Revenge of the Red Knight
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Praise for The Imagination Station® book series
These books are a great combination of history and adventure in a clean manner perfect for young readers!
—Margie B., My Springfield Mommy blog
Revenge of the Red Knight is an exciting mystery book … like the [scary] books we read in school.
—Jarod, age 8 • Papillon, Nebraska
I want to know who Albert is. I want … more of these books.
—Taylor, age 10 • Torrance, California
These books will help my kids enjoy history.
—Beth S., third-grade public school teacher • Colorado Springs, Colorado
My nine-year-old son has already read [the first two books], one of them twice. He is very eager to read more in the series too. I am planning on reading them out loud to my younger son.
—Abbi C., mother of four • Minnesota
[The Imagination Station books] focus on God much more than the Magic Tree House books do.
—Emilee, age 7 • Waynesboro, Pennsylvania
To KDH: A white knight to Russian orphans. —MKH
* * *
Revenge of the Red Knight
Copyright © 2011 Focus on the Family
A Focus on the Family book published by
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188
Focus on the Family and Adventures in Odyssey, and their accompanying logos and designs, and The Imagination Station, are federally registered trademarks of Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO 80995.
TYNDALE and Tyndale’s quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide (www.zondervan.com).
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of Focus on the Family.
With the exception of known historical characters, all characters are the product of the authors’ imaginations.
Cover design by Michael Heath, Magnus Creative
Cataloging-in-Publication Data for this publication is available at the Library of Congress (http://www.loc.gov/help/contact-general.html).
ISBN 978-58997-630-6
Printed in the United States of America
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 / 16 15 14 13 12 11
For manufacturing information regarding this product, please call
1-800-323-9400.
Other books in this series:
Voyage with the Vikings
Attack at the Arena
Peril in the Palace
Showdown with the Shepherd
Problems in Plymouth
Secret of the Prince’s Tomb
Contents
Prologue
The Cave
The Bats
The Letter
The Secret Room
The Second Ring
Master Hugh
The Cottage
The Stocks
Albert
Caught!
The Tower
The Tournament
The Trick
Victory?
The Ring
The Workshop
Secret Word Puzzle
Prologue
There is an old house in the town of Odyssey. It’s called Whit’s End. Kids love it. It has an ice-cream shop. It also has a lot of rooms with games and displays.
There are exciting things to do at Whit’s End. Kids have fun and learn there.
Mr. Whittaker owns Whit’s End. He is a kind inventor. One of his inventions is the Imagination Station.
The Imagination Station lets kids see history in person. It’s a lot like a time machine.
One day the Imagination Station broke. Mr. Whittaker didn’t know why. He tried to fix the machine in his workshop.
Two cousins, Patrick and Beth, came to visit him. Patrick and Beth are eight years old.
Patrick touched the Imagination Station. Suddenly the machine lit up!
Mr. Whittaker was surprised. He told the cousins about a mystery. The other day he took a trip in the Imagination Station. He visited a relative named Albert, who lived in England long ago.
The men gave each other gifts. Mr. Whittaker gave Albert a special family ring. Albert gave
Mr. Whittaker a fancy ring. It had a rose on it.
Mr. Whittaker came home. The next morning he found a note in the Imagination Station. The note was written on old paper. It said:
To save Albert, I need a Viking Sunstone before the new moon. Or Lord Darkthorn will lock him inside the tower.
Mr. Whittaker wanted to help Albert. But he couldn’t. The Imagination Station didn’t and Beth.
The cousins also wanted to help Albert. So they traveled to Greenland. They found a Viking Sunstone.
The next day another note came. It said this:
More trouble for Albert. Lord Darkthorn is angry. The Roman monk’s silver cup is missing. We need it before the new moon. May God be with you.
Again Patrick and Beth asked to help. They visited ancient Rome. The cousins found the silver cup.
A strange thing happened in Rome. An English knight arrived in the Imagination Station. The cousins were amazed. How could a knight use the Imagination Station?
The knight gave them a message:
“You must tell Mr. Whittaker to search for the golden tablet of Kublai Khan.”
Beth and Patrick went on another adventure. They met Kublai Khan in China. They were given a golden tablet. Giant eagles carried them across the desert.
Then the cousins got in the Imagination Station. They tried to get back to Whit’s End. But something went wrong. Patrick and Beth landed in a dark cave.
Now Patrick and Beth have a lot of questions:
What is wrong with the Imagination Station?
How will they get the golden tablet to Albert?
Where—and when—are they?
The cousins are about to find out.
The Cave
Patrick blinked. The darkness wouldn’t go away.
He stood on stony ground. The Imagination Station was gone.
“Patrick?” Beth whispered next to him. “Where are we?” she asked. “This isn’t the workshop at Whit’s End.”
“I know,” Patrick said.
Patrick heard the echo of his voice. The air around him was damp and cool. He narrowed his eyes. The darkness turned to deep blacks. Then grays. Then the blacks and grays took shape.
Patrick reached out and took a step. His fingers touched a rock wall. It was bumpy and slimy.
“We’re in a cave,” Patrick said.
“A cave!” Beth said. “What cave? Where is it?”
“You mean ‘When is it?’ ” Patrick said. “I think we jumped to another time.”
“I don’t care when,” Beth said. “I don’t like caves at any time. What if a bear is in here?”
Patrick didn’t like that thought.
He looked around. Beth was still clutching the golden tablet. It seemed to glow in the dull light.
He heard a rustling sound above him. He looked up and squinted. Something was moving around on the ceiling.
“Bats,” he whispered.
Beth groaned and said, “I hate bats as much as I hate bears.”
They saw a dim light coming from the mouth of the cave. Thick vines hung over the wide entrance. Daylight peeked between the vines’ leaves and branches.
“This way,” Patrick sai
d. They stepped toward the light.
Suddenly the vines parted. A figure— black against the bright light behind him— stepped into view. It was a boy.
Patrick stopped.
Beth gasped.
The boy’s hand went to his waist and came up again. Light glinted off the blade of a knife.
Patrick gently pushed Beth behind him.
The boy was dressed in a short white tunic with blue trim. He also wore dark wool tights and tall leather boots. The outfit reminded Patrick of Robin Hood times.
“Who are you?” the boy asked.
“I’m Patrick,” Patrick said, “and this is my cousin Beth.”
“What are you doing here?” the boy asked.
“We don’t know,” Beth said.
“Come closer so I can see you better,” the boy said.
“Put the knife away, and we will,” Patrick said.
The boy glanced at the knife in his hand. Then he looked at Patrick and asked, “How do I know you are not going to attack me?”
“We’re unarmed,” Patrick said.
“Then what is she carrying?” the boy asked. He gestured to Beth and the golden tablet.
Then the boy’s eyes grew wide. “Is that the golden tablet?” he asked. He stepped forward.
Patrick and Beth backed up.
“Stay away,” Patrick said.
The boy stopped. He looked at them. “Where did you get it?” he asked. “Did you steal it from the castle? Are you here to steal the rest of the treasure?”
“No!” Beth said.
“Give the golden tablet to me,” the boy shouted. He took a step closer.
“Keep back,” Patrick said.
“Give me the tablet,” the boy said, “or I shall have to use force.”
The boy came toward the cousins.
The Bats
“No!” Beth cried. She backed farther into the cave.
“Put that knife down,” Patrick said. “We don’t want to fight.”
“Nor do I,” the boy said. He took another step. “So give me that tablet.”
Patrick stepped on a rock and almost tripped. It gave him an idea.
Patrick moved quickly. He bent over and scooped up the rock.
The boy crouched as if waiting for Patrick to attack.
Patrick lifted the rock.
“We jumped across hundreds of years to get that tablet,” he said. “I’m not giving it to you.”
The boy looked puzzled. “What did you say?” he asked. He lowered his knife a little.
That was Patrick’s chance. He threw the rock up at the cave’s ceiling. The rock hit something in the darkness. There came a flurry and flutter of wings.
Black bats flew down. Their screeches filled the cave.
Eeek! Eeek!
Beth screamed.
The bats flew past the boy. He dropped his knife and waved his hands to protect his head. He fell onto the ground.
Patrick grabbed the knife from the cave floor.
The bats were gone. Patrick stood with the knife in his hand.
Beth moved closer to Patrick. “What are you doing?” she asked.
The boy looked at Patrick and the knife. He sat up slowly.
“Go on, knave,” the boy said. “Do your worst to me.”
“I want you to listen,” Patrick said. “We’re not thieves. That tablet was given to us.”
“By who?” the boy asked.
“A Mongol princess,” Beth answered.
The boy’s eyes widened. “You said you jumped across hundreds of years …” he said slowly. “Are you friends with John of Whittaker?” the boy asked.
“John of —?” Patrick asked.
“Mr. Whittaker?” Beth said. “Yes! He sent us!”
“I am James,” the boy said. “I have been writing and sending the letters to John of Whittaker.”
“Why didn’t you say so?” Patrick asked. He stretched out a hand to the boy.
James took Patrick’s hand. Then Patrick helped the boy to his feet.
James dusted himself off. “I brought the notes to this cave. To that rock,” he said.
He pointed to a flat rock. It stuck up like a small table. “John of Whittaker took the letters using his magic,” James said.
Beth laughed. “It’s not magic,” she said. “It’s the Imagination Station.”
The boy frowned. “I do not understand,” he said.
“It’s too hard to explain,” Patrick said.
Patrick turned the knife around. He made sure the handle was facing the boy. Patrick handed the knife to James. “You can have this back,” Patrick said.
Beth came forward. She held out the golden tablet. “So,” she said, “this is for you.”
James looked at the tablet. “No,” he said. He lowered himself to one knee. “But I thank God that you brought it.”
“Now Albert will be saved from going to the tower,” Patrick said.
James shook his head. “Not yet,” he said. “There is another treasure missing. I brought a new note to the cave today.”
“Another one!” Beth said.
James reached inside his tunic. He took out a rolled-up piece of paper. He handed it to Patrick.
“Please read this,” James said.
Patrick took the yellowed paper. It looked like the first two notes. He read these words:
Please send us Cleopatra’s crown. Lord Darkthorn will return very soon. Godspeed.
“Cleopatra’s crown?” Beth asked. “You mean the queen of Egypt?”
Patrick groaned and said, “How are we supposed to find that? We’re here, not at Whit’s End.”
“There must be some way to call the Imagination Station,” Beth said.
Patrick brightened up and asked Beth, “Did Mr. Whittaker say he left a remote control here?”
Beth brightened, too. “Yes!” she said. Then she frowned. “But where is it?”
Patrick turned to James. “Have you seen it?” he asked.
“Seen what?” James asked. He looked blank.
Patrick knew he couldn’t explain. So he asked, “Have you seen anything strange that Mr. Whittaker left behind?”
James had a sudden thought. “The small box?” he asked.
“Yes!” Beth said. “It would probably look like a small box.”
“It is here,” James said. He looked pleased. He walked to the wall and reached behind a rock. He brought something out.
The cousins watched.
This will fix everything, Patrick thought.
James said, “I took it to Albert. He wanted to see how it worked. So he opened it up.”
“Opened it up?” Patrick asked. He was worried.
James held out his hand. Several small plastic and metal pieces were in it. Once the pieces might have been a remote control.
Patrick groaned. “Did he open it with a hammer?” he asked.
“Yes!” James said. He seemed pleased that
Patrick had guessed so well.
“This will never work!” Patrick said. He turned to Beth. “Now what are we going to do?”
The Letter
The cousins thought for a moment.
“I have an idea,” Beth said. “Let’s write in the note that we’re here. Mr. Whittaker will know what to do.”
Patrick shrugged. “We can try,” he said and turned to James. “Do you have a pen—I mean a quill?”
James laughed. “In a cave?” he asked.
“What else can we write with?” Patrick asked.
“I have an idea,” Beth said. “We can use the knife to poke holes in the paper.”
“Good idea,” Patrick said. “Mr. Whittaker will see the letters when the light shines through the holes.”
Beth turned to James. “May I please have the knife?” she asked.
James handed her the weapon.
Patrick spread the paper on the rock.
Beth poked tiny holes at the top.
“Please ask John of Whittaker a question,
” James said as Beth poked the paper.
“What do you want to know?” Patrick asked.
“Why did he steal the treasures from us?” James asked.
Beth nearly dropped the knife. She said, “What?”
“Mr. Whittaker didn’t take the treasures!” Patrick said.
“Why do you think he took your treasures?” Beth asked. She crossed her arms. She was angry. “Your notes never accused him.”
“It would be rude to write such a thing,” James said. “But when John of Whittaker vanished, the treasures began to vanish too. So we worried that he took them for reasons of his own. That is why we wrote to him. We hoped he would return the treasures. And John of Whittaker did.”
“You’re wrong,” Patrick said. “Mr. Whittaker didn’t take them. He read your letters and wanted to help. So he sent us through history to bring the treasures back. That’s why we’re here.”
Beth held up the letter. “It’s done,” she said. “Now what do we do?”
“Put it on the rock,” James said. He pointed to a large flat rock.
“Why there?” Patrick asked.
“That is where John of Whittaker disappeared,” James said.
“So you put the letters on that rock,” Beth said. “And they vanished?”
James said, “I would leave the cave. Then the letter would be gone when I came back.”
Everything was making more sense to Patrick. “The letters on the rock must call the Imagination Station somehow,” he said.
“Let’s try it and see,” Beth said. She moved toward the rock.
Beth put the note on the rock. All three children stepped back and watched.
Suddenly there came a flash of light. All three children put up their hands. They stumbled back.
Beth thought she saw a flash of the Imagination Station. “Was that it?” Beth asked.
James was shaking with fear. “God save us,” he said.
Patrick blinked a few times. As his eyes got used to the darkness again, he saw a figure lying next to the rock. It was a man in chain mail.