The Blue Seal of Trinity Cove (15 page)

“So you must be Bobby,” the professor said, hugging her just as enthusiastically and then holding her at arm's length to study her face. “Ah, yes, yes, I see it. Indeed … the resemblance is uncanny.” But then he turned to David and proceeded to shake his hand, leaving Bobby with a feeling of confusion, which was usual where the professor was concerned. She realised that the past professor also seemed to have had some kind of secret; she wanted to know what it was and she was determined to get to the bottom of it.

“So very glad to meet you finally,” the professor said. “Of course you both know me as the future professor but I'm sure you'll both understand that for me, this is all rather intriguing because, as you can see, I have never actually met you before and it is only just now that I can actually put some faces to some names. You see, I have been hearing about you for the longest of times and even though we are quite well acquainted in the future, right now in this timeslot this is the first time I have met you. I knew of your coming though; the Crone informs me of everything that's about to happen now and in the future. I hope I'm making myself clear. I'm not waffling, am I?” The professor seemed to suddenly realise that the whole concept of time travel from one dimension to another was incredibly difficult to comprehend, but fortunately for him the two people he was addressing were quite familiar with it.

“Not at all, Professor,” said David sympathetically.

“We understand perfectly. I hope you'll be happy with the new occupants on your island,” he said, gesturing to the Aboriginal people.

“Ah yes, perfect, perfect,” he said and went and shook the hands of all of the men, women and children. “This is a grand day indeed; not only do I finally get to meet the legendary Bobby and David, descendants of Ina and Henry, but we have a whole range of new people to add to our family here on the island. This really is the most perfect of days.” He was visibly thrilled to be meeting the people and made a special fuss of all of the little children as well. “Our island has long needed some new inhabitants. A peaceful folk that live a serene life is what we hoped for and what it looks like we will have, as well. So lovely to make your acquaintance and welcome to our Garden of Eden. Make yourselves right at home. I'm sure you'll be quite happy here. It's very safe and there's nothing to be frightened of,” he said to some of the children who seemed a little shy.

Once he had introduced himself to all of the people, he took them to the area where the other people were sitting and working and chatting with one another. The two different tribes of natives embraced each other as if they had known each other once and then they all settled down together and went on with what they were doing, talking in their own tongue excitedly. It was obvious that the Aborigines would come to love their new home and would become acquainted with the friendly animals, so unlike the Australian animals that they were familiar with, and which, until now they had never seen before. These animals had been visualised by Ina and Henry, who had read about them in their story books, the story of the Garden of Eden having made an impact on them. The Aborigines were fascinated by these strange creatures and, like the other tribe before them, came to love and respect them.

Bobby looked on, feeling a little sad that this was not how the island was anymore in the future.

“A fine day indeed,” the professor said again. “But now to you two,” he said turning to Bobby and David. “You must be full of questions right now and I'll do my best to answer them.”

“I suppose the thing I really want to know,” said David, “is how this has anything to do with what's going on with the future island and the fact that the Crone is dying and being taken possession of by the Workhouse Oracle and it looks like the island might be coming to an end. I don't know if you know but Bobby and I were sent back to get something the Crone asked for called the Blue Seal. I'm not sure what it is but apparently it will save the island somehow and it has something to do with my heritage, although what that is exactly, I'm not very sure.”

“No, I had no idea about any of that,” said the professor, looking quite shocked. “What an awful turn of events and quite strange that the Crone hasn't told me anything about it – perhaps even she doesn't know about it.” The professor held his chin between his thumb and index finger and looked thoughtful. “How simply awful. And as for a Blue Seal – well I just don't know. Perhaps the Crone can tell you.” The three of them walked to where the Crone was sitting. After greetings, David told her the plight of the future island and how they had been sent back in time to retrieve a Blue Seal that she herself had sent them for.

“You ask for something that I cannot tell you,” she explained, with a faraway look on her face. “We each have our own special destiny but at any time that can change and that is why I can only see certain things and not others. I cannot predict every single thing. But this turn of events concerns me – what has happened to upset the balance of the island? How was this thing wished into our reality …” and with that she stood up and walked away from them toward the beach, waving her hand at them as if to signal to them that they should not follow.

“A disturbing turn of events. And one that none of us quite understands, I'm afraid,” said the professor, who was again scratching his chin and looking very worried and concerned. “I wish I could help you,” he said to each of them. “I wish I had the answer for you right now but I'm sorry to say that I've never heard of a Blue Seal and I can't tell you what you should do. Again, I'm terribly sorry.” Bobby could see how upset he was and understood at once how frustrating this must be for him – a person who usually had all of the solutions to all of the problems.

“Well, that's it then,” said David. “There's nothing we can do now except go back to the island in our own time frame and hope that there's some other clue as to what we're meant to be doing. You never know, maybe we'll get back to the island and find that all of this has somehow been resolved,” he said, trying to be cheerful. But none of them really believed that that could be a possibility. Deep down all of them knew that the fate of the future island would still be in grave peril and that it would still be resting on their shoulders to find the answer and save the island.

“I truly cannot even for one moment think what on earth has happened to make this come about … it's just beyond me,” said the professor shaking his head. “I'm just sorry I can't be of more assistance.” Bobby felt sorry for him again, he looked so gloomy and downcast.

“Never mind,” she said, trying to sound more upbeat than she felt. “The Crone is right. Everything happens for a reason and we can't understand why it's happening but one thing is for sure by the end of all of this we'll all be able to look back and know exactly why everything happened the way it did. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.” The other two shook their heads slightly and managed a little, fake smile each. Bobby wouldn't even admit it to herself. She was feeling more scared and apprehensive about this than she ever had about anything in her life before. And she had good reason to as well. What was waiting for her back on the present-time island was going to make her wish she had never accidentally stumbled upon the island in the first place.

A
s Bobby and David stumbled out of the hut on the present-day island they noticed that the island was in a general state of unrest. People were running about wildly and the animals were scurrying about looking bewildered.

“What's going on?” David said alarmed, as if he was thinking out loud.

“I don't know, but it doesn't look good,” Bobby replied. They made their way to the Crone's hut which seemed to be where everyone else was heading. The professor was there with Sebastian. They came to their side and Sebastian took Bobby's hand, as usual.

“Screech, screech, orch,” Sebastian said.

“Yes, Sebastian, I know and I was just about to say the exact same thing,” the professor said and then turned to Bobby and David with a grave look on his face.

“I'm afraid you've come too late,” he said mournfully. “I'm afraid I have rather bad news.”

“Yes, what is it?” asked Bobby feeling as though she might burst with the suspense.

“Well, I don't know quite how to say this but … oh well, out with it old chap, come on,” the professor seemed to be arguing with himself, which was not unlike him, Bobby thought.

“Yes,” she and David said in unison.

“Well, it seems our little island paradise has been … well, I don't quite know how to put this – ah, how can I say it – overrun with evil. It seems that the Workhouse Oracle has kept to her word of turning our beautiful little tranquil paradise into something akin to what you would find in hell. I'm afraid the worst has happened.”

“What –,” again Bobby and David spoke in unison.

“We experienced, well, a murder; that's the only way I can say it really and I can't believe I'm even saying it. It has never happened in the history of the island. I mean, all of the people who reside here are peace-loving folk and don't know the meaning of the word violence but I'm afraid the Workhouse Oracle has somehow infected our environment – and I'm not sure how.”

“What happened exactly?” David asked.

“Well then, let's see. It was the day after you had both left. Suddenly one of the native women accused one of the other women of deceiving her behind her back with her own husband. Both of the parties denied this but before we knew it, exactly the same thing happened with another woman and her husband. It seemed all of the men were suddenly being unfaithful to their wives, but the worst was yet to come. One of the men accused his brother of a wrongdoing and then he became enraged with jealousy and killed his own brother.” The professor choked as he was talking. Bobby could see that he was having trouble telling the story, especially one that was so violent and disturbing. “I just can't account for it …” He again had the faraway look in his eyes. “For such bad tidings to come to our island now – it's just unthinkable. Then the very next day, the animals started to bite the people, which, also has never happened in the history of the island. There has always been only peace and love between all of the creatures on this island – how has this happened?” Bobby put her arm around the shoulders of the professor and Sebastian squeezed her hand reassuringly. She looked at her primate friend; to think that he and all of the other animals might turn against the people was just too much to comprehend.

“Right now the cats are up on the hill probably plotting to take over the whole island for all I know. They've always been a bit skittish, if you know what I mean; always different to the other animals and keeping to themselves rather. I dread to think what will happen if they decide to turn against us.” Bobby and David both stood still, blinking heavily and trying to take in all of this new information.

“It's worse than what I could ever have imagined,” David said and he slid down onto the ground on his knees. “I was sent on a mission and I have failed. I'm no closer to getting that Blue Seal than when we left here. I don't even know what I'm supposed to be looking for and …” He buried his face in his hands and shook his head, “and now people are dying …” Bobby could see he was about to give up all hope and so she went to him and put her arm around his shoulders.

“Don't talk that way,” she said. “We can't think like that. We have to stay strong for the sake of the island and everyone here and the Crone.” She suddenly remembered the Crone and the terrible state she had been in when they had left.

“How is the Crone?” she asked.

“I'm afraid it's not good news,” the professor said shaking his head and with a look of sorrow on his face. “Her condition worsens every day. She is completely oblivious to the latest happenings on the island – which is a blessing if you ask me. But she has no idea what day it is or anything else. She's losing her mind if you want my opinion. That Workhouse Oracle is eating away at her from the inside out. It's almost as if she has completely possessed her; the Crone we all used to love and cherish is no longer with us and I'm not sure that she ever will be again.” The three of them stared straight in front of themselves blankly, none of them knowing what to say next. Suddenly a loud shouting broke their thoughts.

“It's happening again, look, it's happening again,” was what was being shouted. Each of them ran in the direction of the shouting at once. What was before them rendered all of them completely speechless. The orb-discs that had embedded themselves into the trees around the Crone's hut were hovering about in the centre of the area, as if having some kind of meeting and then they flew all about as if looking for something. As soon as Bobby entered the area, they started to beep and flash lights madly and tumble about as if in a frenzy. It was as if they were communicating with one another. But that wasn't all. Suddenly all of the cats from the entire cat family of the island appeared and they sat underneath the hovering discs and looked and nodded at them and to one another as if they could understand the secret language of the discs. Then, all at once, and in the slowest and most evil way, they turned their heads to stare at Bobby with frowning faces and laser beam eyes. The small cats arched their backs and hissed. The larger cats growled an ear splitting roar. It was all aimed directly at Bobby; she felt the hair on the back of her neck and arms stand on end. There was a tickling feeling in her spine and her stomach felt as though it had dropped onto the ground.