It was only when an elderly man on a bridge started waving frantically at them to slow down, he realised their dilemma. “Stop! Stop!” yelled the man “There’s a lock just ahead of you!”
Of all the amazing things that had ever happened to him, nothing was more unexpected than this! “Uncle Jeff!” Miles cried. “Uncle Jeff!”
“Glad you remember something I taught you.” said Jeff.
“Yarrrrggggghhhhhh!” Roots leapt up out of the water with a blood-curdling battle cry, ready to make a do-or-die defence of his friends.
Miles held up his hand. “It’s alright, Roots!” he assured him, “This is my Uncle Jeff!” By now, Alice and Joe had surfaced and on seeing their favourite uncle, they threw their arms around his neck. “Why didn’t you tell us it was you?” cried Joe, crossly, “You really freaked us out!”
“I didn’t get the chance,” his Uncle replied. “All I did was wave and off you went like bullets from a gun.”
“But you look so….so…different!” said Alice “We thought you were one of them!”
“You’re not one of them, are you Uncle Jeff?” Miles glared at Alice.
“Well actually, yes I am…. in a way.” The sheepish expression on his face made Jeff look more like the uncle they knew and loved. But, I’ll explain later – I need to get you somewhere safe.”
“Would someone like to tell me what the heck’s going on?” asked Roots.
“Hello,” said Jeff, holding out a hand. “My name’s Jeff, an old friend of the family. You must be Roots.”
“So?” murmured Roots, belligerently, unsure whether to trust this newcomer. It was only with Joe’s urging, he accepted the older man’s outstretched hand. “How d’ya do!” he said curtly.
“And I’m Odi! Pleased to meet you….I think. Though, there again, I’m still not sure who you are, and you looked kind of mean when you were chasing us just then.”
Jeff answered by grinning and giving Odi the fist. Then he glanced up at Laurel, who suddenly felt aware of her bedraggled appearance. “I’m Laurel,” she explained “and I usually look different too!”
“You look fine to me,” said Jeff and smiled gallantly. “So, now we all know each other, we’d better get cracking before the others catch up. Miles?”
“Yes, Uncle Jeff?” At one word from his hero, the boy jumped to attention.
“Listen carefully,” Jeff began. “Keep going along the canal until you reach the wharf where you’ll find a barge called the Judith Rose.” He slipped a set of keys into Miles’ hand. “I want you to get on it, start the engine and go – you know how to do it, remember when we all went on that trip?” Miles nodded.
“Well, the controls are just the same – except for one slight modification – ONLY to be used in an emergency. If anyone tries to follow, push the red button marked ‘Boost’. Think you can manage that?” Miles nodded again, pleased to be chosen for such a responsible mission.
“That’s not fair!” cried Joe “He always gets to do things! Why can’t I drive the barge?”
Alice was equally miffed. “I’m the oldest!” said Alice.
Jeff was in no mood for arguments. “Look, we don’t have time for this! Listen, in my business everyone has a job and every job’s important. You want a job? You’ll get one soon enough, okay?”
“Where will you be, Uncle Jeff?” asked Joe. “You’re not going to leave us again, are you?”
“No, not for long,” replied Jeff. “You just get on that barge and I’ll be along later.” He then turned to Roots and Laurel. “Take care of them, won’t you?” he asked. “These kids are special.”
“I know that!” Roots was feeling surly. “After all, we’ve looked after them well enough so far….!” But, by this time, Jeff was almost out of earshot. The children watched miserably as their uncle walked off, heading back the way he came. He turned around only once: “Hurry!” he cried, “there’s not much time.”
“I wish,” sighed Alice “I just wish someone would tell me what the hell’s going on.”
“You heard the man!” said Odi “Let’s find this barge before we freeze to death!”
“Good point,” agreed Laurel. “I hope there are towels on board. Come on, run!”
It wasn’t long before they reached the marina, where several narrow boats were moored.
“Which one’s ours?” said Odi.
“There it is!” said Alice. She pointed to a long, sleek barge, freshly painted in muted shades of green and blue. Unlike the other brighter-coloured boats in the harbour, the Judith Rose was altogether lighter, being made from some kind of alloy, and its shape was much sleeker.
“I wonder why that is?” mused Alice. She was soon to find out.
Inside, the Judith Rose was light, airy and comfortable and, to everyone’s relief, there were plenty of towels. Towels, blankets, sheets, duvets, tea, coffee, tinned and frozen food, shampoo, soap, and – Oh Bliss! – hot running water!
“Bags me first for the shower!” yelled Alice, heading straight for the bathroom. She was delighted to find the loo was a proper one that flushed, and the generous bath had a power-shower attached. “Look at the bedrooms!” shouted Miles and he, Joe and Odi ran from one to the other, jumping on the beds. There were two double rooms, aand one with four bunks, while the sofas could also be used to sleep on. “You could fit zillions of people in here!” said Joe.
Laurel examined the crockery. “Strange,” she thought, “It’s all been fastened down, as if for a storm.”
As far as Miles could see, there was only one blot on the horizon.
“The TV doesn’t work,” he moaned, switching it on and off in an attempt to get it going, but the screen stayed fuzzy.
“That’s because there’s no aerial,” explained Odi. “But hey! It’s got a CD player, ….. and whoa…some really cool films!”
“And lots of video games!” cried Joe. “We could stay here forever!”
“It does seem surprisingly well stocked,” mused Laurel. Roots snorted, “Well I don’t like it! I wish we’d never found the wretched thing. In fact, for two pins, I’d be off, back to the forest where I belong.”
Joe was horrified. “Please Roots, don’t leave us! Please don’t go!” Touched by the boy’s intensity, Roots sighed. “Awww, I’ll not leave you Joe. Not now.” “’Cos you and me, we’re mates, aren’t we?” said Joe.
“Course we are!” said Roots, touched and a little embarrassed. “I’m going on deck now….ready to cast off.”
With so much to discover on the narrow boat, they’d forgotten Jeff’s instruction to start the engine. Besides, Miles never liked to set off anywhere without knowing where he was going. He couldn’t help it, it was just the way he was. Had Roots not banged on the roof of the barge, they’d probably be there yet. “Cave!” he shouted. “Three men in trench-coats approaching! And they’re searching the boats!”
“Quick!” cried Laurel, “Switch on the engine!” Miles ran to the back of the barge and slipped the key into the lock. As soon as he turned it, the barge set off at a spanking pace for such a large vessel. Roots untied the rope from its mooring and was holding onto it as he started trotting alongside on the towpath.
“Hey! That’s them!” bawled one of the trench coats and started running towards the Judith Rose.
“They’ve seen us!” Roots yelled. “Quick Miles, Go!” He was just about to hop on board as Miles pressed the accelerator, causing the barge to lunge forward violently, yanking the unfortunate Roots off the towpath.
“Sack this!!” he hollered, clinging desperately to the rope, his feet wafting in the air behind him. “Sack this for a Kleenex full of bogies!”
Inside, the sheer force sent Odi and Joe skidding along the floor, while Alice, emerging from the shower, was thrust backwards onto the toilet seat, her eyes full of soap and with water spraying everywhere. Laurel grabbed the dining table. “Now I know why everything’s been nailed down!” she thought ruefully.
Only Miles seemed to enjoy the experience. “Supersonic!” he whooped and waved his fist triumphantly above his head as the barge blazed along the canal, sending ducks and fishermen diving for cover. “Wit woo!”
Having recovered his balance, Roots managed to press his heels into the water and lean backwards like a skier. “Look at me!” he cried. “I’ve joined the jet set!”
Seeing the fugitives escaping yet again, their pursuers commandeered a dinghy with an outboard motor, shoving the occupants over the side. “They’ll have to stop at a lock before long,” said one of the men, “and then we’ll nab ’em!”
It hadn’t occurred to Miles they might have to stop. In fact, it was only when an elderly man on a bridge started waving frantically at them to slow down, he realised their dilemma. “Stop! Stop!” yelled the man “There’s a lock just ahead of you!”
Sure enough, as the Judith Rose cut a swathe round the bend, Miles saw the lock zoom into focus, getting rapidly nearer.
“What do I do?” he called to Roots, “I don’t know how to stop it!”
“Switch off the key!” Roots called back, but it was no use. “It’s jammed!” shrieked Miles. “I can’t move it!”
“Try turning the wheel” That didn’t help either. In fact, the whole engine seemed to work automatically and simply wouldn’t respond to anything. And, all the time, they were getting closer and closer to the lock while, to make matters worse, the men in the dinghy were hot on their trail. There was nothing else for it. Miles took a deep breath and did the only other thing he could think of. Only yards from hitting the lock, he pressed the button marked ‘Boost’!
Immediately, the Judith Rose lunged forward again at warp speed, and this time it took off! It left the water and shot over the lock as cleanly and swiftly as an arrow, not even glancing the sides. Roots somersaulted in the air behind it, but, by some miracle and exceptionally strong wrists, he managed to keep hold of the rope, landing in an upright position as the barge powered relentlessly along the canal. “Wow!” exclaimed Miles. “I can’t believe it!”
Neither could their pursuers, still following in their dinghy. Once round the bend, the spray left in the barge’s wake blinded the agents as they approached, so much so that, by the time they saw the obstruction, it was too late. All three men were thrown upwards and outwards, head first into the lock.
“Hurray!” cried Miles “That’s them sorted!” Odi and Joe popped their heads out and joined in the cheering, piping down only on hearing Roots’ pathetic pleas. His arms had nearly been pulled from their sockets after ‘take-off’ and he was having a job to hold onto the rope. “Help” he wailed plaintively.
“Slow down, Miles,” cried Joe. “I can’t!” his brother answered. “It just doesn’t respond to anything.”
“You mean you can’t stop this thing?” yelled Odi. “Whoaaa, let me off!”
“Hang on, Roots!” Joe called. “We’ll try and pull you in. Come on everybody. Pull!” Because of the speed they were going, the normally featherweight Roots was extremely heavy, and even when Laurel joined in, it was a desperate struggle to haul him onto the barge. He lay on the deck, panting and wheezing, hardly able to move after all his exertions.
Laurel started vigorously pumping his chest and, after half the canal had been drained from his lungs, Roots began to breathe more easily. By now, the barge was slowing down, chugging along sedately and the scenery was pleasant, with green meadows on either side and gentle hills tinted blue from midsummer light.
“Isn’t it strange!” mused Laurel, taking in the view. “No matter what we humans do, the earth’s so beautiful, so serene?”
“Yes,” said Joe, sadly. “Makes you wonder why people living on it are so horrible? I can’t understand why anyone would ever want to hurt anybody else.”
“Well, that’s a big question,” said Roots. “If you ever find the answer, let me know.”
No sooner had he finished speaking, than the barge turned sharply into a slipway, taking them all by surprise, especially Odi who was now manning the wheel.
“Odi!” cried Miles “Where are you going? We’ve left the canal!”
“It’s not me!” Odi replied, trying in vain to turn the vessel back. “This thing’s got a will of its own.”
Shrouded by a tunnel of thick rhododendrons, the slipway was so well concealed that no one, not even local barge owners, knew it existed.
“What’s happening now?” said Alice, still pink from her shower, which, amazingly, she’d managed to escape unscalded. “Search me!” replied Roots. “But it’s cold and dark out here. I suggest we all get back inside and have a nice cup of tea.”
Once inside the barge again, Laurel and Alice cooked a wonderful dish of vegetables, generously covered in Cheddar cheese sauce, and browned to a lovely crisp topping under the grill, followed by syrup sponge pudding with custard, and a steaming pot of tea. It was the most delicious meal the children had ever tasted.
They were so absorbed in their food, no one noticed when the Judith Rose emerged from the rhododendrons into an ever-widening river. Despite the violent currents, the barge kept a smooth course, steaming solidly through the rapids with barely a flinch. Roots looked out to see where they were heading.
“Wow!” he gasped. “This is cosmic!” The Judith Rose was at the bottom of a sharp ravine, surrounded on all sides by walls of granite. From one of these, a thunderous waterfall cascaded, shimmering and sparkling all the colours of the rainbow as it crashed into the water just ahead. It didn’t take long for Roots to see the danger! “Duck!” he yelled. “We’re going to hit the waterfall!”
Everyone dived under the table, braced for the inevitable impact, eyes squeezed shut and hearts palpitating wildly.
Miraculously, the expected impact never came. Instead of being smashed to smithereens, the barge blithely carried on into the waterfall. The passengers could hear it pounding on the roof of their barge as they passed right through it into the mouth of a cave, which led to a long tunnel and a collective groan echoed loudly as another wall of solid rock loomed into sight. Again, everyone braced themselves, but the Judith Rose kept going. Just as it seemed they couldn’t go further, the wall began to slide open with a mechanical grinding noise. “Open, Sez me!” Roots cried. Inside, it was so dark and narrow Odi began to hyperventilate.
“Just what I need!” he whined, “another bout of close-to-phobia!”
“Claustrophobia,” Alice corrected him. “Seems pretty close to me!” replied Odi, for once unable to think of anything clever to say and, besides, they were now entering another, bigger cavern where, at last, the Judith Rose came to rest on the banks of a crystal lagoon. Everyone stared open-mouthed in astonishment. Not only was the cavern wonderfully bright and airy, it was like no other they had ever seen before.
“It’s purple!” Joe cried. “All purple and shiny!”
“We must be near the Blue John mines.” Laurel said.
“But it’s purple!” insisted Joe.
“Blue John IS purple, Stupid!” Alice tutted.
“Oh, so that’s why it’s called blue!” said Odi with a generous dollop of sarcasm. “The stuff’s purple, so naturally, you call it Blue. That’s cool – and not at allconfusing!”
“Awesome!” sighed Miles. The entire cavern glowed with rich veins of one of the rarest minerals in the world, its lustre mirrored in the shimmering water. Although the Hadwins had visited caves before, they were nothing compared to this! “It must be an undiscovered seam,” remarked Laurel. “We could lay claim to this,” said Miles. “Then mine it. It’s probably worth a fortune!”
“No!” cried Joe. “Let’s just keep it secret, our secret. And when we get home, we can meet here every year until we’re really, really old!”
“IF we get home,” murmured Alice. She might just as well have thrown a bucket of iced water over them. The boys fell silent.
“Of course, you’ll get home!” Laurel assured them. “Why, the very idea. OF COURSE you’ll get home!” But the words sounded as hollow as the cavern.
Then Roots did his bit to rally the troops. “What a lot of long faces!” he exclaimed. “Why, when I see faces like yours, I always think what a good idea it would be to have…… to have…..” He looked at Laurel, imploringly.
“A sing-song!” Laurel piped up brightly, on cue. “Come on, Roots, give us a tune.”
Obligingly, the young man reached inside his tunic and produced a mouth organ. “All we need now is a rhythm section,” he cried. And the boys each grabbed a saucepan with a wooden spoon; Laurel found a jar of coffee granules to shake, and Alice wrapped a piece of paper round her comb.
The result was surprisingly effective. With their makeshift instruments and voices at full-throttle, music echoed through the chamber, so loudly no one heard Jeff shinning down a nearby shaft. Instead of black leather, he was now wearing denims and a fleecy check shirt and, with his broad smile, looked like the favourite uncle of old.
“What a racket!” he laughed. “It’s enough to turn the milk sour!”
“Where have you been, Uncle Jeff?” cried Alice. “Why didn’t you come with us?” said Miles. “You left us!” said Joe.
“I had to,” replied Jeff, stung by the reproach, “or the others would have got suspicious. I’ve laid a false trail to keep them busy for a while. Any chance of a cup of tea?”
“Actually!” said Roots, pulling himself up to his full height, which stopped just short of Jeff’s shoulder. “I think these kids deserve an explanation!”
Jeff gazed down at him and raised an eyebrow. Even men tall enough to eyeball him were usually too timid to do so. But Roots was angry. Unlike Beech or Gordon, he didn’t often get angry, but when he DID get angry he was prepared to stand up to anyone, however big they were.
Jeff even backed away a little, only to have Roots follow him and raise a finger to his face. “Those poor kids have been dragged from pillar to post without so much as a by-your-leave and YOU are going to tell them exactly what’s been happening…. Okay!”
“Okay! Okay!” replied Jeff, raising his hands in surrender. “Just as soon as I’ve had my tea. Okay?” Roots clenched his jaw menacingly. “Well, just…..just you see that you do, okay?!”
Half an hour later, the children were sitting comfortably in the cosy living room of the barge, waiting for Jeff to begin his story. Roots and Laurel kept a discreet distance from the others but were equally curious to know what had brought them all to such a point.
“It’s difficult to know where to start,” said Uncle Jeff, before swigging his last mouthful of tea.
“Beginning would be a good place!” said Roots.
Jeff cleared his throat. “It actually began a long time ago,” he said. “Before you were born, Alice. Your parents weren’t even married back then, – just two students, enjoying their third year at University.”
“Whoaaaa…..this is going to be a loooooong story,” groaned Odi, earning a dig in the ribs from Alice. “Shush!” she said, sharply. “just because it’s not about you.”
“Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong!” Jeff replied. “This is as much about Odi as anyone. In fact, it concerns all of us, the entire human race.
‘Now, I’m going to tell you everything, no holds barred. But no interruptions. Agreed?”
“Agreed!” was the reply.
“Go on, Uncle Jeff.” Urged Miles.
“Ok, so where was I? Ah yes. Your parents were typical students, hard-working, serious, extremely intelligent and, like many people of that age, keen to make a difference to the world. So, they joined an organization: ‘The Global Order Brotherhood – or GOB as it came to be known. Its aims were laudable; world peace, understanding, tolerance, and love between races. It was going to be a unifying force for good, a rallying point for right-thinking people of all nations.
‘Only one problem….. its President. What nobody realised was, he’d set up the Order for his own sinister purposes – to rule the world along with everyone in it.”
“How original!” snorted Alice with typical teenage scorn.
“World domination has been the goal for every power-crazed nut who’s ever lived; but no-one’s ever come as close to it as the President of GOB or, to give him his real name…. Elymas.”
Miles gasped. “Elymas! That’s the man you warned me about, isn’t it?” His uncle nodded. “And you’re saying Mum and Dad were in his organisation?” The reply was another brief nod. “I don’t believe you!” cried Miles. “They wouldn’t have anything to do with someone like him!”
“At the time, they didn’t KNOW what he was like at the time,” Jeff reasoned. “Elymas doesn’t have horns and a forked tail.”
“So, what IS he like?” asked Joe.
“He’s a man of many faces,” replied Jeff. “And to describe any one of them would take all night. Besides, you promised not to interrupt.”
“Yes, shut up, Joe!” Miles said.
“You interrupted first!” replied Joe.
“Can I continue?” said Jeff and paused until sure he had everyone’s attention. “Elymas had plans. First of all, he established ‘Centres of Light’, as he called them, which claimed to teach philosophy and social science, that kind of thing, but basically created for his own glorification. The idea was to brainwash people, training them for military combat – all wrapped up in a shroud of mysticism. Eventually, Elymas had Centres all over the world, and the Order’s membership grew rapidly, an international community devoted to the founder and his image.”
“The three-horned dragon!” cried Miles, pleased to know more than his companions.
“Yes,” Jeff answered “A three-horned dragon – the symbol for the GOB.”
“Babel!” yelped Odi and Joe together. “We’ve seen it!”
“The Nunjas tried to make us bow down to it!” Joe said. “And when we wouldn’t, they threw us to the crocodiles!”
“Yes, I heard about that” Jeff said, grimly. “Those so-called holy women were all indoctrinated at Elymas’s Centres of Light. So much for their beliefs! You kids had a rough time, didn’t you?”
“You can say that again!” said Odi with feeling. Joe merely nodded, pained by the memory.
“Never mind, it’s over now.”
“So, you were saying about the dragon…” Miles prompted.
“Ah yes, the dragon. Everyone who graduated from the Centres of Light had this symbol branded onto their arm and took a vow of loyalty, even in the face of death. From that moment on, they devoted their souls to Elymas and for everything he stood for, however twisted or evil.”
The Hadwin children regarded him with calf-like eyes, their skins prickling with unease.
“Uncle Jeff…..?” Miles began, but the question hung half-asked in the gaping silence, mainly because he feared the reply.
“I know what you’re thinking,” said Jeff “Did your parents take that vow? The answer’s ‘No, definitely not!”
Miles, Alice and Joe sighed with relief and even managed to smile, albeit faintly.
“That was their problem,” Jeff resumed. “After one week at the training centre, they realised there was something nasty going on and refused to have anything more to do with it. They weren’t the only ones, of course, but, unfortunately for your father, he had something Elymas wanted very, very badly.”
“What was that?” asked Alice.
“The means to world domination.”
There was a brief silence as Jeff’s audience tried to take in this information.
“My Dad? Dad?! My Dad had the means to world domination?” Alice couldn’t make any sense of it. “How?”
“Well, make me another cup of tea and I’ll tell you.” Jeff said, teasingly, and had the bad grace to smirk. He certainly knew how to keep them in suspense. But he’d reckoned without Roots.
“Just you tell these children what they want to know right NOW!” he growled, threateningly. He hated to admit it of course, but he was just as intrigued as they were.
“Okay, okay!” said Jeff. “As I said, Elymas was intent on ruling the world. And your father had created something to help him achieve that. You know, of course, your Dad studied biochemistry?”
Miles, Alice and Joe shook their heads. What else didn’t they know about Mr. and Mrs. Hadwin?
“Well, he’s not a man to boast, but Richard Hadwin won the highest distinction of any student in the last century……”
“Wow!” The boys were well impressed. Alice, however, was a little more cynical. “So how come he’s just a potty science teacher at the local comprehensive?” she sniffed.
“Because,” said Jeff gravely, “your father was so horrified at the possible consequences of his research, he made up his mind never to enter a laboratory again. He even changed his name! Did you know that? No, of course not. After all, what’s in a name?”
“What WAS his name?” asked Alice.
“You don’t need to know,” was the reply.
“More importantly, what was his research?” Miles demanded impatiently.
“Well, before I answer your question, perhaps you could answer mine.” He lifted a finger and tapped his forehead. “Just think: What is it that you cannot live without?”
Everyone thought for a moment. “TV!” said Odi. “My CD player!” said Alice. “Football!” said Miles. Joe didn’t say anything, but he immediately thought of Mr. Big.
“No, no, you misunderstand me!” Jeff smiled tolerantly. “It’s something we need to support life.”
“Yea, like I said, my TV set!” Odi insisted.
“Water?” Miles volunteered. “Close,” said Jeff, “But it’s something else, something almost as vital.”
“Food?” said Joe and Jeff clicked his fingers. “Dead on! Clever lad, Joe, that’s it exactly!”
“Well, that tells us a lot, doesn’t it?” grumbled Roots. “Shall we play another game now? I spy with my little eye something beginning with Plonker!”
“But what did Elymas want?” begged Miles. His uncle beckoned the children to move in closer before he whispered his reply. “Weed killer.”
He paused for his remark to take effect. True to form, Odi was the first to react. “Weed killer? You mean all this aggravation’s on account of a stupid weed killer!”
“Not just ANY weed killer” Jeff continued. “This formula was so effective it destroyed weeds permanently……”
“I’m sorry, Uncle Jeff, but….. is that really such a bad thing?” asked Miles, bewildered.
“….. along with all known vegetation.”
There was stunned silence.
At last, Roots spoke, his voice quavering. “Does that include trees?”
“ALL known vegetation.” Jeff repeated. “The formula was so powerful, it could actually change the nature of the soil, ensuring that nothing could ever grow in it again.”
“Not even flowers and grass and things?” asked Miles.
“Nothing.” said Jeff firmly. “I’ll leave you to guess at the consequences.”
“It’d certainly cause problems!” mused Laurel, hardly able to imagine a world without plants.
Odi shrugged. “Not for me. Hey, I prefer meat anyway!” He was rewarded by one of Alice’s most withering stares. “You can’t have meat without animals, and you can’t have animals without vegetation.” she explained coldly. “You big Silly!”
“Least I don’t have spots!” came the retort. “That zit on your forehead’s bigger than Buddha’s!”
“Give over, you two!” said Laurel, as she passed another mug of tea to Jeff. “So, what’s happened to this formula, then?”
“Oh, Richard destroyed it. As soon as he realised how devastating it could be, he burned all his notebooks and refused to have anything more to do with it. But Elymas wanted the formula at any price.”
“Where do you fit into all this?” asked Laurel.
“At the time, I was working for British Intelligence with orders to infiltrate the GOB It was Elymas who assigned me to find your father and persuade him to co-operate. Instead, I helped him and your mother to disappear.”
“How did you do that, Uncle Jeff?” Joe mouth gaped with amazement, picturing Jeff with a pointy hat and wand.
“By arranging new identities, finding a safe house, protection, security……whatever it took to keep them out of Elymas’ clutches. As a result, we became good friends and I’ve kept a watchful eye on you all ever since.
‘Soon after, Elymas was accused of tax evasion and decided to disappear himself. In fact, our undercover operation had been so successful, we thought the GOB had been dissolved for good and everyone forgot about it – until about six months ago. It was then we learned the organisation was still alive and kicking, and Elymas had been busy behind the scenes, increasing his influence. It seems almost every government in the world is now under his control.”
“Even Britain?” gasped Miles. Jeff nodded.
“But how?!” Laurel was becoming increasingly agitated.
“Fear, Corruption and Lies. Elymas is a master at discovering people’s secrets. He’s got the finger on virtually every person of influence – politicians, industrialists, financiers, entertainers – all the stars of this system, most in fear of being exposed for what they are; all corrupted by their own greed – more wealth, more fame, more influence.”
“But ordinary people would never accept that!” said Alice. “Surely?!”
“Ordinary people are easily manipulated, Alice. Elymas even controls how they think.” said Jeff grimly. “Fake news, propaganda, hype, social media….you name it. He’s rigged elections, bribed officials and discredited anyone who’s tried to oppose him. Almost every world leader is in the GOB”
“Like puppets.” said Roots.
“But if he’s so powerful anyway, why does he want my Dad?” Miles shook his head in bewilderment.
“Because Elymas will never be satisfied until he’s ruling every aspect of our lives. He doesn’t just want political power. He wants our minds, our hearts, our total submission. And what better way to bring mankind to heel than by having absolute control over our food?”
Laurel frowned. “This is so disturbing! If he can force their father to re-create this weed killer…….”
“He can prevent the growing of food anywhere except on government-approved combines,” explained Jeff. “Eventually, each country will have only one source of supply, and every person will have to toe the line, or lose their right to eat!”
“Makes me feel hungry even now!” groaned Odi.
“My Dad will never give Elymas that formula!” said Miles, showing formidable Hadwin spirit.
He was rewarded with slap on the back from Uncle Jeff. “That’s the stuff, Miles! That’s exactly what your father would say. But……”, he warned darkly.
“But what?” Miles looked up at Jeff anxiously.
“You, Alice and Joe are his bargaining chips. Now he knows you’ve escaped he’ll move heaven and earth to find you and, if he does, he’ll use you to threaten your father until he agrees to do what Elymas wants.”
‘That’s why, as long as Elymas is in power, you must never, ever, ever leave this cave!”