The Key

by Marianne Curley

  His eyes swing to mine, and it feels as if they are scorching right through flesh, blood and spirit. Mine. ‘Know this, Matt: I would put a knife through my own heart before hurting Isabel.’

  I nod. It is all I am capable of. My tongue feels like glue in my mouth.

  ‘But,’ he goes on, ‘don’t expect me to restrict her activities to “safe” duties.’

  These words break the tension and I laugh. ‘You’d have a hell of a job trying.’

  ‘I would never insult her that way. The Guard is her life. It’s in her blood. And her powers are vital to the cause. But you will have to trust me, because sometimes things are not what they seem. It’s a strange double life we lead. But if it’s any assurance, all of the Named will know of what we saw before noon tomorrow. Everyone will have to be prepared, especially those of us who have seen these creatures in the flesh and who will be able to identify them as soon as they start appearing in our world.’

  ‘Just how dangerous are they, Arkarian?’ Rochelle asks.

  ‘Their mere presence in our world would be a great threat.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘The balance of good and evil would be disrupted.’

  ‘What could happen?’

  ‘The same thing that happened to the underworld. Waves of darkness will sweep across our lands, and the world will grow darker and darker. Eventually the moon, and then the sun, will be completely obliterated. No crops will grow. Oceans and rivers will have no tides and confusion will reign. Ultimately, all that is natural will die and evil will win.’

  It’s hard to believe anyone would want this to happen. ‘How can Lathenia want this?’

  ‘She is the Goddess of Chaos. Cold and darkness, fear, greed, and all that is evil, are the very things that make her stronger, the things that bring her contentment.’

  We’re quiet for a moment, absorbing Arkarian’s disturbing words, when Rochelle asks, ‘How soon before they attack?’

  Arkarian breathes in deeply. ‘By the looks of those troops, I would have to say very soon.’

  Quietly Arkarian shifts the three of us back to the mountain, delivering us directly into his main chamber. When we appear, Isabel and Ethan can’t conceal their relief.

  ‘What’s happened?’ Arkarian is quick to ask.

  Ethan points to the sphere. ‘A portal has opened.’

  Arkarian stares into the sphere, adjusts its magnification several times, studying the past. ‘It’s Plymouth on the 24th of August, 1768.’ He looks up. ‘The night before Captain James Cook sailed the Endeavour in search of a great southern continent.’

  ‘Is that Cook down there among that rabble?’ I can’t help asking.

  ‘Yes,’ Arkarian confirms. ‘A complement of ninety-four are preparing for the adventure of their lifetime. A journey that will last just under three years.’

  ‘Where is the danger going to come from, Arkarian?’ Isabel asks.

  He glances at her, and as usual when their eyes meet, his soften. ‘I need more time to study this, but by the looks of this narrow portal, it’s not going to be open for long. This means the Order are planning a quick and decisive mission. My guess is that there will be two of them: one to distract us, while the other attempts to assassinate Cook.’

  ‘What are we waiting for?’ Isabel asks.

  Arkarian pulls back from the sphere and looks at each of us in turn. ‘I would send Jimmy, but his skills are needed on another mission tonight.’

  ‘Arkarian,’ Isabel says in a tone devised to get his attention. ‘I will go.’

  Without answering her directly, Arkarian looks at Ethan, then at me. ‘It will be Ethan and Matt.’

  A wave of excitement and relief washes through me. The relief is that Isabel isn’t going. Unlike Arkarian, I don’t care about insulting her. The excitement is at the prospect of my first mission into the past. And I haven’t even got my powers yet! Suddenly that wave of excitement turns to slop in my stomach as nerves kick in.

  Beside me, Isabel fidgets restlessly, then pulls on Arkarian’s arm, tugging him to the side. ‘What are you doing?’

  ‘Just my job, Isabel. What I’m trained to do. Assessing the situation and making judgements based on those assessments.’

  ‘But why are you sending Matt?’

  ‘Hey!’

  She glares at me. ‘Shut up, Matt. I just need to know why.’

  Obviously these two are still finding their way. Working together and being together would have to strain anyone’s relationship. I glance briefly at Rochelle. Well, at least I don’t have to worry about that.

  ‘Isabel,’ Arkarian says patiently while pointing to the sphere. ‘There are ninety-four men down there.’

  She starts to get it. ‘Oh.’

  ‘If I sent you, or any female for that matter, you would attract a lot of attention. Look at those men.’ His head tilts towards the sphere. ‘I don’t need to tell you how that would put the entire mission in jeopardy.’

  Ethan can’t help himself. He bursts out laughing.

  Isabel whacks him hard. He rubs his arm.

  ‘I didn’t realise they would all be men,’ she mutters. ‘I just don’t want you overprotecting me, that’s all.’ She glances at me. ‘I get enough of that from my brother, thank you very much.’

  Arkarian folds Isabel into his arms, and holds her there as he asks Rochelle to go and inform Mr Carter, Jimmy, and Ethan’s father Shaun that there will be a meeting here first thing in the morning, when everyone has returned from their missions. ‘And don’t use a phone. Their signals are too easy to overhear.’

  Rochelle leaves and Arkarian turns to Ethan and me. ‘You two had better go home and get some rest. I’ll meet you in the Citadel before you leap, and give you final instructions. And remember, Matt, you will be transported through your sleep. So just relax and go to bed as usual. When you arrive at the Citadel your soul and your eyes will be housed in bodies that resemble your own until you are given secret identities. Do you understand?’

  I nod. ‘Ethan has explained the details of transportation to me in our training sessions. Except, that room we were in today looked different to how Ethan described the rooms of the Citadel.’

  ‘That’s because we were in a different part of the Citadel today. The Citadel is split into two distinct sections. Transportation takes place in the labyrinth, where the rooms and staircases are always changing to suit the requirements of the travellers and to keep their identities intact. Where we were today serves a thousand other purposes, but mostly it houses the living and working quarters. The labyrinth wouldn’t work without the machinery and the co-ordinating that originates from this other half. Anything else?’

  I can’t think of anything off-hand.

  ‘Good, now go. It’s nearly evening already out there. Your mother will be wondering what’s keeping you so long.’

  Ethan tugs on my arm and I make to leave, but notice Isabel is still glued within Arkarian’s embrace. ‘Are you coming?’ I ask her.

  She lifts her head to Arkarian and they hold eye contact for a moment, then Arkarian says, ‘Soon. You two go ahead.’

  Ethan nudges me again. I follow him at a slower pace, giving my sister a lingering look on the way out. I wish I could get used to seeing those two together.

  Outside, the evening air is chilly and I shrug deeper into my jacket.

  Ethan says, ‘You just can’t stop worrying, can you?’

  ‘Huh?’

  ‘About Isabel.’

  ‘I promised our dad I would look after her. That’s all I’m trying to do.’

  ‘Isabel’s my best friend. Trust me, I wouldn’t walk away from her if I thought she was in any harm.’ He thumps my shoulder. ‘Now come on. You have to concentrate on tonight’s mission. You don’t want to blow it, do you?’

  ‘Of course not!’

  Ethan starts to explain about the Citadel. It’s stuff he’s gone over before, but since my earlier question to Arkarian, he must think it needs rep
eating. ‘It’s where we learn the language, accents and other details we need to know so that we don’t stick out …’

  Listening carefully, I start walking with him down the mountain. We don’t get far when a voice calls out from behind. ‘Hey, wait up!’

  It’s Isabel. I can’t help but grin when I see her. She reads my look of intense relief. ‘You jerk. When are you going to realise I don’t need looking after any more? We just wanted a few minutes alone. There’s nothing wrong with that!’

  Unable to keep doubt from my voice, I bite back words and simply mutter, ‘Hmm.’

  With a few more instructions, Ethan leaves us at my front door. All I can think is that I want to take a quick shower and jump straight into bed. But Mum is waiting on the other side of the door.

  ‘Where have you two been?’

  Her voice is tight and anxious. I guess after what happened at school this morning, she would be. I called her earlier to see if she was all right and to let her know Isabel and I were unharmed; and then, since school was cancelled for rest of the day, I had told her we were going up to the national park for a hike.

  ‘Are you sure you’re both all right? Why do you insist on taking off like that? Just as well Jimmy said he bumped into you and assured me you were safe. You know I don’t like you hiking in the park any more. It’s dangerous. Do you want to get lost again?’

  Of course she would be worried. ‘Sorry, Mum. I didn’t mean to upset you. I’d forgotten about … getting lost that time. We didn’t go far. I promise.’

  Jimmy’s in the kitchen; I can hear him singing from here. He’s a member of the Guard too, also one of the Named. And he’s Mum’s boyfriend. I often wonder whether his feelings for Mum are true, or if he’s only here in our house pretending to care for her so that he can be in a position to watch over Isabel and me. It’s an uncomfortable thought, and not totally without reason. After all, Rochelle pretended to love me as part of her job.

  Jimmy comes out wearing an apron around his waist, wiping his hands on it. ‘Told you darl they were all right.’ He looks at Isabel and me and smiles. ‘You two got time for showers if you want. But don’t be long, dinner’s on soon.’

  ‘I don’t want any –’

  I don’t get to finish my sentence before Isabel kicks me in the shin. ‘Thanks, Jimmy. I’m starving. And Matt was just saying how that hike today has given him a huge appetite.’

  She gives Mum a reassuring hug and runs upstairs. I get her message. Ethan was clear on this point. I’ve got to act normally so Mum doesn’t worry that I might be sick or coming down with something and want to come and check on me through the night. While my body will be sleeping in my bed, if she tries to wake me, I will look as if I’m in a coma and scare the life out of her. And apparently it’s worse for the person who’s travelling through time. They get sick and can even die.

  I shower and go down for dinner. It’s chicken, crumbed and baked with potato wedges and sour cream. One of my favourite meals. But tonight it tastes like cardboard. I force down every bite with a smile to assure Mum I’m fine. Jimmy appears amused, but he’s the type of person who can laugh at someone else’s discomfort. Isabel would totally disagree with me over that, but then Isabel disagrees with me over everything.

  As if his intention is to torture me, after dinner Jimmy suggests that he and I do the washing-up together. ‘We’ll give the girls a night off, eh?’

  His humour is irritating me more than usual. But there’s no point in arguing. I don’t want to prolong the evening when all I want to do is go to bed, go to sleep, and go on my mission.

  In the kitchen Jimmy hands me a tea towel. ‘I’ll wash,’ he says. And when Mum disappears with Isabel, he takes the towel from my hand. ‘I just wanted a chance to say good luck tonight without your mother overhearing us.’

  The joking manner is gone. Even his eyes seem, I don’t know, more serious.

  ‘OK.’

  ‘I also wanted to say, be careful. Everything we do now has a rushed feel. And this forces us into making decisions sometimes on the spur of the moment, or with our backs up against a wall.’ He’s obviously talking from experience. And while he usually annoys me so much I purposefully try not listening to a word he says, this time he has my full attention. ‘It’s hard to judge in a split second what’s the best choice.’

  I nod, understanding. ‘Now I know you haven’t got your powers yet, but you’re well trained. Ethan’s made a good job of that. And, well, the best advice I can give you is to trust your instincts. If a situation doesn’t feel right, look into it. If your gut says get the hell out of there, then run, as fast as you can. OK?’

  ‘OK.’

  ‘Now you better get to bed.’ He glances at the sink full of dishes and winces. ‘I’ll look after these. It’s generally hard to get to sleep the first time.’

  Upstairs in my room I drop on my bed and take a deep breath. Everyone’s warnings are running around in my head. I try to block them out, but they’re jumping around in there, vying for attention. I start to wonder what the time-shift is going to feel like. Will there be a sign? Or a sensation that will let me know it’s about to happen? What if I wake during the transportation process?

  In the end I force my eyes shut. When the adventure begins, I’m sure I’ll know it.

  Chapter Five

  Rochelle

  After leaving Arkarian’s chambers I head back to school. I have to find Mr Carter to pass on Arkarian’s message about the meeting tomorow morning. He’s probably still in hospital, but I should check at the school first. It could save me a trip into town. I should have asked Arkarian before I left, but, well, I didn’t think of it at the time.

  The school is still a mess, and because of the damage to D Block, temporary classrooms are being set up on the sporting ovals. Apparently these rooms will be used until D Block is rebuilt. I overhear this last bit of information as one of the office staff, Mrs Walters, tells someone on the other end of her phone.

  It turns out the office is the only place in the school that isn’t cordoned off. ‘They’re everywhere,’ Mrs Walters waffles on. ‘Government scientists have been flying in to our little town all day! And the press –’

  I tap my fingers on the bench top to get her attention. She flicks me a slightly annoyed look, then covers the mouthpiece of her phone. ‘School’s out for the rest of the week. It’s going to take that long to assure the safety of the buildings.’

  ‘But I don’t –’

  ‘An announcement will be made on the local news, dear.’ She waves me away and goes back to her phone conversation.

  I call out in a loud voice, ‘I just want to know if Mr Carter’s been released from the hospital yet?’

  At last she realises I’m not here to find out when classes are returning. As if I would be that keen!

  ‘Oh,’ she mutters. ‘Well, why didn’t you say? I believe they’re keeping him in the hospital for observation.’

  Just great. ‘How long?’

  ‘I’m sorry, dear? Did you say something?’ She looks around as if seeing me for the first time, then stares at the phone in her hand with a frown. Suddenly she hangs up, without even saying goodbye. ‘They wanted us to leave the office, you know. The engineers. But students needed to call their parents. The phones haven’t stopped ringing. Reporters are pouring in from all over the country. They’re calling it a remarkable phenomenon.’

  I speak slowly, enunciating each word separately, so the woman can focus on my question. ‘How long is Mr Carter going to be in hospital?’

  ‘Oh dear. A couple of days, I think. They want to run tests. He insists there’s nothing wrong with him, but you know what they’re like.’

  My head shakes. ‘Who?’

  ‘Doctors. Nurses. Scientists. They’re saying it’s a miracle he’s alive. He doesn’t even have a scratch on him. The gods were shining on that man.’

  Hmm. Well, not quite. And lucky for him Isabel and Ethan were nearby. A news reporter comes in wi
th his microphone pointing at me. I duck out of his way and make a quick exit. But the media is everywhere and it proves a battle just getting to the front gate.

  I catch a bus to the hospital just as it starts getting dark. I still have to tell Shaun and Jimmy about the meeting. The way this is going, it’s going to take all night.

  About twenty minutes later I get off the bus in the centre of town and take the short walk to the hospital. At reception I quickly find out that Mr Carter is being kept on the third floor, and when I get there, he’s telling a doctor off for keeping him in so long.

  I knock, halting their conversation.

  The doctor sees me and attempts to smile, but doesn’t quite make it. Mr Carter is being difficult, testing the doctor’s patience. But his survival is a miracle and certainly worth investigating.

  The doctor waves me inside. ‘I’ll be back to continue this conversation when your visitor leaves.’ He passes me on his way out, mumbling, ‘Good luck.’

  When he’s gone, Mr Carter motions for me to close the door. Suddenly we’re alone and I don’t know where to look. We’re not exactly the best of friends. In fact we’re not friends at all.

  I move in closer and see all the wires and tubes attached to him. ‘What have they done to you?’ A heart machine is beating steadily in the background, while other machines have little wavy or zigzag lines running across a green screen. I point to the equipment. ‘Is this necessary?’

  ‘Of course not! But try telling them that.’ His head shakes, and after peering at the closed door, he starts pulling stickers and tubes from his head, chest, arms and legs.

  ‘What are you doing?’

  ‘Getting out of here.’

  ‘But Mr Carter, don’t you think they’ll notice? I mean, we’re always being told not to draw attention to ourselves.’