38
The clunk of the lock woke the prisoners. Poppy was the first to pounce. As the door opened she grabbed her sabre and charged at the trapdoor, knocking the unsuspecting guard off his feet. Felix and Tom joined her in subduing their captor and throwing him back down through the trapdoor. Luther, Curly, Wonky and Beauchamp climbed into the huge entrance hall. Their mouths dropped. The hall was decorated with gold, and golden statues of godlike creatures were placed at regular intervals along each wall.
“Quickly,” whispered Felix. “Look for the strange object before anyone else comes.”
“It’s all gold. There’s nothing different anywhere!” replied Tom.
“When was Jesus born?” asked Poppy.
“What?” Tom snapped.
“Over here, this statue looks like Jesus,” Poppy informed her companions.
“Luther you take Wonky home and come straight back,” ordered Felix.
“How do I do that?” asked the worried Keeper. Felix took a photo of the hall with his phone and handed it to Luther whilst instructing him on how to get back to them in Egypt. Luther grabbed Wonky.
“Thank you young man,” beamed Wonky before he was grabbed by Luther and thrown into the statue. They disappeared.
Within seconds Luther was back with them, chewing on a boiled sweet and grinning like a Cheshire cat. “He’s safe. Wet but safe. We landed in a pond in the middle of the common. He told me that he knew his way home from there and shuffled off towards some gates.”
“He’ll be fine,” smiled Felix. “Where’s the next clock?”
“Through that door in ten minutes time,” answered Luther. “It looks like a huge room, so it’ll be harder to find. I’m ready to take Mr Beauchamp back home!”
Felix crept slowly to the huge gold door at the opposite end of the hallway. Tom and Poppy had their sabres at the ready. Luther handed his to Felix and gasped as it jumped straight back into his hand.
“Thanks but I can’t use your sword. As soon as you go mine will reappear,” Felix smiled as he explained. Mr Beauchamp was clinging to Luther like his life depended on it. Curly was chuntering about being the last one to be rescued.
“You like a scrap so shut it!” snapped Tom.
“He’s scared of being hurt,” laughed Poppy. Curly growled and swore that if he ever got home in one piece he’d kill them all. Tom slowly pushed open the towering door. The creaking from the hinges was drowned out by a loud voice! They all turned to see a line of Brethren soldiers marching down the hall way towards them.
“This is it! Thank you for a wonderful life. Bye mother!” screamed Beauchamp.
“Let’s have them!” shouted Curly as he charged at the advancing enemy. He almost immediately screamed, turned round and ran back to hide behind Felix. The Brethren drew their swords.
“Usual tactic?” asked Poppy as she stood in front of Felix. The Brethren were almost upon them, their bright blue eyes staring intently at Felix and the Guardians.
“There are too many of them - and they’re human,” whispered Felix. “We may have to surrender and fight another day.”
“Through here!” shouted Luther, who had managed to open the door behind them and drag Beauchamp through. Felix, Tom, Poppy and Curly squeezed through the gap and with their combined weight slammed the door in the face of the Brethren. Felix climbed up a statue of a cat headed creature and swung on it until it fell and blocked the door. It was effectively locked. They all breathed a sigh of relief.
The maniacal laughter stopped them dead in their tracks.
39
“You keep them talking Luther. We’ll look for the object,” ordered Felix. “We have three minutes, so look quickly.”
“Hello!” stuttered Luther. The others scanned the brightly coloured room for anything strange. It was hard for them to take their eyes off the lines of Brethren soldiers before them. Three figures sat on large ornate thrones at the back of the room. The middle one was the figure they had seen on the roof addressing the crowd. They seemed to be giants with weird animal costumes on but Felix knew he didn’t have time to ask who they were. The middle figure shouted in some strange language.
“He’s not very happy!” whimpered Luther. “I think we may be stuck here!”
“What language is he speaking?” asked Felix.
“It’s not Egyptian so I assume its Sky, whatever that is!”
“Keep looking,” Felix shouted. “We only have a minute!”
Luther translated what the leader of the Egyptians was saying.
“You are The Keeper? The one we seek?”
“Yes I am sir,” replied Luther.
“I want The Book of Words. I need The Book of Words.”
“Why?” asked Luther.
“I am Seth the ruler of all known lands, the Book belongs to me.”
The female figure next to him snarled, “No brother! The Book was left so that the people of Earth can rule themselves and survive into the future.”
“No sister. I am the ruler. I am the God of these people. I must have the Book. Do you understand?”
“Over there!” Poppy was pointing at the Brethren soldier at the centre of the front rank.
“What?” Tom asked.
“His boots. They’re Converse!” smiled Poppy. “Luther, take Mr Beauchamp and run at that one. Make sure you land on his feet!”
Without thinking, Luther grabbed Beauchamp - who had fallen to his knees in prayer - and ran straight at the startled soldier. Luther swiped the soldier’s sword to one side with the Keeper’s weapon and jumped on the Brethren’s feet. In an instant, both he and Beauchamp were gone.
Felix suddenly felt the reassuring hilt of the broadsword in his hand. He took the Book from his pocket and, to his relief, he could read it. He was once again The Keeper. Feeling more confident he walked forward towards the three thrones. The Brethren ranks parted as he led his young friends through.
“Why do you want the Book?” Felix asked abruptly in Sky. He translated every word for his friends.
“The Book gives the holder immense power over all before it.”
“So why do you want it?”
“It was mine until my father decided to split the land into two, half for me and half for his father.” Seth nodded towards the figure to the right whose head had remained bowed throughout. I have defeated his father and now I rule over all of the known lands. The Book of Words has magic you couldn’t hope to understand. I will bring riches to the people who follow me and death to those who oppose me.”
“I know the Book will give information on how to solve problems and on what is about to happen,” stated Felix. “What the Book doesn’t tell you is that over the next few thousand years many men like you will try to rule by force and power, but all will fail to crush the will of the good people on the earth.”
“Good speech!” laughed Tom. “Don’t think he’s buying it though!”
Seth rose to his feet. For the first time they could see that he did not have an animal costume on, he really did have the head of a jackal.
“The Typhon!” whispered Poppy. “And I mean THE Typhon!”
“Do you know who I am?” Curly piped up.
“He doesn’t speak English, you muppet!” whimpered Felix. It didn’t deter Curly, who told the story Felix had heard in Chicago about his gangster roots.
“All very impressive, but it doesn’t understand a word of what you’ve just said!” snapped Felix.
Seth bent down and picked up Curly in his hand. As his claws stuck in Curly’s back, the boy squealed “Help me Jones, please help me!”
“He is not who you seek!” shouted Felix. “I am!”
Seth threw Curly onto the marble floor. The thud caused even the Brethren ranks to take a deep breath. Poppy ran over to the prone figure to see if Curly was still alive.
“He’s breathing,” she declared. “But his legs are mangled and I can see some broken ribs!” She held her hands up, they were covered in blood.
“We need to get him out of here!” shouted Felix. He quickly flicked through the Book to the map. The plan of the room they were in showed a clock reading the date he had disappeared with Curly.
“Look around again,” Felix ordered. “I can get him home if we can spot the object.”
“You people are like ants!” declared Seth. “I could squash you all but we need you to produce food for our warriors when they come.”
“You need to calm down!” said Felix. “Where have you come from?”
“We have come from Sky,” came the reply. Felix looked at Tom who shrugged.
“Where is that?”
Seth pointed to the ceiling, “Many years away!”
“You mean from the future?” asked Felix. He glanced at Tom and whispered, “Keep looking.”
“No! We came to Earth to explore and set up a colony.”
“You’re not from Earth!” Felix once again looked at Tom. “Take a photo of the room. I’ll come back for you. We need to try and end this.”
Seth was laughing uncontrollably at Felix’s sudden realisation.
Poppy began laughing too.
“What’s so funny?” asked Tom. “We’re all about to die and you’re laughing!”
“It’s so obvious!” she giggled, “To the side of the thrones.”
Felix looked - there to the left of the thrones stood a flag. An Egyptian flag. He smiled and ran across to Curly. Felix took Tom’s phone and carried the limp body of the school bully up the steps towards the thrones. Seth watched, intrigued.
“What are you doing now?” Tom was as confused as ever.
“I won’t be long,” shouted Felix as he stepped onto the end of the flag.
Tom and Poppy were left alone to face Seth and his army.
40
Felix held on tightly to Curly as they flew through the multi-coloured vortex. Curly was unconscious and badly injured. Felix hoped that the vortex would work its magic. Curly may have been a bully but he didn’t deserve to die. The pictures of historical events flew past them, and Felix knew he had to dump Curly and get back to Tom and Poppy as quickly as he could. He couldn’t bring himself to think about what Seth would do to them.
The fist slammed into Felix’s jaw. Felix dropped Curly and began laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Curly asked.
“Two minutes ago you were at death’s door and now you’re OK!” Felix replied.
Curly looked confused, “I do ache a bit!”
“You were doing more than aching when Seth dropped you!” said Felix. He handed Curly a boiled sweet. “When we get home we’ll be in school somewhere,” Felix explained. “I’ll have to go back to Egypt straight away.”
“My dad wants you at the house with the Typhon,” snapped Curly.
“Can’t that wait until I rescue Tom and Poppy?” asked Felix. “I’ll come to your house then.”
“No way,” said Curly. “I’ve got you now, I’m not letting you go.”
“How many times have I saved your bacon?” snapped Felix.
“I don’t believe any of this,” said Curly. “It’s a dream and when I wake up you’re mine Jones!”
“Have it your own way then. But I will get back to Tom and Poppy and you will look stupid in front of your gang,” replied Felix.
“Never!” shouted Curly. “A weed like you will never get the better of us. We are the Typhon.”
The pupils at Queen Anne’s School didn’t flinch when Felix and Curly landed in the queue to get into the school hall. Curly shook his head and turned around to find Felix. Curly was firmly wedged between Bobo and Tubby as the queue shuffled forward. He gave Felix a knowing look and mouthed ‘Five minutes.’ Felix was ushered into the hall with the crowd and had no choice but to take his seat. He needed to get out and quickly. The whole school rose for the entrance of Mr Moreton and The Grand Typhon. Felix turned and nearly stumbled back into his seat as he saw Wonky escorting the visitor down the aisle. Wonky winked at Felix as if he knew what was about to happen.
The Headmaster took centre stage. Felix was aware of Curly’s eyes burning holes in the back of his head. He was about to run, as he had with Poppy and Tom, when Wonky began talking,
“A while ago I dreamt I was imprisoned in a sandy cave.”
The penny dropped, Felix knew Wonky had been listening to how they had begun their journey back to Ancient Egypt.
“In the dream a vision came to me in the form of three children.” Wonky continued. “They told of a future act that would bring pain and misery to many of my students. A vicious individual and his followers would, by force, take over all before them. The angels of mercy came to warn me of these goings on in our school.”
Felix could sense teachers closing in on the rows around him. Curly was turning this way and that as he felt realised that he was about to get grabbed. Bingo, Tubby, Bobo and Lofty looked at their leader for inspiration.
“Take Higgins and his band of merry men to my office,” ordered Wonky. “Jones, there is a visitor for you in the staffroom.” Felix looked confused. Wonky waved his hand, urging Felix to leave the hall. The Grand Typhon stood open mouthed beside the grinning Headmaster. “I would now like to introduce the gentleman next to me, he is a police officer and is here to talk about a spate of crimes that have occurred in our area over the last few weeks!”
Felix heard no more of the introduction, he was running as fast as he could down the corridor to the staffroom. Felix just wanted to get away. He had left the sword with Tom, all he had was the Book. He barged into the staffroom, old man Fletcher stirred from his slumber under the pages of The Times.
“A student in the Master’s Study!” Fletcher bellowed.
Felix looked at the pictures, planning his escape. For the first time since becoming the Keeper Felix was really in a flap.
How was he going to get back to Tom and Poppy? Fletcher was turning red with anger and became even more irritated when a ringtone sounded. “One of those mobile things in here too! Name boy?”
The phone announced, “Warning, warning, parental unit is calling you! Warning, warning, parental unit is calling you!”
Felix looked all over for the mobile. It took a second for him to realise that it was Tom’s ringtone for his parents and that his pocket was vibrating. Laughing, he took out Tom’s phone and pulled up the first photograph he could find of Ancient Egypt. Fletcher looked like he was about to blow a fuse - he was that angry. The last thing he heard as he jumped on the phone was Curly shouting, “Jones, I’ll get you!”
41
Tom turned to Felix as if nothing had happened. “What do we do now?” he asked as the Brethren ran across the entrance hall towards them.
“Usual tactic?” asked Poppy as she stood in front of Felix. The Brethren were almost upon them, their bright blue eyes staring intently at Felix and the Guardians.
“There are too many of them - and they’re human,” whispered Felix. “We may have to surrender and fight another day.”
“Through here!” shouted Luther, who had managed to open the door behind them and drag Beauchamp through. Felix, Tom and Poppy squeezed through the gap and with their combined weight slammed the door in the face of the Brethren. Felix once again climbed up a statue of a cat headed creature and swung on it until it fell and blocked the door. It was effectively locked. They all breathed a sigh of relief.
The maniacal laughter stopped them all dead in their tracks. But Felix knew exactly what to do.
“Don’t bother looking,” Felix whispered to Luther. “Just run straight at that soldier and land on his feet.”
Luther looked and saw the Converse. He was off, dragging Beauchamp behind him. As they disappeared, Felix once again felt his sword appear in his hand.
“That’s Seth, his sister Isis and nephew Horus!” Felix told Tom and Poppy. “He’s nuts and wants to rule all before him. Using the Book he can give people power and technology to do his bidding.”
“You’ve been here before!�
� whispered Tom.
“About ten minutes ago,” replied Felix. “We have to get out of here, and quickly, otherwise he’ll have us killed and get the Book.”
“He needs YOU to read the Book that you have! So he can’t kill us.” said Poppy.
“You’re right! The Book HE can read is sitting in Stonehenge waiting for the druids to find it.” Felix smiled as he realised that he still had an advantage over the giant creature.
“You have The Book of Words,” boomed Seth.
“What is The Book of Words?” asked Felix innocently.
Seth waved his hand and a soldier stepped forward. He was ushered off to a side room by two men dressed in gold robes who looked like priests. The soldier looked a little reluctant. Felix, Tom and Poppy looked at each other, wondering what on earth would happen next.
“He’s from another planet, I think!” whispered Felix.
“You’re telling me,” replied Tom. “I think the plot was lost a long time ago!”
“No, really!” said Felix. “I think the Egyptian gods came from a place called Sky. The first one here would have been Ra, the sun god. Others followed and these muppets were left in charge of what they found on earth. Seth has had battles with his brother Osiris and won. He now rules through bullying everyone with his Brethren army. His problem is that without the Book that Ra left he hasn’t got the knowledge to take over fully and become invincible.”
“They’re aliens!” whispered Poppy.
“Those three are!” said Tom. “The Brethren look like us. We can’t take all of these on! If they start a fight we’ll have to surrender.”
“Or die a glorious death!” replied Poppy with a smile.
The side door opened and the priests reappeared with four ornate jars. Seth grinned and took the jars in his claws. The priests pulled back a huge stone slab next to the thrones. Isis closed her eyes.
Felix Jones and The Dawn Of The Brethren Page 12
