by carl ashmore
‘Perchee Hal’fax.’ The tiny Yeti’s blue eyes gleamed with joy. ‘Orff glad tu see you.’
Becky looked at Orff and her heart missed a beat. He looked like a large chimpanzee with a wide oblong mouth, disproportionately large shaggy feet, and a tuft of orange hair that sprouted from the crown of his head like a carrot.
‘Thank you, Orff,’ Uncle Percy replied. ‘And I’m delighted to see you, too.’
Orff leapt to the ground, landing with a soft whump.
‘Orff, this is my niece and nephew, Becky and Joe,’ Uncle Percy said, pointing in turn.
The instant Orff spied Becky his eyes enlarged to the size of cheese plates. The smile fell from his face, supplanted by a look of awe. He took a single, nervy step towards her and inclined his head. It seemed to take him some time before he could find any words. ‘Orff thinks Beeky the most beaut’ful th’ng he eva seen.’
Joe looked like he was about to giggle until Becky cast him a fierce glare that silenced him at once.
‘Err, thanks, Orff,’ Becky replied awkwardly. Then, without warning, the tiny Yeti launched himself at her waist, giving her the biggest hug he could.
Stuck for words, Becky patted his spine. Not wishing to appear rude, she allowed Orff to squeeze her for an age, until, somewhat thankfully, she heard his father’s voice.
‘Orff, r’lease!’ Gimbledok said with a firm grunt.
Orff let go at once.
Gimbledok looked at Becky. ‘Orff, lyke yu!’
‘I like him,’ Becky nodded.
Gimbledok smiled. ‘Orff is gud son, will be great Meh-Teh … now f’llow me….’ Leading them down the passageway, he stopped at the furthermost cave, where a female Yeti was standing, smiling. Somewhat shorter than Gimbledok, she was covered in a tawny-brown pelt, with warm, coffee coloured eyes, high cheekbones and a rounded, fleshy face that resembled a large coconut.
‘Hullo aga’n, Perchey Hal’faxx,’ she said.
Uncle Percy bowed. ‘Hello, Mirala. It’s lovely to see you again.’
Mirala’s smile grew; she waved her giant hand, gesturing for them to enter. ‘Coom, pleese.’
Inside the cave, Becky had the surprise of her life. A roaring fire cast a blushing glow across the hundreds of objects, of all shapes and sizes, scattered within. Straight away, she recalled what Uncle Percy had said when he had first mentioned the Yeti community: ‘… they love collecting things. Some things I found dated back hundreds, if not thousands of years…’ She looked all around and knew he was right: armour, books, helmets, jewellery, ornaments, pottery, weapons, ancient maps, and countless other items peppered every bit of floor and wall space.
The cave was like a museum.
Speechless, her eyes fell on a white cloth cap hanging beside the fire, the flames from which accentuated the metal badge on its crown: the skull and cross bones. A sinister chill swept through her. She looked over at Joe. It was evident from his expression he had seen it, too.
Werner von Hammbelburg’s SS cap.
Just then, Becky heard the frantic patter of footsteps from behind. She looked round to see Orff dash though a small fissure into a second cave, returning moments later clutching something in his right hand. Smiling, Orff scampered over to her, dipped his head and held out a trembling hand.
Looking down, Becky saw a spectacular knife, its gleaming steel blade inlaid with gold and precious stones. The dagger had a jade hilt and a pommel in the shape of a horse’s head.
‘Mee want Beeky ‘ave thees,’ Orff said gently.
Becky was at a loss for words. She didn’t know what the knife represented but could tell it was immensely valuable. ‘I can’t, Orff. It’s too much.’
‘Pleese,’ Orff insisted. ‘Forr yu… Umgala!’
Becky didn’t know what to do. What did ‘Umgala’ mean? Were the transvocalisors malfunctioning? Her eyes found Gimbledok. She could tell from his surprised expression Orff was offering his most treasured possession. Gimbledok glanced at Mirala and they swapped proud looks.
‘Take the knife, Becky,’ Uncle Percy urged. ‘This is a very significant moment in a young Yeti’s development. ‘Umgala’ is an ancient Yeti tradition, one that signifies the transformation from childhood into adolescence. Orff recognises he is growing up and that he is old enough to take on certain responsibilities.’
Becky was confused. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘To the Yeti, friendship is the most important responsibility of all,’ Uncle Percy replied. ‘Orff wishes to become your friend throughout life and beyond. He is offering you his everlasting loyalty. It’s the greatest gift a Yeti can bestow upon another. You should be very proud he’s picked you…’
Becky didn’t know what to say. Gently, she reached out and took the knife.
Orff’s face ignited. ‘Umgala … Umgala…’
Curling the blade in her fingers, Becky felt a twinge of guilt. She had nothing to give in return, nothing that could vaguely compare with the gift she’d been given. But then it struck her. There was something … something that meant as much to her as the knife clearly had meant to him. Without even a hint of hesitation, her fingers reached up to her neck. Slowly, she looped her lucky pendant over her head and passed it over.
Orff’s beaming face was cloaked in an emerald hue.
Becky had given him the Suman Stone.
Chapter 13
The Abominable Dead
Becky watched Orff drape the Suman Stone around his neck, his lip quivering like a leaf in a stiff breeze. She didn’t know how to feel. On one hand, she was filled with a deep loss, as if surrendering a vital part of her soul; on the other, she felt lighter, liberated, ready to let go of her past and move forward into an uncharted future.
Uncle Percy looked at her with intense pride. He knew precisely what it meant to her. ‘Good for you, Becky,’ he said softly.
Joe, on the other hand, looked at her as if her nose had fallen off.
For the next hour, they listened to Gimbledok recite stories about his ancestors and the Yeti community at large. Although the translation left a lot to be desired, Becky got the impression that Yeti history was much more interesting than she would’ve ever imagined, even involving a period when they lived and worked alongside humans constructing something called the Great White Pyramid at Xian.
As Gimbledok spoke, Mirala served them all a steaming broth-type drink she called Proakima, which, despite its muddy dark brown colour, had a warming and refreshing taste of apricots and strawberries.
The conversation lasted just over an hour, during which a constant stream of Yetis, both young and old, visited them to pay their respects to Uncle Percy who, much to his embarrassment, they treated like a travelling doctor, inviting him to look at every conceivable ailment from a swollen ankle the size of a melon, to a nose wart in the shape of a lobster.
It was late-morning when Uncle Percy looked at Gimbledok and said, ‘I think it’s time we should be going.’ His gaze unconsciously drifted over to Werner Von Hammelburg’s cap, before flicking over to Becky and Joe. ‘I’ll be back shortly, but–’
Becky rolled her eyes. ‘Whatever,’ she interrupted. ‘We’re coming.’
Uncle Percy exhaled heavily. ‘I really don’t think you need to see a ten-year old corpse, do you?’
Joe looked affronted. ‘A couple of months ago we were fighting pirate corpses by the shed-load. At least this one won’t try and eat our brains.’
Uncle Percy gave a defeated sigh. ‘Let’s hope not...’ He watched Gimbledok pick up an unlit wooden torch. ‘That won’t be necessary, my friend.’
‘Need fyrre,’ Gimbledok grunted back. ‘Sold’eer deep in mowntin!’
‘We have plenty of light, trust me,’ Uncle Percy said, slipping his hand into his coat pocket and pulling out a crumpled brown paper bag.’
‘You’ve brought sweeties?’ Joe asked, puzzled.
‘I’ve brought illumino-beads,’ Uncle Percy replied, opening the bag to reveal a dozen tiny translucent
balls.
‘What are they?’ Becky asked.
‘Just a little invention of mine. As we seem to spend half our life in rather murky tunnels, I thought it might be useful for us to have a portable light source. Actually, it’s quite a straightforward device, really: an uthurnium shell encasing a single lumo-phoric cell. Observe …’ He plucked an illumino bead from the bag and rolled it between his forefinger and thumb. Then he threw it into the far cave. The bead shattered on the ground, filling the cave with blinding light.
Orff gave an ecstatic squeal and slammed his feet on the ground repeatedly in a booming gesture of approval. Gimbledok and Mirala looked fleetingly shaken until they began to relax as the light dulled to a softer hue.
‘That single bead will generate light for up to one hour,’ Uncle Percy said.
‘That’s wicked,’ Joe said.
‘Pretty elementary stuff, really,’ Uncle Percy said matter-of-factly.
A short while later, Becky was following Gimbledok, Uncle Percy and Joe (despite Orff’s repeated pleas, Gimbledok wouldn’t allow him to come) down an adjoining tunnel and away from the Yeti village. With a succession of illumino-beads lighting the path ahead, Becky could see the tunnel was at least two hundred metres long with dozens of vacant caves on either side. It was then she felt Joe’s hand tug at her sleeve pulling her out of earshot.
‘So how come you gave Orff the Suman Stone?’ Joe asked quietly. ‘I mean, you won’t even let me touch it, but you go and give it to the first baby Gruffalo that gives you a flick knife.’
‘It just felt like the right thing to do.’
Joe wasn’t nearly satisfied with the answer. ‘But dad gave it to you!’
‘And it meant everything when I thought he was dead,’ Becky replied simply. ‘Now I know he’s alive … I dunno - I just don’t feel I need it anymore.’ She paused. ‘I don’t expect a thickhead like you to understand.’
A mischievous glint formed in Joe’s eyes. ‘You do know you’ve probably promised to marry Orff now, don’t you?’
Becky scowled at him. ‘What’re you talking about?’
‘You swapping gifts. It’s probably some ancient Yeti tradition that means you’re engaged or summat.’ He snorted. ‘Best start shopping for a dress.’
Becky shot him a contemptuous look. ‘Joe, you’re such a tool!’ she said flatly.
Joe ignored the insult. ‘Seriously, you’ll have to let me know what you want me to get you for a wedding pressie? How about a womble suit?’
Becky was about to thump him when another tunnel came into view, its entrance adorned with hundreds of fresh flowers in a glittering display of colour. She knew at once they were entering the funerary caves. Forgetting Joe’s insolence, she felt a wave of unease. This was where the Yeti community laid their dead to rest. A mausoleum. She watched Gimbledok enter, followed by Uncle Percy, who threw down another bead which shattered, immediately brightening the way ahead.
Head bowed, Becky followed silently as they passed a series of caves. Unable to stop herself, she peered into one. Like Gimbledok’s cave, the floor was covered with objects, all of which were facing a central altar like spectators at a football match; set upon the altar was a Yeti, its giant body wrapped in a woollen burial shroud. The altar appeared to be carved in intricate, swirling patterns from a single gigantic piece of wood and was decorated with garlands of purple and red flowers. Before she knew it, she found herself standing there stock-still, humbled by the immense care spent in making the cave look so beautiful.
Uncle Percy noticed and moved to her side. ‘It’s really quite touching, isn’t it?’
Becky nodded. ‘Where do they get all the flowers?’
‘Every other day the Yetis leave their village to forage for them, travelling many miles sometimes, just to ensure these caves are always as bright and colourful and vibrant as you see today. They take death, and the commemoration of their ancestors, very seriously. In my opinion, mankind could learn a lot from them.’
‘I agree,’ Becky said quietly.
The group continued their trek deep into the mountain, passing cave after cave, each of which was as well maintained as the next, until Gimbledok shuffled to a halt and inclined his head towards a cave opening.
‘The sowldier … he sleep ‘ere.’
‘Thank you, Gimbledok,’ Uncle Percy said simply. His face grew solemn as he threw an illumino bead into the opening. With a flash, the cave ignited. He waited for the initial flare to subside and then turned to Becky and Joe.
‘Are you sure you’re ready to see this?’ Uncle Percy asked.
Becky and Joe nodded, although neither looked completely happy about it.
Accepting their decision, Uncle Percy stooped down and disappeared inside.
Determined not to let Joe see how anxious she really felt, Becky followed Uncle Percy into the cave, Joe trailing close behind. She was surprised at the sight that greeted her. As this cave contained a human (and one who had been here for over a decade) she’d expected it to be empty, neglected even, with Von Hammelburg’s skeleton, hideous and creepy, lying there in all of its gruesome glory, but she was wrong. It was as well cared for as the other funerary caves. Bursting with flowers, there was no wooden altar, no possessions that reflected the dead man’s life, but Von Hammelburg’s body lay serenely on the floor, its features concealed by a burial shroud.
Before Becky had time to ponder the strangeness of the situation, however, her gaze locked on the object at Hammelburg’s feet: a rucksack. Excitement rushed through her.
Uncle Percy exhaled deeply. ‘Here goes nothing...’ He leant down and picked up the rucksack. Unclipping the fastener, he opened it and thrust his hand inside.
Becky watched nervously as Uncle Percy pulled something into the light. It was a rectangular piece of orange metal about a foot long; dozens of strange symbols were etched onto its surface. She heard Joe gasp loudly behind her.
‘Well, well,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘It appears that the Gadeirus Tablet does exist.’
‘What do the markings mean?’ Joe panted.
‘I can only assume it’s written in the Atlantean language, Joe,’ Uncle Percy replied. ‘I can get Barbie to check them against her databases, but it’s doubtful even she will have any record of such a thing.’
‘But it certainly isn’t made from silver marble, is it?’ Becky said. ‘Not like it said it would be in the Sonchis Scroll.’
‘No. It certainly isn’t,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘But I do think we’ve seen this metal before? Twice before, as a matter of fact…’
Becky looked confused. ‘When?’
‘Are you sure you don’t recognise it?’ Uncle Percy said searchingly. ‘Look again.’
Becky’s eyes fell on the Gadeirus Tablet once more. It was then a spark of recognition struck her. Uncle Percy was right; she had seen the metal before. ‘It’s made from the same metal Edgar’s grandfather used to make the Theseus Disc, isn’t it?’
‘And Edgar’s dagger,’ Joe added quickly.
‘That’s right,’ Uncle Percy said.
Becky swallowed hard. ‘But what does that mean?’
It was Uncle Percy’s turn to look confused. ‘I have absolutely no idea…’
Chapter 14
Orichalcum
A heavy silence descended upon them.
Becky was struggling to find any words that would make sense of it all. They had obtained what they had come for: The Gadeirus Tablet; but what on earth were they going to do with it? If the message, as the Sonchis Scroll suggested, did lead the way to the Spear of Fate, how could they possibly decipher something written in an obsolete language? ‘But if we can’t translate the language how will we understand what it says?’
Uncle Percy exhaled. ‘That is indeed the dilemma.’
Becky’s eyes met his. A few nervous moments passed before she asked her next question. ‘May I … may I hold it?’
Uncle Percy smiled kindly. ‘Of course.’
Hands shaki
ng, Becky took it and allowed her fingers to glide over the markings. She couldn’t believe it. She was holding a genuine Atlantean relic. It felt so light to her touch and yet somehow as hard as a diamonds. ‘So what do we do with it now?’ she asked quietly.
Uncle Percy shook his head. ‘We buckle down and hit the books, Becky, do some research, and hope something of worth reveals itself. The fact is there are just so many unanswered questions, and ones we may never know the answers too. I suggest we return to Bowen Hall and take stock of our situation.’
‘But what about Drake?’ Joe said urgently. ‘He won’t be taking stock of anything. He’ll be out there, recruiting historical nut jobs and searching for the Spear of Fate.’
‘Then let’s pray he can’t find it without the tablet.’ Uncle Percy replied solemnly.
A few minutes later, they were making their way back to Gimbledok’s cave. After an emotional farewell, during which a tearful Orff refused to let go of Becky’s hand, they exited the cave to see the rest of the Yetis had lined the passageway that led outside. Smiling from crooked mouths, the Yetis pounded their feet against the ground in a gesture of respect, as a visibly moved Uncle Percy, Joe and Becky passed by.
Emerging from the mountainside, Becky was surprised to see the weather had turned dramatically. Fat, pewter-black clouds had amassed overhead, blocking the sun, and flecks of snow the size of cricket balls pounded their faces as they trudged towards the time machine, which rocked in the furious wind.
Thankful for the car’s warmth, Becky settled on to the back seat and took a prolonged look at the Gadeirus Tablet. What secrets did it hold? How on earth would they unravel them? And as the car filled with light, she couldn’t help but ponder another question: if the tablet was indeed forged from the same metal as the Theseus Disc, then how was it connected to the Minotaurs?
*
Seconds later, they were back in the Time Room. The temperature rose rapidly, causing Becky to feel like she’d just been pulled from an icebox and flung into an oven. She threw off her coat and followed Joe out of the Cadillac.
