Time Hunters and the Spear of Fate, The (2 page)

Chapter 2

Megaloceros
Giganteus

Becky Mellor
stared out of the train window. A carpet of snow had fallen overnight and
bleached the Cheshire plains a glittering white. She took a deep, satisfying
breath and thought about the days ahead. This would be her first Christmas at
Bowen Hall, her first Christmas as a time traveller.

Better still,
her mum wouldn’t be joining them until Christmas Eve, so she had three days to
enjoy all the unique experiences only Bowen Hall could offer; things she
couldn’t do when her mum was around: long, meandering walks across the fields
with Pegasus and Gump, the winged horse and Triceratops; playing football in
the Entrance Hall with Milly and Sabian, the Sabre-tooth tigers; taking
leisurely strolls to Bowen lake to see Deirdre the dodo; and perhaps even a
time trip or two with Uncle Percy and Will.

It all sounded
wonderful. She couldn’t wait.

Just then, from
nowhere, an image of her dad, John Mellor – smiling, healthy and safe - formed
in her mind. Guilt swept through her. How dare she feel so happy when he was
imprisoned somewhere in time, enslaved by the villainous time traveller,
Emerson Drake? A flurry of questions rushed into her head. Where was he? When
was he? Would he even know Christmas was approaching?

Her thoughts
were disturbed by the sound of her twelve-year old brother, Joe, glugging the
last of his lemonade and slamming the empty can on the table.

‘Go on then,’
Joe said, looking at his sister, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Becky looked at
him, puzzled. ‘Go on, what?’

‘Let’s see you
crush it.’

‘What?’

‘If you’re
telekinetic you should be able to crush the can, no sweat. So let’s see you do it.’
His eyes scanned the carriage. ‘Go on, no one’s watching.’

Becky scowled at
him. ‘Oh, shut up.’

‘If you can use
your mind to body slam Jack the Ripper then surely you can crush this little
can.’

Becky sighed
heavily. How many times had she and Joe had this conversation? Ever since she’d
hurled George Chapman into a wall without actually touching him, she had known
she was telekinetic. It was the strangest thing. She didn’t know what was
happening to her. She just knew that somehow she was developing strange powers
… changing. She couldn’t explain it if she tried. ‘I can’t switch it on and off
like a light,’ she growled with frustration. ‘I’ve told you that a zillion
times. It only happens when I want something really badly or I’m stressed or
under threat.’

‘So if I bounce
this can off your forehead, you’ll be able to crush it then?’ Joe replied with
a grin.

‘No, but one way
or another I’ll crush your fat skull.’

Joe beamed. He
loved winding Becky up. ‘So what have you got me for Christmas?’

‘I’m not telling
you,’ Becky replied. ‘But it’s expensive.’

‘You’re only
saying that so I buy you something expensive, aren’t you?’

Becky was. ‘No.
Seriously, I’ve spent a fortune on you. I hope you’re grateful.’

‘So what is it?’

‘Not telling,
but it cost a bomb,’ Becky replied. ‘What did you get me?’

Joe smiled. ‘I
got you those trainers you wanted.’

‘And…’

‘And what?’

Becky looked
disappointed. ‘Is that it?’

‘What do you
mean, is that it?’

‘Well they
wouldn’t have cost you ninety quid.’

Joe snorted
loudly. ‘Where am I gonna get ninety quid from?’

‘I spent well
over ninety quid on your present,’ Becky lied.

Joe fell silent.
‘Did you?’

‘Yeah,’ Becky
replied, trying her best not to giggle. ‘I saved really hard.’

Joe looked
guilty. ‘I – err, I…’

‘I did without
loads of things so I could afford it. I wanted to get you something really
special.’

‘Did you?’ Joe
said in a weak voice.

Becky huffed
irritably. ‘I’m going to take it back then, get a refund, it’s not fair. I’m
not being tight but -’

‘Don’t do that,’
Joe said at once. ‘Have you really spent over ninety quid on me?’

Becky hadn’t
spent anywhere near that. ‘Yes,’ she replied, keeping her voice low. ‘You’re my
brother. You’ve saved me from robot budgies and zombie pirates. Ninety quid’s
nothing compared to that.’

Joe thought hard
for a moment. ‘All right … I’ll get you some more stuff. I promise.’

Desperate to
laugh, Becky acted as casually as she could. ‘That’s up to you.’

‘I’ll never hear
the end of it if I don’t,’ Joe mumbled sourly.

Becky was
looking forward to Christmas even more now.

*

The train
rattled and creaked, trundling through town after town, village after village.
Soon, Becky realised once again that she and Joe were the last ones in their
carriage. After a few minutes, the train reduced speed.

Becky watched
eagerly as they passed the sign for Addlebury station; coated in heavy snow, it
swung lightly on its rusty iron frame, propelled back and forth by a stiff
breeze. Sitting up straight, she felt a sliver of anticipation as the narrow
railway platform appeared, decked with two wrought iron benches and a
dilapidated redbrick station house.  She jumped up and heaved her suitcase
from the luggage rack.

Joe did the
same. ‘If Uncle Percy’s driven here in the Silver Ghost, d’you think he’ll
ultra-boost us back to Bowen Hall? It’s freezin’ out there.’

‘With all of
this snow?’ Becky replied. ‘I think that might be too bonkers, even for him.’
She approached the exit door as the train squealed to a halt. The electric
doors hissed open and she stepped out. The bitter cold tore through her like a
scythe, her breath forming misty clouds, which veiled the way ahead. Joe
followed her out, and together they stood alone on the empty platform.

Becky gave a
half smile and raised her eyebrows in a look that said ‘
typical
’. She
was about to say something when she heard a booming voice.

‘HELLO-HO-HO.’

With a
creak
,
a side gate opened and a tall man in a red and white outfit, silken black
leather boots and a tousled snow-white beard and hair walked on to the platform;
shoulders arched backwards, his hands cupped a giant belly that stuck out
before him like a sack of carrots. ‘MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL…’

Becky couldn’t
deny Uncle Percy made an excellent Father Christmas.

*

Joe doubled over
with laughter. ‘You look ace.’

Uncle Percy
bowed. ‘I thank ye, young man.’ He pulled down his beard to reveal a wide,
infectious smile.

‘You look like a
wally,’ Becky said jokily.

Uncle Percy
bowed again. ‘I thank ye, young lady.’

Becky walked
over and gave him a hug. ‘So why are you dressed like that?’

‘Unless I’m
mistaken,’ Uncle Percy replied, ‘it is Christmas.’

Becky nodded.
‘Yeah, but there’s a time and a place, or do you wear it all December, in which
case I’m getting back on this train and going back to Manchester!’

Uncle Percy
twiddled the tip of his beard. ‘Ahh, then I shall spare you the trouble of a
journey. This, I’m sad to say, is a once a year occasion. The Addlebury
Children’s Christmas Party was lacking a Father Christmas - Mr Potsworth, the
regular Santa, has developed a rather severe case of gout, and I was invited to
step in. Anyway, as you can see, I did, had a thoroughly smashing time and the
children seemed to appreciate it. I do hope they invite me back next year.’

Becky smiled.
‘I’m sure they will.’

‘Shall we make
tracks?’ Uncle Percy suggested. ‘Maria has baked some rather delicious
Christstollen
,
which I’m certain she’ll force feed you until your stomachs are as big as my
current one.’

At that moment,
a strange groan sounded from behind the station house.

‘What’s that?’
Becky asked, eyes narrowing with suspicion.

‘That’s a little
festive surprise I’ve got for you,’ Uncle Percy replied, his warm, hazel eyes
glinting roguishly.

The groaning
sound echoed again, louder this time.

Becky’s gaze
flicked suspiciously between the station house and Uncle Percy. ‘That’s coming
from the car park, isn’t it?’

‘It might be.’

‘You’ve been
breaking travelling rules again, haven’t you?’

‘I may have bent
some of them a tad,’ Uncle Percy said without a hint of remorse. ‘Let me take
your bag.’ He seized her suitcase, before turning sharply and marching off.

Becky had to
break into a jog to keep up with him, Joe trailing close behind. ‘So what’ve
you done?’ she asked.

But she didn’t
need him to reply. Passing through the side gate, she came to a crushing halt
as if walking headlong into an invisible wall. Parked to the rear of the
station was the biggest sleigh she had ever seen. Painted in red and gold,
every inch was shrouded in gleaming silver baubles and multi-coloured ribbon.
But it was when she saw the source of the noise that she nearly fainted.

An enormous
reindeer, about twice the size of any normal reindeer, was standing there,
nodding happily, its golden harness gleaming in the hazy sunlight. It had
gigantic branch-like antlers, the length of a family car, fastened to which
were streams of Christmas lights that flashed green and blue. A football,
painted cherry-red, had been crudely attached to its nose.

Uncle Percy
extended his arms proudly. ‘Meet Roger the Red-nosed Reindeer.’

‘What-have-you-done?’
Becky gulped.

‘It’s not every
year you’re invited to be Santa Claus,’ Uncle Percy replied, walking over to
Roger and patting him. ‘I wanted to make an impression.’

‘I think you’ve
done that,’ Becky replied.

‘How old is that
reindeer?’ Joe asked, dumbstruck.

‘About ten, I
think.’

‘You know what
he means,’ Becky pressed. ‘When is that reindeer from?’

‘To be frank,
Roger isn’t actually a reindeer,’ Uncle Percy replied. ‘He’s an Irish elk or a
Megaloceros Giganteus. Do you want to feed him, Joe? He seems to have developed
a real fondness for mince pies.’

Uncle Percy
approached a sack on the front seat and extracted a mince pie the size of a
sponge cake. He passed it to a dazed Joe, who stepped hesitantly toward Roger’s
mouth, which had opened wide in eager anticipation.

Joe threw it in.

With a glazed
look in his eyes, Roger swallowed it whole.

‘Excellent,’ Joe
said, laughing.

‘So are you
going to tell us or what?’ Becky asked firmly. ‘When is Roger from?’

Uncle Percy
looked sheepish. ‘He’s from the Miocene Epoch,’ he muttered, eyes fixed on the
ground. ‘It’s a very interesting period in world history and –’

Becky didn’t
care. ‘And how long ago is that?’

“Five million
years, give or take.’

‘You took a five
million year old reindeer to a children’s party?’ Becky spluttered. ‘Are you
mental?’

Uncle Percy
shrugged indifferently. ‘I doubt anyone would know Roger was any different from
a normal reindeer.’

‘He’s the size
of a chip shop,’ Becky fired back. ‘They’ll notice.’

‘Oh, don’t exaggerate,’
Uncle Percy replied.

‘And what
happens when he’s uploaded onto YouTube, and gets a billion hits on Christmas
Day?’

‘I made sure he
wasn’t filmed,’ Uncle Percy said with a dismissive flick of his hand. ‘Really,
Becky, I don’t know why you’re getting so riled up. If you can’t spread a
little magic at Christmas, when can you? And besides … I was doing it for the
kids…’

Chapter 3

Peas in a
Pod

Within seconds
of boarding the sleigh, Becky found her concerns replaced by dizzying
excitement. Sitting comfortably on plump silk cushions, she and Joe nestled
beneath a tartan blanket as Uncle Percy took hold of the reins.

‘Are we ready?’
he asked Becky and Joe. Upon their eager nods, he bellowed, ‘Hi Ho, Roger.
Away!’ Slowly, the sleigh trundled out of the car park, onto the open road.

Within minutes,
they were moving at a pace. Skimming along like a boat on water, Becky watched
the landscape glide by in a shimmering blur, Joe’s whoops of approval ringing
in her ears. Roger seemed to be enjoying himself too, bellowing out moans of
pleasure and carrying his head self-importantly. Before too long, they were
rolling up the tree-lined path that led to Bowen Hall. As they followed the
path’s curve, the Hall swelled before them in all its snow-capped glory like a
gigantic wedding cake.

Uncle Percy
pulled up at the Hall’s steps, when the front door banged open and a short,
plump elderly lady with an unruly mop of black, curly hair rushed out,
whimpering with uncontained excitement. She was followed closely by a slim,
kindly faced older man, his movements impaired by a slight limp.

‘
Fröliche Weinachten,
my angels,’ Maria shrieked wildly. ‘Fröliche Weinachten … Merry Christmas.’
 

Becky climbed down
from the sleigh, straight into Maria’s open arms. ‘Merry Christmas, Maria. How
are you?’

‘I am well.’ Maria
planted a wet kiss on Becky’s cheek. ‘My angels are here. How could I not be
well?’ She hurled herself on Joe like a grizzly bear, smothering his face with
kisses.

Jacob hobbled over to
Becky, smiling warmly. ‘Hello, Miss Becky. I wish you a very Merry Christmas.
Fröliche Weinachten.’

Becky beamed back at
him. ‘Merry Christmas, Jacob.’

Then Becky heard
another voice, one she would never have expected to hear.

‘Welcome, Miss
Rebecca, Master Joseph.’

Becky’s gaze flicked
over to the doorway to find a small, silvery figure with a round metal face and
a pink bow attached to the side of her head.

Barbie gave a low bow.
‘A Merry Christmas to you both.’

Watching Barbie
descend the steps, Becky froze with shock. The last time she had seen the
little robot, Uncle Percy had been at pains to keep her hidden from Maria for
fear he would be boiled in a stew. Instead, Barbie was moving about in plain
sight, acting as though she was as much a part of Bowen Hall as everyone else.

Stuck for words, Becky
looked to Uncle Percy for an explanation but he appeared too busy shedding his
costume to notice. ‘Err, hello, Barbie,’ she said, glancing nervously at Maria.
To her surprise, Maria didn’t look angry at all. In fact, she looked quite the
opposite.

‘Here she is,’ Maria
chortled. ‘My little Fraulein Barbie.’

‘Good afternoon,
Madame Maria.’ Barbie bowed again.

‘Where have you been
all morning, my tiny friend? I was hoping we may be continuing our game of
backgammon.’

‘I am very sorry,
Madame Maria. Barbie would have enjoyed that. Unfortunately, I have been in the
Time Room, installing machine –’

For a split second,
Uncle Percy’s face flushed with panic. ‘Now, Barbie,’ he interjected. ‘I don’t
think we need bore everyone with the details of our work, do we?’

‘If you say so, sir.’

‘I certainly do.’
Uncle Percy turned to Becky and Joe. ‘Anyway, shall we get you settled into
your rooms and –’

Maria had noticed the
alarm in his voice. Her eyes tightened to slits. ‘What have you had her
install?’

‘What do you mean?’

Maria made a little
growl. ‘You don’t want Fraulein Barbie to tell us what she has been doing. You
are hiding something from Maria. And Maria doesn’t like it.’ Her eyes locked
darkly on Uncle Percy. ‘So, Maria will ask again, what have you had my little
friend installing?’

‘Just machine …
parts
,’
Uncle Percy replied weakly.

Maria inhaled a very
long, very drawn-out breath. When she spoke it was in a slow, icy manner, each
word tinted with menace. ‘If Maria discovers you lie to her, you know what will
happen, do you not? You are knowing of the rusty mangle in the wine cellar …’

Uncle Percy’s voice
wavered. ‘Yes.’

‘Good,’ Maria replied.
‘Then as you are the master, I shall believe what you are telling me. But let
this be a warning. This is what happens when I find someone is false with me…’
She moved her hand as though turning an invisible handle and made a
high-pitched screeching sound.

Instinctively, Uncle
Percy clamped his knees together.

Becky struggled to
hold back a giggle.

Satisfied she had made
her point, Maria turned to Jacob. ‘Is there a reason you are still here,
husband? Take the children’s bags to their rooms at once. It is cold and if
they suffer so much as a sniffle you shall sleep in the stables.’

Jacob nodded and
hurried over to the sleigh.

Becky blocked his
path. ‘No, Jacob, let me and Joe carry our own bags -’

Maria’s hand shot up.
‘Please, my angel. It is his work that keeps the air in his lungs. Without it,
he would be under the ground with the worms. You would not want that for him,
would you?’

‘Of course not.’

‘Then you must let him
work.’

Reluctantly, Becky
stepped aside and watched as Jacob removed their cases.

Maria turned to Becky
and Joe. ‘Now we shall get you cozy in your rooms and then you join me in the
parlour for a goblet of Kinderpunsch…’ She grabbed Joe’s hand with a vice-like
grip and dragged him up the steps. 

Becky watched them
leave. A smile formed on her face. ‘Maria’s not changed then?’

‘There’s more chance
of Will wearing a dress than her ever doing that,’ Uncle Percy replied with a
grin.

Becky was about to
follow Joe into the Hall when she realised Barbie was still standing there. The
little robot’s arms were planted firmly on her hips in a way Becky found
familiar.

‘And, sir,’ Barbie
said sharply, pointing at Roger. ‘If I may be so bold, can you tell me what
this creature is doing here?’

‘It’s an Irish Elk,
Barbie,’ Uncle Percy replied.

Roger gave a
thunderous snort as if he knew he was the subject under discussion.

‘Barbie has checked
her Cervidae database, sir, and is aware of that. However, that does not answer
my question.’

‘It’s Christmas. I
thought it would be a festive treat for the children in the village. I mean -
he’s got a red nose and everything … like Rudolph. I did upload the story of
Rudolph into your - ’

‘I am aware of the
Rudolph narrative, sir,’ Barbie replied with an unmistakable edge to her voice.
‘And although I am an electroic cognivated gynoid, I can still concede the
gesture for the children, but it still doesn’t negate the
fact you have
broken section three, paragraph two of the GITT regulatory code…
again
!’

Becky couldn’t believe
her ears. Barbie was scolding Uncle Percy.

‘Barbie, I
really wouldn’t worry.’

‘Ah, but I am
beginning
to worry
,
sir!’ Barbie replied coolly. ‘That is part of the emotional
development encoded within my circuitry. I also know your actions could result
in your travelling licence being revoked at what is a very dark time for humankind.
Surely, therefore, your procurement of a five million year old Cervid and its
transportation to the twenty first century constitutes an act of gross
recklessness.’

‘Well, aren’t
you the party pooper!’

‘I’m not aware
that it’s possible for me to poop on a party, sir, whatever that may mean, but
…’

‘We’re not
keeping him,’ Uncle Percy replied, ‘so as my friend, Bruce Westbrook, would
say, “Don’t get your panties in a wad.”’
He detached the
football from Roger’s nose and patted his snout. ‘As a matter of fact, I was
hoping you might return him for me. You can take Bertha, if you wish. The
coordinates are already keyed into her time-pad.’

The little robot
nodded. ‘I will certainly do that, sir. However, I would like it noted I do not
approve of you bringing such creatures into this timeline and do hope you don’t
make a habit of it.’

‘Your point is
certainly noted, Barbie,’ Uncle Percy said solemnly. ‘As I hope mine is.’ He
stuck out his tongue and blew a loud raspberry.

Barbie shot Uncle
Percy what was clearly a disapproving look, before seizing Roger’s reins. Then
she pulled the sleigh in the direction of the Time Room, shaking her head and
muttering,  ‘Pah! And
that’s
my architect …’

Becky was speechless.
‘I … err … what’s going on?’

Uncle Percy chuckled. ‘I
think Barbie’s developed something of an attitude, don’t you?’

‘She’s become Maria.’

‘Ah, you’ve noticed
that as well. I’m glad it’s not just me. Yes, it certainly seems that our
little robot has adopted certain traits similar to those of our beloved housekeeper.’

‘But I don’t get it,’
Becky replied, confused. ‘I thought Maria would melt her down for scrap if she
ever found her, and then do the same to you?’

‘And that’s what I
thought,’ Uncle Percy replied honestly. ‘It didn’t exactly work out like that.
About a fortnight ago, Maria was vacuuming the upstairs landing when Barbie
materialised in the library. Unusually for me, I’d left the library door open
and Maria saw everything. Unsurprisingly, Maria fainted on the spot. Anyway, I
was travelling at the time, so Barbie aided her recovery. By the time I
returned something strange had happened.’

‘They’d become BFFs…’
Becky beamed.

‘BFFs?’ Uncle Percy
asked, puzzled.

‘Best friends
forever.’

‘Something like that,’
Uncle Percy smiled back. ‘Actually, I think Barbie’s relationship with Maria
has resulted in the most unprecedented advances in strong artificial
intelligence. Much more than I could have ever predicted.’

‘But doesn’t it mean
you’re getting nagged on all sides now?’

‘Such is the price of
scientific progress,’ Uncle Percy sighed.

He linked arms with
Becky and together they entered the Hall.

Once inside, Becky had
the loveliest surprise. Set between the two curved flights of stairs, so tall
it scraped the high ceiling, was a Christmas tree, decorated from top to bottom
in golden baubles and silk garlands of crimson and emerald-green.

‘Wow,’ Becky gasped.

‘We’ve made something
of an effort this year,’ Uncle Percy said proudly, noting the astonished look
on Becky’s face. ‘It’s a Norwegian Spruce, the same as the one erected each
year in Trafalgar Square. By the way, did you know the Norwegian people donate
the Trafalgar tree to Britain each year in recognition of our involvement in
the Second World War? Isn’t that a lovely gesture?’

‘Yes,’ Becky replied
quietly.

Uncle Percy allowed
Becky a few seconds to appreciate the tree before saying, ‘Now, you haven’t
forgotten about tonight’s ‘Enchantment beneath the sea dance’?’

‘No,’ Becky replied.

‘And you still want to
come?’

‘Deffo,’ Becky
replied. ‘I’m looking forward to it.’

‘Excellent,’ Uncle
Percy replied. ‘I do hope you enjoy it.’

Becky nodded eagerly.
In truth,
‘looking forward to it’
was something of an understatement.
Ever since Uncle Percy had mentioned the GITT (Global Institute for Time
Travel) Christmas Party – an annual fancy dress party attended by the entire
time travelling community – she had been desperate to go. In fact, it was all
she had thought about for weeks.

‘I don’t have to wear
a daft costume though, do I?’ Becky asked, suddenly feeling hesitant.

Uncle Percy shook his
head. ‘Oh, no. Most travellers do go in fancy dress, but it’s not mandatory and
especially not for spouses and guests. This year should be a particular hoot.
Obviously, there’s a maritime theme, so I’m expecting plenty of imaginative
outfits. I hear Archie Poppleton’s coming as a Hagfish.’ He grinned. ‘Trust me,
time travellers can be a pretty wild bunch when they let their hair down.’

‘Oh, yeah,’ Becky
quipped. ‘I bet you guys really rock.’

Uncle Percy didn’t
detect the sarcasm in her voice. ‘Yes, we certainly do. Anyway, I’ve taken the
liberty of choosing a few outfits for both you and Joe, but you can wear
whatever you want. Last year, Dilbert Wong turned up in a pink nightdress and
flippers, even though the theme was ‘The Wild West.’

Becky felt relieved.
She had no desire to dress up as a king prawn, no matter what the occasion.
‘And where is the party?’ she asked. ‘Do you hire a town hall or something?’

‘Oh, I never mentioned
that side of things, did I?’ Uncle Percy replied. ‘No, we don’t hire anywhere.
Each year the GITT entertainments committee constructs a completely new venue
exclusively for the Christmas Party. And this year, from what I’ve been told, they’ve
done a fantastic job in what is undoubtedly a challenging remit.’