City of Time Read Online Free PDF

laugh out loud. “What if it meant that there
really
wasn't enough? I mean, not enough to go around. Say the world or universe, or whatever, is filled with time, but that it has run short or something, so that there just isn't enough of it …” He ground lamely to a halt. Dr. Diamond was staring at him. “It's just a theory,” Owen said. “Probably pretty stupid.”
    “A theory?” Dr. Diamond said, finding his voice. “You've hit the nail on the head, Owen! That was
exactly
what the message meant. It makes sense now. That is why the clocks are all slowing down. That was why your friend's face changed in the playground, although fortunately the change wasn't permanent. That was why the geese turned to dust. There isn't enough
time
. And that's why he told us about the City.”
    “What
is
this City of Time?” Cati asked.
    “It is called Hadima in the old books,” Dr. Diamond said. “Years ago there was a lot of coming and going between the Workhouse and Hadima. There used to be an entrance.…”
    Cati noticed a strange expression on Dr. Diamond's face. His eyes fell on Owen and stayed there, as if lost in a dream.
    “The City of Time, Dr. Diamond,” Owen reminded him gently.
    “Oh yes. Well, to cut it short, it is a trading city, you might say; a city with its roots stretching back in the past and far into the future.”
    “What does it trade?”
    “Time,” Dr. Diamond said. “It trades time itself.”
    “That's why my father is telling us to go there,” Cati said excitedly. “To get some time. There isn't enough, so we have to get some.”
    “Is that right, Dr. Diamond?” Owen asked. Time, after all, wasn't something you went out to a shop and bought.
    “Yes,” Dr. Diamond said slowly, “I think Cati may be right.”
    “So, that's easy then,” Owen said. “Cati's dad is telling us to go to Hadima and get a tempod containing time, and … and …”
    “And release the time here.” Cati completed his sentence.
    “But you cannot,” Dr. Diamond said.
    “Why?” Owen demanded.
    “The entrance is sealed. The Resisters sat in Convoke—you remember the Convoke, Owen? Where we all gather together and decide things? And at this Convoke a long time ago, we decided that the entrance should be sealed and should stay sealed.”
    “But why?” Cati asked.
    “We were afraid that the Harsh might use it to travel from the City to here. There were rumors. …”
    “But the Harsh got here anyway!” Owen said. “When they attacked last year!”
    “I know, Owen,” the doctor said, looking troubled, “but there was another reason. Your father was traveling between here and Hadima. The Convoke thought that he was bringing trouble with him. That he was meddling in things he did not understand.”
    “But now … now we need it,” Cati said. “We need to get to Hadima!”
    “I'm sorry,” Dr. Diamond said, “but I cannot repeal the decision of the Convoke.”
    They heard a faint rumble beneath their feet. The Skyward swayed gently for a moment and then was still.
    “What was that?” Cati jumped up.
    Dr. Diamond stood and walked over to an instrument in the corner that had started to spout out rolls of paper. He examined it. “Earth tremor,” he said. “Two point three on the Richter scale. Caused by the moon, I would say.”
    Cati and Owen looked at each other. Cati openedher mouth to speak, but before she could Dr. Diamond said sternly, “The decision of the Convoke is final. The entrance to Hadima has been sealed with the sign of the fleur-de-lis and will not be reopened!”
    Next morning they ate breakfast at Dr. Diamond's workbench. The scientist fried bacon and sausages, and they had them with fried potato cakes and crusty bread, all washed down with mugs of tea.
    “Now,” said the doctor when they had finished, “we need a plan. But first, what about your mother, Owen? Will she not wonder where you are?”
    “She'll think I've gone to school already. She doesn't really notice