Day of the Assassins by Johnny O'Brien Read Free Book Online Page A

been humiliated in front of millions of viewers. Neither happened.
    All he could say, lamely, was, “How does it work?”
    Pendelshape laughed, “I’m afraid that would take a little while to explain… and you would need a PhD in theoretical physics or computer science and maybe genetics.” He frowned, looked down at his shoes and paused. “In fact, probably all three… but, if you like, I can give you the ten-second version…” He looked at the boys expectantly; there was no response.
    “The ten-second version it is then. You switch on the power. You might think that is just a question of pressing a big red button – but it is a little more complicated than that.” He thought to himself again. “The button is green actually. Anyway, then you set the date and where you want to go, you stand on that platform,” he pointed at the circular platform inside the ‘Taurus’ structure, “and you click this…”
    From his pocket he pulled something similar to a mobile phone – maybe a bit fatter and longer. He flipped the phone open and a very faint blue light came on from the inside. It was similar to the light of the stairwell and access passage. The boys could see a small screen and a number of small buttons.
    “The Taurus itself, over there, stays put – it focuses the energy. But to move through time and space, you need to have physical contact with this little chap. It’s a time phone. You need it to go… and to get back.” He looked at them, “And that’s about it. Oh, except that while back in time, the time phone is controlled and tracked by the Taurus, and its console over there, using a set of codes – with a reasonable degree of accuracy…” A look of doubt ghosted across his face. “Most of the time, anyway.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Well, it will only work when the Taurus is at the right energy state, and also when there is a strong enough signal.”
    “What? Signal? Like a real mobile phone? Come on, sir, you’re winding us up.” Angus laughed. This couldn’t be serious.
    But Pendelshape pressed on. “It’s a bit more complicated, but you’re more or less right – look – that bar, there at the side,” he held up the device so the boys could see and pointed to one corner of the display on the time phone. “It’s greyed out at the moment, but when it turns yellow, you can exchange signals with the Taurus, text messages if you like: it means the Taurus here knows where you are… and it means you can time travel. When it’s off, you can’t do any of those things.”
    “Wow!” Angus exclaimed.
    “It’s off at the moment?” Jack asked.
    “Of course.”
    “But…”
    “This is all completely irrelevant. I’m afraid that none of it can be used… great tragedy.”
    “Why not?” asked Jack.
    “Not allowed. It’s known as ‘The VIGIL Imperative.’” Pendelshape sighed. “Rules, gentlemen, rules… which we must follow on pain of death. Literally.”

Taurus Class
    P endelshape sat back and clasped his hands behind his head while he continued his extraordinary story. “About fifteen years ago, a small group of physicists, associated with the nuclear research facility at CERN, near Geneva, conducted the first practical experiments in time travel. At first, very simple non-organic structures were transported backwards and forwards through space and time. Then, we started to experiment with more complex structures. We then moved on to the first organic material, then living creatures… and, finally, a human being. Up to this point the level of excitement among the group was incredible, as you can imagine. But then, one of the leaders of the group, Counsellor Inchquin, started to think seriously about the power of what they had created. Here was a technology that had the potential to change the past, and thereby change the future. In the wrong hands, or, even in the right hands, this could be catastrophic.” He paused. “Think about it.”
    “You’re right, you