The Time Hunters and the Box of Eternity (33 page)

Becky shivered when she glimpsed the scalpel in his hand.

His face ablaze with rage, Uncle Percy made to launch himself at
Chapman, but a frantic shake of Becky
’
s head made him stop.
‘
No, Uncle Percy, I
’
m fine,
’
she said desperately.

Then, from the fringes of the group, an unexpected voice spoke up.

‘
No,
’
Reg said quietly, his
head shaking madly, his eyes fixed on the ground.
‘
No
–
no
–
no … I can
’
t have this…not
right…sorry, Mabel, but … can
’
t have it...
’
Then he marched over to Chapman.
‘
Get away from the lassie, you abomination of
nature, or I
’
ll …
’

Chapman sneered.
‘
You
’
ll what, Mr Muckle?
’

‘
Just get away from
her.
’

‘
Can I remind you I now
possess the Box of Eternity and thus don
’
t require your participation. I would remain
silent if I were you.
’
 

Reg
’
s eyes locked furiously on him.
‘
But you arn
’
t me,
’
he snarled.
‘
Hell, even I
’
ve not been me for a long time. But I
’
m back now...
’
And with a roar, he
hurled himself at Chapman who, although shocked, whirled gracefully to his left,
dodging the attack. Then, with a flash of silver, Chapman
’
s hand shot out
towards Reg
’
s neck. With a bloodcurdling cry, Reg fell to his knees, clasping
his throat, blood seeping through his fingers.

Becky screamed.

‘
REG!
’
Uncle Percy yelled,
about to run to his side when
–

BOOOOOM! A cannon ball tore into the cliff, sending gigantic clumps
of rock and earth everywhere. The ground shook angrily.

Chapman glanced at the ocean. To his amazement, Gingerbeard
’
s ship was anchored
about a hundred meters from shore, its cannons trained on them.
‘
Pirates!
’
he yelled.
‘
Load the Box into the
vehicles.
’

The Associates carrying Pandora
’
s Box hurried to the trucks when
–
BOOOOOM - a second
cannonball crashed into the rock face. The ground shook even more violently this
time. One of the Associates stumbled, losing his grip. Pandora
’
s Box plummeted to the
ground, its lid staying firmly shut.

At once, Becky heard a loud
crack
from beneath her feet.
Alarmed, she looked down to see a wide split in the earth.

‘
Becky … Jump!
’
Uncle Percy yelled.

With every bit of strength she had, Becky pitched herself forwards,
just as the ground fell away. She landed safely at Joe
’
s side. Then she
glanced back in horror. Reg was nowhere to be seen. In that instant, she saw a
body dive to the spot Reg had been. Uncle Percy landed heavily, his arm
extended over the newly formed cliff edge, clinging desperately to Reg
’
s wrist.

‘
Percy … let me go,
’
Reg rasped, blood
leaking from his neck, his legs flailing.

‘
Not-a-chance,
’
Uncle Percy grimaced,
pain searing his body.

Will appeared at his side.
‘
Take my hand!
’
he shouted to Reg, reaching down.

‘
No,
’
Reg croaked,
struggling, twisting, making it harder for Uncle Percy to hold on.
‘
Let me go, Percy.
’

‘
No … Reg …please.
’

Serenely, Reg closed his eyes and a smile curved on his mouth.
‘
I
’
m coming, Mabel.
’
He wrenched his hand
away and fell.

Uncle Percy rolled over, distraught.
‘
Oh, Reg,
’
he breathed.
‘
Goodbye, old friend…
’

Stunned, Chapman composed himself quickly. He gestured to the Associates.
‘
Seize the
box. Take them all. Shoot, if
 
–
’

Before he could finish his sentence, the crash of musket fire rang
out from the jungle. BANG. BANG. BANG. Becky panicked, but it was the
Associates that were being targeted. She raced over and helped a distraught
Uncle Percy to his feet.

The jungle seemed to come alive. Branches rattled and stirred.
Unseen feet trampled leaves. Then three more shots rang out. Associates were
dropping fast now, one after the other, their rifles clattering to the floor.

In the chaos, Will
’
s eyes met Doublehook
’
s, who grinned manically back. In an instant, Doublehook charged at
him, pitching his right hook at Will
’
s head. Will ducked and scooped a rifle from the ground. Doublehook attacked
again, this time with his left hook. Will blocked the swing with the rifle
butt, and then drove his knee into Doublehook
’
s stomach, winding him. Then he smashed his
fist into Doublehook
’
s chin, and the pirate
’
s eyes rolled white.

At that moment, a man
’
s voice filled the air.
‘
FER THE BLACK HEAD, ME BOYS!
’
One-Toe Tom yelled as, with a spine-chilling
yell, a mob of shadowy figures charged, limped and hobbled out of the jungle,
cutlasses held high.
 
Only Jim and Blind
Hugh remained behind.

Becky gasped with relief. The Black Head
’
s crew had come for a
fight, piling into the remaining Associates with a terrible fury.

Chapman
’
s eyes seared with rage. In seconds, he knew the battle was lost. He
scanned the area as his long fingers found his wristwatch.

‘
It
’
s over, Chapman,
’
Uncle Percy said
somberly, his mind still clearly fixed on Reg.
‘
You
’
ve lost.
’

‘
Perhaps.
’
Chapman pulled
something small and thin from his coat pocket.
‘
But so have you.
’

Uncle Percy was shocked to see a thin stream of light curl around
Chapman
’
s
wrist, snaking its way up his arm. Then, with horror, he spied the syringe in
Chapman
’
s
hand.

With a cruel grin, Chapman
’
s eyes locked on Becky. Then he charged at her,
the light enveloping his entire body with each long stride.

‘
NOOOOO!
’
Uncle Percy cried,
but it was too late.

Chapman seized Becky and plunged the syringe into her neck. Then, in
an explosion of light and a piercing
snap
, he and Becky
disappeared.
 

Chapter 32

Jack
’
s Back

When Becky regained consciousness, she didn
’
t have to open her
eyes to realize where she was. She could smell the same sickly odor that made
her run out of the kitchen in Blackbeard
’
s shack just an hour earlier; but this time,
she recognized it: Chapman
’
s cologne. To her horror, she was lying horizontal on the kitchen
table, unable to move, thick leather straps cutting into her shoulders and
legs. Heaving her head up as far as she could, she saw the kitchen looked quite
different. The far wall was completely undamaged, unlike the last time she had seen
it; tankards, bottles, jugs and shelving were all still very much intact and in
their proper place. At once, she knew they had travelled back in time, but
there was no way of telling just how far back.

Before she had the opportunity to think all of this though, she
heard soft footsteps to her rear and George Chapman walked in, moving slowly
but elegantly like a tiger.
‘
Welcome back to the land of the living, Miss Mellor,
’
Chapman purred.
‘
I always knew we
’
d share an intimate
moment like this, but hadn
’
t planned on it being quite so soon.
’

Becky squirmed in vain against the straps.
‘
Sorry to disappoint
you.
’

‘
Oh, I
’
m far from
disappointed. True, I
’
m saddened the Box of Eternity is momentarily out of reach, but I
’
m certain Mr Drake
will make alternative arrangements. Through the advent of time travel, he may
already have done so and we
’
re not aware of it. No, for now, I suggest we enjoy the here and
now.
’

Becky glared at him.
‘
If you
’
re going to kill me just get on with it.
’

Chapman stood at the foot of the table, looking down at her and
nodding eagerly.
‘
Well, Miss Mellor, you certainly are a courageous little thing. Most
of the others just begged and screamed and sobbed and prayed. I
’
m pleased you
’
re not going to
humiliate yourself in such a way.
’
He licked his lips, moistening them until they glistened.
‘
However, I do have
something of a problem. Mr Drake has left very strict instructions for you to
not be harmed. Apparently, he wants to involve you in some dialogues with your
father.
’

For an instant, Becky forgot just where she was and whom she was
with.
‘
What
do you know about my dad?
’

‘
I know he
’
s alive,
’
Chapman replied,
‘
and from what I
gather, his research into the Eden Relics is really quite extensive and
therefore invaluable. Other than that, I really can
’
t say. I never
encountered him in person. Apparently, they transport him through time most
frequently.
’

Becky
’
s heart pounded.
‘
Where to?
’

‘
I don
’
t know. And I think
that
’
s
enough talking for now, don
’
t you?
’
He raised the scalpel into the light. As he turned the gleaming
blade towards him, studying it closely, his calm, composed exterior transformed
into something monstrous.
‘
You know … the authorities never came close to apprehending me for
what they consider my
real
crimes. Not the ones that furnished me with
that ridiculous sobriquet: Jack the Ripper.
’
He looked directly at her.
‘
Did you know they said
I killed my victims and then just stopped, just relinquished my blades and
vanished into the night? How very naive of them. Why would I stop? It was far
too enjoyable, too diverting.
’
He moved round and whispered in her ear.
‘
But my new position as
time traveller, well, that will allow me to indulge my whims over and over
again, throughout the leaves of history. Isn
’
t that just delicious?
 
And here
’
s one final morsel for you, something no one
else has ever known. The history books only ever credited me with five victims
… I
’
ll let
you into a little secret, shall I? Twenty-six ladies came under my knife …
’
Chapman smiled as he
traced the blunt edge of the blade softly against her cheek.

But Becky didn
’
t feel it. Every bit of her was numb with fear. She wanted to die
now. And she wanted it to be quick. But then, suddenly, a strangely familiar
feeling swept through her; a sensation she
’
d had twice before. The top of her skull felt
like it had been dipped in water. Swiftly, the watery sensation spread into her
eyes, before moving down, filling every inch of her body. Then her eyes shot
open - white, blank, emotionless eyes. She didn
’
t look like Becky anymore.

Chapman stared at her, shocked.
‘
What the
–’

‘
GET AWAY FROM ME!
’
Becky roared.

Then, as if seized by the throat by invisible hands, Chapman was
hoisted into the air. He dropped the scalpel. Choking, kicking wildly, he was
hurled powerfully against the far wall; wood, glass, pottery shattered under
his weight. His body slumped down the wall, still conscious, but in a deep
state of shock. Confused, he scrambled to his feet. Then he spied the scalpel.
Picking it up, he glanced fearfully at Becky and said,
‘
W - what are you?
’

Then another voice filled the kitchen.
‘
She
’
s my niece…
’

Uncle Percy
’
s fist smashed into Chapman
’
s jaw, pitching him headfirst into the wall again.
This time, he was unconscious before he hit the floor. Frowning, Uncle Percy
massaged his knuckles.
‘
Thumping people really does hurt,
’
he muttered.

At once, Becky
’
s eyes returned to their normal colour.
 
Swiftly, Uncle Percy grabbed up the scalpel
and cut through her binds.

Slightly dazed, as though just waking from a deep sleep, Becky
launched herself wordlessly into Uncle Percy
’
s arms.

‘
Thank God,
’
Uncle Percy breathed,
his voice quivering.
‘
I
–
I …
’
He couldn
’
t finish the sentence.

Becky trembled uncontrollably.
‘
Uncle Percy, it
’
s happened again. Remember outside the Red
Caves, when the Golden Fleece flew through the air and came to me, and we all
thought in some way, it had chosen me. Well, I don
’
t think it did ... I
think I made it happen… I think I can move things, move them with my mind. What
’
s it called when you
can do that?
’

Uncle Percy hesitated.
‘
Telekinesis.
’

‘
That
’
s it,
’
Becky replied.
‘
Telekinesis. Well,
that
’
s me.
I
’
m
telekinetic. Just before you got here, I threw Chapman against that wall
without even touching him.
’

Uncle Percy inhaled deeply, but didn
’
t respond.

‘
You don
’
t believe me, do you?
’

‘
I believe every word
you ever tell me, Becky.
’
He thought for a moment.
‘
However, I think this is a matter for a future
discussion, we do, after all, have a certain Jack the Ripper to deal with.
’

Becky nodded, but then something else occurred to her.
‘
How did you know where
and when to look for me?
’

‘
I remembered your little
turn this morning, and the curious damage we saw in this very kitchen. I was
also aware that Chapman
’
s Portravella was too small to be anything other than a very
short-range device. I put two and two together and fortunately, I was right…
which reminds me…
’
He bent down, detached Chapman
’
s watch, and stamped on it.
‘
No more travelling for
you, George.
’
Then he dragged Chapman
’
s limp body over.
‘
Well, maybe one more trip…
’

‘
What are you doing?
’
Becky asked.

‘
I think it
’
s time Mr George
Chapman paid for his horrendous crimes against humanity, don
’
t you?
’

‘
You
’
re not going to kill
him, are you?
’
Becky replied, shocked.

‘
We don
’
t kill people, Becky.
We
’
re the
good guys….
’
Uncle Percy delved beneath his shirt and pressed something on the Tracker
pack. At once, his chest gleamed white as electrical charge crisscrossed his
Portravella.
‘
Take my hand…
’

Confused, Becky complied, and watched as Uncle Percy grasped Chapman
’
s ankle. A second
later, the three of them were encased in a shimmering globe of fizzing blue and
white light. And then they disappeared.

*

A moment later, Becky found herself staring at a familiar, but
completely unexpected landscape. Her mouth fell open. Glancing round, she saw a
beautiful stretch of silvery white sand and a thick wall of palm trees that
merged into a cloudless sapphire sky. Then her eyes were drawn directly above.
With a piercing screech, an enormous winged creature soared overhead, its
colossal leathery wings flapping in a consistent rhythm, making a deep whooshing
sound.

‘
Ah, a Pterodactyl,
’
Uncle Percy noted.
‘
Very common in the
late Jurassic era. Becky, can I assume that you remember this place?
’

Becky grinned.
‘
London. One hundred and sixty two million years ago.
’

‘
That
’
s correct,
’
Uncle Percy replied,
looking over at the unconscious Chapman.
‘
Unlike George here, my Portravella can hold
considerably more Gerathnium than his, which means it can travel the same
distance as any well-stocked time machine.
’

‘
But this isn
’
t the same place as
last time though, is it?

‘
Er, no,
’
Uncle Percy replied.
‘
Last time we parked at
what would be Piccadilly in the twenty first century. We
’
re about three and a
half miles from there at the moment. Any ideas where?
’

‘
No.
’

‘
Shall we see if George
recognises it?
’
Uncle Percy marched over to Chapman and kicked him firmly in the
ribs.
‘
Wake
up, George!
’

Chapman groaned.
‘
W-where am I?
’

‘
You don
’
t know it then?
’
Uncle Percy said
coolly.
‘
I
am surprised. George, this is your old stomping ground - this is Whitechapel,
the scene of some of your most despicable acts.
’