I opened the locker doors and peered at the cubes, sticks, tapes, disks, written notes, maps and in my own case, sketchpads. Every single, priceless little fact we’d been able to gather about the Trojan War. Enough data to keep Dr Dowson happy for years and years to come.
I gave myself a second to feel the satisfaction of a job well done. But only one second.
‘In case we have to, can we go at a moment’s notice?’
‘Yes. FOD and POD plods done.’ The words, ‘Just waiting for Chief Farrell, who has suddenly and inexplicably disappeared,’ were not spoken.
I felt a sudden cold hand on me and heard again Kassandra’s words.
‘Weep for your dreams,
For today they die.’
This was the end. Our last assignment. I was safe. Where was he? Was it all going to be snatched away at the very last moment?
‘Here he is,’ said Guthrie suddenly. Huge relief washed over me like a wave. The door opened.
It was Leon and he wasn’t alone.
Clamped to the front of him, like a tiny, terrified monkey clinging to its mother, was young Helios. His eyes were screwed tight shut and black blood crusted the side of his face.
The door closed behind them and for a while there was no sound but Leon’s heavy breathing.
‘Weep for your dreams.
For today they die.’
I think I knew, at that moment, how this was going to end.
I said, tightly, ‘Report.’
He caught his breath and then said, ‘They’re all dead over there. I couldn’t save his sister but I managed to get Helios out.’
He stroked his hair and went to put him down, but the little lad clung on even more tightly.
Peterson and Guthrie stood like statues.
I knew how this was going to end, but I tried anyway.
‘Guthrie and I came that way and it’s all clear now. You can let him go.’
‘Are you mad? He wouldn’t last an hour.’
I was conscious of something building inside me.
Fear. Because he wanted to lift Helios out of his own time. Not just save his life and then leave him to take his chances – we’d done that before and got away with it. Or rather, History had allowed us to get away with it. But this – this was deliberately taking someone out of their time – which was bad enough – and then what? Drop him in another time? In another life? Or bring him back twenty years hence? To pick up where he left off? What did he think he was playing at? The consequences to the timeline … History would not permit this and she wouldn’t mess about. Her solution would be swift – and final.
And anger. How could he do this? How could he put me in this position? How dared he make me the one who had to condemn this little boy to death? And I would. Make no mistake about it. I would. I wouldn’t like it, but if I had to, I would do it.
And a terrible grief. For everything I had just lost and for what I was about to lose. I was going to lose it all.
The long silence had given him my answer.
‘Max, you can’t. You’re condemning him to death. Or worse. You can’t just abandon him. You’ve saved people before.’
No. I’d picked people up off the ground and given them the chance to die another day. In their own time and in their own place. This was not the same thing at all. This was so wrong. Every little bit of historian inside me was shouting – screaming – a warning. They say women don’t know how to say no. In fact, men have been saying that for centuries. That when women say no, they mean yes. Well I’ve got news for you, busters …
‘No.’
No more. No less. No explanations. No reasons. No excuses. Just say: ‘no’.
‘He won’t last the night. You’re sending him to his death. If he’s lucky. Look at him. He’s not old enough to be a slave. They’ll take him on a boat, use him on the voyage home, and then toss him overboard as they make land. That’s what you’re condemning him to.’
‘No.’
Guthrie picked up his weapon, and he and Peterson left the pod. They were giving me the opportunity to sort this out before it went too far. They didn’t want to be involved and I didn’t blame them. I didn’t want to be involved. How could he do this?
‘Max, I’m begging you. Even if he survives tonight, Troy isn’t going to be safe for years. Do you know what life here is going to be like?’
Of course I did.
‘No.’
Helios, still too terrified to know what was happening, tried to bury his head in Farrell’s shoulder. Farrell gently rubbed his back.
‘Max, I’ve never asked you for anything, but I am now. I just want to find him somewhere safe.’
There was nowhere safe for Helios. And if I didn’t stop this, there would be nowhere safe for any of us.
‘No.’
His voice cracked in desperation. ‘I’m begging you. Please. Just save this one person. Just save Helios.’
‘No.’
The finality in my voice must have got through to him. He tightened his grip and planted his feet. The challenge was unspoken, but it was there.
‘I’m second in charge at St Mary’s. I can order you …’
And I was mission controller.
I crossed to a locker, pulled out a handgun, and slapped home a clip.
‘Open the door, Chief, and put him outside.’