Read Online The Search for Truth by Kaza Kingsley - Free Book Online

screen jutted from the side of the golden box, connected by a tube. The glass front was hinged like a door, with a gold handle. Peering inside, Erec could see some sort of dials hanging against the wall.
    Bethany looked around. “Why isn’t King Piter here? Last time you called him right when we showed up. Aren’t you guarding this for him?”
    Homer slid toward the Time Bender. “I do guard this room for the king and keep his Time Bender from the wrong people. I was with King Piter even before he had this built. But I’m not a paid servant with orders to report whoever walks in here. The king trusts that I know how to handle things.
    â€œI called him here the last time you came because Erec and Jam were exhausted and you had a bad case of helmet hair. I knew the king would want to be with you, to help you, and to say good-bye. I did not call him because I thought you were a danger to his Time Bender.” The ghost chuckled.
    â€œHow does it work?” Jack asked, gazing at the box.
    â€œSimple really,” Homer answered. “Neat little device. You just climb in and turn the dials to the date you want to go to. Then you fit into your old body that was there at that time, stay for as long as you like, and come back when you’re done.
    â€œSomeone in this room could see you in two different ways. We could see your current self, laying in the Time Bender, through the glass. Of course, you change to look like you were at the age you went to. And we could also look through the viewer to see exactly whatyou are doing while you are there, back in time.” He pointed at the television screen.
    â€œI don’t get it,” Erec said. “You go back into your body at that time? What does that mean?”
    â€œWell,” the ghost explained, “say you went back three years. You would appear three years younger through the glass. But also you would be there, back then, walking around in your old ten-year-old body. You’d fit right in with people who knew you at that time, except that in your case, Erec, you were not here three years ago. So people might be suspicious.”
    This sounded amazing. “You mean I could go to any time that I was alive?”
    â€œExactly,” the ghost said. “But I would not recommend going back to when you were too young. Like an infant. Your mind would stay the same as it is now, of course. But you would not have enough physical strength to get around, or get back into the machine when you were ready. You’d be stuck there for years.”
    â€œCould someone go into the future?” Bethany asked.
    â€œVery dangerous,” the ghost said flatly. “I don’t recommend that at all.”
    â€œWhy?” Erec asked.
    â€œYou might make a mistake and choose a time when you are no longer alive. There are no guarantees on anyone’s future, you know.”
    Oscar looked intrigued. “And what would happen if someone went into the past, before they were born? Or went into the future, after they had died? Could they do it?”
    â€œThey could,” the ghost answered. “But their body would disappear from the machine. They would be transported to that date, at the age they are now, but they would never be able to get back. You might see them for a little while with the viewer, but their image would soon fade away.”
    That thought gave Erec a chill.
    â€œI guess King Piter has it locked up so nobody can use it?” Oscar asked.
    â€œNo.” The ghost sounded casual about it. “He trusts me to do what is right, of course.”
    â€œSo,” Erec said, “you would never let anyone use it, I guess?”
    The ghost fluttered in front of them in at least ten different shades of gold. “That would be up to me.”

CHAPTER FIVE
The Torn Quest
    E REC’S MIND KEPT flitting from one thing to another. At one moment he would feel stunned, wondering what new trouble awaited him when