by carl ashmore
Jason’s looked at Becky. ‘He ordered they remain unharmed.’
Uncle Percy nodded as if this confirmed what he already knew. ‘And what was to happen to them?’
‘He said I was to take them with me.’
‘Take them where?’
‘To Hypatia Point in the Grey Mountains.’ Jason pointed into the distance.
Everyone turned to chart the direction of the finger. The night was lifting and in the early morning light they could just make out a sprawling mountain range. One mountain towered above the others.
‘The messenger said that there would be an olive grove at the base of the mount. He said he would meet me there. He would take charge of the child from then on.’
‘Child?’ Uncle Percy asked. ‘You mean children?’
Jason’s hung his head. ‘If possible, both children, yes …’
‘Go on,’ Uncle Percy pressed.
‘The messenger commanded I bring both children, but if they became troublesome …’ he hesitated, ‘then only the girl mattered. I was to kill the boy…’
*
Becky watched as Joe’s face turned white. Kill the boy! He took a moment to digest this. Then he exploded with rage, his hands balling into fists. ‘I’D LIKE TO SEE YOU FLIPPIN’ TRY!’
‘But I couldn’t have done it. I could never harm a child.’
‘BUT YOU COULD KILL UNCLE PERCY?’
‘But I couldn’t -’
Joe was about to shout again when Uncle Percy held up his hand and stopped him. ‘Please, calm down, Joe. Jason was fed a pack of lies.’
‘I don’t care if he was fed cabbage,’ Joe barked. ‘He was going to kill you, then Will, probably me, and kidnap my sister.’ His eyes flicked to Becky before returning to a Jason. ‘IF YOU EVER LAY A HAND ON MY SISTER … I’LL - I’LL COME BACK WHEN I’M FIFTEEN AND KICK YOUR - ’
‘That’s enough, Joe,’ Uncle Percy insisted.
Becky placed her hand tenderly on Joe’s arm. Then she shuddered as an alarming thought entered her mind. It was definite now: the traveller wanted her. And only her. But why? What possible use could she be? Uncle Percy didn’t seem to know either … or did he? Perhaps he had known the whole time? Had this been why he invited her to Bowen Hall for the summer, to protect her? Then something else occurred to her: they could use this to their advantage?
‘Let him have me!’ Becky said.
The group fell silent.
Joe stared blankly at his sister. ‘What’re you talking about?’
Becky stared determinedly at Uncle Percy. ‘It makes sense. Let the messenger have me. Let Jason take me to the Grey Mountains. You can use me...’
‘Oh, no way, Becky,’ Uncle Percy blustered. ‘Not - a - chance!’
‘No, this is the chance,’ Becky said. ‘The chance to finish it. To stop all this for good. Let’s follow his instructions.’ She nodded at Jason. ‘Have him take me to Hypatia Point, and have Will follow us. When the traveller comes into the open, it will only take Will one shot - one shot and this whole thing is over.’
‘I am not using you as … as bait!’ Uncle Percy said with disbelief. ‘That’s the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.’
‘Why is it?’ Becky replied. ‘You know what’s at stake here. Give me one good reason we shouldn’t do it?’
Uncle Percy looked flustered. ‘There are a thousand reasons, all of them involving your death.’
‘Like what?’ Becky crossed her arms and glared at him stubbornly.
‘Well - er - well…what if Will misses?’
‘Will never misses! You know it makes perfect sense. This man has to be stopped. If this stupid Fleece is as powerful as you think, then imagine what he’ll do with it if he gets it? Besides, if anything does go wrong, you can always use the -’ she scanned the confused Argonauts, ‘- the you-know-what and change things.’
Uncle Percy sighed. ‘I’ve told you about the Omega Effect. You can’t always change things. It doesn’t work like that.’
Becky held firm. ‘It’s worth the risk…’
‘Listen, Becky,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘I appreciate what you are suggesting. Your proposal is very brave, but I am not prepared to risk your life. Besides, we’re not here to kill anyone. We’re just here for the Fleece.’
‘I’m not saying kill him,’ Becky clarified. ‘Just capture him.’
‘Well,’ Uncle Percy stressed, ‘it’s not going to happen. End of story!’
Becky snorted loudly. She turned her attention to Will, hoping for a sympathetic ear. ‘Will, you know I’m right?’
‘I agree with your uncle,’ Will said. ‘Tis a valiant gesture, Miss, but far too dangerous.’
‘Pah!’ Becky huffed. Why couldn’t they understand? It was her life at stake.
Uncle Percy sat beside Becky, placing his hand on hers. ‘I’m sorry, but I’m not prepared to risk losing you again.’
Becky, however, refused to give up. ‘But, twenty minutes ago I nearly lost you, and that’s all right, is it? You’re dispensable? Well you’re not to me!’ Tears of frustration welled inside. ‘You know I’m right. You should use me and -’
But Becky stopped herself. The soft shafts of first sunlight had highlighted Will’s anxious face. His eyes were fixed firmly on the valley behind them. Suddenly he jumped up, his bow raised high.
‘What is it, Will?’ Uncle Percy said. A second later, a soft rumbling sound came from the canyon and he heard Will say, ‘Horsemen are approaching.’
Everyone scrambled to their feet, their heads rising over the dune to see a billowing cloud of dust and sand.
Within seconds, a dozen men riding giant warhorses came into view. The Argonauts panicked. Phineus tripped over, falling flat on his face. Hercules fumbled for his sword, terrified.
Only Theseus demonstrated a hint of courage as he grabbed his short sword. ‘ARGONAUTS, ARM YOURSELVES!’ He raised his sword into the air. ‘BE BRAVE, MEN!’ Then, thump, a spear punctured the ground between his feet. His courage deserted him. ‘SURRENDER!’ He dropped his sword.
The lead rider halted and gestured for the soldiers to gather in line on the dunes. ‘LOWER YOUR WEAPONS!’ he barked at the group, drawing a sword from his belt. The Argonauts dropped whatever they were holding with a loud clank.
Becky watched as the lead rider threw his huge legs over his warhorse and dismounted. The horse looked relieved at shedding the weight. He took off his plumed helmet to reveal a tangled mass of black hair and a cherry-red face. She wasn’t sure where his head stopped and his neck begun.
The lead rider strode self-importantly towards the group. ‘You are now the prisoners of King Minos,’ he yelled. ‘I am Helladius. Captain of the Night Guard.’
Uncle Percy took a step forward. ‘Good morning, my dear Helladius, I’m Percy Halifax. My friends and I mean you, your king, or your country no harm, and would like to -’
‘SILENCE!’ Helladius roared. Then he slapped Uncle Percy across the face. Becky gasped with terror. Will’s made to launch himself at Helladius.
Uncle Percy anticipated it. ‘NO, WILL!’ Raising himself to his full height, he pivoted back to face Helladius. ‘That wasn’t particularly friendly, was it?’
Helladius struck him again. A thick smear of blood appeared on Uncle Percy’s bottom lip.
‘LEAVE HIM ALONE,’ Becky yelled.
Helladius swung towards her. ‘SILENCE, CHILD! Lest I show you the back of my hand.’
‘It takes a big man to threaten a young girl,’ Will said. ‘And there are few bigger than you. Or uglier.’
Helladius turned slowly to Will. ‘You are a brave fool to offend me, stranger.’
‘Then let me be a stranger no more. I am Will Shakelock, and if you touch any of my friends again you will not see another sun rise.’
At once, Helladius aimed a punch at Will. With lightning speed, Will caught the fist and crushed it in his grip. Helladius howled.
‘It matters not how many men you have in your army,’ Will whispered in Hella
dius’ ear. ‘You will not hurt my friends again. Do you understand?’ Helladius’ legs buckled, his eyes streaming.
‘WILL!’ Uncle Percy shouted. ‘STOP IT!’
A soldier raced behind Will and smashed the hilt of his sword into his neck. Will fell to his knees, clutching the back of his head, blood seeping between his fingers. Clasping his swollen hand, Helladius glared fiercely at Will before kicking him in the face.
‘Please. NO!’ Becky cried.
Helladius rounded on the floored Will. ‘A quick death would be too easy for you,’ he growled, although his voice lacked conviction. ‘It pleases me the last thing you will smell will be the Minotaur’s rotten breath as it feasts on your innards.’
Uncle Percy’s expression changed. Even Becky forgot her fear and stared at Joe with disbelief. The Minotaur?
‘Timaeus, Perticus - bind him,’ Helladius snapped. ‘BIND THEM! The King will appreciate our spoils, and the Minotaur will welcome fresh meat.’
A number of soldiers leapt from their horses, thick rope in their hands. They approached the Argonauts who offered themselves freely. Becky watched with horror as a guard bound Uncle Percy’s wrists behind his back. Timaeus and Perticus dragged Will against the hard ground and tied him up.
Becky froze as a thick-set guard approached her and Joe. He smirked and lifted them onto his horse.
‘My cane,’ Uncle Percy said to Helladius. ‘I need my cane...’
Helladius picked up the staff. In one swift movement, the cane shattered across his knee. ‘You have no cane.’
Helladius threw himself onto his warhorse. ‘THE KING WILL BE PLEASED,’ he shouted, saliva showering his horse’s ears. ‘TO KNOSSOS…’
*
The sun inched over the mountains as the party marched into the mouth of Andrana’s Valley. Becky watched as Uncle Percy trekked on, surprisingly at peace. She couldn’t understand it. What was he thinking? It almost looked as if their capture had been a part of some masterplan. But he couldn’t have planned it. Could he?
‘What are we going to do?’ Joe asked Becky ‘Did you hear that nutter mention the Minotaur? It’s real. I know it is.’
Becky said nothing. She didn’t know what to think anymore.
‘I’m worried,’ Joe said quietly.
‘Well, don’t be,’ Becky replied. ‘Uncle Percy isn’t worrying, so I don’t think we should. Not yet, anyway.’
‘Yeah, but he’s deranged.’ He looked at his uncle who had begun to chunter happily to himself. ‘He’ll be more bothered about spotting a pink Blubber Frog than us being captured by a hairy psycho. Anyway, what’s the Omega Effect?’
‘What?’
‘The Omega Effect. I heard Uncle Percy mention it. What is it?’
‘Oh, nothing.’
‘Well it must be something. And how come I don’t know about it?’
‘He trusts me more than you,’ Becky said. ‘He thinks you’ve got a big gob.’
‘No, he doesn’t.’
‘Okay, he doesn’t, but I do. Now, shut up!’
They had been marching for more than an hour when they came to the Grey Mountains. Although it was perhaps a mile to their left, Becky could see Hypatia Point clearly. As she looked for the olive grove, she found herself wondering: would the traveller be there, waiting for Jason to deliver her safely? Did he know the assassination attempt failed? Was he watching them right now? A chill coursed through her.
The temperature rose and the Argonauts were wilting as the party left Andrana’s Valley and entered a desert of green scrub and sand. Then Becky saw something that left her breathless. In the distance, rising into the sky like a mirage, stood a colossal pearl-white structure. Knossos.
And as the towering walls of the city came into view, Becky gave a heavy sigh. It would be nice to actually survive the summer holidays, she thought.
Chapter 12
Dungeons and Dragoons
As they drew closer, Becky saw a stream of oxen drawn carts being steered through an archway, standing atop of which loomed a giant stone Bull’s head, its painted yellow eyes seemingly followed them as they approached the city walls. Once through the arch, Becky felt a knot form in her stomach. They were in a vast courtyard filled with hundreds of people, gathered for an outdoor market. She watched as an old woman in a ragged smock chased a runaway chicken which screeched loudly in a fruitless bid for freedom. Peering over at Helladius, she thought the chicken stood a better chance than they did.
Then something caught her eye: a face that didn’t fit. A slender man wearing a dark cloak with an oddly fair complexion was studying them intently. She glanced over to see if Uncle Percy had seen him, but he was too busy whistling to notice anything. By the time she looked back, the man had gone, consumed by the jostling crowd.
The group passed through a smaller archway into a quiet, tree-lined courtyard to the left of an enormous five-tiered building. Becky assumed this was the Palace, for it was, without question, the most imposing building within the city walls.
Helladius dismounted and turned to the guard on his right. ‘Eustathious, take this scum to the dungeons. I will meet with the King and enquire as to his wishes.’
Helladius stood before them, his legs wide apart as he drew a fat, wheezy breath that caused his stomach to ripple and rise above his belt. ‘Do not get accustomed to the comfort of your cell. I am hopeful to see you dead before nightfall.’ He disappeared into the building.
Suddenly, Becky found powerful hands curled round her waist as the guard heaved her and then Joe to the ground.
Eustathious leapt from his horse and yelled, ‘PRISONERS, FOLLOW ME!’ He marched into a smaller building at the far side of the courtyard.
They were guided through the dungeon entrance, down a series of steps, into a tunnel lit by flickering torches. The faint muffle of laughter could be heard from the market above.
Becky turned to see the Argonauts, their heads bowed, plod miserably down the steps. She heard Theseus mumbling about how he should have been in charge in the first place and if Hercules didn’t stop whining he would punch him in the face. As they entered the cells, Becky saw a short, grubby-looking man, a few strands of hair poking out of his predominantly bald head, his chest damp with grime and sweat. He was sitting on a stone slab, a plump finger inserted up his nose.
Even Eustathious appeared to think the gaoler was revolting and avoided eye contact when speaking to him. ‘Prisoners, Galdeus.’
The gaoler pulled his finger from his nostril and wiped it on his shoulder. Then he stood up, his back hunched and burped loudly.
‘Ooh, lovely f-fresh p-prisoners,’ Galdeus stammered, unhooking a set of wooden keys from his belt. ‘T-they look t-tasty. The Minotaur will f-feast w-well.’ He threw them a toothless smile, and nodded at Becky. ‘Especially on your pretty bones …’
Becky turned away. What a scumbag! She thought.
Galdeus turned towards a rear door and hobbled into an antechamber. ‘F-follow me.’
They found themselves in an airless room that contained a wide iron-barred grill, which framed the entrance to a narrow cell. With a grunt, Galdeus slid open the grill and gestured for them to enter, cutting them free as they passed.
‘Most kind,’ Uncle Percy said, twisting his freed wrists. ‘Galdeus, about this Minotaur, it wouldn’t happen to live in a tunnel round here, would it?’
‘It dwells in t-the M-maze of Kyros, far beneath the ground.’ Galdeus smirked. ‘O-only Daedelus’ Gate, at the Maze’s mouth, prevents the beast from rising and devouring us all. You w-will not be s-so lucky.’
‘I’m sure?’ Uncle Percy said. ‘How do we get to the gate?’
Galdeus gave a cruel laugh. ‘You will see the g-gate s-soon enough. The M-minotaur is owed a feed, and the King dare not disappoint. T-there is n-no d-doubt … D-death is c-coming f-for you.’
‘Terrific,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘We’ve all got to go sometime.’
‘M-mock all y-you w-will, stranger.’ He slammed the
grill shut. ‘W-will you mock when the beast has the girl’s p-pretty head between its t-teeth?’ He locked the padlock, broke wind loudly, and left the room.
‘Charming fellow…’ Uncle Percy said.
As a tense stillness surrounded them, Becky was struck by the gravity of their situation. Twenty-four hours earlier, she would have dismissed the idea of an actual Minotaur as nonsense, but after the Harpies she wasn’t sure of anything. And what if they didn’t survive? Her mother wouldn’t even have an explanation as to where they were, or what had happened.
For the next ten minutes no one said a word. Will paced round the cell like a caged lion; Becky and Joe sat making circles with their toes on the sandy floor; Uncle Percy, on the other hand, wore a bemused smile as if it was all an amusing game. Upon noticing Joe’s anxious expression, he turned and said, ‘Don’t worry, Joe. I’ve been in considerably worse scrapes than this and always managed to get out of them in one piece.’
‘Oh yeah, like what?’ Becky snapped. Sometimes her uncle’s constant optimism was really quite annoying.
Uncle Percy paused for a moment. ‘Let me see - well, many years ago, Malcolm, Bernard and I, celebrated our graduation by going on a little jaunt to 1686 to visit King James II court. Malcolm always nursed an ambition to a Royal Dragoon guard, you see.’ He smiled fondly. ‘Anyway, our costumes were perfect, our boots polished, our muskets gleaming. We thought we really looked the part, and, of course, we were young and convinced we wouldn’t be caught.’
‘What happened?’ Joe asked.
‘Caught within ten minutes,’ Uncle Percy chuckled. ‘By a rather grumpy Captain named Edward Blakely. Thinking we were spies for William of Orange, he imprisoned us as traitors. Anyway, we contacted the Trackers and they rescued us that very afternoon.’
‘Trackers?’ Becky said, puzzled. ‘What are Trackers?’
‘Oh, they’re an invaluable part of GITT operations. A rescue service for time travellers. If, on a registered trip, a traveller finds himself or herself in trouble then they contact GITT headquarters with their pagidizor, and a team of Trackers is dispatched to give assistance.’
