The Library:Augustus: The Library, #2

By Simon Hartwell

An Adventure Story for Boys and Girls aged 8 upwards

The Goonies meets Dr Who in a story that champions the strength of friendship.

The Library: Augustus is the 2nd adventure for Alex and his friends.

The Black House is haunted by the shades of men and women trapped inside THE LIBRARY .

But what brought the House and the Library to life? What happened to Augustus and where is the Confederate Treasure?

Alex and his friends risk becoming trapped in time as they seek to release more of the ghosts that inhabit the Black House and discover the truth behind the Legend of the missing Confederate Gold.

Colditz, Pompeii, The Hindenburg, a Treasure Hunt, a fight for their very souls and a Birthday party.

Alex and his friends face all this and more in this thrilling adventure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon Hartwell
• Release date: Dec 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386969921

Book preview

QUENTIN JAMES ADVENTURES:

QUENTIN JAMES and the UNDERCOVER AGENT

QUENTIN JAMES and the LOCH of ARTHUR

QUENTIN JAMES and the JACOBITE GOLD

QUENTIN JAMES and the GLOBAL WAR GAMES

CYBER SLEUTHS

Bug Wars/Zombie Wars

QUENTIN JAMES and the ARCTIC ADVENTURE

QUENTIN JAMES and the BATTLE for EDGEWATER

QUENTIN JAMES’S FIFTH YEAR AT EDGEWATER

THE PRINCE OF LIGHT:

WITCHES’ EYE

CASTLE ADVENTUROUS

THE QUEEN OF MAGIC

OTHER TITLES

EBENEZER

THE LIBRARY

THE LIBRARY: AUGUSTUS

THE O’BRIEN DETECTIVE AGENCY

THE O’BRIEN PIRATE ADVENTURE

UNREQUITED

THE WITCH IN THE WOODS

CZAR’S GOLD

DEMON HUNTERS (18+)

THE BORLEY RECTORY

JACK THE RIPPER

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

With thanks to

Rona

for her continuing support.

And

Victoria

for her amazing artwork

Contents

AUGUST 24th 79AD

PRESENT DAY

HOME AGAIN

FAMILY HISTORY

THE BASEMENT

THE DARK MAN

COLDITZ CASTLE

ESCAPE

PRESENT DAY

A CLUE

THE HINDENBURG

BOARDING SCHOOL

THE SCHOOL BULLY

MIDNIGHT FEAST

RETURNING HOME

BACK HOME

TO BATTLE

THE ANCESTORS

THE CLUES SO FAR

TREASURE

EPILOGUE

AUGUST 24th 79AD

WHOA, DID YOU FEEL that? asked Chuck, holding his arms out wide for balance.

Bit hard to miss, said Chip, his knees bent to absorb the shaking.

This is nothing, said Pliny. Back in February 62, the gods showed their displeasure by shaking the ground so violently the vibrations went all the way to Herculaneum and Nuceria.

We don’t have much time, we have to find the Poet, said Lucy.

Where did you say he lived again? asked Pliny.

Regio six, Insula eight? said Katie tentatively, unsure whether the address in that form was of the time or a later addition. It faces Via di Nola.

Oh yes, I know it, said Pliny. Opposite the Forum Baths, come on, I’ll show you.

So what happened? asked Alex. When the ground shook?

In 62 you mean? The ground shakes so often here it has become commonplace. Some of the buildings that were damaged are still waiting to be repaired or, in some cases, rebuilt.

Really? Why the delay?

Most of the people left Pompeii after the big shake, leaving places empty, and there have been numerous shakes since. 62 wasn’t a good time, I can tell you. Here’s Via di Nola.

They turned onto a long, wide street.

There was no rule of law immediately after the big shake, Pliny continued. Theft was rife, and many people were starving. It took days for order to be restored.

Another shake sent tiles crashing to the ground all around them; clay pots and jars fell and broke, and this time the people of Pompeii stopped to look at each other and up at the mountain that loomed above them.

I think I will take my leave and head home, said Pliny. I have a bad feeling. I urge you to leave with me.

Thank you, but no, said Katie. But you should leave. As quickly as you can.

You feel it too, said Pliny.

Katie nodded. I do. Something bad is coming.

Pliny took one look at the mountain before turning and hurrying away.

Alex could see smoke coming from the top of the mountain, curling up into the bright blue sky.

We don’t have much time, he said.

We can’t be far. Pliny said the house faced this street and was across from the Forum Baths, said Katie.

Another shake wobbled their legs and a distant rumble rolled down the mountain, urging them on.

They picked up the pace and raced along the street, heads swivelling to locate the house and find the poet.

A huge explosion sent them flying, the noise so loud they had to cover their ears. The top of the mountain had vanished, an enormous cloud billowed upwards, white at the top, dark and angry at the base, lit by angry reds and oranges. Rocks began to fall about them, all smoking, some glowing red hot flames licking their surface.

Right on time, said Chip, looking up at the sky. Midday.

We have to find the Poet and get to the harbour, screamed Alex, pulling Katie to her feet.

There! There’s the Bath House, yelled Chuck.

Alex looked across the way and saw the house, and the Poet who was looking up to the Mountain.

Hey hey, Alex called, as he ran over. You’ve got to come with us.

The man looked dazed.

You got to come with us NOW! said Alex again, grabbing at the man’s chest, a fistful of his coat providing the purchase to drag the man from his home and into the street.

Chuck grabbed the Poet’s arm and urged him forward. Alex let go of the man’s coat and took his other arm.

Who are you? What do you want? asked the Poet.

We’ve come to rescue you, said Katie, skipping to her left as a large rock smashed into the cobbled street, throwing out sharp chunks, one of which caught her leg, leaving a jagged tear, blood flowing immediately.

We’re from the Library, yelled Lucy. We know how to use the books.

Hope and relief dawned on the Poet’s face. His legs strengthened, propelling him forward, and they picked up the pace.

Where are we going? he screamed, the surrounding noise was deafening, screams and shouts mingled with the sound of rocks smashing into houses, through their tiled roofs, exploding against the cobbles of the street and the constant rumbling and growling of Mount Vesuvius as it shook, belching smoke, rock and ash into the air.

The harbour, said Chuck.

The Poet nodded.

It’s where I arrived.

Us too, and where we depart, as long as we get there on time.

They raced through the streets, flinching every time a boulder landed close to them. Flames and thick black smoke were everywhere, mixing with the ash that was falling like snow, lightly at first but getting heavier and heavier as they ran.

It won’t be long now, said Alex.

Katie nodded, her face grim with determination.

There, there it is, Lucy said, her voice breaking on the last word. Such was her relief.

Alex felt it too, and not before time as another explosion shook the ground, and molten lava shot into the air with a roar.

Fear powered their legs, and they tore past men, women, and children as they pushed and shoved their way towards the Harbour.

Here, here, Katie called, holding onto Chuck, who still held the arm of the Poet. HOLD ON!

Lucy grabbed Chip and Alex threw his arms around the Poet as the crowds pulled at them.

Fear gripped Alex.

I’m slipping, he cried out.

Me too, screamed Lucy.

Hold on, yelled Katie. Don’t let go.

The pressure was intense as they tried to maintain their position close to the Harbour; hands pushed them, trying to get them to move along before relenting and flowing around them.

Any second now!

Lucy screamed as she disappeared, torn away into the crowd.

LUCY! cried Alex, letting go and allowing the press of people to carry him around the group.

He saw a hand reaching back, fingers wriggling; and he grabbed it just as the world spun.

PRESENT DAY

ALEX OPENED HIS EYES and looked around.

He was back.

Relief washed through him. The hand he grabbed was still firmly within his grasp.

Who are you? Where am I?

Alex looked at the young girl’s hand he was holding and snatched it back as if scalded.

Who are you? he asked, looking about wildly. Where’s Lucy?

Lucy? said Katie. Oh no, we left Lucy behind!

Chuck and Chip spun left and right, their eyes searching, expecting to see Lucy any moment, the young girl in their midst forgotten in their panic.

We have to go back and get her, said Katie, her eyes pleading.

We will, said Alex, getting up. Come on, let’s go now.

What about her? asked Chip.

Alex looked at the young girl as she sat quietly, looking at each of them as they spoke.

You speak English? asked Chuck.

The girl shook her head. But you speak Greek very well. I can understand you.

Chuck and Chip exchanged looks.

I can’t speak Greek? said Chuck.

The girl looked puzzled.

But you are speaking Greek now.

No, you’re speaking English.

The girl’s lower lip stuck out and tears filled her eyes.

I want to go home, she said.

Solved, said Alex. We can take her back and get Lucy at the same time.

We cannot take her back there, said Katie, kneeling down in front of the young girl and taking her hands in hers.

Do you remember where you were before here?

The girl nodded, tears slipping down her cheeks. The mountain exploded. Mamma and Papa are dead, and everyone was running to the harbour.

Katie put her arms around the young girl.

That’s right, the mountain exploded. You don’t want to go back there, do you? Not really?

The girl shook her head.

You can stay here if you like. It’s safe here, said Katie.

Alex looked at Chuck and Chip, who both shrugged.

Errr, can she stay here? I mean, won’t it mess up time or something? asked Alex.

Katie looked up at Alex.

Maybe, maybe not. But I am not taking her back there. She will die.

Well, if her eyes get any wider, her eyeballs will fall out, so I’m guessing dying is not something she’s keen on either, said Chip.

The girl shook her head.

See.

We have to get Lucy, said Alex. What if we can’t, as there are five of us? You know, five went in, only five can come out.

Katie pushed out her bottom lip for a minute or two before shaking her head.

Not so. We rescued the Poet and the Historian so that cannot be a thing, she said.

The Poet! said Alex, looking upwards.

I wondered when you were going to remember me? said the Ghost as it floated above them.

Sorry, said Alex, bit preoccupied.

The Ghost laughed.

That’s an understatement, but perhaps I can help?

If you can, said Chip, that would be great.

"Being part of the