Spock rubbed his head and frowned. “Ouch, what was that for? I gave him his game back.”
“That’s for hiding it in the first place,” said Moo looking angry.
Stu and Sid’s laughter was interrupted by Stu’s phone ringing. He looked at the screen and said, “It’s Pon.”
Stu glanced at Sid and then at Moo.
Moo picked up Sid’s plate and cutlery and said, “Come on Sid; finish your breakfast with us in the lounge. Big dopey won’t be able to steal your Gameboy there.”
Sid, clutching his Gameboy, smirked at Spock and followed Moo through to the lounge, sticking his tongue out at Spock on the way out.
“Hi mate, what’s happening?” asked Stu, answering the call and putting it on speaker.
Pon, sounding concerned, said. “The Gopetu was conscious and had given us a similar story as Dave’s. The Gopetu was out when his father called him to say the descendants were under attack. Both he and his father were the protectors and while his father was at the descendant’s house, he made his way back.
When he arrived at the descendant’s house in Bangkok, it was over. He said that his parents and sister, along with the descendants, including their dog, were dead, with their bodies bloated.”
Spock and Stu looked shocked as Pon continued.
“The Gopetu told me that although he saw nobody he felt someone was there and he heard sobbing. He said that he found, Lek, the youngest daughter, cowering under a table seemingly untouched. He said Lek looked terrified and screamed about ghosts as she ran to him.
The Gopetu knew what he had to do should this event occur. While he collected belongings for him and the little girl to bring to Salaburi, something stung his arm. Assuming it was an insect, he thought nothing of it at the time. It wasn’t until they were on the bus to Salaburi that his arm swelled and he saw a thin scratch. He knew from the Puravuttanta that he had been poisoned.”
“That sounded like the same stuff they used on Dave,” said Stu.
“Yes,” said Pon, “Aroona root.”
Spock and Stu looked concerned. “How’s he doing now?” asked Spock.
They could hear a tremble in Pons voice as he said. “He only got a small dose of poison and is recovering, but the little girl hasn’t spoken.”
“Poor kid, I bet she’s terrified,” said Spock thinking about Sid.
“Yeah,” said Stu, “but at least they will be safe there.”
“Master Cenat and the Tinju are taking care of them and I will help prepare for any attack, should they come here,” said Pon now sounding angry. “I have to go but I will call you later.”
“Okay mate, take care, and don’t worry about anything here,” said Stu.
“Thank you my friends,” said Pon and hung up.
The lads drank their tea while deep in thought.
Stu then looked at Spock and said, “This sounded very strange.”
Spock nodded and sighed, “Yep, it all sounds bloody weird.”
The pair discussed the events so far. Stu came up with a theory but as it involved aliens, vampires, and Cadbury’s cream eggs, Spock soon lost interest.
To Spock’s relief, Stu’s ramblings were cut short when Vitchae knocked on the kitchen door and he and Dave walked in.
Sid, seeing them from the lounge window, came rushing into the kitchen.
“Aye up Meggies... Aye up our kid,” said Dave as he put down his bag and Sid ran over and hugged him.
Vitchae wai-ed Spock and Stu and sat down. Spock and Stu clumsily returned the wai and smiled at the old monk.
Dave said something in Thai to Vitchae, who nodded, placed something on the table, wai-ed the lads again, and walked into the lounge to join the girls.
While Spock and Stu sniggered, Dave looked embarrassed as he went over to the table, put his backpack over the enema Vitchae had left him, and sat down.
Sid sat on his lap while the men chatted, although careful to avoid mentioning what had happened in the UK with Sid being there.
They watched the re-run of the F.A. cup quarterfinals on the small flat screen TV in the kitchen, where Grimsby town were wiping the floor with their Evertonian challengers. Sid grassed Spock up for nicking his Gameboy several times and Spock and Stu wound Dave up about how much he must enjoy having a tube stuck up his jaxy.
After an hour, Sid got bored so went into the lounge to play with his Gameboy.
Spock went to the fridge and took out three cans of beer, handing one each to Dave and Stu.
“So, how long have you known that you are a Chapati?” asked Spock sitting down and opening his can.
Dave, furrowing his brow, looked confused.
Stu tutted and said. “Mate, it isn’t a Chapati.” He took a swig of beer and corrected Spock. “They are known as Guppy’s.”
Still looking confused but realising what the idiots meant, opened his can, and said. “A Gopetu,” he took a drink. “It seemed like I have always known, but me Dad didn’t tell me until I wez sixteen that I was a Gopetu. He used to tell me and Kai stories about Gopetu’s and descendants when we were kids, which he said wey from a book of magic.”
He took another drink and told them, “When he told me what we were, he showed us our ancient copy of the Puravuttanta, written in ancient Siamese, and a copy that his great-grandfather had translated into modern Thai. He said descendants and protectors had to make copies for themselves. Our fathers made Kai and I copy it, telling us we had to write it down word for word and study and learn from it.”
“So Sid knows nothing about this?” asked Stu seeing remorse in Dave’s eyes.
Dave shook his head and said. “No, although me and Kai taught him fighting skills and told him the same stories our father’s teld us, he won’t know he is a descendant until he is sixteen. I will still be their Gopetu until I have kids to replace me.”
“Have you met any other descendants or Guppy’s in the UK?” asked Stu, leaning forward and looking intrigued.
Dave looked sullen and nodded, “Yes, I met all the ones in England although there aren’t many living there.”
“Huh, that’s not bloody surprising,” said Spock finishing his beer.
“So, did you write that Paverthingmy book in English?”
Dave nodded, and recalling how many years it had taken him and Kai to translate and copy it, looked relieved and said. “The Puravuttanta… yes, my copy’s in English.”
Dave smiled and looked at Spock and Stu. He knew of their adventures with Pon, so knew that if the Prime Master of the Tinju trusted them so implicitly, so would he. He leant over and said. “Do you want to see my copy of the book in English?”
Spock furrowed his brow and said. “Nah, we’ve seen one,” He pointed at Stu. “It’s more boring than his bollox about a stupid vampire.”
Stu ignored Spock and looked surprised. “Hang on a minute,” he said. “You mean you lugged that bloody heavy book half way around the world?”
Dave chuckled and said, “Nay lad, my hard copy is at home in a safe.”
Putting his hand down the collar of his T-shirt, Dave pulled out a USB hung on a gold chain around his neck. Holding it between his index finger and thumb said. “It’s all on here, and believe me it was a reet ball ache transferring it all to Microsoft Word. It took me and Sid’s dad bloody years.”
Stu looked at the USB and frowned. “Well, at least that answered one question,” he said pointing at the USB.
“Oh, and what might that be Sherlock?” Spock asked.
“It just goes to show how easily, by using modern technology, people can get hold of any information,” said Stu.
“So?”
“So Spock, if a descendant or Guppy did the same and put the book on a USB and let slip what it was, it wouldn’t be hard to steal it and make copies.”
Dave, looking concerned, shook his head and said. “That’s not possible. We all have it drummed into us how important this is, and how vital that it is kept secret, which is why we aren’t told about i
t until we are sixteen.”
“So, do you know every descendant and Guppy?” asked Stu raising his eyebrows.
“No, but...”
“So how do you know what they’re like, or their circumstances?” asked Stu and shrugged.
“Yeah, Stu’s right, they could be piss heads or druggies,” said Spock, “and maybe they sold it for a fix… who knows.”
Dave, furrowing his brow, sat back in the chair and with a chuckle in his voice said, “I doubt it. I imagine that we are all kept under the same strict supervision. Our ancient ancestors have passed down these edicts through generations, so we all follow a strict code. I cannot see any of the descendants or Gopetu mentioning the Puravuttanta to complete strangers.
Stu smiled. “So you are certain that no descendant or Guppy would tell or show the Puravathingmy book to strangers?”
Dave looked at Stu and pondered.
‘Where’s old Rumpole of the bailey going with this?’ thought Spock looking at Stu.
“Yes,” said Dave, “I am positive.”
“Well you are doing just that mate...You don’t know me and Spock from Adam. You only met us a few days ago and we’ve spoken little in that time.”
Dave looked at the Meggies and took a deep breath, realising that Stu was correct.
“So, whoever it is could have easily got the information,” said Stu looking wistful, “mind you, they needed to be a genius to trace you all or have access to a large database.”
Dave considered what Stu said, and the three went silent for several minutes while they pondered.
Spock sighed and broke the silence with his wise observation.
“Grimsby Town were robbed of that third goal.”
Dave frowned and said. “Rubbish, Boylen was clearly offside; you shouldn’t have even scored the second. There was no way that was a penalty. I bet your lot paid the ref.”
“Oh yeah, and in what round of the cup did Accrington Stanley knock out your useless Sheffield Wednesday... The first I believe,” said Stu looking smug.
“Yeah, but did you see the game? If it wasn’t fo...”
Everything seemed like a normal Saturday afternoon in England, with friends drinking, chatting, and talking about football.
Dao, Moo, and Kim came into the kitchen disturbing the banter as they prepared a meal for them all and called Vitchae, Sid, and Samnan to come eat thirty minutes later.
After eating, Vitchae told Dave that he needed to speak with him privately and the pair went to the lounge, with Dave returning a few minutes later.
Stu and Spock noticed Dave looked sullen.
Stu sniggered and said, “It must be enema time.”
“Nah,” said Spock smirking, “otherwise he would be smiling.”
Dave smiled at the giggling Meggies, but Spock and Stu saw sadness in his eyes, and realised that Vitchae must have felt the time right to tell Sid about his parents.
Spock and Stu stopped chortling and looked at Sid as Dave said, “Go with t' girls and watch cartoons, I’ll join you in a few minutes, and later we can watch the other match together pal.”
Sid nodded, smiled, held Moo’s hand, and along with Kim, Dao, Samnam, and Vitchae went to the lounge.
Stu and Dave sat in the kitchen while Spock got three beers from the fridge. He looked at the dwindling beer stocks, sighed, and took them over to Dave and Stu.
Dave stared at his can as Spock and Stu sat in silence, unable to imagine what Dave must be going through.
They drank their beer and let him compose his thoughts.
After a few minutes, Dave, looking upset, took a swig of beer. “Well, I suppose I’d better tell him.”
He sighed, took another swig, and said, “How do you tell a nine-year-old child that his parents were murdered by evil people?”
Dave looked sullen. “When I was first told about descendants, and that I was a Gopetu, I found it hard to believe. And when I understood, I thought it was nonsense in this day and age to prepare for something that happened centuries ago... Boy, was I wrong. I should have paid more attention, this is all my fault,” he said as tears welled up in his eyes.
Spock and Stu felt helpless, knowing nothing they could say would help this broken-hearted Yorkshire warrior, or the confused, frightened little boy.
Spock looked at Dave and in a soft tone said, “Matey, you can’t blame yourself for any of this. Sid was lucky you were there and knew what to do. You brought him here and you are both safe now.”
Stu smiled.“Yeah and we are here if you need us, along with Vitchae and the girls. We will come into the lounge with you and can all be there when you tell Sid.”
Dave looked at Spock and Stu and smiled. “Thanks lads.”
Spock went to a kitchen cabinet, moved a row of plates out of the way, and took out a half-bottle of Mekong whisky he had hidden.
“You have a lot on your plate mate, and I can’t imagine what you’re going through, especially with also losing your parents,” said Stu sounding sad.
Dave looked at him through tear-filled eyes and said.
“Aye Stu, that is the first thing I think about when I wake up.”
Stu then saw Dave’s face changing from sorrow to rage as he said. “But when I find the bastards who killed them. It will be the second thing.”
“That could take some time mate,” said Stu, seeing how enraged Dave looked as he gritted his teeth and gripped his beer can.
Dave snarled and said. “I can wait.”
Spock came over and handed Dave a glass of whisky.
“Here matey, drink that.”
Stu furrowed his brow. “Where did that come from?”
“Secret stash matey,” said Spock handing Stu a glass and sitting down.
Spock smirked. “It’s not the only thing you don’t know about.”
Stu groaned and said, “Don’t tell me; you’ve brought that stupid hat with you.”
Spock smiled. “Adventure hat. You know I would never leave home without it. Besides, Pon said I would need it.”
“He was joking.” said Stu and groaned again.
Dave smiled, finished his whisky, and took a deep breath. “Thanks lads,” he said and stood.
Looking toward the lounge, Dave swallowed hard, rubbed his face. “Buddha, give me the strength to...”
Stu juddered and cut him off. “Wait… Listen!”
Dave and Spock listened and frowned. “Huh, it’s only that stupid guard dog barking,” said Spock and then realising what was happening he looked shocked as did Stu and Dave.
Vitchae came into the kitchen and took his sheathed sword from a large pouch sewn into his Saffron cassock and stood with the lads.
Moo rushed into the kitchen “What’s happening?” she asked looking scared.
Vitchae spoke to her in Thai, said something to Dave, and went to the lounge with Moo.
“Master Vitchae will protect them in case they get past us and the guards,” said Dave.
Apart from the sound of dogs barking outside, there was a quiet aura in the kitchen. The three stood and faced the door and heard shouting between the security forces outside before the door burst open and a Tinju monk rushed over to the three and spoke to Dave.
“They’re attacking,” said Dave with a quake in his voice and looking afraid. “They’ve found nobody yet, but with the dog’s warnings and with no one in sight we must assume the worse; it’s Amanussa’s. The Tinju came to get us to safety.”
“Good, lead the way,” said Spock as the Tinju walked to the lounge, “He is getting Vitchae and the others,” said Dave, his eyes flitting around the kitchen.
The Tinju stopped and turned around when a police officer with a snarling dog straining at its leash came through the open kitchen door.
“They’re in here,” Dave called out as the Tinju with his sword raised watched the dog.
Spock stepped back. “What the fuck?” he cried out, as a pair of eyes hovered in mid-air in front of him.
With a look of s
urprise, Spock punched the eyes and felt bone and they all heard thud before a groan.
The policeman let go of the Rottweiler and it leapt into the air in front of them and stopped as if hitting a pane of glass. The dog moved forward and down to the ground and snarling, it looked to be hovering 6 inches off the floor and, shaking its head, looked like it was ripping off flesh. They heard a throaty groan and with a chunk of bloody flesh in the dog’s mouth, blood appeared from nowhere and ran down onto the ground.
The snarling dog barked and looked at the floor above the blood flow.
They all looked and Dave knelt by the blood and felt a shoulder, then a neck, and then a head. He grabbed the cloth and pulled, ripping off a hood from the head of an unconscious, dark-skinned man.
Dave shouted to the dog handler who dragged the snarling animal off the now visible assassin. The Tinju, his sword raised, moved around the room swishing his blade.
Spock and Stu, surprised and shocked by the speed which events unfolded, knew they were not out of the woods yet. Spock, still unnerved by the floating eyes watched the Tinju and the dog.
Dave ripped off the rest of the top of the invisible suit to reveal the man’s naked torso with a chunk of flesh missing from his shoulder.
They all looked shocked as they stared down at the naked half of the unconscious man.
“He looks like a bloody Ab-dab,” said Spock furrowing his brow.
“The dogs now quiet,” said Dave looking over at the Rottweiler sat on the floor beside its handler.
“Maybe the others scarpered,” said Stu sounding relieved.
The Tinju and police officer then went to check other rooms downstairs with the Rottweiler.
Dave looked at the unconscious man’s face and said. “Spock, you must ‘ev knocked him out befar the dog got him, because he didn’t scream.”
Stu smiled. “Or the sight of Spock made him faint”
Spock smirked, “Yep, the face of fear,” he said, easing the tension.
The Tinju and policeman came back into the room with Vitchae who went over to the unconscious man.
“Amanussa,” said Vitchae and the old monk glared, putting the tip of his sword against the man’s throat. He spoke to Dave, the Tinju, and the policeman before he went back to the lounge. The Tinju and policeman then went outside.
Protector--The Final Adventure Page 7