The Time Hunters and the Box of Eternity Read Online Free PDF Page A

theories were
found to be utter twaddle. Still, one day we shall succeed and a good friend,
devoted father and husband, and committed time traveller will be with us once
more.
    Again, I thank every single one of you for your efforts.
    Timing out,
    TT86 Charles Butterby.
    Oh, and can I remind you that Annabel Mullins, our much loved
daytime receptionist, has organised a Bring and Buy Sale at St Barnabus Church,
Fudgington on the 11 th December and would appreciate donations of
prizes for the tombola (nothing pilfered, stolen, swiped or nicked from
history, please.)

 
    Becky read the article again and again. After the fourth time, she
folded up the newspaper carefully and held it to her chest. Her hands were
trembling. Of course, Uncle Percy had mentioned that other travellers were
searching for her dad, but seeing it in black and white, knowing that so many
were involved made it all the more real. Surely, it had to be a matter of time
before they had a breakthrough.
    Then – bang - the door burst open and Joe
rushed in, panting, his face flushed cherry-red. ‘ Have you seen this? ’ He held up an identical
copy of The Travelling Times.
    ‘ It ’ s great, isn ’ t it? ’ Becky said, and
before she knew it, had raced into Joe ’ s arms and was giving him the strongest hug she
could.
    Joe looked like he ’ d swallowed a wasp. ‘ What are you doing? ’
    ‘ Hugging you. ’
    ‘ Well … don ’ t. ’
    ‘ Why not? ’
    ‘ It ’ s disturbing. ’
    ‘ Why? ’
    ‘ We don ’ t do that. You hit me,
you don ’ t
hug me. ’
    ‘ But I don ’ t want to hit you. I ’ m happy. ’
    ‘ I thought hitting me
made you happy. ’
    ‘ It does. But I ’ m not in a hitting
mood. ’
    ‘ I prefer it when you
are... ’ But
it was clear from Joe ’ s tone he didn ’ t mean it.
    Suddenly, a peculiar tapping sound followed by a loud squawk came
from the corridor. She released Joe and glanced at the doorway. A stumpy grey
bird with a very fat, green beak, a plume of snow-white feathers to its rear,
and short, stubby wings, waddled into the room.
    Becky ’ s eyes nearly popped from their sockets.
    Joe moved to her right, puzzled. ‘ What type of bird is that? ’
    And for once, Becky knew. She ’ d been fascinated by them ever since her
primary school teacher, Mrs Ebrey, had shown her pictures in a tattered history
book.   ‘ It ’ s – it ’ s a dodo … ’

Chapter Five

 
    A Rose By Any Other Name

 
 
 
    ‘ It certainly is,
Becky. ’ Uncle Percy appeared at the door. ‘ Her name ’ s Deirdre. ’ He looked drained, but an unmistakable spark had returned to his
eyes.
    Utterly fearless, Deirdre brushed herself against Becky ’ s shin.
    Becky crouched down and ran her fingers over Deirdre ’ s curved beak. An
enraptured smile crossed her lips. ‘ Where ’ s she from? ’
    ‘ Mauritius … Fifteenth
Century. I was there a month ago investigating a lead on your father. A
predator must have attacked her. If I ’ d left her she would ’ ve died, so I brought
her back and nursed her back to health. She ’ s made quite a home for herself down by the
lake. I don ’ t think she ’ d let me take her back to her own time zone now if I wanted to. ’
    Deirdre gave a tiny squawk as if to say she agreed.
    Joe waved the newspaper appreciatively. ‘ And thanks for this. ’
    ‘ Yeah, ’ Becky said. ‘ It ’ s brilliant. Really
brilliant. ’
    ‘ I just wanted you to
know that the travelling community is doing all it can to find John. And we won ’ t stop looking either.
We will find him. ’
    ‘ We know, ’ Becky said sincerely.
    Uncle Percy drew a deep breath. ‘ Now, let me apologise for the earlier scenes
with Maria. I ’ m sure you ’ re intrigued to know what it ’ s all about, but for once, would you do me the
favour of not pursuing it. I think we should just put it behind us and have a
wonderful week. ’
    His words were so heartfelt that Becky had no intention of
challenging them. ‘