The Accidental Time Traveller Read Online Free PDF Page B

succeed with his time travel ambitions.”
    “Tell me about Duncan.” I was keeping her talking.
    “For starters, he has the finest horse with the finestsaddle.” Then Agatha grinned mischieviously, jumped to her feet, puckered her lips and threw back her head. All her sadness about her mum vanished. She winked at me, saying, “This is Duncan, Father’s eldest brother.” Then she patted her hand against her chest, sighed wearily and in a deep man-voice, said, “Can you triumph at nothing, brother Albert?”
    “Poor Albert,” I said, impressed with Agatha’s acting skills. “What did he say to that?”
    Agatha immediately switched characters. She thrust her hands together in a pleading style, got down on one knee and in a slower voice spoke to the imaginary brother, “Certainly Duncan. I simply havna found the particular sphere to triumph in. Have patience brother, patience. Come the day, I assure yea, the name o’ Albert Black will ring out doon the lang corridors o’ history. Everyone will ken me. ‘Albert Black!’, they will all cry and toss their bonnets high. ‘Hurrah for Albert Black!’ Have faith, Brother, I beseech yea!”
    I cheered Agatha’s performance, grinning at her, but quickly stopped when I saw her frown. “Poor Albert,” I said again.
    “Aye, poor indeed,” Agatha plonked herself back down on the log. “For it is Uncle Duncan, you see, who gives us money. He is the richest of the family. Och, ‘tis little enough, and were it not for what I can do in the kitchen and the parlour, and the little extra I bring in with my performing monkey, Father and I would be poor as vagrants. But Duncan makes much of the little he gives us.”
    Performing monkey? Was she having me on? Maybeshe’s just a liar, that’s what I thought then. I wanted to believe in her. I wanted it to be true. I wanted to believe she really did come from 1812, but part of me just couldn’t. Agatha didn’t notice the way I squirmed in my seat and bit my nail. She didn’t notice the way I narrowed my eyes and glanced sideways at her. She just sighed and carried on.
    “Alas, yea arna familiar with the name of Albert Black. So yea see, Saul. Father has failed in this too. I was to be gone but for a moment, then fly back directly with news. He so hoped time travel would give him fame. No doubt at this very moment he is on bended knee at home trying to explain to Uncle Duncan what has befallen his only child. It will be the end. Duncan already despairs of him. All the brothers do. Father has indeed fallen from grace. Now that he has lost me to the future, Duncan will have him hanged.”
    Agatha stared glumly into the fire. Both of us imagined the horror of Mister Albert Black swinging from a rope in the town centre. I know it sounds a bit heartless, but I was also imagining the next sentence of my essay.
    Punishment was tough in the past, like you could actually get hanged for doing bad things. You would get a rope around your neck and it would kill you.
    Agatha sniffed back a sob. Maybe she really was telling the truth? A tear rolled down her cheek. “Hey, Agatha,” I said gently, “there’s loads of famous folks I’ve never even heard of. I’m not that clever. To be honest, I don’t know anything about history. For all I know your dad might be really well known.” She flashed mea wide-eyed, hopeful look. “Don’t worry, Agatha,” I continued, sounding upbeat. “I’ll get you back.” But the next thought that flashed through my mind (though right away I felt guilty for it) was: But not yet. Hang around long enough for me to learn a few things about 1812 and win the essay! Long enough for me to win £200 and buy a bike.
    Agatha seemed to cheer up. “Thanking yea, Saul,” she said, smiling. “I trust yea.”
    “Good,” I muttered, feeling bad. Of course, I wanted to help her. I wanted her dad not to get hanged. But even supposing her weird story was true,
how
was I ever going to get her back? I bit my lip,