The Lie (The Seekers Book 2) Page 9

  Millie could barely breathe, “So does that mean Oliver is dead too?”

  The professor hesitated, “Well that’s not so bad is it? At least you are here together and you might get on the same transfer list... or not. ” , he finished lamely.

  “But I’m not dead!”

  The professor gave her a “Poor you – has nobody told you yet,” look.

  Millie was adamant, “No really, I am definitely NOT dead. I think I would have known if ...”

  The professor sighed, “Not everyone is... er... aware when they first get here, things can happen very quickly- sometimes.”

  Millie shook her head, “No, Quark brought me here, which means Oliver must have been sent too.”

  The professor considered this, “So why is he here then? You did say he was dying?”

  “Quark told me Oliver was in a coma, but I’ve just seen him climbing up there and then he sort of disappeared into the books. A bit like you I guess.”

  “Ah, then he has been catalogued, which means I’m afraid- ”

  “No. I won’t believe it.” Millie put her head in her hands.

  “Well, my dear, you appear to be unaffected so perhaps you are right, it is most unusual for anyone to be allowed to roam free. Let us not dwell on what we can’t do, rather let us look again at what we can do.”

  Millie gave a watery smile, “You are very kind professor, but it’s all a bit complicated. My Companion says I am finding, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it!”

  “Ah yes, tricky things emotions, can’t actually trust them an awful lot you know, have to be careful. But let’s start at the beginning; why did you want to knock the book case over?”

  Millie glanced across at the book cases. “Seemed like a good idea at the time. I was going to topple a couple over and knock him out, but then I still wouldn’t know how to set Oliver free.”

  The professor laughed, “Goodness me – like dominoes you mean? Well it should certainly work, so why not? I probably know just as much about this place as him anyway. ”

  Now Millie was confused, “But you said you were all, er ... dead, so how could I knock him out if he’s already-”

  The professor’s face lit up, “Of course, see your misunderstanding. The Doorkeeper is not transferable like us; so as I see it you can proceed with all haste.”

  “Sorry?”

  “Let’s clobber him. Can I watch?”

  Chapter 17

  C hristina got up from the chair to get a glass of water, “Tell me what?”

  Quark threw Winston a warning look, “Well, as we know where Millie is, if you could come with us, I am sure we can help them both.”

  Winston ignored the hint, “Oh, brilliant idea – and then we can get all three of them trapped behind that stupid door!”

  Christina was horrified, “Millie is trapped?”

  Quark huffed, “What Winston means is, the way is not open to us, but it most certainly will be open to you.”

  Christina watched him suspiciously; Quark was getting more and more animated, bobbing around the room in agitation.

  Winston beat her to the obvious question, “Why is that then?”

  Quark stopped moving, “Well, like I said, she is a Child of the Promise, so everything is hers for the asking.”

  “It is?” Winston and Christina chorused at exactly the same time, but at very different pitches.

  Quark nodded enthusiastically, “Shall we go? Time, as you understand it, is something of an issue here.”

  Christina gulped the water and then put the glass in the sink, “Er... how do you know this?”

  “Well it’s obvious; you bear The Mark of course.”

  Christina wanted more information before agreeing to go anywhere. She had to let Oliver’s parents know what was happening and she was fairly sure a conversation with their dog wasn’t going to be a good enough explanation! But she was saved by the bell as the insistent ringing at the front door demanded her attention. She hurried to answer it and Quark and Winston followed. As she opened the door they saw a tall, handsome young man, his thick, blonde wavy hair, framing his chiselled features. Grinning from ear to ear he offered her a large bunch of rather floppy carnations. “Sorry – best they had.”

  As he stepped over the threshold and Christina shut the door behind him, the blooms sprang to attention and the colours increased tenfold. Dominik didn’t know where to look first, the assorted gathering was rather strange to say the least, but Quark saved him the trouble addressing him directly. “Oh – we are most blessed, two Children of the Promise, nothing can stop us now.”

  J ack took the stairs two at a time, he burst into his bedroom and slammed the door behind him. Everybody was out as usual, they didn’t care. He made his way to the back of the room and started emptying the small wardrobe, throwing aside old trainers and old Playstation games. Eventually he found what he was looking for. The battered biscuit tin lay hidden under a stack of shabby magazines and it was still tightly sealed with Sellotape, just as his grandad had left it.

  Jack smiled. It had been so easy to steal it; the silly old sod had never even missed it, now he would put it to some good. The tape was still intact but yellow with age and it came off easily. Jack tore off the lid and peered inside, the old cloth smelt disgusting. Carefully now, just like he had been shown, he unwrapped the pistol and the small pink package of cartridges. He laid them gingerly on the carpet.

  His grandad’s voice echoed in his memory, “See this – an Enfield Revolver that is, fine piece of British engineering. We didn’t get much training lad, but this was a fine weapon up close.”

  Jack picked up the small pink package and read the faded writing, 24 July 1944. 12 cartridges (.380), but when he looked inside he could see it was only half full. He put them back down and picked up the small pistol instead, the small brown handle fitting neatly in the palm of his hand. As he felt its weight, he knew the cylinder would take 6 rounds of ammunition. He spun the cylinder and mentally rolled his list along with it. Easy, so easy...

  The Apprentice looked on in horror, he was sure he was supposed to do something right now but he couldn’t work out what. They usually didn’t mind if the targets eliminated one another, he would just be reassigned with a commendation, but he was supposed to report in. What could he do? He was still too inexperienced to influence Jack directly, but he would have to try.

  D espite the seriousness of her situation, Millie giggled. She couldn’t help herself, the Professor seemed so excited by her proposal he insisted on being “propped open” at the best possible viewpoint.

  At his suggestion she had dismissed the chair, and was now standing to one side of the bookcase as she rocked it with all her strength. Soon it had enough momentum to carry it over, and the toppling began. They had chosen well and Millie was delighted with the effect but had a quick pang of conscience – what if it was too much? She didn’t actually want to kill anybody; she just wanted to get out of there.

  Too late now. With a sickening crash the last bookcase had fallen on the central workstation. Amid the thuds of the still falling books from wobbly shelves, there was a low groan. Millie looked across at the Professor who was nodding eagerly.

  Right. I guess it will be up to me then to go and see.

  The Doorkeeper was lying flat on his back, pinned by the legs, arms stretched out by his side. There was no blood, thank goodness, but he was clearly unconscious and going nowhere for some time. Millie raced back to get the Professor.

  “Mission accomplished, so what do we do now?”

  The Professor was decisive, “Can you reach The Amulet?”

  Millie threw her arms open wide and gave him a frantic, “What are you talking about?” look that had the desired effect.

  “Sorry. I mean was he wearing a heavy chain around his neck?”

  Millie cast her mind back, “No, no I don’t remember seeing one...is it important?”

  “It is very important if you want to get out of here.”
>
  The thought of touching his stricken body didn’t appeal but Millie knew she had to go look anyway. She was turning away when the Professor called after her, “Wait. Take me with you I can voice activate the Central Console.”

  Millie didn’t have a clue what he was talking about but that seemed to be the going thing around here. She picked him up and returned to the Doorkeeper. He was still there. She put the book down and the Professor began inputting voice commands into one of the small screens. Millie crept forwards, not at all happy about any of this, she rubbed her hands together and flexed her fingers. Just a quick peek under his shirt...

  She was just removing the bow tie when his eyes flew open and he grabbed her firmly by the neck. Millie was choking! He was surprisingly strong and there was no-one to help her.

  F or once, Winston said something sensible, “I should put the flowers in a vase if I were you, we need to be going.”

  Dominik prided himself on being a scientist, looking for evidence and testing hypotheses in order to come to rational conclusions, but nothing in his life had prepared him for this moment. A dog and a small, furry chap with a particle physics symbol on his chest were definitely talking to him!

  Christina made the introductions, “Dominik – this is Quark and this is Winston.”

  Quark bowed.

  Dominik looked at Chrissie for help, his voice had deserted him and he felt a little strange. Perhaps he should go back to the car and try again?

  Chrissie took his hand...result! “The flowers are lovely,” she took them from him, “why don’t you sit down for a minute while I explain?”

  “This should be good,” quipped Winston as he joined Dominik on the sofa. Quark bustled over to stand in front of them; he made a steeple with his fingers and tapped them together while he weighed up the present situation.

  “Yes, Winston is right, you are here at just the right time and we must leave immediately.”

  Dominik nodded. He had heard what the little guy said, but of course, he had no idea what he meant...

  T he silver machine was going into meltdown. The others on the conveyor belt had just passed through but Oliver was clearly causing a problem. “Data Code” was flashing on the overhead gantry, but every time the belt tried to move him forwards the alarm went off and the whole thing shut down. This had happened six times now. He didn’t see the point of getting off the stupid belt because it was suspended in mid-air and there didn’t appear anywhere else to go. Around him swirled a heavy grey mist.

  He had joined a small group of others, but no-one had spoken to him. They had all just sat there, shell shocked almost, and as they were in front of him they had all gone through. Now where was he? Well, no point in sitting here like a muppet, Oliver decided to retrace his steps. Not literally, as the conveyor had carried him this far, but he was determined to find his way back to Millie. At least the conveyor had stopped juddering backwards and forwards.

  Oliver got to his feet and turned around, “Well, here goes nothing.”

  As far as the eye could see the grey conveyor belt stretched into the distance. He hadn’t sat there that long, had he?

  M illie’s world was turning black. The choking sensation was awful, but the hatred in her assailant’s eyes seemed to diminish her strength too. His power overwhelmed her and she could feel herself slipping away. Somewhere in the background she could hear the Professor’s voice droning on, but Millie was no longer listening, she was dying.

  As her eyelids began to flutter and her arms hung uselessly by her side Millie accepted her defeat. She had done her best. Perhaps she would go to be with Oliver after all?

  The Professor calculated he would only get one opportunity. Once the trajectory was set it would be too late to re-programme it. He had seen the ambience control in operation many times of course, as it glided across the floor cleaning and monitoring, but he had never inputted the co-ordinates. The Library was usually empty so the unit could wander freely, but this time he was aiming for something very specific, so he had to override the collision control. He could not wait any longer and with much trepidation he gave the final command.

  It sped away from the docking station and spun rapidly across the floor, the round titanium casing glowing under the lights. With a satisfying crunch it crashed into the Doorkeeper’s head and Millie, released from his grasp, crumpled to the floor beside him.

  “Hurrah! Hole in one!” cried the Professor. But now what would he do?

  T he Apprentice was confused. Jack had put the ammunition and the gun into his pocket and then gone to the supermarket. He never helped with the shopping usually and the Apprentice was impressed he even knew where it was.

  Tired evening commuters lined up obediently with their baskets but Jack headed straight for the wines, beers and spirits. Ah... of course. Selecting a cheap bottle of vodka was no problem, but how was he going to pay for it? He would almost certainly be asked for I.D. But when Jack slipped the bottle into his pocket and picked up a six pack of lager, the Apprentice understood. Sure enough he was refused. Pretending he had left his driving licence at home, he shrugged at the girl behind the till and walked off graciously, leaving the lager on the belt. But as soon as he left the car park he unscrewed the red top and took a huge gulp of the clear, fiery liquid.

  This was going to end in tears.

  D ominik surveyed the plain white door. He wasn’t even sure his shoulders would fit through that gap but, hey, ten minutes ago he hadn’t believed in talking dogs either! Chrissie was still holding his hand and looked somewhat bewildered, but if she was up for it, so was he. He looked into her beautiful brown eyes and smiled, not the kind of date he had in mind but at least they were together.

  Quark was still speaking, “...there is no need to worry, you will be led to Millie and then you can all return together. Are you ready?”

  Christina Elliot had never felt less ready in all her life, but she was determined to do her best. Putting on her calm teacher face she stepped up to the door and grabbed the handle. In an instant they had both disappeared. Quark was about to turn away when Winston had another brilliant idea, “I suppose we could try the other doors while we wait? Or is that not allowed?”

  Christina was so relieved to be in such a familiar place that she finally released the breath she had been unconsciously holding, “Oh, it’s a library!” she exclaimed before she could stop herself.

  Dominik was rather disappointed –he had been secretly hoping for some “other world” experience – but this was all rather boring and Chrissie had let go of his hand.

  A low moan attracted their attention and Dominik was the first to move, “Come on, it’s coming from over there.”

  Millie shook her head and blinked hard but, sure enough, it was her geography teacher bending over her, “Millie, thank goodness, are you alright?”

  Some good-looking guy was trying to help the creep so Millie shook her head furiously. “Best leave him,” she croaked, “unless you want to stay here.”

  Dominik stepped back and decided to stand guard instead, placing his hands firmly on his hips in a show of latent masculinity. Christina helped Millie to her feet; she was still a little wobbly but wanted to move as far away from the Doorkeeper as she could.

  “What are you doing here Miss?” she finally managed to say.

  “I think we should get out of here first and then we can all discuss what’s been happening later, when you are safe.”

  “No!” said Millie and the Professor at the same time, both alarmed, but for different reasons.

  Dominik appraised the book for the first time, “Hmm... nice app.”

  The Professor bristled with indignation, “I most certainly am not an application young man. My name is Professor Alexander Graham Montague and I have just successfully knocked out that despicable cad at your feet!”

  Millie smiled for the first time, “Thank you,” she whispered, “I don’t know how you did it, but you saved my life.”

  “And that
’s a good enough reason why we should all leave right now.” Christina was trying to lead her away but Millie refused to go.

  “No, the Professor is right; we have to take the amulet so I can help Oliver.”

  The teacher was confused, “But I’ve just seen Oliver in the hospital, how can this amulet, whatever it is, help him there?”

  Millie checked the Doorkeeper was still unconscious, “He’s not in the hospital Miss, I saw him go up there.” She pointed to the row of books where she had last seen Oliver. The library was harshly quiet, each perfectly bound volume a glaring witness to some unspeakable horror. Millie returned to the Doorkeeper and tore at his shirt, but she was completely unprepared for what met her eyes. The amulet was indeed on a thick golden chain around his neck but it also appeared to be moulded to his frame somehow. It covered the top part of his chest and bore twelve large jewels, arranged in four groups of three. The gems were indeed stunning and they twinkled vibrantly, but how was she going to remove that?

  O liver had been walking for ages but everything looked just the same, it was impossible to tell if he had made any progress at all in this barren landscape. All he could see was the conveyor belt stretching ahead of him. The more he walked the further it seemed to increase into the distance. Was that possible? He was angry at his own incompetence. He had gone to help Millie but instead found himself stuck in this perpetual puzzle. What was the point of going on? Normal rules obviously did not apply here so Oliver sat down to think.

  He looked at his hands; they were shining brighter than the rest of him. He had actually forgotten he was in this bizarre situation, with Quark it had all been so straightforward, he simply copied what he did. So what would Quark do?

  Oliver moved to the edge of the conveyor and swung his legs over the edge. He could see or hear nothing below. A soft breeze stirred in the mist. He thought about it for maybe a second and then launched himself into the unknown.