by carl ashmore
Hitching up her dress and clomping down the steps with the elegance of a water buffalo, Maria rushed over to Mrs Mellor and embraced her. ‘Cathereene, it is so lovely to be seeing you again.’
‘And lovely to see you again, Maria. How are you?’
‘Maria is good,’ Maria said. ‘She is so happy. And we have such lovely surprises for you. I think you shall be enjoying this night very much.’
‘I’m sure I shall,’ Mrs Mellor replied. She waved at Jacob. ‘Hello, Jacob.’
Jacob bowed. ‘Frau Catherine. It is good to see you again.’
‘Likewise.’
‘Please, you will be joining me,’ Maria said, scurrying back up the steps and into the hall.
Mrs Mellor took Becky’s hand and whispered, ‘And you don’t argue with Maria.’
‘No, you do not,’ Becky agreed. Then together she and her mother walked up the steps, Joe and Uncle Percy following close behind.
Maria ushered them into the Morning Room, which was bright from the light streaming in from the bay window at the far end of the room. ‘Please, Cathereene, you shall be sitting down.’ She waited until Mrs Mellor had done so, before continuing, ‘Your night shall start now. I cannot wait any longer. Now I shall be getting you some drinks. What would you like?’
‘Err, just a cup of tea for me, please.’
Maria ignored her. ‘We have sherry, whisky, vodka, brandy –’
‘Really, tea would be fine…’
‘I shall get you something stronger…’ And with that, Maria turned round and left the room.
Mrs Mellor looked puzzled. ‘Percy, what’s going on? Maria’s acting strange … even for her.’
‘She wants the party to get underway. She’s looking forward to it.’
Just then, something occurred to Mrs Mellor. ‘About this party - you said the guests were already here. So where are they?’
‘They’re in the marquee I’ve had erected on the rear lawn.’
‘How many guests?’
‘About two hundred.’
‘Two hundred?’ Mrs Mellor spluttered. ‘So where are their cars?’
‘They didn’t come in cars.’
‘So how did they get here?’
‘That’s a long story,’ Uncle Percy replied awkwardly, ‘and it’s connected to why we’ve brought you in here for a chat before the party gets underway.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘There are a few things I – err we want to tell you.’
‘What kind of things?’
Uncle Percy hesitated. He looked to Becky and Joe for help, but knew from their shrugs nothing would be forthcoming. After a few moments of awkward silence, he said, ‘The thing is Catherine, there is something about me - about my life - I haven’t told you about.’
‘That’s inevitable,’ Mrs Mellor replied. ‘We don’t see each other that often.’
‘I know, but it does affect you. Quite a bit actually, so I think I’ll get my apologies out of the way now. I doubt you’ll be interested in them later. I’m really sorry.’
‘Sorry for what?’
‘Sorry for not telling you about it sooner. Sorry because it affects Becky and Joe, too.’
It was the mention of Becky and Joe that made Mrs Mellor’s face change. ‘You’re worrying me now, Percy.’
Uncle Percy inhaled a deep breath. ‘I’m a time traveller. There, I’ve said it.’
Mrs Mellor’s face split with an awkward smile. ‘Of course you are.’
‘No, really, I am.’
‘He is, Mum,’ Joe said.
Mrs Mellor paused. ‘I don’t get the joke?’
‘It’s no joke,’ Uncle Percy replied. ‘I really am a time traveller … I have been since University. And the thing is – well, now Becky and Joe are, too. Now of course you’re not going to believe mere words, so I thought it best we add some visuals. Joe, would you care to get Exhibit A?’
Joe nodded and left the room.
‘Exhibit A?’ Mrs Mellor said. ‘What are you talking about?’
Joe had only been gone a few seconds when he returned carrying a small furry creature, no bigger than a guinea pig, which was asleep. As it moved its head, horns were plainly visible rising from its skull.
‘This little fellow is Ceratogaulus, a horned gopher,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘Now I found him injured in Nebraska in the Pliocene Epoch a few weeks ago. I brought him back to Bowen Hall, fixed him up and I’ll be returning him to his natural habitat shortly. What I do find interesting is that Ceratogaulus is the only known horned rodent in history. Fascinating, eh?’
Mrs Mellor gulped. ‘You’re saying that rodent is a dinosaur?’
‘Not a dinosaur, no, but I’m saying he existed four million years ago. Becky, could you get exhibit B, please?’
Enjoying the scepticism on her mother’s face, Becky left the room and returned a few seconds later carrying a very large grey bird with a fat green beak. The bird gave a loud trumpet-like squawk as if announcing its own entrance.
Mrs Mellor turned white. ‘B-but that’s… that’s a -’
‘A dodo, Mum,’ Joe said. ‘Keep up.’
‘And her name’s Deidre,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘And she is a permanent resident of Bowen Hall. Now let me warn you, Catherine, things are about to get even crazier. Joe, if you would get Exhibits C and D, please.’
Joe exited the room.
‘Are you feeling all right, Catherine? Stop me if you’d like some water.’
Mrs Mellor’s expression suggested she couldn’t formulate a response even if she tried.
‘We’ll just carry on, shall we?’ Uncle Percy said.
Joe walked in, trailed by a small brown cat and its considerably larger mother. At once, Mrs Mellor turned white with terror and swore using words Becky had never heard her use before.
‘This is Milly and Sabian,’ Uncle Percy said, ignoring the bad language. ‘They’re Smilodons, and they’re the most loyal, good-natured animals you could wish to meet.’
Mrs Mellor gave a hamster-like squeak.
‘Now does this help you accept the possibility I might actually be a time traveller?’
Trembling from head to toe, Mrs Mellor gave the slightest nod of her head.
‘Good,’ Uncle Percy replied. ‘Let’s go to the Marquee. Becky, Joe, your mother will need your help.’
Standing one on either side of her, Becky and Joe helped Mrs Mellor to her feet and began to lead her across the room, never once letting go of her arms for fear she might just collapse on the spot.
‘If you want to faint, Mum,’ Joe said, ‘or chuck up, or whatever … That’s fine. Just try and give us some warning, eh?’
Leaving the Morning Room and crossing the Entrance Hall, Becky said, ‘Once you get used to it all, Mum, you’ll love it. We’ve been loads of places: Ancient Greece, Ice Age Kansas, Prehistoric London. It’s been awesome…’
Mrs Mellor barely mumbled a reply.
With Uncle Percy leading the way, Becky and Joe helped their mother down the corridor, through the parlour and into the kitchen, where Maria had gathered a range of alcoholic beverages.
‘Cathereene,’ Maria said. ‘Would you like that drink now?’
Mrs Mellor didn’t hesitate. ‘Vodka.’
Maria picked up a half bottle of vodka and was about to pour some into a glass, when Mrs Mellor snatched the bottle from her hand. With a single glug, she drained the bottle. ‘Thanks,’ she slurred.
Uncle Percy smiled. ‘Is that better?’
‘It’s not worse.’
‘Good,’ Uncle Percy replied. ‘Because this is where things get really exciting.’
‘There’s more?’ Mrs Mellor replied.
Becky and Joe trailed their mother down the kitchen step and onto the patio, where they spied a colossal pavilion, twice the size of a circus tent, in the distance. It was then a low deep moan met their ears.
Turning her head slowly to seek out the source of the noise, Mrs Mellor’s eyeballs nearl
y popped from their sockets when she saw a Triceratops and a snow white horse, its wings folded against its chest.
‘Mum,’ Becky said. ‘Meet Gump and Peggy.’
Losing all balance, Mrs Mellor stumbled backwards two steps, tripping over her feet, and was about to fall down when Joe caught her. ‘You’re okay, Mum,’ he said. ‘I’m here.’
‘T - that is a dinosaur!’ Mrs Mellor said in an abnormally high voice.
‘And a flying horse, yes,’ Uncle Percy replied. ‘Now, Catherine, that’s most of the big surprises out of the way. Would you like to go to the party now? You are, after all, the guest of honour…’
‘I-I am?’
‘You are.’
In less than two minutes, Becky and Joe helped their mother onto the stretch of red carpet that led to the marquee, Uncle Percy, Maria and Jacob following close behind. Suddenly, two small robots emerged from the tent’s entrance.
‘Good evening, Mrs Mellor,’ Barbie said. ‘I am Barbie, senior Electroic Cognitive Gynoid at Bowen Hall, and if I can assist you in any way don’t hesitate to ask.’
Once more, Mrs Mellor was stunned to silence. ‘Err, hello, Barbie.’
‘And I’m Kenneth,’ Kenneth said. ‘And I’m Barbie’s boyfriend.’ He was positively tripping over his words with delight. ‘She’s my girlfriend. I’m her boyfriend. Isn’t it just smashing?’
‘Yes, err, smashing.’
Barbie scowled at Kenneth. ‘If you keep doing this I shall replace your Coptrex Oil with Pineapple Juice.’
‘Sorry,’ Kenneth said. ‘Mrs Mellor, I give you the GITT community.’ Extending his arm and bowing at the same time, he welcomed her into the marquee.
The moment Mrs Mellor entered she was met by a wall of noise; applause echoed everywhere, filling every corner of the high-roofed pavilion, which had been decorated top to bottom with swathes of champagne coloured silk, garlanded poles and chiavari chairs and tables. Over two hundred people, all dressed in dinner suits and ball gowns, were on their feet, cheering and clapping wildly, their wide smiles all fixed on Mrs Mellor.
Mrs Mellor gulped as she took it all in.
‘GITT stands for The Global Institute for Time Travel, Mum,’ Becky said over the noise. ‘And every single one of them has been dying to meet you for a very long time.’
‘They have?’
‘Yes. And you’ll be pleased to know your surprises for the night are nearly over.’
‘Nearly over?’
At that moment, an enormous figure approached from the left. Edgar was wearing a finely tailored dinner suit, silk cummerbund and bowtie. He had silver tinsel coiled round his horns and his black eyes shone like opals.
Stunned beyond words, Mrs Mellor’s mouth fell open.
‘This is Edgar, Mum,’ Joe said. ‘He’s a Minotaur, in case you hadn’t guessed.’
Edgar bent down and passed her a bunch of Stephanie Roses. ‘Mrs Mellor,’ he said in his softest voice. ‘It is such an honour to meet the beautiful mother of two such incredible children. You are a credit to your kind and I am your most humble servant.’
Her hands trembling, Mrs Mellor reached out and took the flowers. ‘Err, thank you…’
‘Edgar’s the best, Mum,’ Becky said. ‘He really is.’ Then a smile arched her mouth. ‘Right, well there’s just one more person to meet, and then you can faint all you want. In fact, pretty much everyone’s expecting it.’
‘If I haven’t fainted yet, Becky,’ Mrs Mellor panted. ‘I don’t think I’m going to.’ At that moment, the applause faded, and a gentle voice reached her ears.
‘Hello, Cathy… I’m home.’
Any colour left in Mrs Mellor’s face drained away as she turned slowly to see her husband, healthy and handsome, his face sporting the kind of smile that reflected the wide range of emotions within: nervousness, exhilaration, elation, but most of all deep, unabashed love.
Promptly, Mrs Mellor’s eyes swirled in their sockets and her legs buckled as she collapsed into her husband’s arms.
John Mellor gathered her up, her unconscious head limp against his shoulder. ‘That was inevitable,’ he said, winking at Becky and Joe. ‘I think I’ll take her outside. When she wakes up we probably need to have a little talk.’
Becky laughed. ‘Okay, Dad.’ She slipped her hand in Joe’s and together they watched him carry their mother away, the applause once more escalating to deafening levels.
And in that moment, Becky doubted she would ever feel such happiness again. Everyone she cared about was beneath a single roof: Joe, her mother and father, Uncle Percy, Edgar, Barbie, Kenneth, Maria, Jacob and the members of GITT, her extended family. And scanning the mass of joyful faces, she knew there was no where else in the world she would rather be, past or present. Bowen Hall meant everything to her, and protecting it, preserving everything it stood for - wonder, hope, decency, magic and courage - was all she wanted to do with her life.
So once again, Becky Mellor found herself thinking about her own future. She still didn’t know what it held and didn’t want to know. But there was one thing about which she felt truly certain.
Her adventure was at an end.
For now…
If you enjoyed this book I would really appreciate a review on the Amazon page. They really help. And any assistance you could give spreading the TH word with your friends and family would be greatly appreciated.
If you’d like to receive the Carl Ashmore Newsletter then please contact me at [email protected]
Thanks again for supporting my work.
Carl
Links to My Other Books
The Time Hunters
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
The Time Hunters and the Box of Eternity
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
The Time Hunters and the Spear of Fate
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
The Time Hunters and the Sword of Ages
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
Bernard and the Bibble
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
The Night they Nicked Saint Nick
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
CARL ASHMORE
Carl is a children’s writer from Cheshire, England. He has written seven books for children: ‘The Time Hunters,’ ‘The Time Hunters and the Box of Eternity,’ ‘The Time Hunters and the Spear of Fate,’ ‘The Time Hunters and the Sword of Ages,’ ‘The Time Hunters and the Lost City’, ‘The Night they Nicked Saint Nick,’ and Bernard and the Bibble.’
He is currently working on a Time Hunters Screenplay and a new children’s series ‘Zak Fisher and the Angel Prophecy.’
He can be contacted at [email protected]
