They headed south for Messina, and before long sighted the hills of the large island. Just before they had set off, Nathan had sent a Meslith to Point Zero, informing the commander of their progress. They, in turn, had contacted Rose and Jupitus, who were standing very close together on the quay when the Conqueror arrived.
Jake jumped ashore before they had even docked, and gave his aunt a great hug. She pretended to be horrified by all his cuts and bruises but really felt quite proud. Jupitus waved at another ship along the quay, announcing that the Hippocampus was fully operational again and that they should all set sail immediately. Then he gathered up his crutches, limped over and struggled aboard alone.
‘You two getting on all right?’ Jake asked tentatively.
Rose grinned. ‘Surprisingly well. Why don’t you come with us and tell me all about your adventures?’
When Jake had first seen the Hippocampus at Point Zero, he’d felt sure that he’d seen it before. As he climbed aboard now, he had the same sensation: its sun-bleached timbers, its sails of cream and blue stripes were still familiar.
Both ships set off across the bay side by side. Within minutes they had rounded the lighthouse and were heading for the open sea.
Rose appeared from below with a tray of tea and biscuits. ‘Refreshments . . .’ She handed a cup to Jupitus. He took it, barely raising a smile; then Rose and Jake sat down cross-legged and started dunking their biscuits.
‘Why do I recognize this ship?’ Jake asked.
‘What’s that, darling?’
‘I feel like I know it somehow – even the name . . .’
Rose was one of those people who could neither lie nor keep a secret without blushing or becoming twitchy. She was now doing both: fiddling with her teacup as her cheeks went red. Jake examined her suspiciously, making her even more self-conscious.
‘You know something, don’t you? There is a reason the ship’s familiar . . . When I asked Mum and Dad about it before, they started behaving oddly too.’
‘I’m not behaving oddly,’ she insisted.
‘Rose, you’ve gone pink.’
‘Drat! I’ll get into such trouble if I say anything. Your parents have sworn me to secrecy.’
‘So there is a secret!’
Rose took a slurp of tea and munched a biscuit, wondering what to do. Finally she sighed. ‘Well, I suppose you were going to find out soon enough.’
Jake felt a thrill of excitement, as if he were about to hear something momentous. He was not disappointed. Rose looked round and checked that Jupitus wasn’t listening, then leaned in close. ‘You have sailed on this ship before, a number of times . . . when you were a baby.’
‘A baby?’ gasped Jake. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘When you were very young,’ she whispered, ‘your parents and I took some trips on it together, as a family. Alan, Miriam, me, you . . . Philip.’ And now the bombshell: ‘The last time was Persia, 1327—’
‘Persia? 1327?’ Jake stammered.
‘I remember because your mother had terrible toothache,’ Rose reflected.
Jake had to get up and go to the rail to take some calming breaths. ‘So I’ve been to history before?’
‘Just a couple of times – before we all gave it up. It seemed wrong to leave you at home. And you were no trouble at all. Spent most of the time sleeping.’
Jake laughed.
‘I suppose you’ll have to tell your mum and dad I let the secret slip. No doubt I’ll be in the dog house.’
At length the passengers on both ships took their doses of atomium in preparation for the horizon point. After the appalling outward journey, Jake braced himself for more of the same. But, although it was as dramatic, with the same amazing out-of-body experience, he didn’t suffer any horrific hallucinations. They vaulted all the way to the Atlantic, to an entry point in the Bay of Biscay, just west of La Rochelle. It was getting dark by the time that Jake spied the conical shape of the Mont St Michel in the distance.
Ever since Rose’s confession, Jake’s mind had been working overtime, mulling over the information that he had already travelled into deep history as a young child. He had asked her a number of other questions but, making sure that Jupitus wasn’t within earshot, she insisted that his parents should fill him in on the rest. Now he clung to the rail at the prow of the Hippocampus, willing her on. He had so much to say to his parents – not just about Rose’s revelation, but about Philip.
So when the ship docked just behind the Conqueror, to an enthusiastic welcome, Jake was the first to disembark, running down the gangplank towards his parents.
‘Heaven’s above! What have they done to you?’ asked Miriam. Like Rose, she was taken aback by the damage to his face.
‘Miriam, that’s no way to greet him.’ Alan pinched Jake’s cheek. ‘This is what an adventurer looks like.’
Jake was about to blurt out his news, when Jupitus suddenly gave an urgent cry. ‘Foreign craft approaching!’ Everyone turned at once.
Another ship, its slanting sails silhouetted in the twilight, was cutting across the sea towards them. Instinctively the whole group huddled together as Galliana quickly produced a telescope from her belt and examined the vessel.
‘It’s Chinese,’ she said, sounding equally alarmed.
‘Should we arm ourselves?’ asked Jupitus.
It was enough for Oceane to clutch at her pearls and retreat into the safety of the castle, pulling Josephine along behind her.
Galliana continued to stare through her telescope, examining the occupants of the craft. She could make out six silhouettes, standing at the prow. ‘I’ve seen this ship before. It belongs to the Chinese bureau.’ Then, as she identified one of the passengers, she relaxed. ‘That is Madame Tieng, no question.’
There was a communal sigh of relief.
‘Are you sure?’ asked Jupitus.
Galliana nodded. ‘She is smiling at me.’
‘Who is Madame Tieng?’ Jake asked.
‘She’s the commander’s counterpart in Peking,’ whispered Miriam. ‘A formidable lady. But what on earth is she doing here?’
Eventually the ship docked, a gangplank was lowered and the travellers nervously filed down onto the pier; distinguished-looking men and women, all dressed in exquisite Chinese clothes. Jake noticed there were no youngsters amongst them – they were mostly Galliana’s age. They shivered in the brisk Atlantic wind. The ladies looked like rare flowers imported from some exotic clime.
Madame Tieng, a striking white-haired woman with black eyes and rosebud lips, stepped forward and bowed to Galliana.
‘We escaped in the dead of night,’ she informed her. ‘The Chinese bureau has been ransacked.’
‘Ransacked?’ Galliana asked, trying hard to hold onto her emotions. ‘By whom?’
Madame Tieng looked up at her. She shook her head and closed her eyes. ‘By Xi Xiang’s men,’ she said. ‘I sent a young team in search of him, but I believe we are all now in danger.’
There was a horrified gasp. Jake had no idea who Xi Xiang was, but it was clear from the hurried, nervous conversations that another mission would soon be sanctioned, perhaps to the east – maybe to China itself. He already longed to be part of it. His father was right: he was an adventurer, it was in his blood. He was a History Keeper – surely he had proved that now. And, after all, he had travelled to history as a baby.
He turned round and locked eyes with Topaz; then both of them looked out to sea. Jake thought again of his brother Philip. The Atlantic breeze seemed to stir his heart.
‘You’re alive,’ he murmured as it ruffled his hair. ‘I know you are out there . . .’
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ONCE AGAIN I would like to thank the five wise goddesses: Jo Unwin, Becky Stradwick, Sue Cook, Sophie Nelson and Lauren Bennett for all their incredible work and never-ending support. And, of course, Ali Lowry for being his fantastic self.
Finally I would like to dedicate this book to my brother Justin, and to Berne
, Lukas and Zak – in memory of Justine, a wonderful and inspiring lady, who will never be forgotten.
About the Author
Damian has worked extensively as a screenwriter on projects as diverse as Phantom of the Opera and Puss in Boots. He is a keen explorer, inspired by everything from archaeology to cosmology, and loves nothing more than a rollicking adventure story. He is a proud Londoner and lives on the South Bank with his dog Dudley. Circus Maximus is the sequel to his first novel, The Storm Begins.
Also by Damian Dibben
The History Keepers: The Storm Begins
THE HISTORY KEEPERS: CIRCUS MAXIMUS
AN RHCP DIGITAL EBOOK 978 1 446 48036 6
Published in Great Britain by RHCP Digital,
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This ebook edition published 2012
Copyright © Damian Dibben, 2012
Cover artwork copyright © Steve Stone, 2012
First Published in Great Britain by Doubleday, 2012
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History Keepers: Circus Maximus Page 29
