Felix Jones and The Honour of The Keeper (Felix Jones Adventures Book 2)

by Julian Roderick

  The door to the bedroom burst open. Tom and Poppy came running in. They were pleased to see their friend sitting up and awake. Poppy’s eye was bright purple and swollen so much she could just about see through it. “First war wound,” she proudly pointed out.

  “Mine too!” replied Felix laughing as he got out of bed. “Let’s eat and get back home. We have work to do.”

  “Can’t I even have a few days holiday?” smirked Tom. “What’s the rush?”

  “I want my mum!” laughed Felix.

  Over a dinner of bacon and mushroom pasta bake Tom told his father of his adventures so far.

  “That’s it! I’m coming with you next time.” Gordon told the Sherriff, realising for the first time that he too could travel with the Keeper.

  “We’ll see,” replied The Sheriff. “You’ll have to practise your fencing first!”

  A look of panic came over Tom’s face. “I’ve lost my phone!”

  “I’ve got mine, it’ll be OK,” said Felix trying to take charge of the situation.

  “I took the photo!” exclaimed Tom. The same look of panic came over Felix and Poppy’s faces.

  “It must have fallen out on the beach,” said Poppy. “You were looking at it this morning. We’ll never find it now, we ran all over the place.”

  Felix opened The Book of Words. There on the map was a clock. The face read Thirteenth of August at eight thirty. “We’re either too late or on time!” He looked at the dining room clock which read seven thirty five.

  “Where’s the quest taking us now?” asked The Sheriff.

  “The fairground,” said Felix.

  They loaded the minibus and off they sped towards Barmouth. This was going to be the hardest search yet. On the winding journey Tom wanted one answer. “Why do we always black out when we go in and out of the vortex?”

  “It took me a while to find the answer to that one,” laughed The Sheriff. “Boiled Sweets, just like on an aeroplane. Suck on a sweet!”

  “How are we going to find the odd thing out when we’ve only gone back to 1999?” Tom was worried he wouldn’t get back home.

  “Just look!” Poppy yelled as they ran towards the fair.

  They had thirty minutes to find the object that would take them back. The group split up and searched high and low. The music and noise began to irritate Felix as he cast his eyes over the rollercoaster. Children ran enthusiastically between rides as parents followed digging money out of their pockets. There were too many people to search properly.

  Felix saw the others gathered near the entrance to the Gaming Arcade at the edge of the fair. He joined them and shrugged his shoulders.

  “Not a sausage!” declared The Sheriff.

  “Where now?” asked Tom. He was feeling really guilty at losing his phone and the photograph that would get them back to the school reception area.

  Felix wracked his brain. He stared out to sea hoping for inspiration.

  “Did they have selfie sticks in 1999?” asked Poppy.

  “What’s a selfie stick?” That question from Gordon told the trio all they needed to know.

  “There on the hoopla stall. One of the prizes is a selfie stick!” Poppy was so chuffed that she had found it.

  They wished their companions good bye. Tom hugged his dad. The trio ran quickly to the stall. Tom jumped the wall and throwing line of the stall. He flew back towards Felix and Poppy as quickly as he had run away. An angry stall holder, with tattoos all over his body and muscles on his muscles, had hurled Tom back over the wall. Poppy laughed at the embarrassed heap in front of her. Felix sniggered and took out a pound coin. He handed it to the muscle man and collected three plastic hoops. He took aim and missed by a mile. His second hoop went the same way.

  “We’ve got two minutes,” shouted Tom while he handed everyone a sweet. Poppy grabbed the last hoop and without taking a breath sent the hoop through the air towards the jars holding the prizes. The hoop wobbled before falling round the selfie stick. The annoyed tattooed man handed her the prize reluctantly. His annoyance grew as she dropped it straight to the ground. Felix threw his arms round Poppy and Tom grabbed his arm. The three of them jumped. The selfie stick shattered into pieces as they landed and disappeared into thin air.

  The three travellers landed wide awake in the school reception area. Buckley was sat on a chair looking confused.

  “We’re back!” declared Tom.

  “What’s been going on? I remember letting you in, then nothing!” uttered the young caretaker.

  Felix explained as they made their way back to the exit. Tom led them round the edge of the field and back onto the common.

  “You noticed anything funny?” asked Poppy.

  “No!” said the boys.

  “My black eyes gone and I bet your side doesn’t hurt any longer.” The vortex had healed their wounds, they had returned in one piece. Felix realised she was right, travelling through time had put them back to how they were.

  “I need a lie down and a think!” said Felix. “See you in school tomorrow.”

  23

  Felix had spent most of the night improving his knowledge of King Arthur. Tom knew more than he wanted to about Arthurian legend by the time they had walked to school. Poppy was waiting patiently near the school gate. She was one of only a few girls who wore trousers to school, the rest sported the short grey skirt. Buckley waved to them from the seat of his tractor mower as he whizzed up and down the lawns that fronted the old school.

  “What’s the plan?” asked Poppy.

  “Fencing practice. If we’re going back to Arthurian times we’ll need it.” Felix looked stern and his Guardians were in no doubt he meant it. “Everyone back there has a sword and they’re not afraid to use them.”

  “I’m not either,” scowled Poppy.

  Tom found this all very amusing and suggested that they made their way to his garage straight from school. His garage had been equipped with wooden opponents on ropes and springs that swung and bobbed giving them realistic training. They agreed to meet on the common after school and walk there together.

  The day dragged for everyone. After lunch Tom was summoned to Wonky’s office. Wonky was the Headmaster of Queen Anne’s School whose nickname had been earned through his strange head movements that reflected his moods. Tom thought he must have upset one of his teachers. Waiting for him in the office were Wonky and Tom’s mother. His mother had obviously been crying.

  “Ah Tom!” Wonky was very rarely comforting, so Tom was on his guard. “I’ve been chatting with Mrs Matthews… I mean, with your mother.”

  Tom stepped towards his mother and snarled, “You haven’t upset her have you?”

  Wonky’s head leant to the right. Felix was in luck, he was happy. “Of course not,” smiled Wonky. “We’ve been discussing your future after the unfortunate passing of your father.”

  “My future?” Tom was confused. He was happy at school and he wasn’t doing too badly in his studies.

  “We can’t stay here,” said Mrs Matthews as she wept into a tissue. “I can’t afford to live in London and we would be nearer to our family.”

  Tom knew his mother needed more support than he could offer, but his life and his duty were here with Felix. He gave his mother a hug.

  “I have arranged for you to start at a similar school in Birmingham in September.” declared Wonky.

  “Birmingham! Birmingham!” Tom was livid but he knew his anger would make his mother more upset. “Thank you very much sir,” came his reluctant reply. He had accepted that he would have to move but one question kept running through his mind. How could he protect Felix if he was in Birmingham?

  Tom was visibly shaken on his return to the French lesson. Felix looked at his best friend and could tell now was not the time to ask what was wrong. Poppy on the other hand came straight out and asked.

  “What’s up with you misery?” she whispered.

  “Birmingham! Birmingham! What am I going to do in Birmingham?” Tom screamed
at the top of his voice. Madame Burton ordered him to stand outside. Tom’s reply was not for sensitive ears. Felix looked at the teacher who nodded her approval for Tom to be escorted to the sick bay. Felix put his arm round Tom and guided him into the corridor.

  As soon as they were through the door. He pushed Felix away and smiled.

  “Great, we’re free!” Felix’s face was a picture. “Now to get Poppy and the cases.”

  Tom ran to the narrow window in the door and tried to attract Poppy’s attention. Poppy was engrossed in learning how to order a meal and was oblivious to Tom waving like a demented traffic policeman.

  Tom burst in through the door and screamed, “Birmingham! Flaming Birmingham!”

  The whole class went into fits of laughter and Felix ran in shouting, “It’s a two person job miss!”

  Poppy jumped up and threw Felix the guitar cases, slung her hockey stick over her shoulder and grabbed Tom. Madame Burton was livid, she screamed in French. Felix was shocked as he was the only one who could understand her. His grade in French had improved a great deal since he had become The Keeper. Tom fell out into the corridor still screaming “Birmingham! Birmingham!”

  Felix was leaning against the wall crying with laughter. Tom smiled at Poppy who really was at her wits end.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” she asked Tom.

  “Nothing! Well yes there is something but here is not the place to tell you. Let’s go to the common,” he barked.

  “We can’t skip lessons,” said goody two shoes Felix.

  “We can and you will!” Tom started sobbing for real this time.

  Felix and Poppy followed Tom. He obviously had done this before and knew how to sneak out undetected. They stooped below the classroom windows as Tom led them along the side of the maths block. The threesome were forty yards from the side gate and freedom when a figure stepped out from a bush.

  “What have we got here then?” snarled Buckley.

  Felix looked up. Buckley laughed as he said, “Oh it’s you three! What are you up to?”

  Tom whispered an explanation, Felix and Poppy couldn’t make out what he was saying.

  Buckley looked flustered. “I saw you on CCTV in Wonky’s office. Wonky will be coming to box you in! Cry - and cry loudly.”

  Tom once again put in an Oscar winning performance and began screaming, “Birmingham! Flaming Birmingham!”

  Wonky approached with his head to the left. Felix had never been in trouble before and began shaking. Wonky’s head straightened as he recognised Tom. “Matthews? No need for this. I know it’s a lot to take in but it’ll be fine. Remember the saying ‘It will be alright in the end and if it’s not alright it’s not the end.’”

  Tom sobbed and nodded.

  “Please will you two make sure Matthews gets home safely?” asked the Headmaster. “I’ll ring your parents to let them know what’s happening.”

  Felix and Poppy grabbed an arm each and quickly walked Tom up the school drive and onto the common. Tom couldn’t stop giggling all the way there. The three lay on the grass laughing.

  “What the hell is this all about?” Felix was angry at almost being in trouble. Tom explained the plans for him to move to Birmingham at the end of the summer holiday.

  “If you really want to end all this with the Book we have to do it quickly.” Tom sighed.

  “We have some planning to do first,” replied Felix. “Let’s get you home then meet at my house at 6.”

  The three friends went their separate ways to rest before their next adventure.

  24

  Poppy was always early. Tom on the other hand was nicknamed ‘Jit’- just in time - by the sports coaches. Mrs Jones had once again supplied bowls of chocolates and jugs of juice for Felix’s visitors. They went straight to the play room.

  Felix stood in front of his Guardians like a teacher before an expectant class.

  “It ends now!” he said confidently. “We go back to the first Keeper, King Arthur, and put a stop to all this nonsense.”

  “How?” asked Poppy.

  “We need to get the Book before it was given to him and destroy it.” Felix didn’t really know if it would work, but in his mind it would be worth a shot.

  “So let’s get this straight,” said Tom. “We’re going back to a time where men are hung for farting, to steal a book that nobody knows about and maybe, just maybe, find a way to get rid of it.”

  “Couldn’t have put it better myself!” laughed Felix.

  “Glad I got it right!” Tom was thinking hard. “We need photos of here and now, costumes to blend in in 14 whenever it was and our swords.”

  Felix reached behind the sofa and pulled out a pile of rags. “Get into these.” Felix threw the outfits to his audience. Poppy excused herself and went to the downstairs bathroom to change.

  The three of them stood facing the large mirror behind the door and burst into uncontrollable giggles. They looked like three of the orphans from Oliver Twist. With the swords in their hands they looked really strange.

  “A bag of food would help,” said Tom.

  Felix pulled out a tatty, old brown leather bag packed with sandwiches, fruit and chocolate. Two large bottles filled with water stuck out above the tops of the side pockets.

  “Someone’s been busy this afternoon!” quipped Poppy.

  “Better to go prepared than have some nasty surprises. No phones this time. I don’t want you hung for witchcraft,” explained Felix. “Ready?”

  Tom and Poppy nodded. Felix reached for the largest book on King Arthur. “Remember these are artist’s drawings done hundreds of years after these events. We could end up anywhere.”

  “Fantastic! Too late to pull out?” asked Tom.

  “Yep!” shouted Felix as he grabbed Tom and Poppy and jumped into the picture.

  25

  Felix landed on his backside with an almighty thump. He thought that maybe being asleep when they arrived wasn’t a bad thing after all. Tom landed like a cat, on his feet and ready for action with his sword drawn, until Poppy flattened him as she appeared through the vortex. Tom got to his feet and brushed himself down. Felix was looking at The Book of Words, the opening page read:

  Location Camelot, Devon, England

  Date 10th September 542

  Languages English, French and Gaelic

  “We’re here!” Felix was surprised they had landed where they wanted to be.

  “And where exactly is here?” asked Tom.

  “Camelot!” exclaimed a delighted Felix.

  Poppy sat on the lush green grass gazing at the wooden fort on the ridge across the valley. Small trails of grey and white smoke reached up into the windless blue sky. The fort was a hive of activity. A market seemed to be taking place just outside the gates, and below on the hillside and on the valley floor people worked hard bringing in the harvest from the fields. Dotted around the valley stood large sturdy oak trees providing shelter from the midday sun for flocks of sheep and herds of cows. Small boats darted across the meandering river carrying people and goods.

  “We need to find King Arthur.” Felix was on a mission. He wanted to find The Book of Words and get it destroyed before knights split the Book and the kingdom. Felix believed that the Brethren would not exist if he could achieve this. He knew the rules stated that he couldn’t change history but if he stopped it all before it started he thought he may have a chance.

  “Where is he?” asked Tom in all innocence.

  “Where the hell do you think a King would live?” Poppy was laughing as she pointed to the fort.

  “Where’s the big stone castle with arrow slits and a moat?” Tom was confused. All the films he had seen showed King Arthur in huge stone castles with towers everywhere. All that lay on the hill opposite was a series of ditches. On the top ditch was a tall wooden fence with soldiers on a walkway looking out over the valley. Felix asked the Book.

  ‘Castles made of stone weren’t built until the Norman invasion of 1066’
>
  “All lies!” Felix laughed. “This is the Dark Ages, no stone castles for 600 years.”

  “Right!” said Tom. “So everything I think I know about King Arthur is made up.”

  “Looks like it,” smiled Poppy.

  “There’s only one way to find out,” said Felix, staring at the fort.

  “At least we’re dressed for the part this time,” laughed Tom as the three friends made their way down to the valley floor. People waved greetings and said hello. Their clothes were helping them blend in amongst everyone happily going about their daily business. They passed ox drawn carts full of hay and firewood as they walked along the track leading to the castle’s main gate.

  The ditches and wall towered above them. The gate was open and there were no guards in sight. Felix led the way in through the gate house and into the main courtyard. At the other side of the bustling space was another wall, taller than the first. The gate there was firmly closed. Soldiers patrolled the wall surrounding a large wooden building, the main hall. The guards chatted as they wandered, there seemed little anticipation of attack.

  “Where will he be?” Poppy stood staring in awe at what she saw. It was her first journey into an age she didn’t understand. “What do we do now?”

  “I’ll look in the Book.” Felix knew there would be an answer in there somewhere. He also knew they would have to do some detective work first if The Book of Words was true to form. He studied the map of the castle that appeared on the first page. In the main hall was a red blur as so many crosses were in one place.

  “There are loads of Guardians in there,” Felix shouted to the others who were chatting to an old man selling chickens.

  “That’ll be the Chiefs of the round table,” the old man told them. “They’re in conference today. They have come from every corner of Britain.”