The Time Hunters and the Box of Eternity (32 page)

Chapter 30

One for Sorrow

A line of zombie pirates, their grey faces blurred and ghostlike in the
mist, formed a thick, impenetrable barrier, three deep, hiding Blackbeard and
Pandora
’
s
Box from sight. More zombies lumbered in from the sides, snarling, drooling,
teeth bared.

Will didn
’
t hesitate. An instant later, an arrow cut the air, striking a zombie
through its eye. Without even seeing it slump to the ground, Will had reloaded
and fired again. Another direct hit.

With Will
’
s success spurring him on, Joe
’
s eyes locked firmly on their target. He fired.
Another zombie down. Within seconds, both he and Will were sending arrows one
after the other, neither of them missing a shot.

Bruce spun round to face the zombies approaching at their rear.
‘
Here, good buddy.
’
He threw a flintlock
to Uncle Percy, who caught it comfortably.
 
‘
Guns
first, swords later…
’
He drew his remaining two flintlocks.

‘
Whoopee,
’
Uncle Percy said
flatly, taking aim. A moment later, a volley of deafening
booms
rang out
as he and Bruce fired at the same time.

Becky stared at the flintlock in her hand. Hands trembling, she
lined a zombie in her sights. Ordinarily, she could never kill a living thing,
but this felt different. These things were already dead. Definitely,
absolutely, irrefutably dead. Steadying her hand, she pulled the trigger.
BANG
.
The zombie crumpled to the ground.

Soon, zombies were dropping like flies, as arrow and bullet hit
their mark, but the onslaught was far from over.
‘
There are too many of them,
’
Joe cried. “We
’
ll be out of ammo
soon.
’

Becky glanced ahead, then behind. Joe was right. There were dozens
left. In a matter of minutes, they would be torn apart. They needed to act and
act fast.
‘
What should we do, Uncle Percy?
’

‘
We must close Pandora
’
s Box,
’
Uncle Percy shouted
back.
‘
I
’
m sure it
’
s the mist that
’
s causing this.
’

Out of arrows, Will cast aside his Joe-bow.
‘
Then it shall be done!
’
He drew his cutlass,
and charged single-handedly at the oncoming horde.

‘
IS HE INSANE?
’
Becky screamed.

Uncle Percy glanced over at Will, who was slashing, slicing and
carving up anything without a pulse.
 
‘
Almost certainly...
’
Then, with a
click
,
he ran out of bullets. He glanced at Bruce, who had also just fired his last
shot. Together, they drew their swords.

‘
Time to decapitate
zombies, Perce,
’
Bruce hollered.

‘
Terrific!
’
Uncle Percy mumbled.
He scanned the cave entrance. Bar a spattering of zombies, there was a clear
path to the tunnel.
‘
Becky, Joe. You must leave. Dodge the remaining zombies and get
outside. We
’
ll meet you back at the hut shortly!
’
He gestured to Bruce and together they raced
off to join Will.

Becky and Joe glanced at each other. It was clear neither had any
intention of going anywhere.

Suddenly, through the thinning line of zombies, Becky spied Pandora
’
s Box, the silvery mist
pouring out thicker and faster and angrier than before. To her dismay, she saw
Blackbeard had gone, too. She turned to Joe.
‘
Cover me!
’

Joe looked flustered.
‘
I
’
ve only got two arrows, Becks.
’

‘
Here.
’
Becky thrust the
flintlock into his hand.
‘
There are six shots left. Let
’
s see you play Zombie Assassin for real.
’
And with that she
sprinted off.

Becky powered across the sand, blood pumping in her ears. A zombie
turned to her, its eyeball hanging sickeningly from an empty socket; snarling,
it lunged at her when a bullet pierced its forehead.

Joe sighed with relief as he lined up his next shot.

Struggling for breath, Becky pressed on. Another zombie attacked.
This time, she barrelled into it, sending it crashing to the ground.

Uncle Percy saw Becky race past.
‘
NO, BECKY!
’
he yelled, when suddenly he found his head
clamped in a pair of powerful hands. A vile, putrid stench filled his mouth.

Blackbeard smirked, his discoloured fingers digging deep into Uncle
Percy
’
s
face.
‘
Yer
brains are mine …
’
he jeered. Opening his mouth wide, he dragged Uncle Percy closer,
his bloodstained teeth edging towards Uncle Percy
’
s throat.

*

Becky didn
’
t see any of it. She was running at full pelt now, swerving past one
zombie, then another. Looking up, she saw a single zombie remained between her
and Pandora
’
s Box. Desperately trying to stay on her feet, she mistimed her run
and stumbled slightly. The zombie sensed its opportunity. Arms stretched, its
hands curled around her throat, choking the life out of her. She tried desperately
to wrench the hands away, but it was too strong.
 
Then
–
BANG
–
the fingers went limp
and the zombie sank to the ground, a smoking bullet hole in its skull.

Becky inhaled deeply and, using the last of her strength, leapt on
to Pandora
’
s Box, slamming it shut, before rolling off and landing heavily on
the ground, red faced and clawing for air.

In that instant, everything changed. The mist dissolved; zombies
crumbled to dust before their very eyes; the cave brightened as if an endless
night had finally blossomed into day.

The last thing to change was Blackbeard, who had frozen with
disbelief an inch from Uncle Percy
’
s neck. Then, like charred paper, he dissolved to nothingness, until
there wasn
’
t a trace left of him. Bewildered, Uncle Percy looked around,
relieved, speechless, struggling to comprehend all that had happened.

As Becky got to her feet, she saw Joe speeding towards her.

‘
Becky!
’
Joe seized her in a
powerful hug.
‘
Are you all right?
’

‘
You said we didn
’
t do hugs,
’
Becky replied with a
grin.

‘
Oh, shut your gob,
’
Joe said.
‘
That was unbelievable.
’

‘
I couldn
’
t have done it without
the Zombie Assassin.
’

Uncle Percy
’
s face was still fixed with shock as he approached the two of them.
‘
Didn
’
t I tell you both to
go back to the hut?
’
he said, before taking Becky and Joe in his arms and squeezing them
with all of his might.

Will walked over, waited a few moments for Uncle Percy to release
them, then leaned down and kissed Becky
’
s forehead.
‘
Young miss, we are all forever in your debt.
’

Becky flushed tomato-red.
‘
Well, err, cheers, err, thanks, it was, err
nothing.
’

Bruce joined them, shaking his head.
‘
It was somethin
’
all righty. Your pappy would be proud. In
fact, it was just the kinda crazy-ass thing he woulda done …
’

Becky was about to tell Bruce how much that meant to her, when she
heard a deep, kindly voice.
‘
You
’
re such a brave girl, lassie. Bruce is right. Your old man would be
proud...
’

Becky looked over. To her amazement, Reg Muckle appeared from a
second tunnel behind Blackbeard
’
s throne. Dressed in a threadbare shirt and frayed trousers, he
looked as if he
’
d just come straight from serving drinks at The Magpie Inn.
 
She glanced at Uncle Percy, fully expecting
him to be delighted, but he wasn
’
t. In fact, he looked quite the opposite.

‘
Cat got your tongue,
Percy?
’
Reg said glumly.
‘
Now that
’
s summat you don
’
t see every day.
’

‘
I - I don
’
t understand, Reg.
’

‘
I think you do, Percy.
And I am very sorry … more sorry than I can say, but I
’
ve got no choice.
’
Reg looked like every
word caused him pain.
‘
I
’
m sorry to all of you. But that
’
s life … and death, too, as a matter of fact.
’

Then a second voice filled the cave.
‘
You are undeniably correct, Mr Muckle.
’
George Chapman
appeared at Reg
’
s side, trailed by Doublehook and twelve Associates, each carrying
sub-machine guns. They directed the rifles at Uncle Percy, Will, Joe and Bruce,
who dropped their weapons and raised their hands.

Chapman smiled cruelly.
‘
It
really
is all a matter of life and death…
’

Chapter 31

The Eden Relics

Uncle Percy closed his eyes, blocking out the scene that was
unfolding before him. When he spoke, his words were laced with hurt and
sadness.
‘
Do
you know who you
’
re working with Reg?
’

Reg hung his head in shame.
‘
I don
’
t care, Percy. I could be working with the
devil himself and I
’
d accept that.
’

‘
You are working with
the devil.
’
Uncle Percy pointed at Chapman.
‘
Do you know who,
what
, he is?
’

Reg flinched, but kept his voice steady.
‘
I do. I can
’
t afford to think
about it.
’

Chapman chuckled.
‘
I believe you
’
ll find
–’

‘
Shut it, Chapman!
’
Reg roared.
‘
Just because I
’
ve forsaken every
principle I
’
ve got to help you and your puppet master, don
’
t ever think I wouldn
’
t slice you from ear
to ear for the things you
’
ve done!
’

Uncle Percy stared at him, confused.
‘
Then why are you helping them?
’

Reg sighed heavily.
‘
This is one of those rare occasions when you don
’
t know all the facts,
Percy.
’

‘
Then tell me.
’

For the first time, Reg
’
s eyes met Uncle Percy
’
s.
‘
The Box of Eternity and the Golden Fleece are connected in ways you
can
’
t
possibly imagine.
’

‘
Go on.
’

‘
If memory serves, you
’
d heard the story the
Golden Fleece was a gift from God to the creators of Stonehenge, a reward for
their loyalty and craftsmanship, but that
’
s not true. The Golden Fleece is much,
much
older than Stonehenge. Don
’
t get me wrong - Stonehenge is linked to all of this, but not in
that way - you see, Stonehenge was built as a shrine to
all
of the Eden
Relics, not just the Fleece. That is its true purpose. It
’
s a temple.
’

Uncle Percy looked dumbfounded.
‘
The Eden Relics
?
’

‘
Aye, all five of
‘
em. You see, Percy,
there
’
s a
different story, one that states that at the dawn of time, God created five
relics, each with unimaginable power, and that he placed them in the Garden of
Eden -
’

‘
Oh, come on, Reg,
’
Uncle Percy
interrupted.
‘
The Garden of Eden?
’

‘
Hear me out,
’
Reg said.
‘
The first of these
Eden Relics was supposedly the Golden Fleece, in which God supposedly placed
all the knowledge of the world, past, present and future. Ring any bells?
’

Uncle Percy turned white as he recalled what happened when he held
the Golden Fleece in the Red Caves.

‘
The second was The Box
of Eternity,
’
Reg continued,
‘
in which he placed the power of resurrection. I don
’
t know anything about the
other three, Drake didn
’
t tell me. But I know they
’
re out there, just waiting to be found.
’

 
But Uncle Percy had stopped
listening, one word whirling round his mind.
‘
Resurrection?
’
he said in a whisper.

‘
The Box of Eternity
can bring people back from the dead!
’

‘
You mean … as zombies?
’

‘
I mean, for
real
,
Percy. It can bring people, back from the dead - better, stronger, healthier
than before. Read your bible ... You
’
ll get the picture.
’
 

Reg turned miserably to Chapman.
‘
My fee for working with filth like him is my
wife. Drake has promised I shall have my Mabel back, whole, healthy, without
that damn cruel illness that stole her from me. That
’
s why I
’
m doing this ... that
’
s why I
’
ve sold my soul to the
scum of the earth …and that
’
s why I can
’
t afford to care about what you, or anyone else thinks.
’
His bottom lip
quivered violently; his eyes began to water.
‘
I can get my Mabel back. Don
’
t you see?
’

Uncle Percy sighed helplessly.
‘
Of course. But that doesn
’
t make it right.
’

‘
I don
’
t care about what
’
s right. I only care
about being with her again.
’

‘
I know you do,
’
Uncle Percy said
softly.
‘
But
this is not the way.
’

Reg dabbed his eyes with his sleeve.
‘
I thought you
’
d be the first to understand. Wouldn
’
t you do the same to
bring Steffers back?
’

Silence numbed the cave.

Uncle Percy looked like he
’
d been hit over the head. After a long pause,
he said in a soft, small voice,
‘
She
’
s gone. And she would hate for me to ally myself with Emerson Drake,
with George Chapman, with Otto Kruger, just to bring her back from what I
’
m certain is a much
better place. No, I shall love her until my dying day, and that is why I would
never do what you
’
re doing. Stephanie
’
s time has passed. She accepted that when she was alive. And so did
Mabel.
’

Reg seemed to consider this for a moment, and then his face turned
scarlet.
‘
BUT
I DON
’
T
ACCEPT IT!
’
he bellowed.

Uncle Percy waited until the shout
’
s echo faded.
‘
Do you truly think Mabel would want you to help
Emerson Drake?
’

Reg looked broken.
‘
Of course not,
’
he said faintly.
‘
It
’
s the last thing she would
’
ve wanted … but she
’
s not here to stop me…
’

Uncle Percy glared at Reg.
‘
Then shame on you for ignoring what you know
would be her wishes … and Becky, you may want to give Reg back the ring he so
touchingly gave you. My guess is that time machine we heard at the Magpie Inn
was Emerson Drake delivering a chrono-tracer, and it
’
s how Chapman
’
s been able to keep up
with our progress. Am I right, Reg?
’

Reg didn
’
t reply.

Becky looked down at the ring. It gleamed red in her eyes. Looking
over at Reg
’
s guilty face, she knew Uncle Percy was right. She had been
deceived, misled, an unwitting pawn in Emerson Drake
’
s game. Slowly, she
pulled it off, feeling a wave of anger rise within.

Unable to meet her eyes, Reg walked over to Becky, his hand
outstretched.
‘
I am so sorry, lassie. I hope you
’
ll find it in your heart to forgive me.
’

Becky was about to hurl the ring at him but, looking at his crushed,
devastated face, she couldn
’
t bring herself to do it.
‘
Forget it,
’
she said, passing it over.
‘
I hope it
’
s worth it.
’

Chapman stepped forward.
‘
Now that we have all had the occasion to air our views, Mr Drake
would like to liaise with all of you, so if you
’
d care to accompany me, we have carriages
waiting outside.
’
Then he withdrew a pistol and pointed it at Bruce.
‘
I
’
m afraid, Mr
Westbrook, Mr Drake never mentioned you...
’
And with an earsplitting
bang
, he
fired.

Bruce slumped to the ground, blood pooling around him. Becky
’
s scream echoed off
the cave walls. Uncle Percy raced over, dropping to his knees.
‘
Bruce?
’

Writhing in agony, Bruce managed to slur,
‘
Son of a
–’
before losing
consciousness.

Uncle Percy worked quickly. Gently removing Bruce
’
s hand, he studied the
wound closely, before bending over and whispering something in Bruce
’
s ear.

Indifferently, Chapman turned to the Associates and said,
‘
Seize the box! We must
leave…
’
He
pointed at Will.
‘
Mr Doublehook, if you would care to escort Mr Shakelock personally.
He can be rather troublesome!
’

Doublehook nodded darkly and moved over to Will, hooks raised. A
sickening smile curled on his mouth as if eager for Will to try something. At
the same time, Four Associates slipped on thick leather gloves and raced to
Pandora
’
s
Box, heaving it on to their broad shoulders. The remaining Associates
surrounded Uncle Percy, Becky and Joe and escorted them at gunpoint out of the
cave.

Entering the second tunnel, Becky looked back helplessly at Bruce,
who lay motionless, before turning to Uncle Percy, her eyes watering.
‘
Is - is he dead?
’

‘
No,
’
Uncle Percy replied.
‘
And I have no
intention of letting him die either.
’

But Becky wasn
’
t entirely convinced.

*

The tunnel followed a steep incline of such length it spanned the mountain
bottom to top. Becky
’
s heart sank further with each step: not only were Bruce
’
s chances of survival
fading fast, but they were unarmed, outnumbered and the Box of Eternity was
securely in the hands of Emerson Drake.

The group advanced in a dull silence, higher and higher, until the
dim, shadowy tunnel brightened into flickering orange daylight.
        

Exiting the tunnel, Becky
’
s stomach churned when she saw two large military trucks, sandwiched
between thick jungle and a sheer, rocky cliff that overlooked the ocean. Then,
all at once, a strange, high-pitched whistle floated over the trees. She stared
at the undergrowth but saw nothing unusual. Then, much softer this time, a
second whistle came in four short staccato bursts.

At this, Uncle Percy
’
s eyes narrowed for a fleeting moment.
‘
So what does Drake
want with us, Chapman?
’

For some reason, Becky felt sure he was trying to keep Chapman
distracted.

Chapman didn
’
t notice.
‘
I
’
m sure Mr Drake has his reasons,
’
he replied, before approaching Becky.
‘
For myself, as long as
I
’
m
rewarded, I don
’
t care.
’
He leaned into Becky
’
s ear and spoke just loudly enough for others to hear.
‘
I once told you your
heart would be mine, child. If only Mary Kelly were alive, she would tell you I
mean it …
literally
.
’