by carl ashmore
Uncle Percy looked defeated. ‘Then let me sleep on it. I promise you I’ll give it some serious thought. Now, is that okay with the two of you?’
‘I think so,’ Becky said, casting him the sweetest smile she could. ‘And you know it makes sense.’
‘That’s right,’ Joe agreed.
Uncle Percy laughed. ‘For now though, I think we should all get some rest. It’s been a very long and most eventful night.’ Raising himself from his chair, he scooped up the mugs and approached the kitchen sink.
Joe gave an almighty yawn, his eyelids wilting. He folded his arms on the table, lay down his head and closed his eyes. Becky waited a minute, watching as his breathing grew heavier, then rose quietly from her chair and joined Uncle Percy at the sink. ‘Can I ask you a question?’ she said softly.
‘You can always ask,’ Uncle Percy replied in a way that suggested he knew what her question would be. ‘I can’t guarantee you’ll receive an answer.’
‘Jacob and Maria are from the past, too, aren’t they?’
Uncle Percy stopped what he was doing and stared darkly at the window. ‘Yes.’
‘Where are they from?’
‘They’re German.’
‘From what period?’
‘The Nineteen Thirties.’
Becky looked up at Uncle Percy’s eyes. For once, they seemed sad and colourless. She nodded coolly and moved back to the table to wake up her brother. She didn’t know why, but something told her she shouldn’t ask about Jacob and Maria’s past.
A short while later, Becky lay in bed, listening to the dying gasps of wind outside. Sleep was out of the question. In a matter of hours her understanding of life - past, present and future - had changed, and changed forever. She was living in a stately home with a time traveller, Will Scarlet, two Sabre-tooth tigers and a dinosaur. A house where milk floats appeared on the lawns in the dead of night.
A house of miracles.
- Chapter 7 -
The Time Room
‘We’re going!’ Joe bellowed. ‘We’re going!’
Becky’s eyes shot open to see him burst through her door, eyes wide, ruby faced. Even half-asleep she knew the reason for his elation. Uncle Percy had agreed to take them on a journey through time. He’d actually agreed.
She, Becky Mellor, would be a time traveller.
Becky and Joe ate their breakfast as quickly as they could; in part, to get the day underway, but also, and more significantly, to get out of Maria’s way.
Maria had been in a terrible mood all morning, banging pots and pans around the kitchen, chasing Gump with a mop for tramping dirt on her freshly scrubbed floor tiles, and screaming at Jacob for having a particularly loud cough.
‘It’s not right. It’s not right,’ she grumbled, ferociously scrubbing the breakfast dishes. ‘Little ones should not be messing with such things. Stupid man - stupid, crazy, man!’
By the time she had finished washing up she had broken three glasses, a carafe and a rather old bone china teacup. And when Uncle Percy appeared at the door, Maria barged past him, yelled ‘BAH!’ in his face and stamped on his right foot before clumping off down the corridor, shouting, ‘Dummkopf. Idiot!’
‘Maria’s in a peculiar mood today.’ Uncle Percy winced, rubbing his foot.
‘I don’t think she likes us going back in time,’ Becky said.
Uncle Percy sat down at the table. ‘Really? I don’t see why not.’
‘That’s not what you said last night,’ Becky said.
‘I’ve had time to think about it. I can’t deny it is a marvelous scholastic experience, and who am I to stand in the way of your education?’
‘That’s the spirit,’ Becky said.
‘So where are we going?’ Joe asked impatiently. ‘And will we see a T- Rex?’
‘I certainly hope not, Joe,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘No, today I’m taking you somewhere very special to me. Very special, indeed. In fact, with the exception of Bowen Hall, it’s my favourite place in my favourite period in history.’
‘So we’re not going to see Debbie Crabtree get knocked over then?’ Becky quipped.
‘Where’s the educational value in that?’
‘There isn’t any,’ Becky replied. ‘But I bet it’s hilarious.’
Uncle Percy sighed. ‘I think I can do a little better than Miss Crabtree’s accident.’
‘Go on then,’ Becky said eagerly. ‘Where?’
‘You’ll have to wait and see,’ Uncle Percy said secretively. ‘Anyway, I suppose we’d better get this show on the road. It’s about time I showed you my laboratory?’
‘The laboratory?’ Becky said. ‘I thought we weren’t allowed in there.’
‘Well, if truth be told, it’s not a conventional laboratory. It is, however, where I keep my time machines.’
‘Time machines?’ Joe said. ‘You’ve got more than one?’
‘Oh, yes,’ Uncle Percy replied casually. ‘I have five…’
*
A cool breeze whipped Becky’s hair as she trailed Uncle Percy along the path to the side of the Hall. She grew more nervous with each step, and found herself questioning whether this was a good idea. She didn’t particularly enjoy flying, how on earth would she feel about travelling through time?
When they reached the laboratory, Uncle Percy pulled what looked like a tiny mobile phone from his pocket. Keying in a sequence of digits, he pointed it at a circular pad to the right of a thick steel door. A light shone green and a loud grinding sound as though a thousand metal bolts were rotating could be heard. Slowly, the door inched open. ‘I call this The Time Room.’
Becky gasped loudly. She was staring at a cavernous room with high white walls lined with towering stacks of computers, their monitors displaying endless streams of numerical data. Above each screen were hundreds of soundless clocks, each reading different times. A metal spiral staircase led to a raised platform that overlooked the large, empty space in the middle of the room.
‘This-is-ace,’ Joe said, enthralled.
‘Do you think so?’ Uncle Percy said. ‘The lower levels are much more impressive.’
Becky glanced at Joe. Lower levels?
Uncle Percy led them up the stairs. Stopping at a computer terminal, he spoke into a microphone, ‘Percy Mathias Halifax. TT98.’
An automated voice spoke back: ‘Embarkation procedure initiated. Today’s password...’
‘Sagacious Sprouts,’ Uncle Percy replied.
The workstation burst into life. Immediately, the beaming face of a middle-aged woman with long, curly auburn hair and rather too much lipstick appeared on the monitor.
‘Well, well, stranger,’ the woman said brightly. ‘I’ve not seen you for a few weeks.’
‘Good morning, Annabel.’ Uncle Percy flashed her a wide smile. ‘Love the new look. My compliments to your stylist.’
‘Thank you very much,’ Annabel said, coiling a lock of hair between her fingers. ‘You’re positively the first TT to notice.’
‘Well, the rest of them are too blind to see anything in the present.’
‘How very true,’ Annabel replied. ‘Anyway, what can I do for you today?’
‘I’d like to log a trip, please.’
‘No problem,’ Annabel typed something onto a keyboard. ‘Is it just you or is Will going too?’
‘No Will today. However, my niece and nephew will be joining me.’
‘Becky and Joe?’ Annabel said, sounding shocked.
Uncle Percy motioned for Becky and Joe to join him. ‘Come, meet Annabel Mullins – heart, soul and if I may so bold as to say, the gorgeous face of the travelling community.’
Annabel’s already blushed face went a deeper shade of pink. ‘Oh, shut up, Halifax, you old dog. Hi, kids. I’ve been so longing to meet the two of you.’
‘Hi, Annabel,’ Joe said.
‘Err, hello,’ Becky said.
Annabel noted the look of surprise on Becky’s face. ‘Don’t look so shocked, Becky. I knew you were staying at Bowen
Hall for the summer – it’s all your uncle’s been talking about for months. In fact, he’s been more excited about your visit than I’ve seen since he invented the Dungwamblefigger, or something equally ridiculous as that.’
‘The Duncloxifier, my dear,’ Uncle Percy corrected her. ‘And I’ll have you know that it’s quite an innovative contraption if you’re interested in Flimpostatic imuldification.’
‘Yes, but who is?’ Annabel replied with an impish grin. She looked at Becky and Joe. ‘Anyway, I’ve only ever seen photographs of you but you’re both much more lovely in person.’
‘Thank you,’ Becky said.
‘Cheers,’ Joe said.
‘It’s my pleasure,’ Annabel said sincerely, before turning back to Uncle Percy and saying, ‘So much for you saying you wouldn’t be introducing them to time travel this summer, eh?’
Uncle Percy looked rather awkward. ‘I’m afraid my plans changed when they discovered me performing some dental work on Milly last night, rapidly followed by Keith Pickleton’s arrival in his magical milk float. I’m afraid even I couldn’t talk myself out of that one.’
Annabel laughed. ‘I see. Well, Percy, where are you taking them today?’
‘Timeline 14, sector 2, coordinates 10 - 10 - 79.’
‘Not there again,’ Annabel replied. ‘I swear one day you’ll go there and never come back.’ She inputted the data and a buzzing sound rang out; what looked like a fat cube of jet-black marble fell into a slot beneath the monitor.
‘Many thanks, Annabel. Please pass on my best to your husband and cheerio.’
Becky and Joe exchanged their farewells with Annabel, and Uncle Percy logged off the terminal and picked up the strange-looking block.
‘What’s that?’ Joe asked.
‘This, Joe, is Gerathnium. It’s the power source that makes time travel possible. It’s very rare. That’s why we keep it stored at a central base, ready for distribution to travellers across the world.’
‘A central base?’ Becky said inquisitively.
‘At GITT headquarters.’
‘GITT?’ Becky laughed.
‘It is rather amusing, isn’t it?’ Uncle Percy chuckled. ‘Henry Locket came up with the acronym. It stands for the Global Institute for Time Travel. It’s a worldwide organisation for the regulation, sanctioning and coordination of all travelling activity. In actual fact, the Institute fulfills many functions.’
‘Like what?’ Joe said.
‘Well, primarily, it ensures the safety and welfare of the travelling community. For instance, if a traveller gets stuck in time, for whatever reason, it can send someone to fetch them. It’s a very big operation.’
‘How come no one knows about it?’ Becky asked.
‘The Institute goes to great lengths to maintain its anonymity. You see, time travel is potentially the most destructive power that the world has ever known. That is why, today more than ever, it must remain secret. For that reason you can’t mention this to anyone.’
‘We understand,’ Becky said.
‘So who wants to go back in time?’ Uncle Percy asked.
Becky and Joe eagerly nodded their agreement.
‘Why have you got five time machines?’ Joe asked.
‘Each one is a different type of vehicle, for different types of trip. Today, I think we’ll use Bertha. She’s my favourite.’ He clapped his hands twice and said in a loud, steady voice, ‘Activate Bertha.’ All at once, the ground rumbled beneath them; the walls vibrated gently. ‘You might want to watch this.’
Becky and Joe raced to the banister. Their eyes widened as the Time Room floor separated in the middle and began to disappear into the wall. Something was emerging from the level below. A few moments later the floor had been completely replaced by a revolving platform. Standing on it, gleaming under the strips lights was a green and white campervan.
‘My lovely Bertha,’ Uncle Percy said as if introducing an old and very dear friend.
Becky’s jaw dropped open.
Joe, on the other hand looked slightly disappointed.
Uncle Percy noticed. ‘She might not look much, Joe, but I’ve made plenty of minor modifications.’
Becky couldn’t help but smile. She remembered only too well the last time Uncle Percy had made minor modifications to a vehicle.
Uncle Percy descended the steps, and ran his hand fondly across Bertha’s bodywork. ‘You see most travellers build their time machines out of their favourite vehicles. Mine happens to be the 1963 Volkswagen Campervan.’ He inserted the Gerathnium into a slot to the rear the van and slid open its door. ‘Come on.’
Becky and Joe clambered in and sat opposite each other. Uncle Percy closed the door and climbed in the front, settling himself onto the driver’s seat. He leaned over to the dashboard and typed a destination code onto a small keypad. Almost immediately, the campervan rumbled, shuddering as a surge of power resonated beneath them.
‘Nervous?’ Uncle Percy asked.
‘Excited,’ Joe replied.
‘And you, Becky?’
Becky’s heart threatened to burst through her chest. ‘Terrified.’ Her knuckles clung tightly to a handrail below the window.
Uncle Percy nodded kindly. ‘Don’t worry. I’ve done this more times than I care to remember.’
‘So where are we going?’ Joe shouted over the escalating noise.
Uncle Percy grinned. ‘Kansas.’
‘And when?’ Joe pressed.
Before Uncle Percy could reply, fizzy blue and white light spilled from the front panel. Becky clamped her eyes shut. All of a sudden, twisting torrents of light surrounded them, extending to every inch of Bertha’s interior. Becky covered her ears, bracing herself for the explosion she knew would come.
And with a BOOM, Bertha disappeared.
- Chapter 8 -
Otto Kruger
In a fraction of a second it was over. Becky forced open her eyes and stared at Joe, disorientated and somewhat disappointed. She’d expected more. Other than a flashy light show and a loud bang nothing else suggested they weren’t still in the Time Room at Bowen Hall. That was until – splat - an enormous dragonfly careered into the window. Looking round, she saw they were in a thick bushy glade, enveloped by soaring trees that stabbed the sky.
Uncle Percy turned to face them. ‘You are now officially time travellers - unregistered, of course.’
‘And we’re in Kansas?’ Joe asked.
‘We most certainly are.’
‘When?’ Becky asked.
‘Let’s just say the Big Mac won’t exist for another twelve thousand years.’
‘T-twelve thousand years?’ Becky spluttered.
‘Wow,’ Joe gushed.
‘Wow, indeed, Joe,’ Uncle Percy said, grabbing his backpack. ‘Welcome to the last Ice Age - the Pleistocene epoch, to be precise.’ He opened the door and stepped on to the soft, damp turf. Sliding Bertha’s side door open, he said, ‘Now, whatever you do, no wandering off.’
‘Err, why?’ Becky’s eyes flicked to the undergrowth. ‘It’s not dangerous, is it?’
‘No, but it is we who are out of our time. You just have to be careful.’
‘Careful of what?’
‘Well, it is a forest. Forests have animals. But don’t worry - ’
‘What kind of animals?’
‘Mostly the harmless kind, but -’
Becky was getting alarmed now. ‘- But?’
‘But you may get the odd snake, wild boar, grizzly bear and …’ - his voice dropped to something of a mumble - ‘… Sabre-tooth tiger.’
‘Sabre-tooth tiger!’ Becky exclaimed.
‘It’s the Ice Age, what do you expect?’ Uncle Percy shrugged. ‘Don’t worry, you’ve met Milly and - ’
‘But Milly’s your pet! She’s tame, and -’ Becky’s voice rose to fever pitch. ‘- And this is the wild!’
‘Stop being such a wuss,’ Joe said, earning himself a twanged ear.
‘Wild and wonderful!’ Uncle Percy
said with a smile.
Suddenly Becky wasn’t quite so sure as to what was so wonderful about it.
*
The moment Bertha left the Time Room, a cold and unusually heavy wind swept the shingled path behind Bowen Hall kitchens. A violent explosion of swirling scarlet light cut the air and a huge coal-black Daimler car appeared. Four heavily built men sat in it, each wearing a finely tailored suit and floor-length, leather trench coat, their emotionless faces masked behind black, steel-rimmed sunglasses.
Otto Kruger stepped out of the time machine with surprising elegance for a man of his size. Standing six foot five inches tall, with icy green eyes and a pale, square-jawed face, he was perhaps the most fearsome looking man to step foot in the grounds of Bowen Hall.
Kruger surveyed the lawns. The information he’d received had been correct: the groundsman and the Sabre-tooth cat were in the outermost field. Good. If truth were told, he wasn’t sure why his employer had warned him about the groundsman, no matter whom he was or claimed to be. There wasn’t a man, woman or child he couldn’t kill if he wanted to. And he’d had plenty of practice.
Still, he had received his orders and killing the groundsman wasn’t one of them. It would therefore not happen. Not today, anyway. And that was precisely why his employer had sought him out and recruited him. Otto Kruger always followed orders.
As he moved toward the Hall, Kruger felt extremely pleased with himself. The plan was finally moving forward. Furthermore, for the second time in his life his orders came from a man he truly respected. And the rewards when the plan was complete - well, they were more than he could have ever dared imagine.
Yes, if the artifact were here, at Bowen Hall, then he would certainly find it. And nothing and nobody could stop him.
*
‘But, Jacob, they are children,’ Maria pressed, angrily jabbing a feather duster at a rather fragile looking vase. ‘This is too much danger for them. They are too young. They are too special.’
Jacob winced. He knew only too well the vase was over a thousand years old. But he also knew that there was no point enraging his wife further.
‘And they are babies, just babies,’ Maria continued, lip quivering. ‘And this silly travelling may get them killed.’
