The Time Stone

By Marie Yoch

The only things Sydney Pointer knows about her dad come from the letters he sent her and articles published online about his daring life as a treasure-hunter. But now he's disappeared, and the only clue to what might have happened is a list of five stone talismans he gathered and hid for safekeeping. When Sydney is given the list, she knows it's up to her to find the stones and fulfill her father's mission to return them to the island temple where they belong.

The Time Stone is first on the list, but it isn't where it's supposed to be. Sydney and her friends must work together and follow a single clue to retrieve the stone and the clue to the location of the next stone before anyone finds out what they're up to and tries to stop them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brazen Snake Books
• Release date: Apr 20, 2018
• ISBN: 9781937477288

Book preview

The Time Stone

by

Marie Yoch

The Time Stone

Copyright 2018 by Jamie DeBree

Published by Brazen Snake Books

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination, and used fictitiously.

My dearest Sydney,

The most interesting thing happened when I started to record today’s find for you. I believe the object I uncovered today - a small, stone sundial which I believe is the original Time Stone - was trying to communicate with me. Or someone was trying to communicate through it, rather, as I made an entry for it in my journal. I did not know what I was writing at the time, and cannot decipher it, but I have a friend in London who is good with languages. I’ll give him a copy as soon as we reach land, and with luck, he’ll be able to figure out what it says. Perhaps it will help us find the rest of the talismans, or even the Hidden Gate itself. I do so hope we’ll be able to find it together, when you’re older.

Love,

Dad

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Kalika

About the Author

Chapter 1

I have something for you, Sydney.

Sydney Pointer looked up at the old man in rumpled layers of dirty clothing. Her nose wrinkled all on its own at the nasty smell that accompanied him, and she tried to remember everything her mom had taught her in case a strange man ever tried to take her. She opened her mouth to yell for help and grabbed her bag as he slid into the booth across from her.

I’m not going to hurt you, the man said, sliding a tattered piece of paper to her across the table. But I need to give you this. It’s something your father was working on until just recently. I’m sure he’d want you to have it.

Sydney forgot her fear for a moment at the mention of her dad - an amateur archaeologist who could never be happy in one place. When Sydney was a toddler, he’d gone off on one of the treasure hunts he was so fond of and never come back. He’d tried, her mother told her with a wistful smile, but after a year of missed holidays and sporadic hour-long visits, they’d divorced and Sydney hadn’t seen him since, even though he still kept a house in town for the rare occasion when he wasn’t treasure-hunting.

You know my dad? Sydney let her bag fall to the bench and looked closer at the man. He looked…tired. His hair was long and knotted, his beard in serious need of a comb and wash, his teeth crooked and brown, and the lines on his face etched in deep, sunburned furrows. Something in his gaze made her relax a little more. His hunched posture and shaking bent fingers weren’t exactly the hallmarks of a kidnapper. Not that Sydney had ever met one.

I know him very well, child. He pointed to the list, but made no move to reach across the table. Your dad was looking for these stone talismans - keys, he called them - when he disappeared six months ago. Insisted that together they would open some sort of ancient treasure trove. One that supposedly holds the secret to life-long happiness for whoever opens it.

Sydney looked at the list, which consisted of six crude pencil drawings with a name scrawled in rough handwriting under each one. At the top the drawing was a circle with a triangle on top. It was labeled The Time Stone. There was also a flower, an arrowhead, a heart with a crack down the middle, and what looked like a scroll of some sort.

He was trying to find these? But how did he know where to look? And if they’re made of stone, aren’t they very heavy?

The old man chuckled. A talisman is a small object believed to bring good luck to whoever holds it. Your father found the first one - The Time Stone, there at the top of the page. I’ve seen it. It’s a sundial about the size of a half-dollar coin. He curled his gnarled thumb and forefinger into a circle to demonstrate. Legend has it that each talisman has a clue hidden with it that leads to the next. Whoever follows the clues and finds the stones will eventually find the treasure as well.

Sydney frowned. He disappeared? What happened to him? Is someone looking for him? She looked around the diner for her mother again, but it was strangely quiet. They had to do something. Did you call the police?

I don’t know what happened to him, kiddo. And I suspect the police won’t be able to help. The man hesitated, and then looked her in the eye. He had some…trouble getting the first stone. As if there were something protecting it. The last thing he told me before he left was that I should pass this list on to you when you turn eighteen. He coughed, a wet, phlegmy sound. I’m afraid I’m not going to live that long, kiddo, so you’ll have to take it now.

Sydney Ann Pointer, what did I tell you about talking to strangers?

Relieved that she’d finally showed up, Sydney looked up at her mother, who only glanced at her before turning on the old man.

Who are you, and why are you talking to my daughter?

The old man raised his head, and Sydney’s mother gasped, putting a hand to her heart.

Hello Daphne, the man said. It’s been a long time.

* * * * *

Sydney didn’t think she’d ever seen her mom speechless before. The two adults stared at each other for a long moment before her mom finally spoke.

What are you doing here, James? Is Aaron okay? Is he here?

Her mom sounded weird, like she couldn’t decide whether to be excited or worried, but she looked disappointed when the old man shook his head.

He’s gone missing, Daphne. Six months since I heard from him - too long. I needed to meet Sydney. He wanted her to have something.

Sydney’s mom looked at the table and saw the list. This? She pointed to it, and then picked it up. Is this what I think it is? James… There was something more, something neither of them were saying.

The man nodded, looking away. He wanted me to wait until she was older, but I don’t have that much time left. Doc says any day now. Nothing they can do.

Sydney frowned. Does that mean you’re dying? The question earned a hard glare from her mother, and a nod from the old man.

‘Fraid so, kiddo. But I wanted to meet you first. And to pass along— he coughed again, the sound of his lungs rattling in his throat making Sydney cringe. He wiped his mouth with a napkin. I need to tell you the rest, before—

He started coughing again and clutched his chest, the coughs turning to wheezing as he fell against the back of the booth.

Sydney’s mom pulled out a cell phone and dialed 9-1-1 while Sydney sat and watched the man turn blue, wanting to do something, anything, but not knowing what she could do. He passed out, falling down on the bench and her mom was shouting frantically into the phone as someone - Enrique the cook - came and took Sydney’s hand, pulling her away.

No! She tried to get free, but Enrique was too strong. Let me go! I want to stay with my mom!

Shh… Enrique tugged her into the kitchen, bending down to grab her upper arms and waited until she looked at him.

"An ambulance is coming, but you have to