by carl ashmore
Chapter 28
The Sanctuary
Heim turned to the Associates. ‘Relieve them of any weapons and travelling devices.’
An Associate strode over to Uncle Percy and frisked him roughly. He tore the portravella from Uncle Percy’s wrist, and removed Blanche’s keys from his cloak pocket. It was only, however, when the Associate withdrew a small tetragonal device that Uncle Percy looked momentarily crestfallen, although he concealed this from Heim.
Becky noticed, however, and she focused on the gadget. She had not seen anything like it before. Neither, it seemed, had Heim, whose eyes wrinkled with suspicion.
‘Give that to me,’ he ordered, pointing to it. The Associate passed it over. ‘And what, pray, is this little thing? It’s not a pagidizor, I can see that much.’
‘You have all the answers,’ Uncle Percy spat back. He cast an almost imperceptible glance at Will, who, too, looked strangely troubled. ‘Figure it out for yourself.’
‘It matters not.’ Heim slipped it into his jacket pocket.
Another two Associates searched Will, taking his Joe-bow, quiver, sword and a bronze dagger. Another one did the same with Joe. Becky and Layla were the last to be frisked, producing only Layla’s figurine, which was promptly crushed underfoot to a chorus of ugly, barking laughter from the nearby Associates.
Heim moved over to Layla. ‘Now, what is your name, little one?’
Layla fixed him with a look of contempt, but said nothing.
‘A silent butterfly, eh?’ Heim said. ‘Mister Drake tells me you’re seeking your father. Would you, I wonder, find your voice to say his name? You see, I cannot promise he will be alive. We’ve suffered a number of unfortunate fatalities of late.’
‘His name is Hannu,’ Layla replied proudly. ‘And he will be alive.’
The name struck a chord with Heim. ‘Hannu? The carpenter? Ah, yes, I do believe he’s one of the few known to me, and yes, he is indeed still alive to my knowledge.’ He paced arrogantly before her, his chest ballooning like a peacock. ‘He’s quite the agitator, so I believe. And as such, I’ve had to make something of an example of him to his countrymen. For now, he dwells at the bottom of an open pit for the ants to feed upon, but I do parade him through the streets once a day, just to remind others that rebellion is not an option.’
Layla’s face conveyed a mixture of horror and joy.
Heim seemed to delight in her reaction. He turned to the others. ‘Shall we return to Memphis? I’d very much like to introduce you to a place I call The Sanctuary. I think you’ll be most impressed.’ He looked ominously at Uncle Percy. ‘And after that, let’s see if Mister Halifax remains unwilling to discuss the location of the Spear?’
He turned slowly to Will, his voice dropping to a spine-chilling purr. ‘And if there’s even an intimation of violence on your part, no matter how great a warrior you may be, the Associates will begin slaughtering those you love... starting with the boy.’ He nodded at Joe. ‘I believe a single bullet in his eye will soon dull your resolve. Do you understand?’
Will didn’t reply.
‘Let us depart,’ Heim said. He gestured for the Associates to direct the group to the first of three large military trucks parked about fifty metres away. Uncle Percy and Will were watched with extra vigilance as they climbed aboard, two sets of guns trained on them at any one time. Edgar followed next, his massive weight causing the truck’s suspension to dip considerably, before being joined by Joe and Layla, Becky bringing up the rear.
Heim stood up front. ‘Is everyone comfortable?’ he said to a stony silence. ‘We have a busy day planned. I’ll show you The Sanctuary, but then, I’m afraid, we have a rather tiresome chore to fulfill. You see, now the Spear of Fate has been found, all excavation will cease. We do, therefore, have over five hundred workers with no work to do. Mister Drake has given strict instructions he doesn’t want any witnesses to our activities, so - well, let’s just say that the Nile’s banks will be stained the deepest of reds tonight.’ He gave a pitiless smile. ‘On the bright side, my time in Egypt is coming to an end. As you can see, I no longer have youth on my side, and this insufferable heat is really not good for my health…’
Becky felt sick to her core. Her eyes found Layla, who was shivering uncontrollably.
Becky wanted to reach out and tell her everything would be okay. But she couldn’t do it. It would’ve been a lie. Her thoughts turned to Uncle Percy - the one person who had always been a paragon of calm, of optimism, even in the darkest of times. She looked over at him, hoping to see a glimmer of hope on his face, but it just wasn’t there. With a gulp, she turned away as a deep grumbling sound shook the truck. Then a trail of crimson vapor spilled from the dashboard like an inbound sea mist, and a moment later, they vanished.
*
Becky stared out at their new surroundings. Ordinarily, she knew she would’ve been impressed. Instead, she felt nothing but dread. They had materialised in a huge walled compound, lined with lotus trees, their violet blossoms scenting the air with a sweet fragrance. Ahead of them was a vast stone temple that stretched as far as the eye could see; two colossal sphinxes, fashioned from glittering alabaster, guarded the wide doorway.
Heim leapt from the truck with a zeal that belied his age. He waited for the Associates to shunt the group into line, before launching into what sounded like a well-rehearsed speech. ‘This is the Great Temple of Ptah. Even in the future, its true scale and magnificence has never been fully revealed. Of course, The Sanctuary is no longer a place of worship, but a facility for science, an emblem of ingenuity … for discovery … for biotic advancement … for true learning.’ He turned to Uncle Percy. ‘From what I gather, we are very much alike. So, as a fellow student of the sciences, I’m convinced you’ll appreciate the extraordinary things you’ll see within these walls.’
‘We are in no way alike,’ Uncle Percy said coolly.
‘Our methods may be different,’ Heim replied. ‘But I’m sure our thirst for answers remains the same.’
‘But we ask very different questions,’ Uncle Percy replied. ‘And I’m certain whatever’s in that building is a travesty of science.’ He paused for a second. ‘But I do ask that you let only me see it. The youngsters should stay here.’
Heim gave a hideous laugh. ‘But how can youth truly grow if denied all the facts? Learning should never merely be for the old, but always shared with the eyes of the young.’
Uncle Percy looked down. ‘There will be no learning in there.’
‘Then you should look at things with a more ambitious mind,’ Heim replied coldly. ‘You see … Mister Drake gave me two duties whilst in this era. The first, as you well know, was to search for the Spear of Fate. The second, and considerably more appealing to my scientific nature, was the work I was to undertake in The Sanctuary.’ He turned to Edgar, who was wide-eyed with terror. ‘Surely, Minotaur, you wondered why I was testing you when you were in my care? It was because of your heritage. You are a child of Atlantis, and Atlantis is at the heart of all of this…’
Becky’s fear magnified with every word he spoke.
‘We have scoured Egypt looking for the sons and daughters of Atlantis, creatures of such splendour they could only have evolved in an environment shaped by a relic as powerful as the Spear of Fate – bizarre, unique, wonderful creatures.’ His dark eyes shone. ‘I feel like a child again just talking about it. Anyway, my experiments have led me to discoveries, to breakthroughs I never would have thought possible. But mere words cannot paint a rich enough picture. Surely, you’ll wish to see with your own eyes…’ He pivoted on his back heel and marched purposefully through the temple doors. ‘FOLLOW ME …’
Becky heard the clack of guns being raised. A burly Associate with a scarred face grunted, ‘You heard the doctor … start walking!’
One by one, heads down, they trailed Heim into the temple.
Even before Becky’s eyes had adjusted to their new surroundings, a foul stench found her nostrils. At the
same time, an array of sounds filtered into her ears. Terrible sounds. Howls. Whines. Yelps. Squeals. Whimpers. At once, all energy deserted her; she wanted to curl up in a ball, and block out every one of her senses. From the gloom, dozens of pens, cages and coops came into view. Her heart plummeted further.
The temple was crammed with animals – hundreds, perhaps thousands of them – chained, tied, shackled in a diabolical open prison.
The blood boiled in her veins.
‘Welcome to The Sanctuary,’ Heim said without emotion. ‘What you are witnessing are the beasts of countless fables, myths and legends - many of whom are the very last of their kind. Right here, in the this room, are the geneses of a thousand children’s stories.’ His arms extended outwards like an emperor surveying his domain. ‘Over there, I give you … the beautiful Phoenix…’ He pointed to a huge bird trembling in a rusty cage that was clearly much too small for its size, its brilliantly coloured wings forlorn and lifeless. Heim pointed at a large steel pen on his right. ‘The terrifying Chimera…’
Sickened and disgusted, Becky looked over to see what appeared to be a thin, emaciated lion curled on the filthy ground, its airways constricted by a spiked iron collar that was speckled with blood. It was only when the Chimera looked up, hurt and distressed, she saw its tail was that of a serpent, which hissed furiously.
Heim gestured to another cage. ‘And, of course, the noble Griffon…’
Barely able to see through the tears that were coming thick and fast now, Becky saw a large creature with a dog’s torso and the aquiline face of an eagle; it was staring dolefully back at her, its large brown eyes drooped with sorrow.
Heim strode pompously from one animal to the next, gloating, wallowing in their distress, parading them like a ringmaster at the most despicable circus. Then he came to a final cage. ‘And last, but not least … my personal favourite …’
Before he could finish, however, Layla broke away from the others, and was speeding towards the cage. Breathless, she fell to her knees, and thrust her tiny fingers through the bars towards a frail snow-white animal shivering in the corner. ‘Adma …’ Layla panted. ‘My beautiful Adma…’
Becky recalled Layla’s wooden deer figurine.
Heim watched with bemusement. ‘How interesting,’ he crooned. ‘I can only assume the creature was once yours.’
Confused for a moment, the white animal tilted its head up, and its sad but shimmering blue eyes found Layla’s. An unconditional love passed between them both. Slowly, Adma inched over to Layla, who was sobbing uncontrollably. It was then Becky noticed the long spiraling horn extending from Adma’s forehead.
Becky knew instantly Adma wasn’t a deer at all.
She was a unicorn.
Chapter 29
Flight and Fight
Waves of anger crashed over Becky. She watched with horror as an Associate wrenched Layla away, hurling her onto his broad shoulders like a rag doll.
‘Leave me,’ Layla howled, kicking out wildly. ‘Leave me with her…’
Incensed, Becky shouted, ‘Put her down!’
Heim cackled. ‘Now, now, ladies…’ The smile fell from his face and his stare turned menacingly on Layla, who was trying frantically to bite the Associate’s shoulder. ‘THIS WILL CEASE NOW!’
Becky had never heard such venom in a voice before.
Layla calmed herself at once.
Heim’s voice regained its silky-smooth lilt. ‘You cannot remain here, little one. The creature must be packed away with the others and relocated to a different time zone. Mister Drake is keen for us to continue our experiments. And besides, you wish to see your father, do you not?’
Layla nodded silently. ‘Yes,’ she whimpered.
‘Then perhaps we can arrange that very soon,’ Heim said. ‘If you behave, of course.’ He strode over to an empty pen, before spinning sharply and eyeing Edgar. ‘I cannot have a Minotaur promenading around this city … it would only incite misbehavior in the local populace. Instead, Edgar, I suggest you stay here with your brothers and sisters.’ He pointed at a heavy steel collar, two inches thick, secured to an iron bollard. ‘If you would apply these restraints to yourself, I would be grateful.’
Edgar didn’t move.
‘Did you hear me, Minotaur?’ Heim nodded to the Associate closest to him, who pressed the barrel of his rifle against Becky’s temple.
Edgar’s eyes flared with panic. ‘Lower the weapon,’ he said so fast the words stumbled from his mouth. He reached the pen in a single stride. Dipping to his knees, he paused for an instant, before setting the collar around his throat. With a hollow click, it locked into place.
Becky felt tears could burst from her eyes at any moment. The sight of a free spirit like Edgar bound in chains ripped her very soul.
Uncle Percy, on the other hand, remained calm, composed. ‘Edgar, your imprisonment will be temporary. We’ll be back for you shortly, I promise.’
‘You promise?’ Heim challenged.
‘Yes, I promise,’ Uncle Percy replied, his eyes scanning the Sanctuary. ‘We’ll be back for him and these animals, too.’
Heim gave a high-pitched laugh. ‘Really? I do so doubt it. As ever, the arrogance of the English astounds me.’
Uncle Percy didn’t respond. Instead, he fixed Edgar with a staunch gaze, and said in a calm yet purposeful voice, ‘I give you my word, Edgar.’ He turned back to Heim. ‘I don’t suppose you wish to surrender now? It could save you and your colleagues a lot of bother, not to mention needless bloodshed.’
Heim leaned in until he was barely an inch from Uncle Percy’s ear, then hissed, ‘There will be blood shed today, but none of it shall be mine. I cannot say the same for your niece…’ He cleared his throat loudly and turned to Becky, Joe and Layla. ‘Now, little ones, have you ever witnessed a mass execution? It’s quite a liberating sight.’ And with that, he gestured for the Associates to steer the group towards the exit.
Becky steadied Layla’s trembling hand as they walked. ‘Don’t worry,’ she said. ‘We’ll rescue Adma … and your father. Uncle Percy’s got a plan, he’s always got a plan.’ She hoped to sound more confident than she felt.
They were led out of the Sanctuary and into the walled compound.
In spite of the severe heat, Becky felt a chill sweep through her. Could Uncle Percy really have a plan, one that had a reasonable chance of success? She couldn’t see how it was possible. Looking over at him, however, she thought he seemed markedly aware of his surroundings, nodding to himself every now and again as if silently answering unspoken questions. They left the compound and entered a wide paved street where the city revealed itself, majestic and vast; palaces, temples, houses, gardens, workshops, many of which had been left ravaged and laid waste from excavation, spread on to the horizon with the Nile visible to their left, countless abandoned boats moored on its banks.
Entering a large square, Heim brought them to a halt before a towering limestone statute of a seated pharaoh, its eyes set vacantly ahead as if refusing to acknowledge the presence of the intruders below. The statue faced a very grand building, patrolled by heavily armed Associates, to the side of which were stables, filled with horses, and a row of giant metal containers heaving with spades and pickaxes. Four tall gun towers, manned by more Associates, rose dauntingly from each vertex of the square.
Becky watched Heim approach an Associate and they began to discuss something she couldn’t quite hear; at the same time, Uncle Percy sidled towards her, at pains to avoid drawing attention to himself.
‘Becky, about your telekinesis -’ he whispered, avoiding eye contact. ‘Do you need to actually see the object for you to summon it?’
‘I don’t know,’ she replied. ‘Why?’
‘The gadget that Heim took from me, the one he placed in his jacket pocket. It’s a voice-activated detonator.’
‘A detonator?’
Uncle Percy leaned in closer. ‘Yes,’ he murmured. ‘Don’t react, but this entire area is peppered with squid
bombs.’
‘B-bombs?’ Becky spluttered, half-shocked, half-thrilled.
‘Twenty-six of them, to be exact … and some other items.’
‘What other items?’ Becky asked, hope filling her.
‘Will’s things,’ Uncle Percy replied simply.
‘Is this what you did when you left us at the cave?’
‘Yes.’
Becky was still struggling to comprehend it all. She looked over at Heim, who was still deep in conversation. ‘But how’d you get in there to plant them?’ she asked. ‘It’s swarming with Associates.’
‘We made two time trips. One to scout out the prison, and one just before the Associates arrived in Memphis to plant them,’ Uncle Percy whispered back. ‘The problem is, they can only be triggered with that detonator and my voice. Do you think you can get it for me?’
‘I can try. I want to try.’
‘Good,’ Uncle Percy replied. ‘Just wait for my signal … and let’s pray it works for everyone’s sake…’
Shell-shocked, Becky watched Uncle Percy and Will exchange silent nods of satisfaction. Then her eyes found Heim, who had just ended his conversation. She watched the Associate gather four others and march off in the direction of the building. Joe appeared at her side.
‘What did Uncle Percy want?’ he whispered anxiously. ‘Has he got a plan?’
‘You’ll see,’ Becky replied, before mumbling, ‘at least, I hope you will...’
From then on Becky couldn’t take her eyes off Uncle Percy, watching his every move, waiting for his signal. But the longer she waited, the more a nagging doubt grew within. Could she even do it? She felt confident she could control the telekinesis now, but she had only ever achieved it in clear view of the object in question. Her thoughts, however, were disturbed when she spied movement ahead.
Associates were marching out of the building, guns pointed terrifyingly on the hundreds of people that emerged in their wake. Dressed in little more than filthy rags, men, women and children, their faces gaunt and withered, advanced slowly like the walking dead, half-starved, malnourished, their sunken eyes tilted downwards.
