Felix Jones and The Honour of The Keeper (Felix Jones Adventures Book 2)

by Julian Roderick

  Felix studied the pictures for a long time. “We need one where he is a bit older and may know more. This one is in Snowdonia camping with a Duke of Edinburgh Award group.”

  “That’ll be good,” said the usually quiet Buckley. “The kids are all over the place and he will be on his own at the centre.”

  “That’s the one then!” said a delighted Poppy.

  Tom took his phone out and snapped the school reception area.

  “You ready?” Felix asked. He could sense Poppy’s nerves so he held her hand and pulled her closer. “We all need to go together.”

  “On three,” said Tom. “One, two, three.”

  Felix clung onto Poppy and Tom grabbed Felix’s other arm. They jumped at the picture high on the wall. The trio entered the vortex.

  20

  Felix and Tom smiled at each other. They couldn’t wait to see Poppy’s face when she saw the vortex for the first time. Slowly Poppy opened her eyes. She was amazed at the kaleidoscope of colours surrounding her.

  “What’s going on?” she shouted at the boys.

  “This is the time vortex. We’ll fly through here and end up in Snowdonia.” Felix felt he wouldn’t mention passing out again as she might get worried.

  “There goes Nelson Mandela!” Poppy was starting to focus on the historical images flying through the coloured walls. The boys smiled as she pointed out every picture she saw. “This is great. How long does it take?”

  She had just finished asking the question when the threesome blacked out.

  Felix woke up and looked around, it was daytime but the light was poor. The three friends had landed in a pine forest. The thick tree cover blocked the sun and they lay on a bed of brown needles that had fallen off the trees. Poppy and Tom sat up and rubbed their eyes.

  “Do you always get knocked out?” she asked wearily.

  “So far, yes,” said the boys together.

  “Where are we?” Tom was worried the Book had sent them somewhere weird again.

  Felix opened the Book to check their location. The first page read:

  Location Dolgellau, Snowdonia, North Wales

  Date August 11th 1999

  Languages Welsh and English

  “We’re there, right on target.” Felix was so relieved to be where he had planned to be for the first time in a while. “Let’s go and find The Sheriff.” Felix put the Book in his jeans pocket and set off down the steep slope. It was the first time they had used the Book to travel back to a time when life was virtually the same as where they had come from. They reached the valley floor where the familiar sound of cars rushing along a road made Tom smile. Poppy on the other hand was disappointed.

  “Why didn’t we go a long way back?” she asked. “I wanted a sword fight, I wanted to kick the Brethren’s backside.”

  “Be careful what you wish for, Mrs I Want.” Tom was wary that this was a place he knew but the monsters could spring from anywhere. “Which way now boss?”

  Felix studied the map in the Book and then laughed. “We know the way from here. We’ve got to get to the school’s outdoor centre. How many times have we been here?”

  “One or two,” said Tom. They had all spent a week in the centre with their school form in the first year. Tom had been there for rugby, football and orienteering camps.

  “Right towards the sea,” instructed Poppy as she found her bearings. To their right was a fantastic view down the estuary. The sun shimmered off the river as it meandered across the wide sand banks lining the channel. The valley sides were coated in bright green forests and the sounds of the woodland birds filled the air.

  “Let’s follow the path along the river,” suggested Felix. “We can get to the centre from there.”

  They crossed the road and found the well signposted path that led to the river. They made their way along the estuary leaving deep footprints in the wet sand. It wasn’t long before they came to the boundary of the school’s land. The school owned an old coach house and a headland whose steep slopes were covered in oak woodland. It was still early morning and the sun was rising high into the bright blue sky.

  The quiet of nature was suddenly broken by loud shouting and the cracking of branches on the headland. A group of teenagers laden down by heavy rucksacks clambered over the wall separating the centre from the estuary.

  “Lovely day for it!” shouted their leader as he studied his map. “Which way is Dolgellau?” he asked Felix.

  Felix was tempted to tell him to figure it out for himself but instead he pointed inland up the river valley. Tom laughed as the intrepid hikers dropped tent poles and water bottles as they struggled through the sand. Once they were out of sight Felix climbed over the dry stone wall followed by his Guardians.

  The winding path took them up the steep slope to the top of the ridge. There under a lone oak stood the ruins of a summerhouse. They rested in the shade and admired the view right down to the railway bridge at Barmouth and out to the Irish Sea.

  “Can I help you?” boomed a familiar voice.

  “Mr Law!” Tom rushed over as if he was greeting a long lost friend. He vigorously shook The Sheriff’s hand. “You’ve saved us trying to find you.”

  “If you will excuse my ignorance, who in the name of all that is good are you?” enquired the confused teacher. “You’re the first people I’ve ever seen hiking with guitars and a hockey stick.”

  Felix laughed and told his companions to reveal what was hidden in the cases. The Sheriff took a step back and reached into his large rucksack. Two figures stepped out from behind trees wielding sabres. One was old Mr Buckley and to their surprise the other was Gordon, Tom’s father. A look of panic turned to a smile as The Sheriff realised that his sword had gone and Felix had it. “A Keeper and two Guardians!” he laughed. The 1999 Guardians stopped their charge and everyone lowered their weapons.

  “Dad!” Tom ran over and threw his arms round his startled father.

  “I haven’t got any kids!” exclaimed Gordon, pushing Tom away.

  Tears welled up in Tom’s eyes, “It’s me Tom!”

  Gordon slowly twigged that the three strangers had travelled back in time. He held his hand out to Tom and gave him a big hug as he realised that wherever these people had come from he was dead. “What are you doing here?” he asked.

  “We’ve come to find out about the Book,” chirped Felix.

  “Did I give it to you?” asked The Sheriff. “If I did I’d have told you what I was told.”

  “I know, figure it out for yourself,” laughed Tom.

  The Sheriff was looking hard at Felix. “Paris, Emile and the boat!” He knew he had seen Felix somewhere before. “Brave lad that Emile.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me about this before I became the Keeper?” asked Felix.

  “The rules, dear boy, the rules.” The Sheriff boomed.

  “Why are the Guardians with you?” Tom wondered why he had brought them with him instead of relying on local protectors.

  “They always come on these days!” The Sheriff seemed surprised that they didn’t know.

  “What days?” Poppy was really confused by all this.

  “It’s a solar eclipse at eleven a.m. the Brethren always manage to find me when there is an eclipse,” explained The Sheriff. “Don’t ask me how but they always appear.”

  “Great, my first mission.” All Poppy wanted was a sword fight, everyone else knew she would feel differently afterwards.

  “Let’s go to Barmouth and see the eclipse,” suggested Gordon. It seemed like good idea as Felix, Poppy and Tom had never seen one before. They returned to the centre, jumped in the school minibus and set off to the seaside town.

  21

  It was a glorious summer’s day and there was a huge crowd on the beach. Children built sandcastles and wandered down to the waves at the water’s edge to swim. The ice cream stalls were doing a booming trade. The music from the small fairground could be heard all round town and put a smile on people’s faces. The strange
group from Queen Anne’s school sat on the sea wall soaking up the sun whilst devouring ice creams. It was ten minutes to eleven.

  The Sheriff handed out sheets of cardboard in which he had placed a pinhole. He held his sheet out in front of him and positioned it so the sun’s rays shone through the tiny hole and projected an image of the sun on the floor. Felix could see the moon getting closer to the sun, the eclipse was moments away. The promenade was filled with people, all viewing the unfolding event in various ways. The sun began to disappear behind the moon and Barmouth was being plunged into momentary darkness. Amidst the “oooo’s” and “aaaahhhs” came a sound that sent a shiver down everyone’s spines. “The Keeper, Trevor Law. Where are you?”

  The low, gravelly voice boomed up the beach. There coming out of the sea were eight Brethren monks.

  “Well this is different.” Tom had only ever seen four of the monsters at once.

  Felix knew he would have his work cut out this time. He had the only weapon that could kill the monks and there were twice as many as he had fought in the past. Poppy fell in with the other Guardians. They formed a line on the sea wall awaiting their attackers. The sun once again filled the sky and the bright light blinded the Guardians. The Sheriff looked lost. He had no weapon. Felix pushed him into the minibus and insisted he locked himself in. He quickly re-joined his small army on the wall.

  Gordon looked at Tom and smiled. “We’ll be alright kid, you’re proof of that.”

  “No!” replied Tom, “you’ll be fine, I could die.” Gordon knew he was right.

  “Oh my God!” cried old man Buckley. He pointed to the dunes near the harbour. Over the ridge came a line of eight more Brethren monks.

  “How the hell are there so many of them?” asked Felix.

  “It’s the eclipse!” shouted The Sheriff from the minibus.

  Poppy reeled backwards on seeing the half human, half skeleton faces of the Brethren. It was the first time she had shown any fear. Felix tapped her on the shoulder and whispered, “Remember defend and wait. Hold them off and I’ll kill them.”

  With that Gordon and Buckley charged down the beach. Once again the crashing of swords was the only noise Felix could hear. Tom had stripped off his t-shirt in the summer sun and looked like an extra from “Braveheart” as he tore into two of the creatures. Poppy was putting up a good fight, she used her fencing techniques to their full effect. She was really angry that every time she drove her sabre into the body of a monk they just reeled backwards, stood up straight and came again.

  Felix leapt into action. He held his Keeper’s broadsword in both hands as he circled behind the Brethren. The first two didn’t even see him coming as he swiped his blade across their backs. Poppy had been fighting them and fell to the floor when she saw them melting down to a heap of bones on the beach. Felix ran to her and picked her up just as another monk closed in for the kill. He fended off the attacker with a ‘corps a corps’ then he spun and drove his sword into the monks back. Three down five to go. He couldn’t help looking to see how far away the others were. They were closing fast. Gordon pushed another monk his way. One blow was all it took to make another pile for the seagulls in the sand. The other four monks looked at their five opponents and ran to join the approaching platoon.

  “What do we do now?” Poppy was shattered and the thought of seeing off thirteen monks seemed impossible. Felix looked down the beach and could see The Sheriff franticly digging a long trench about three feet deep. The Sheriff waved to him.

  “What the hell is The Sheriff doing?” asked Tom.

  “The old lure and bury!” laughed Gordon.

  “Make sure we get at least five here then retreat and reform in front of the trench.” said old Buckley. “When I shout, draw them on and duck. The rest Felix is down to you.”

  Poppy and Tom could see the fear in each other’s eyes. Neither thought that this would work.

  Seconds later they were battling again. Sweat poured down their backs. Felix picked off the monks one by one but he too was tiring as he repelled the monk’s relentless attack. It seemed like an age before Buckley gave the signal to retreat to the trench. Felix had done well - there were only six left. The Guardians and The Sheriff formed a line. The monks charged, their eyes pierced into their targets.

  “Duck!” shouted Buckley. The line dropped to the floor and the monks tripped straight over them and into the trench. To everyone’s relief Felix finished them off swiftly.

  The victors slumped on the sand and licked their wounds. Poppy had a nice black eye developing and Gordon had a slash wound to his chest. The Sheriff ran to the bus and returned with the first aid kit. He began applying bandages and plasters. Felix had remained statue like on the other side of the trench. He grabbed his side and collapsed. The Sheriff jumped the hole in the sand and poured water onto Felix’s head. He looked down. Blood was seeping from a gash on Felix’s back. Felix passed out with the pain. Gordon and Buckley bundled him into the minibus and they rushed back to the school centre.

  22

  Felix ached all over.

  “Here he is!” whispered The Sheriff.

  Felix felt like he’d been smacked over the head with a shovel. “What’s happened?” he muttered.

  “You were hurt,” smiled The Sheriff. “You’ve been out of it for two days.”

  “Tom, Poppy?” Felix thought that if he’d been injured then Guardians must have died.

  “They’ve had a great time on the beach relaxing. Poppy’s got a shiner but Tom’s fine,” The Sheriff informed Felix. For the first time since he had become the Keeper he didn’t feel invincible.

  Felix grimaced as he sat up in bed to take a drink of ice cold water. His side throbbed where spots of blood seeped through the white bandage. “The Book and sword?”

  The Sheriff pointed to the old battered dressing table behind him. There they sat like objects on a church altar. Felix recalled his memories of the battle on the beach and laughed when he thought about The Sheriff on his hands and knees digging the trench with his bare hands. Still eager to learn more about The Book of Words, Felix asked The Sheriff to tell him what he knew.

  “Why do you want to know?” asked the previous Keeper.

  “I want to end this, stop the Brethren and do away with the Book,” replied Felix.

  “Try destroying it! I did, and you still have the Book. Your reasons need to be honourable, you can’t just do it because you are scared,” he explained. “You have to figure out why you want the Book gone.”

  Felix looked increasingly concerned. “I figured I needed to go back to the beginning and work it out from there.”

  “Most of us have accepted our role and lived with the responsibility. We have fought off the Brethren and all others who have tried to use the Book with dishonourable intentions.” The old man smiled as he realised Felix was the first Keeper who wanted to finally put a stop to the magic of The Book. “I will tell you everything I know. It isn’t much but it may help. What do you know already?”

  Felix explained all he had found out about the Book. They talked about the rules and how they had both been punished for breaking them with close shaves back in time. The conversation switched to the first Keeper.

  “I know that the Book had found its way to England from a far off land. No one I’ve spoken to could give me more detail. It was kept by priests for many years before men with power - tribal leaders - started to ask questions about it and actively seek it out. One of them found it and used the Book to take over vast areas of land and people. As soon as the power of the Book was public knowledge all sorts came looking for it. It was moved from place to place and hidden to stop those with less than desirable objectives from ever getting their hands on it. A warlord called Vortigen stumbled across The Book and used it to try and conquer all of Britain. Somehow he was thwarted in his mission and the Book disappeared until the first Keeper’s time. The rest my dear boy I was told to figure out for myself!”

  Felix listened intently t
o The Sheriff’s tales of his adventures, travelling back to help other Keepers and to avoid the Brethren. “Jack - a guardian that had helped Felix and Tom in France and who knew The Sheriff - told us that Britain was united under the magic of the Book but some got greedy and wanted it to rule by force. That’s when the first Keeper was selected. The Book has remained with us ever since. Where do the Brethren fit in?”

  “That my boy is one of the mysteries of the world. They have always been associated with the Book but nobody knows where they come from. They want the Book desperately. I don’t know why only four turn up at a time, except when there is an eclipse.”

  “What’s with the eclipse?” asked Felix.

  “Every eclipse I have ever known has seen them appear and usually in numbers. I’ve only seen eight before but today was different.” The Sheriff was deep in thought.

  “There were two of us!” exclaimed Felix. “Eight each.”

  “Of course, two Keepers, twice the number. Your young brain is quick to figure things out.” The Sheriff laughed at his inability to think like a young man any longer.

  “They appear when the Guardians cluster together.” added Felix. “They also have a map like ours but of the whole world, it must show the Guardians. If they see a cluster they must know a Keeper is near and send four Brethren somehow.”

  “Sounds about right,” said The Sheriff. “I’m having more trouble from them since Gordon moved close to the school and old Jimmy Collins bought the house at the bottom of the rugby pitches.”

  “That was Poppy’s grandfather,” said Felix. “Her dad died when she was small so she inherited the sword. She isn’t a Guardian but she fights like a terrier.”

  “If your quest is true and you use The Book wisely Felix, I think you may be the one to finally figure this all out. Hundreds of us have tried and failed. Good luck.” The Sheriff tapped Felix on the shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile.