Chapter 59
Lime Lane, Swainshurst, Wealdshire. Monday 8 June 1998
'Our South-of-England correspondent, Clive Derby, reports from Puck's Dell.'
'It has just been announced that the Kingsbourne Bypass is to be abandoned. No reasons have been given as yet, but officials insist that the decision has nothing to do with the anti-road protest. This news comes hot on the heels of the revelation that the tunnels at Puck's Dell were unoccupied during the whole time that the bailiffs were breaking through steel doors in their hunt for human moles. I have with me one of the protesters, Shadow. What was your reaction when you heard that the plan for the bypass had been dropped?'
'I was well chuffed, as were all the others who lived here for up to two years, and all those hundreds of supporters who were behind us all the way.'
'Do you think that your protest was in any way responsible for the change of heart?'
'Who knows? I'd like to think that we achieved something but, so far, we haven't heard any reasons for the work being stopped. If nothing else, we raised public awareness about the implications of trashing the countryside to build new roads. I just hope that, in the future, the government will think more carefully before giving the go-ahead to every road plan that's presented to them.'
'You've certainly made the headlines with your empty tunnels. I tried to speak to the Sheriff of Wealdshire this afternoon, but he was unavailable for comment. How did you trick him into believing that your tunnels were occupied?'
'People believe what they want to believe. He was the one who decided that there were people in the tunnels who had to be removed before the bulldozers could be brought in.'
'And you didn't encourage him to think that?'
'Well, put it this way — we didn't discourage his belief that some of us were underground.'
'A couple of days ago we heard that the missing bulldozer and cherry pickers had mysteriously reappeared. Now there are rumours that something unusual happened in Blackfriars Wood on Saturday when the contractors tried to clear the trees. Do you know anything about that?'
'Yeah. It was magic.'
'Magic? Magic meaning wonderful — or magic meaning . . . well, magic?'
'We all need a little mystery in the world. Let's leave it at that. Something magic happened, and the wood survived unscathed.'
'There was something about a dragon being unleashed.'
'Oh, the dragon. Yeah. There's a dragon all right. The dragon is public opinion. It's growing bigger all the time. The dragon is being unleashed on all those who want to destroy the countryside.'
'And we missed it,' Josie moaned. 'There was I riding a huge dragon, and I didn't see myself. I wish I'd been there. Misty made it sound so incredible when she rang me. I wonder who was responsible.'
'Or what was responsible,' Chris said. 'You heard what Shadow said — we all need a little mystery in the world.'
Josie turned the radio off. 'Maybe we'll find out one day.'
The door opened and Mrs Gardiner came into the room. 'Did you see the letter?' she asked.
'What letter?' the twins chorused.
'From Australia. It's in the kitchen. I have to pop round and see Mrs Potter. I won't be long.'
Josie raced to the kitchen and found the letter. She brought it back and handed it to Chris. 'You can open this one,' she said. 'I don't think there are any manacles this time.'
Sydney
Australia
October 15th 1864
Dear Josie and Chris,
I hope this letter reaches you shortly after work on the Kingsbourne Bypass is halted. As you can imagine, I have had to set up quite a complex arrangement to ensure that my letter reaches you. I think the bracelet probably arrived a bit early. Sorry about that. Unfortunately, I sent it several years ago before I'd managed to work out an efficient system of ensuring that my letters and parcels would get to you at the appropriate time (and you never told me how soon before your birthday it arrived).
When I left you (years ago for me but only a few days for you), Tatscombe Hall had been on the market for a couple of years. I hope I have bought it. A firm of solicitors in Sydney were under instructions to invest some of my money and then purchase the property. If you contact Smedley & Smedley in Kingsbourne, I think they will be able to tell you that Tatscombe Hall will be yours on your twenty-first birthday. Perhaps you ought to tell Sir James the good news. I fancy he will be much amused.
I have written to Penelope and the children explaining what happened to me after I left England. What a shame that I will never know if they believed me. They are now well taken care of financially. I won't bore you with the details but, after I had completed my sentence, I was able to become quite a successful businessman. I have you to thank for that, Chris. Those library books came in very useful.
There's just one more thing to say. If you see Aunt Alice again, please tell her that her charm has been given to the man who has nothing yet everything.
May all your dreams come true,
Andrew Starling
The twins were stunned. They were overwhelmed. They were lost for words. They must have read the letter ten times before everything soaked in. For such a short letter there was so much to absorb.
Andrew Starling had not only survived, but had made something of his life.
He had told his family about everything that had happened to him.
He was the one who had sent the bracelet in the first place.
Aunt Alice's charm had been been passed on. Who to? they wondered.
And Tatscombe Hall would be theirs.
Tatscombe Hall, Wealdshire. 1517
Andrew Starling was right. Sir James was indeed much amused to know that Tatscombe Hall would belong to Chris and Josie in years to come.
'Perhaps I shall haunt thee,' he jested.
'You'd better not!' Josie protested. 'I'd be terrified if I saw a ghost.'
'As terrified as I wert when I was chased by imps?' Sir James chuckled.
Chris joined in. 'I'll tell you what,' he said. 'If you promise not to haunt us, we'll promise to look after your house.'
'Aye, 'tis a good bargain. I agree.' Sir James held his arms up and looked around the parlour. 'But I would like to see my home in your time. No matter. I give thee my word that I will stay in my grave.'
'We could show you some photos — some pictures,' Josie suggested.
'Or take him on a little time trip,' Chris added. 'Would you fancy visiting our time, Sir James?'
The old chap thought for a moment. 'Nay. I am too old for such adventures. But perhaps the girls would wish to go with you.'
All eyes turned on Elizabeth and Sarah.
'I cannot move my legs,' Elizabeth complained as she pulled on an old pair of Josie's jeans. 'How canst thou wear such a garment?'
Chris grinned as he listened to the comments coming from behind the bushes as the girls struggled into twentieth-century clothes. He could imagine what his comments would be if he was trying to squeeze himself into Tudor costume. 'Are you ready yet?' he called. 'Why do girls always take so long to get dressed?'
When they emerged from the 'dressing room', Chris was knocked senseless. Although they were wearing nothing special from Josie's wardrobe, Sarah and Elizabeth looked gorgeous.
'How do they look?' Josie asked.
'I . . . they . . . they look great.'
'You can put your eyes back in now,' Josie teased. 'Stop gawping. Let's go and visit the twentieth century. Is everyone ready?'
Unaccustomed to wearing trousers, the girls looked a little uncomfortable as they walked towards the time gate. They giggled self-consciously and held on to each other for physical and moral support.
'Stand just here,' Josie said, 'and hold on to each other tightly. Chris will enjoy this bit.'
Chris tried to think of a suitable retort — but before he could say anything — something happened.
Everyone stiffened, eyes frozen in horror — staring in disbelief at the group of black friars which suddenly materialized before them.
They wore long, black robes which covered them from head to foot. They stood, immobile, with their arms folded, hands tucked inside the loose sleeves. Their heads were all but obscured by bulky hoods which drooped down over their eyes and left their faces in deep shadow.
One of them spoke. A man. The twins expected the voice to sound like that of Christopher Lee, Vincent Price or someone else from an old horror film. But it wasn't anything like that. It wasn't frightening or intimidating or threatening. It was — just sort of normal, Chris thought afterwards.
'Travelling through time is a privilege not to be abused. It is not to be used for fun, for recreation, for thrills. You must have a purpose when you travel through time.'
Another black friar continued, a woman this time. 'If you expose these two young ladies to twentieth- century life, their lives will be changed forever. They may be dissatisfied and discontented when they return to their own time. Or, they may be so upset by your world that they will never be able to sleep peacefully again.'
The first speaker had more to say. 'No-one should know what is to come. How can anyone enjoy tomorrow if they have already been there? We need a little mystery in the world. The future should be part of that mystery.'
'Who are you?' Chris asked, but too late — the figures already beginning to dissolve.
'They are right,' Elizabeth said. 'We should not know the future. You have your time — and we have ours.'
'Who were they?' Chris asked again, still staring at the spot where the apparitions had faded away. 'Were they time guardians?'
Josie laughed quietly to herself.
'What's tickling you?' Chris asked, irritated by her mirth.
Boys are so unobservant, she thought. Hadn't he seen what she had seen? The woman's right hand had not been completely hidden in her sleeve — and Josie had caught a glimpse of something on her wrist. Something glinting. Something familiar.
'Can't you work out who they were?' she asked Chris. 'I thought you liked talking to yourself.'