The Future Door by Jason Lethcoe Page B

wouldn’t she just say ‘the hands of time will be turned’? Or something simple like that? To me, it sounds like she’s hiding something.” He indicated the next part of the note. “And listen to this part: ‘The very stones themselves will be rearranged.’ ”
    He glanced up at his uncle, his eyes dancing with excitement. “I don’t know if you know this, but there are some people who believe Stonehenge was an ancient clock, a way for early inhabitants of Britain to keep track of time and the seasons.”
    The scowl disappeared from Rupert’s face as he considered Griffin’s words. He inspected the note closely for a moment, then turned back to his nephew.
    â€œIt might be a coincidence,” he said.
    â€œIt might,” Griffin replied. “But I have a hunch—”
    â€œOh, bother hunches and all that nonsense!” Rupert exclaimed. “I want facts, boy, facts!” He slapped his fingers across Charlotte’s note.
    Griffin tired hard to keep his annoyance in check. It might not be fact, but his hunch was the best lead they had.
    â€œBut, Uncle, do we really have any other leads? Doesn’t it seem like we should at least try this theory and see if it works?”
    With a sigh, Rupert finally agreed. “Very well. We don’t have anything else, and a good detective always eliminates all possibilities before jumping to conclusions.”
    Griffin watched as his uncle walked over to his display of inventive weaponry. He proceeded to remove two guns: a rifle with a strange-looking scope mounted upon it, and a small pistol.
    â€œIs that the Stinger 2?” Griffin asked, filled with excitement. He had missed his little gun. But as his uncle drew closer and handed him the weapon, he saw that it was something else entirely.
    â€œNo. But the Snodgrass Scorpion is nothing to be trifled with,” his uncle said brightly.
    â€œWhat does it do?” asked Griffin.
    â€œAha!” his uncle replied. “That is the best part. Are you ready for this?”
    Griffin smiled and nodded, feeling hopeful.
    Rupert waited, allowing the mystery and excitement to build. Then, with a grand gesture, he waved his hand and pronounced, “This incredible device does absolutely . . . NOTHING!”
    Griffin stared. Was he serious? He glanced back down at the pistol, unable to hide his disappointment. They were about to head into what could possibly be the most dangerous place in Britain and he would be carrying a fake gun?
    â€œI can tell what you’re thinking, my boy, but don’t jump to any conclusions yet,” Rupert said, offering him a rare smile. “When I say ‘nothing,’ I mean exactly that. The weapon you’re holding shoots an anti-matter ray. It literally removes physical objects from existence, transporting them to another place entirely!”
    What? Griffin stared at his uncle with awe. Was he serious?
    â€œAllow me to demonstrate,” Rupert said. He pointed the small pistol at a dented oilcan on the floor. There was a bright flash, so blinding that Griffin saw green spots dancing in front of his eyes. When his vision cleared, he looked at the spot where the can had been resting just moments before.
    It was gone without a trace.
    Griffin shook his head, unable to process what had happened.
    â€œWhere did it go?” he asked.
    Rupert grinned and shrugged. “I have no idea,” he replied. “It could be anywhere. It has dematerialized and is probably somewhere halfway across the world by now.”
    â€œAmazing!” Griffin cheered. He was about to congratulate his uncle on yet another of his ingenious devices when something suddenly fell from the ceiling and clouted his uncle soundly upon his head.
    â€œOw!” Snodgrass shot his hand to his forehead and rubbed it vigorously. “What the deuce?”
    Griffin tried not to laugh as he observed the oilcan that clanked to the ground