The Jack Chambers Adventures - The Book of Legends

  Chapter 5

  Six months later

  Sitting at home in front of the television, Jack was watching the news whilst eating his dinner. It was quite boring tonight and the stories so far had all been about politics. Jack found politics really dreary and his mind would often wander when he heard it discussed. Then suddenly a story came on which grabbed his attention. The story was about Australia and the current boom in the mining industry. However this was not what interested Jack. What had really grabbed his attention was that the mining had uncovered many ancient artefacts. All across the Australian outback, items were being unearthed which had been buried deep in the ground for hundreds if not thousands of years. Jack wondered at what marvels they may have found.

  ‘What rubbish. Turn it over Jack.’ Mr Chambers said whilst trying to chew a mouthful of food.

  ‘I’m watching it dad.’ Jack replied defensively.

  ‘They’re probably just pieces of worthless old metal. Nobody cares about that sort of thing. Now turn it over.’ He said dismissively.

  ‘Do as your dad says Jack, turn it over. Now if you have finished your dinner, take your plate to the kitchen.’ Mrs Chambers said.

  Jack used the remote control to change the channel on the television and left it on the sofa next to his dad before standing up and walking to the kitchen with his plate.

  ‘Why do I have to do what they tell me? If I want to watch that then I will.’ Jack was standing in the kitchen, looking down at the floor and gently kicking his foot into the kitchen cabinets.

  ‘They’re not clever enough to understand it. That’s what it is.’ He was still sulking but now had a little smirk on his face.

  Ruby had now followed him into the kitchen and was trying to cuddle up to him when the phone rang.

  ‘JACK - can you get it?’ Mrs Chambers shouted from the living room.

  ‘Why do I have to do everything?!’ Jack mumbled as he walked over to the phone which was sat on the kitchen side.

  ‘Hello’ Jack said, still mumbling as he answered the phone.

  ‘JACK, is that you?’ the voice shouted to begin with but then began to whisper.

  ‘Yes, who is this?’ Jack replied.

  ‘It’s Grandad. Did you see the news just then?’

  ‘Yes, why?’ Ruby was still cuddling Jacks legs.

  ‘They have found one. I’m coming to get you. Get yourself ready.’ Grandad said whilst not really explaining what he meant.

  ‘What? Where are we going?’

  ‘Beeeeeeeeeeeep.’ Jack received no reply as Grandad had hung up the phone.

  Looking at Ruby Jack told her he had to go with Grandad to help him find something he had lost. She looked up at him with her big blue eyes, still clinging to his trouser leg but did not speak.

  Jack then went to his room and decided what to take with him. Emptying his school rucksack all over his bed he began to rummage through his drawers and closet. First he grabbed a torch, this would come in very handy he thought. Then he picked up his portable games console as he might get bored along the way. Piling all kinds of items in, until his bag was fit to explode. He had books, a board game, his favourite toys, everything in fact that he would try to take on holiday with him before his mum would complain and say he didn’t need it all.

  He then had to decide what to wear and settled on a pair of navy blue jeans, a red t-shirt and a grey sweatshirt on top. As he pulled on his favourite white trainers, the doorbell rang downstairs. Rushing down the stairs to open the door, he found his Grandad waiting for him.

  Before Mr or Mrs Chambers had a chance to move from the sofa, Jack was closing the front door behind him as his Grandad shouted ‘I’m just taking Jack to help me with something, be back soon’ and with that the door closed behind them.

  ‘It’s a bit late for Grandad to want Jack to help him with work. Oh, I do worry sometimes about what they to get up to?’ Mrs Chambers said whilst still watching the television.

  ‘Oh, he’s alright. It’s better that he is with his Grandad rather than off getting into mischief!’ Mr Chambers replied, whilst heavily engrossed in watching the television.

  ‘I suppose your right.’ Mrs Chambers said.

  Little Ruby remained staring at the front door waiting for Jack to come back in, but he never did.

  The taxi was going quickly. It was cold outside and the roads were treacherous. The weather forecast had predicted scattered showers but this had been a torrential storm. As the night lights went by the car window, Jack could see people struggling in the wind with their umbrellas up, trying to keep the rain from soaking them. At a set of traffic lights he saw a stray cat sat with its fur all wet and matted. For some odd reason this made him think of Ruby and her curly blonde hair, when would he see her again, if at all.

  As they arrived at the airport, Jack and his Grandad ran through the rain to the entrance.

  ‘Where are we going Grandad?’ Jack asked as he wiped the rain water from his face and ran his hands through his short blonde hair, shaking the water out.

  ‘Why, Australia of course!’ His Grandad said whilst looking up at the flight information board. ‘Now let me figure this out.’

  ‘Australia! Mum and dad won’t let me.’ Jack looked shocked and slightly worried.

  ‘Don’t worry about them lad. We’ll be alright, you trust me don’t you?’ He looked down at Jack with a smile.

  Grandads cheery face always made Jack feel safe. ‘Yes, you know I do.’

  ‘Well there you go then.’ Grandad was looking up at the flight information board again.

  ‘But what’s in Australia? Is it something to do with what was on the news?’ Jack did not know anyone who had been to Australia before and wondered why they were going there.

  His Grandad had already begun walking away and either didn’t hear Jack or chose not to answer. But Jack decided to wait and ask him again later.

  ‘Who are we flying with Grandad?’ Jack was now looking up at the board high in the air trying to help.

  ‘I’m not sure yet. Whatever flight we can get on, I suppose.’

  Whilst watching the passengers dragging along their large over packed suitcases, Jack felt he had forgotten something. Thinking for a moment he realised, ‘Grandad, I’ve forgotten my rucksack. We need to go get it before we leave.’

  ‘No time Jack, sorry lad.’

  ‘But Grandad, it’s got everything we need in it.’ Jack said with a sad look on his face.

  ‘Don’t worry Jack. We’ll find lots of great things on this adventure and I’m sure we won’t get bored. What do you think?’ Grandad said whilst putting his arm around Jacks shoulders.

  ‘Yeah, we always have fun and we work hard.’ Jack perked up.

  They were now walking towards the check-in counters where people place their baggage on the belts and show their passports to the staff. There were queues of people all waiting with their suitcases. The staff seemed overwhelmed and none too pleased at the influx of people. But Jack and his Grandad did not join a queue, instead they stood alone at the very end of the building. Grandad seemed hesitant. Standing still he appeared anxious. Watching intently as the staff greeted more and more passengers, each one with a large fake smile and the same remarks of ‘have a nice flight.’

  ‘Jack, do you see that hole in the wall over there? The large one where the bags disappear behind the staff.’ Grandad did not point as he did not want to make his plan appear to obvious.

  Looking to the left behind the last check-in counter, Jack could see the suitcases fade into the darkness as they began their journey to another country. ‘Yes I see it.’

  ‘When I say so. You need to run towards it and jump through the hole. Sit on the belt with the bags.’ He could see Jack looked scared. ‘I’ll be right behind you, its fine.’ Then within a second Grandad gave the order. ‘GO NOW!’

  Jack didn’t want to do it, but he also didn’t want to le
t his Grandad down. He wanted to make him proud and prove he wasn’t scared, but really he was. Running whilst crouching down he headed past the check-in counters and towards the hole in the wall. He could hear his Grandad behind him and could see a suitcase on the belt in front. Quickly jumping forwards, he was now crouching behind the suitcase as they disappeared into the unknown. Not far behind, Grandad looked relieved as he tried to catch his breath whilst lying on the belt as it carried him along.

  Clambering forwards over a suitcase, Jacks Grandad sat next to him on the belt. The surroundings were dark, with only faint lighting hanging from the ceiling. As they travelled on the belt, moving slowly along beside the bags, the only noise they could hear was that of machinery. A loud humming noise resonated through their ears, whilst every now and then there would be a loud bang. What it was, they did not know but Jack was not looking forward to finding out. The belt was steeped at an incline, taking them not just forwards but closer and closer towards the ceiling. Neither Jack nor his Grandad spoke for a little while. Instead they sat silent as they travelled along this mysterious journey. Contemplating what they had just done and the consequences of being caught, Jack thought to himself ‘mum is going to be so mad at me.’ Grandad however now had a pleasant look on his face. His breath had returned and he felt exhilarated, much like he did in his younger years. He was eager to begin this great adventure ahead of them.

  ‘Well done Jack. See, we’ll be alright. We just need to stay on here a little longer and then find our way to the plane.’

  ‘What if we get caught?’ Jack said whilst looking at the great hall they were entering.

  ‘We won’t Jack, don’t worry! Look at that Jack. You see this belt we are on, it’s called a conveyor. Look at all of them.’

  Spread out as far as the eye could see were conveyors running in every direction possible. They were still high in the air and Jack felt slightly nervous as he peeked out from above the top of the conveyor.

  ‘Wow!’ Jack said as he gazed at the labyrinth they were entering. Thousands of bags were all moving along the belts in different directions, each being carried to the plane where their respective owners were waiting. Jack felt like they were on a great rollercoaster, riding it to the very top until it began its sudden descent. Looking down below Jack could see past all of the conveyor belts to the ground. At the bottom there were lots of men working, pulling the big bags off with their large burly hands and throwing them onto their trucks. From up here they seemed almost like ants but he suspected they would appear much closer relatively soon.

  The loud banging noise was now upon them. Ahead they could see the cause and it didn’t look like anything Jack wanted to be near anytime soon.

  ‘Wah-Boom………Wah-Boom………Wah-Boom’

  Bags were being knocked from one conveyor to another. A large mechanical arm came out from the side of the conveyor and would hit the bags one after the other.

  ‘Wah-Boom………Wah-Boom………Wah-Boom’

  Like a giant paddle from a pinball machine, they struck the bags like a baseball bat would hit a ball out of the park.

  ‘Grandad!’ Jack was fumbling backwards over the bags, as was his Grandad. Trying to distance themselves from this great destroyer of bags.

  ‘What are we going to do? We’re too high to jump.’ Jack was in a panic and speaking frantically.

  Scanning the area quickly, Grandad came up with an idea. ‘Jump on top of that suitcase there Jack and hold on tight to the handles.’

  ‘What?!’ Jack didn’t like the sound of the plan his Grandad had in mind.

  ‘Quick Jack, remember to hold on tight and stay on top.’ Grandad began to climb on top of a suitcase himself.

  There were no other options, Jack had to try what his Grandad said, as much as he didn’t like the idea. He quickly grabbed the large bag that had accompanied him along this journey and climbed on top of it. As he neared the demon bag destroyer, Jack grasped the handles of the bag so tight his knuckles were white and his palms burning hot.

  ‘Wah-Boom’

  Before he knew what was happening Jack was blasted through the air by the great machine. Keeping his eyes closed tightly until he was safe again, Jack was happy it was over.

  ‘Woo hoo!’ Grandad shouted as he flew across on a suitcase, landing behind Jack.

  Now they began their descent. The conveyors gradually angled down towards the floor, sending them towards the men working below.

  ‘What do we do now Grandad? Jack said looking back for advice.

  ‘When we get low enough, we will have to jump over the side.’

  ‘But they’ll see us’ Jack said looking anxious.

  ‘We’ll have to be quick.’

  As they neared the men working below, Jack and his Grandad waited for their opportunity. There was one man directly in their path and as the bags came towards him he would grab them before turning and throwing them into a large container on his truck. They would have to jump from the conveyor as he had his back turned. It would be their only chance and they had to take it.

  Only a few metres from the ground Jack and Grandad hid behind a couple of suitcases as the belt took them closer and closer. Until all of a sudden Grandad leapt over the side pulling Jack with him. Quickly they scurried across the floor hiding behind a large metal container full of suitcases. Neither Jack nor his Grandad dared to speak, as they did not want to alert the workers.

  Grandad was trying to think of a plan. They had to find their way to the aeroplane waiting to go to Australia. Jack noticed that each bag had a label attached to the handle. Thinking back to when they were stood watching the passengers put their suitcases on the belts he remembered seeing the check-in staff putting labels on each bag. ‘These must be how they know where the bags are travelling to’ he thought to himself. ‘We need to find a bag with a label that says Australia on it and follow it to the aeroplane’ he thought.

  Without speaking he tapped Grandad on the shoulder and pointed to another large container full of bags. Grandad was unsure of what Jack was pointing at and shook his head. Pulling on his arm, Jack tried to get his Grandad to follow him but he began frowning at Jack.

  Quickly when nobody could see, Jack scrambled across the floor, hiding behind another container. Worried about him, Grandad followed. Here Jack could see a label on a bag; ‘Jamaica’ it wasn’t this one. He pointed at the label to show his Grandad, hoping he would realise what his idea was. Grandad gave a thumbs up with his right hand and mouthed the words well done to Jack.

  Continuing in this manner, Jack and Grandad must have searched twenty full containers of bags. All whilst darting in and out of sight from the workers. Stealthily sneaking past when they weren’t looking and checking the labels on the bags. Jack felt like he was in one of his Grandads stories. Until finally they found a pile of bags, all with the label ‘Australia’ attached. As soon as they had found it though, a worker came driving towards them in a truck. Pushing Grandad into the large container, Jack jumped in behind him, where they wedged themselves hidden amongst the stacks of bags. The worker pulled up in his truck directly in front of the container they were hiding in. Four eyes peered out from amongst the baggage, as the worker slammed the steel door shut, putting them into absolute darkness.

  They could feel the container moving, the piles of bags were swaying backwards and forwards with the movement. The rumble of an engine vibrated through the steel walls of the container, shaking them to their cores. Jack and Grandad knew the container was being moved, they just hoped it was taking them where they wanted to go. If not then they were in big trouble. After what seemed like a lifetime, they came to a stop. There were people shouting outside, but the container muffled the sound. Jacks eyes had adjusted slightly to the darkness but all there was to see were bags. His arms and legs were trapped by the weight of the luggage and he was unable to turn his head to look at his Grandad. Breathing heavily, he felt lik
e the air was being sucked from the container. Jack had begun to panic when the container suddenly jolted forwards and he felt they were again moving. Again they came to a stop, but this time it was silent. After a while of waiting, Grandad struggled through the baggage to the door of their large steel coffin. Still struggling to see or to move Jack could make out light shining through the frame of the door. In front he could see a silhouette of his Grandad slowly cracking the door open. The light was getting brighter, so bright it blinded Jack after being confined to such darkness. He closed his eyes, until he felt the suitcases in front of him, which had pinned him back for so long, suddenly tumble forwards. Before he knew it he was being lifted out of the container, dragged into the light. Had they been caught? He kept his eyes closed, the light was too intense.

  ‘WELL DONE JACK! YOU DID IT! WE MADE IT!’ Grandad, weak as he was had Jack in the air, gleaming with joy.

  Jack opened his eyes, he could not believe what they had just achieved.

  The container had been loaded into the aeroplane, stored in an area away from the passengers. As long as their theory was correct, they would be on a plane to Australia. The baggage hold of the plane was a large brightly lit room. Metal walls painted white, curved with the shape of the plane. Six other steel containers were also in there, each containing around fifty bags.

  After a moment of celebration, Jack and his Grandad sat on the cold hard floor. The room originally silent, other than their voices echoing against the curved metal, was now engulfed by the sound of the jet engines.

  Jack began to think of his mum, his dad and of little Ruby. Feeling an overwhelming flow of emotion he fought back the tears. Guilty about running away and not telling his mum. Sad about not knowing when he would see them again. Excited about his new adventure. Scared about how dangerous this adventure would be and most of all he was exhausted. Grandad moved closer and placed his arm around Jack, he knew now was not the time for words, but something else was also playing on his mind.