22
Tom was engrossed in a huge book on myths and legends. Poppy had page after page of notes from the internet. They had been researching anything to do with the Typhon for over two hours.
“Come on. Let’s put it all together,” said Poppy. “We must have enough between us to figure out what’s going on.”
“This is a great book,” said Tom. “All this mythology is fascinating.”
“I’ve found loads out about Curly’s family.” Poppy’s expression hinted that there was something interesting in the Higgins’ family history.
“Ladies first!” insisted Tom.
“You won’t believe this,” was Poppy’s opening.
Tom sighed. “I’d believe anything about that family, except that they come from a long line of Church of England Bishops!”
“Well he’s from a long line, but they’re definitely not bishops.” Poppy laughed. “Curly’s dad has a list of crimes and involvement with the police going back to 1969. He was 9 when he was first arrested. Mr Higgins has been to prison 7 times but hasn’t visited Her Majesty’s hotel for over twenty years.”
“Going straight at last!” Tom chirped.
“Not quite,” Poppy continued. “He hasn’t been to prison but he’s been mentioned as being involved in 12 murders, 5 kidnappings, 7 armed robberies and loads of mysterious disappearances.”
“That links nicely to Wonky Donkey and Mr Beauchamp going missing,” Tom acknowledged.
“If you think Curly’s dad is a wrong ‘un, wait until I tell you about his grandfather and great grandfather! He was a big noise in the east end of London when gangsters ruled. He beat up The Krays and they left him alone. He ran 6 clubs and a huge money lending and protection racket. Once the gangs had lost their influence he took up armed robbery and was implicated in the Great Train Robbery of 1963. He is the only one they couldn’t find any evidence on. Lots of the articles say he was involved in a secret society that made sure he could never get caught for his crimes.”
“The Typhon?” Tom asked.
“There’s no mention of them, but there is talk of explosions and mysterious disappearances and deaths surrounding this group he belonged to.”
“It must be them and the Brethren,” whispered Tom.
“His great grandfather started it all!” exclaimed Poppy. “He was the son of a vicar who moved to the east end in the early 1900s. He had obviously not listened in Sunday School!”
“What did he get up to?” asked Tom.
“He started as a petty thief but soon progressed to assault. By the time he was twenty three he had served six years in prison! When he was inside he managed to get involved with the gangsters of that time. He came out as a man for hire and was implicated in many murders and disappearances. Again he had friends in high places that kept him away from the police and prison. One article said he was seen getting into a car with a man wearing a large fur hat.”
“I bet it was dog shaped and that was the Gold Typhon,” said Tom.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt about the Higgins boys being involved with the Typhon for many years, but what are they?” asked Poppy.
“I may be able to help you there!” said Tom cockily. “Typhon was a Greek god, he was said to be the father of all monsters.”
“I can see why Curly’s clan was attracted to the Typhon!” declared Poppy.
“Typhon is described as the most powerful monster in legend and all other gods feared him. The most well-known legend involving Typhon is The Battle for Olympus. Typhon was fed up of being an outcast from the gods and wanted to take over Mount Olympus and therefore the world. After a long battle Zeus flung Typhon from the mountain and then threw Mount Etna on top of him to bury him in the underworld forever.”
“Sounds like he was destroyed by Zeus. So, why are people still following him today?” enquired Poppy.
“Ah! Well, because he is a fire breathing monster he is supposed to be struggling to escape to this day. He is said to be the cause of earthquakes, volcanoes and because of his scorching breath, deserts. Basically anything bad!”
“Nice bloke!” Poppy laughed.
“Wait till you here the names of his children. Gorgon, who could turn people to stone. Cerberus, the dog who guards the gates of hell. Chimera, part lion, part goat, all nasty. Hydra, the nine headed serpent. Those are just a few. The most interesting one is the Sphinx, half human, half lion, it gives you a riddle to solve or you die.”
“Why is that the most interesting?” Poppy wasn’t convinced.
“I thought that I’d cracked it with the Greek stuff but then I found something else. I wondered where the dogs head came from. You know, on their hats. Well it turns out that the Jackal is known as a typhonian animal, and in Egyptian mythology he is known as a Set animal.”
“Hark at you professor!” quipped Poppy. She had never seen Tom so enthusiastic about anything that involved study.
“Seth is the brother of Osiris and they had a sister Isis. Osiris was made ruler of Egypt, which didn’t go down too well with old Seth. He killed his brother and cut Osiris into bits, the body parts were spread throughout the kingdom so he couldn’t be brought back to life. Instead of making Seth ruler, the gods decided to put Osiris’ son, Horus, in charge. As you can imagine Seth wasn’t too happy and went to war with Horus. It was during one of these battles that Horus lost his eye, which he had wanted to use to bring Osiris back. The Eye of Horus has been used to symbolise protection ever since.”
“Get to the point!” snapped Poppy.
“Some say Seth lost the war and was banished to the desert where he stops things from growing. He is also linked to earthquakes, volcanoes and storms, again everything bad. Some stories say he actually uses his power to help the dead ascend the ladder to heaven or back to life. He was the first person to use the Egyptian jars to preserve body organs. There are four jars and four Brethren. Just saying!”
“So basically Seth and Typhon represent everything bad!” said Poppy.
“Yep!” smiled Tom.
“What about the dog hats?” asked Poppy.
“Both Egyptians and Greeks say that Seth and Typhon are represented by animals low to the ground, animals that are unclean, snakes, scorpions and dogs or jackals.”
“So Seth or Typhon is the evil wanting to take over the world. Do you think the Typhon and the Brethren can really do it?” Poppy was thinking aloud.
“With the Book around I wouldn’t count anything out!” stated Tom.
“Now all we have to do is avoid the police, wait for Felix to come back and go on a school trip to Berlin!” Tom packed away all their notes into his school bag and they left as soon as the bell had gone for lunch. The afternoon flew by. They waited at the school gate. They knew Felix would return to the staffroom. Buckley kept watch inside the school. At eight o’clock he sauntered up the drive. “Nothing!” he said as he shrugged his shoulders. Tom and Poppy made their way home, hoping that the Keeper would return to go on the school visit to Berlin.
23
“You wouldn’t dare shoot me!” Curly snarled. “Do you know who I am?”
“Shut up! You’re going to get us shot,” whispered Felix. He still had his hands high above his head.
“Kill him, he’s just a kid,” said Curly nodding towards Felix.
A small man in a suit and tie with a trilby hat covering his eyes laughed at Curly. “Well boys, we have big shot in our company! More to the point sonny, do you know who I am?”
“Not a clue,” replied Curly as he approached the card table that lay between the boys and the gangster.
“I’m Bugs Moran,” the man stated. “I run this area. Do you get me?”
“You’re an Irish leprechaun who probably grows potatoes as a hobby!” snarled Curly. “My father is Basher Higgins from London.” There was a moment of tense silence.
The gangster signalled for his men to lower their guns. Felix sighed with relief but was still too scared to put his hands down. The
gangster stood up to shake Curly’s hand.
“Hey boys, this fella’s father taught me everything I know when we were locked up together,” Bugs was beaming from ear to ear. “Tell your friend, we’re not going to shoot him!” The gangsters all laughed as Felix slowly lowered his arms.
“Get the boys a drink,” he ordered. One of his henchmen disappeared and came back with two glasses of milk. Felix took a sip but still wasn’t sure what was going to happen here. “Tell me young Basher, what’s new in the old smoke?”
Curly spent the next twenty minutes telling Bugs and his gang about his dad’s exploits. When he mentioned the Typhon the mood suddenly changed.
“Those numbskulls!” snapped Bugs. “They think they rule the world.” Again they all laughed. Felix nervously joined in. “Scarface Capone is the Silver Typhon of Chicago and loves throwing his weight about. We taught them a lesson last week.” He pointed his first two fingers at Curly and pretended to shoot. “He’ll think twice before he tries to take one of the Irish hostage again. We all meet tomorrow morning, make sure you’re here to meet the rest of the boys.” Felix and Curly turned to leave.
“Don’t worry about the check!” Bugs winked and waved goodbye.
Felix pushed Curly all the way back to their hotel room.
“What’s the hurry?” asked Curly. “We’ll be safe round here.”
“I’m not so sure,” whispered Felix. He flicked through The Book of Words reading every word he could about Al Capone and the Chicago underworld. Once he’d finished he turned to the map. There was the clock, slap bang in the middle of George ‘Bugs’ Moran’s café. The time read eight o’clock. “Great! I’ll be ducking again,” he whispered to himself. Felix thought about grabbing Curly and jumping into the picture of the dinosaurs above the beds, but he decided he would rather take his chances in the café. If they got there early they may just about make it home before all the fun and games started.
“You really are a chicken, aren’t you Jones?” said Curly.
“No! I just don’t like guns,” Felix replied. “You could have got us both shot.”
“He wouldn’t have shot us once he knew who my father was. Our name goes back years in the gangster world,” Curly bragged. “My dad’s the big noise in London now. My grandfather and great grandfather were too.”
“That’s wonderful!” replied Felix sarcastically. “You planning on going into the family business?”
“I’m already in! Dad made me leader of the Typhon Cub Pack. All my gang have signed up. When I get you home we’ll call the Gold Typhon, and we’ll be running the country.” Curly pulled a blanket up over his head and in seconds was snoring away. Felix checked the Book again. He knew tomorrow things could get a little more interesting.
24
Parents kissed their little darlings goodbye. The coach driver was busy playing ‘Tetris’ with the school children’s suitcases. “Anyone would think they were going for a month,” he chuntered, as he desperately tried to stop his cigarette from falling from his lips.
“Where is he?” asked Poppy. Tom was scanning up and down the common, keeping an eye out for Felix and his family. They both hoped he’d got back from wherever he’d gone and was ready to come with them to Germany.
“I’m afraid we have to go now,” stated Mr Taylor. “Mrs Jones phoned earlier to say the police still haven’t found Felix.” Solemnly the pair climbed the steps and took their seats on the coach, right behind the teachers. It was three in the morning and after the initial excitement of being away from their parents had subsided the pupils, one by one, fell asleep.
Poppy woke up when the coach came to a stop at the Channel Tunnel terminal at Folkestone. She shook Tom awake with such a force that he instinctively reached for the camera tripod case in which he had hidden their sabres. She grabbed his arm and laughed. They stocked up on sweets and chocolates before getting back on the coach and boarding the train to France. Once on the train they were allowed to walk around in the carriage and to the toilets.
Poppy and Tom wandered forward to the drinks machine. Tom put in his change and was flattened by a strange boy. “What the hell?” he shouted. He had a sudden urge to scratch his ear. He picked himself up to his feet and studied his attacker. The boy was a little older than them, he had long dark hair, and he wore a grey and red striped onesie. Poppy scratched her ear and looked quizzically at Tom. The boy had been unconscious and was slowly waking up.
“Hello Mr Keeper!” said Tom. “Welcome to the Channel Tunnel!”
“How do you know I’m a Keeper?” asked the stunned visitor. Poppy unzipped the tripod case to reveal the sabre handles. The boy pulled out the Book and looked at page two.
Tom laughed, “Two red swords? They mark the Guardians. We are here to protect you and The Book of Words with our lives.
“I’m Luther from Edinburgh,” The Keeper shook their hands vigorously. He was so pleased to meet some friendly people.
“What year is it?” asked Tom.
“2097!” Luther was surprised they had to ask.
“I’m afraid not,” said Poppy. Luther saw the first page that gave location, date and languages and started to shake. Tom and Poppy had never met anyone from the future and their minds were filled with questions for Luther.
“We haven’t got much time. We’re nearly in France,” said Tom. “We’ve got to hide you.”
Poppy tried one of the luggage locker handles on their coach. To her surprise the one right at the back of the coach opened. “In you go,” she ordered. Luther nervously climbed into the suitcase filled space. Tom pulled a few cases down from the top of the pile and built a wall to hide Luther from obvious view. “See you in Berlin,” Poppy whispered as she closed the door and plunged Luther into darkness.
Throughout the long journey to Berlin, Poppy and Tom hoped that Luther was coping well in his temporary hiding place. They eventually arrived tired, sweaty and hungry at their hotel. The driver, still chuntering on about kids today, opened the coach boot. He removed the first couple of suitcases. In a panic he slammed the door shut.
“What’s up?” asked Mr Taylor.
“There’s someone in there!” said the ashen faced driver. “I think he’s dead.”
“Don’t be daft,” replied Mr Taylor. He opened the door. Luther jumped out, scaring the onlookers. Amongst the screams, Poppy and Tom were rolling with laughter. Mr Taylor grabbed hold of Luther and ushered him into the hotel lobby.
Tom shouted, “Hang on sir.”
“I might have guessed you had something to do with this Matthews!” snarled the angry teacher. “Who is this?”
“He’s my cousin sir,” said Tom. “He’s staying with me and mum for a while.”
“Wait until I ring your mother. She’ll be worried to death. Felix, the Headmaster and Mr Beauchamp are all missing, she’ll think this idiot has been added to the list!” The teacher reached in to his briefcase and pulled out the contact details for parents.
“It’s OK!” shouted Poppy. “I’ve got Mrs Matthews on the phone sir.” Poppy winked at Tom.
Mr Taylor started off the conversation being angry and aggressive but Mrs Matthews used her feminine charms and like putty in her hand, soon Mr Taylor was calm and helpful.
“Matthews! I have spoken to your mother, she is sorry for putting us to this trouble but as Felix hasn’t come she wondered if we could keep Luther here for the rest of the trip.” The teacher flicked through his papers, wrote a few notes and announced that Tom and Luther would now be sharing a room. Tom smiled grabbed the room key and pulled Luther into the hotel lift. Poppy pushed her roommate in as well. Tom showed Poppy the room number on the key and mouthed ‘ten minutes’.
There was a quiet knock on the door. Tom jumped up to let Poppy in.
“We’re having the same problem we had in Paris,” said Tom. “Luther has only just become the Keeper and he ended up here with us!” Tom had explained the best he could how the Book worked and how to travel. Luther, like Tom
and Felix, had been pushed in to a wall by the Brethren. The picture happened to be a display on old transport systems. Luckily Luther had chanced upon a Guardian who could help him straightaway. Felix and Tom had had to figure it all out for themselves.
“So I can travel anywhere in time?” asked Luther excitedly.
“As long as it’s for good reason and not just for personal gain,” sighed Tom. He remembered his brushes with the Native American Indians, Vesuvius and Henry VIII’s chopping block, when Felix had taken Tom back in time to find the answers for a History test. Poppy told Luther what had happened to Felix and what they had found out about the Typhon. She wanted Luther to help them find Felix.
“How can we find him when we don’t know where he is?” asked Tom. Poppy thought for a while.
“If Felix hasn’t rung by the time we get home we can get in to the staff room at school and go to Chicago,” suggested Poppy.
“He’ll have been gone more than seven days by then!” Tom looked very concerned.
“What happens after seven days?” asked Luther.
“Well if we haven’t got you home in seven days, its curtains for you,” explained Poppy.
“Why can’t we try and get rid of the Brethren and the Typhon before Felix gets back?” asked Luther.
“You mean have your first journey back in order to end it all?” asked Tom.
“It seems like the wisest thing to stop all the hassle I could have when I get home. The people following me wore funny hats and those monks were really unpleasant.” said Luther.
“Sounds like a plan,” smiled Poppy. “Off to Greece we go!”
“And just how do you expect us to get to Greece?” enquired Tom.
“We’re at the museum later, they’re bound to have a Greek display. We just look for a picture on a vase or something and use that to get to ancient Greece.” Poppy was becoming excited again. Tom knew that usually meant trouble.
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Felix Jones and The Dawn Of The Brethren Page 7