Read Online History Keepers 1: The Storm Begins by Damian Dibben - Free Book Online Page B

over-enthusiastic. Like so many,’ he added with a shrug.
    ‘ Mon Dieu !’ Topaz winced. ‘My brother’s humility knows no bounds.’
    Nathan’s gaze alighted on her. ‘Back in one piece then?’ he asked casually.
    ‘Looks like it,’ Topaz replied with similar nonchalance.
    ‘Your hair … different?’
    ‘It’s down.’
    ‘Nice. Softer.’
    That was the sum of the siblings’ greeting.
    Galliana announced to the whole company, ‘I know everyone must be tired, but time is of the essence. I am calling a meeting in the stateroom at ten a.m. precisely. Everyone is to attend.’
    The party started to disband.
    ‘Agents Wylder and St Honoré …?’ Galliana called over to Nathan and Topaz. ‘Would you give Jake a tour of the castle and tell him something of what we do here?’
    ‘Jake?’ Nathan shouted. ‘Jake Djones!’ he repeated, clapping him warmly on the shoulder. ‘Why didn’t anyone tell me you were here? Nathan Wylder. You’ve probably heard all about me. And most of it is actually true!’ Then he continued in a serious tone, ‘We’re going to find your parents if it’s the last thing we do.’
    ‘Commander,’ Topaz interrupted, ‘perhaps I should take Jake on my own. If we go together, I’m bound to cramp Nathan’s style.’
    ‘Please,’ Nathan replied, ‘you couldn’t cramp my style if you locked it up and threw away the key.’
    ‘That’s enough!’ interceded Galliana wearily. ‘Both of you go. I want him to get a rounded view. And, Jake – come to the stateroom with the others at ten o’clock. I would like you to be there, so you can understand what is going on.’
    Jake nodded. In truth, he wanted to ask Galliana all sorts of questions right now ; but he realized he would have to wait. Topaz had already taken him by the arm and was leading him towards the castle entrance.
    At the base of the Mount stood a pair of giant doors studded with iron rivets. On the front of them, an ancient plaque was engraved with a now-familiar emblem: the hourglass with two planets orbiting around it. This version of the symbol was much more ornate, and Jake realized that the two satellites orbiting the hourglass were both the planet Earth. To give an added, magical dimension to this particular design, the mound of sand in the bottom of the hourglass was shaped just like the Mont St Michel.
    ‘Are you ready?’ Topaz asked.
    Jake nodded. He was feeling exhilarated.
    Topaz turned the handle. The door was not locked; it opened with a hollow creak and the three of them stepped inside.

8 P OINT Z ERO
    THEY ASCENDED A wide staircase into the heart of the medieval castle. On either side was a succession of life-sized portraits from all ages of history, the faces staring down from the walls.
    ‘Those are all the past commanders of the service,’ Topaz explained as Jake examined their stern, important-looking faces. ‘The man there’ – she pointed to a mysterious figure in a turban in front of a dark, tropical landscape – ‘is Sejanus Poppoloe, the founder of the Secret Service. He was a scientist and explorer from Bruges in Belgium, a real visionary. It was he who first discovered atomium and the time flux and drew the original map of Europe’s one hundred and seven horizon points. He died in the English court of Elizabeth the First, two hundred years before he was born. He travelled back to that time by ship.’
    Sejanus Poppoloe’s searing eyes seemed to follow Jake as he passed.
    At the top of the stairs they turned right, through an arch and then onto a balcony overlooking an inner harbour, a vast natural cave that was open to the sea on one side.
    ‘This is where we keep the majority of the History Keepers’ fleet. Regard’ – she indicated each ship in turn – ‘the Campana , Genoese merchant galley; the Conqueror , Byzantine dhow; the Lantern , Chinese junk, Yuan dynasty, built to endure the typhoons of the South China seas – worst in the world,’ she added knowingly, her