by carl ashmore
Tentacle after tentacle attacked. He severed each and every one of them, blood thickening the air, drenching him. The Kraken abandoned its battle with Uncle Percy and Will, sensing a greater threat. It sprang at Joe, jaws wide-open.
Joe veered right, and with a huge leap vaulted on to the Kraken’s back. He raised Excalibur aloft and sank the blade downward, slicing through the thick armour plating like a laser through metal, into its body.
The Kraken shrieked, its great head twisting wildly. Then it lost all strength in its legs and flopped to the ground.
Joe felt the Kraken gulp its final breath, before it grew still. Satisfied the Kraken was dead, he withdrew Excalibur and jumped to the ground, aware all eyes were fixed upon him.
Becky’s expression shifted from terror to joy. She walked over to Joe and flung her arms around his neck. ‘My hero,’ she teased.
‘Bog off,’ Joe grinned.
Uncle Percy patted his arm. ‘Thank you, Joe. You were extraordinary.’
‘It’s the sword,’ Joe replied. ‘It makes you - I dunno – it makes you invincible.’
‘If history confirms anything it’s that no one is invincible,’ Uncle Percy replied. ‘But thank you again. You’ve saved all our lives.’
‘You fought well, boy,’ Will said proudly.
Tuck staggered over, his face flecked with blood. ‘He fought like a true King.’
Joe frowned. ‘Let’s not start that again, eh?’
‘Forgive me,’ Tuck replied. ‘But you have bested the Kraken. You have freed this land from an evil that has haunted it for so long.’ He stared awestruck at the sword. ‘And Excalibur is yours. The prophecy has come true.’
‘I don’t know about any prophecies,’ Joe said. ‘But the sword isn’t mine.’ He looked at Uncle Percy. ‘We’re getting rid of it, right?’
‘Yes, Joe,’ Uncle Percy replied. ‘As soon as we get home.’ He walked over to the dead Kraken, clearly intrigued.
Becky appeared at his shoulder. ‘I hate to say it but that thing makes Debbie Crabtree look like Beyoncé.’
‘I can’t speak for Ms Beyoncé, but I have to agree it’s not the prettiest of creatures, is it? Still, it’s one of the most extraordinary animals I’ve ever seen.’
‘Is it from Atlantis?’
‘Perhaps,’ Uncle Percy replied. ‘Or it could be a very distant, considerably larger relative of Metriorhynchus.’ When he saw Becky’s blank expression, he said, ‘A type of crocodile from the late Jurassic period.’
‘Did that have tentacles?’
‘No,’ Uncle Percy replied. ‘Frankly, I’ve never seen anything quite like those before. It really is a remarkable creature.’
‘Remarkably ugly,’ Becky replied. ‘Now can we get out of here?’
‘We can and we should.’
Just then, Joe joined them, offering Excalibur to Uncle Percy. ‘D’you wanna take this?’
‘Why don’t you look after it for the moment? After all, the last time I handled an Eden Relic wasn’t one of my favourite experiences. And besides, you did pull the sword from the stone.’ He smiled. ‘Shall we make tracks?’
‘Hang on,’ Becky said, suddenly concerned. ‘When the Spear of Fate was first removed from Atlantis it made the whole island sink into the ocean.’ She scanned the cavern. ‘Maybe we shouldn’t take the sword from here until we’ve got a portravella or something? You know, just in case we need to make a quick getaway.’
‘Are you saying Scotland will sink if we take it?’ Joe said sarcastically.
‘No,’ Becky snapped back. ‘My point is we don’t know what’ll happen if we remove it. Maybe it’s better to be safe than sorry. I mean, we’re the only ones who know it’s here so we don’t have to worry about anyone else getting it.’
Joe snorted. He was about to press the matter further when Uncle Percy raised his hand to stop him. ‘That’s a very salient point, Becky,’ he said with a kindly smile. ‘To be honest, each of the Eden Relics appears to react differently in different situations. I suggest we try taking it with us and see what happens. We can always return it should we notice any unusual activity.’
‘Like Glasgow falling into the sea?’ Joe grinned.
In responding, Becky used at least three swear words she’d never used before. Even Uncle Percy couldn’t bring himself to reprimand her.
*
A short while later Joe led the group up the tunnel, Excalibur’s misty light brightening the way ahead. One by one they climbed the ladder to the outside world. It was then Becky asked Uncle Percy the inevitable question. ‘So what’re the plans now?’
‘Well,’ he replied. ‘I think the best thing we can do is return to Wulvern House. From there, we can consider what to do next. I know it’ll be dangerous, but somehow we need to find the Associates and acquire either a Portravella or a time machine. Alternatively, we can –’ Glancing over Becky’s shoulder, the blood seeped from his face. ‘Oh, no,’ he begged. ‘Please, no!’
Panicking, Becky asked, ‘What is it?’
Uncle Percy didn’t respond. He closed his eyes, unable or unwilling to process what he had seen. ‘Will, Tuck … come with me,’ he said. His eyes locked on Becky and Joe. ‘STAY - HERE!’ He raced off in the direction of the church, swiftly followed by Will and Tuck.
‘What’s going on?’ Joe said.
‘Dunno,’ Becky replied, confused. ‘But I don’t think it’s going to be good...’
‘Well I’m not just standing here,’ Joe said, and he set off after the others.
Becky wasn’t about to stay on her own. Charging after Joe, she watched Uncle Percy come to a halt on the opposite side of a moss-tipped headstone. He crouched down, leaned toward the stone and extended his hand to touch something she couldn’t quite see. Will and Tuck had joined him, their baffled expressions supplanted by dismay and rage.
Nearing the grave, Becky glimpsed a patch of lilac taffeta fluttering in the light breeze. She stopped abruptly. She’d seen the material before – Lady Caroline’s dress.
Seeing their approach, Uncle Percy stood up straight and marched over, gesturing for them to move no further. ‘Becky, Joe, turn around and walk away, please. You don’t need to see this.’
‘It’s Lady Caroline, isn’t it?’ Becky said.
‘Yes.’
‘Is she dead?’
‘Yes.’
‘But I – I don’t understand,’ Becky said.
Out of the blue the rumbling of hooves rent the silence. A cavalcade of horses emerged from behind the church, ridden by dozens of knights wearing the colours of King John. Two jeeps filled with Associates trailed the procession.
Even from this distance she could see the hateful smile on Otto Kruger’s mouth.
Uncle Percy exhaled heavily. ‘I’m sure you do now …’
Chapter 31
Surrender
King John’s knights formed a wide circle around them, their giant horses snorting and sputtering, nostrils flared, blocking any gap and making an impenetrable wall. The knights stared down through the horizontal slits in their barrel helmets, their chainmail glistening. In one great movement, they lifted their swords.
Becky swallowed. She looked at Uncle Percy, but his expression told her everything she needed to know. If they fought back, they would be defeated – and that meant certain death. She glanced at Will, who appeared engaged in a bitter internal struggle, part raring to fight, part resigned to the fact it would be suicidal. Only Joe demonstrated a flicker of hope, training Excalibur at the knight closest to him, almost willing the knight to make the first move.
‘Put that down,’ Becky said to him. ‘We’ve lost.’
‘We’ve got Excalibur,’ Joe replied. ‘We can do this.’
‘Don’t be a wally.’
‘Trust me, Becks,’ Joe replied. ‘I’m the one holding it. It’s got powers we haven’t seen yet. I can feel it. And I know we can’t lose.’
‘I’m afraid we can, Joe,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘And for th
e moment we have.’
Otto Kruger climbed out of the jeep. He smoothed the creases from his tailored black suit and adjusted his tie. Then he gathered an assault rifle from the back seat of the jeep and strolled over. His immense frame moved gracefully like a tiger homing in on its prey. As his eyes met Will’s, he gave a low chuckle before turning to Uncle Percy. ‘Good evening, Percy Halifax.’
Uncle Percy wasn’t about to engage in small talk. ‘Why did you have to kill Lady Caroline?’
Kruger’s face showed no emotion one way or the other. ‘I didn’t have to kill her. It served no purpose. But it is important you understand that people will get hurt or worse when you interfere in our affairs – a factor you really should consider before you embark on these quests. Besides, I’m certain you will not object so much when I tell you it was she who informed us of your whereabouts.’ His cruel grin broadened. ‘She gave up this location the moment I freed Lady Anne of the burden of life.’
Loathing blazed in Uncle Percy’s eyes. ‘May God forgive you.’
Kruger laughed. ‘As we say in my homeland, Gott ist immer mit den stärksten Bataillonen.’ His silver hand gestured at the wall of knights. ‘God is always with the strongest battalion.’
‘Yeah, well, ’ Uncle Percy replied. ‘As we say in my homeland, ‘Up yours!’
‘Where’s Marian?’ Will said, urgently.
Kruger stared at Will. ‘She is in safe hands, groundsman. Whether those hands remain so depends entirely on you. I am here for the sword. You give it to me, then perhaps you will see her again.’
‘You’re not having it,’ Joe said.
‘You will change your mind.’ Kruger buried the rifle’s butt in his shoulder and aimed at Tuck. ‘Shall we begin with the fat cleric?’
Becky was about to use her powers on the rifle, when a stiff gust of wind blew back her hair, hindering her concentration. The temperature plummeted. An orb of light appeared equidistant between Tuck and Kruger. It expanded outward, vibrant, bedazzling light, spellbinding in every way. With a loud crack it exploded, sending jagged branches of light in all directions, before disappearing, leaving a small shimmering figure in its stead.
Barbie stood there, hands on hips. ‘Oh, finally,’ she said, searching for Uncle Percy, who looked both astonished and elated in equal measure. ‘Sir, the Omega Effect is behaving most unpredictably – quite different from anything I’ve seen or heard of before. You simply would not believe the amount of times I’ve tried to join you all, but I’ve barely been able to get close, never mind intervene. Still, I’m pleased to see it’s finally lifted.’ She turned and looked at Kruger. ‘Oh, it’s you ….’
Overcoming his surprise, Kruger turned the rifle on Barbie and fired a torrent of shots into her. After five or so seconds, he stopped.
‘Oh, stop that you silly psychopath,’ Barbie said. ‘For heaven’s sake, are you blind as well as stupid? I’m an Electroic Cognivated Gynoid, so what precisely do you expect your bullets to do, other than leave the odd dent?’ She tapped her head twice as if to prove her point. ‘Still, what you won’t know about me is I have a magnetised deresistor built into the palm of my right hand. It won’t work on your arm, but -’ She raised her tiny hand. Straight away, an orange glow ignited her palm. ‘- It will almost certainly work on your toy.’
To Kruger’s astonishment, the gun flew from his hand, soared through the air. Barbie caught it and crushed it in her tiny fingers as if it were paper, before hurling it aside. ‘Stupid guns,’ she said. ‘Anyway, Mister Kruger, precisely nine minutes ago I saw you and your companions arrive behind Saint Cuthbert’s while my architect and his family were below ground. Now, although I was some distance away, it was clear you would never let them leave this place without a fight …’ She paused. ‘So I brought you one...’
Her eyes glowed white. At that moment, balls of light appeared all around like flickering stars, ballooning in size, before a thunderous boooom shattered the air. From nowhere, men appeared on horseback, some bearing swords, others with bows and arrows.
Becky’s heart leapt.
The merry men attacked the jeeps first, sending arrow upon arrow at them, striking the Associates before they had chance to use their modern weapons. Barbie had instructed them well.
Kruger’s chest swelled with fury. With astonishing speed, he sprinted over to Arthur Berrymead, wrenched him from his horse, and punched his face with a bone-shattering crunch, knocking him out cold. He turned swiftly and did the same with Eldred Mulch.
Michael Brundle steered his horse toward Kruger, swung his broadsword high, then brought it down, targeting Kruger’s neck. With cat-like reflexes, Kruger caught the sword in his metal hand, pulled Brundle from his horse and in one powerful movement, slammed his fist down on Brundle’s skull, who fell in an unconscious heap. Then he scooped up Brundle’s sword, his eyes scanning the battlefield for Will.
Terror surged through Becky. Kruger was swifter, stronger, more terrible than she’d seen him before, than she’d seen anyone before.
The merry men turned their attentions to the King’s men, who were ill prepared for such a quick and ferocious attack. Wearing no armour to weigh them down, the merry men were much faster and deadlier. Aleric Fletcher was the most lethal of them all. He had abandoned his horse and was weaving between King John’s men, locating breaches in their armour and, with unerring accuracy, shooting arrows into the gaps, only moving on when sure the knight could be a threat no more.
Will, Joe, Uncle Percy and Friar Tuck had also entered the fray.
Joe, in particular, was an unstoppable force. Taking on two knights at a time, Excalibur’s enchanted blade sliced through steel like scissors through thread, leaving every blade it struck in pieces. Barbie, too, had every intention of doing her bit, flying overhead, speeding from knight to knight, smashing her fist down on as many helmets as she could.
Becky surveyed the chaos. Despite being outnumbered, she was in no doubt they were winning. It was then, amidst this chaos, she saw Will and Kruger approach each other. To her astonishment, Will leaned in and whispered something, which sent Kruger into a wild frenzy. He rushed at Will, arcing his sword high. Will pivoted, sidestepped the blow, and thrust forward in a counterattack. Kruger, faster than when they had fought previously, ducked the assault. More blows were traded, blades clanging. Each man launched strike after strike, with nothing penetrating the other’s defences, but after a while there was no doubt that it was Will who was tiring.
In that instant, Becky knew she had to help. Images of Kruger’s atrocities flooded her mind – the murder of Lady Caroline and Lady Anne, of Maria and Jacob’s family, of Captain Briggs and the crew of the Mary Celeste, and of the countless others across so many time periods. Forget what she’d said to Joe - Kruger had to be stopped, and if it meant his death, then so be it.
She could end Otto Kruger.
She focused on Kruger. Concentrating all her energies, blocking everything else from her mind, she visualised him in every way. Immediately, the watery sensation swept the crown of her head, before permeating her eyes, when -
BOOOOOM!
An almighty explosion ripped Saint Cuthbert’s church apart, forming a colossal ball of flame, smoke and dust. The ground shuddered violently, sending shockwaves all about. Horses whinnied in fright, rearing on their hind legs, hurling their riders to the ground, before bolting off in all directions.
Becky’s ears screamed in pain.
The battle stopped at once. Disorientated, everyone stared at the deep crater formed where the church had once stood. Then, from deep within the heavy cloud, streaks of crimson light illuminated the swirling dust and ash. As the dust settled, a figure stumbled into view - a woman, her sky blue dress torn to shreds, her head tilted down as if in shame, hiding her face from the world.
Marian looked up. Her eyes were blotchy and swollen, her cheeks daubed with blood and tears. Almost immediately, a tall, slender man followed her into the open, his hand gripping a pistol that w
as aimed at her head.
‘Now that’s how to make an entrance,’ Emerson Drake said.
Chapter 32
The Road’s End
Drake kept walking until clear of the bombsite, Marian never more than a metre ahead. He surveyed the gaping mouths before him, his eyes searching out Uncle Percy. Identifying him, he gestured for Marian to stop. ‘Percy, did you know that fiery creation of mine – I call it an Artax-bomb - has been buried beneath Saint Cuthbert’s since the Pliocene Epoch? Can you believe it’s remained both stable and operational after all that time?’
Uncle Percy didn’t respond.
‘Seriously,’ Drake continued. ‘That’s over five million years with no impact on functionality. Even the great Percy Halifax must forsake his usual envy and accept I’ve created a remarkable little device.’
Uncle Percy remained expressionless.
‘No, well, never mind.’ Drake shrugged. ‘Frankly, I had no intention of being here today, but it seems my presence is necessary. I really do need this particular Eden Relic. And besides, it has given me the opportunity to do a trial run with the Artax technology for my future endeavours.’
Uncle Percy’s eyes narrowed at these words.
Drake nodded at Excalibur. ‘Congratulations on finding the Sword of Ages, by the way. My Associates really didn’t have much idea as to its location, and I’ve been far too busy with other things to do the legwork. I’d give you a round of applause but, as you can see, I’m holding a Beretta M1934 and I don’t want to accidentally fire a bullet into Marian’s cranium. Actually, as a keen historian, Percy, you may be interested to know this is the very same pistol used to assassinate someone you’ve met and liked very much - Mohandas Ghandi - so it already has an excellent pedigree for terminating the virtuous…’
