History Keepers 1: The Storm Begins Read Online Free PDF Page A

gasped and her smile broke out once again. ‘ Mon Dieu ! You’re Alan and Miriam’s son!’ she exclaimed, looking him up and down and even walking round to examine him from all sides. ‘I can see the similarity. You have your mother’s eyes, no doubt about it.’
    ‘Jake, yes. Jake is usually … what … people call me …’ he offered in the deepest voice he could muster.
    ‘Topaz St Honoré. Enchantée ,’ she said, shaking Jake’s hand with warm confidence. Her tone changed. ‘Norland told me the news of your parents on my way here. Please don’t worry about them; they are the most resourceful agents in the service, as well as the kindest.’
    ‘Yes … good …’ Jake found himself saying.
    ‘How old are you? I imagined you as younger.’
    Now he felt his throat seizing up, but he straightened to his full height. ‘Oh … I’m fourteen. You?’ he asked.
    ‘Fifteen, just.’
    ‘And you’re … French …?’
    ‘ Bien sûr . Though from a different era.’
    Jake nodded knowingly, not having the slightest idea what she was talking about.
    The office door flew open.
    ‘There is no more time,’ announced Jupitus. ‘Take whatever is at hand and board the Escape .’
    ‘Mr Cole, sir. May I enquire as to the reason for our sudden departure?’ asked the girl, Topaz, pursuing him across the room.
    ‘Orders from headquarters. We are to return to Point Zero immediately.’ Jupitus handed Charlie the message he had been scribbling in his office. ‘Wire this to Commander Goethe – tell her we are on our way, then pack up.’
    ‘Has our location here been compromised?’ Topaz persisted. ‘Is the present situation connected in any way to the disappearance of agents Djones and Djones?’ she asked in a whisper so that Jake would not hear.
    ‘I’m as much in the dark as you are.’
    ‘Is it likely that we will be sent on a mission once we arrive at Point Zero?’
    ‘I really can’t say.’
    There was a flurry of activity. The uniformed men snapped into action, lifting the remaining crates and heading quickly for the corridor.
    Amidst this mayhem, Jake was rooted to the spot, panic-stricken. ‘Sorry … my aunt? Is she coming or not?’ he asked Jupitus.
    ‘She’s late. And we’re out of time. She was warned.’
    ‘I can’t leave without her.’
    ‘Well, you have to. For your parents’ sake. Anchor up in three minutes.’ And Jupitus was gone.
    The boy in spectacles came over, Mr Drake bouncing on his shoulder, the strange typewriter tucked under one arm. ‘Charlie Chieverley – how do you do?’ he said to Jake. ‘Mr Cole is right – staying in London is not an option. Who knows what could become of you? Much safer with us.’ Mr Drake squawked in agreement.
    Jake felt as if he was on the edge of a precipice. He thought of his mum and dad, picturing their warm, loving faces. ‘All right,’ he agreed.
    Topaz gripped Jake’s hand and squeezed it. He was led quickly across the room, through the doorway, and into a long, winding passage. On the walls were more faded paintings like the ones on the staircase down from the Monument: moments of history , snapshots of long-gone civilizations. Jake’s eyes were drawn to one painting in particular: a great galleon sailing through a storm towards a mountainous coast.
    ‘No time,’ Topaz said, pushing him on. Faster and faster he was led, racing towards a rectangle of hazy light. Finally they emerged into the blustery open air.
    Jake took a moment to get his bearings. They had come out on an embankment overlooking the Thames. Foaming waves crashed against the banks. Jake’s eyes widened at the sight of a ship docked beside the river, yanking violently at its moorings.
    It was a sturdy, sea-battered vessel in the style of a Spanish galleon – similar to the ship in the picture. It was the type of ship that, hundreds of years ago, had set sail on heroic journeys of exploration to the New World. On the prow, a golden figurehead reached out her