The Seventh Seal (The Chronicles of Daniel Stone Book 1) Read online

  We stared in open mouthed silence; there were no questions to the cold analysis from Albertus. It was Daniel, our new Keeper, who brought us back from our introspection.

  ‘What are you all so frightened of? One man?’ he said disparagingly. He got up and paced around the table, a small boy now with a big heart, our wasp.

  ‘We need to do what’s right,’ he said emphatically.

  ‘This man killed my father, he has killed countless others and you think that sitting back and doing nothing is right?’

  Emotion and anger were now blending into his soliloquy. He was commanding and authoritative; it was quite simply astonishing to witness such maturity in someone so young.

  ‘You talk of our role as bringing balance. I don’t pretend to understand all that yet, but I know what’s right and what’s wrong, we have to do something,’ he implored before sitting down a little meekly, surprised by his own reaction and outburst.

  Albertus smiled. ‘Daniel, my boy, you have grown much in a short time and you are, of course, right: we must meet Smee and restore balance.’ Albertus turned to Lucius now with a more direct and confident tone, having been snapped out of his indecision by Daniel.

  ‘What news from the Trees, Lucius?’

  ‘Willow has made contact with the Metropolitan Police at the highest level and he is now controlling the situation with the help of Commander Abberline,’ said Lucius.

  ‘Good… that is indeed good news.’

  He now turned to Daniel. ‘My boy, we don’t have much time to prepare you for what you are going into, but I think a game of the Keeper’s Challenge is in order.’

  Daniel looked at him with incredulity. ‘Albertus, I know you do things in a rather strange manner here, but a game? Really?’

  We all burst into laughter, a light relief from the weighty discussion.

  ‘Ahhh, this is no ordinary game, Daniel. The Keeper’s Challenge is famous in Thera.’

  ‘Well I’m from Earth and I’ve never heard of it,’ said Daniel smugly, acting like all of his fifteen youthful years.

  ‘Yes… well…’ Albertus was knocked out of his rhythm.

  ‘It’s famous here in Thera, and it is a part of the Keepers’ training, a vital part,’ he said, recovering his composure.

  ‘Well I don’t see how a game is going to help, but hey, what do I know?’ said Daniel, conceding defeat on the basis that nothing made sense anyway; this was just added to the long list he was building in his mind’s notebook of ‘strange and unexplained’.

  ‘Very well,’ said Albertus.

  ‘Daniel, come with me. Elias, go to Earth, meet with Willow and see what he has in mind. The rest of you, prepare yourselves for battle, a battle for Earth.’

  *

  Albertus took Daniel into the Professor’s laboratory and with Geddy at his side he looked on in awe at the central chimney. Albertus opened the door on the front and the bright sparkling energy flowed like liquid. Daniel told me many years later that it was this moment that changed it all for him. Just like the tick-tock of my watch, one moment he didn’t quite believe, the next it made sense. He described the feeling to me so beautifully, he said, ‘When I saw the energy, I saw life; it was as if I was looking into the very soul of it and I felt at peace.’

  Daniel watched the energy river flow through the channels in the floor, instinctively stepping aside and out of its way as it progressed across the laboratory. Geddy offered a low grumble and growl, followed by a whimper as he stayed close to his young master. As it hit the wall Daniel had to rub his eyes, thinking his vision was blurring as the wall and lab bench were now completely out of focus; he thought it was like looking through an old piece of glass.

  As his mind unscrambled the view in front of him he could now see that a swirling vortex had created a large opening in the castle wall and Albertus gestured to him to enter. Daniel paused nervously.

  ‘Do not worry, my boy, come on, it’s safe.’ Albertus entered the vortex first and disappeared into the blackness; Daniel paused once again. A hollow-sounding voice came from the darkness.

  ‘It’s safe, Daniel, come in,’ encouraged Albertus.

  Daniel, nervous but inquisitive, took his first step; he looked down at Geddy. ‘You’d better sit this one out, boy.’

  There was no mind voice this time; Geddy just whimpered an acknowledgement and stayed where he was. As Daniel got closer he could see the beauty in the vortex; it seemed to have infinite depth and imagery, and colours changed rapidly in response to his movements and his feelings. As he placed his foot over the threshold, stepping from one world to another he was hit by an enormous mind surge, image after image flooding his mind: dinosaurs, primitive man, wars, world celebrations, sporting events. He felt like he experienced the entire history of Earth in a timeless moment. Then as if someone had shoved him from behind, he was thrown through the vortex into blackness.

  21st September 2012, Earth

  Another blue sky perfect day brought a happy jaunt to my steps as I made my way to the EP headquarters; the calm of nature was most welcome.

  ‘Elias, nice to see you after all these years.’

  ‘And you, Willow, although I’d have preferred a more pleasant reason to have met.’

  ‘Quite so, we have everything under control here on Earth, Elias you can reassure Albertus of that,’ said Willow.

  ‘That is good to know, but Smee has more lives than a cat and is as cunning as a fox. We’d be more confident if we understood your plan.’

  ‘One of Abberline’s officers, a Tom Cranford, has been leading the investigation. Unfortunately, our Ms Shurman had been keeping detailed files of events in her work and, after her disappearance, her son, Calum, took them to the police. Cranford now thinks he is dealing with a gang led by Frank Buckley and a deranged lady who has been selling some form of information to him.’

  ‘He knows nothing about Smee?’

  ‘No, nothing at all… but he has suspicions about me.’

  ‘Where is he now?’

  ‘Taking some time off…’ said Willow, but his face gave away his thoughts.

  ‘But you don’t believe him?’

  ‘No, I certainly do not. Mr Cranford is going to be straight back on the case and a maverick policeman is the last thing we need.’

  ‘Leave Mr Cranford with me, I’ll take care of it.’

  ‘What are you going to do?’ enquired Willow. I smiled, turned and left as Willow followed after me.

  ‘Elias… Elias… what are you going to do with Cranford?’

  ‘What all Keepers do, Willow, I’m going to restore balance.’

  *

  Willow’s directions were good and I found Cranford’s house with little issue. The old-fashioned green door with a central brass knocker reminded me of Thera and I smiled with a certain amount of nostalgia for home as I gave it the rat-a-tat-tat of a friendly and happy visitor. The door partially opened to reveal a slightly stocky man with greying hair and reading glasses sitting down on the edge of his nose, which he immediately lifted off and pushed up onto his head. He looked harassed.

  ‘Yes… can I help you? If you’re trying to sell me double glazing or clean my drains, I’m not interested, go and pick on someone else,’ he barked.

  I smiled. ‘Mr Cranford? Mr Tom Cranford?’

  ‘Who’s asking?’ he said brusquely.

  ‘Ahhh, good, you are Mr Cranford… my name is Elias Watson, Mr Cranford. I am the Keeper of the Second Seal of Thera.’ Cranford’s face changed as his jaw dropped and I smiled as I pushed the door fully open.

  ‘May I come in?’

  Cranford stepped aside without a word, looking me up and down as if he had just seen a ghost.

  As I entered the hallway, he managed a soft response. ‘Come in…’

  I could see an open door off the hallway with a man sitting at a table.

  The man Jones was mulling over Cranford’s notes as I entered the dining room and he too looked me up and down.

&nbs
p; ‘Hello,’ he said on impulse, followed by an awkward momentary silence; you know those that seem to last for hours.

  Cranford followed behind having recovered a little from the shock.

  ‘Jones, this is Mr…’ He stumbled.

  ‘Watson,’ I said with a smile.

  ‘Where’s Sherlock?’ said Jones sarcastically.

  ‘Pardon?’ I said, unfamiliar with the joke.

  ‘Never mind,’ said Jones, disappointed that his quick wit had not been appreciated.

  Cranford sat down and I followed, sitting opposite them. I have to say I was enjoying the situation a little, which was rather cruel of me I know given their shocked states, but I had no ill intent and so I let Cranford off my hook.

  ‘Mr Jones, I assume?’

  ‘How do you know my name?’ protested Jones.

  Cranford, now back in control, added, ‘I think Mr Watson here knows many things, Jones.’

  He now turned to me with the inquisitorial look of a policeman.

  I smiled once more. ‘Indeed I do, Mr Cranford. Perhaps I may enlighten you as to my purpose and intent?’

  ‘I think that would be a good place to start,’ said Cranford.

  ‘I can assure you, Mr Cranford, that our role is a peaceful and lawful one; we have been maintaining balance for all of time and—’

  ‘Yeah, yeah, I know all that. I read Elizabeth Shurman’s diaries,’ interrupted Cranford condescendingly. ‘But I’ll decide who is and who isn’t breaking the law and anyone who is will face the full force of the courts whether you’re from Earth, Arthe, Thera or Mars. What I want to know is who is running the gang that’s rampaging through our city and that killed two of my officers. So if you don’t mind, Mr Watson I really don’t trust you or your motives at this point in time.’

  Cranford paused for breath momentarily but wasn’t finished. ‘I have armed robbers and murderers to apprehend and you, my dear fellow…’ he said, mocking my style of speech, ‘are now an accessory to murder. So why don’t we park the history lesson and get on with the facts at hand? Let’s deal with them first and then I’ll worry about why all that I learnt in school was wrong.’ He stopped, having vented like steam from a whistling kettle that then faded as it was taken off the heat.

  I let him calm for a few more moments. ‘Mr Cranford, the gang of men you are seeking are known as the Badaran; they are criminals, the worst of the worst from Earth and Arthe who were sent to Arahas prison in the Eastern Desert of Thera. They either escaped or had done their time and were living in Arahas when they were recruited by their founder and leader, Simean James.’ I paused, as Jones was writing feverishly into his notebook.

  My throat was dry. ‘Mr Cranford, do you think I could trouble you for a cup of tea?’

  Cranford gave me a dismissive look but then turned to Jones. ‘Tea, Jones, for our guest,’ he barked.

  We sat in silence while Jones made my tea and Cranford ploughed through notes, checking my information, filling in the blanks. The hot tea was most welcome and I returned to my explanation.

  ‘Now where was I? Oh yes, Simean was working with a very dangerous fellow by the name of Odling Smee. It is Smee who is running the gang.’

  Cranford looked puzzled. ‘What about Frank Buckley? Ms Shurman’s files refer to him as the leader.’

  ‘Ahhh, yes, Frank Buckley was the warden of the prison; also corrupt, but killed in a great flood at Arahas. He was trying to buy the Arcanum off her we believe. After Buckley’s death, Smee offered her the same deal.’

  I continued talking for over an hour to my captive audience of two before Cranford gave me a welcome respite.

  ‘So this Arcanum… how powerful is it? Nuclear bomb powerful?’

  ‘In a way, yes, but much more focused.’

  ‘Like a laser?’ added Jones, trying to add something to the conversation.

  I smiled at Jones. ‘The Arcanum was designed to channel regulus power in the event that we needed to affect a major shift in the balance. It can move matter apart and bring it back together, amongst other things. If Smee were to get all seven seals, he would be in possession of a weapon more powerful than you could ever imagine. It would be able to release a massive energy burst that would cause untold destruction.’

  Cranford looked suspicious. ‘So why are you telling us all this, Mr Watson? You’ve gone to great lengths to keep all this under wraps. Your friend Willow could have explained all this.’

  ‘A very astute observation, Mr Cranford. To maintain balance we need many hands; we are facing a crisis that needs to be resolved by working together. I would rather you were part of that plan instead of inadvertently working against us.’

  Cranford was thinking if he could trust me.

  ‘I appreciate your candour, but I’m still not sure who to believe.’ Cranford paused.

  ‘But I can believe you came here with good intent.’

  I sighed with relief.

  ‘So how can we help you, Elias?’ said Cranford, with a reluctant and untrusting smile.

  21st September 2012, Thera

  Daniel blinked several times, trying to re-orientate his senses into a new strange environment. For the most part there was blackness, an empty nothing that left him with an overwhelming feeling of exposure. His normal frames of reference — walls, floors, ceilings, ground, sky and horizon — were gone. He was surrounded by the blackness, cut only by the faintest sense of light. As he sat up, Albertus offered a helping hand to lift him up. He grabbed it instinctively and stood up wobbling on what his senses were telling him should be something he couldn’t stand safely on. Albertus smiled at the young Keeper.

  ‘Don’t worry, Daniel, you’ll get used to it,’ he said, trying to dispel his fears.

  ‘What is this place? Where are we?’

  ‘Well, location-wise, we are inside the wall of the castle.’

  ‘But how can we be?’ said Daniel, completely befuddled.

  ‘The regulus energy, Daniel, allows us to do some very clever things. What you need to understand is that most of what we see, feel and perceive as solid is, in fact, empty space. The atoms that make up the universe are full of… well, nothing. The regulus energy connects all this empty space giving us paths to travel on. Now if the Professor were here he would tell you we have created a potential well.’

  ‘A potential what? Albertus, we are huge, atoms are tiny and that wall is no more than three feet thick.’

  Albertus laughed. ‘Yes, indeed it is, my boy. The regulus energy has stretched the space temporarily, giving us our room, our potential well where we can be at one with the innermost workings of the universe and realise the potential of life… I said it was clever.’

  Daniel now focused on other matters and in particular three large oval-shaped boards, glowing and floating on plumes of energy just behind Albertus.

  ‘What are those?’

  ‘They, my boy, are the reason we are here. Those are the boards we will use for our game, the Keeper’s Challenge.’

  As Daniel settled a little into his surroundings he began to see into the blackness to see that it was not quite as empty as he first had thought. Small light flashes, like fireflies in a spring meadow, popped in and out of his vision.

  ‘Are those particles?’

  ‘Very good, Daniel, your father taught you well. They are why we have Keepers; this is the universe at work, particles moving around randomly, all going about their business to keep balance. Isn’t it beautiful?’ said Albertus excitedly.

  Daniel looked on once again in awe and was reminded of the Fawkes and Spokes ride, but this was really real. He thought how stupid that sounded in his mind.

  ‘You see, every particle flash, every movement causes all the particles in the universe to shift. It’s no wonder things in life are so unpredictable. Underneath it all everything is constantly moving.’

  Albertus now turned his attention to the reason they were there. ‘Now before we start our challenge I think I need to explain the rules.
Have you ever played a strategy game, Daniel?’

  ‘Yes, on a computer, but nothing like this.’ He looked around to emphasise his answer.

  They both walked over to the boards, Daniel constantly looking down at the apparent nothing he was walking on, still not quite believing this could happen.

  ‘Now, let’s start with the easy part,’ said Albertus.

  ‘You will see that the three boards depict maps; the two large boards, Earth and Arthe, no doubt you recognise these. The smaller one is Thera. Each of the boards is then divided to form a grid. Now, pay attention, Daniel. On the Theran board there are fourteen discs, arranged in two sets of seven in a triangle formation on the north and south of Thera. These represent the Keepers; one set for me and one for you.’

  Daniel looked on intensely, concentrating on every word Albertus was saying.

  Albertus continued and pointed at the boards as he spoke. ‘On the Earth and Arthe boards we again have two sets of discs, one black and one white, and there are sixteen of these, each one occupying a grid position within a country. Are you with me so far?’ Albertus looked at Daniel for affirmation and Daniel nodded.

  ‘Excellent,’ said Albertus with a smile.

  Daniel looked at the three boards, hovering on pure energy each at waist height. The boards were unlike anything he had ever seen or played on before. Whilst he could make out the land and sea of Earth, Arthe and Thera, the surface of the maps rippled like water.

  ‘What sort of boards are they?’ Daniel asked.

  Albertus smiled. ‘These are formed from energy waves, Daniel, flowing that way and this. By alternating the direction of the waves we get our map. Now let’s add some life, shall we?’

  Daniel looked at Albertus incredulously; what did he mean ‘life’?

  Within a moment of Albertus speaking each of the grid points with one of Daniel’s discs started to animate and come to life with miniature people, and no ordinary people. Daniel’s discs changed to people from his life; his late father, his mother, his grandparents, his aunt and uncle, and his friends.