The Time Hunters (Book 1 of the acclaimed series for children of all ages) by Carl Ashmore Page B

weapons, including a
bronze short sword and a circular shield.
    A tense air surrounded them as they said their
goodbyes to Jacob and Maria (who proceeded to burst in to an uncontrollable fit
of drool and tears,) and made their way to the Time Room. Uncle Percy, carrying
a backpack of provisions, led the way, followed by Joe, Becky, and finally
Will, who had added a bow and quiver of arrows to his arsenal.
    The Time Room seemed livelier and more boisterous
than usual with the sounds of bleeps and buzzes and hums at full volume. Becky
saw a freshly polished Bertha standing in the centre of the room. Then
something occurred to her. ‘Uncle Percy, how’re we going to talk to anyone?’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘Obviously, people in Ancient Crete didn’t speak
English. We won’t understand a word they’re saying and they won’t understand
us.’
    ‘An excellent point, Becky,’ Uncle Percy agreed.
‘And one that for many years caused severe headaches for the travelling
community.’ He opened a drawer and pulled out an oblong box that resembled a
pencil case. ‘Take a look at these …’ He opened the box.
    Becky leant over and saw a series of shiny metal
nodules, each one no bigger than the head of a small drawing pin.
    ‘These are transvocalisors ,’ Uncle Percy
said. ‘I invented the prototypes over twenty-five years ago. Now, I’m proud to
say, they’re an essential part of the traveller’s kit. Let me put them on for
you.’
    He placed one on Becky’s throat and one behind her
left ear. He repeated the process for Joe.
    ‘What’s a transvocalingy?’ Joe asked.
    Uncle Percy passed a pair to Will, and then put a
pair on himself. ‘A transvocalisor ,
Joe, well, it’s a very powerful translation device. Inside each transvocalisor
is a very powerful microchip that, with regards to the one on your ear, will
translate any language, ancient or modern, into English for you; whilst the one
on your throat will automatically convert anything you say into whatever
language you need. In short, you will both understand, and be understood
wherever and whenever you are.’
    Becky immediately decided to secretly borrowa set for her French exams the
following year.
    ‘Right then, shall we make a move?’ Uncle Percy took
a wedge of Gerathnium and inserted it in to the campervan. Becky and Joe
clambered aboard.
    ‘Are you going to register the trip?’ Becky said,
sounding slightly anxious.
    Opening the driver’s door, Uncle Percy tossed the
bag and staff into the back. ‘Not this time, Becky. I’m aware it’s not an ideal
situation, but I’m afraid we’re going to have to break a few rules.’ Will
joined him up front.
    ‘But what if something happens to us?’ Becky asked.
    Joe shot Becky a disparaging look. ‘Like what - you
losing a scrunchie?’
    ‘I don’t know,’ Becky snapped back at him.   ‘An emergency ! What if the campervan packs up? What if we
need to get back in a hurry? What if something massive and hairy bites your fat
ugly head off?’ She sounded quite hopeful with her last example.
    ‘Now, now, we’ll have less of that,’ Uncle Percy cut
in firmly. ‘Charlie Millport at HQ knows where and when we’re going - off the
record, of course. I’ve also left details with Jacob. He knows what to do if
there’s a problem. Does that reassure you, Becky?’
    Becky nodded but still felt rather uneasy. After
all, they weren’t the only ones searching for the Golden Fleece, and their
rivals were pretty much as dangerous as could be. However, before she could
reply, a power surge from below stopped her in her tracks.
    ‘Okay, everyone … next stop, Crete, 1634 BC,’ Uncle
Percy shouted, his voice swelling to counteract the mounting volume.
    ‘And the Minotaurs,’ Joe shouted back, grinning
widely.
    ‘Im afraid you may be disappointed there, Joe,’
Uncle Percy answered with a grin. ‘There’ll be no dragons - no bogeymen - no
fabulous monsters of any kind. But, with any luck, we may find