Chapter three

Two years ago, in the height of his mental sickness Charles Acorn took a trip to Boston, USA. Despite how guarded and monitored he was, he managed to sneak out of the Castle Acorn (Lilian had insisted he received his treatments at home and not taking to an asylum) and booked a private plane.

It was early July, on a raining night. The thunderstorm was rough and unending. Lightening clipped the plane's wing and the aircraft went down into the Atlantic.

Or so did the investigation say. There was a mayday broadcast from a private plane named Mark One to some air traffic control at 02:25 that day. Studies confirmed it was the craft that Multimillionaire Charles Acorn was on board. No one survived. The craft couldn't be recovered either.

After four months of searching, Lilian gave up on her husband and pronounced him dead. It was a very trying time in the Acorn family.

James Acorn sat by the window, with clenched teeth. He pulled his hair in frustration wishing the ground will just open and swallow him. Why wouldn't Mom listen to him? Why was she not listening to him! God! She never listens to him, nobody listens to him. Why would Mrs Higginbotham do such a thing, calling Mom like that, wasn't sending Alfred enough? He fell helplessly on his bed, sniffing back the tears.

"James?"

"Go away, June"

"So you don't want to find out if I believe you not. But I made a promised to tell you the truth about what I think about Dad. That's why I am here"

No response.

"Well I will just be on my way, I am going now" There were footsteps on the wooden floor but James knew she wasn't going away. It was an old trick they used to play on themselves when they were younger. After a while the door opened.

"Thank you very much"

Without thinking June jumped on the bed. It had been well laid and she pushed off a pillow in her impact.

"Don't mess up my bed, silly"

"Don't call me Silly. Silly, silly, you silly"

"Tell me what you came for and if you don't want to, you can leave me to be in peace"

"Well" June removed her shoes "Its hard on everyone. Claiming that Dad is not dead just send you off your rocker. I won't blame anyone thinking you have gone kolo mental. But then I think you know something that none of us do"

"What do you mean?"

"I have seen you countless times snooping around Dad's room late at night. I suppose you have found something strange. Have you James?" there was a tint of expectation in June's eyes.

James have indeed been snooping around Charles room. Since the first time when he snuck in there and read about that queer conversation on paper, he had been there twelve times. Lilian decided to clear his books and unintelligent scribbling when she declared Charles dead. He gave to Alfred to burn them but he didn't. Those were the last belongings of his beloved Master and friend and he couldn't part so easily with them. Instead he locked them up in a secret chamber in the room where no one could reach them. Oh so he thought.

For months the teenage boy had been reading, (studying is the better word) these pieces and he came to a realization. There was something amiss with his father's disappearance. Charles Acorn wasn't the man everyone thought he was.

"You have!"

"No, no. Did I say that? Why are putting words in my mouth?"

"You don't need to say that, I can see it in your eyes you have. I am your sister and you are terrible liar. What did you find out"

"Stop it June, I didn't find out anything"

"Okay don't tell me but know I am telling Mom you been sneaking into Dad's room. I'm fact I will tell her you have a girlfriend and you have been kissing her"

"You wouldn't. And I haven't kissed Nikita"

"Ah, ah. So Nikita is your girlfriend. I have always known you fancied her"

"No, no. I didn't say that. And you won't dare tell all these lies to Mom"

"Try me. I swear on Father Christmas grave I would"

"Father Christmas is not dead. Nor does he exist"

"That's true. I didn't think of that, sorry. Well I swear on Alex's grave that I will tell on you"

"Who is Alex?"

"How should I know?"

"But you just said you swore on Alex's grave. How daft are you?"

"Daft enough to report you to Mom, you will be in so much trouble. Why, She will ground you until you get married!"

"What do you want from me?"

"The truth"

James sighed. He should have known he can't be sneaky enough for his twin. Sooner or later he will have to tell somebody something. She seems to have a little faith in him, it's time he help her believe totally.

"Listen attentively, this is why I think Dad is not dead"

~~~~~<>~~~~~~

June was staring at her brother. Although fury was the chief emotion burning in her face, there was also disappointment. He knew what she was thinking, why would he make up such a fantastic story like that, what does he think she was, stupid? If he doesn't want to tell her what he found, he should forget it.

"It's true June"

"Hold your horses, you want me to believe that? James I may be little and all, but I'm certainly not stupid"

"It's true. You are not stupid at all but I want you to believe me"

June broke into a sarcastic smile "You have really gone mental. The bananas in your brain are as many as a bunch. Ah, you want me to believe that our Dad is not dead but gone to another world. I see what watching fantasy movies have done to you"

"But that's the truth. That's why they couldn't find the body or plane. It didn't crash, it disappeared"

"That's really something. You have turned to J. K now, hey mate, writing beautiful stories" June was clapping "Maybe one day your stories will be adapted to the pictures"

"You wanted to know, now you do, you don't want to believe?"

"What is the place, this new world called?"

"Amerith"

"Now hear that. It's that not just America with a 'th' instead of 'ca'. Is Dad not going to America when he died. Why are you thinking of a new place. Remember Dad wasn't fully err...well. He was mentally challenged he could have been making up words"

"That's what everyone thinks and I that's what I thought too. But you should read his scribblings. They are as intelligent as any person in his senses would write. I think Dad was communicating with them in those writings, they needed him to do something for them"

June studied his brother for a moment, brows raised.

"You are mad and I am getting out of here" she said and wore her shoes. She got to the door before James spoke

"What if I can prove it to you that this place really existed?"

"Prove it, how?"

"We sneak into Dad's room in the secret cabinet. I show you his scribblings and how they all make perfect sense"

June looked over her shoulders.

"If after you see his writings you still don't believe me. Then I will accept that Dad is really dead"

"You would?"

"Why not. Nobody believes me he is not anyway. Better start accepting the facts"

"Though I know this is a bad idea. Why do I still feel like doing this"

"Because you are silly silly, you silly"

"Shut up James!"

You will think coming back home for holidays in less than three hours, the twins will rest. Instead they were playing mission almost impossible. If they get caught, Mom will have James head for supper!

The key he had Oliver (who was a locksmith's son) made for him last term got lost when he was escaping from Collins early May. If they want to enter Dad's study, they will have to get the original key.

The bunch that contained every key in the house was in the possession of Alfred, the housekeeper. If anything Alfred could smell a conspiracy from half a mile away. They couldn't just go and ask him to give them the keys to their Dad's room. That reeks of a conspiracy. And its quite almost impossible to steal it from him. They will need to go for the almost impossible though, it's either they succeed or get into hot soup. If you asked June, there is a high possible for the latter.

Alfred was sitting down in his favourite gazebo enjoying the evening breeze with a cup of green tea. His pocket radio was standing on the table from which old lovely tunes were originating.

Nothing like the old school to soothe many a tired muscles, eh?

Their plan was for June to distract the man while James picks the key from his reach. Its a stupid plan really, but they didn't have time to get a fail proof one.

The twins signaled to each other as they parted. June to the gazebo, James to a hedge from which he could stretch his hand without Alfred seeing.

The girl put up a lovely smile as she came from behind him

"Hello Alfred"

"Hello June. Fine weather we are having today"

"Yes sure. I came here to tell you something, something very important to me"

"What is that?"

"Have I ever told you how much I loved you?"

"Really, that's lovely. No, I guess, I guess you haven't"

"Okay. This is me telling you, I really love you and I appreciate how much of a father figure you have been to us, since our father's demise"

Something sparkled in the Old Man's eyes. Talk of emotional. This girl is an award winner!

"I really appreciate this. But why are you telling me this now"

"Because we don't know what the future will bring. Dad didn't say good bye before he disappeared forever"

"Yes. I am still shocked myself"

June reached out to hug Alfred and he obliged. When they separated, there was no emotion on her face.

"And you should been dozing off by now"

"What?"

At that Alfred's eyes grew heavy and his while body become sleepy. He wanted to say something but sleep robbed it off his mouth. Step one, put the housekeeper to sleep check.

James head popped out from the hedge.

"Hey, what was that about?"

"Your plan was ridiculous so I made a back up. I put some sleeping pills in his tea when the maids were serving"

"Where did you get sleeping pills?"

"Mrs Acorns"

"Oh, that's thoughtful of you, and a little bit scary too"

"If you want to do something, you better do it right"

"I don't know you anymore June Acorn"

"Get the keys"

Like kangaroos they hopped upstairs to the East Wing where Dad's spare room was. They could have gone back the way they came but there was a pair of working maids there. The stairs that led straight up were damaged so they had to get up through the other one, the one that went past Mom's door.

June signalled James to hush. They tip toed across their mother's door, afraid to make a simple noise. Suddenly the floor creaked. Crap. Pretty old house creaks occasionally.

"Is that you Alfred"

"No, it's June"

"June. What are you up to?"

"No...nothing mom, I am just being a girl"

"Whatever honey, I need some sleep...oh God, where are my pills"

June sighed. That was close.

Not until they got to Dad's room did they have the next challenge, which one of the thousand keys opens the door?

"Try this one"

"I think we already used that"

"How do you know?"

"Because I am not daft, you silly"

"Okay I will hold all the ones you have tired. Just hurry before someone sees us"

They were on the twenty third key before at a sudden the door snapped. Victory. Like rodents they snuck in, closing the door behind them.

The room was dark stuffy and dusty and reeks well of books. James groped through the darkness and switched on the lights. The center table was still there as the boy could remember. It was from it he picked his first scribbling. He took the stool close by and reached out to the secret chamber. As he unlocked it, a rain of paper and dirt poured down. June ignoring his brother's coughs picks up the nearest piece and begins to read.

Its a letter addressed to someone called the Heir of the string.

... Dear Sire. I have seen you don't have the up most desire to render us any aid. The Council is failing and our armies are being pushed back everyday. If He gets hold of the Strings, don't believe that you and your family are safe. Once he finishes with our world, he will be coming for yours. All you hold dear will be lost...

"What do you have there?" James came to check "No, don't start from there, start from here" he said giving her a new paper. It was a conversation between two people.

...Lord Dear. I write you in earnest as I could since you and Lady May have refused to visit us for a while. Amerith is not well. Darkness comes with the fall of Aeolonde, the Heaven Star and a new foe has risen. He calls himself the Hand Of Death. We require your immediate attention.

There is a reply. This was surely Dad.

...Dear Sooyah, how I wished to help but I have a family now and a business to run. I longer have nothing to do with matters of Amerith. Please don't send letters any longer. All the best...

June looked up at James who urged her she read on.

...We understand your position and stand. But we wouldn't have summoned you if we had any alternatives. Amerith needs it's Council, darkness creeps on her from the North. Total darkness will cover her soon, we need to hurry....

...I thought I told you not to send me messages any longer!...

June flipped the paper, there was more on the other side. Now it's like Dad was contacting the people called Amerith.

...Early this morning, my business crashed totally. Did you fellow have anything to do with this. Answer me you!...

...Sorry about your business but we didn't have anything to do with that. This morning your father died in an attack at Eindere. The Accasian String was stolen. Your father died protecting that string of the harp. It must be the wave of nature you felt with your business falling into the shadows. It's Music's way of telling you that terrible things have happened....

"Wait. What is this saying now. That Grandpa Jones died only two years ago?"

"Apparently"

"I can't believe this nonsense. Our grandfather died when we were eight. Now we are fourteen"

"Did you remember Grandpa Jones sunk in a ship and they couldn't..."

"Find his body" June concluded

"There is more, read on"

As she looked again on the paper, look something magnificent was happening!

A new line of message was appearing! . June grew pale.

"If you are doing this you had better stop, it's not funny James"

"Do what?"

James came close and saw it too. He steadied June's hand. They read it together.

"What calls the pot black when it is of the same hue?"

The twins exchanged glances

"The Kettle?"

As of on cue, something jumped out of thin air and settled on the center table.

It was a kettle.