Jack Picklewick and the Hands of Time by Harris Needham

Author:Harris Needham [Needham, Harris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-08-14T22:00:00+00:00

THE RESCUE BEGINS

◆◆◆

Jack stood at the edge of the forest beside the building site. It had been a trek and it still wasn't over.

When he had complained to Mr. Moretimer about how far he would have to walk to locate Hanz the old man just reminded him he had spent five years scaling Mount Evercanever. In comparison, it was a light jaunt. As insane as it was, there was no comeback and Jack swiftly retracted his grievance.

Thanks to his extraordinary gifts, Mr. Moretimer knew exactly where Augustus was keeping Hanz prisoner which made Jack's task somewhat more straightforward.

'If it has already happened,' the old man declared, 'then I know everything about it. If it is in the process of happening, I can approximate an outcome but if it hasn't happened yet then your guess is as good as mine. My job is to ensure time ticks on. I am the steward of time, not a prophet.'

On his way over to the forest Jack had contemplated whether being "the steward of time" was a gift or a curse. There had been many fantastic human achievements throughout history but also a lot of things that might be better being struck from the record. Mr. Moretimer had given Jack little information other than telling him that Hanz was somewhere in the forest, stating that he just needed to "follow his instincts" and do "whatever feels right at the time."

More unhelpful, cryptic mumbo jumbo.

Despite not doubting that Mr. Moretimer had his best intentions at heart, Jack had hoped for some more useful advice than what he had received. Given that there was the very real possibility he would be face to face with an ultra-powerful, resentful force of nature hellbent on the destruction of the human race, Jack believed he had every right to question that his "instincts" would stand up to anything she might throw at him.

Maybe it won't even come to that.

Jack quietly hoped that he would simply find Hanz, shake hands with him, put their previous differences aside and then casually wander back to the shop but, deep down, he had a feeling that wouldn't be the case. A violent crack of thunder shook him to the bone. The sky clouded and rain poured from the heavens. Usually, he wouldn't have batted an eyelid. Getting soaked on the street was a given for Jack but, now he knew about Augustus, the weather had taken on a whole new meaning.

She's in there.

Thunder cracked and Jack jumped out of his skin once again. He ran into the forest, hoping that the trees would provide some protection from the rain.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire, more like.

The forest was dark and sprawling but, after spending some time in the Forest of the Dead, Jack did not feel overly intimidated by it. That he now knew there was a book in Mr. Moretimer's shop which would answer all his questions and allow him to piece his past together, he had all the motivation he needed to get the job done.

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