Tales of the Journeyman: The Golden Arch

By Francis Clegg

When Fred and Hannah fall through a mysterious golden arch in Fred’s bedroom they find themselves on another world, full of danger, where the walls of time and space themselves are threatening to break down. The Saradan Lord Varak and his gruesome Vurbat army want to stabilise the Warp and conquer the children’s world. But luckily for Fred and Hannah they are not alone. Fearic Redwing, the Journeyman, his companions Anmar and Rolly, two of the elf-like Elvanol warriors, and their friend, the Invar scholar and adventurer Derenby Penn, must join forces to stop Varak’s evil plan. Can the Journeyman save Earth, rid the world of Evos of the Saradan scourge and get the children home?

The Golden Arch is the first story in the Tales of the Journeyman cycle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Francis Clegg
• Release date: Aug 7, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370102815

Book preview

Prologue

There was a time, or there is, or there will be because time is relative, when a bright object was seen to streak silently across the great orbit of Demeter, shimmer for a microsecond, and disappear off the shoulder of the gas giant’s ring system. At about the same time, because one cannot be exact about these things, a strange craft burst forth from the Tazec Gate in a stream of incandescent light energy which disappeared in the vastness of the space it occupied. The ship slipped silently on through the void, its speed apparent against the stillness of the Atal sun.

It was a dull grey, egg-shaped craft leading with the heavy end, its girth bound with a ring-like girdle of the same metal. A blue luminescence glowed from a huge screen at the top front end, which extended just a little below the leading edge of the metallic girdle. The ship was heading towards Evos, the fifth planet in the Atalar System and its occupants were as strange as the craft.

If we could have looked in through the bridge screen of the Sentinel, for this was the name of the star cruiser, we would see three beings. The largest, a male, stands tall, facing the instrument panels. He is a humanoid, thick bearded and broad of shoulder. The other two, male and female, are not of our world. The male is slightly smaller in height than the bearded man and is much slimmer. The female is even less in stature but still about six feet tall and there is a strong family resemblance to her male counterpart. They are in fact brother and sister and have a strange elvish appearance. The three stand motionless on the bridge of the Sentinel as it slips silently through this remote, distant system: a mysterious craft on a strange mission, somewhere in space and time.

Chapter 1: The Golden Arch

Fred’s anguished cries broke the silence of the house: I can’t hear you. You’re not there, there’s no one down there. You’re not real.

He sat on the edge of the sofa, holding his hands over his ears and rocking his head from side to side. He was staring down at the cellar hatch in the middle of the polished wooden floor in the back parlour of his house.

Fred’s father rushed into the room and stopped abruptly as he saw the boy.

Fred, what on Earth is the matter? It’s not the voices again is it?

He pulled the boy’s hands away from his ears as he spoke.

Fred looked up forlornly at his father.

Dad, I can hear them screaming, like people calling out for help. There must be something down there.

His father sat down by Fred’s side and gently put a hand on his shoulder.

We have been through this again and again. There is nothing in the cellar. You know that it’s just a small space where they kept the beer when this house was an inn, years ago. Fred, I’m becoming more and more worried about this. Maybe we need to see somebody so that you could talk about these voices. Do you think we ought to perhaps go to see a doctor, just to get a little extra advice?

Fred shook his head.

Dad, I can hear them. It sounds like they're calling out for help.

Mr Glover pulled his son to him and ruffled his hair.

I know Fred, but you see, no one else can hear these voices. The only thing we have ever found down there was that trapped jackdaw, remember?

Fred recalled the time he had heard noises coming from the cellar and when he and his father investigated they found that a bird had fallen down the chimney flue and through a hole where bricks were missing. The boy seemed to recover his composure when reminded of this event.

Yes but that was a bird, Dad; these are people I hear. And you did promise to knock through that bricked up archway in the cellar, didn’t you? Perhaps there is something down there.

His father threw up his arms in exasperation.

It’s hardly likely that there are people trapped behind a bricked up archway, is it? You don’t seem to understand the pressure I'm under. I don’t want to start digging up my own home in my leisure time. That’s just a busman’s holiday. I need to relax when I get a break from work. I will investigate the archway I promise, but only when I have time and we can do it together.

Fred Glover’s dad was an archaeologist and a university lecturer. He ruffled his son’s hair again affectionately.

Mum and Hannah will be home soon from their shopping trip to Canterbury. Why don’t you go up and tidy your room and try to forget about the cellar?

Mr Glover gave the boy a hug and Fred scowled back.

Dad, you don’t know how important this is. I just know that something weird is happening.

He knew immediately that he had said the wrong thing when his father’s expression changed from a smile to a look of frustration.

Okay, I’m going, Fred said, as he jumped up from the sofa and headed for the stairs.

Once in his room, Fred sat on his bed with his head in his hands gazing morosely into space. He heard footsteps on the stairs. Through the half open doorway he saw the tip of Hannah’s blonde head appear, bobbing up stepwise, the long hair flicking slightly as she moved.

She made the top step and peered grinning around the doorway.

Why are you sulking, Fred Glover? she said, the grin slowly leaving her face when she saw his miserable expression.

Dad never believes anything I say, Fred said, as he flopped backwards on his bed.

You shouldn’t have been so persistent when you could see that he was stressed. He’s just been worrying about you. And now he’s talking to your mum about seeing a doctor or something.

Fred propped himself up on one elbow.

Well he did promise he was going to knock through that old bricked up archway in the cellar. I do really hear those voices, you know. And it sounds like people crying for help. Anyway, there might be something very important down there.

Hannah laughed at her friend.

What do you expect to find there, Fred? Buried treasure?

Fred gave Hannah an angry glare. He was very fond of her, the only girl he really liked. At twelve she was a whole year older than him. They had always been best friends as long as he could remember. Both their fathers were archaeologists and had often worked together.

It’s exciting though, don’t you think? Old Morgan, the builder, says there is a story about a secret tunnel that goes all the way to Brandon Castle.

Hannah burst out laughing.

Don’t be crazy, the castle is miles away from here.

Fred scowled at her once more.

Maybe it was a secret place when the house was an old inn. A place to hide priests or cavaliers or smugglers. Anyhow, I didn’t make the story up. Dad promised me that one day he would knock a couple of bricks out to see if there was an opening behind.

He sat up, the anger replaced by excitement.

Wouldn’t it be great if we did find something?

Hannah Sinclair gazed at the dark haired boy sitting on the bed. She loved being with him. They always got on well together, well almost always. He was so enthusiastic about everything.

Even so, your Dad is very annoyed at you going on like that and he’s worried about you.

Fred was staring through his bedroom door which was now wide open.

Hannah, the boy said, look at the sunlight from my window. It’s casting a golden arch through the doorway, out onto the staircase.

Hannah turned back to look at the open doorway. The sunlight from the bedroom window was projecting a bright image of the opening onto the floor and wall at the top of the staircase.

How odd, Fred, it’s shaped like an archway, she said.

Fred shook his head.

It’s only the image of my bedroom door, he said.

Yes but it’s an archway and your door has a straight top.

He stood up and waved his hands, scattering the dust particles suspended in the bright sunlight.

You’re right, he said. That’s weird.

Just then a voice called up from below, startling the children.

Fred, can you come down here?

It was Fred’s father. They heard his footsteps on the bottom stairs.

There’s something Mum and I need to talk to you about.

Fred pulled a face and muttered: They want to talk to me about going to see a doctor.

Hannah stared anxiously at her friend.

I think that may not be a bad idea, Fred.

He stood up on the bed. The foot steps were getting closer.

I don’t need to see a doctor, he said. Quick, Hannah, follow me.

She was sitting next to him and started to stand as Fred grabbed her hand. He leapt from the bed pulling her along with him. They shot across the room and as Fred dragged Hannah through the bedroom door he whispered: Let’s go down the back stairs and escape. They won’t know when we left the house. We can walk down to the village.

Suddenly Fred felt himself being pulled towards the image of the golden arch cast at the top of the stairs. The wall inside the archway seemed to dissolve before his eyes. He struggled to resist the force but fell through the mysterious opening dragging Hannah along with him.

Fred found himself hurtling through the air clutching Hannah’s hand. As they fell headlong through the golden arch, he was vaguely aware of the bright sunlight and the haze of dancing dust particles like tiny stars in a golden sky. Then there was darkness everywhere, black as deepest night and he was falling down and down. He knew he was still holding Hannah’s hand but he couldn’t speak. He was desperately trying to call out but the silence was as deep as the darkness that engulfed them. There was no sound.

Fred’s fall was interrupted with a jolt. He landed bottom first, with a painful grunt as the air was expelled from his body. He yelped as he slithered along on what felt like a steep, loose surface. At last, he found his voice.

Help, Hannah, help! he shouted.

He suddenly realised he was no longer holding her hand, but was sliding, at considerable speed, down a slope. He could hear loose stones and earth cascading around him. Finally the ground levelled out and Fred, clinging by now to the loose surface, came to a halt.

Ouch! Is that you, Fred?

Hannah had landed on top of him. They clung to each other for a moment.

Are you alright, Hannah?

Fred could just make out the outline of his friend.

Yes, I think so. Where are we, Fred? What happened?

Fred looked around him, his eyes slowly adjusting to the gloom. He shook his head slowly, as much to check that it was still there as to clear it.

I don’t know. Do you think we could have fallen into the cellar?

Hannah stood up and turned slowly around in a full circle.

I don’t think so. I can hear something. It sounds like water. Listen!

Fred got to his feet gingerly and felt for Hannah’s hand in the half gloom. He started suddenly.

Hannah, look! I can see stars up there.

He stepped forward, unsteadily.

Hold on, Fred, you’re going to walk into the water. Look down there; I thought I could hear it.

They were standing not more than two paces from the edge of the water that spread out before them. The sound that Hannah had heard was the gentle lapping of ripples on the shore. The children's eyes were adjusting to the gloom. Above them the dark sky was pinpricked with stars. They were standing on a beach of shingle facing a broad expanse of dark, forbidding water. Behind them was a steep, rocky slope.

How can we have jumped off your bed and landed at the water’s edge in the middle of the night? asked Hannah. It was a sunny afternoon a few minutes ago.

Fred was still looking around him, his mouth open.

It’s something to do with the golden arch, Hannah. What do we do now?

Hannah shook her head and said, doubtfully: I think we should try to get back to your bedroom. Come on, Fred, let’s go back up the slope. I’m scared.

Chapter 2: The Darkness

Hannah held out her hand to Fred who was now squatting on his haunches at the water’s edge.

Come on, Fred, let’s make a move.

He got to his feet slowly and turned, holding his hand out to his friend.

I should go first, he said.

Hannah, standing with one foot on the slope, put both hands on her hips and faced Fred.

Why should you go first? Just because you’re a boy? Well, I’m a year older than you, I should go first.

Fred looked up at the girl. He was a good natured boy, slow to anger but determined, despite his easy going nature.

Fine, you lead the way, but neither of us knows what’s up there, he said.

Hannah turned and peered up the gloomy hillside.

What do you mean? What could be up there?

Fred grabbed hold of her hand.

Come on, let’s go up together, he said.

The two friends started up the darkened hillside hand in hand. They had to lean forward against the slope, occasionally dropping their free hands for support as they clambered over the loose shale.

After a few minutes Hannah stopped, breathless by now.

Hold on, there’s something ahead.

Fred peered into the gloom.

I can’t see anything.

Hannah pointed.

It looks like large rocks. Can’t you see the shape of them?

Directly in front were several enormous boulders, jutting out of the hillside.

Fred headed towards them.

Let’s see if we can go around.

He was moving to the left but Hannah pulled him back.

Hold on, Fred. I want to take a closer look.

She started to climb towards the stones, pulling Fred with her.

Don’t you see? We didn’t hit anything like this when we fell down the slope, so we must have fallen from somewhere around here.

They reached the rocks, which now towered above them. The slope was less steep here and they were able to stand upright quite comfortably.

Wow, Hannah! Look here.

Fred darted forward leaving the girl still staring up at the giant rock formation. It seemed to grow out of the hillside, but some of the larger stones looked like they had been stacked on top of each other. Two of the bigger ones leant inwards forming a cavernous opening between them. Hannah gasped as she saw Fred disappear between the leaning stones.

Fred, wait for me. Don’t dash off without me.

She sighed with relief when he reappeared just as suddenly at the cave mouth.

Come on, let’s see what's inside, he said, beckoning the girl impatiently. Hannah staggered up the slope to join him.

Now just you wait a minute, she said. We are not going to go charging off into who knows what without thinking about it first.

Fred sat down on the floor.

I think I have solved our little mystery. There’s a tunnel back there and I’m sure that it must lead to my house.

Hannah stared at Fred in disbelief.

How can it possibly do that? The house isn’t near the sea or a large lake or whatever that is down there.

Well what else could we have done but fallen down to the cellar and into some kind of a tunnel? Fred said, glaring up at her with annoyance in his voice and a little fear also.

I don’t know Fred but I don’t think we are going to find our way back as easily as that. There’s something very odd about all this and I just don’t understand it.

She sat down in front of him.

Let’s go over what happened, she said. We fell into some kind of a tunnel or hole, right?

Fred nodded glumly.

Then we tumbled down the slope, he added. But wait a minute, just before we were sucked through the archway, didn’t you say that that there was something odd about it?

Hannah looked at him for a moment, and then nodded in agreement.

The arch, the image caused by the sun, it was different remember?

She got to her feet.

It was a golden arch caused by the sun but your bedroom door has a straight top.

She stared at Fred, a worried frown on her face.

But how could it be different? Unless...

Her voice trailed off into silence.

Fred jumped to his feet and hopped about in agitated excitement.

It wasn’t a shadow or an image of the door cast by the sun. Don’t you see? It was an actual archway we fell through.

They both sat down again, deep in their own thoughts. Hannah broke the silence finally.

But where did it come from, the archway I mean? Was it some kind of an opening in...?

She hesitated.

Some kind of a hole in space you mean? Fred said, finishing the sentence for her.

They stared at each other, as if searching for an explanation in the other’s face.

Well I think we should explore the cave, said Fred, getting to his feet. Whatever it is, at least we can shelter there until it gets light.

Hannah looked at him.

Does it ever get light here? Perhaps it’s always like this. Where are we, Fred? I’m scared. I want to go home.

She started to sob quietly, her head in her hands now, still sitting on the floor and looking very miserable. Fred squatted down by her side and put his arm around her shoulders.

Come on now, it will be alright, I promise you. Look, I think it is getting a little lighter. You can almost see the water’s edge from here.

Hannah raised her head and, wiping the tears from her eyes, looked down at the water below. She peered towards the lake but was not convinced.

Well, I can’t see the water from here but perhaps you are right. We should do something.

The children entered the cave together, crouching low at first. The light of a star-filled sky barely lit the entrance. The floor fell steeply away and they had difficulty stopping themselves sliding down. Just as quickly though, the floor levelled out and they found themselves inside a vast chamber. A pale light seemed to emanate from the walls illuminating the cavernous space in an eerie, blue glow.

Fred tugged at Hannah’s hand.

There’s an opening over there, he said, pointing towards the opposite wall on the left.

Hannah pulled him back.

Yes, but look, there is another one over there on the right.

The children looked at each other and then at the two entrances before them.

Let’s try the one on the left, said Fred, starting out across the chamber.

Why not? Hannah said, following behind the boy.

The opening was rough hewn out of solid rock. Fred entered cautiously, closely followed by the apprehensive Hannah. The floor of the tunnel they found themselves in sloped gently downwards. They walked in silence for about fifty metres, the tunnel descending all the time.

Fred stopped abruptly causing Hannah to bump into him.

What’s wrong? she said. Why have you stopped?

Fred turned to her.

There’s a fork in the tunnel ahead, he said. Which one should I take?

Hannah thought for a moment.

Keep to your left. Whatever happens, keep to your left.

Why? asked Fred.

Hannah sighed.

Because that way we should be able to find our way out. We just need to reverse it and keep to the right.

Fred nodded.

Why didn’t I think of that?

Hannah pushed him in the back, playfully.

Watch it, Fred.

They proceeded for another fifty metres or so when they encountered a second fork. Again they chose the left hand path. They lost count of the number of times the path divided in this way and also how far they had actually penetrated the tunnel system. Fred began to slow down and they were both beginning to tire.

Hannah finally grabbed hold of Fred’s T-shirt.

Let’s have a break, Fred. I need to rest.

The boy stopped, leaning with his back against the wall of the tunnel.

Okay, but just for a minute while we get our breath back.

Hannah sat down on the floor.

Is this a good idea? We don’t seem to be getting anywhere.

She stared down the tunnel.

This light is strange. Do you think it’s natural, something in the stone maybe?

Fred looked around him in the dim light.

I don’t know. It’s weird, isn’t it? Perhaps it’s like those fish and fireflies and things, you know? Fluorescence or something like that.

Hannah shivered and hugged herself as she leaned back against the wall.

I’m cold, I’m tired and I’m hungry, she said.

She stared down at her grubby tracksuit bottoms and sweatshirt, and Fred’s T-shirt, which was torn, and his jeans covered in mud from their tumble down the slope.

Neither of us is dressed for this kind of adventure, she said.

Hannah shivered again. She was thoroughly despondent by now.

I hate adventures! I’m frightened and I want to go home.

Fred moved over to Hannah’s side and said, Look Hannah, I’m sorry, this is all my fault. I got you into this mess, but we must go on. Don’t give up now. We will find our way back, I promise you.

She grinned ruefully at him.

I’m sorry, Fred. I suppose I’m being a bit of a pain.

They were silent for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. Suddenly Hannah shrieked and sprang to her feet.

What’s wrong? What is it?

Fred was by her side in an instant. She pointed down the tunnel.

There’s something down there. I saw it move.

Fred strained to see where she was pointing.

I can’t see anything; nothing at all, he said.

Please let’s go back, Fred, I’m so frightened.

She tugged at his arm but he was still staring down the tunnel.

What exactly did you see, Hannah, or thought you saw?

Hannah stamped her foot, anger replacing the fear now.

I don’t know exactly what I saw but I did see something and it moved.

Fred turned to her reassuringly.

Calm down, calm down. Let’s just go a little further.

He started to walk slowly ahead again and then stopped dead in his tracks.

Hannah peered over his shoulder.

What is it? she whispered.

He held up his hand.

Shush! Can you hear anything?

Hannah, still holding Fred’s arm, screwed up her face in concentration.

No, nothing at all. Can you see anything?

He paused for a moment.

There is something coming towards us but I can’t see what it is because of the darkness.

Hannah pushed past Fred and stared intently ahead.

What darkness? The tunnel is lit by this light thing, isn’t it? Oh no! That’s what’s moving - it’s the darkness. Run, Fred. Run!

Hannah turned on her heels and started to dash back up the tunnel, closely followed by Fred. They came to the first fork and the girl hesitated. He pushed her on.

Keep to the right Hannah - all the way back, keep to the right.

They plunged on, Fred in the rear anxiously glancing back over his shoulder.

Faster, it’s gaining on us.

He was right. The darkness was gaining, like a great, rolling black fog, swallowing up the pale-lit tunnel. They were both gasping for breath and Fred had to push his friend forward as she staggered along. By now they had passed two forks and were just approaching the third. Hannah stumbled as she reached the junction. Fred pulled her to her feet and pushed her onwards. He glanced back to see the engulfing darkness not more than ten metres away. As he started forward again he felt a vice like grip on his left ankle. Struggling to break free he was being dragged inescapably back down the tunnel.

Hannah staggered forward down the right hand fork. The thought of the threatening darkness overwhelming them spurred her onwards always keeping to the right. After several minutes she stopped.

I can’t keep going much further, Fred, she gasped.

It was then she realised that the boy was no longer behind her. She turned to see an empty tunnel. Hannah screamed and threw herself forward. She struck her head against the stone wall. The last thing she remembered seeing were two enormous brown leather boots.

Chapter 3: The Journeyman

When Hannah awoke, the first thing she saw were clouds scudding across a pale, dawn sky. Had she been dreaming? It felt as though something terrible had happened but she couldn't quite remember. She felt the relief of waking from a bad dream but then it all came flooding back. It wasn’t a dream after all. But where was Fred?

There was something covering her and she was lying on her back in a shallow hollow. When she moved she could feel shingle shifting underneath her. Then she heard a sound, the crunch of footsteps in the shale coming towards her. She shut her eyes tight, terrified. The footsteps stopped. Hannah held her breath and slowly opened her eyes. She yelped with fear.

Above her loomed an enormous figure clad in a brown leather tunic. He had a beard, reddish in colour with flecks of grey. She could see thick, red hair falling on his shoulders from beneath a helmet made of bands of silvery metal, covering a leather skull cap with ear flaps. The giant spoke but she couldn’t understand what he was saying; he was speaking in a strange language she wasn’t able to identify.

Who are you? she blurted out. Please don’t hurt me.

The man’s face broke into a kindly smile.

Ah, you speak English, he said. Don’t be afraid, little one.

He had a deep, friendly voice as brown as the leather of his boots, which Hannah immediately recognised as she struggled to sit up.

Where’s Fred? she asked.

The horror of Fred’s sudden disappearance came back to her now.

A worried expression replaced the lopsided grin on the big man's face.

I thought I registered two life forces, he muttered to himself. Who is Fred?

He’s my friend, she sobbed. I think the darkness swallowed him up.

Don’t cry, the man said, kneeling down by Hannah’s side.

She pushed back