Arthur! Where are you? shouted his mother.
Definitely not good!
With that gut-sinking feeling that he was about to be in a whole heap of trouble, Arthur took a deep breath and descended the stairs, pausing at the bottom to gaze at the soldiers standing sentry on either side of the front door.
Are you okay? Whereve you been? We were all worried sick! exclaimed his mother, rushing up to him as he entered the room.
Mum, Im fine, he replied, noticing a tall man in an officers uniform, standing by the kitchen table.
The officer looked at him and smiled. So you must be Arthur, he said, stepping forwards and extending a hand for him to shake. Come and have a seat, will you? Im sure this will all just take a minute.
Arthur glanced at his mother who nodded for him to do as hed been told.
My name is General Hammond, he said, pulling back a chair, and removing his peaked cap to reveal a buzz cut of greying hair. I am head of the Space Projects Division at the T8 Joint Command Facility. Do you have any idea why I have come here today?
Arthur shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
Its OK. You do not need to be afraid. You are not in any trouble. In fact, quite the opposite. I believe that you are in a position to help me recover something very valuable, which was lost in a recent, and rather unfortunate accident.
His mother was whispering animatedly with Aunty M.
A short while ago, a powerful energy spike was detected coming from the vicinity of this house. Do you have any idea what I might be referring to?
Arthur nodded.
And am I also correct in thinking that you were able to open the object?
Arthur nodded again.
The expression on the generals face, which had up until that point been calm, suddenly became deadly serious. Then the sooner you return the object to me and give me your assurance never to mention a word about it or what you have seen to anyone, the safer it is going to be for you and your family Do you understand what I am telling you, Arthur?
Yes, replied Arthur, feeling a shiver run down his spine. I understand.
Fine. And do you have the artefact in your possession?
Please give the officer what he came here for! cried his mother before hed even had a chance to say anything. It clearly doesnt belong to you! Were so sorry, General, hes always been a bit of a handful, ever since he was just a toddler. I think he gets it from his father, you know.
Yes, its here, frowned Arthur, removing the box from his pocket and placing it on the kitchen table.
Picking it up, the general gave each side a cursory glance before tucking it into his shoulder bag. Thank you. Now, I realise that you doubtless have a lot of questions, especially about what it was that you saw. But I mean it very sincerely when I say that the less you know, the better.
The general turned to his mother and Aunty M, hovering by the door.
And the same, Im afraid, also applies to the both of you ladies. The fewer people who know about this, the better. I trust I also have your assurances on this matter?
Fine then, he said, as they both nodded vigorously. Now, if you will please forgive the manner of this intrusion, I really must get going.
Rising, the general shook Arthurs hand, put on his cap and left, leaving the three of them watching through the kitchen window as he and the soldiers headed back up the garden path.
No sooner had the garden gate clattered shut behind them than Arthur suddenly found himself in the world of trouble which he knew was coming.
When are you ever going to learn not to go poking your nose into things that dont concern you!? And look whats happened this timeeven the army had to get involved! I just dont know what were going to do with you, I really dont. Why cant you be normal like your friends?
And no amount of trying to explain that all hed done was find it was going to get her to change her mind on the matter. The worst part about all of it, though, was that very shortly after the general had taken the box, Arthur discovered that he was no longer able to understand the cat. At first hed thought that Cat was playing a joke on him, but after dousing him with water, and not hearing anything except hisses and unhappy meows, he understood for sure. In many ways it felt like losing a best friend, whilst not actually losing him.
Gradually, after unsuccessfully trying different ways to communicate, they fell back into doing what theyd always done. The cat continued to follow him around, and Arthur still talked to him as though he understood. But it wasnt the same. And as for the box, well, the generals insistence that he promise to not discuss it with anyone had only made him even more curious about what it really was.
4
Something Unexpected
Summer passed into autumn, and soon school was back in full swing. Days were becoming shorter and darker, and before long the ground lay covered in leaves. With the events of the holidays seemingly forgotten about by both his mother and stepfather, everything had returned to normal. Everything, that was, except for the fact that Arthur himself had been unable to forget. And no sooner had they arrived back in the city again than hed spent most of his free time browsing the internet, studying star maps and hoping against hope that he might discover something more about the box and about what hed seen. But it was a slow and laborious task and in the end, after becoming swamped with schoolwork, he was finally forced to push it all to the back of his mind.
That was until early one Sunday morning in the middle of October when the doorbell rang unexpectedly. His stepfather had gotten up to answer it and hushed, serious-sounding voices had followed.
Come on, wake up, said Sasha, entering Arthurs room without knocking. The generals here to see you.
The general? he yawned.
General Hammond, from the cottage. Remember him?
Of course I remember him, but whats he doing here!?
Go and ask him yourself. Theyre waiting for you in the kitchen.
They?
Dressing quickly, Arthur hurried into the kitchen to find several people sitting at the table. His mother, still in her dressing gown, was busy preparing tea and coffee. Seeing him coming in, the general got up.
Ah, my young friend, he said, shaking his hand and patting him warmly on the shoulder. Nice to see you again. How are you doing after all those summer adventures of yours?
Okay, thank you, Arthur replied nervously.
Good, good. Right, well, Arthur, as you can see, Im not alone this time. So, before we get started, let me quickly introduce you to the two colleagues who have travelled with me here today. On my right is Peter, head of our Artefacts Research Team at the facility. As you can no doubt imagine, he has dedicated a great deal of time and effort into studying the box you found.
A pleasure to meet you, replied the slightly plump man with a silver goatee. You certainly did us all a big favour by finding it.
Indeed, you did, nodded the general. And, on my left, Doctor Semenova who heads up our Psychological Evaluation Committee at the facility.
Arthur nodded shyly
So, lets get down to it then, shall we? The reason why weve come here today is because we urgently need your help. More specifically, we need you to try to remember back to this summer, to your opening of the box. Do you think you can do that for us?
Yes, Arthur said.
Excellent.
Peter took out his mobile phone and pointed it at him. Its so we can recall exactly what you said, he explained.
Please go ahead and describe for us how you opened it and what happened next? prompted the general.
Trying not to look at it, Arthur cleared his throat and for a moment wondered where he should start. It all sounded so strange in his head that he was sure if he mentioned the cat and, even worse, the fish, that theyd all think hed cracked.
Well, um, at first we tried to open it using some of the tools from my grandfathers tool shed, but it was impossible, he began.
Just a moment, please. You said we, interrupted the general, looking surprised.
What?
Yes, you said that we tried to open the box. Who was the other person with you?
Shooting a look at the cat, whod just jumped up onto the windowsill, he blushed.
No one. Sorry, there was no one else there. So, anyway, when I couldnt open it with tools I I began to think about the words written on it, you know, about wanting to know things and having to say open three times.
And you worked that out by yourself, did you? asked Peter, rubbing his chin.
Well, yeah I guess.
Good. And thats what you did?
Yes, I said open three times.
And then what happened?
Well, everything went really bright and then really dark and the room I was in turned into, like, a floating map.
A floating map?
Yes.
And why do you think it was a map?
I dont know. I mean, it looked like a maplike a star map. Like something Id seen at the planetarium with my dad.
And did you recognise any of the planets?
No, he said, shaking his head.
And can you tell us anything more about this map?
Not really. But I remember that some of the planets were just kind of spinning, and some of them were grouped around what looked like suns.
And thats it? asked Peter after a lengthy silence.
Yes, I think so.
The head of research leaned over and whispered something into the generals ear, causing him to frown slightly and nod.
OK, well then, I think weve got everything we need, said the general, rising. We dont want to take up any more of your Sunday.
No, hang onwait! said Arthur suddenly, as the others stood up and followed the general over to the front door. Actually, there was something else! There were like these symbols. Some kind of writing. I couldnt understand them, though.
Peter put down his coat and quickly took out his phone again.
Can you describe these symbols? he asked.
No, Im sorry, but
But?
But I remember that they were only next to one group of planets, and not any of the others.
This time Peter nodded to the general.
Good. Thank you, Arthur. Now, if you could please give us a moment alone with your parents, there are a few things which we need to discuss with them.
What? But why? I thought I answered all of your questions?
You did, replied the general. You have been very helpful indeed.
Arthur, go and wait in your room, said his mother anxiously.
When Sasha and his mother came in a short while later, he could tell right away that shed been crying. His stepfather was looking very serious.
Arthur, she said tenderly, sitting on the bed beside him. The general has just informed us that theres a problem with that box you found.
What kind of problem? I didnt break it or anything, if thats what theyre thinkinghonestly!
No, its nothing like that. In fact, the problem, from what we can gather, is that you appear to be the only one who is able to open it.
Me? But its easy, just say open three times. Anyone can do it.
If it were that easy, I dont suppose that theyd be here asking for your help, would they? said Sasha, handing him a piece of paper.
Whats this?
Look for yourself.
Arthur unfolded it.
TOP SECRET
To: General Hammond
From: The desk of the Minister of Defence: David James Mills
Subject: URGENT Directive T8-A8921
General Hammond,
Due to the extreme importance now being attached to the opening of artefact A101 at the highest levels, you are hereby instructed on behalf of the Prime Minister of Great Britain and in full agreement with the President of the T8 council to use all means necessary to ensure that this is achieved. I am sure I dont need to remind you that this is a matter of both national security and international importance. If this boy is indeed confirmed as being who you think he is, you are authorised to bring him to the T8 facility for further testing.
Yours sincerely,
David James Mills
Minister of Defence
For further testing!? What, theyre really going to make me go there? he asked after reading the memo several more times.
His mother laid a hand gently on his shoulder.
The general said youd just be needed to help them to open the box again, thats all, she said.
But youll be coming too though, right?
No, we cant, Arthur. Anna is much too little to be going somewhere like that. And, in case youve forgotten, Sasha is finally up for promotion next week.
Yeah But
The general has, however, just been speaking with your father, and after explaining everything to him, he has agreed to go with you.
Papa? Really!? But hes on a business trip to America.
Not anymore. Theyre sending a plane for him as we speak.
5
Papa
With his father on his way back, it had been agreed that they would leave the day after next. The general, on his way out, had taken Arthur to one side for a private word and had told him that he was confident that it wouldnt be for long. Despite this though, Arthur couldnt shake off the feeling that it wasnt going to be as simple as just helping them open the box and then being able to leave again, especially when he remembered the contents of the letter.
Things at home had remained tense after the general and the others had gone. One minute his mother would be angry with him for having found the box in the first place, and the next she was hugging him, telling him it would all be OK. His stepfather, in his turn, had taken it upon himself to keep reminding everyone that because Arthur was going to a special government division, that it meant that hed have to be on his best behaviour at all times. Even his baby sister, sensing that something was up, kept crawling past his room, popping her head in, and screaming out until she found him. Fortunately, by evening they had managed to calm down a bit. The day after tomorrow still seemed far enough away to be able to push it to the back of their minds.
Arthur, for his part, had been trying his best not to think about it at all. Ironically though, the more hed tried not to, the more his mind kept conjuring up dark images of mad-looking scientists deciding that it was going to be a matter of national security to keep him there for the rest of his life.
I dont know, Cat, he said, as the cat came and curled up next to him on the bed. Dont you think its really kind of strange that the government needs my help? I mean, it can do almost anything, right? Build nuclear missiles, space weapons, cool tanks and stuff. I dont get why they cant figure out how to open it themselves.
The cat stretched out a paw and rested it on his arm.
I really wish we could still talk, he sighed, tickling him behind his ears.
The following day, Arthur decided to try and find out more about the T8 facility and what he could expect to find when he got there. Curiously however, not only did it not appear on any maps but after searching for hours, all hed been able to come up with were a few broken links and occasional references to it being a government facility, location unknown. One link though, which he had been able to open, was to a conspiracy theory blog in which the writer had said that whilst knowledge of the existence of T8 wasnt exactly a secret per se, it was rather strange that it couldnt be located on any satellite photographs, especially given their general availability these days. The writer had also gone on to say that, in his opinion, it had to mean that there was more to it than it just being a UK government facility and questioned whether it was even in the UK at all.
The afternoon of their departure, the general had arrived with his father at the appointed time.
Papa! shouted Arthur, rushing to greet him as Sasha opened the door for them.