Paralysis Paradox (Time Travel Through Past Lives Adventure Series Book 1) by Stewart Sanders Read Free Book Online Page A

Sharashka.’ He shook his head solemnly and then grinned at me and took another mouthful of cat food. ‘I saws you nearly fell into Bouncing Pond. You’d be a goner if you fell in there, you would. Ought to be careful in this snow, Missy.’
    ‘Why do you call it Bouncing Pond?’ My curiosity got the better of me.
    ‘Bounce, bounce, bang! That’s how it went. I never sees it, I was always inside working, but I hears it. Everyone hears it but says nothing, mustn’t say nothing!’ His eyes narrowed, and he waggled the fork around to illustrate this point. ‘Even now, mustn’t say nothing. No!’
    ‘That’s rubbish, Mister,’ Frankie interrupted. ‘Everyone knows it was a stray bomb from the blitz. There were lots of bombs round here from the Second World War. Vicky found one last year, didn’t you, Vicky?’
    There had been many bombs dropped in this area in the War, this was true. In fact I can remember playing round the large crater in Oxshot woods. When I was little, my mum would set out a picnic, and I would just run faster and faster till I fell over and rolled down. But the bomb I found last summer was an incendiary device, with a timer attached. I’d already told just about everyone I had met that day, that I’d found a bomb and the bomb squad were in our garden. My father took me aside later and explained that people would become very afraid if they knew the truth. He told me that there were bad people in this country who didn’t believe in the state and sought a return to bourgeois rule. I’d told everyone since, that it was from the Second World War, although I knew otherwise. I ignored Frankie’s comment, not wanting to share my story and happy to leave the lie out there.
    ‘Young man.’ The Mad Hatter drew himself up imperiously, jabbing his finger at Frankie. ‘I have taken the oath and know things I must take to my grave!’
    I kind of wanted to know what he was talking about, but I also knew that half of what he said was the ravings of an old lunatic, so even if I did press him further, he’d probably just respond with more riddles. It was time to change the topic of conversation.
    ‘I’ve come to say goodbye. I’m going back to school this afternoon.’
    ‘Oh, don’t goes!’ he begged, suddenly forlorn. ‘I’ve got more to show you! Looky here,’ and he dragged me over to a point a few metres away from his shelter. Kicking back the fresh snow, he uncovered a large rusty manhole cover.
    ‘I think that’s a drain,’ I said patiently.
    ‘No! No, it ain’t a drain.’ Scooping off the snow with his hands, he revealed brickwork around the edges. ‘It just popped out of the ground. Well, help me then!’
    I crouched down, and together we lifted the cover away. It took all our strength, with Frankie hopping around next to us, shouting encouragement. As soon as it was off, I dropped to my knees and peered in. The weak winter sunlight was barely sufficient to reveal a rusty metal ladder descending into the darkness below. We couldn’t tell how far the hole went—it simply faded into black. I took a small coin out of my pocket and dropped it in. After a second we heard a clink as it hit something hard. I looked quizzically at the Mad Hatter.
    ‘What’s down there, Mr Blake?’
    He didn’t answer, just stared into the hole, his expression difficult to fathom. I could tell he knew something about this place.
    ‘Well, I’m going to explore,’ I decided.
    ‘There be a lighter in my shack,’ said the old man. ‘Go and get it, boy!’
    Frankie darted off into the shack as I took off my heavy coat and hung it on the rhododendron bush. Frankie came running back with a lighter. With it I started to climb down the steps until I was surrounded by the gloom, the small flame hardly punctuating the darkness. I was nearly at the bottom and could make out the start of a tunnel when I heard the Mad Hatter shouting overhead.
    ‘It’s ya mum, Marj!’
    ‘My mum, what do you mean?