DR MIDAS AND THE PIRATES

BY SUSAN HUMPHREYS

CHAPTER ONE

The most important day in Millie’s life had finally arrived.
She covered her ears, trying to dampen the sound of hundreds and hundreds of voices screaming with excitement. She walked slowly, memorising every sensation. The city seemed different today, magical. Everything seemed brighter, cleaner, bigger.
As she turned the last corner she felt like her stomach was filled not with butterflies but big bats. The museum, which towered above her, was wrapped by a long line of children, all – like her- wanting to be the one chosen.
“I’m actually here,” she whispered to herself, plucking up the nerve to push her way through to the barriers.
Millie managed to find a good spot, one advantage of being tall for a ten-year-old was that she could see over the heads of the other boys and girls. She tapped her feet, willing time to go quicker, then glanced at her new watch; it was nearly noon. She compared it to the digital clock on the large HD screens attached to the building’s glass frontage. Superimposed over documentary footage of Dr Midas’s adventures, it counted down the last, unbearable minutes.
Millie had seen the clips a thousand times before, Midas the conservationist first, on safari tracking down poachers then helping out at a panda fertility clinic. Next was Midas the artefact hunter; in Egypt discovering a new tomb, then abseiling down a mountain in pursuit of thieves. Finally the all-round hero; returning a painting, reportedly destroyed in a fire, to an Amsterdam gallery and most recently foiling an attempt to blow up the Tower of London.
Suddenly the image switched to the museum’s logo and the words ‘Competition final here today’ appeared.
The screams got even louder and now Millie joined in. She had dreamed of a chance like this, an opportunity to see her hero in the flesh. She gripped her autograph book a little tighter and checked the pass around her neck once more.
A samba band, barely audible through the racket, began to play and everyone stood a little straighter, ready to move. Then the automatic doors opened and the crowd pushed forward, she tried to keep to the front, hoping she wouldn’t fall over in the rush.
The children flowed like a river through the new entrance and on into the original stone museum itself. The TV crews followed like a herd of wildebeest, not wanting to miss one sound bite from the year’s most newsworthy event.
“I still can’t believe he’s actually taking someone with him on his next trip,” a reporter called over Millie’s head. “I wish it was me, he’s gorgeous, even with that moustache, still I suppose all the Hollywood actors have them now.”
“Shame we were too old to enter, I’d love to be stranded on a deserted tropical isle with him,” replied the camerawoman. “Personally, I think agreeing to take a child with him will be his biggest challenge yet!”
Millie glared at the reporter from under her thick red fringe, but it made no impact.
“Ha! Yeah, it’ll make scuba diving with sharks, nearly freezing to death on Everest and going undercover with some of the world’s most vicious smugglers, black-marketers and thieves seem as easy as eating ice cream.”
“Come on, let’s see who gets picked.”

Dr Midas was stood on a platform at the far end of the main entrance hall, stroking his smooth black moustache in frustration. He didn’t want to do this.
The museum’s manager, Mrs Broil, was struggling to keep her temper. “These kids are some of your greatest fans, they love you. You should see how much extra Dr Midas merchandise we’ve sold this week alone.”
“Yes, I know. It just makes me uncomfortable. I don’t want to be a TV celebrity. I don’t want to be a pin-up.”
“With looks like yours what do you expect – besides, the publicity still gets your message across, doesn’t it? Convince them to be eco-warriors at this age and maybe, just maybe we have a chance to save this planet.
Dr Midas lowered his head. “I know, but I can’t have a kid tailing around after me. I’m too busy with an important project.”
“I’m afraid you don’t have any choice. Your little trips are costing the museum a fortune.”
Dr Midas mumbled to himself.
“Do you know how much your life insurance alone is? This competition means a lot of money to the museum, we’re relying on the sponsorship deals, without it we might have to reconsider your contract.”
The spotlight flashed on, cutting short the argument.
Mrs Broil stepped up to the microphone and nodded for it to be turned on. “Children, it is exactly noon. Time to choose the winner.”

Millie couldn’t believe she was actually seeing her hero in the flesh, even if it was from a distance. But she knew really, that there was next to no chance of being chosen to meet him properly. She tried to convince herself just this glimpse of Dr Midas was prize enough.
Still she couldn’t help being a bit shaky when the woman spoke: “Dr Midas please press the button to select our winner.”
The room fell completely silent. Hundreds of fingers, including Millie’s, were crossed at once, as the computer began running all their names as a projection onto the ceiling. She stared upwards like all the other children, every single one willing it to stop on their name. Millie even repeated her own really quietly, praying it would have some influence.
She so desperately wanted to win, but then so did all the other equally deserving children stood round her, she thought.
The list began to slow preparing to make its selection. She closed her eyes and clenched her fists.
The woman’s voice was loud and clear, “The winner is Millie Hill, aged ten.”
Millie gave a cry of delight and began to jump up and down. She felt in a daze as the other children congratulated her. Some shook her hand, others patted her head, back or shoulder, but a few others tutted loudly, muttered about the draw being fixed, or just walked away, scowling. She didn’t care, she was really going to meet her hero. Then delight turned into anxiety, what on earth would she say to him?

Dr Midas watched as Mrs Broil went to greet the young winner. As he cast his eye across the room, his heart thudded at the unexpected sight of the Government man. He was the kind of person who naturally blended-in and nobody, except Midas, seemed aware of his presence.
Midas shuddered a little as the man signalled to say ‘meet me off-stage’ with a flick of his head. It must be a matter of massive importance for him to make an appearance in public. He felt his heart quicken with excitement.
Dr Midas watched as the children began to file out, chattering like monkeys as they headed to the museum’s restaurant for lunch. He held his hand up to Mrs Broil who was busy talking with the redheaded winner, to indicate he’d be only five minutes. He had to see what the Government man wanted.
The contact knew to wait in the aquarium, and that’s where Midas found him, secreted in its shadowy depths. The only light provided was from the tank’s neon lights and it was sinisterly quiet.
“What is it?” asked Dr Midas, “Another secret mission?”
“No, not this time. I have that information you need. The country’s top military scientists and astronomers have all analysed your calculations.
“Unfortunately it’s not good news; they all agree your suggestions were preposterous.”
“What? All of them?”
“Well one said it might be theoretically possible – but he’s an eccentric type.”
“But that’s fantastic. Imagine the places I could go, the treasures I could find and save. Imagine how history could be opened up to us.”
“Don’t get too carried away, he said for your machine to work you’d have to travel faster than the speed of light and that’s impossible without disintegrating. And then there are the time constraints. You’d need to enter a black hole at the precise moment you calculated. Believe me, if there was even a chance it would work our forces’ top ranks would be all over this. You could win wars in a matter of hours not years.”
“That’s not why I – well it doesn’t matter now.” He checked his watch using its built-in light. “Listen, I’d love to catch up a bit more, but it’s this competition nonsense. Got to get back in there and meet the winner. Busy schedule.”
The man nodded, making his way to the exit. “Of course. I’ve got to report back to the PM too. She’s trying to trace an important artefact in Iraq. Seems the Americans are keen to get their hands on it. Could be a job for you, Midas.”
He waved, “I’ll check my diary.”

The adventurer stood in the dark for a moment, a silly grin spreading across his face. It was possible, he was certain of it, and he was going to prove it.
He waited another minute to ensure the Government man was long gone; then hurried back into the corridor. He had to get to the prehistoric section straight away, before the children finished eating and made their way there.
But he was thwarted by the appearance of his boss and a girl, who were blocking his passage.
“Not now, Mrs Broil, bit occupied.”
“Yes, now, Dr Midas.” She looked at him sternly.
“Government orders,” he lied.

Millie looked up at her hero and blushed as her voice came out like a squeak. “Sounds like an adventure.”
“Yes, yes it is. A very dangerous one and definitely not suitable for children.”
“I’m not scared,” she said. “And I’m not a child, I’m practically a teenager.”
Mrs Broil tapped her foot. “Now Millie, don’t worry you’re just going to spend the day with Dr Midas, there won’t be any dangerous situations. Just a nice tour round the museum.”
Then the woman turned to Dr Midas and pulled him to one side, even still, Millie couldn’t help overhearing.
“Remember our conversation?” Said Mrs Broil, firmly. “We wouldn’t want the museum to have to re-evaluate its costs, would we? You do enjoy working here, don’t you?”
Midas breathed heavily, “Fine, come with me Millie.” He’d just have to ditch the kid once his boss was out of the way.
“What’s the rush?” Asked Millie, struggling to keep up.
“I’m about to go on a new mission, a very different mission.”
“Wow, this is going to be a fabulous day.”
“Oh no, you’ll have to stay here.”
The girl grabbed his arm, “You can’t leave me, what about my prize? I’m supposed to spend the day with you.”
“Yes, and you will, just not today.”
“I won’t be any trouble Dr Midas, don’t you trust me.”
“It’s not that Millie, I’d probably trust children over adults any day of the week, it’s just this adventure is top secret. I can’t let anyone know about it.”
“Why not?”
“Because. It’s too complicated to go into. Can’t you run any quicker?”
“What’s the point?” She stopped, resting her hands on her hips. “You’re only going to dump me in a minute anyway.”
He stopped too. His super-fast brain had locked onto a new thought. Perhaps it would be an idea to share his invention with someone. He was getting older, there was no point denying it and one day he’d need someone to carry on his good work. A trainee wasn’t a bad idea.
He looked at Millie in a new light. She seemed a sensible kid, made of tough stuff too. “I’ve changed my mind, you want to spend the day with me? Well it’s going to be a day you’ll never forget.”

Millie was practically shaking with nerves as they reached the prehistoric section. The room was filled with huge dinosaur skeletons that appeared to watch her as she followed Dr Midas across the room.
‘There’s no reason to be scared,’ she thought. ‘We’ll probably just go watching wildlife or something. I’m excited, that’s all.’
Something else was bugging her too; she just wasn’t sure what it was. It almost felt like disappointment, but that was just silly. Dr Midas was going to show her - only her - wonderful things. He would tell her lots of exciting facts. She imagined how jealous all her classmates were going to be when she told them what a fabulous adventure she’d had.
‘Dr Midas is great, a genius,’ she reassured herself. ‘He’s just seems a bit grumpy, because he’s a very busy man; I’m sure we’ll get on fine.’
She watched the conservationist walk across to a dustsheet covered large object. A pterodactyl model hung overhead.
He yanked the cloth off, revealing a large octagonal-shaped transporter with panels made of reptilian scales that changed from green to yellow to clear and back again, all topped off with a binding of sparkling fairy lights.
“In case of other traffic,” he half-explained.
Millie gasped, then squealed as it changed shape before her eyes, making a pyramid and then a hexagon as though it couldn’t decide which form it preferred. It was easily the most incredible thing she had ever seen.
“What is that?”
“A time-machine.”
Her mouth gaped, “But that’s impossible.”
“Well there’s only one way to find out if you’re right.”
The doctor looked sternly at his creation, which had shape-shifted again. “No time for indecisiveness,” mumbled its inventor, “stick with the octagon.”
The device obeyed immediately, becoming an eight-sided dome again.
He nodded his approval then grabbed a handle beside the machine’s hinged door, which caused it to lower like a castle drawbridge.
“Come on, Millie, I thought you wanted an adventure,” and he ran across the metal door.
The girl was glued to the spot. “I’m not sure,” she shouted.
Midas was stood in the doorway. “I haven’t got time to argue, are you coming or not?”
She lifted one foot, put it down again.
He shrugged his shoulders, “typical girl,” he muttered.
“I heard that, wait for me,” and Millie ran into the machine.
Dr Midas was seating himself on a white fake-leather padded stool that faced a dashboard with dozens of switches on it. He glanced over them all then pulled a plastic lever that made the door lift back into a shut position.
Millie suddenly felt trapped and wondered if she should just let herself out, but she was too late.
The inventor stabbed the big green button marked GO with his finger and the whole room began to shake.
Millie backed herself into a corner and slid down onto the ground.
“Come on, come on,” said the doctor, “fight that gravity.”
The machine gave an extra push and then Millie felt as though everything was collapsing in on itself. She closed her eyes, and placed her arms protectively in front of her head and hoped she was going to survive.