The Indigo King - James A. Owen [37]
“To leave a message, he can use a magic ring,” said Jack, “but for time travel, we need an antique projector. Splendid.”
John ignored his friend’s sarcasm and set about examining the machine. The slides were already set into a rotating frame in the center, and where the original gas lamp had been in the back there was an incandescent bulb. Below it an electric cord snaked down and across the floor to an outlet.
“Not entirely antique,” John said appraisingly. “Shall we give it a go?”
“Not yet,” Jack replied, turning to face Chaz. “You’re going to stay here, where you won’t cause any trouble.”
“Fine by me,” Chaz said, plopping himself heavily into one of the chairs. “Nothing to do with me, anyroad.”
“Wrong,” said John. “Verne said all three of us were meant to do this. And even Mordred himself said in the prophecy that we three—”
“Not we three,” Chaz shot back. “You, him, and some bloke called Charles, who I in’t. I won’t be going anywheres with you lot. I’m fine right where I be.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” John said. “Uncas! Stop that!”
While the humans were arguing, the badgers had switched on the Lanterna Magica and were using the light projected through one of the empty frames to make shadow puppets on the wall.
“Look!” said Uncas. “It’s a rooster.”
“Quit playing with the time machine,” John said sternly. “Remember what happened with the door.”
“Sorry,” said Uncas.
“Since it’s already on,” John said as Jack continued glaring at Chaz, “we might as well see what we’re in for.”
At his signal, Fred scurried over to the Lanterna Magica and rotated the disk that held the five slides. The first frame had been empty and simply projected a pool of light against the curtains. But the next contained a slide—a landscape of some kind. And as they looked, it seemed that the images projected through the stationary slide …
… were moving.
“Here,” Reynard said, pulling on the draw for the curtains. “Perhaps this will help.”
Instead of a screen or sheet, behind the curtains were layers of a gossamer substance, very much like theatrical backdrops. The image from the projector passed through some layers, but not others. It was like watching a film painted on smoke.
The landscape in the projection was unmistakably Greek. There were temples and great statues of ancient gods visible, all entwined with grapevines and at the bases, olive trees. Farther back, they could see a large group of people gathered in a small amphitheater, listening to a man who stood in the center. The details were sharp and clear, and to the companions it seemed as if they could reach in and touch one of the stately columns.
Then there was a gust of wind in the projection, and one of the grape leaves twisted off its vine and twirled through the air to land in the room at Reynard’s feet.
“Dear God,” John breathed. “It does work. It will work. Just like the doors.”
“But with a time limit, remember,” said Jack.
Just then a rumble of thunder shook the room, and the projection wobbled. Reynard looked visibly alarmed, and with no comment, hurried from the room.
“A storm must have come up,” said Jack. “Funny. It was clear out before.”
“That’s not thunder,” said John. “That’s an impact tremor. Something massive just stepped onto the island.”
They looked at one another in alarm. It could only be the giants. Mordred had discovered their escape from Bert’s shack and had sent his largest servants to reclaim them.
“Oh, that’s capital,” groaned Jack. He turned to Chaz, teeth clenched and his temper rising. “You had something to do with this, didn’t you?”
Chaz stood up defensively. “I been with you the whole time! And I got no loyalty to him! Not now!”
“You mean after he betrayed you the way you betrayed us?” snapped Jack.
“I’m sorry!” Chaz said. “I … I didn’t know.”
Reynard ran back into the room as another footfall rattled the island. “The giants have come, friends of the Caretaker. And it is time for you to leave.”
“What about you?” Jack said. “We can’t abandon you!”
The fox shook his head. “We have an understanding with the giants. They only