Time After Time

Inside was a tiny cave-like room, lit by a crackling fireplace. Shelves and tapestries covered the stone walls. A chaotic collection of exotic objects filled the shelves. There was a lamp that might hold a Djinn and curved razor sharp sabres. There were statues of old gods part human, part animal, long since vanished from the earth. There were fat laughing Buddhas, tiny jars of coloured liquids, and decaying scrolls.

“You look like you need a hot drink. There’s a delicious herbal concoction I discovered in Asia. Make yourselves at home.”

Their teacher disappeared into a back room. They heard the clatter of pans.

William seated himself in front of the fire, while the others examined the room.

Kate and Pete examined the pictures. One depicted a lake with a shadow, as though something large were lurking beneath the waters. Another showed a boat in a storm and a tentacle slipping out of the water, around the leg of a screaming man. Another was the close-up of a vast eye.

Other tapestries depicted great battles. Kings and Queens at court. Ancient cities with architecture unlike any they had seen before.

“Did you notice these three shapes?” Kate asked. She pointed to each image in turn. Every one of them included in the background the shadowy figures of three people. Their faces were indistinct.

“Take a seat,” said Hermes, returning to the room.

He was carrying a tray with metal tin, a pan of water and six shallow bowls. He hung the pan over the fire, opened the tin and placed a spoonful of leaves into each bowl. When the water had boiled, he poured some into each bowl and passed them to his guests, bowing to each of them in turn.

“Do you know who we are?” Kate asked.

“I know one day I will be your teacher, but for me that has not yet happened.”

“You speak modern English,” said Tom.

“I am very old. I have accumulated a lot of knowledge. People visit me from everywhere, from other times, and other worlds. They bring me lots of books, and tell me stories.”

“I understand the language here,” said Kate.

“You were born here.”

For Kate, an important piece of her life’s jigsaw fell into place.

“I still have dreams, but I was so young.”

“It’s good you cannot remember. Try to keep it that way. Some things are better forgotten.”

“I need to know about my parents. Are they alive?”

Hermes shook his head.

“I’m sorry. Your parents did their best to protect you, as did the rest of your people with their children. They sent you away, to somewhere safer, to the future. They scattered you throughout history.”

Kate felt empty, and detached, as though she were listening to a story about someone else.

“Why? What happened?”

“There is a secret society, the High Council. They have persecuted your people for centuries. They encouraged the rest of the population to fear you. People fear those with greater knowledge. They call it magic, and they call you witches, but you are observers of nature, testing the world to see what works. There a few of your kind left.”

“Did they kill my mother?”

“I’m sorry Kate.”

Nobody spoke for a while. The only sound was the crackling of the fire.

“Who are you?” Tom asked. “How can you be here?”

“I cannot die. For many, the secret of immortality is the ultimate goal, but it is not so wonderful when you have it. Life is only precious if it must end. I have many names. Some call me Hermes, some Thoth. Others know me as St. Clair, Sinclair or some other variant of that name.” He turned to Mary. “Now, why don’t you tell me how you came to be here?”

Mary told him the events in the cellar near the Parish Church.

“There are those who wish humanity to continue in ignorance. They lust for power; they create problems where there were none. They choose their puppets, the Kings and Queens, the Popes and Bishops, but it is a distraction.”

“And Mabel is part of this conspiracy?” Tom asked.

“Do not be too harsh in your judgement of Mabel. She was born into this society. She was trying to protect her children and the villagers.”

“What about Mary? How many others have there been?”

“Many others.”

“Who are the Children of Annwn?” Kate asked.

Hermes dropped his bowl, it smashed on the floor, and he hurried off for a brush. When he had finished cleaning up, Tom spoke.

“Those people in the tapestries. They’re us aren’t they?”

“That depends on the choices you make. Your future is not fixed.”

“Is my sister ok?”

“She is for now, but to find her you must go back to the beginning. Return to the spot where you saw the green fog. Go now and hurry. They are looking for you. When you arrive in your century, come and see me.”

“What must I do?” Mary asked.

“You came through a different portal. They are all over the town, each linking with a different time or place. I will help you find the right one.”

“You didn’t answer my question,” said Kate. “Who are the Children of Annwn?”

Hermes sighed. “You are.”