“Those jars,” whispered Felix. “I’ve seen them before.”
“They’re canopic jars,” said Tom. Felix and Poppy laughed but they were becoming used to their less than academic friend coming up with pearls of wisdom every now and again. “Each jar holds a different organ. Those priests must have killed the soldier and removed his insides!”
“A bit gruesome!” replied Poppy.
“The tops represent the sons of Horus, not that dude sat there but his dad. When Seth killed his brother he cut him up and spread his body all over the place so it couldn’t be brought back to life.”
“I remember this bit,” said Felix. “Isis went and found most of it but couldn’t find the last bits so he can never be reincarnated. But ever since then the organs have been preserved in case there is an afterlife.”
“That’s it!” said Tom. “But why would Seth have that soldier killed and pickled in jars?”
“I think we’re about to find out,” whispered Felix.
Seth strode towards the chasm the stone slab had revealed. The priests began chanting something even Felix couldn’t understand. The ranks of soldiers joined the chanting until the noise became unbearable. Felix had crept round the room to get a better view of the hole. It was full of flowing water. Tom and Poppy joined him.
“How?” asked Tom.
“Must be a tunnel from the Nile,” explained Poppy.
Seth lifted the jars above his head. Silence filled the room. Seth dropped the jars into the river. There was an explosion and smoke billowed from the water. Seconds later four creatures dressed in Brethren leather cloaks appeared through the smoke and knelt before Seth. They looked up. The three onlookers gasped. The familiar sight of half man, half skeleton monsters stood before them. Seth handed one of the Brethren a scrappy piece of paper. The monks bowed and jumped back into the water. The smoke followed them and the room erupted with cheering as the warriors disappeared.
“He uses the jars to make half men to travel through time,” said Tom. “One dead, four monsters!”
“The paper must have been the map,” Felix said.
The priests began shoving the slab back over the ceremonial river. A massive explosion blew the slab straight into the air. Smoke filled the room once more. This time the soldiers fled towards the door Felix had blocked. Seth took a step back in surprise. Horus and Isis had sprung to their feet for the first time.
“The Keeper, Felix Jones. Where are you?” growled the gravelly voice.
Four Brethren monks strode out of the smoke towards Felix. The Guardians drew their swords and prepared for battle.
42
Felix held his broadsword and smiled at Tom and Poppy. They knew what would happen next. Seth was filled with anger. His booming roar stopped everyone, including the monsters in their tracks.
“Bring me The Book of Words,” Seth ordered his four henchmen.
“I don’t think he’s too happy,” whispered Felix. “We’re in a bit of a hole!”
“Really Sherlock!” laughed Tom.
“These four will be no problem,” said Poppy. “It’s that lot we have to worry about.” Poppy pointed towards the rows of soldiers who had also drawn their gleaming swords.
“Well, we’ll die if we worry and we’ll die if we don’t!” Tom charged towards the four monsters. Poppy joined him in holding back the attack. Felix sprang into action and in a few thrusts of his Keeper’s sword four piles of bones and dust lay before Seth.
Seth waved his arms and the ranks of his army roared and marched towards Felix, Tom and Poppy.
“Over here!” Tom had found a narrow space between two pillars that was easier to defend. Felix and Poppy sighed and joined him. As they turned the first soldiers attacked. As usual, Poppy relished the fight and her sword was soon dripping with blood. Tom and Felix were swinging their swords without any respite. Soldiers crawled away from the battle. The dead began to pile up in front of the Keeper and Guardians. Felix looked at the hundreds of warriors waiting to strike. He was absolutely shattered!
“We can’t fight all of these,” he sighed.
“We can’t give up. He’ll kill us all,” said Poppy.
“I don’t think he will,” replied Felix. “I think you were right – he needs me to use the Book!”
“Look in the flaming book!” shouted Tom.
Felix opened The Book of Words, “How do we get out of this?” He looked at the map. There were no signs of any clocks to help them escape. The answer to his question appeared on the page.
You don’t have to win the battle to win the war!
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” asked Tom. “I wish it would just give us a straight answer and tell us what to do!”
Felix looked at his friends, who were stood poised to defend him with every breath they had.
“Put down your swords!” Felix ordered.
“What?” Poppy shouted.
“Why?” Tom asked.
“We don’t have to win this battle in order to win the war!” replied Felix with a wry smile. Tom and Poppy threw their swords on the floor. Felix did the same.
A group of soldiers stepped forward and scooped up the weapons. They deposited them in front of Seth’s throne, where he had once again taken his seat. Another three tied Felix, Tom and Poppy to poles. They looked like pigs about to be roasted over an open fire. Two soldiers held each end of the poles and the three friends were taken off to the side room where the priests had turned the soldiers into monsters.
“Great - now we’re going to be cut open, stuffed in jars and turned into god knows what!” Tom sighed as he looked to Felix for inspiration. One of the priests took The Book of Words from Felix’s trousers. Felix began to panic. He had only lost the Book once, but at that time he had been free and had regained it quickly from Mordred. This time he was tied up, he didn’t have a sword, or a horse, and he was helpless. How was he going to get Poppy and Tom home this time?
43
Tom’s scream shook Felix to his senses. Felix and Poppy could only look on as the priests fastened Tom to their marble table with thick leather straps. Tom seemed to be saying help and goodbye with the pleading look he gave Felix and Poppy. The priest in charge laughed as he cut Tom’s shirt open with his gold dagger. Tom was as white as the priest’s robes. Suddenly the door burst open and the chief priest rushed to Felix and cut the ropes that held him. Felix slowly turned his hands to get a good grip on pole. The ropes loosened and slipped to the floor.
“You need to read The Book of Words for our God King Seth,” he growled in Egyptian. Felix once again translated for his friends. “Someone has cast a spell on the Book so that nobody can read it without the Keeper. We have tried to bring a Keeper back for an age now so Seth can continue his work. You are the first we have captured and you came to us!” He beamed with pride that their mission was complete.
Felix was grateful for Merlin’s magic. He knew he may just have some time to think of an escape plan.
“I’ll never read it!” screamed Felix.
“Our followers have sought the Book through all ages, since Horus took it and hid it in a far off land,” continued the priest. “The Typhon, as they have become known, have conquered vast areas to find it, but with no success. We have come close many times, but in the time it takes to expand our empires the knowledge of our troops is copied by our enemies and we are beaten back by those who do not know of the power of Seth.”
“Genghis Khan?” asked Felix.
“He was one of our most successful Typhon,” replied the Egyptian.
“Alexander the Great, Cortez, Romans, Greeks and English Kings?” Felix carried on guessing the historic characters that may have been Typhon.
The priest laughed, “Some of those, yes. All unsuccessful but now we have it.”
“But you can’t read it!” Tom shouted across the room. The priest with the dagger ran the blade lightly across Tom’s chest, but he shouted gamely, “Luckily, I know a man that can!”
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“If you don’t come and read the Book he will become one of us,” laughed the priest as he arranged four jars next to Tom’s body.
Felix looked at Poppy, who was still strapped to the pole. It was a look that said, ‘Are you ready?’ Poppy rolled over and stood as best she could. She ran as fast as possible whilst bent double with a pole sticking up above her head and along her back. Tom burst out laughing at the sight of the priest being smashed into the wall by the human battering ram. Felix had swung his pole round and the other priest lay unconscious on the floor.
“What now?” Poppy asked.
“God knows!” sighed Felix. “But at least we are free!”
“Speak for yourself,” whimpered Tom. Felix and Poppy giggled as they undid the leather straps and freed their companion. Tom stood up. He looked like a tramp with his shirt hanging down in tatters.
“Out of the frying pan and into the fire!” Felix pulled the huge bolt across the door. The waiting army and their leader Seth were outside waiting for the priests to convince Felix to do as he was told.
“Scream!” Felix ordered Tom.
“What?”
“They think we’re being tortured,” Felix nodded towards the door. “Scream like your life depends on it. Both of you!” Poppy and Tom began screaming in between fits of laughter. Felix sat on the marble slab and began thinking of how to get out of the mess they were in.
“Come on! Think!” he whispered to himself. Tom and Poppy continued their charade. Felix couldn’t see a way out and his eyes began to well up with tears. He had finally been beaten and his friends were going to die because they wanted to protect him. He didn’t want to be responsible for their deaths but he was at a loss for the first time since becoming the Keeper.
His thoughts were interrupted by a body landing in a heap next to him on the marble slab.
“What now?” Felix shouted in frustration.
“Good to see you too!” said the intruder.
“Luther! You’ve gone and grown up!” said Tom and Poppy together.
“Are we glad to see you?” Felix shook Luther’s hand and slapped him repeatedly on the back. “I couldn’t leave you to it. I wanted to finish my first adventure.” Luther explained that he had been on a few adventures but he couldn’t get this out of his mind.
“Now we have a chance,” said Tom. “Two Keepers and two Guardians.”
“Not so fast,” said Felix. “There are still hundreds of them and they’re real!”
“I’ve done a bit of research,” said Luther. “Bring your poles over here. If we can make a hole in the wall here we can tunnel up through the sand and escape into the dunes.” Luther was beaming as he told them of the hours he had spent in the library researching Ancient Egyptian buildings. He had discovered that the embalming chamber was always at a corner and just below the surface. It was one of the weakest parts of the building.
“We can’t go until I get my book back.” Felix knew he couldn’t just leave his sword and The Book of Words with Seth. Not every Keeper would be as lucky as them to have an easy escape route, and they may give in and read the Book allowing Seth to rule the Earth.
“Trust you!” Tom gave his friend a smile and put the pole down. “Come on then clever clogs. How are we going to get past an army, sneak up to the nastiest alien we know and then take back our swords and your flaming book?”
“Piece of cake!” said Felix as he put his head in his hands.
The feeling of relief was swept away by a loud knock on the door. The friends all looked at each other waiting for someone to suggest what their next action should be.
“Scream!” whispered Felix.
“They’re being stubborn!” Felix shouted in perfect Egyptian.
“Hurry! Seth wants The Book of Words read now!” the deep voice replied.
“Put on those sheets and their funny hoods,” Felix told Luther, Tom and Poppy. Poppy grabbed some spare robes off a hook. They dressed quickly while Felix grabbed a dagger and sliced his upper arm.
“What the hell are you doing?” shouted Poppy.
“Blood! There’s no blood on your robes! You’ve been tortured for the last half hour, we have to have blood!” explained Felix as he dripped his own blood down their white clothes.
“Here goes nothing!” said Tom as he punched Felix in the eye. Felix looked shocked.
“Bruises! We need bruises! You’ve been refusing to read for the last half hour!” Poppy and Luther giggled. It took Felix a little longer to see the funny side.
“Come on!” whispered Felix as he slid the bolt open on the door. “This is it! Start praying!”
44
The soldiers were lined up in their precise ranks. Seth was on his throne flanked by Horus and Isis. Felix was shaking with fear. Tom, Poppy and Luther, covered by their priest’s robes were more confident. As they walked gingerly forwards, Seth’s booming voice filled the room. Tom looked at Felix.
“Not a word!” whispered The Keeper. “He’s got my Book of Words.”
“He wants you to read The Book of Words,” said Luther. Felix had forgotten Luther still had his sword and more importantly his Book. Luther became chief translator. Seth leaned down and picked Felix up by his hair. Felix let out a girly scream as he was dumped on Seth’s lap next to The Book of Words. Seth flicked the back of Felix’s head. Luther gripped the handle of the Keeper’s sword and was about to attack Seth.
“Felix will figure something out,” whispered Poppy as she grabbed Luther’s arm. Luther loosened his grip of the sword and smiled. Tom wasn’t quite convinced as he watched Felix being hit repeatedly by the demonic ruler of Egypt.
Felix couldn’t think straight. His head pounded more and more each time the long claws bounced off him. The smell of polished furniture filled his nostrils. It took him a while to realise it was the scent of the bee’s wax candles that lit the room. His eyesight was going but his smell was getting better. It was true what they said, as one sense dims another heightens! Blow after blow rained down on him. He felt woozy and his eyes began to close as the swellings and bruises got bigger.
“Read the Book!” shouted Luther. Felix was slumping forward off Seth’s lap. Tom grabbed an urn filled with some liquid and threw it at his best friend in an attempt to wake him up.
“Ahhhhhhhhhh!” screamed Felix. “You muppet! That’s boiling.”
Poppy looked around the room and realised that the urn held the melted wax from one of the burnt out candles. Tom looked at her and they grinned at the sight of Felix’s face stiffening as the wax cooled. Seth threw Felix onto the floor in front of them and shouted something at the soldiers.
“We’ve had it!” whispered Luther. “Please let me speak. He will understand me!”
“I am the Keeper,” he shouted. “I can read The Book of Words for you!” He hoped that his words would be heard as Sky. Seth stopped growling instructions and looked in amazement at what he thought was a priest. He called Luther forward for further inspection.
Amongst all the confusion, Poppy seized the opportunity to slip behind the thrones. Luther was plonked on Seth’s lap in place of Felix. The Keeper began flicking through his Book as Seth threw Felix’s copy over his shoulder. Poppy caught it and quickly placed it under her cloak. Tom pulled Felix to his feet and started peeling the wax from his friend’s face. Everyone seemed to have forgotten about them, the attention was firmly focussed on Luther.
The pair joined Poppy behind the thrones.
“What now?” Tom asked holding back giggles. Felix squealed with every pull of the wax on his face. Felix’s eyebrows had gone. Poppy was in hysterics, Felix looked like some strange being from outer-space.
“This isn’t funny!” whispered Felix.
“We need to get our weapons and the Book,” said Felix. Poppy smiled and handed him the Book. Tom slipped his arm around the side of Isis’ throne sat and grabbed their sabres.
“As I said. What now?” Tom insisted.
“I don’t know.” Felix
replied. “My Book doesn’t work while Luther is here.”
Felix peered through the back of the throne. Luther was sweating as he tried to stall Seth so that they could escape. Luther was mumbling in Sky and Seth was hanging on his every word. Felix waved to attract Luther’s attention. Luther saw Felix out of the corner of his eye and flicked quickly to the second page and the map of the room. He carried on with his lies to Seth as he looked for the clue on a clock. He held his hand up stretching out three fingers.
“Does he mean three o’clock, three hours or three minutes?” whispered Poppy. Felix shrugged his shoulders. “Just start looking!”
“There’s nothing!” said Tom as he scanned the room and the ranks of soldiers awaiting their orders. Poppy, who was always good at spotting different things, looked equally flummoxed. Felix was sniffing the air. His eyes were still sore but his smell was working better than ever. “I can smell strawberries,” he whispered.
“You’ve had too many bangs to the head. You’ve lost it again!” Tom looked at Poppy and sighed.
“It’s the candle!” shouted Poppy. “The one next to Horus!”
The noise distracted Seth, who turned to see what was happening behind his throne.
Felix grabbed the others and crawled under the huge throne but Seth caught hold of Poppy as she tried to slip away. He held her dangling in front of his big black eyes. He roared.
“Run! Quick!” shouted Luther, who was pinned by Seth’s other hand.
Tom rammed his sabre into Seth’s hairy foot. The giant god screamed in pain. More importantly, he dropped Poppy and released his grip on Luther, who managed to wriggle free with his Book. Luther joined Felix next to the urn holding the strawberry scented modern candle. Felix handed Luther a sweet while Tom picked up Poppy and ran towards the Keepers. The soldiers began breaking ranks and charged at the four of them.
“Come on!” said Luther as he shoved a boiled sweet in his mouth. “Jump!” He jumped onto the candle and was gone. Poppy and Tom clung onto Felix as he too jumped into the urn. A spear pierced Felix’s leg as he disappeared.
Felix Jones and The Dawn Of The Brethren Page 13
