SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 3
Concept date: 13th November, 2020
First published: 15th November, 2020.Status: COMPLETED.
Version: EXTENDED.
Age Recommendation: 15+
Average reading Time: Approximately 45 Minutes.
Revisions: 4. [Last Edit: January 2022]
Angel-in-charge: Margret Team Assigned: Team 74
Human Time: 1959AD-1378AH Mission: 592868 - 7 - 3999
Age 15+
They didn't smile at the rest of the message; apparently the Chief Constable had been contacted by the Home Secretary himself and the police had - gracefully - accepted assistance from an outside agency. A team of private investigators had been hired by the MP and it had been agreed, to give these 'experts' in tracing missing persons full police co-operation and assistance. The Inspector hung the radio handset back on its clip with some restrained force. "I don't bloody believe it! Private Investigators; since when did the police hand over their responsibilities to a bunch of bloody amateur detectives?" He sounded annoyed, amazed and surprised - because he was - and slumped back in his seat. "What fucking next? Call in the locals with bloodhounds?" He muttered.
The sergeant sat up and pointed to the dirt road that lead into the clearing. "Sir, there's a van coming up the lane and I don't think its ours. It's bloody white with a big black fella driving it!" Everyone leaned forward as the van pulled up some yards from them and the driver flashed his lights in a sort of 'Hello'. The Inspector grunted; "Stay put. Let them bastards get wet." His two colleagues chuckled at that. The sergeant flashed the headlights of the police car and sat back. "I bet their all wearing old raincoats, smell of booze and were kicked out of various police forces before they even finished their probation." The sergeant predicted with a chuckle.
Wilson folded his arms; "How can this car be buried under those ancient trees and still be sitting here? That doesn't make sense." Jericho looked up and smiled; "Just admiring your old car Reverend. A 1932 Morris Cowley unless I'm mistaken." The old man stood in the doorway of the small Parochial House and finally smiled; "Yes it is young man. You know your pre-war cars. I bought it new back then - in 1932 - and now my grandson Chester drives it. He loves the old girl; calls her Molly."
William leaned forward and didn't smile: "Lester told me about you people. That you protect the so called human time line and who you work for. Well Mister temporal detective; the next time you see God, you tell him to get off his omnipresence arse and help fucking humans out. Oh, and tell him William says hello." He bent down and ran his fingers through the fur of the big black cat that had emerged from under his chair. Owen had to chuckle; two more cats also crept from under the chair. They sat staring at the visitors. "You like cats then?" Alex said, quite bemused as two smaller cats stuck their heads out from under the big sofa.
EPILOGUE:
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Angel-in-charge: Margret Team Assigned: Team 74
Human Time: 1959AD-1378AH Mission: 592868 - 7 - 3999
MISSION SUMMARY: "August1959, three teenage students camping in Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire have suddenly gone missing. The Police have searched the woods which cover 8,000 acres and found nothing. Their little campsite appears to have been abandoned in quite a hurry. The locals believe its the work of 'HARBINGER' a mythical and dangerous 'Tree-Spirit', a legendary figure in these vast woodlands. But Jericho Tibbs and team 74 are on scene because the students souls have gone missing from the current human time-line."
NOTES: This episode contains mild bad language and horror, but strong sexual references.
"This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead or actual events is purely coincidental." The Author.
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| 45 Min. |
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| Book Series 4. |
"HARBINGER."
1. THE CLEARING IN THE WOODS.
"Sod bleeding all." The big sergeant fumbled in his pockets and pulled out his cigarettes and lit one. He took a well earned couple of puffs and stared at the two tents; one had fallen down - well almost - and the other had collapsed completely. The young uniform constable didn't smile; "There no chance of footprints, the bloody ground is too dry. There's been no rain for weeks around here. They probably fucked off to an orgy or something, smoking pot and pissing everywhere." The sergeant nodded and sighed; "Bloody students. Why couldn't they have gone missing on the Moors, then it wouldn't really concern us."
Inspector Parish walked back to his two colleagues and shook his head; "Sod all sergeant. But it does look like they just abandoned the place. There's dinner plates with sausages and beans still on them. Their coats and other clothes are still around." He held up a wallet; "One of them even left his wallet and watch in the bloody tent."
"So they buggered off in a hurry then Sir." The constable muttered. The Inspector walked back to the big police car and slipped into the front passenger seat and picked up the radio handset. "I'm going to call it in. We are going to need more manpower and someone who actually knows these bloody woods." The sergeant just nodded. Three bloody young students from York University had now been missing for five days. Worried parents and friends had been calling the police station about them for the last two days. Especially the concerned mother of Miss Iris Weeks - the only female of the three - she had arranged with her daughter; that she would call her mother every couple of days. Her mum had even given her a big bag of pennies for the phones.
The constable walked from the small clearing and stared into the dark woods. "They wouldn't be the first bloody people to vanish in this place. People have been going missing in here for years - probably centuries - and now these three have simply disappeared." He spoke softly to himself and then looked down at the small slope, that ran down to a gravel path. There were dark twigs and small branches everywhere. He rubbed his chin and pushed up his cap. He looked about and shouted to the sergeant, who wandered over, throwing down his cigarette. "Sarge, how come there's a trail of twigs here. There's no tree's in this clearing."
The sergeant looked down at the trail of twigs and small branches; the young constable was right; there were no trees or even bushes to drop them; never mind that they seemed to form a zig zag line into the woods. "Now that's bloody strange." He said and gestured for the constable to follow him. They walked next to the trail of wood splinters and stopped at the small stream. The tree's on the opposite bank looked dark and forbidding despite the day being sunny and clear. The sergeant wiped his face and neck; "That's bloody queer; it seems to stop at the edge of the woods." They could hear the Inspector shouting for them and they walked back to the police car.
"The bloody Superintendent is on his way back to the station. The name in that wallet is important; the bloody son of an MP. Now the shit has really hit the fan." The Inspector sighed and stared up at the sky. "I've told old Ames [the Station Sergeant] to ensure there's a couple of lads sent up here to preserve the scene. They can use my car tonight. I think the weather is about to break and we could have rain." The sergeant and Constable both looked up at the wonderful blue sky and sighed together. Inspector John Parish was a keen fisherman and knew about the weather. If he forecast rain; then it would probably piss down. Good bloody luck to the poor bastards who pulled this baby sitting job tonight.
The three sat in the car and waited for the relief officers to turn up. The sergeant had to chuckle; the incoming night sky looked full of rain. The sergeant sat in the drivers seat and fiddled with the radio set. He picked up BBC light and they listened to some music. The Inspector sat scribbling in his notebook. The first drops of rain splashed upon the windscreen and was quickly followed by more. The young constable chuckled; Jesus, Parish was like a bloody bloodhound when it came to the weather. The darkness fell slowly and the sergeant switched on the engine and turned on the sidelights. At least old Robbie [the night shift van driver] would be able to see the big black car in the gathering darkness.
"We'll do a swap; the car can stay and Robbie can run us back to the nick in the van. It's Saturday night and the van will be needed. Inspector Kelly is covering our district tonight; he has a car and driver already." Inspector Parish told the sergeant who just nodded and lit another cigarette. The young constable stared out the rear windscreen and found he actually shivered; no one in their right mind would be in the forest at night. He settled back in his eat and watched the rain tumbling down the rear screen. He actually jumped when the police radio burst into life; the station was calling the Inspector. The sergeant quickly turned off the music and Inspector Parish answered the call. Everyone smiled when dispatch told them; the van was on its way.
The light came on in the van opposite as the doors were opened. "Fuck me, that's some piece of bloody skirt!" The sergeant exclaimed, they could see the young man and woman clearly as they jumped from the van. "What the fuck have got a tart with them for?" He added; actually a little amazed. Sheltering under a big black umbrella, the couple approached the front passenger side. "What a fucking pair of tits and legs!" Was all the young constable said and leaned forward to get a better view. Parish rolled the window down half way and nodded at the face that appeared under the umbrella. "Inspector Parish Sir?" The young man asked and Parish just nodded. Jericho pulled an envelope from the pocket of his smart three piece suit - under his very expensive black raincoat - and handed it to Parish. "Jericho Tibbs Sir, from the Company of Thyme, Tibbs & Travel; Private Investigations. That is from your Chief Constable Sir." He smiled and Parish didn't.
Parish tore open the envelope and read the letter; he sighed and nodded. "It appears that the Chief Constable has authorised these people to assist us with finding the three missing students." He pushed the letter into his tunic pocket and stared at the woman; she was a bloody stunner. Dressed like she was about to attend a Buckingham Palace garden party. She probably couldn't investigate a hole in her bloody stockings! But he kept those thoughts to himself. He told 'Tibbs' that two uniform officers would be here to relieve him and would they kindly keep away from the tents; until scene of crimes officers had attended in the morning. Mr. Tibbs nodded and asked if they [the policemen] knew of any good B & B's around the place. The young constable said quietly; "Yeah, try York City." His colleagues couldn't restrain their laughter with that quip.
Jericho and Alex slipped back into the van and Wilson just smiled; "I bet they were as helpful as giving a glass of water to a drowning man." Jericho nodded and turned to Owen; "Who are the missing souls?" Owen stared at his mirror and said quietly; "The oldest student is twenty year old John Hammond; likes to hike and fish, studying Political History. The second male is Caleb Mortimer Harding; nineteen years old and studying Modern History. He's father is the MP. Finally we have Miss Iris Weeks - aged nineteen - and studying Medicine; want's to be a doctor apparently. All three souls vanished two days ago from the current time line."
"Looks like their relief has arrived." Alex said and leaned forward, adding; "I wonder if they'll be a bit more friendly?" Jericho smiled; "They may be if you wander across and ask if they want coffee and fish and chips from that chippie we passed in the village." Alex just sighed. The team watched the change over and the police van pulled away, disappearing down the lane. Owen looked about and rubbed his chin; "This place is seeped in strange stories and legends. There was a very evil witches coven here in the 1700's. Old 'Doc' Underhill and his team cleaned that one up. A real nasty bunch into human sacrifice. It's had a couple visits from demons over the years; James and Arthur [Knights of God] cleaned them up. Then, there's the strange legend of the 'HARBINGER'."
Wilson chuckled; "Bloody HARBINGER? What the hell is that?" Owen shrugged his shoulders; "No one really knows, but it's always sighted when strange things happen around here. I think it could be one of those old 'Tree Spirits' that the BOSSES [Owen is talking about GOD] father created, after all, he knocked up the bloody dinosaurs so anything is possible!" Everyone laughed at that. "Give it another hour and we'll make contact with our new police friends." Jericho said and settled back in his seat, watching the rain falling.
2. THE BIRD WATCHERS HUT.
Owen leaned forward and stared out the windscreen and grumbled about when they would be going for fish and chips; he was going to indulge in a battered sausage as well. Then he went silent for a few seconds; "Am I seeing things or is that a light showing the woods; its faint but its there." Everyone strained forward and all could see the faint light flickering deep in the wood. Jericho sat up straight and nodded; "Its a light alright. Its not moving." Alex tapped his shoulder; "The two coppers can see it, but they have just turned back to their papers." Jericho pushed open the door and grabbed his umbrella; "Come on Alexandra; lets find out if they know what causes it." He stood in the rain - umbrella up - and gestured for her to follow.
Wilson and Owen watched them talking to the officer through the drivers side window and then jump into the rear seats, Wilson grunted; "That's more like it. Amazing what a decent pair of legs and the offer of hot coffee and fish and chips can do!" Owen smiled - still staring at the light - which remained steady. "I think it could be a house or something. Its not car lights; its too dim. I didn't know anyone lived in the forest." He consulted his mirror; "Yes, I was right. There's no human habitation for miles."
Jericho and Alex re-joined them; smiling. Jericho eased in and gestured for Wilson to start the van; "It appears that a certain Lionel tanner has a small hut deep in the woods; the local council allows him because he's an Ornithologist and teaches kids about the bloody birds that infest the place. The two coppers say that he must be after night feeders like Owls and that. He's definitely is worth a visit." Alex just sighed; "The cheeky buggers wanted my phone number." Wilson pulled the van away; chuckling. "Don't tell me your surprised by that?" He muttered and drove down the gravel lane towards the main road. "They call them 'twitchers'; people who watch birds. They are also called 'Birders'. What the difference is I haven't a clue." Owen said, but no one really listened.
They returned some forty minutes later and dropped the goodies to the very appreciative policemen. Alex politely declined their offer to join them in the police car and have her supper with them. Owen was overjoyed and scoffed his down quickly; cleaning up anyone else's left overs. Wilson just sighed; "Where the hell does he put it all? He eats like a pig and stays skinny as a rake." Jericho was reading his mirror - in between mouthfuls of chips - and wiped his hands on some paper servlets. "Let's go people; the hut is some six miles down that gravel path. The van should make it; School buses do." Wilson drove off; following the road carefully into the dark forest.
They had to leave the van - next to a Morris Minor car - some two hundred yards from the hut which was quite large with two big windows. The doorway was lit by two powerful lamps. Jericho knocked and heard a deep voice shout 'Enter; its unlocked!' They wandered in and found a big man standing by a small wooden table; stuffing binoculars, torches and camera's into a canvas sack. He introduced himself; Lionel Tanner. Retired History Teacher and President of the local Ornithologist Society. He matched Wilson in size with a nasty pink scar down his left cheek. He pointed to it and smiled; "Bloody war. Copped one at 'Juno' beach. Could have been worse; the bloke next to me had his head blown right off." He smiled and pointed to the steamy kettle on the small paraffin stove. "Anyone fancy a cuppa?"
They sat on old wooden chairs, sipping hot sweet tea and Jericho - after introducing everyone - asked about the missing students. Lionel shook his head; "Sadly, their not the first to disappear in this woods without a trace. Back in '22 [1922] two young hikers went missing; nothing was ever found. My grandfather told me a story, that back in the 1890's, that a family on a picnic disappeared up by 'Angel Ridge'. Shame really, I had only seen the kids arrive a few days ago. I don't know how that rusty old heap of a car made it down Hobbs lane."
Jericho tapped his chin; "They had a car?" Lionel nodded and offered digestive biscuits all round; Owen took a handful and drew a disapproving look from Wilson; who just sighed. "Yeah, some right old banger. Bloody pre-war I think. Haven't seen a motor like that since I was a teenager." He lifted the huge teapot and poured himself another cup; offering refills to everyone. "The driver was a skinny kid; didn't actually look old enough to drive. But he made it." Wilson sipped his tea; "Which one of the three missing students was driving Lionel?" The big man shook his head; "None of them. The skinny kid didn't apparently stay. The car was gone the following morning and so was he."
"Did you actually see them around the woods Lionel?" Jericho asked and Lionel sat back and ran a couple of fingers through his neat grey beard. "Come to think of it. No. I never did see them around the woods. But old Gabby - the woodsman - told Marge in the village post office, that he saw them heading towards 'Angel Ridge'. He knew it was them because of the girls flaming red hair. Very pretty little thing apparently." He sipped his tea, cradling the cup with both hands. "Now here's the odd bit. Marge - the local Post Mistress - told Gabby that the skinny kid with the car, brought postcards and sweets in her shop. Lots of them; said they were for his friends. He also bought several cans of beans and soup. Oh, and a fresh loaf of bread. The Post office doubles as a local shop,"
"Sounds like he was staying." Alex said quietly and turned to Jericho; "You don't think we have four missing people but only three missing souls?" Jericho placed his cup down; "If there is a fourth missing student; then where the hell is he?" Jericho sat thinking while Lionel explained to Owen about the difference between 'twitcher's' and 'Birders'. Owen asked him which he was. Lionel grinned; "Bloody both I think. Just love birds." He shrugged his shoulders. But Jericho interrupted the pair; "Lionel, can you take us to Angel Ridge'" He nodded, but pointed out that they weren't really dressed or equipped to walk in the woods at night. Jericho just smiled; "Give us fifteen minutes and we will be."
The little group assembled and Lionel was thoroughly impressed. They had walking sticks, back packs and rain proof clothing, including stout hiking boots. Alex had swapped to a pair of trousers and looked the part. He chuckled - a little amazed actually - "Do you always carrying such equipment on your investigations?" Jericho nodded; "Especially when big bloody forests are concerned!" With Lionel in front, torches swinging, the group set off for Angel Ridge.
Wilson asked Lionel what the police had said when they interviewed him. Lionel shrugged his shoulders and wiped rain from his thick spectacles. "Don't know my friend. They haven't spoken to me or even old Gabby." Now that did surprise the detectives. "Incompetent and bloody rude." Owen muttered to Alex, who had to agree. Lionel was also impressed by the groups stamina; considering they had scoffed down fish and chips, with loads of coffee and tea. He shouldn't have said that; Alex had to find a bush; quickly. They stood around waiting, then heard Alex yelp. "What's up Alexandra?" Jericho shouted; quite unconcerned. Alex emerged from the big bush and ruefully grinned; "I think, I just peed on a poor bloody badger." Now that did make everyone laugh.
They made Angel Ridge after a couple of hours of gentle walking. Lionel filled the time pointing out the various night birds who were active; especially a couple of Owls. It was quite clear that the big man knew these woods like his own garden. He admitted that Rose - his late wife - had introduced him to bird watching before the war. He clearly missed her and that made Alex a little sad. But they reached Angel Ridge just before midnight and stooped at the foot of the gentle slope and passed a hip flask around. Lionel was impressed by the quality of the brandy. Suitably reinforced by the drink, they tackled the slope and made the top. They couldn't see much; it was night after all. But something caught Owen's sharp eyes and he pointed down to a thick clump of ancient trees. "There's something odd about them. Look at the base; it's seems to be shaped like..." He wiped rain from his face and finished; "Looks like the shape of a car!"
3. THE STRANGE SECRETS OF ANGEL RIDGE.
They struggled a bit to reach the small group of very old trees. They stood around shining their torches into the thick undergrowth and everyone agreed; it was shaped like an old car. They managed to push closer and now could see the remains of a car, mingled in with the big trees and bushes. One very old tree had grown through the boot. Lionel shone his torch about and muttered to himself, finally turning to the others - he looked totally puzzled - and said quietly; "This is bloody impossible! These trees are hundreds of years old. But they have apparently grown through the car; which means the damn car had to be here before the bloody tree grew! That's impossible!"
Owen was peering in, what would have been the front passenger side and shouted for the others; They gathered around and stared where his torch was pointing; on the passenger side floor were several rusted tin cans. He held one up and shone his torch close to it; "I can just make out the name - Heinz Baked beans - and there's several cans here." He said and dropped the tin back down. Lionel was standing staring at the wreckage entangled in the trees and bushes. He spoke quietly - the amazement and bewilderment obvious - "If I really had to make the call; I would have to say that this rusted piece of junk was the car that bloody skinny student was driving." He ran a hand over his face; "But that's bloody impossible. These trees are hundreds of years old and I only saw the car a few days ago; working."
The team exchanged glances and said nothing. Owen and Alex moved to the other side of the trees and Owen operated his mirror discretely. "Body search?" Alex asked in a whisper. He nodded and wiped his face; "There's a set of human remains in there somewhere." He looked up at her and said quietly; "They belong to John Hammond and he must have died hundreds of years ago; that's how old these trees are and he must have been here before them. No soul was collected; obviously." Alex nodded; "One down, three to go I think." They re-joined the others and said nothing, but Owen nodded to Jericho, who clearly understand what he was saying; without him saying anything. He walked away and operated his mirror.
"I think we should make camp in the shelter of the ridge. Are you staying Lionel?" Jericho informed the team - and Lionel of course - and pulled off his backpack. Lionel actually stared at it. It seemed to have grown since leaving his cosy little hut. He watched the others pulling off theirs and would have sworn on Rose's grave, that they were bigger than when they set out; which was impossible of course! He nodded and looked back at the clump of old trees. He had walked this forest since he was boy with his grandfather and couldn't remember this strange little group of trees. The three tents were quickly erected and everyone settled in. Wilson and Jericho shared, whilst Lionel bunked in with Owen; Alex had her own small tent and looked quite happy in it.
Lionel had - obviously - missed Jericho stopping time and old Joe from Supplies arriving with the new backpacks. He smiled at the still Lionel and said to Owen; "He looks like he knows what he's doing in a forest." Owen just smiled. Alex asked him if there was any way to date trees accurately, short of cutting them down and counting the bloody rings! Joe nodded and pulled his mirror out; "trees are living things with a life cycle and with a little adjustment you can..." He stopped talking and tapped at his mirror. Then smiled; "The tree through the boot is 213 years old. This being 1959 means that it started to grow in 1746." He grinned; said his goodbyes and disappeared. Chuckling to himself; Jericho had restarted time.
Owen shared his hip flask with Lionel and they sat chatting; Owen asked him about the legend of the HARBINGER and Lionel smiled. "Goes right back in time. Our ancestors worshipped nature then; especially trees, mountains and rivers. The sun and Moon, of course. Its said that all this forest - is was much bigger then - was his realm. He was apparently a 'tree spirit' and a force for good in the woods. He was said to have helped the early humans survive around here. But all that changed when Christianity appeared; he was forgotten and he really didn't like that. So, over the centuries , he changed from a benevolent entity into an evil creature of legend. The witches around here used to call upon him. But I think he always preferred to be helpful to humans." Lionel handed back the hip flask and stared up at the stars; the rain had stopped.
"That's some story Lionel. Do you tell the kids that one, when you take them to chase birds around here?" Owen said, making himself comfortable. Lionel chuckled; turning over to catch some sleep. "Its not a story lad. I've seen him a couple ot times myself over the years and he never did me or the missus any harm." Owen just stared at the big man; "You've actually seen him?" He asked incredulously. Lionel nodded and yawned. "Sure have. You can't really miss him." He drifted off to sleep and Owen quietly slipped from the tent and Joined Alex, Jericho and Wilson who had gathered in Jericho's big tent. He told them what Lionel had said. Wilson just grunted; "Yeah, Goldilocks and three big grizzly bears live two miles down the road. The bloody porridge is really good I understand."
Jericho smiled; "Well, it looks like a rogue time portal operates around here. That may explain all the disappearances over the years. We need to find and close it. So I think a little trip back to 1746 may be in order. We're going to need to rescue those bloody students before they all end up like Hammond." Owen and Alex returned to their tents and everyone was soon asleep. It was Alex screaming that woke everyone up and made them jump from their tents. They found her running back and straight into Wilson's arms. "What the hell..." He said, but Alex was actually shaking and pointed back to the dark trees of the woodland. Finally, she calmed down and sipped Owen's hipflask. "What the hell happened Alex?" He asked.
"I needed to pee and so I took my torch and found a big tree, I just squatted down and..." He gulped down some more brandy. "I was careful. I didn't want to pee on any more small animals. Then the bloody tree walked away!" Everyone just stared at each other. Lionel just patted her shoulder; "Don't worry. It was only HARBINGER taking a look at us." He walked back to his tent; like they had just received a call from the bloody postman! Alex shouted after him; "Bloody HARBINGER! is that it? A bloody tree just walked away!" Owen shoved the hipflask back under her nose. "Come on. I'll explain about the walking tree and you'll see sense." He took her back to her tent. Jericho and Wilson stared into the forest and exchanged an amused look.
"The BOSSES granddad did have a bloody good imagination and did create some strange bloody things." Jericho said quietly as he and Wilson settled back in their tent. Wilson nodded; "Well, anyone who created the bloody Duckbilled platypus must have a warped sense of humour." They both chuckled at that and settled back down. Owen's head appeared in the tent flap and he held up his mirror; "Check the date on our mirrors. Its Sunday, 15th June 1567." He whispered and didn't smile.
Wilson confirmed the date; they had been thrown back 392 years in an instant. They quietly walked past the sleeping Lionel and shone their torches at the strange clump of trees; it had gone. Jericho rubbed his chin; "Now that's bit of a co-incidence. HARBINGER turns up and we're thrown back in time 392 years." Alex joined them and shook her head; "Never mind the disappearing bloody trees, what going on over there?" She pointed to the forest edge; some miles away. It was large bonfire and they could make out several dark figures around it.
Owen checked his mirror; "Several humans - nine to be exact - five men and three women and a child." He really grimaced; "I think they're witches and the child must be a...."He hesitated and wiped his face; "A child sacrifice." Alex prodded Jericho's shoulder and said quietly; "What are we going to do about that?" She folded her arms and stared at him. Jericho shrugged his shoulders and sighed; "Your bloody love of living humans, is going to get us in some real shit; sooner or later." She almost smiled; "Well lets make it sooner than latter for the sake of that child."
4. A CHILD OF THE MOON.
They crept through the undergrowth and stared at the scene - illuminated by the bonfire - and Owen did chuckle a little. "All stark naked and dancing. Mad bastards." Alex pointed to a tree stump; the little girl sat clutching a stick doll. Her head covered with a wreath of flowers. The child had a strange look on her face. "I bet they drugged her." Alex whispered angrily. Jericho lay quietly in the grass, then suddenly reached into his jacket pocket. He pulled his orb out and everyone could see the red streaks forming around its circumference. "A bloody demon." He said and watched the streaks swirling about the orb. Wilson pulled out his mirror. "A Guardian?" He asked softly and Jericho nodded; "It's a Tier Three. A Guardian will do nicely."
They watched - a little horrified - as a big man walked up to the child and easily picked her up. He held her aloft and the others started to chant. He walked back to the bonfire and shouted - in old English - that the child was a gift to the goddess of the Moon. The flames would consume her and the rising smoke would send her up to the Goddess. The coven started to dance again, chanting and singing. Jericho almost jumped when Oscar [a Guardian of God] tapped his shoulder; "Well, the gangs all here now." The little man said with a broad smile. He looked across at the witches and grunted; "Another bloody sacrifice to the moon. Mad bastards." Owen nodded; "I said that too."
They watched as the flames of the bonfire seemed to part and a dark figure emerged. Oscar sighed; "Bloody Taliss, He's a right twat. I've kicked his arse a couple of times. Really does like child sacrifices. The dirty piece of shit likes to fuck them first." Alex patted his shoulder; "Go get the fucker big man." She whispered. Jericho rose from the ground and stopped time; his mirror would have no effect on the demon of course. Oscar leapt from the bushes; his Staff of Moses gripped in both hands. "Arse kicking time you mother fucker! Yippee Ki Yay!" He yelled and set about the surprised looking demon. Wilson just sighed; "Bruce bloody Willis has a lot to answer for."
The demon was no match for an enraged Oscar; who beat the shit out of him and the demon fled screaming back into the bonfire. Owen handed Oscar his hipflask and patted his shoulder; "Nice job big man." The dwarf smiled and took a sip. "I do enjoy my work sometimes." Alex gave him a well earned kiss which made him grin. Wilson gently pulled the child from the arms of the big witch and Alex wrapped her in her coat. "She can't be more that ten." She muttered with great sadness. Owen coughed; "According to Human Records, young Kathleen - her father is a farmer here - died this very day. No soul collected. That fucking demon would have stolen it. That's changed now." Jericho smiled at that; "Well, that gets us off the hook. We recovered a lost soul. Angel Margret won't be able to moan at us; well not too much."
Owen ran his mirror over some of the naked witches and groaned; "For fuck sake" The big man is her father and that skinny woman with the filthy hair and pock marks; is her bloody mother! Now what do we do with her?" He gestured to the still child in Alex arms. Jericho sighed and rubbed his chin; "Well, we can't leave her with those devil worshipping murdering bastards." Everyone just looked at each other; thinking. Owen smiled; "According to my mirror; there's a convent some seventy miles away. In these times, it may as well be, in a different country. We could drop her off there. They have a good reputation for looking after orphans properly. Kind women by all accounts." Jericho nodded; "That's the best chance she'll have in these times and circumstances. You and Alex get going."
Owen and Alex operated their mirrors and were gone. Jericho looked at the naked witches and smiled. He stared at the bonfire - frozen in time - and gestured to it. "Shall we move these bastards a little nearer? I'm sure they feel cold." Everyone chuckled at that. Oscar just grinned; "Angel Margret won't be happy about this. But then she's not happy about a lot of things you get up to Jericho! Everyone would love to know how you get away with so much." He gleefully helped move the witches a little closer to the fire, muttering; "You can have a little taste of what that poor bloody kid would have endured; you mad bastards."
They made their way back to the encampment and Jericho restarted time; they all laughed at the distant screaming. Oscar said his farewells and Jericho returned everyone - including the sleeping Lionel - back to 1959. Alex and Owen returned just before sunrise. Alex really did smile; "The nuns were lovely and didn't hesitate taking in little orphan Kate. But they thought we were an odd pair." She chuckled and pointed to Lionel; who was sitting up in the tent; stretching. "What do we do with the twitcher?" Jericho rubbed his chin; "Take him back to his hut I suppose." Owen pointed to the strange clump of trees; "He knows something is not right here. He's bound to tell people about this. That could be a real problem; evidence of time travel and all that."
"We'll deal with that later." Muttered Jericho and they started to fold up their tents. Lionel admitted that was the best sleep he had enjoyed in some time. "I must camp out in the woods more often. HARBINGER won't mind the company." Everyone just stared at him. They headed back to the hut. Owen insisted they visit the village and find a café; he was starving. The van pulled up outside 'Maggie's Dinner' and the team piled in. The smell of bacon, sausages, black pudding and other breakfast delights filled the place. Owen actually rubbed his hands together and they sat at the table by the window. The middle aged waitress appeared and took their orders; She peered over the top of her large, black NHS glasses and asked Owen to confirm what he just ordered.
Owen smiled; "Two fried eggs, two sausages, two bacon, mushrooms, beans, black pudding, fried slice and grilled tomato's. That's it I think." He grinned and she just sighed; "Hungry little soul ain't he." She muttered and wandered off. Wilson just shook his head; "I'd swear the beggar must have hollow legs."
Jericho called the briefing to order and spoke quietly; "We know that John Hammond must have travelled back to 1746 or sometime before that and been killed or died. No soul obviously, So where are the other two souls? We know that the skinny kid who was driving, must still be around here. No soul collection and no soul missing from the time line like the other three. So where the hell is he?"
Wilson grunted; "Then we have the problem of the HARBINGER. Does he possess some sort of time portal? It can't be co -incidence that he appeared and we get thrown back 392 years?" The discussions stopped for the waitress bringing the food. She slapped the large plate of breakfast down in front of Owen and almost smiled; "I can ask the chef to shoot a horse if you need a snack." She grunted and walked off. Owen just sighed and set about his breakfast with some relish.
Wilson rubbed his chin, placing down his fork; "We could jump back to 1746 and conduct a body search, but if negative, we would have to jump back each year until we achieved a result. We could end up in the Stone age." Alex was enjoying scrambled eggs on toast, but she suddenly stopped; "A creature like the HARBINGER wouldn't have a bloody time portal; he's basically a bloody tree that can think and walk. What if HARBINGER IS the time portal? That would make sense with people disappearing whenever he is seen." She sprinkled some salt and squeezed a little ketchup on her eggs. Owen paused his relentless scoffing to agree with her - he chuckled between mouthfuls - "Why not just ask the strange old bugger where he sent them?"
Everyone stared at him and he lowered his knife and fork; "Now what have I said?" He asked softly. But Jericho did smile; "I think our human dustbin has a very good suggestion there. If anyone would know; the HARBINGER would." Alex groaned; "That means spending another bloody night in the forest. There's no proper loo's." She muttered and sipped her coffee. It was agreed that was the plan of action; but first they had to return to the Student's campsite and check it over. They finished their breakfasts and the waitress stood speechless, as Owen ordered two bacon rolls to go!
They climbed in the van and set out for the woods. They drove past the Parish Church of St. John and Jericho shouted 'STOP!' to Wilson, who pulled up by the crumbling brick wall of the church's graveyard. They all jumped from the van and walked back to the churches driveway. Everyone stared at the old car parked on the gravel. Owen checked his mirror; "It's a pre second world war car. A Morris Cowley made in 1932. Now there can't be many of them in this small village." Jericho walked up and peered in the windows; he gestured for everyone to join him. He pointed to the front passenger footwell; There were several tins of Heinz soups and baked beans on the floor.
"Grandson?" Whispered Wilson, adding; "How would he know the students from York University?" Jericho walked up and shook the reverends hand and introduced himself and his team from; 'Thyme, Tibbs & Travel' - private Investigators - The reverend just nodded; "I had heard that some amateur detectives had been hired by Caleb's father to help find the missing youngsters." Jericho smiled; "Is your grandson in sir?" The old reverend nodded. "Can we speak to him?" Jericho asked. It was clear the old reverend wasn't firing on all his cylinders! The reverend sighed and shouted into the house; "Chester! There are some amateur police people here!" He gave the team a little backward wave and disappeared inside; leaving the door open.
Everyone noticed that the old man was wearing different shoes, Alex sighed; "I would say early signs of dementia." Owen shook his head; "Sorry to disagree Doctor Kildare, but isn't dementia a modern disease? Only came about in the early 21st century." Alex shook her head; "In these times it would be called senility, you twerp and don't tell me how to be a doctor." But there was no real censure in her voice. Owen just smiled; that smile that annoyed Wilson so many times.
A scruffy, skinny young man appeared wearing a baggy jumper and dirty trousers. He was eating a sandwich; "Who wants me?" He asked and lowered his sandwich, smiling at Alex. Jericho - again - introduced himself and the team. Chester grunted; "Not this crap again. Like I told the coppers last night, when they stopped me in the old car; I dropped off some stuff to John and his friends and didn't stay." He shrugged his shoulders and turned to walk away, stopping; "Don't bloody annoy me again with this crap." He threw the remains of the sandwich at Jericho's feet and slammed the door shut. "Rude, obnoxious, lying little shit." Was all Owen said. No one disagreed with him.
5. CAMPISTE CLUES.
They sat in the van and Owen ate his bacon rolls; cold. Alex leaned back in her seat; "He's lying because the bloody cans are still in the front passenger footwell. He never dropped them off to John Hamond, so what else is he lying about or what is he hiding?" She asked and had to grimace at Owen; eating stone cold bacon rolls. Jericho nodded and told Wilson to head to the students campsite. "Something is not right here? Lionel believes that Chester dropped off the students and left. The woman in the shop sold Chester canned food, which he said was for his friends, but never delivered them apparently. The only person to see the students here was the character called 'Gabby' the woodsman." Jericho recounted and stared out the windows. They made their way back to the little campsite. It was swarming with police and scenes of crime personnel.
Inspector Parish actually groaned at seeing the van pull up. But the old sergeant tapped his arm; "They did look after our lads last night and they did keep away from the tents; like you told them." Parish shrugged his shoulders; "Always the voice of reason sergeant." Jericho and the team waited by the van until called over by the Inspector. The team bid the two policemen a cheery good morning and only the sergeant replied. "And a good morning to you. Sleep well in the woods with mad old Lionel?" He chuckled. Jericho smiled; "So you've spoken to Lionel then?" He asked.
The sergeant laughed; "Yeah. We heard the tale of Chester Freeman's car - now a wreck and hundreds of years old - the HARBINGER jumping out on your girl taking a pee. Oh, we heard the whole fantastic story. You can see why people call him' mad Lionel'." The Inspector - smiling now - gestured to the campsite and said; "Help yourself. let me know if our professionals missed anything." He walked off and the sergeant followed. It appears the police operation at the camp site was over. The sergeant turned; "We have a team turning up to remove all this. The Council insists its cleaned up." He nodded and jumped into the big black police car and drove the Inspector away.
Owen sighed; "It appears that old Lionel has no real credibility around here. That makes our job easier; doesn't it?" Jericho didn't answer but walked over to the tents. "Come on people, lets have a look - a good look - and use your mirrors." He shouted and knelt down by one tent. There were footprints everywhere; the rain last night had turned the previously hard ground a little soft. That's when he noticed the little ruts in the grass. Owen peered over his shoulder; "Looks like pram wheels." Jericho nodded and rubbed his chin. "Or a wheelbarrow or something similar."
Wilson shouted to them; he had walked down the small slope, that ran down to a gravel path. They joined him and stared at the trail of wood splinters and small branches. "Lovely zig zag pattern and there's no trees to drop them here." He gestured for them to follow and they did, stopping at the small stream. The tress opposite seemed to move despite there being no wind. "I think the HARBINGER was here." Wilson said softly. Owen walked the stream's edge for a few yards and stopped. He waved everyone over and they gathered around him. It was a lipstick that looked new. Alex turned it open and smiled; "Cherry red." She said and closed it.
Jericho surprised them by splashing through the shallow stream and stopped amongst some rocks that protruded from the water. He reached down and pulled a woman's powder compact up. "Check the other bank thoroughly." He said and the team - reluctantly - joined him in the stream. They crossed to the other side and looked about. Owen shouted; "By the tree line; there's a pair of eyebrow clippers!" He held them up and stared into the dark trees. "There's a small path in here."
Shaking their wet shoes, they pushed into the trees and Jericho immediately noticed the little wheel ruts. They were intermittent but could be followed. They had gone some yards when Wilson found a woman's face powder brush. Alex held it and said softly; "Do you think someone is leaving us a trail to follow?" Jericho nodded; "Miss Iris Weeks, I strongly suspect." They followed the little path for about an hour until it ended where a dirt road began.
Owen found a rough wooden sign with metal letters [well rusted] forming; "Copes Farm'. They walked up the road and found the ruins of the old farm building and large yard. The house had little roof left and no glass in any of the remaining windows. The front door was hanging half open and Owen shouted. In the driveway to the yard, he had found a silver cigarette lighter - he held it up - "Its engraved with the name 'Iris'." He said simply.
Wilson already had his mirror out, but Jericho pointed out the little wheel ruts in the gravel. "Our mysterious pram or wheelbarrow pusher was here." Alex stared at the old house; "Yeah, but what did they have in the bloody wheelbarrow?" Wilson wiped his face; "There's no humans in the house or human bodies present." He lowered his mirror and looked about. "This place hasn't been occupied for years. I didn't think anyone lived in the forest." Jericho was walking the yard; "Maybe not these days, but someone lived here years ago. Owen, check the house's history." Owen stood operating his mirror and sighed; "No one has lived here since 1916. The Cope family owned the place since 1856, but the last member of the family was killed in 1915 at the Battle of Loos. No one has lived here since then. According to Human Records; the local Council now own it."
"Well, we know that Iris Weeks has been here and possibly someone else; the wheelbarrow pusher." Jericho muttered. Alex was kneeling by the rusted metal gates of the driveway. She looked up; "There's tyre tracks here. Someone has brought a car up here." Jericho looked around and then cursed loudly. Everyone turned to him; "I know its like slamming the stable door after the horse has bolted, but I think we should have checked Chester's car for a time portal!"
Wilson groaned; "I follow your thinking Jericho; the trail ends here with no bodies, nothing. The last place the students were alive in the current time line is here. Well, Iris Weeks was here, possibly with someone else. There are no time portals in the house or grounds. I would throw my hat in the ring and say they were transported from here in that bloody car to some other time."
Jericho - now quite grim - pulled out his mirror; "Back to the van - the quick way - and lets check obnoxious Chester's bloody car." They vanished and the house returned to its lonely derelict quietness. The HARBINGER moved slowly from the tree line, shuffling towards the dark interior of the forest that it loved so dearly. If it had a face; then it would be smiling.
6. THE OLD SPIRIT.
The Parochial House was in darkness and Wilson parked opposite. The team was disappointed; the car was gone. Jericho asked Owen to check the house; he did so thoroughly. He sat working his mirror for some minutes. "Parts of it were built in the 1700's, but most of it is middle Victorian; early 1860's. The Church grounds it sits in, go way back to Anglo-Saxon times. There was church here first in 953AD." He chuckled; "It [the church] sits right on top of an early pagan temple, that's hundreds of years older. But there are no time portals present. But there is something that may interest us; really interest us." He lowered his mirror and smiled broadly. Alex sighed; "What will bloody really interest us?"
Owen gestured to the old house; "It's haunted. There's an earth bound spirit in there. From way back; possibly well before even Christianity came on the scene." They all stared at the house. "Do we know who it is?" Jericho asked. Owen shook his head; "Human Records have nothing on the spirit. Which is quite odd." Jericho jerked open the van door; "Well, lets have a little chat with it. Shall we?" They all jumped from the van and headed up the driveway. Jericho banged loudly on the door and received no answer. "There's no one in. Well. no one still alive!" Owen muttered, pushing his mirror back in his pocket. Jericho held up his orb; it was clear. "No bloody demon then." He said and nodded to Wilson.
Wilson had the door open in seconds and smiled with satisfaction. Owen grunted; "Are you sure you were in the bloody NYPD?" They pushed in to the dark house and gathered in the messy front room. It was covered with dirty plates, cups, beer tins and bottles. There were clothes thrown about the place and the sofa was threadbare. Alex stepped over a pile of old newspapers and shook her head; "Chester - the little shit - is not looking after his old grandfather very well." Jericho shouted a couple of times for the spirit to show itself. They watched in silence as a little white mist began to form in the fire place and slowly grow into a human shape.
The young man was dressed in a simple white robe with a hood; he had a gold rope about his waist and bare feet. He was a very handsome young man, well built with stunning blue eyes. Jericho bowed a little; "We are sorry to disturb you sir, but I think you know who we are and who we work for." The spirit nodded and smiled a little. "I know who you are Jericho. I have been expecting you or a colleague to finally arrive." His voice was deep - almost hypnotic - he could make a fortune doing movie voice overs!
Jericho nodded; "You have been expecting us sir?" He asked quietly. The spirit nodded again. "The theft of the young peoples souls would bring you on scene. You are clearly well suited to the tasks assigned to you, otherwise you wouldn't be standing before me. Living humans now only exist in the illusionary world created for them. They have little understanding of their true reality." He clasped his big hands in front of him. "What do you seek Jericho?"
Jericho said simply; "To return the stolen souls to their allocated time sir." The spirit smiled. "A worthy cause Jericho. The HARBINGER has already informed me of your excellent endeavours in that respect. He particularly likes your young woman. She was most generous and watered him; which he greatly appreciated." Alex went a little red at that revelation. The spirit raised his arms; "Let us travel together. Time is just another illusion of the human mind; it only exists where living humans dwell. They are freed when their bodies fall away. The flesh always fails; the spirit never does. Come with me now." The dingy room was empty. The reverend's old cat crept out from under the sofa and pissed in the fireplace. Then settled back down on the sofa. She had seen the spirit many time over the years; but the humans in the house never did,
They walked through the woods; the weather was glorious with blue sky and warm sunshine. they followed the spirit in silence. Owen tapped Jericho on the sleeve and pointed to his mirror; it was off line. The spirit tuned and smiled; "You have no need of anything whilst with me." He gestured down to the Manner house; its numerous chimneys were smoking. There was a strange burning smell in the air. "Someone's having a bloody bar-be-que." Muttered Wilson. The Spirit didn't smile; "The humans you seek are trapped in the cellars of this house. They are awaiting the same fate that befell the others. Their captors are destroying the evidence of their inhumanity and will take great joy in more savage, earthly pleasure and death."
"What human year is this sir?" Jericho asked, staring at the house and wondering what the hell was going on in there. The spirit smiled; "There are many ways to date human progress. But for your convivence it is the year 1715." He gestured to the side of the house, adding: "That is somewhat out of place." Everyone could see the old Morris Cowley car standing near the stable block. The spirit did not smile; "I would have suggested you call a Knight; maybe one of the best. James. Arthur or Lucinda. But whilst I'm here, you have no need of them. The dark demon Kiri has taken up residence and his minions are devoted to him. I will cast him back to his foolish young master."
Owen sighed with relief; his mirror was back on line. The spirit gestured to the house; "Go now my friends and fulfil your task." They could hear screaming and chaotic noise from the old house. The spirit did smile; "Kiri is back with his master. Act now Jericho." The team headed quickly for the house and saw young Chester running towards the car, followed by a tall thin man wearing an ill fitting three piece suit. He was gripping an axe in one hand. Jericho stopped time and the two running figures froze in time. "Lets find them!" Jericho shouted and the team ran into the house. At the foot of the stairs was a middle aged woman in a black robe; the hood pulled back; her still face frozen in a shout.
Wilson stopped and stared at the woman; "Isn't that the bloody waitress from the café?" He shouted and they located the hatch to the cellars with their mirrors. Jericho checked his orb; it was clear. Wilson and Owen heaved it up and they shone their mirrors down. It was not a pleasant sight. The two young students were chained against a wall - quite naked - and had bruises and whip marks upon their legs and backs. Alex shone her mirror on Iris and cursed with some anger. The girls thighs were bloody and she had probably been raped more than once. Wilson pulled out his lock picking kit and soon had the chains and collars off.
Jericho ran a hand over his face; "Alex and Owen, take them back to the day they arrived in the clearing. That way, they wouldn't have suffered these horrors. Wilson and I will deal with the bastards above." Alex nodded and she and Owen disappeared with the two students. Wilson and Jericho searched the house and found human remains - partially burnt - in the big fireplace of the main reception room. There was a pentagon painted on the floor; in human blood apparently. Wilson checked the remains in the fireplace and cursed loudly, lowering his mirror; "It's the poor fucking old reverend. Now why did the bastards kill the poor old senile bugger? His soul is lost to the darkness now."
Jericho shook his head; he didn't know. The spirit stood in the doorway and smiled a little; "I will call his soul back from the darkness and obtain the assistance of a Collector Jericho." The old reverend appeared by the fireplace in a state of confusion. Herbie the Collector also appeared; checking his soul ledger - he smiled at Jericho and Wilson - and muttered; "That's bloody odd. I have no scheduled collection for this time and place. Then suddenly I get this one!" Jericho just jerked a thumb at the spirit and Herbie grinned. "Oh. now I understand." He bowed a little at the spirit. "As you order sir." He said quietly and guided the reverend towards the light. They were gone.
"What about John Hammond's soul?" Wilson asked; the young man was missing from the cellar. Jericho stared at his mirror; "Why the hell was he in the car? Why did we find the damn thing hundreds of years before it was even built? They are pretty interesting questions." The spirit chuckled; "The soul known as John Hammond has escaped your clutches and even now is frantically operating the time portal contained in the car. He was part of the devil worshipping sect here and in the future. He and the soul known as Chester Freeman arranged for the other two students to be brought here. But - unfortunately for the evil young man - he failed to operate the time portal properly. He had appeared in 1563, in front of some very unpleasant witches and they used him and the strange vehicle, as the ultimate sacrifice to their master. They burnt him alive. I do love the beautiful irony of that."
The spirit smiled and simply disappeared. Wilson finally had to ask; "Who or what the hell was he?" Jericho checked his mirror and wiped his face; "The BOSSES granddad created humanity and also assigned some of his earlier creations to watch over the fledgling humans. But humans being humans; they soon went their own way, came up with their own religions and Gods. I strongly suspect, that creatures like the Spirit and HARBINGER are all that's left of those early baby sitters."
Wilson nodded and smiled; "What do we do with these bastards?" Now Jericho really did smile. "Well, they do love devil worship; shouldn't they want to join their friend John? I mean, what if they were stupid enough to appear in the middle of a witch trial in the 1400's? I think they would love that." He said quietly and Wilson just had to grin. They stood outside and saw the car had gone. John Hammond had fled the scene; leaving his two fellow devil worshippers running towards him and simply abandoned them to their fate. He certainly regretted that; he didn't quite understand how the time portal worked and paid for that ignorance with his life and soul.
7. RETURN TO THE WOODS.
They sat in the van and waited; the two students from York University never arrived to set up camp. Chester Freeman and his old old car also didn't put in an appearance. Owen sat reading his mirror and chuckled; "The time line has changed a little; but Angel Margret has apparently authorised the changes. The old reverend and his evil grandson have disappeared from this time and place. They never existed here. There's a young married vicar in the Parochial House with his wife and three kids. 'Maggie's Dinner' is now a bloody kebab shop - can we stop there later? - [Jericho just nodded] and she has been removed from the human time line. Gabrielle - Gabby - Houseman; the woodsman never existed here and now. Whilst John Hammond, who died in 1563, never existed here and so; the two young students never met him or came on this trip."
"Looks like old mad Lionel will have his hands full." Alex chuckled as a small school bus passed the team's van; heading up the dirt road to Lionel's cabin. "Of course, old Lionel would have never met us; we only met because of the students and that has now changed." Wilson grunted and watched the bus full of happy young children pass. He grinned and waved at them; he received loads of waving back from the clearly excited youngsters. "Must be a loads more fun than sitting in a stuffy classroom on a day like this." He added and sat back in the drivers seat; smiling.
The team would wait in the little clearing until old Joe from Supplies arrived to collect the van and equipment. Then they would jump to the lighthouse for a well earned dinner and some brandies. Jericho already knew that they had another mission waiting; a trip back to England in 1977 and a dead woman bricked up in bloody Canterbury Cathedral!
Jericho pulled out his mirror which was buzzing; "Bloody Temporal Operations Control, what do they want?" He answered and relaxed back in his seat; then sat up suddenly. He lowered his mirror and really looked grim. "What is it?" Wilson asked. Jericho shook his head in disbelief; "We've been given another assignment here, at this time and place, they passed it to us because it happened right now." Alex leaned forward; "What has happened?" Jericho stared down the dirt road and sighed; "Two young girls have just vanished from the time line. Their teacher is presently at a phone box down that very road, reporting them missing from the school group; right now, to the local police." He ran a hand across his face and sighed loudly.
"A time controller flagged the disappearance and the Senior Duty Controller - Janet - knew we were already on scene here; waiting for Supplies to recover the damn van. She passed the call straight to us. A Susan Morris and Clare Roberts; both aged nine have simply vanished from this time and place." Jericho said and gestured for Wilson to start the van; "Lets go people." He added and checked his mirror for updates.
"What the fuck! We've closed the bloody time portals. How is this possible?" Wilson said and started the van. Jericho sighed; "Maybe they got too close to the bloody HARBINGER and were thrown back in time. Whatever happened; we have to find them." Wilson turned the van around and headed down the road. He had to pull over; a police car passed them at speed, its shrill bell sounding and the headlamps flashing. They followed and found the scene outside Lionel's hut utterly chaotic.
They young teacher - between sobs - was giving a description of the missing girls to the police driver. He wrote everything down and shouted to his colleague to call the station for more men and inform Inspector Parish. The young constable had his hands full; throwing four mischievous boys from the police car. One had already sounded the bells and shouted into the radio handset! Jericho walked over to him and asked if they could be of assistance. The harassed young copper nodded, giving one boy a gentle slap across the head. The boy was writing with a crayon in the police car's log book. "Teachers really earn their bloody money; don't they?" He said - quite ruefully - to Jericho, who just smiled.
Lionel sat on the steps of his hut talking softly with two girls. He looked up at Wilson and Alex; "According to Margaret and Lilly. The two missing girls went around the back of the hut; giggling together over something. They never came back." He stared at Alex; "Don't I know you Miss? Are you an actress off the telly or something?" Alex shook her head; "No, I'm a doctor actually." That admission caught the police drivers attention and he called Alex over; "Can you look after Miss Grimes please Doc? I think she's in shock." Alex nodded and put her arms around the young woman and walked her to the van. They sat in the back chatting.
Owen and Lionel gathered the children together and was explaining about what the police would be doing and why. The Police driver pushed up his cap and smiled; "Thank fuck for that! I'd sooner handle a couple of armed blaggers." [that's armed robbers in police slang] He admitted to Jericho. His young colleague informed him that Inspector Parish was on his way with more men and to get a search party together. "We'll stay and help of course." Jericho told the driver, who nodded then asked who the hell were they!
Jericho kept to the old cover story about being private investigators, except he changed the crucial part of the story, to the team chasing after a persistent debtor, who owed their client thousands of pounds and had absconded. The copper just smiled and muttered; "Inspector Parish will really welcome your help." Jericho could hear the sarcasm in his voice. The driver joined his colleague by the car and Owen tapped Jericho on the shoulder and gestured for him to follow.
Wilson joined them and they followed the zig zag pattern of small twigs and pieces of wood away from the back of the hut. They stood before the dark forbidding tree's at the edge of the vast woodland. "Well, the bloody HARBINGER was definitely here. I wonder if those two kids got too close to him and zap, they were gone." Owen checked in mirror and grunted with real satisfaction; "The Time Controller has finally traced the breech in the time line." He looked up and ran a hand across his face; "There was a breach of the time line here at this time and place. Two souls were transported to 698AD."
Jericho nodded and said quietly; "Owen, go get Alex. We're going to defy temporal protocols and jump as we are. There is no time to mess about with Supplies, costumes or such stuff. Two children could be in real danger in this forest in the 7th Century. So we're going right now; as we are." Owen wandered back to the van and spoke with Alex. Wilson stared at the forest and grunted; "I agree with your call Jericho, but Angel Margret may not." But he did smile.
The team climbed into the back of the van and Jericho operated his mirror and the van was empty. They stood in the slight drizzle and shouted for young Susan and Clare. There was no answer. Jericho wiped rain from his face and told his team to split into two. He and Owen would search in the one direction and Wilson, with Alex would search in the opposite. Owen sighed; "Jericho, nothing is showing on my mirror when I do a body search. That's really odd. The girls human form should be picked up; but nothing is showing." Alex lowered her mirror and agreed with Owen. "That's not right. We should be picking up their bodies. They can't have gone far, we were too quick on scene, they should be here."
Jericho didn't smile as he gestured very slowly to the forest edge; "Maybe they can help." He said quietly and the team all turned as one and saw the group of men standing together between the dark trees. They were all carrying spears and axes. They really didn't look very hospitable. Jericho held up one hand and shouted - in old English - that they had come to find two young girls. Missing from their village. The men spoke amongst themselves and the team couldn't hear what was said.
"I hope their friendly fuckers." Muttered Wilson and the team soon found that they weren't. The group of men charged, waving their spears and axes. Jericho cursed loudly and operated his emergency travel app and the strangers were gone; to the utter astonishment of the angry men. The team assembled outside the lighthouse and Jericho ran a hand over his face; now what the hell do they do?
8. THE TOWER OUT OF TIME.
The team moved through the woods quietly with Jericho constantly checking his mirror. They were now appropriately dressed for the period; Supplies had come up trumps - yet again - and they were back in 698AD in Anglo-Saxon England. Alex was moaning - as usual - about her bloody dress; she had pulled the damn thing up to her knees, so that she walked better and with more freedom. Owen chuckled; "That's not how proper ladies behaved, showing an ankle was considered shocking, never mind your bloody knees." Alex just grunted and the team moved on.
Jericho suddenly stopped, hand in air and gestured forwards; "There's a bloody stone tower ahead. It wasn't here in the time we just left." They crept forward and could see the old stone towner in a small clearing. It looked ancient with just slits for windows. A thin grey wisp of smoke arose from the top. Owen tapped Jericho's shoulder and pointed to the grass around the towers base; it was dead and brown. He pointed to two rabbits laying dead by the edge of the brown grass. "I don't like the look of that." He said quietly and pulled out his mirror. He nodded; "The soil is poisoned with a pretty nasty chemical. Some sort of defence system." Wilson leaned on the big battle axe he carried and rubbed his chin; "Someone could be in; there's smoke rising from the roof and I can definitely smell something cooking."
An arrow thudded into a tree next him and the team fell back, hiding behind some large trees. "Not a friendly time is it?" He said and Jericho lowered his mirror; "One human inside with several small animals; cats I think." Owen nodded and rubbed his chin; "Human records report that the soul inside is a William Gates and his from 2108, A bloody unfriendly time traveller." Jericho sighed; "Lets try and make contact." He shouted out in modern English; the man's name and where he came from. There was no reply and Jericho shouted again. Alex dropped her dress and pointed to the roof. There was a hunched figure now kneeling behind the stone balustrade. It was holding a bow and arrow and Jericho repeated his words and waved a grubby white hankie. The figure stood and threw back the hood on his dark cloak. "Who the fuck are you and from what time?" The young man shouted down to the detectives.
Jericho shouted back; "We're temporal detectives. We work for God. We're looking for two young girls; missing in the woods. They're from 1959 and we need to find them urgently. We think The HARBINGER accidently cast them back here." The young man lowered his bow and shouted down; "Wait there, don't come near the tower. The bloody grass will kill you just a few minutes. I'll lower the drawbridge." He turned and was gone. Owen looked at the tower - quite puzzled - and muttered to Alex; "What bloody drawbridge? There's not even a door." Wilson pointed to the grass and said loudly - with amazement in his voice - "The bloody grass is lifting!" And it was, A metal plank slowly emerged from the dead grass and they all watched as several of the 'ancient' stones also opened. It was a small doorway and the young man stood and gestured to them. "Don't fall off the the bloody plank or you'll be back with God in a very short space of time."
In single file, the team crossed the deadly clearing and entered the stone towner. They stood inside and noticed that the place was completely empty, apart from a wooden staircase up to the roof and a small fire basket which was alight and smoking. The young man stood - arms folded - and watched as the stone 'door' closed behind the team. He gestured to the floor and everyone noticed the slab. He pulled a small remote control from his pocket and pressed a button. The slab rose, revealing a staircase. The metal rails were long lights and he headed down; telling everyone to follow him. Quite impressed they did. Down the small illuminated stair case was a large room with several doors. It was furnished like a 2oth Century front room. It contained a big sofa, fireplace, chairs and a huge TV screen with various black boxes and cables scattered about.
"No Tv signals obviously, but the TV is connected to my computer which has thousands of TV shows and films. Everything is powered by a single power cell; from 2099. It lasts for ever." He told them and tossed his cloak onto the big table, followed by his bow and arrows, he walked to an ornate cabinet and pulled the doors open. Now that did make the team smile; it was stocked with alcohol from top to bottom shelf. He pulled a bottle of whisky down and said quietly; "Anyone fancy a drink?" Silly question!
Everyone sat around and William Gates poured out generous measures; especially for himself. He slumped on a big chair by the fireplace and almost smiled. "Now, how did old HARBINGER toss the two kids back to here?" Alex sipped her excellent whisky and said quietly; "We think is was done accidently, but the children are around here someplace and we need to find and return them. If they die outside their ordained time, their souls will be lost to the darkness of real death."
William nodded; "A risk all time travellers take. Even Temporal detectives I think." He raised the glass and smiled at Alex. "Here's to a real woman. There weren't many of them, where I'm from." Alex raised her glass to return the compliment. "How did you end up here, in this time and place?" Owen asked outright - as usual - and William chuckled; "Good or bad fortune, take your pick. One minute I was a scientist working for the bastards who ran the shitty world and next; I'm sent here with a small team to set up this place. I think the bastards were trying to bail out the mess they made of the world. They never did make it here."
Jericho rubbed his chin; What happened to the others, of your team I mean?" William sighed; "The other three didn't last long. They had no idea about these times, within a year I was all that was left. The bastards never did recall us and we were stuck here. But - thankfully - we had finished setting up the tower." Wilson grunted and finished his delightful whisky; "So they abandoned you?" He asked. William shook his head; "I think they had no choice in the matter. The stupid sheep were revolting everywhere; they had suffered enough and turned on the evil, totally controlling, murdering bastards. It was really bad when we [his team] left. Our little institution was already under siege by crazed mobs. I guess they finally got past the killing machines and put an end to the bastards."
"So the ruling elite [at the time] thought they could hide back in time; clever really." Owen muttered and also finished his drink. William smiled; "If your two kids are still alive, then the only place they would be is at Lester's. The villagers are not friendly. they kill all strangers on sight; even pretty women and young children. I sometimes suspect they may be ancestors of the bastards." He chuckled at that. Jericho placed his glass down and asked; "Who is Lester?" William smiled; "A crazy, lovely old man without who I would certainly be dead now. He has a place some miles from here. He is also in regular contact with your HARBINGER. He's what - in the 1960's - would be called a bit of a hippy."
William smiled; "Their better company than most bloody humans, Lester has more than me. I got these from him as kittens. Most people who visit him come away with a kitten in their pockets." He laughed and slumped back in his chair.
William sat at the old man's feet and sipped his brandy; "Alright to stay over Lester? I could do with some company and I'll let you beat me at chess a couple of times." Lester nodded; "Your always welcome young William." He turned back to Jericho and ran a hand across his face. "HARBINGER told me that he had accidently thrown the children back here, so I quickly gathered them up. The villagers in that particular place are not very welcoming. I could do something about them, but human freewill must always take precedence. You of all humans, do understand that." Jericho nodded. The old man leaned back in the big chair and smiled; "Tell my grandson, that one day, he will have to shift his omnipresence arse [he grinned at William] and actually do something. Humans are abusing the privilege of freewill for power and greed. It will end badly. My Great grandson tried to help and was isolated from the family. But he does like visiting his old great grandfather." He sighed and rose from the chair. "Back to their families, I think." He smiled at the giggling little girls and everyone was gone.
"Can you take us to him William?" Jericho asked outright and William nodded finishing his whisky. "I can. But the deal is this; I help you and you forget about me. No tricks or sending me back to 2108 or anything like that and I want your word on that mister temporal detective. Man to man." Jericho nodded and said quietly; "You have my word on that William." The young man leapt from the chair and grinned; "Well, lets get going. I hope you like cats."
9. DRAGON'S, CASTLES, KITTENS & LOST CHILDREN.
Night was just an hour away as the little group passed through the woods. It was clear that William knew his way around the forest, He stopped suddenly and examined the soft ground. "A group of humans have passed this way, perhaps a couple of hours ago. They appear to be dragging a litter with some weight on it, probably villagers out hunting." He hesitated and didn't smile adding; "But they normally carry their kills over their shoulders on a pole. I wonder what was on the litter?" he stared about and walked on. Owen, just behind, asked him how long had he survived here. William chuckled; "In human years, I suppose I've seen sixty winters here, so about sixty years I suppose."
Owen nodded; humans out of their own time aged very slowly. William was still a young man and would remain so for centuries of human time. Darkness was creeping around them when William stopped the little party beside a large oak tree with an enormous girth. He patted the tree; "This is Modor. She's the oldest tree in the forest." He eased himself down and pulled his cloak around his body; "She'll let Lester know we're here." He said and fumbled in his pocket, producing a small pie - pork - and ate slowly. Wilson shrugged his shoulders and stared up at the magnificent tree; "I wonder how old the tree is?" He muttered and Owen tapped his mirror; "According to my mirror, she's over two thousand years old. Cut down in Late Medieval times to built fucking warships for Henry the Eighth. Bastards." Alex touched the tree - sadly - and whispered; "She's beautiful. How the fuck could they do that?"
William chuckled; "Because stupid sheep brained people let the bastards run the world. That's how." He said; the anger in his voice really apparent. He rose slowly and smiled; "He's seen us and there's our ride." Everyone turned to the large clearing beyond the trees. To say they [the team] were shocked, amazed and impressed - all at the same time - would be a real understatement. There was silence for a full minutes until Owen - as usual - stated the bloody obvious; "It's a fucking dragon! A real, living breathing fucking dragon!" Wilson slapped his shoulder; "No shit Sherlock." He said quietly. He had never seen anything so fierce or so beautiful. It shimmered in the moonlight, lifting and lowering its multicoloured wings. It's huge head, with rolling red eyes, lifted high. William lifted a hand in welcome; "She's called Eve. Come on, there's room in her basket for all of us."
Jericho rubbed his chin and spoke quietly; "I think I know who 'old Lester' really is. Come on." The team approached 'Eve' slowly and realised that the claw beneath her 'starboard' wing was holding a large wicker basket - similar to what the first big air balloons carried - and Eve watched closely as the group climbed in. Alex pulled up her awkward skirts and dropped in. William did smile at that; "Bloody beautiful. Best thing I've seen in years." and chuckled to himself. Alex brushed down her skirts and sat on the floor; knees pulled up. "Hang on everyone; she's off!" William grabbed a rope hanging from the wicker wall and the others all did the same. Eve took off and soared into the night sky. Wilson wasn't too impressed by the ride, but Owen loved it. Alex kept her eyes closed and gripped her piece of rope tightly. Jericho held on with one hand and peered through the gapes in the weave of the basket. He was further impressed, when he saw their destination. A small island on a large lake with a dark castle. "Now that's beautiful." He muttered to himself and gripped the rope as Eve descended.
She landed gently on one of the turrets and slowly lowered the basket into the circular courtyard. The group decamped slowly and Owen was ecstatic and wanted to go again! But Eve folded her wings about her huge body and flicked her tail. She closed her eyes and rested. Light appeared, shining through a large ornate doorway and everyone saw the old man standing there. he held up a hand; "Welcome my friends to Castle Asgard, my very humble home. Come, come and enjoy my hospitality. I hope you like cats." He grinned, his deep blue eyes sparking. Jericho actually bowed; "Thank you sir, I believe you know why we must disturb you?" The old man chuckled and gestured for them to enter. "Always the bloody diplomat Inspector Tibbs. Come on. warm your arses and sup some brandy."
They followed him in and Owen whispered to Alex; "Who the hell is old Lester?" Alex ruefully smiled; "The BOSSES [God] grandfather. The one you admire so much for creating the bloody dinosaurs." Owen gulped and pulled off his rough woollen hat. "Oh fucking shit!" Was all he said. The great feasting hall was silent and empty, apart from loads of cats; they were everywhere. Alex's sharp eyes caught the big cat, sitting by the roaring fireplace that was the size of a small house and she smiled; "Now that could be Mr. Parker's dad." She whispered to Owen, who nodded. The cat was huge, totally black and sitting next to the big chair that was close to the grate. Lester dropped in the chair and smiled at everyone, who stood around him. There were no other chairs. The old man clapped his hands and a figure from a dark shadow emerged into the room.
He was about nine feet tall and dressed immaculately in an evening suit, complete with a dark bow tie. He appeared to be human, but obviously wasn't. His face resembled that of a very handsome ape. "This is Adam. He's my PA here. He'll get you drinks. Anything you want." The team ordered the same thing; brandy. Big ones. That's when they heard the giggling and laughter. Alex really did smile as Susan and Clare rushed into the room, both clutching fat little kittens. They stopped and smiled at everyone. Susan held up her kitten; "I've called him Sooty because he's so black." She grinned from ear to ear with happiness. Clare held her kitten up and stroked its ears; "Mine's called Marmaduke fluff button because he's...well, he's...he's mine!" and cuddled the mewing kitten.
Alex and Owen accepted brandies from Adam , then played with the girls and their kittens. Lester sat on his chair and smiled at Jericho and Wilson. "How's my grandson doing?" He asked simply and smiled broadly. Jericho cleared his throat; "He's fine sir. Doing well." The old man chuckled; "Never ask a bloody diplomat a straight question." Wilson had finished his brandy and watched with amazed eyes, as the glass refilled itself. He liked this place, he really did.
Alex and Owen held the girls hands as they walked through the tree's towards Lionel's hut. Alex smiled at the girls; "Go on, back to your friends. You shouldn't have wandered off like that. You could have got lost in the woods. Now, off you go." The girls grinned and nodded, running back to their friends and very relieved teacher. Owen watched the school children filing into Lionel's hut and the police officers jumping back into their car. "He must have wiped their minds. They think they're only been gone a few minutes. " Alex sighed; "He certainly looked after what he created - when he could - you have to admire him for that." She suddenly yelped; something was moving in her coat pocket. She carefully extracted a big black kitten from it and held it gently with both hands. She grinned; "I think I'll call her Isis." She whispered and stroked the kitten. Owen just sighed; "Do you think Mr. Parker will like a little female company?" Alex grinned; "Oh yes, I really think he will."
They were joined by Wilson and Jericho and headed back to the van. Jericho stared at the little kitten and just smiled.
EPILOGUE:
"An unusual mission for Jericho and the team, But it was deemed a great success; they had closed a dangerous time portal, broke up an evil group of Devil worshippers and returned two souls back to the human time line. They had met old 'Lester' - the BOSSES grandfather - and taken a flight with a real dragon. They had not met the HARBINGER but, of course, Alexandra received a real cute present; Isis the kitten. It turned out that Mr. Parker actually received a nice present too...."
W.A.S.
CHARACTERS:
Inspector James Parish finished his career and retired in 1968, He retired to Scarborough and with his wife and daughter; ran a modest B&B. He died in 1978 and his soul was collected and processed.
John Hammond died outside his ordained time period and so, his soul was never collected and remains missing to this day.
Caleb Mortimer Harding followed his father into politics, but wasn't very successful; he lost three local elections and turned his hand to farming. He died in 1986 and his soul was collected and processed.
Miss Iris Weeks completed her studies and graduated as a Doctor. She worked practises in York and Manchester for some years. Finally, after retiring, she worked in Africa for various medical charities. She was tragically killed on a Kenyan dirt road when her jeep overturned. She had never married or had children. Her soul was collected and processed.
Margaret Caulder [Maggie the waitress] was a member of the Witches Coven and suffered the same fate as her evil companions; He soul was lost to the darkness and remains missing to this day.
Lionel Tanner continued his 'hobby' - some would say; obsession - and enjoyed showing youngsters the pleasure of the woodlands. He died in 1972 from a stroke. His soul was collected and processed. There is now a little brick built hut on the site of his old wooden one; called the 'Lionel Tanner Memorial Hut'. He had no idea how many lives he had touched with his love of birds and the forest. The public subscription for the new hut was heavily oversubscribed and several hundred people turned up for his funeral. He is still remembered with love and affection to this day.
Taliss [the demon] defeated by the Guardian Oscar was to make more appearances in the human time line. But this nasty little demon has disappeared from the scene and Demon Ingress has had no reports about him for some time.
Kathleen Coldstone - who would have been the child sacrifice - lived her life in the Convent as a nun. She was very kind and caring woman and died in 1603. Her soul was collected and processed. She now works as a Collector and is very popular.
Chester Freeman died outside his ordained time period and so his soul was lost. It remains missing to this day.
Reverend Freeman had died outside his ordained time period, but his soul was recalled from the darkness of real death, by 'THE SPIRIT'. His was collected and re-joined the human life cycle. Currently, she lives, as a mother of five in a small Mexican town.
Gabrielle Houseman [Gabby the Woodsman] died outside his ordained time period and so his soul was lost to the darkness of real death. It remains missing to this day.
THE SPIRIT was one of the creatures, created by GOD II, to watch over his fledgling humans. He remains amongst humanity to this day.
Susan Morris had no idea of the adventure she was involved in and when she became a woman, worked in the local Tesco's and married a bus driver. They had two children and Susan died in 2001. Her soul was collected and processed.
Clare Roberts also had no idea about her trip to another time. She did well at school and attended a local college. She finally, became a teacher in 1971. But her career was brief; she was killed in a swimming accident in the Cumbrian lakes in 1973. She left a husband and a son. Her soul was collected and processed.
William Gates continued to live in the forests of Anglo-Saxon England. He has not aged much, being out of his own ordained time period. It is rumoured that he should have died in a hunting accident in 1104AD. But it appears that his friend 'Lester' recalled his soul and William re-joined the human life cycle. He is currently living in Hongkong as a local Taxi driver and is married with three children. He has - of course - no recollection of his adventures in the woods of old England or his dreadful life in 2108. After William had moved on; Lester erased the Tower from the human history.
Pamala Grimes [the school teacher] only taught class for a couple of years. She married the young constable who had attended the missing girls report [yes, Susan and Clare were bridesmaids!] and the left the profession. She had four children and died in 2019. Her soul was collected and processed.
HARBINGER is somewhere in the forests and woodlands that he loves. He tries to keep away from living humans now; he doesn't want any more accidents!
Special appearance by Lester; retired GOD II. The current BOSSES grandfather, who is now GOD IV.
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