAPATTA It was hard to wake up at the right time, with the rest of camp asleep, so that I could perform my curious study. We had been told that the Dorothy Hill Observatory was out of bounds unless we had a class there. Earlier that day I had crept into the Marrapatta teachers’ lounge to steal the keys off the hook. The keys had been safely tucked in my pocket all day. I ran across the wet grass to the door and fumbled with the telescope keys. It was so quiet when I turned the lock. It was too dark to see anything - even my hand in front of my face. Finally, I had the telescope to myself. I turned on the tiny torch and found the telescope controls and set the co-ordinates that I had been studying. I heard the telescope move as I set up my digital camera. My laptop was all set to go, while I waited for what I thought seemed hours. Suddenly, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Right in the field of vision came the massive space craft. It was shaped like a golden pyramid and had fine black lines that were running around it. I could see the shiny yellow lights as they flashed in a random pattern. It reminded me of a triangular death star. I was nervous and my hands started to shake as I began to record the video. This was a massive discovery. I was recording the little lights flashing as it spun around on my laptop video feed. I checked my camera to make sure it was downloading to my laptop.

For months, only I had known that I had discovered the answer to an age-old question — is there life in outer-space. It was in a celestial location no-one had ever thought of, until now.

My plan had worked. It had taken me months of study to figure this out. All I had needed was the telescope and the right time.

From nowhere, I heard footsteps. Then I heard a voice I recognised say, “Who’s there?”. I started to pack up as fast as I could. The key turned and Mr Ramsay asked me, “What are you doing?”. I thought for second whether I tell him or not.

OLIVIA WATTS (7R)

BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2017 | CREATIONS | 123