the parallel vibration fields, thenââ
The professor spun the pocketwatch and it bobbed in the air. âPrecisely, Danny. Springheel is meddling with forces of which he has no understanding. He could be putting the whole of London in peril, perhaps the world. Stick close to me, gentlemen,â he said, tapping the side of the watch.
A blue light shone out in all directions, forming a dome around them. The professor tapped the watch once again and Julius gasped as its face split into concentric circles and opened out a few inches into a conical shape. He moved closer and peered at it through the blue light.
âThis light will protect us when we enter the other vibration field,â said the professor.
We? thought Julius. And, what vibration field?
The internal mechanisms of the watch had opened up and he could see the complex matrix of ascending plates holding the wheels and pinions, which whirled around at incredible speeds.
âWhat are vibration fields, Professor?â asked Julius as he gazed into the watch.
âThere are countless worlds or realms, Julius. Normally they coexistâtogether but separate, if you see what I mean. Vibrating on different frequencies, as it were, but in the same place in space and time.â
âBut thatâs impossââ
âSpringheel has stumbled upon the frequency of the Realm of the Hungry Ghosts and is transmitting to it from our realm and forming a vortex.â
âI think you might have to explain what a vortex is to the boyâheâs looking confused,â said Mr Flynn.
âYes, yes of course. Umâ¦Itâs like boring a hole in the side of a boat. If you keep drilling you break through the hull and the water cascades in. The hole is the vortex. The water is one realm and the interior of the boat the other. Springheel is blithely drilling away, completely ignorant of what he is about to unleash on London. He must be stopped, if it is not already too late. We have to find the hole in the hull, and then we can set about plugging it. Follow me, and stay close.â
âButâ¦â said Julius.
Professor Fox tapped the watch once more. It moved forward, hovering above the professorâs outstretched palm. The dome of blue light continued to shine all around it. The professor followed the hovering watch across the cathedral forecourt with Mr Flynn close behind.
Julius stayed where he was until they were quite a few yards ahead. Then he picked up his carpetbag and began to back away as if from a rabid dog. Just run all the way to Kent, Higgins.
The professor stopped and turned around. âYou are welcome to join us if you wish, Julius,â he said.
âIndeed you are,â said Mr Flynn.
âErâ¦no thank you. I think Iâll justâ¦Iâllâ¦â
âMaybe itâs best if you go home, Julius,â said Mr Flynn. âWeâll pop in tomorrow and tell you how it went. If weâre all still here, that is.â
Mr Flynn and the professor turned and walked away under the dome of blue light.
Julius watched them. Cripes, Higgins. Make a decision.
âThe vortex thing would be at the shop wouldnât it? Thatâs where Springheel lives after all,â said Julius, running towards them.
âUnfortunately, it is not as simple as that, Julius. No, the vortex is somewhere in this direction,â said the professor, pointing southeast with his cane to where the swirling amber clouds were at their most intense. âSpringheel must have some kind of frequency projector aimed in that direction. So that is where we must go first to see if the hole can be plugged. Our conversation will have to wait until we have sorted out this particular difficulty.â
Suits me , thought Julius.
Julius found himself walking with the professor and Mr Flynn. He could see faint images emerging through the blue lightâbuildings superimposed on the London buildings. He concentrated on them,
The professor spun the pocketwatch and it bobbed in the air. âPrecisely, Danny. Springheel is meddling with forces of which he has no understanding. He could be putting the whole of London in peril, perhaps the world. Stick close to me, gentlemen,â he said, tapping the side of the watch.
A blue light shone out in all directions, forming a dome around them. The professor tapped the watch once again and Julius gasped as its face split into concentric circles and opened out a few inches into a conical shape. He moved closer and peered at it through the blue light.
âThis light will protect us when we enter the other vibration field,â said the professor.
We? thought Julius. And, what vibration field?
The internal mechanisms of the watch had opened up and he could see the complex matrix of ascending plates holding the wheels and pinions, which whirled around at incredible speeds.
âWhat are vibration fields, Professor?â asked Julius as he gazed into the watch.
âThere are countless worlds or realms, Julius. Normally they coexistâtogether but separate, if you see what I mean. Vibrating on different frequencies, as it were, but in the same place in space and time.â
âBut thatâs impossââ
âSpringheel has stumbled upon the frequency of the Realm of the Hungry Ghosts and is transmitting to it from our realm and forming a vortex.â
âI think you might have to explain what a vortex is to the boyâheâs looking confused,â said Mr Flynn.
âYes, yes of course. Umâ¦Itâs like boring a hole in the side of a boat. If you keep drilling you break through the hull and the water cascades in. The hole is the vortex. The water is one realm and the interior of the boat the other. Springheel is blithely drilling away, completely ignorant of what he is about to unleash on London. He must be stopped, if it is not already too late. We have to find the hole in the hull, and then we can set about plugging it. Follow me, and stay close.â
âButâ¦â said Julius.
Professor Fox tapped the watch once more. It moved forward, hovering above the professorâs outstretched palm. The dome of blue light continued to shine all around it. The professor followed the hovering watch across the cathedral forecourt with Mr Flynn close behind.
Julius stayed where he was until they were quite a few yards ahead. Then he picked up his carpetbag and began to back away as if from a rabid dog. Just run all the way to Kent, Higgins.
The professor stopped and turned around. âYou are welcome to join us if you wish, Julius,â he said.
âIndeed you are,â said Mr Flynn.
âErâ¦no thank you. I think Iâll justâ¦Iâllâ¦â
âMaybe itâs best if you go home, Julius,â said Mr Flynn. âWeâll pop in tomorrow and tell you how it went. If weâre all still here, that is.â
Mr Flynn and the professor turned and walked away under the dome of blue light.
Julius watched them. Cripes, Higgins. Make a decision.
âThe vortex thing would be at the shop wouldnât it? Thatâs where Springheel lives after all,â said Julius, running towards them.
âUnfortunately, it is not as simple as that, Julius. No, the vortex is somewhere in this direction,â said the professor, pointing southeast with his cane to where the swirling amber clouds were at their most intense. âSpringheel must have some kind of frequency projector aimed in that direction. So that is where we must go first to see if the hole can be plugged. Our conversation will have to wait until we have sorted out this particular difficulty.â
Suits me , thought Julius.
Julius found himself walking with the professor and Mr Flynn. He could see faint images emerging through the blue lightâbuildings superimposed on the London buildings. He concentrated on them,
Similar Books
