Arkie Sparkle Treasure Hunter: Time Trap

by Petra James

  ‘Is it over?’ said TJ, opening one eye.

  ‘Yes,’ said Arkie. ‘Operation Knickerbocker was a complete success.’

  TJ switched her parabrella to PC for parachute, and she and Cleo glided safely to the path at the base of the tower.

  She inspected the hole in her knickerbockers. ‘Some success. These are ruined. They’ll never be – OUCH,’ she cried, kicking her shoe against a sign that had fallen over.

  She picked up the sign and read aloud:

  ‘Well that explains why no one else is around,’ said TJ. ‘It says it’s been closed since June.’

  ‘That’s strange,’ said Arkie, walking further up the path as TJ folded the parabrella and Cleo jumped out of the parapack. ‘I know Dad was here in September. But why? It doesn’t make —’

  Arkie felt a rush of movement from the side and then a hand on her back – pushing her forwards.

  She fell onto her knees, her hands scraping against the wall as she tried to stop her fall.

  She wanted to swivel her head around but someone was pushing her down.

  They wrested the backpack from her, rummaged inside and threw it on the ground.

  Then they were gone.

  It had all happened in just a few seconds.

  Arkie got to her feet, her knees stinging from the fall.

  She could hear TJ calling to her but her voice sounded a long way away. She picked up the backpack and looked inside.

  It was empty.

  ‘TJ,’ she yelled. ‘The scroll. They’ve stolen the scroll!’

  Run, Run as Fast as You Can

  ‘They’re getting away,’ cried TJ, racing to Arkie’s side and checking that she was okay. ‘Go, Cleo. Catch that thief.’

  Cleo bounded off in pursuit and Arkie and TJ followed her as fast as they could.

  The thief was a black blur of speed, barrelling up and down the steps of the Great Wall. He or she was wearing a ski suit that covered them from top to toe. Only their eyes and mouth were visible.

  ‘How can they run so fast?’ puffed TJ as they ran across a bridge. ‘It’s not natural. This is one of the steepest parts of the wall.’

  ‘I can see sparks coming from their shoes,’ said Arkie. ‘They’ve got some kind of extra help.’

  ‘That’s cheating,’ said TJ. ‘We’ve only got our own feet. And mine are still wobbly after my tower trauma.’

  Arkie and TJ ran up and down the steps, the cold heat burning their cheeks and lungs.

  ‘Did you know that the Great Wall of China has thousands of steps?’ gasped TJ.

  ‘Great,’ said Arkie, breathlessly. ‘I hope we don’t have to run every single one of them.’ She kept her eyes on the path ahead. Some of the steps were jagged and uneven. If she fell, she’d never catch the thief.

  ‘ARKIE, LOOK,’ shouted TJ.

  Another figure dressed in black had appeared on the pathway ahead. The first thief handed them the scroll and then leapt over the side of the wall, disappearing into the mist. The second runner continued to power along the steps.

  ‘What?’ said TJ. ‘They’ve just passed the scroll to another runner. It’s like some kind of a relay.’

  ‘This was very well planned,’ said Arkie. ‘Someone knew exactly when we’d be here and why. We’ve been ambushed.’

  ‘By who?’ said TJ. ‘And why?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Arkie. ‘But I want that scroll back.’

  ‘This thief isn’t as fast on his feet,’ said TJ. ‘We’re gaining on him. And, look, Cleo has nearly reached him.’

  ‘No, I think he’s slowing down deliberately,’ said Arkie.

  ‘What if it’s a trap?’ said TJ. ‘We should be careful.’

  ‘But we have to keep going,’ said Arkie. ‘We need that scroll. It’s Clue No. 2.’

  They continued to run up and down the steps of the wall. Arkie’s legs screamed with pain – but she willed her aching body to run, run, run.

  ‘Now he’s stopped,’ said TJ. ‘What’s he doing?’

  ‘Oh no,’ said Arkie, setting her SEGs to ZOOM. ‘I can see a flying fox ahead. It takes you to the other side of Mandarin Duck Springs. I bet the thief is planning to use it to get away. Faster, TJ. Once he’s on that flying fox we won’t be able to stop him.’

  They raced along the last part of the wall and hurled themselves up the steps to the flying fox platform.

  Cleo was there already, gnawing and pulling at the thief’s coat.

  The thief ripped off his coat, threw it over Cleo, then jumped on the flying fox.

  He was harnessing himself in just as Arkie reached him. She threw herself forwards, trying to grab his feet, but he swung them out of the way. With a backward glance at her, he started his flight on the flying fox.

  ‘NOOOOO!’ shouted Arkie, swinging out wildly, trying to grab him again, but he was already too far away. She was starting to lose her balance just as TJ yanked her back from the edge. They both fell sideways, breathing heavily and looking over the platform. It was a long way down to a murky end in the deep waters of the springs.

  ‘Thanks, TJ,’ said Arkie, her heart and head hammering furiously.

  As they watched the thief sailing through the air on the flying fox, high above Mandarin Duck Springs, he turned and grinned at them. Then he waved and threw his hand into the wind.

  Hundreds of tiny pieces of silk lifted into the air and danced in the breeze, like a flock of origami baby birds.

  ‘It’s the scroll,’ cried Arkie. ‘He’s ripped it to pieces.’

  TJ and Arkie watched as the pieces fluttered further and further away – across the water, across the mountains. Flying away forever.

  Laughter echoed around them, taunting them – again and again.

  Arkie doubled over. Her legs were wobbling with exhaustion and her chest heaved with rasping breaths. Blood pounded in her head, and tears filled her eyes. ‘That’s it,’ she said. ‘We’re sunk. Well and truly. We’ve lost the clue.’

  Some treasure hunter, she thought. I’m supposed to find treasures, but all I do is lose things: Mum, Dad, the scroll . . .

  ‘Not so quick to despair,’ said TJ, puffing beside her. ‘A photographic memory, don’t forget, is one of my many talents.’ She tapped her head. ‘The clue’s safe in here.’ She recited the words:

  A wall of everlasting words

  Where the voices of the past do cry.

  Sing a song of eternal longing.

  That is where the truth does lie.

  ‘And,’ she continued, ‘we’ve got a dog with a super-snooper nose, excellent teeth and a belief that pockets always contain food. Cleo’s nabbed something from the thief’s coat.’

  She handed Arkie a chewed piece of paper, covered in dog drool.

  Arkie could just make out a few words. ‘I recognise some of the Chinese characters for the First Emperor and then there are some letters.’ She read them out aloud:

  ‘Sounds like double-dutch to me,’ said TJ.

  ‘No,’ said Arkie slowly. ‘I think it’s some kind of code. Maybe something like the Caesar Cipher.’

  ‘The what?’ said TJ.

  ‘It’s a special code that Julius Caesar developed,’ said Arkie. ‘I learnt about it at the Treasure Hunters’ Summer School last year. Caesar moved the letters of the alphabet along three places to make up a whole new alphabet. A becomes D, B becomes E etc.’

  TJ took out Codemode and keyed in YNO POTM. ‘Well, it’s not the Caesar Cipher,’ she said. ‘YNO POTM came back as VKL MLQJ. There’s obviously a different key for this code so we need to think of a number that’s important to the Chinese. I’ll try eight – that’s my favourite number.

  She frowned. ‘No, that doesn’t look right either.’

  ‘Try six,’ said Arkie. ‘That’s a lucky number in Chinese.’

  ‘Really?’ said TJ. ‘How did you know that?’

  ‘I read it in a fortune cookie,’ said Arkie.

  ‘OK,’ said TJ, ‘if we move all the letters al
ong six places that comes up with . . . SHI JING.’

  ‘Well, at least that’s Chinese,’ said Arkie, ‘so we must be getting closer.’

  ‘And SHI JING,’ said TJ, typing in to Codemode, ‘is Chinese for the Book of Songs.’

  ‘The Book of Songs,’ said Arkie, frowning.

  ‘Not exactly illuminating,’ said TJ. ‘Let’s see what DATAMAX says about it.’

  DATAMAX glowed blue as it searched and then red:

  ≥≥ The Book of Songs is a collection of 305 Chinese poems and songs, said to have been selected and edited by the great Chinese philosopher Confucius. ≤≤

  ‘But what has the Book of Songs got to do with the First Emperor?’ said Arkie.

  ‘I don’t know,’ said TJ. ‘And who were those thieves?’

  ‘Maybe they’re looking for the treasures too,’ said Arkie. She paused. ‘In Egypt, when we were in the temple of Ramses, I thought I saw someone. Someone watching us.’

  ‘Who?’ said TJ.

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Arkie. ‘At first I thought someone was trying to help us by pointing to Ptah’s foot so we’d see the numbers and letters written there. Then I thought it was just my eyes playing tricks on me. But someone did leave the Festival of the Sun early. And before they left, they turned and stared straight at me.’

  ‘Did you recognise them?’ said TJ.

  ‘No, they were wearing a scarf that covered their face.’

  ‘So, a person unknown – that’s what you say when you want to sound officially mysterious – may or may not have helped us in the temple of Ramses,’ said TJ. ‘And persons unknown just stole our scroll. But who are all these people?’

  ‘I’ll add them to the growing list of things that don’t make sense yet,’ said Arkie, taking out her Treasure Hunter’s Notebook.

  ‘I know we aren’t going to solve anything standing here with the wind whistling through the hole in my knickerbockers,’ said TJ. ‘Where to next?’

  ‘I think we need to meet the First Emperor of China,’ said Arkie. ‘Somehow, this is all connected to him. We just need to join the dots.’

  ‘TimeSlip?’ said TJ.

  ‘TimeSlip,’ said Arkie.

  Cleo barked. ‘Yes, you too, Cleo,’ said Arkie. ‘We’re going back to the past. Maybe this is where “the truth does lie”.’

  An Immortal Plan

  They had timeslipped deep into a forest in ancient China.

  Large trees blocked the sky and the ground was still damp with dew even though it was the middle of the day. Nothing stirred around them except a breeze rustling through the leaves on the forest floor.

  ‘Are you sure we’re in the right place?’ said Arkie, looking around her. ‘It’s cold and there’s no one in sight.’

  ‘Absolutely,’ said TJ. ‘We can’t suddenly appear in the middle of something like a busy city. People from the 21st century aren’t that common in 213 BCE.’

  ‘Shhhhh,’ said Arkie, pulling TJ down into a crouch. ‘Can you hear something?’

  ‘Sounds like someone crying,’ said TJ. She switched Lexi to EBAS and listened as a signal pulsed strongly from the earring. ‘It’s coming from over there,’ she said.

  They crept through the quiet of the forest, following the beep beep beep of Lexi’s signal.

  They had walked only a few metres when Arkie signalled to TJ and pointed to a clearing ahead.

  A skinny young man was sitting against a tree, his head in his hands.

  He was half talking, half crying, and his voice rose and fell in a song-like lament.

  ‘Look at his robes,’ whispered Arkie. ‘They’re fancy so maybe he’s a noble from the Emperor’s court. Let’s get closer to hear what he’s saying.’

  They hid behind a nearby bush to watch him.

  ‘Please hear my prayer,’ said the man, shouting to the sky. ‘And take pity on a lowly servant of the Great Emperor. I have endured months of hunger and cold. Months of crossing land and sea. I have found herbs and rare fungi for my Emperor but I have not found that which he most desires – an Immortal. I dare not return to the palace until I have scoured every corner of the kingdom.’

  ‘An Immortal,’ whispered TJ. ‘The First Emperor was obsessed with finding the secret of immortality. He sent many of his advisors out on long journeys to look for people who could live forever. This man must be one of the Emperor’s advisors. No wonder he’s scared about going back. I don’t think the Emperor liked to be disappointed. But the man’s right. You don’t find many immortals around – in any century.’

  ‘Exactly,’ said Arkie with glowing eyes. ‘That’s it. I’ve got it. A plan. An excellent plan.’

  ‘What are you talking about?’ said TJ.

  ‘I’m going to pretend to be an Immortal,’ said Arkie. ‘The Emperor wants to find one so let’s give him one.’

  ‘Are you certifiably crazy?’ said TJ loudly.

  ‘Quiet, TJ,’ said Arkie. ‘He’ll hear you.’

  ‘The Emperor wants to find the elixir of life so that he can be immortal,’ continued TJ. ‘He’ll probably cut you open to see how you work on the inside. Or drain your blood and drink it from a golden cup.’

  ‘He’s an emperor, not a vampire,’ said Arkie.

  ‘But you’ve read how ruthless he is,’ said TJ. ‘He’s the man with “the voice of a jackal and the heart of a tiger”. And tigers aren’t pussy cats.’

  Cleo barked softly in agreement and nuzzled into Arkie.

  ‘See!’ said TJ. ‘Cleo’s a dog. She knows about cats. And she’s got animal instincts. She’s saying, “Don’t even think about it.”’

  ‘But we’ve got to get inside the palace to see if the Book of Songs is there,’ said Arkie. ‘Do you have any other ideas?’

  ‘No, but there’s still time for a brilliant idea to pop out,’ said TJ. ‘That often happens to me. What does an Immortal look like anyway?’

  ‘I don’t know but the Emperor doesn’t know either. I reckon I’m as good an Immortal as anyone. You two wait here.’

  ‘Arkie, no,’ said TJ, trying to pull her back but Arkie was already walking towards the crying man.

  ‘Excuse me,’ said Arkie, switching Lexi to RECEIVE and REPLY so she could understand what the man was saying and answer in his own language. ‘I heard your loud and pitiful wailing and I think I might be what you’re looking for.’

  ‘Where did you come from?’ said the man, jumping to his feet. ‘I have nothing of value to steal. Who are you?’

  ‘I’m an Immortal,’ said Arkie. ‘But you can call me Arkie.’

  ‘An Immortal,’ said the man, falling to his knees with a sob. ‘My prayers to the heavens have been heard.’ He threw himself on the ground before Arkie. ‘Oh, Great Immortal, I am a humble servant of Qin Shi Huangdi – the First Emperor – and a scholar in the royal palace. My name is Lu Sheng.’

  ‘Pleased to meet you, Lu Sheng,’ said Arkie. ‘But please stand up. Your robes are getting really wet.’

  ‘My Emperor lives in hope of meeting one such as you,’ said Lu Sheng, getting to his feet and bowing low to Arkie. ‘It is His most fervent desire. Will you come with me to the palace? To meet the Heavenly Son?’

  ‘Yes, I’d like to but can I bring some friends, please?’ said Arkie. ‘My cousin TJ and her dog Cleo are hiding behind that bush over there.’

  TJ stood up and waved. Cleo barked.

  ‘If that is your Immortal Wish,’ said Lu Sheng, looking at TJ and Cleo.

  ‘TJ is a kind of scholar too,’ said Arkie as TJ and Cleo joined them. ‘You two will probably have a lot to talk about.’

  ‘But now we must hurry, please,’ said Lu Sheng, pointing to the sky. ‘The clouds are drawing in from the west. A storm is manifesting and the Emperor dislikes storms.’ He looked around and lowered his voice. ‘And spies are everywhere. I must get you to the palace as soon as I can. Before news of this extraordinary happening reaches the Emperor. Or his enemies.’

  ‘Lead the way,’ said Arkie.
/>   A Stormy Meeting

  The city of Xianyang was bustling with morning activity.

  Hawkers and merchants sang loudly of their wares; and children, ducks and geese ran around underfoot, squawking noisily.

  ‘The Emperor loves palaces,’ said Lu Sheng as he led them through the market, ‘and the palace of Xianyang is one of his finest creations. The nobles of the court live in mansions around the palace. The Emperor insisted they all live in the city.’

  ‘He’s keeping his enemies close,’ whispered TJ to Arkie as they left the market and the buzz created by the sight of strangers behind them.

  Soon they came upon a magnificent wall, surrounded by a large moat.

  ‘The Imperial Palace lies within these walls,’ said Lu Sheng. He spoke to the guards as they drew near and the guards pulled back the great doors, opening onto the palace’s courtyard.

  Before them lay a wondrous city within a city. There were huge halls for ceremonies, smaller buildings, temples, high towers, mansions, galleries, courtyards and gardens, all contained within the palace walls.

  The main building of the palace – the Grand Hall – lay directly in front of them.

  ‘I have a bad feeling about this,’ said TJ, as the palace gates closed behind them. ‘Now we’re trapped.’

  ‘We’ll be okay,’ said Arkie. ‘I’m an Immortal, remember?’

  The clouds above had formed an angry mass, and as they climbed the steps to the Grand Hall, lightning blazed across the sky.

  Lu Sheng stopped. ‘This is an omen,’ he said.

  ‘An omen of our doom, most likely,’ said TJ quietly.

  Arkie looked at her.

  ‘What?’ said TJ. ‘I’m just thinking aloud.’

  ‘Well try to think aloud positively,’ said Arkie.

  ‘Positivity in the face of impending disaster is completely illogical,’ said TJ. ‘I can’t help it. I’m just not wired to be illogical. You’re much better at that than me.’