The Time Hunters (Book 1 of the acclaimed series for children of all ages) by Carl Ashmore Page A
Authors: Carl Ashmore
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‘Many
times. I thought the world of your father, and ever since your
grandfather died, I felt a paternal responsibility for him. Yes, we had our
disagreements, but I never once stopped loving him. So when I was informed of
the boat accident, the first thing I did was travel back in the hope of
preventing it. But I failed …’
Becky’s bottom lip started to quiver.
‘So I kept travelling back to different points in
that day to see if that made any difference. It didn’t. I even sent Bernard
Preston to try. He failed too. No matter what I did, I could not change the
outcome.’ He sounded defeated. ‘Some would argue it was fate , that he was meant to take that boat trip. All I
know is, again and again, I travelled back to stop him but the Omega Effect prevented it.’
‘The what?’
‘The Omega Effect. It’s what travellers call a very common phenomenon in time exploration - essentially,
where events can’t be changed, even with a traveller’s interference. To put it
simply, fate insists some things happen and others do not. It’s a very strange
feeling when it occurs, like you’re there but not there. It’s quite bizarre and
really does suggest that fate has a most inflexible design.’
‘B-but -’ Becky spluttered, ‘you saved Will, and
Maria, and Jacob. You saved their lives? Why couldn’t you just -’
‘- But I didn’t have to travel back in time
specifically to help them,’ Uncle Percy said softly. ‘They hadn’t died. I just
happened to be there to assist. It was luck more than intention.’ He heaved
another sigh. ‘I know this must be soul-destroying for you. I’m afraid, for
some reason, your father was destined to go on that journey and not return. And
there is nothing that I, or any traveller, can do to prevent it. I am sorry.
I’m truly sorry.’
A tear spilled down Becky’s cheek. Uncle Percy stood
up and held her tightly.
Joe entered the room. ‘What’re you blartin’ for, Becky?’
Uncle Percy released her.
Becky mopped her eyes and gave a weak smile.
‘Joe,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘You really do have the
sensitivity of a scab.’
Joe gave an indifferent shrug and surveyed the
cluttered table. ‘So what year are we going to?’
‘In accordance with Bernard’s research, we will be
travelling to the year 1634 BC,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘Saturday, July 12 th 1634 BC, at 2.00pm to be exact - so I don’t want anyone skimping on the sun
cream.’
‘Great,’ Joe said. ‘When are we going?’
‘Tomorrow morning. So it’s an early night for
everyone. Let’s face it, it’s not every day you travel back almost four
thousand years in the quest for a legendary relic, is it?’
Joe punched the air. He turned expectantly to his
sister.
Becky forced another smile, but couldn’t quite share
his enthusiasm. For a few delicious minutes she had been convinced she would
see her dad again. And to have the one thing she desired most in the world snatched
away seemed too cruel for words.
*
The following morning, Uncle Percy changed into his
outfit while Becky and Joe finished breakfast. He wore a black hooded cloak,
brown tunic with leather belt, brown sandals and held a crooked wooden staff.
As Uncle Percy gave them a twirl, Becky noticed a
series of peculiar bumps and bulges beneath his tunic (although when questioned
about them, he seemed surprisingly evasive). He then escorted Becky, Joe and
Will to the morning room where he presented them with their costumes.
Becky’s outfit consisted of a white linen tunic that
draped over her right shoulder and was pinned together with a bronze brooch in
the shape of a dolphin. Although hardly flattering, she felt it an improvement
on the silly meringue thing she wore to Victorian Oxford. Joe’s outfit was
similar to Uncle Percy’s, although in grey, and even Will appeared more at ease
with his costume - a short brown, woollen tunic, bronze breast plate, a leather
kilt and long black cape. He also carried a selection of
times. I thought the world of your father, and ever since your
grandfather died, I felt a paternal responsibility for him. Yes, we had our
disagreements, but I never once stopped loving him. So when I was informed of
the boat accident, the first thing I did was travel back in the hope of
preventing it. But I failed …’
Becky’s bottom lip started to quiver.
‘So I kept travelling back to different points in
that day to see if that made any difference. It didn’t. I even sent Bernard
Preston to try. He failed too. No matter what I did, I could not change the
outcome.’ He sounded defeated. ‘Some would argue it was fate , that he was meant to take that boat trip. All I
know is, again and again, I travelled back to stop him but the Omega Effect prevented it.’
‘The what?’
‘The Omega Effect. It’s what travellers call a very common phenomenon in time exploration - essentially,
where events can’t be changed, even with a traveller’s interference. To put it
simply, fate insists some things happen and others do not. It’s a very strange
feeling when it occurs, like you’re there but not there. It’s quite bizarre and
really does suggest that fate has a most inflexible design.’
‘B-but -’ Becky spluttered, ‘you saved Will, and
Maria, and Jacob. You saved their lives? Why couldn’t you just -’
‘- But I didn’t have to travel back in time
specifically to help them,’ Uncle Percy said softly. ‘They hadn’t died. I just
happened to be there to assist. It was luck more than intention.’ He heaved
another sigh. ‘I know this must be soul-destroying for you. I’m afraid, for
some reason, your father was destined to go on that journey and not return. And
there is nothing that I, or any traveller, can do to prevent it. I am sorry.
I’m truly sorry.’
A tear spilled down Becky’s cheek. Uncle Percy stood
up and held her tightly.
Joe entered the room. ‘What’re you blartin’ for, Becky?’
Uncle Percy released her.
Becky mopped her eyes and gave a weak smile.
‘Joe,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘You really do have the
sensitivity of a scab.’
Joe gave an indifferent shrug and surveyed the
cluttered table. ‘So what year are we going to?’
‘In accordance with Bernard’s research, we will be
travelling to the year 1634 BC,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘Saturday, July 12 th 1634 BC, at 2.00pm to be exact - so I don’t want anyone skimping on the sun
cream.’
‘Great,’ Joe said. ‘When are we going?’
‘Tomorrow morning. So it’s an early night for
everyone. Let’s face it, it’s not every day you travel back almost four
thousand years in the quest for a legendary relic, is it?’
Joe punched the air. He turned expectantly to his
sister.
Becky forced another smile, but couldn’t quite share
his enthusiasm. For a few delicious minutes she had been convinced she would
see her dad again. And to have the one thing she desired most in the world snatched
away seemed too cruel for words.
*
The following morning, Uncle Percy changed into his
outfit while Becky and Joe finished breakfast. He wore a black hooded cloak,
brown tunic with leather belt, brown sandals and held a crooked wooden staff.
As Uncle Percy gave them a twirl, Becky noticed a
series of peculiar bumps and bulges beneath his tunic (although when questioned
about them, he seemed surprisingly evasive). He then escorted Becky, Joe and
Will to the morning room where he presented them with their costumes.
Becky’s outfit consisted of a white linen tunic that
draped over her right shoulder and was pinned together with a bronze brooch in
the shape of a dolphin. Although hardly flattering, she felt it an improvement
on the silly meringue thing she wore to Victorian Oxford. Joe’s outfit was
similar to Uncle Percy’s, although in grey, and even Will appeared more at ease
with his costume - a short brown, woollen tunic, bronze breast plate, a leather
kilt and long black cape. He also carried a selection of
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