Castaways in Time (The After Cilmeri Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

know about the storm.
Ships get blown off-course often in the Irish Sea, so he won’t
think too hard about it if we’re late by a few hours or even a
day,” David said. “But once the storm ends, he’ll want to see our
ships sailing into port sooner rather than later. He won’t know if
the reason for the wait is because we delayed our departure from
Wales or because we drowned.”
    Callum nodded. “Clare has the authority to
hold the men together for a little while. But the longer you’re
missing, the more the uncertainty. He and Humphrey de Bohun will
consider the consequences of your death for two days. After that
...”
    “After that, the race back to London begins.
Before you know it, England will have a new king,” David said.
    “You’ve thought a lot about this,” Cassie
said. “Do you have a plan for getting back?”
    “Not yet.”
    “Do you think you can get us back?”
Cassie said.
    “I brought you here, didn’t I? I’m willing
to bet my own life on the assumption that I can,” David said. “It’s
up to you to decide if you are willing to risk your life at the
chance.”
    “I don’t know what to tell you.” Callum
didn’t look at him. “If you had to come here, through no fault of
your own, I’m not sorry you brought us along, but I can’t think
about going back just yet.”
    “That’s okay,” David said. “I’m not going
back right this second, and a lot depends on what Her Majesty’s
Coastguard is planning to do with us.” David pointed towards a ship
that had just rounded Pennarth Head, coming from Cardiff, and was
cutting its way through the Bristol Channel towards them. Above it,
a helicopter flew low, also headed in their direction.
    “Already?” Cassie said.
    “We are listing rather badly,” David
said.
    “I’ll handle this,” Callum said.
    “How?” Cassie said. The cutter was coming on
fast. The closer it got, the tinier the cog seemed in
comparison.
    “I’m still a member of the Security Service,
aren’t I?” Callum said. The Security Service (known to Americans as
MI-5) was the government agency for which Callum had been working
ten months ago when he’d thrown his arms around Llywelyn’s knees
and fallen from the balcony at Chepstow Castle, inadvertently
hitching a ride to the Middle Ages.
    Cassie blinked at Callum’s words, but David
laughed and said, “I knew I brought you along for a reason.”
    “We’d better get our stories straight,”
Callum said.
    “We should tell the truth,” David said.
    “The truth? What do you mean the
truth? ” Cassie shook her head vehemently. “You’ve got to be
kidding me.”
    “I’m not.” David gestured to Callum. “Isn’t
it the truth that you were following orders when you tried to
apprehend my mother and father at Chepstow?”
    “I was.” Callum’s brow furrowed.
    “Then it’s also the truth that you continued
to serve your country the best way you could, which meant staying
close to me. At the first opportunity, you returned to the
twenty-first century with the time-traveling King of England in
tow.”
    Callum blew out his cheeks and then laughed.
“No less than the truth, as you say.”
    “If MI-5 was paying attention, they’ll know
we’re here because of the flash,” David said.
    “That would explain how the coastguard was
scrambled so quickly. It may be that they’re paying more attention
than they were last November.” Callum turned on his heel and
disappeared into the cabin behind them. The roof had been ripped
off in the storm, but the walls were still intact. David could hear
his boots scraping on the deck as he moved things around
inside.
    David rubbed his forehead. Every muscle in
his body hurt. “Would it make you uncomfortable if I admitted that
I’m a little afraid?”
    Cassie gave a half-laugh. “Not at all! I am
too, and I don’t think the truth is a great idea. The people on
that cutter aren’t going to know who we are. We can let them rescue
us, tell them we lost all of