02 An Echo in Time: Atlantis by Traci Harding

Author:Traci Harding
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Body, Fantasy, Mythical Civilizations, Time travel, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 9780732283759
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2006-02-22T05:00:00+00:00

part 111

&

everything

23

AN ECHO IN TIME

The last time Tory saw her true kin was at Dinas Emrys, near Beddgelert in Gwynedd. Here they’d uncovered the lost cave of Myrddin, where the Chariot of Arianrod and the other twelve treasures of Britain had been hidden for eons. Her family had made the trip from their home in Oxfordshire to see Tory and the chariot depart safely to the Dark Age. Though Tory had pledged she would return to the twentieth century, the time–space continuum permitting, it had been plain that none, bar her father, truly believed she would make it back.

This ought to blow their minds, Tory mused, as she traipsed through the forest at the base of the mountain.

She’d decided against manifesting inside the Merlin’s cave, fearing an encounter with herself not yet departed.

But I didn’t run into myself back then . . . therefore, I would not run into myself now, she reasoned, shivering from the chill of the breeze. ‘I do wish I’d thought of that before.’

But the truth was that she wasn’t really thinking straight, period. Time travel always wiped her out to some degree, much as an extreme case of jet lag would. Yet, by the same token, it was exhilarating to have made it home to her roots. She could hardly wait to see the look on everyone’s faces when they saw her dressed as she was.

As Tory approached the clearing where one passed through an opening in the rock face into the Merlin’s cave, she took cover in the bushes to view a disturbance beyond.

‘But I half-suspected you were coming with me . . .

what about your vow to Taliesin?’ she heard herself say.

Professor Renford, or Myrddin as he was known by those of closer acquaintance, wrapped his arm around her shoulder as they strolled towards the mountain. ‘Oh good heavens, no . . .’ he exclaimed as they disappeared into the earthen mound, followed closely by Teo, Miles and Aunt Rose. Her brother, Brian, and his fiancee, Naomi, were the last to enter.

This is interesting. Tory sank slowly to take a seat on an upturned tree, feeling suddenly rather faint. To think, all that time ago, I was here in the bushes waiting for myself to depart.

A deep breath helped to relieve the anxiety that had welled within her and Tory took comfort in the knowledge that at least she knew she’d made it to the right place.

What are they doing in there? Tory paced, rubbing her arms briskly to dispel the cold. I don’t recall it taking this long to say goodbye.

Brian and Miles had their eyes to the ground as they emerged from the cave and into the daylight. They were accompanied by Teo. Tory came to a standstill as her heart leapt into her throat upon sighting them.

‘No way . . .!’ Teo exclaimed, thumping his two companions on the shoulder. Brian and Miles looked up to find Tory smiling at them.

‘Did you miss me?’ She broke into laughter at the mystified expression on their faces.

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