Jamie headed for the computer room feeling more sad than he ever been since Wiggy the family’s pet budgie had died when he was eight years old and just last year when two of his grandparents had passed away. The real reason he wanted to stay behind had nothing to do with backing up data, but because he planned to destroy Uncle Stanley’s beloved computer, not that it was any use to him in its present state. He had hoped to make contact with Soupinpota, but it must have a serious hardware problem because it was dead and would not even try to boot up. He had checked the obvious things like leads and fuses, but they had seemed all right. He had no way of knowing whether Soupinpota had tried to contact him or whether Devilmortex had somehow caused the computer to malfunction like Soupinpota had warned him might happen.
He removed the cover from the computer, sighed and then scolded himself when he felt a trace of a tear, ‘Don’t be such a softie.’
He paused with the cable cutters in one hand and a hammer in the other ready to smash the components and hack away at any cables, wondering about how many days, weeks, months or even years Uncle Stanley had spent building and improving the wonder machine. Jamie felt that it was the right thing to do even though the secrets of the computer would have been much sought after. Uncle Stanley had not wanted the performance of his computer to become known and Jamie would make sure his wishes were kept by destroying any evidence of the advanced technology. Jamie’s hand tensed, ready to start his act of destruction, but he was startled by the rap on the front door knocker. It couldn’t be his dad because he wouldn’t be back so soon and he would have used his key to get in. Jamie placed the tools on the desk and hurried downstairs. He opened the door expecting to see Mr Cranleigh, but the caller was older than their neighbour and he had a friendlier face.
‘I was hoping to find a Mr Stanley Tranter, but he must have moved on.’
‘Did you know my Uncle Stanley, my great uncle, actually?’
The man appeared surprised by the question. ‘Oh, yes, we were great friends and worked together for many years. I moved away and we just lost touch and I’m only back here in the area to do some visiting.’
Jamie swallowed hard before he told the stranger the sad news about Uncle Stanley and then invited him in after explaining that the family knew very little about Uncle Stanley and perhaps he could tell Jamie some things about him.
The man introduced himself as Cyril Judd and after he had settled into an armchair in the living room he talked about his friendship with Uncle Stanley which had started during their days in the Royal Air Force. When Cyril mentioned that they also had the same interest in computers it gave Jamie an idea.
‘Would you like to see my uncle’s old computer,’ Jamie asked and smiled when he saw old Cyril’s eyes light up before he said, ‘That would be marvellous if I could.’
Jamie was regretting making the suggestion as he watched Cyril struggle up the stairs, but when he entered the room there was no mistaking his joy when he saw the equipment.
‘My, it brings back some happy memories,’ Cyril said, shaking his head. ‘It is a little bit like the one I used to have until my late wife, rest her soul, made me get rid of it some years ago. I’m afraid I’ve always been one for hoarding things and it looks as though your Uncle was as well.’
Cyril looked down at the tools and asked Jamie if he was trying to repair it.
‘I did try, but I don’t know much about hardware and this machine is different to anything else that I’ve ever seen.’ Jamie replied and hoped that Uncle Stanley’s old friend wouldn’t comment on his choice of tools to carry out a repair.
‘I could try and help if you like. It’s been a long time since I did any hardware repairs, but I do recognise some of those components.’
Cyril wasn’t familiar with the expression, ‘That would be brill,’ but he guessed by the excited look on the youngster’s face it meant that he wanted him to try and help.
Jamie was having second thoughts about inviting Cyril to try and repair the machine that he’d promised to keep secret and feared Cyril might soon discover that it was nothing like his old machine or any other. He was glad that he had disconnected the lead that was connected to the yucca plant and hoped he wouldn’t notice the interface card that he had built under Soupinpota’s guidance.
Cyril donned his pair of heavy looking steel rimmed spectacles and Jamie wondered how he could see without them, because the lenses were so thick.
When Cyril joked that he couldn’t see very well even with his binoculars, Jamie was thinking that Cyril couldn’t fix what he couldn’t see.
Jamie watched as Cyril placed a shaky hand on the motherboard and slid back a small metal plate.
‘Well there’s one problem,’ he announced with satisfaction after he pressed the micro switch.
‘What’s that?’ Jamie asked.
‘The switch is an electronic cut-out which protects the circuits when there is a problem. The plate covering it is a bit of overkill really and is to prevent any insects getting inside the case and operating the trip accidentally. It was used in defence equipment overseas to stop things like giant cockroaches causing a problem. As I said, it was a bit of overkill because that wouldn’t happen in this country.’
Jamie thoughts went back to last night and the giant spiders he’d seen crawling over the television. He shook his head to rid the thoughts and asked if the computer was now fixed.
Cyril explained that the trip shouldn’t normally operate unless it was caused by another fault, but on occasions it could be caused by it being oversensitive, just like sometimes happened with household fuses. He carefully inspected every item on the motherboard, looking for any obvious signs of a short circuit or damage caused by components that had overheated. Cyril removed all the printed circuit boards and inspected their pins and components before making sure that they were firmly seated back in their slots, but left one board on the desk. Jamie cringed when he realised that it was his natureram board and felt even worse when Cyril declared that it was the reason for the fuse tripping because some of the components were blackened through overheating. Cyril didn’t question Jamie when he admitted that he had made the little printed circuit board and said that it wasn’t really required.
‘Fingers crossed, then,’ Cyril said and then flicked on the front panel power switch. Within seconds Jamie was watching the familiar start-up screen.
‘So far, so good and I see Stanley never lost his sense of humour.’ Cyril was pointing to the specification figures and chuckled.
‘Well that’s absolutely fantastic. You’re a genius, Mr Judd.’
Cyril looked embarrassed and said that he would leave Jamie to use his computer and was disappointed when Jamie mentioned that they were leaving today.
Jamie closed the door behind Cyril and dashed upstairs, ready to try and contact Soupinpota for what would be the last time. Then he would have to decide whether to take the computer to Liverpool now that it was working or carry on with his plan to destroy it.
It took three attempts before Jamie made contact with Soupinpota and was able to tell him what had happened and how they were preparing to leave.
Jamie wasn’t prepared for the reply which was in the form of an order.
‘Jamie you and your family must not leave because if you do you will be placing yourselves in even greater danger. If you lose contact with me then I won’t be able to warn you about Devilmortex’s evil plans. Hopefully Devilmotex will soon be no more because Koolebron gets closer to destroying Devilmortex each time he tries to target you or your family. I repeat, you must not leave.’
Jamie told him that there was nothing he could do because his dad had made up his mind and asked Soupinpota if he could somehow change his dad’s thoughts and do the same for the rest of the family, especially Leanne, so that they would have no memory of last night.
‘That would have been easy to do if Devilmortex hadn’t reduced my capability to perform certain functions. I could make a request for Koolebron to d
o it, but he is busy tracking down Devilmortex, but I hope to have my powers restored soon. I think I need to explain some things that might still be troubling you, starting with last night.’
Soupinpota confirmed that Devilmortex had been responsible for arranging the attack by real bats as well as the rats that Kevin had seen in the loft. Jamie hadn’t been surprised when he told him that the spiders he’d seen in the lounge were also real. Soupinpota believed that last night was all about frightening the family which is why the spiders and bats disappeared so quickly.
Soupinpota said that they had to consider the possibility that this might be their last contact and he asked Jamie if wanted to ask any questions. Jamie took the opportunity to ask who was responsible for some of the incidents that had got Jamie in trouble, because he remembered Soupinpota telling him that Devilmortex wasn’t involved with those. Soupinpota told him that the incidents involving Jamie failing his exams and being rude to the headmaster had been the work of Gelenacus, a similar computer to Soupinpota, who had found a glitch in his profile software that had allowed him to behave in a mischievous way. Gelenacus hadn’t meant Jamie any real harm and had been severely reprimanded and had his powers reduced as a result of the incidents. Jamie was surprised when he was told that the mischievous one had also played a trick on Jamie’s mum and made her see some strange images when she’d seen next door’s American lodger. Soupinpota had ‘arranged’ some things to help Jamie and his family, including Auntie Helen’s demise at the hotel and Jason Patmore’s behaviour on the football field, although the outcome of his intervention in those incidents had been unpredictable. Soupinpota explained again about his intervention during an incident at the Rosser Farm and the burglary at their house that had both involved the American who had lodged next door with the Rufus and his mother.
Jamie also learned that Koolebron was displeased with him for revealing some secrets to his friend Geoff and Jamie was baffled as to how they could have known about his conversations with Geoff, but then he figured they must have been monitoring his brain.
Jamie had guessed some of what Soupinpota had explained, but he still couldn’t see how he was going to get his dad to change his mind about returning to Liverpool and stay in the house. Soupinpota was about to give him some hope when he said, ‘I do have an idea that might convince your dad to stay if you try and explain what has been behind some of the things that have happened. You must tell him that it’s all mind blowing technical stuff linked to your Uncle Stanley’s computer, but if you have to then tell him everything because your family must not leave. This is what I want you to do, Jamie.’
* * *
Kevin had groaned when he’d seen the sign on the Van Hire firm’s office door that read ‘Back in twenty minutes’ and when no one had appeared an hour later, Kevin decided he had left Jamie on his own long enough. He drove back to their house faster than he should have done, anxious to check that no harm had come to Jamie.
Kevin hurried up the path and fumbled with his keys before he was able to open the door, regretting his decision to allow Jamie to stay in the house on his own. He quickly glanced in the kitchen and lounge while at the same time, calling out to Jamie, but the house was in silence. Kevin stopped on the third stair when his shout brought a welcome reply from upstairs when Jamie said he would be down in a minute.
Kevin was having a last look around the living room when Jamie appeared and was surprised to see that Jamie’s hands were empty.
‘It’s time we moved son, but where are your disks?’
‘I lied to you about needing to get the data off, Dad and I need to talk to you about something very important. I don’t think we should leave here. In fact we mustn’t leave here.’
‘Come on, son, you know why we have to leave. By the way I couldn’t hire the van, so I’ll try again tomorrow. I’m sure Mr Rosser won’t mind us staying another night. Anyway, why mustn’t we leave here?’
‘Dad it’s all to do with Uncle Stanley’s computer, but I can’t explain everything and if I tried you just wouldn’t believe me. In fact when I try and tell you a little bit you will think I am going bonkers, but here goes.’
Kevin had been on the point of stopping Jamie from carrying on with his ridiculous story that the family had been targeted even though some of the incidents were hard to explain, but he was now concerned about his son’s mental state.
‘You don’t believe me do you, Dad?’ Jamie asked.
‘What do you think, son! Let’s get out of this place. We’ll come back tomorrow and then we’ll be on our way home and you’ll soon be with your old mates.’
‘Dad I want you to go into the back garden and try to touch whatever appears right in front of you on the lawn. If you don’t see anything unusual then I won’t mention any of this again.’
‘Jamie, son, let’s go, now,’ Kevin ordered, struggling not to lose his patience with his son. They had all been under a strain since last night and Kevin would never forget the look of sheer terror on his son’s face as he’d stared at the television screen after he’d seen the giant spiders.
‘Two minutes, Dad. Please do this, because if you don’t the nightmare will carry on. There’s no escape.’
Kevin gave sighed. ‘If I do this then you’ll stop all this nonsense, right!’
‘I promise.’
Jamie followed his dad to the kitchen and then watched from the window as he walked towards the lawn, wondering what his dad was about to see and whether he would see it as well.
Kevin felt foolish, but he thought it wouldn’t do any harm to humour Jamie. He looked towards the rear windows of Rufus’s house, wondering if Rufus was on neighbourhood watch.
Kevin stood on the edge of the lawn that he had mown yesterday and he was remembering some of Jamie’s previous odd behaviour that had ended up with his being referred to a psychiatrist and now he feared that his son was mentally disturbed. He felt fresh guilt for uprooting his family and bringing them here and it might end up being a disaster for his children. Leanne was terrified and Jamie might have serious problems and he was to blame even though it had been so good in the beginning and full of promise for the future. He could only hope that once Jamie was back amongst his friends in Liverpool he would be all right and stop all this nonsense about supercomputers and outer space.
He had promised to give Jamie two minutes and time was up. He took a last look at the lawn and said, ‘Right, that’s it, Jamie.’ He turned away and had taken his first step back towards the house when he heard the roar that made him spin around and then he saw the occupants on the lawn at the same time as Jamie had and blurted out, ‘Awesome.’
‘Bloody Norah!’ was all that Kevin could manage to say when he saw the fully grown tiger patrolling along the front of the lawn as though it was caged. Each time it passed in front of Kevin it let out an almighty roar that drowned the noise of the two apes who were behind it. The apes stood at their full height, baring their teeth and banging their knuckles on their massive chests. The most deafening noise was from the three elephants at the back of the lawn that were swaying from side to side and were clearly agitated as though they were shackled to the ground and trying to free themselves from their chains.
Kevin looked towards the kitchen window. He didn’t have to be a lip reader to see that Jamie was repeatedly urging him to, ‘Touch it, Dad.’
‘Touch what?’ Kevin mouthed back and turned to face the agitated animals, unable to fathom what was happening here and thinking he might be joining Jamie at the funny farm. The tiger was no longing prowling to and fro and was sat on its haunches in front of Kevin with one of its paws raised, offering it to Kevin like a pet dog would.
‘You must be joking, our Jamie. No way, Hosea,’ Kevin said while shaking his head.
The tiger yawned and continued to offer its paw. It would normally have made Kevin smile, but he was still filled with fear as he looked back towards the kitchen window and was surprised to see that Jamie was smiling, while still urgin
g him to touch it.
Whatever was happening here Kevin had been encouraged by Jamie’s smile and knew that his son would never put him in danger, but he was still more frightened than he had ever been in his life as he sighed and said, ‘Ok, Tarzan, give it a go.’
Kevin slowly raised his hand and reached for the outstretched paw and then fell back when the tiger brushed aside his hand with a swipe of its paw. Jamie gasped in horror, because he had had assumed that Soupinpota had just done some image fiddling like he had when Jamie had seen a snake and then a crocodile appear at his feet.
The tiger gave an almighty roar and reared up, causing Kevin to fall backwards as he prepared to turn and run. He expected the tiger to attack him, but when he looked up the tiger had disappeared and a sparrow had just flown away from the spot where the tiger had stood. The two apes were advancing towards him in a manner that was clearly threatening. He slowly got to his feet and was ready to run when the apes disappeared and two field mice scurried away in different directions. This time he did manage to turn and run when he saw the three elephants that had been at the end of the garden begin their slow charge towards him. He was almost at the kitchen door which Jamie had opened when Kevin heard the screeching sound behind him and turned to see a giant, four winged bird, diving towards him, frightening the three wood pigeons who occupied the spot where the elephants had just disappeared from. Jamie reached out to pull his dad in as the bird used one of its large claws to rip the back of Kevin’s shirt and rake his skin. Kevin fell to the kitchen floor and Jamie used all his strength to drag his dad away from the door and then closed it just before the Trioptica returned and began rattling the door with its beak like a giant woodpecker. The pecking soon stopped and a dazed Kevin got to his feet while a concerned Jamie inspected his wounded back and said, ‘It’s only a deep scratch, Dad. I’m so sorry, but that bird wasn’t part of the demonstration. It must have been sent by Devilmortex. Now do you believe me when I say that we must stay otherwise we’ll all be in even greater danger?’
NO ORDINARY ROOM Page 22
