The Time Hunters (Book 1 of the acclaimed series for children of all ages) (17 page)

Chapter 24

The
Minotaurs Mark

‘Why don’t you all stay?’ Edgar said to Uncle Percy,
polishing off his last baked mushroom stuffed with soft cheese. ‘It would be so
much fun to have you live with us.’

‘I’m afraid we can’t,’ Uncle Percy replied.

‘But why?’
Edgar replied. ‘Your friends seem very happy.’ He pointed a giant finger at
Phineus, who was swimming with two girls in the lagoon, his face beaming like a
cat with a bucket of cream.

Uncle Percy smiled kindly. ‘I’m sure the Argonauts
would love to stay, but I’m afraid we must move on. We’re looking for
something.’

‘How exciting.’
Edgar’s eyes glistened. ‘What are you looking for?’

‘Information.’
Uncle Percy removed the Theseus Disc from his cloak.

‘Where did you get that?’ Edgar said, sounding
alarmed.

‘That’s a long story,’ Uncle Percy said.

‘You know what it is?’ Becky asked Edgar.

‘Of course I do,’ Edgar wheezed, becoming more and
more distressed. ‘My grandfather made it - but, how did you get it? Oh, Lordy!
It’s out isn’t it? It’s free!’ His gigantic body began to tremble.

‘What’s free?’ Uncle Percy asked.

‘The dragon with nine heads.
The Hy -’ His voice failed him.

‘The Hydra!’’
Joe exclaimed.

Becky shivered as she recalled her dad’s book. The
Hydra was a fearsome nine-headed monster and supposed guardian of the Golden
Fleece.

‘You know of the great beast?’ Edgar whimpered. ‘I
thought that -’

‘Only from stories,’ Uncle Percy interrupted. ‘Listen,
Edgar, it’s rather difficult to explain, but the Hydra may not be free.’

‘But this is the
key
.’ Edgar said, nodding at the disc. ‘Well,
part of it
... ’

‘The key?’
Uncle Percy said.
‘The key to what?’

‘To the Great Gate in the Red
Caves.’
Edgar struggled to find the words.
‘To the Lair of the Beast.’

Becky’s head reeled. They were getting somewhere.

‘You said it was part of a key?’ Uncle Percy said.

‘Yes,’ Edgar replied. ‘The key was forged in two
parts - the disc and the Eye of the Bull. One will not work without the other.’

‘The Eye of the Bull?’

‘It is a powerful jewel,’ Edgar said.
‘The only one in existence - a
Suman Stone
.’

Uncle Percy turned pale.
‘
A Suman Stone
?’

Becky heard the shock in his voice. ‘What’s a Suman
Stone?’

‘I don’t know,’ Uncle Percy replied. ‘But Bernard
Preston’s last words were “Find Suman”. I always assumed it was a person, but
never found anyone of significance with the name. Come to think of it, do you
remember the letters ‘
SS
’ on his
note.
Perhaps now we can see what he meant
by them.’

‘What’s so special about the Suman Stone, Edgar?’
Joe asked Edgar.

‘It is a magical jewel, an enchanted jewel. Its
power harks back to my brethren’s earliest days, in the age of the ancients. It
is the stone of my people.
The Minotaur’s Mark.
My grandfather
used it for the key because of its mystical properties. You see, when placed in
the disc’s centre the two become one – metal and jewel. Only then will the
Great Gate open.’

‘Tell me, Edgar,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘Did your grandfather
ever mention a Fleece? A Golden - ’

Before Uncle Percy could finish, Edgar made an ear splitting
squeak and his thick black lips quivered. ‘You know of the Great Fleece? I
thought that my brothers and I were the only ones who knew...’

Uncle Percy looked grave. ‘No, there are others. And
they are searching for it.’

‘They must not find it,’ Edgar said desperately.
‘The Fleece is a powerful object. My grandfather said that it should not be
trifled with, particularly not by manfolk. That is why he hid it in the Red
Caves, with the beast as its protector.’

Uncle Percy sighed. ‘I’m afraid that’s not going to
happen. These men will find it, at whatever cost. That is why we are here. We
intend to find it first, and - ’

Edgar’s nostrils flared the size of golf balls.
‘NO!’ he shouted. ‘You are good people. The Fleece is a bad thing! It is not
for humans! Humans cannot be trusted with that much power. Humans are
corruptible. Humans are -’ His eyes glistened with tears.

‘Please lower your voice,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘What
I’m going to tell you now must go no further, do you understand?’

Edgar stared ahead, miserably. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t
mean to shout.’

‘That’s quite all right,’ Uncle Percy replied,
glancing round to make sure he couldn’t be heard. Leaning forward, Uncle Percy
told him everything - of the invention of time travel, of Bernard Preston’s
murder, of the failed assassination attempt. He left nothing out.

Considering the remarkable nature of this
information, Becky thought Edgar took it very well. He listened intently and,
save
for the odd gasp, whoop and whimper, digested
everything.

‘So you want the Fleece so you can hide it again?’
Edgar clarified.

‘That’s right,’ Uncle Percy said.

‘But will not the protection of the Hydra be
enough?’

‘I don’t think so,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘You see, in
our time we have many formidable weapons. Weapons you could not begin to
comprehend.’

‘But the Hydra cannot be killed by the weapons of
manfolk,’ Edgar said, sounding relieved. ‘They are akin to Minotaurs. Only a
weapon built by the Gods, or one forged from the metal of the motherland can
kill it.’

Uncle Percy looked skeptical. ‘I don’t know about
any of that. But I do know these are dangerous men we are dealing with. They
will find a way to kill it.’

Edgar didn’t appear to believe him. He blew out an
enormous squall of air. ‘Lordy!’ His lopsided mouth broke into a wide smile.
‘This is a lot to take in.’

Becky smiled at him. ‘We thought that, too.’

‘Please, Edgar,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘Where are these
Red Caves?

‘They are on the Island of Kera, many leagues from
here.’

‘Could you draw us a map?’ Uncle Percy said.

‘Indeed,’ Edgar replied. ‘But you are forgetting the
real problem: The Great Gate. My grandfather was the shrewdest of our kind and
an extraordinary craftsman. It would be impossible to open without both pieces
of the key.’ As he scanned their faces, his mighty jaws fell open and he
stopped breathing.

‘What is it?’ Uncle Percy asked immediately.

Edgar didn’t reply.

‘Edgar?’

Edgar couldn’t take his eyes off Becky. ‘B-but y-you
have it?’ he stammered.

‘Have what?’ Uncle Percy replied.

‘The Eye of the Bull.
You already have it.
But how?’

Uncle Percy’s eyes traced Edgar’s and
he
, too, found himself looking at Becky. ‘What do you mean?’

‘The g-girl,’ Edgar spluttered.

Becky felt confused. What was Edgar talking about?
‘I’m the Eye of the Bull?’ she said. ‘I don’t think so.’

‘Not you -’ Edgar pointed at her neck, at her lucky
pendant. ‘That
is
the Eye of
the Bull. That is the Suman Stone.’

Becky looked down. The pendant’s stone shed a soft
green reflection across her neck.

At once, for each of them, a heavy mist lifted.
 
All recent events clicked into place: the
break-in at Bowen Hall; Jason’s orders to abduct her.

Someone wanted her lucky
pendant.

A pendant she had owned since she was seven years of
age – a
pendant given to her by her
late father.

Chapter
25

Uncle
Percy’s Wish

Becky’s fingers trembled as she traced the central
stone. How could it be part of the search for the Golden Fleece? It was just a
worthless trinket she’d been given for coming last in a particularly aggressive
egg and spoon race. ‘You’re mistaken.’

Edgar stared fixedly at the necklace. ‘The Suman
Stone is the stone of my ancestors. There is no mistake. Where did you get it?’

‘My dad gave it to me,’ Becky replied, her voice
barely audible. ‘Just before he died.’

Uncle Percy closed his eyes. ‘Edgar,
may
we go somewhere private?’

A few minutes later they were huddled on the floor
of a musty cave, far away from the crowded lagoon. Becky refused to look at
anyone, her eyes locked on the far wall as she waited for someone to speak.

‘Becky, please,
pass
me the
pendant,’ Uncle Percy said.

Her fingers tightened around it. ‘No.’

‘Please, Becky.’

‘Give it to him,’ Joe snapped.

Becky’s eyes dampened. She knew she had no choice.
Slowly, she coiled it over her head and passed it over.

‘When this is over, I swear I will fix this.’ Uncle
Percy took the pendant and pulled a penknife from his pocket. As he sliced the
stone from its cluster, Becky squeezed her eyes shut. He cupped the Theseus Disc
in his right hand and inserted it into the disc’s central groove.

Becky heard Joe gasp. Forcing her eyes open, she saw
thin feathery shards of misty green light pulsating into the disc. It seemed
alive. And then the light was everywhere, shooting out like lightning,
illuminating the far reaches of the cave.

‘Whoa!’ Joe yelled as bolts of lightning coiled
round Uncle Percy’s outstretched hand like blazing tentacles.

‘The key is complete,’ Edgar breathed.

Uncle Percy removed the Suman Stone and the cave
fell into darkness.

‘That was excellent!’ Joe said. ‘Do it again.’

‘No, Joe,’ Uncle Percy said solemnly, holding the
Suman Stone between his fingers. ‘I’m afraid, Becky, I’m going to have to keep
this.’

‘You can’t,’ Becky growled. ‘It’s mine.’

‘I know,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘And I’ll keep it safe.
I swear I will.’

Becky looked to Will, but his face offered sympathy
not support. She folded her arms and turned away.

Moments passed. All the while, Joe couldn’t take his
eyes off the Suman Stone. ‘Where would dad get something like that?’

Uncle Percy paused. ‘I have absolutely no idea.’

As the words lingered in the air, Becky felt anger
welling inside. Was it really possible Uncle Percy had no idea about where it
came from? Had he truly never heard of the Suman Stone?

Uncle Percy looked at Edgar. ‘We need your help. We
need you to tell us how to find the island of Kera. Unless I’m very much
mistaken, we’re running out of time.’

Edgar swallowed hard. ‘I will take you.’

‘You will?’

‘I give you my word.’ Edgar forced a smile. ‘My
family’s home is on a neighboring island. Perhaps it is time I paid my brothers
a visit.’

‘Thank you, Edgar,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘We’ll need a
boat. I shall return to the Palace and talk to the King.’

‘No!’ Edgar said at once. ‘If you return he will
believe I am dead, the community will be doomed. We will take
my
boat. We will leave at first
light. With the wind on our side the journey should take three days.’ He sighed
heavily. ‘But you will arrive at Kera. And may the Gods protect you from what
you find there.’

*

That night Becky lay under a blanket, staring at the
inky lagoon. She felt tired - exhausted even - but her mind ached with
questions. Her thoughts, however, were disturbed by a
groggy
voice.

‘Becky,’ Joe said. ‘Are you awake?’

‘No.’

‘It’s weird, innit?’

‘What is?’

‘You having
the Suman Stone.’

‘I guess.’

‘How do you think dad got it?’

‘How should I know?’

‘Do you think he knew what it was when he gave it to
you?’

‘How should I know?’

‘Well, I suppose we’ll never know.’ Joe yawned.

‘I suppose not.’

But Becky did know, at least she thought she did.
And tomorrow she would confront Uncle Percy about it. She knew her suspicions
were unbelievable, but surely there could be no other explanation? But just how
much did he know? Certainly, if what she now believed were true, then he was a
manipulative liar. And if that was the case, she never wanted to see him again.

*

‘Oi, get up,’ Joe said, pushing his sister. ‘We’re
going!’

Becky’s eyes sprang open to see Joe standing above
her. ‘You touch me again and I’ll tear your head off.’

‘Lordy. Look who’s been bitten by Mr Grumples?’
Edgar said.

‘Sorry, I didn’t sleep well,’ Becky replied. Then she
heard another voice and her stomach churned.

‘Good morning, Becky,’ Uncle Percy shouted over.

‘Morning,’ Becky mumbled, refusing to look him in
the eye. Casting her blanket aside, she watched four figures emerge from a
nearby cave. The Argonauts gathered in line before Uncle Percy, sad but
resigned smiles on their faces.

Jason stepped forward. ‘So you will not stay?’

Uncle Percy placed his hand on the small man’s
shoulder. ‘I’m afraid we can’t, Jason. We have a Fleece to find. But I think
you will all be very happy here.’

‘Thank you,’ Jason said.

‘We would accompany you, but would be of no aid,’
Theseus said guiltily. ‘We are not warriors.’

‘But you are great men,’ Uncle Percy said kindly.
‘And history will remember you as such. I promise you that.’

Phineus leant over and whispered in Uncle Percy’s
ear. ‘And I am sad I never witnessed the Devon-shire Bunny horses.’

Uncle Percy turned pink. ‘Next time,’ he whispered
back.

The next few minutes were filled with hugs and warm
exchanges of good luck. After their goodbyes, Uncle Percy, Will, Becky and Joe
collected their possessions and turned to Edgar who stared sadly at his
sleeping friends.

‘Let us depart…’ Edgar said, and holding a torch in
one hand, a sack in the other and two water urns dangling from his horns, he
lumbered towards the tunnel.

*

For ten minutes, they followed the bobbing flame of
Edgar’s torch along a narrow, sandy path flanked by a saltwater river and the
damp tunnel wall. The sound of the ocean grew louder all the time.

‘Nearly there,’ the Minotaur said, his spirits
improving with each step. Then, as the path curved, Becky glimpsed a most
welcome sight.
Daylight.

Gathering pace, the group emerged into a cove. Water
lashed against rock giving the impression the sea was much rougher than it was.

Edgar came to a halt, pointing below. ‘There...’

Becky looked down and saw a boat, painted gold and
maroon, bobbing on the water like a fishing float. Two giant wooden oars were
raised on its helm like matchsticks. In no time at all, the ship was loaded
with provisions. Edgar had lifted the stone anchor, settled his mighty frame
into a large wooden seat in the center of the deck and seized the oars.

‘Can we help, Edgar?’ Uncle Percy said. ‘Will and I
could take an oar and -’

Edgar chuckled. ‘Thank you for the offer, Perce, but
I’m rather looking forward to the exercise. It’s difficult enough to attract
the ladies when you have a bull’s head - the last thing I want is a sagging
tummy.’

With a splash, Edgar launched the oars into water
and the ship creaked to life. Before long, Edgar was powering them out of the
cove, towards the open sea. Within the hour, Bertha had been loaded onto the
boat.

Edgar stared in wonder at the strange looking
vehicle. Unfortunately, when he climbed inside his horns became stuck in the upholstery
and it took twenty minutes to set him free.

By the time they set off to sea again everyone was
in good spirits. Everyone, that was, except Becky. The novelty of the boat trip
had worn off and all she could think about were the events of the previous day
- that, and a series of increasingly bizarre theories about Uncle Percy.
Isolating herself as best she could from the others, she watched as Edgar broke
into song.

Becky smiled. It was such an extraordinary sight to
see this man-monster singing what sounded like a gentle lullaby. Indeed, Edgar’s
singing made her eyes heavy and within minutes she fell asleep. When she awoke,
she saw a sail had been raised, inflated by a keen sea breeze. Edgar stood at
the rear of the ship, Joe hanging from his horns, as he completed dozens of
squats. Then she heard a voice she no longer trusted.

‘Sleep well?’ Uncle Percy said.

‘Yes, thank you,’ she replied curtly.

‘Perhaps, Becky, it’s time you and I had a little
chat.’

‘I’ll get Joe,’ Becky said. ‘What I’ve got to say
concerns him, too.’

‘That’s as maybe,’ Uncle Percy said simply. ‘But why
don’t we talk first, just the two of us. Perhaps, then, you can decide if he’s
ready to know what I’ve got to say.’

Becky thought for a moment then nodded silently.

A few seconds later, they were standing at the prow,
staring out at the empty horizon.

‘Now, I know that you are angry with me,’ Uncle
Percy said, ‘that perhaps I’ve kept things from you. And, to some extent that’s
true. But I believe you’ll understand why.
 
Now, why don’t you ask me what I know you’re longing to ask?’

‘You’ve used us, haven’t you?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘You’ve used us,’ Becky repeated.
‘Joe
and me.
You knew I had this
Suman
Stone
. You knew that when you invited me and Joe to stay for the
summer?’ Her voice cracked. ‘You
acted
like you cared about us, like you wanted to get to know us, but it was all a
lie. You just wanted the stone…’

Uncle Percy paused to digest her words. ‘Is that
what you think? That’s why you’re angry with me?’ He let out a relieved laugh.

‘Don’t you dare laugh at
me!
’

‘I’m sorry,’ Uncle Percy said sincerely. ‘Becky, now
you must believe me. I swear I had no idea you possessed the Suman Stone. No
idea at all.’

She searched his eyes, looking for the truth. Her
voice softened. ‘Then why did you invite us
this
summer, of all summers? You’ve had plenty of time to see
me, yet you never have. Me, who just happens to own the one item that you need
to get that stupid
Fleece
.’

Uncle Percy sighed. ‘I never wanted you to become
involved in any of this. I certainly had no idea about the Suman Stone. Don’t
forget, it was you who discovered I
was
a traveller. I didn’t tell you. I was never going to tell you. Well, not yet
anyway.’

‘What do you mean, not yet?’

‘Because -’ Uncle Percy fell silent ‘- Because I
won’t be around forever. And no matter how much I can manipulate time, time is
also manipulating me. Now, you and Joe are the only family I have. And
furthermore, you are such extraordinary people and both possess the qualities
that are needed -’ He hesitated.

‘Needed for what?’ Becky pressed.

‘To run Bowen Hall,’ Uncle Percy said honestly.

A look of shock crossed Becky’s face.

Uncle Percy continued. ‘You see, I want you and Joe
to inherit all I have: Bowen Hall, the other properties, the inventions, the
patents. I want you to have everything
.
That is why I invited you this summer - to get to know you again, and
for you to know my world.’

‘But you’re not…’ Becky couldn’t finish the
sentence.

‘Dying?’ Uncle Percy cut her off. ‘We’re all dying,
Becky. That’s the one thing in life that is certain. But that’s not the point.
The point is I want to make contingencies for the future. And I want to give
Bowen Hall to the two people I know would cherish it as I do.’ He threw her a
warm smile. ‘That’s if you both want it, of course?’

Becky felt moved to silence.

‘You see,’ Uncle Percy said, ‘the running of Bowen
Hall may be a responsibility you’re not willing to bear. To run Bowen Hall, you
must recognise what it stands for, and preserve it as best you can. Now that is
asking a lot of anyone. However, all I wanted to do this summer was to
introduce you to it.
 
Then we could have
taken it from there…’

A tear trickled down Becky’s face. So this was why
he had invited them to stay for the summer.
His legacy
.

‘I’m so sorry,’ she said. ‘I just - I just never
understood.’