The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 115: Face Off!

"Come here, boy!"

Mrs. Steers and Rose turned to see Dr. Herkeimer walking pointedly towards Sam.   The They had entered the cavern.  They had begun to spread out like the arms of an octopus about to snatch up the Time Travelers.

Rose raced, leaping between Sam and Dr. Herkeimer before he had the chance to grab him.  Dr. Herkeimer stepped backwards.

“You’re going to have to go through me first.”  Taking a defensive stance, Rose started to form an orb.

"Don't even start anything, big sister."  Dreda came to the Doctor's side. Her orb was at the ready.

"Ha!  Don't count on it," said Rose.  "We've got some catching up to do.  And we're going to start by forcing out the truth."

Dreda threw her orb.  Rose ducked and the orb smashed into the wall behind her.  Taking the opportunity, Rose pushed Dreda to her knees.  Startled, Dr. Herkeimer stumbled backwards, brushing against a rock, scrambling to get away from the fight.

When he turned to search for Sam, he found himself face to face with Mrs. Steers.

"I've been waiting to teach you what it's like to pick on a boy."  Mrs. Steers was furious.  Her hands trembled.

Dr. Herkeimer stepped back and bowed.  "Ah, Mrs. Steers.  I finally get to make your acquaintance."

"Stuff it!"  Mrs. Steers glared at him.  "I can honestly say I'm not happy about making yours.  This is our second meeting.  And, without a doubt, it will be our last."

Looking smug, Dr. Herkeimer shook his head and grinned.  "Mrs. Steers, why would you say that?  I only want to..."

"Stuff it I said," said Mrs. Steers.  "As I recall, the first time we met, you tried to kill me.  Remember?  And you didn't get another chance when we came to rescue Sam.  But, I do believe that I mentioned that I would see you again."

Dr. Herkeimer stood firm, face to face with Mrs. Steers.   "You are very foolish.  Just give me a copy of the book and we'll be on our way."

"Not on your life!"  Mrs. Steers stood her ground.  "I'm not going to let you get your hands on any copy.  I also won't let you get Sam either. That you can bet on."

Without so much as a hint of movement, Dr. Herkeimer formed an egg-sized orb and threw it at her.  Rose might have been the orb champion, but not even she could make then as fast as he could.

Mrs. Steers moved quickly, dodging the small orb.  "Well done," she said.  "You can still make them faster than anyone else.   Too bad you can't make them any bigger."

It was true.  He had the power to make them quickly, but they wouldn’t grow any bigger an egg and were very weak.

"I've been practicing," said Dr. Herkeimer.  "You might be surprised." 

Meanwhile, Sam had run to the grotto where he had seen the words carved in the wall.  From his hiding place by one of the stalagmite columns, he saw Mrs. Steers getting mad as if she could throw a thousand orbs at Dr. Herkeimer or at least punch him in the nose. 

From out of nowhere, Fan appeared, just in time to see Sam run into the grotto.  He slid between the back wall of the grotto and an enormous boulder, looking for a place to hide from Fan.  But Fan was able to grab Sam's coat sleeve.

"Wait!  Don't run. I won't hurt you."  Fan tried to be as pleasant as possible for a gentleman of his formality.  "I have to speak with you.   About a scroll.  A scroll in Chinese that may or may not be in this cavern."

Sam tugged to free his coat sleeve.  "No way!   You're one of them.  Get away from me."

"No," said Fan. "You misjudge me. I am working for someone else who is just as interested in the lost archives as The Time Travelers.  Master Henry, I must speak with you."

"Master?" said Sam.  "Why do people keep calling me that?"

Confused by Sam's comment, Fan waved his hand.  "It's not important.  I need to ask you for a favor.   When you enter the cave, you must look for a scroll.  A very ancient scroll that will..."

Before Fan could finish, Rose pushed Fan backwards against the grotto wall.

"Back off, buddy!"  Rose jumped between Fan and Sam.  "Leave him alone."

Holding his hands out in front of him, Fan tried to explain.  "You don't understand.  I have my own instructions."

Fan wasn't able to finish explaining to Sam about the ancient Chinese scroll.  Rose grabbed Sam and they ran out of the grotto.  Fan watched and knew that his mission had failed.  Then he saw Tinean.

Making a quick decision, Fan tripped Tinean, pretending it was an accident, and giving Rose and Sam more time to get away.  As he helped him up, Fan was able to pull Tinean's knife undetected from his leg holster.  Fan hid it as quickly as he could. Tinean shoved Fan away and ran towards Rose and Sam.

"This way!"  Rose shielded Sam, putting him in front of her.  Tinean chased them back into the grotto with the stalagmites on each side.

Meanwhile on the other side of the cavern, Ari, Xavier and Uncle Griff took on Bruno.

Uncle Griff taunted Bruno.  "Aha!  Three against one."

Like a sumo wrestler, Bruno hunched over and began swaying back and forth.  "Bring it on.  Don't bother with the orbs."

Ari and Uncle Griff laughed, while Xavier took a more serious tone.  "What are you two laughing about?  This guy's going to be tough to bring down."

"Oh yeah. Is that so?" said Uncle Griff.  "Then watch this. Ready, Ari?"

“Ready,” said Ari.  From the depths of their coat pockets, both Ari and Uncle Griff pulled out sling shots, and from their other pockets, they each pulled out a stone.  Before Bruno knew was about to happen, Ari and Uncle Griff launched their attack.  One stone smacked Bruno in the center of his forehead.  The other went to his right knee.

Falling to one side, Bruno grabbed his knee, wincing in agony. “That hurt!”

Watching, Xavier crossed his arms and leaned against a nearby stalagmite.  "Don't mind me.  Go right ahead."  Ari and Uncle Griff launched their second round of attacks as quickly as they launched the first.

“Stones hitting Bruno where it hurts,” announced Xavier. “And that’s just about anywhere he can put his hand.  And now they’re going in for round three.  Ladies and gentlemen, this fight is getting ugly…”

Ari took aim at Xavier.   “Will you shut up!”

Xavier went quiet and Ari went back to his barrage of stone.

"What the...!"  Bruno held his hands up, trying to protect himself from the onslaught.

Running low on stones, Uncle Griff backed away, scanning the ground for more.  “Hey… Could you lend a hand here?”  He motioned for Xavier to find more stones.

The lull in the action gave Bruno the opportunity he needed.  Rushing Ari and Uncle Griff, he reached out as if to grab one of them but spun around and grabbed Xavier instead.

Bruno had wrapped his arm around Xavier’s neck and was hoisting him up.  Xavier stood on tiptoes and used Bruno’s arm like chin-up bar, digging his fingers into Bruno’s muscular arm.

“Put the rocks down,” growled Bruno. Ari and Uncle Griff stopped their attack.  “Back off or I’ll break his neck.”

“Now now, Bruno,” said Uncle Griff.  “Don’t do anything hasty.”  Uncle Griff stalled for time, trying to figure out what to do.  A strategy that would take Xavier out of harm’s way.

Looking furious, Bruno took a few steps back.  Xavier dug his fingers into Bruno’s arm and saw that Bruno had backed up against the wall.  Xavier winked in Ari’s direction.  Ari nodded.

Swaying close to Uncle Griff, Ari poked him in the arm, signaling him to be ready, for anything.  Xavier had something in mind.

“Hey Bruno,” squeaked Xavier.  “Not that I’m complaining, but this grip you have on me is really getting uncomfortable.”

Bruno didn’t respond; he was too busy keeping his eyes on Uncle Griff and Ari. He paid no attention to Xavier.

Taking advantage of Bruno’s lack of interest in him, Xavier gripped Bruno’s arm hard, jumped up while kicking his feet out, pulled his feet in quickly and planting them square on Bruno’s knees. Xavier pushed back as hard as he could.

“Ouch!” Falling against the stone wall, Bruno lost his grip and Xavier tumbled to the side.  Uncle Griff and Ari plunged forward, slamming their fists into Bruno’s stomach and sides.

Xavier got up.  "Well, that was... Well, all I can say, gee thanks, Ari."  He adjusted his coat.

Bruno shoved Uncle Griff and Ari at the same time, causing them to stumble back.  Free from their attack, Bruno ran towards the entrance, finding a boulder to lean on to catch his breath.  His side ached from a kick by Ari.