Infinity Cage by Alex Scarrow Read Free Book Online Page A

But one day, for certain, somebody would force that padlock and enter. What they’d find would be covered in dust. None of it would be functional, of course, but
when
it was discovered would determine how much of a stir it would cause. He imagined someone discovering these inert pieces of technology during, say, the Second World Warwould attract the attention of the highest levels of British government. However, someone coming across the same things forty or fifty years later might think they were looking at the abandoned props for some low-budget science-fiction movie, or think it some abandoned backstreet computer workshop.
    If both their missions went wrong, computer-Bob was going to have to destroy the displacement machine, completely erase the hard drives and erase himself – an act of digital suicide.
    Sorry, ol’ fella
.
    He heard the displacement machine starting to hum as it began to accumulate a reservoir of stored energy. The first three charge-indication lights were already flickering amber.
    > Caution: preparing to open Maddy’s one-hour window … in ten … nine …
    Liam turned to look at the space in the centre of the dungeon where the sphere routinely opened. A part of him was hoping that a few moments from now they’d emerge from the hovering portal. Already confounded by some problem or obstruction or threat, and deciding instead to come along with him and Bob for an adventure in the past.
    Space–time suddenly warped into a sphere and a gentle gust of displaced air disturbed the drapes round the hammocks, sending several pieces of paper skittering across the computer table. And there the portal hovered and flexed two feet above the ground. He could see a rippling oil-painting depiction of the future – the sky tones of sickly sepia, the ground a drab, lifeless grey. He couldn’t make out any details clearly, but from what he could see the future was not a particularly colourful or inviting-looking place.
    More to the point, he saw no dark silhouettes preparing tocome through. His heart sank a little as he realized they’d already set off on their quest. They were gone.
    Just us, then.
    The sphere hovered for another few moments, then collapsed with a soft pop.
    ‘OK, that’s it … now it’s our turn, Bob.’
    In silence, they stripped out of their Victorian clothes, Liam carefully folding his smart trousers, morning shirt and waistcoat and placing them on his hammock. Then he pulled over his head and narrow shoulders an extra-large cotton nightshirt that hung down to just above his knees. It looked close enough to the pale-cotton jellaba that he’d researched most Judaeans wore in this time. A pair of leather slippers were as close a match as he could find to sandals.
    He looked at Bob. The same-sized nightshirt that hung loosely on Liam was tight round his chest and bulging biceps. The hem hung only as far as his pelvis. Luckily he was wearing a pair of leather breeches. Hardly authentic clothing for the time, but nothing that would catch a person’s attention any more than the sheer ox-like size of him.
    Liam reached for the goatskin bag he’d bought from the market. In there were a few essentials he was going to have to keep from prying eyes, the torches in particular.
    ‘You all ready to go, Bob?’
    ‘Yes, Liam.’
    He turned towards the screen beside him. ‘Computer-Bob?’
    > Yes, Liam?
    ‘Just thought I’d better say, you know … just in case … it’s been an honour and a privilege working with you.’
    > Thank you, Liam. It has been an honour working with you also.
    The cursor blinked silently for a few seconds before finally jittering across the screen.
    > Your last statement suggests you anticipate not coming back?
    He was going to say no. That it was nothing. No big deal. Just something nice to say to fill the time. But that would be disingenuous. Computer-Bob wasn’t just a bunch of looping code. He was a friend. A friend who deserved the truth.
    ‘I