The House of Puzzles by Richard Newsome

Author:Richard Newsome
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Text Publishing Company
Published: 2014-08-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Gerald’s mind spun, whirring and buzzing as quickly—and about as effectively—as Sam’s perpetual motion machine.

This is what Sergei Baranov was after, and the reason he did not want Gerald to try for the Triple Crown: a mythical contraption stolen from the collection of Rudolph II of Bohemia?

Then a sudden realisation tapped on the window of Gerald’s subconscious: was the perpetual motion machine also the object of Sir Mason Green’s desires?

Gerald’s heart raced. It made no sense. How could an impossible machine that defied the laws of thermodynamics be worth Professor McElderry’s life? He rattled his head to try to get his thoughts back on track. He could worry about the sense of it all later. All he had to worry about now was getting Drebbel’s machine to Mason Green.

Gerald looked up to see that Alex had pulled himself onto his knees and held the rubber mallet back over one shoulder. Gerald flinched.

Alex caught the look on his face. ‘Don’t worry, Gerry. I’m not going to knock you off,’ he said. ‘Not yet, anyway. Here, come and be a help for a change.’ He nodded towards a large stone block by Gerald’s knee. ‘You’re going to have to lift that up and shove it into place once I’ve tapped the keystone out far enough.’

Gerald looked at the lump of rock. ‘Why?’

‘Because if you don’t plug the gap the ceiling will collapse and bury us under eighteen tons of rubble,’ Alex said. ‘Is that enough of a reason?’

Then Ruby’s voice drifted up from the floor far below. ‘Gerald, what’s going on up there?’

Gerald did not take his eyes off Alex. ‘We’re agreeing on a date for a sleepover,’ he called back. ‘What do you think we’re doing? You might like to step back a bit.’

Alex flashed Gerald a mocking smile. ‘Ready?’ He raised the mallet from his shoulder and swung it square against the keystone. The impact sent a shudder through the scaffolding, like a shiver running down a giraffe’s neck. Gerald dropped to his hands and knees, waiting for the structure to collapse under him.

But somehow the tower held true.

The keystone did not budge.

‘Come on,’ Alex said. ‘Be ready. I’ll get it this time.’ He lined up again and delivered another whack to the stone. This time it moved out about ten centimetres. ‘Lift the block ready,’ he said to Gerald.

Gerald sucked in a breath and hoisted the stone onto his shoulder. It must have weighed twenty kilograms. A blaze of pain flashed through his collarbone. ‘Give us a hand, then,’ Gerald grunted.

Between them, Gerald and Alex worked the block in behind the loosened keystone, fitting it neatly into the gap. Alex whacked it with the mallet, smacking it hard up against the keystone. He paused to catch his breath. ‘Someone cut that block to just the right shape,’ he said.

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