The Time Hunters (Book 1 of the acclaimed series for children of all ages) (21 page)

Chapter 31

Rumble
in the Jungle

‘Of course he’s alive,’ Drake sneered. ‘He’s been my
guest for some time now. To be honest with you, I couldn’t believe you fell for
my little charade in the first place.’

Uncle Percy’s fists clenched.

Becky saw he was about to do something foolish and
said, ‘Uncle Percy, please don’t...’ He calmed at once.

Drake watched his reaction with glee. ‘Would you
like to hear about it?’ I’m sure the children would …’

Drop dead!’ Joe shouted.

‘Let me tell you anyway,’ Drake continued ignoring
the outburst. ‘I was already hidden on his boat when Mellor set to sea, along
with Otto, a short-range portravella and a life-like replica of him, a little
creation of mine I call a Hyperclone -
 
a
perfect copy of him, even down to the teeth and hair. When we were into the open
water, Otto overpowered him and I threw the Hyperclone overboard. Two days
later, that’s what the authorities found. My creation even had a lovely
funeral, from what I hear.’

‘Where is he?’ Uncle Percy said.

‘He’s quite safe, I assure you,’ Drake said. ‘Rather
uncomfortable, I imagine, but it’s his fault. He simply refuses to talk, and
the sad thing is he does have a vast amount of knowledge that I desperately
need. He’s a courageous man, no question about it. He’s proven resistant to
truth serums, to all manner of torture, but he still won’t talk. Of course,
with the assistance of these two -’ he waved his hand at Becky and Joe, ‘- I
believe matters will be very different.’

‘WE’D NEVER HELP YOU!’ Becky yelled.

‘Believe me, your presence is all that’s necessary.
I doubt he’ll want to see his own flesh and blood executed before his very
eyes.’

‘Where is he?’ Uncle Percy repeated.

‘Let’s just say, he’s a
part
of history,’
Drake replied.

‘Then I’ll find him.’

‘Find him?’ Drake snorted. ‘Find a man hidden in
time and space? Now, that is like finding a very small needle in a rather large
haystack.’

‘Nevertheless, I
will
find him.’

‘Really?’
Drake said.
 
‘That may be somewhat
difficult, as I intend to leave your dead carcass outside for the vultures to
pick at.’

Otto Kruger smiled.

‘One more question,’ Uncle Percy said, ignoring the
threat. ‘How did you know Becky had the Suman Stone?’

‘Actually, that was the most remarkable piece of
fortune. For many years I had known of the Great Gate, and of the two pieces of
the key. And I knew Mellor was obsessed with legends related to Stonehenge. He
even started his own investigations into the whereabouts of the Fleece.
However, although he knew of the Great Gate’s existence, and of the Disc, he
had yet to learn of the Suman Stone. Anyway, when I captured him I discovered
he had unwittingly found it in the course of his research. Needless to say, he
wasn’t about to tell me where it was. It was only recently, when I revisited
his belongings, that I found a photograph in his wallet - a photograph of you, my
dear.’ His steely gaze fixed on Becky. ‘You were wearing the stone.’ He turned
back to Uncle Percy. ‘Now, agreeable though this has been, I think it’s time we
proceeded with the small matter of your execution, don’t you?

Drake gave a curt nod and four Associates rushed
over and stood behind Uncle Percy and Will. Becky made to cry out in protest.
With a sharp shake of his head, Uncle Percy gestured her to stay silent.

Drake approached the Golden Fleece. Anticipation
coursed through him, He knelt as if in prayer and unfurled the bundle. He threw
the discarded cloak at Uncle Percy, who caught it and slipped it on. He stared
down at the Golden Fleece; its reflection cast a golden shadow on his
colourless face. ‘It’s beautiful.’ His eager fingers stroked its bristly
exterior. ‘It’s magnificent.’ Suddenly his back jerked straight. His chest
swelled as the awesome power of the Fleece flooded him. His eyes rolled back,
whirling in ecstasy. ‘I CAN FINALLY SEE!’

Otto Kruger tilted his head to one side, a hungry
glint in his eyes.

Reluctantly tearing himself away from the Fleece,
Drake wheeled round to the nearby Associate. ‘Bring the bag.’

The Associate ran over, clutching a black leather
kitbag. Drake raised the Fleece and placed it carefully into the bag. Then he turned
to the mob, his arms outstretched. ‘WE HAVE WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY OURS!’ The
Associates cheered.

Becky’s heart sank. Then she spied a curious thing.
In the midst of the jubilant faces, one Associate wasn’t smiling.

Drake had noticed it too and walked over to him. The
young red-haired man looked strangely disheveled as though woken from a deep
sleep.
‘YOU!’
Drake hollered. ‘What’s the matter?’

‘N-nothing, sir,’ the Associate mumbled, swaying
slightly.

‘Are you not delighted?’ Drake snapped.

‘Y-yes, sir,’ the Associate said. ‘But I - I don’t
think I’m well, sir.’

Uncle Percy watched, suddenly fascinated.

‘Pull yourself together or I’ll have you shot.’ He
snatched the Associate’s rifle and moved to the far wall. Then he turned
abruptly to Uncle Percy. He was standing over Milly.
 

‘I take it this is your pet, Percy?’

Will made to move, but felt the barrel of a gun
against his temple.

‘No, Emerson,’ Uncle Percy shouted over. ‘I beg you.
Please don’t.’

‘Begging?’ Drake smirked.
‘The
great Percy Halifax begging?’
He fired three shots into Milly’s chest.

Becky screamed, smothering Sabian’s head. Joe turned
white. Even Will turned away.

Pushing his guard aside, Uncle Percy raced to Milly.
Falling to his knees, his hand edged through her fur until his fingers traced
the holes. For a moment his face became impossible to read, until it cracked
with grief. ‘Sleep well, girl,’ he whispered, as an Associate dragged him away.

Becky couldn’t breathe. She stared at Milly, tears flowing
down her cheeks. Then she glowered at Drake. She felt something she had never
felt before. It was hatred. Pure hatred! This was the man who had kidnapped her
father - had murdered hundreds of people in a sabotaged plane - had executed
Milly.

She wanted revenge.

Drake’s taunting voice stabbed the air. ‘Now, Percy,
what say we relocate outside? Surely you would relish the sun on your face one
last time?’
 

Uncle Percy and Will exchanged helpless looks. Two
Associates cuffed them before leading them at gunpoint out of the cavern.

*

Some time later, the group emerged from the Red
Caves. Becky watched as the Associates who had remained to guard the time
machines joined their comrades to celebrate. Loud, ugly cheers echoed all
around. Then she saw something that completely bewildered her. Uncle Percy was
smiling
again. She didn’t get it.
Even
Will
looked confused.

Drake was baffled, too. Glaring at Uncle Percy, he
spat, ‘Why do you smile?’

‘What’s not to smile about?’ Uncle Percy replied.
‘The sun is shining, the birds are - ’

Viciously, Kruger grabbed Will’s neck and forced his
gun barrel into his mouth. ‘Are you smiling now?’

Uncle Percy’s expression turned sober. ‘No.’

Drake smirked. ‘Now, Otto, let’s not rush it. I
cannot begin to tell you how long I have waited for this special moment.’

Reluctantly, Kruger lowered the gun.
 

‘We have had a long and complex history together,
haven’t we, Percy? I’m glad Jason failed to kill you. For now the moment
belongs to me.’ He whispered in Uncle Percy’s ear, ‘And when I have no need for
them, I will make sure your niece and nephew share your fate.’ Drake gestured
to four Associates. ‘Chain them to the trees.’

Becky watched horrified as Uncle Percy and Will were
dragged away.

‘I have failed you, Percy,’
Will
said, his hands bound to a tree trunk. ‘I never did repay my debt.’

‘If there ever was a debt, Will,’ Uncle Percy said,
‘you
have
repaid it a thousand
times. Besides, we’re not dead yet …’

Becky felt powerless. Six Associates had filed into
line before Uncle Percy and Will. She wheeled round to Drake. ‘Please don’t,’
she begged. ‘I’ll make dad give you anything you want, just don’t kill them.’

Drake grinned wildly. ‘Your father will already tell
me what I need to know. Now, be quiet, before I lash your brother to a tree and
do the same to him. After all, I only need one of you.’ He approached Uncle
Percy. ‘Your
time
is up, Percy
Halifax.’ Whirling round, he stepped away from the trees.
‘Firing
squad!
Ready.’

Becky heard the clack of raised rifles.

‘Take aim …’ Drake shouted. ‘Ready!’

Becky locked her eyes shut.

Just then, a booming voice came out of the jungle. ‘Deary,
dear me…what do we have here?’

Instead of gunshots, Becky heard loud gasps of shock
and astonishment.

Edgar stood there, smiling. ‘Hello, Becky, Joe,’ he
said cheerily. He gave them a little wave. ‘Surprise…’

‘Edgar?’ Becky panted.

‘At your service, little lady.’

Hesitantly, Drake stepped forward. He sounded
alarmed.
‘Beast.
We have no quarrel with you. Be on
your way.’

With a huff, Edgar folded his arms.
‘Beast?
How very rude. I don’t think I like you too much.
No, I don’t think I like you at all.’

‘What are you doing here, Edgar?’ Uncle Percy said
with disbelief.

‘Hello, Perce, my most excellent friend… How are
you?’
 

‘I’ve been better,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘Edgar, you
really must go. These men will kill you.’

Edgar gave a hearty chortle. ‘I doubt that. They
can’t kill me. I told you. Not with these weapons, whatever they are. These are
mortal weapons. And I’m a Minotaur. I told you, only a weapon forged by the
Gods can - ’

Drake bloated with fury. ‘SHOOT
IT
!’

‘NO, EMERSON!’ Uncle Percy shouted back.

Drake ignored him.
‘NOWWW!’

Immediately, the thunder of machine gun fire rang
out. Hundreds of bullets pierced Edgar’s skin. Dust filled the air, shell casings
clattered to the ground. Seconds later, the onslaught was over.

Chapter 32

Brothers
in Arms

Becky inhaled sharply, terrified of what she would
see when the thick dust cloud settled. Her panic was soon replaced with shock.
Edgar was unscathed.
There wasn’t a
mark on him.

The Associates were stunned, too.

‘Ooh, that tickled,’ Edgar chuckled. ‘Now, I believe
I have made my point. Anyway, my friends, William and Perce, look uncomfortable.
And I don’t like that. So if you would kindly - ’

‘LEAVE MINOTAUR,’ Drake screamed. ‘THIS IS NOT YOUR
FIGHT.’

‘Fight?’
Edgar replied calmly. ‘I don’t fight. In fact, I despise violence of any kind.’
A twinkle formed in his eye. ‘My brothers, on the other hand – well, they do so
enjoy a good tussle.’ Clapping his hands twice, Edgar rotated towards the
jungle as if introducing a stage act. ‘Lady and gentlemen, I give you my
brothers, Gergo and Gergan.’

At once, the treetops rustled wildly as if a powerful
wind raged through them. Edgar winked mischievously at Becky. ‘I never
mentioned this, but I’m actually the runt of the family.’

Becky’s mouth fell open. Emerging from the
undergrowth were two colossal Minotaurs, each about six feet taller than Edgar,
and considerably wider. Unlike Edgar, however, they wore very fierce
expressions and carried enormous clubs, the size of lampposts.

Edgar turned back to the Associates. Now, I am going
to release my friends, whilst my brothers keep you entertained. So, Gergo,
Gergan … enjoy
yourselves
...’

Gergo, the slightly taller of the two, smiled at Edgar
and grunted his accord. Then he slammed his club into the two closest
Associates, who were hurled into the air as if struck by a giant flyswatter.
The other Associates opened fire, but, once again, the bullets proved useless.

A breathless Becky watched as Gergo and Gergan
ripped into them like a terrible whirlwind. Before long, Associates were flying
everywhere.

Walking over to Uncle Percy and Will, Edgar tore off
their cuffs like ripping paper. ‘Lovely to see you both again,’ he said. ‘Did
you find what you came for?’ An Associate flew past them and hurtled headfirst
into a tree.

‘We did,’ Uncle Percy said.

‘Goody,’ Edgar replied. ‘Then I beg you leave this dreadful
place.’

Will gulped a lungful of air.
‘Soon.’
Then, to Edgar’s astonishment, he raced into the fray - kicking, punching,
butting and pounding everything in a suit and coat.

Through the bedlam, Becky noticed two dark shapes,
one of them carrying a large leather kitbag, racing to a limousine parked nearby.
‘Uncle Percy, Drake’s got the Fleece,’ she said frantically. ‘He’s getting
away.’

‘Oh, no,’ Uncle Percy breathed.

Joe didn’t hesitate. ‘I’ll get it.’ He launched
himself forward, fists clenched, when Uncle Percy’s arm held him back.

‘No, Joe,’ Uncle Percy insisted. ‘It’s too
dangerous. Let him have the Fleece for now. We’ll track it down again. I
promise.’

Becky watched Drake scramble into the limousine and hurl
the kitbag onto the back seat, Kruger following close behind. Hope deserted
her. It was over.

Drake had the Golden Fleece.

But then it happened again. The top of her head felt
like it had been doused with water. The same strange feeling she’d had in the
throne room at King Minos’ Palace, a moment before she saw the mysterious
stranger.
But stronger this time.
Much
stronger.
The watery sensation spread from the top of her head and oozed
into her eyes. She lost her grip on Sabian and he tumbled to the floor.

Confused, Joe scooped up the tiger cub and looked at
Becky. He gasped with dismay at what he saw.

Becky’s eyes had rolled white; her face seemed
older, paler, devoid of emotion. She looked frightening, inhuman.

‘Becky, what’s the matter?’ Joe asked, distressed.
He turned to his left. ‘Uncle Percy,
it’s
Becky.
Something’s wrong!’

Uncle Percy looked at Becky. Speechless, he watched
as Becky extended her arms before her.

Drake peered back at the chaos behind and smirked.
He punched six digits onto the time-pad. ‘Time to depart, Otto,’ he said, when
-
CRASHHHH
–the back window shattered.
Shards of glass sliced the air. He shielded his face. Kruger did the same.

Recovering, Drake wheeled round to check on the
Fleece. It wasn’t there.
 
Bewildered, his
gaze shifted upwards through the glassless window.

The Fleece was hurtling through the air as if
suspended on an invisible wire. It bobbed, ducked and twisted past everything
and everyone, before soaring into Becky’s open arms.

Drake glared at Becky. ‘NOOO!’ he shrieked, reaching
for the door-handle, but it was too late. The limousine was wrapped in a
cyclone of dark red light, and, with a thunderous
BOOM
, it disappeared.

Becky stared at the bag. Her eyes had returned to
normal, her face its usual color.
 
She
glanced over at Joe to see he was staring at her wide-eyed, confused and
frightened.

Even Edgar’s massive jaws had fallen wide open.

‘H-how did you do that?’ Joe said, alarmed.

Becky looked down at the Fleece again. She had no
answer. ‘I – I didn’t do anything,’ she stammered.

‘The Fleece has chosen its new guardian,’ Edgar said
softly.

Joe ignored him and rounded on Becky. ‘You did. Your
face went weird and -’

Becky turned to Uncle Percy. ‘I didn’t do anything.
I was just standing there when...’ She paused for a moment, and then repeated
in a weak voice, ‘I didn’t do anything.’

‘Of course, you didn’t, my dear’ Uncle Percy replied
hesitantly. ‘I’d better have that.’ He took the bag.

‘It would be best if you left now,’ Edgar said to
Uncle Percy.

Uncle Percy nodded. ‘I couldn’t agree more…’

Will floored two Associates with a single punch as
Uncle Percy tapped him on the shoulder. ‘I’m afraid I have to stop your fun,
William. We have to go…’

Moments later, they were negotiating the mounting
heap of unconscious Associates as they advanced to the campervan.

Becky remained at the rear, head bowed. She felt
confused, confounded. What had just happened? And why did Joe look at her as
though she were guilty of something? She hadn’t done a thing. For some reason,
the Fleece had broken free from Drake and come to her. She couldn’t explain it.
She couldn’t even remember it happening. She’d blacked out and came round to
find it there, in her arms. Perhaps Edgar was right - perhaps the Fleece had
chosen its guardian. Besides, what did it matter? They had the Golden Fleece.

At once, she felt considerably better. They could
return to Bowen Hall and concentrate on what was really important:
finding her dad
. However, as she
approached Bertha, she couldn’t resist one last look at the mayhem behind.

Glancing round, she saw Gergan hoist a squirming
Associate by his ankles. Then the giant Minotaur turned on his back foot and
threw the man over the trees like a hammer throw. She gave a satisfied grin.

As everyone clambered into the van, Uncle Percy
rolled down the driver’s window and called to Edgar. ‘Would you thank your
brothers for me, please, Edgar? They’re jolly good sports.’

Edgar beamed. ‘Of course, I will.’

‘Oh, and one more thing,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘When
you have the time, could you take the Theseus Disc back and throw it in your
lagoon on Crete. A gentleman named Arthur Evans has to discover it in a few
thousand years.’

‘It would be my pleasure,’ Edgar said.

‘Thank you,’ Uncle Percy said.
‘And
goodbye.’

‘Farewell,’ Edgar replied. ‘May good fortune track
your every
path.
’

‘Bye, Edgar,’ Becky and Joe shouted.

Will waved. ‘Farewell, my friend.’

‘Stay safe and sheltered,’ Edgar said, his voice
quivering.

‘Oh, and Edgar,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘I hope you don’t
mind but we’d love to pop back sometime for a visit.’

A wide grin curled onto Edgar’s snout. ‘Please do. I
miss you all already.’

‘Until next time then,’ Uncle Percy said.

‘Absolutely!
Oh, and Miss Becky…’

‘Yes, Edgar?’ Becky said.

‘You are a very special human child,’ Edgar said
sincerely. ‘You are at one with the Gods.’