Nigel Goes to the Moon - chapter 7: the big, misshapen, purple rock

When he woke, there was purple rock behind him, in front of him, to the left of him and to the right of him. He sat up and rubbed a bruise on his head that was not yet quite as big as the other one. He then frowned, feeling somewhat confused. He looked at his claws. He felt his double-bruised head again. He looked down at the rest of his scaly body.

'But...' he said.

'Isn't this awesome!' said Nigel, who was standing a few feet away, staring at the purple, rocky landscape beyond.

'But you're not...'

'Come and have a look, McGinty,' said Nigel. 'The Moon is totally awesome!'

'But we're not...'

'I should have brought a packed lunch,' said Nigel. 'I wonder if that tuna sandwich is still edible...?'

'But we're not wearing spacesuits!' yelled McGinty, as he stood up and looked deeply concerned.

'Oh yes, sorry, I forgot to bring them,' said Nigel.

'You forgot to bring them?! How could you forget to bring them?!'

'I dunno, I just did. But we're alright, aren't we?'

McGinty took a big gulp of air and then jumped up and down a couple of times to test the gravity. 'Well yes, we're alright,' he said. 'But we wouldn't have been if it was The Real Moon.'

'I thought you said it was The Real Moon, but not as we know it.'

'You know what I mean!'

Nigel gave McGinty a look. 'Honestly, you can be a right grumpybum at times, McGinty,' he said. 'I mean, I invite you into my spaceship, fly you all the way to The Moon, and all you can do is complain about the lack of spacesuits.'

'But--!' said McGinty, whose face was getting redder than you would think it was possible for a lizard's face to get.

'Now why don't you just chill out,' said Nigel, 'get over here, and enjoy the view?'

'Chill out?!' said McGinty. 'I'll give you ch--!!'

'Oh dear...' said Nigel.

'What do you mean, "Oh dear?' said McGinty. 'And why has it gone suddenly dark?'

McGinty looked at Nigel. Nigel was looking directly up. McGinty looked directly up at whatever it was Nigel was looking directly up at.

'Oh dear...' said McGinty.

The hatch slowly opened in the enormous spaceship that was floating overhead.