“Suppose. Pity though.”
“Why?”
“Well… I know going back to 1914… Well, it was dangerous and stuff, and a lot of bad things happened…”
“Yes, Angus,” Jack said slowly, making sure the point sank in, “that’s why nobody wants to be doing it again. Time travel and especially using the Taurus to make changes to history… it’s a bad idea. Remember your great grandfather Ludwig in the trenches? If that bayonet had been a few inches to the right, he might have died and, you wouldn’t be here.”
“I know, but…” Angus grinned. “You’ve got to admit, it was pretty cool.”
Jack shook his head. “Sometimes I wonder about you. We can say that, sitting here now. But it didn’t feel cool to me at the time. We were lucky to get away with our lives. Meddling in time is definitely to be avoided. VIGIL — and their leaders — the Rector, Councillor Inchquin — all of them — they’re trying to do the right thing. Dad and Pendelshape, the Revisionists, for all their brains and good intentions, are just plain wrong. We’re on the side of VIGIL now.”
Angus shrugged.
Gino ambled over to their booth. “Two Gino-chinos, one chip butty for you and… four for you.”
“Great Gino. Thanks a lot.”
Jack looked at Angus’s plate, “You’re not seriously going to eat all that are you?”
“I don’t really want to… I’m doing it more out of a sense of duty to the team,” Angus replied regretfully, as if he were making some terrible sacrifice. He opened one of the butties and poured salt, vinegar and ketchup onto the chips inside before quickly re-sealing them within the bread. Then he took a large bite and the contents leaked out from each side.
“Gross.”
“Actually, very tasty,” Angus replied, his mouth full. It didn’t stop him from continuing their conversation.
“But what about your dad? Don’t you feel bad about him? If VIGIL ever gets hold of him, they’ll do him for sure.”
Angus was never one for subtlety and Jack grimaced. “Thanks for reminding me.” There was an awkward silence and then Jack shrugged. “I try not to think about it.” He swallowed. “And, I don’t know, maybe one day there will be a way… a way that VIGIL and Dad can be reconciled.” He looked down at his plate. “Maybe then Mum and Dad could even get back together.”
Angus swallowed and took a swig of his Gino-chino. “Sorry Jackster — didn’t mean to…” He shrugged. “Well — you know.”
“It’s all right. Anyway — we’re fully signed-up members of VIGIL now. Don’t forget what that means.”
Angus wiped his mouth and his eyes lit up. “How could I forget?”
Jack remembered the VIGIL inauguration ceremony that he and Angus had taken part in after their return from Sarajevo. As things settled down, they learned that VIGIL’s aim was not only to be ready to counteract any Revisionist attempts to meddle in history, but also to identify and train promising students and enrol them into VIGIL. This recruitment was one reason for secreting the Taurus complex and VIGIL headquarters in an ordinary school: it was easy to identify potential candidates. In this way, VIGIL would ensure the continuation of its cause from one generation to the next and ensure the future safety of mankind as well. This was critical, particularly while the Revisionist threat was still alive. Jack and Angus’s experiences in 1914 had made them instant VIGIL veterans and obvious candidates for enrolment.
Jack’s mobile went off and he pulled it from his pocket. “Text from Mum probably, wondering where I am…”
Angus returned to his chip butty.
Jack peered at the screen. “Don’t recognise that number…” He opened the message. “Funny…” Jack’s brow furrowed. “What do you reckon to this?”
“To what?”
Jack read out the text. “Jack — meet at old lookout. Very urgent. Come now.”
“What can that mean?”
“You’ve got an admirer — finally.”
“Hilarious.”
“The old lookout — that’s the fire tower, isn’t it? You know, top of Glentress… we used to go up there on the bike.”
“Yeah — but who’s this from? There’s no name.”
Angus grinned mischievously. “Only one way to find out.”
“But I can’t do that without alerting VIGIL… I’ve got this stupid tracker on my ankle — remember?” Jack pulled up one leg of his trousers a little to show Angus the discrete wireless tracker that ensured VIGIL always knew his whereabouts. Jack was a valuable asset to VIGIL, and the tracker was just one of the ways they made sure he was properly protected. Most of the time he forgot about it, but sometimes it made him frustrated and even angry about the responsibility that rested on his shoulders.
“Oh yeah.” Angus thought for a moment and then a twinkle came to his eye. “On the other hand, it might be a laugh to see how quickly they send in air support when they know you’ve gone AWOL. It’s good to keep them on their toes.”
Jack was not sure. “I don’t know, Angus.”
“Come on, Jack, who dares wins and all that.” He nodded at Jack’s butty and stood up. “Scoff that and let’s go and find out who your mystery girlfriend is.”
The Tower
In a moment they were back on Angus’s bike heading out of town and towards the forest. The Forestry Commission owned large tracts of land above Soonhope, and had populated it with pine and spruce plantations that spread for many kilometres across the hills. Soon they were powering up one of the forest tracks, a plume of dust rising from the back tyre. At intervals there were fire warning signs with a picture of a red flame and lists of ‘DON’TS’ beneath — ‘DON’T’ do this and ‘DON’T’ do that. It was as if they’d been put there by VIGIL themselves. But you would need more than that to deter Angus. He worked his way up and down the gears as they ascended steadily. At one point the forest track swept round to the right and a steep path rose through the thick woodlands at an angle from the bend.
Angus pulled up and shouted through his helmet. “Hold on — I’m going to take a short cut.”
Before Jack had time to object, Angus had re-selected first gear and the bike shot up the narrow path. All Jack could do was hang on. After a while, the steep path levelled off and they picked up speed, the densely packed conifers whizzing past on each side of the narrow track.
Suddenly, a shape appeared in front of them, right in the middle of the path. It was a man, just standing there, looking at the oncoming bike as if caught in a trance. Angus hit the front brake and then the rear a split second later. He twisted the handlebars to avoid the man and, as he did so, both tyres lost their grip on the loose track surface. In an instant, the bike, Jack and Angus were horizontal and sliding along the ground. The man leaped free, moments before impact, and the boys slid to a halt in the tall grass on the verge. Jack’s heart was pounding. His leg hurt from where the bike had pressed down on it as they scraped along the track. Thankfully nothing seemed to be broken. Angus was first to his feet.
“What the…?”
Jack groaned and pulled himself into a sitting position. He looked up and immediately wished he hadn’t. He felt nauseous.
The man looked at them from the side of the track. They had slid past him by a good twenty metres. He was, maybe, mid forties, slim and fit-looking and wore jeans, hiking boots and a grey fleece jacket. He had not shaved for a few days and his yellow hair was ruffled.
“What the hell are you doing — trying to get us all killed?” Angus bellowed.
The man did not reply. It was as if he were weighing up something in his mind. Then, still saying nothing, he turned and melted back into the thick, dark woodland.
Angus was apoplectic. “What? He’s just run off!”
Jack pulled himself to his feet and dusted himself down. He could see the grazing on his leg through rips in his jeans.
“You okay?” Angus said. “Can’t believe that guy!”
“We probably shouldn’t be on this track anyway.” Jack
looked down at the bike, still lying on its side. “Will it start?”
Angus hauled the machine up, inspecting the scrapes to the petrol tank and chrome.
“What a mess. If I ever see that bloke again…”
He straddled the bike and tried the engine. It fired immediately.
“Thank God for that.”
“What now?”
“Well we might as well finish what we came up here to do.” Angus looked at Jack’s pale face. “If you’re still up for it.”
“I’ll survive.” Jack mounted the passenger seat gingerly and Angus set off, this time at a more sedate pace.
After a while, they left the cover of the dark green canopy and were released onto the open heather moorland above the treeline, where they re-joined the main track. Apart from the mystery hill walker they had nearly hit on the way up, there was no one around and the fire tower loomed into view as they crested a final ridge.
Angus cut the engine and the air became still. They took off their helmets and walked towards the tower. Jack moved with a slight limp but Angus seemed to show no ill effects from coming off the bike. Sometimes it seemed like he was indestructible.
“Can’t see anyone here at all. No sign of your mystery admirer.”
Jack shrugged. “Weird. Shall we go up?”
They clambered up the wooden ladder to the lookout cabin.
Angus knocked on the rough wooden door. “Hello! Anyone at home?”
There was silence, except for a light spring breeze which teased the top of the trees in the distance.
“Nothing. Come on, let’s check it out.”
The door opened into a crude wooden room with panoramic views of the surrounding forest and hills. It was like being in a small boat in a big green ocean. Far below you could see the river meandering its way down the valley, shining like a silver ribbon in the late afternoon sun. In the middle of the cabin was a rough, three-dimensional model, a sort of topographical map of the surrounding area. It showed the hills, the main plantations, tracks, streams, the river, each peak, each village and the positions of the other fire towers. The whole world was suddenly defined in detail across a square metre of plastic and modelling paint. From this lofty position you could see how the fire wardens would have a sense of control… of watchful power.
“Nothing here. Certainly no clue as to your mystery texter.”
Jack peered into the one adjoining room. It was a bedroom — but it was more the size of a large cupboard.
“Hey — looks like there’s been someone sleeping here.”
In the room, there was a sleeping bag, a gas burner and a couple of books.
“One of the wardens?”
“Bit early in the year.”
“And I’m not sure they’d be reading these.”
Jack picked up a couple of books that had been left behind. One was entitled Principles of Quantum Mechanics. It looked old, and was by someone called Paul Dirac. The other book was a complete works of William Shakespeare. It was open at one page and the reader had circled an extract in pencil. Jack peered down at the book.
“That’s funny — this guy’s been reading Hamlet.”
“Please no, I’ve had enough of Hamlet for one day.” Angus looked around furtively. “Beattie’s probably got this place wired, just to check I don’t say anything dodgy.”
Jack read the circled extract from the book:
“Let us go in together;
And still your fingers on your lips, I pray.
The time is out of joint; O cursed spite,
That ever I was born to set it right!”
“Sorry, Jackster that sounds like complete gobbledegook… as per usual.”
Jack smiled. “It’s actually one of my speeches from Hamlet.”
“I suppose you’re going to tell me what it means and make me feel stupid?”
“Of course. From what Beattie says, Hamlet’s basically saying that things in Denmark, which he calls ‘the time’, are all messed up because of what his uncle, King Claudius, has done — killing Hamlet’s father and marrying his mother. Hamlet’s thinking about what he has to do to put it right… and he’s kind of worried and also resentful that he’s the one who’s got to sort it out. Do you understand?”
“No.”
Jack rolled his eyes.
“All I can say is it’s a bit weird that this guy’s up here and maybe we shouldn’t hang around too long. He might come back. I don’t want to bump into some hobo living here all on his own who reads Shakespeare and Maths books for fun…”
“So who sent the text — do you think it was the guy who’s been hanging out here?”
“It’s all too creepy. I think we should go.”
They turned to leave. As they did so, they noticed an envelope pinned to the inside of the wooden cabin door. Jack’s heart leaped when he saw what was written on it. It was in an italic scrawl and read simply: ‘Jack Christie’.
Jack pulled the envelope down and ripped it open. Inside was a letter:
Jack,
I had hoped to be able to meet you in person and have time for a proper talk. However, I fear that VIGIL may soon learn of my location and therefore I have had to leave in haste. This is a sad time for me. You already know about my exile from my former colleagues in VIGIL. It grieves me that, because of this, I have not been able to see you or your mother over the past nine years. But now, I also find myself in disagreement with my friend Pendelshape and the Revisionist team. We were once so unanimous in our opposition to VIGIL. But now…
Some months ago we started work on a new timeline simulation — one that aims to bring about great good for humanity. However, I could not accept further development of this simulation before I knew that you could be safely isolated from VIGIL and brought over to our side. Pendelshape and my Revisionist colleagues have become frustrated by my attitude, to say the least. We have argued and now, fearing their retribution, I have left them. Furthermore, with your safety in mind, I have, as of today, taken the unprecedented step of warning VIGIL of what I know of Pendelshape’s plans. I now find myself alone in the world — a fugitive.
I never wanted to put you in this position or to expose you to all you have experienced. However, I live in hope that we can one day meet and that you will join me in my mission.
Dad
Jack stared at the letter in stunned silence. It all came together in his head — the strange books in the tower… the man on the track…
“Your dad… he’s been here?” Angus said, incredulously.
“Yeah. And I think that was the guy we nearly ran down. I thought I sort of vaguely recognised him. He was running away…”
“From what?”
“From just about everyone, I think.”
Suddenly, in the distance they heard a faint mechanical whirring. Jack and Angus peered out from the front of the fire tower in the direction of the noise.
“And probably from that thing…”
The whirring rapidly crescendoed into a pounding whup, whup, whup as, below them, a large helicopter skimmed the tops of the trees and headed up towards the fire tower. In seconds, the helicopter was hovering right above them. The noise was deafening and it shook the wooden structure of the tower to its foundations. The pilot circled once before descending, the thrashing rotor blades throwing up a maelstrom of dust and debris. Finally, it touched down on a flat patch of ground near the tower and the pilot cut the engine. Jack and Angus opened the door of the cabin. Speeding along the forest track they could see three Land Rovers driving in convoy. As the noise from the helicopter engine subsided and the Land Rovers pulled up near the tower, Jack could hear loud barking from the back of the vehicles. Dogs.
Pendelshape Panic
Two figures stepped down from the helicopter. They crouched low to avoid the rotor blades that were still spinning at a dizzying speed. One was a tall man in his forties with fine features. He had an air of distinction and authority about him. It was Councillor Inchquin. The C
ouncillor was Chairman of VIGIL and oversaw all its operations. Next to him was another tall figure — slimmer than Inchquin with a bald head fringed with thinning wisps of grey hair. By day he was Soonhope High’s headmaster — the Rector — and he was still wearing his trademark black gown. The Rector was VIGIL’s second in command.
Mr Belstaff and Mr Johnstone, the school games teachers, who also formed part of VIGIL’s security and response team, stepped from the leading Land Rover. All members of VIGIL had day jobs that belied their second life as key members of the VIGIL network. The four men converged on Jack and Angus who stood nervously at the bottom of the fire tower.
“Is he in there?” the Rector said, aggression in his voice.
“He’s gone.” Jack replied.
“Damn.” Inchquin hissed. “No sign at all?”
“He left this letter.” Jack handed the letter they had found inside to the Rector who scanned it quickly.
“Well — it confirms the message we received earlier,” the Rector said. “You saw nothing else?”
Jack was torn. The dogs cooped up in the Land Rovers were in a frenzy. Was Jack really going to admit that he and Angus had nearly run down someone they thought to be his father, only for VIGIL to release a pack of hounds on him in some brutal manhunt?
The thought had not even crossed Angus’s mind. “We think we might have seen him.” He nodded down the hill. “But I don’t think you’ll find him now.”
Inchquin looked at Jack sympathetically. “Sorry, Jack — we have to try. He’s too important just to let go.” He turned towards Belstaff and Johnstone. “Take the other men and the dogs — see if you can track him down. He might not have got far. Hurry.”
“What’s going on, Sir, how did you know he would be here?” Jack said, “… and… what does the letter from Dad mean?”
“We intercepted your mobile message. And then the tracker alarm indicated you were exiting the Soonhope safe zone. Sorry, Jack — you know we can’t take any chances.” The Rector waved the letter in the air. “And this letter basically means trouble. We will explain back at HQ.” He nodded at the helicopter. “You need to come with us. We have very little time.”
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