by A. E. Albert
“Why do they want to kill me?”
“You are the key to the door to their world and you have your father’s blood. They will not stop until you and your father are dead and all ways to their world are closed.”
“So what does this mean? What are we going to do?” Jeanie was looking from Billy to Dickens.
“The only way to keep you safe is to bring you back to the 23rd century. I’m sorry, but this includes you, Jeanie. We can send you home from there and we have better capabilities to protect you both. Unfortunately, due to that little encounter with the beings in your time, the coordinates to my time are lost. In fact, I have no control where the Sphere will take us. However, we happen to be in Syracuse and at precisely the right time. We’re going to need some help and the way I see it, your father constructed his theorem based on the theories of the great mathematical minds of history.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning, we are about to meet the greatest mathematical genius of the ancient world, Archimedes of Syracuse.”
Chapter 7
For the first time since arriving into the past, Billy took a good look at his surroundings. He had noticed the beach, but that was all. Well, let’s face it; he had other things on his mind at the time.
The moon was high in the sky and it illuminated the great bay of water before him. He could see boats swaying in the cool breeze and whitewashed houses dotting the hillside. There appeared to be an island protruding from the mainland and out into the harbor.
“First things first, we need to locate appropriate clothing. Otherwise we’re not going to get very far, I’m afraid,” said Dickens, interrupting Billy’s silent observations.
“Well, I don’t know all about history, but I doubt these people take Abe Lincoln around here,” Jeanie said, as she rubbed her arms, which were chilled from the cool sea breeze.
“No need to worry, young lady. There is only one true currency that has prevailed through the past few millennia and I always carry some on these, well, excursions.”
Dickens pulled out of his pocket a handful of golden nuggets about the size of small grapes. “Gold,” he said, as the small metal rocks shone in the moonlight. “I think now is as good a time as any to get whatever items we need before the sun comes up,” he added, as he led the way down the beach, but still concealed in the dark overhang of the brush.
They walked around most of the bay and toward the small island jutting out of the side. As they approached the island, the group came upon a small household. The house was dark and everyone in it seemingly asleep.
Jeanie quickly tipped toed towards it and peeked through a doorway which appeared to lead into a small courtyard. “There seems to be clothes hanging to dry in here,” she whispered loudly. “Sorry, guys, there’s only dresses though.” Dickens chuckled at Jeanie’s last remark.
Suddenly, a loud barking sound emanated from the quiet household. Billy, Jeanie and Dickens flattened themselves against the outer wall. Billy’s chest began to hurt from holding his breath.
He remembered what Dickens had said about the people of this time and their forms of cruel and inventive punishments. We just got here! he thought. All he wanted was to be anywhere but here. But there they were, and he didn’t want to be some vicious dog’s dinner.
The barking had evolved into a low and guttural growl. Billy’s mind was racing, picturing an enormous black dog with fangs and drool hanging from its mouth. As the animal drew nearer, he looked frantically around for someplace to hide. However, there was nowhere to go except the barren beach.
Then as clear as day in the bright moonlight, a dog that reminded him of a Jack Russell, came prancing out of the doorway. Billy laughed with relief at the sight of the pint sized dog, whose ear leapt up in response to the sound. The dog tore out of the courtyard, heading for the intruders lurking outside his home.
Billy looked in horror as the growling little creature bounded towards him. The dog jumped on his legs and began to emit a pitiful cry. Billy gazed down in surprise at the pooch, not wanting to touch it. He was small and mostly white, except for brown patches dotting his body. He had short floppy ears and eyes that had a creepy human quality to them; at least Billy thought so.
“Ahhh, he’s cute,” whispered Jeanie, bending down to rub his belly, as the dog cried out for more of her attention.
“If he’s supposed to be a guard dog, he’s terrible,” replied Billy, however, feeling grateful to that fact.
Dickens took the opportunity to sneak into the courtyard. He approached the hanging clothes. “These will do very nicely, I think,” he said, as he looked around to make sure there were no more unexpected guests approaching. He took three of the garments hanging to dry, some sandals left by the entrance and placed a gold nugget on a nearby table.
Dickens swiftly walked toward the dense brush for cover, the two children following behind. “I really don’t like taking their belongings without permission, but it can’t be helped, I’m afraid. The gold is a hundred times more valuable than the robes, so I doubt they’ll mind too much,” said Dickens as he began handing out the garments to the awaiting children.
As Jeanie said her goodbyes to the little dog, Billy stared at the robe in his hand and looked up at the old man. “Ya, I’m not that. You want us to blend in, but you’re going to make me wear a dress?” stated a horrified Billy, holding the brown robe up in the air, as he shook his head.
Dickens met Billy’s determined gaze with one of patience. “Believe it or not, this is the customary attire for the men and women of this time. Of course, design and the quality of the materials differs with different social classes but-”
“Ya, again, I’m not walking around in anything that’s gonna show off my birthday suit in good wind.”
“Billy, I assure this is quite respectable and appropriate for the time period,” replied Dickens, trying to reason with the stubborn young man.
Billy just stared at the old man and stood his ground. “No, I’m not looking like an idiot.”
“Come now, stop being difficult.”
“No!”
“Are you serious?” Both Dickens’ and Billy’s heads turned toward the unexpected speaker. “You know what? I’ve listened to your whining for as long as I’ve known you!” Billy felt stunned at Jeanie’s words. “I like you, Townsend, but sometimes I wonder why. And guess what? We’re in serious trouble here. I want to go home, and if you putting that dress on gets me there, then you had better get it on…Now, Townsend!” she shouted with her hands on her hips and a steely gleam in her eyes.
Billy stared at Jeanie. She had been uncharacteristically quiet up to this point, but now she was definitely making up for lost time. Billy just turned and walked into a dark part of the vegetation surrounding the bay.
Did Jeanie really think he whined too much? Ya, well, he had a reason to didn’t he? He didn’t ask for the life had. He didn’t ask to be dumped by his parents, who apparently were responsible for the destruction of mankind! The more he thought about it, he didn’t think Jeanie had the right to say anything to him.
Billy stopped at this internal remark. Wait, she was here because of him. In fact, she was in as much danger as he was. Man, he hoped Dickens could get them out of this mess.
As he walked back to the group, his thoughts wandered to the fact that when Jeanie was really getting angry with him, she called him Townsend. For some unknown reason, this made him smile.
As Billy approached Jeanie and Dickens, Jeanie began to giggle, and a broad smile spread over Dickens face. Billy looked down at himself. He wore a brown garment made of a coarse woolen material. The shoulders came together with metal pins, and it barely reached his knees.
“I still think I look like an idiot,” said Billy, gazing morosely down at his attire.
Dickens gave a short belly laugh. “Maybe in your time, but here you’ll fit right in,” he chuckled, as he gave Billy a slap on the shoulder.
“Ohhh, I love my outfit,” exclaimed
Jeanie, as she twirled around the beach.
Billy turned to look and privately agreed with her. Her dress was similar to his but was made out of a soft white material. The shoulders were also clasped with pins, but the rest flowed gracefully to the ground.
Dickens handed Jeanie a long rectangular shaped garment. “This is a himation. You drape it around your shoulders. Be sure to cover your hair, my dear. We don’t want to stand out, and you certainly do with that glorious titian hair of yours.” Jeanie blushed prettily at Dickens compliment.
Dickens garb more closely resembled Jeanie’s robe, except the sides flowed freely down to his feet, while Jeanie’s was cinched at the waist with a rope type belt.
As the trio continued to walk down the beach toward the island, Billy noticed that the white and brown dog was following them. Well, actually, he was following Jeanie. This irritated Billy because he didn’t want anybody to notice them due to the continual mewling it emitted. Jeanie, however, wasn’t helping matters by picking up sticks and playing with the little animal. Billy just continued walking, determined to ignore the dumb dog.
The sun was beginning to peak over the horizon, and Billy began to notice several people milling about. Everyone was dressed as he was, but most were carrying baskets or large clay pots. Some were even taking their boats out into the water for their daily haul of fish.
As Billy continued to gaze in wonder around him, he noticed that Dickens and Jeanie came to a stop. When they had come upon the water’s edge, Dickens approached and spoke to a man untying a wooden raft from a small dock. He turned to Billy and Jeanie and motioned for them to step onto the raft. To Billy’s chagrin, the flea bag followed them aboard. Dickens discreetly gave something to the driver, and they began to sail across the water to the island beyond.
“Where are we going,” whispered Jeanie.
“The island of Ortygia,” returned Dickens, who at once motioned for them to be quiet.
All three continued their trip in silence. It was not long before they were once again upon a beach. This time Billy could see numerous white buildings crammed together on the hills above them.
Dickens said a few words to the man with the boat and then turned to join them. He immediately pinned a small metal square to the inside of their robes.
“What’s this for?” asked Jeanie, examining the small device.
“A language decoder. Very common where I come from and very useful here.” Dickens laughed at the amazed expressions on the children’s faces. “Well, my dears, if we can build a time machine, then I dare say, something like this would be a walk in the park, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Are you saying that we’ll be able to understand these people’s language?” Jeanie asked with awe in her voice.
“Not only that, but they you. We wouldn’t get very far if the natives heard you muttering in a tongue completely foreign to them. We need to conduct our business without being noticed by anyone, especially the current ruler around here. Heiron II is king at the moment and the cousin of our point of interest, Archimedes.”
“Wow, a real king! Maybe we can meet him!” she said, her eyes lighting up.
Dickens gave a little chuckle before replying, “Monarchies of this time are nothing like the ones from yours. There is no prince William to swoon over, I’m afraid. In fact, Heiron is a tyrant. He was a commander in the army who gained his kingship when he saved the Syracuse people from a mob of mercenaries. Soldiers who war for monetary gain,” added Dickens at seeing the children’s confused faces. “Of course, he also married the daughter of the city’s leading citizen who most defiantly aided him in his leap to kingship,” he said with a shake of his white head.
“Well, what’s the problem? If the people around here wanted him to be king, then he must be a good guy. He even saved them from a bunch of greedy soldiers, right?” Billy asked, as he shrugged his shoulders.
“I see your point, young man. However, the kings in this era have absolute power. If the ruler doesn’t like you, he can throw you in prison for the rest of your life.” Then in a low and grim voice, Dickens added, “or end it if it so pleases him.” This statement caused an involuntary shudder go through Billy.
“So the best course of action is to just avoid the local government all together. We stick together and let me do all of the talking.” Dickens stressed, while Jeanie and Billy eagerly nodded their heads at this plan of action.
They continued to walk up a dirt path, leading to the city above. As they entered, Billy gazed in wonder at the various structures lining the streets. He could see some houses were made out of stone and others of brick. Some of the roofs were tiled, while others were thatched. It was easy to separate the homes of the wealthy and those of the poor. There were houses with more than one story and high walls, hiding courtyards within.
His eyes then fell upon the people moving about the stone streets. Everyone was dressed in similar fashions, but again, their dress distinguished the wealthy from the poor. Some were wearing course material the color of brown or black. Others wore soft billowing white linens, with scarlet or purple wraps.
There were women who wore their hair up, entwined with gold ribbon. They had gold belts crisscrossing their mid section and intricately wrought earrings dangling from their ears. The men generally wore their hair short. Many of their faces were clean shaven, while others sported neat and trim beards.
Billy was so engrossed in his observations, that he hadn’t been paying any attention to where he was walking until it was too late.
“Stop! Tell your slave to watch where he is going!” yelled a uniformed man atop of a horse.
“Hey, I’m sorry-” Billy said in surprise.
“I should take my whip to you! How dare you speak! Where is your master?” he yelled.
Billy just stared up at the enraged man. Master? What did this guy mean by that? “My what?” asked Billy, thoroughly confused.
“I see you are in need of proper punishment!” replied the man angrily, who began to get off his horse.
The little dog suddenly sprang to life and sprinted toward the officer. He began jumping up at him, trying to bite his feet.
“How dare you? Get this animal away from me at once!” the man yelled, trying unsuccessfully, to kick the dog.
The little dog continued to snarl and attempt to bite the riled soldier. Finally, the man jumped down from his horse, his eyes locked on the wild pooch and he drew his sword. Billy watched in horror as the dog began to circle the soldier, until he jumped up at his backside, his little jaws fastened to the soldier’s rear end. The travelers looked helplessly on, as the guard frantically tried to beat the little dog dangling from him, all the while screaming in pain. Billy would have laughed if he didn’t realize what a dangerous situation they were in.
Dickens, who finally got around to intervening, pulled the riled pooch off of the soldier.
The soldier’s face was red from exertion and sweat was pouring down its sides. Whether he was breathing heavy from the exercise or outright rage, the man yelled, “Give me that animal, now!”
The soldier glared at the little dog in Dickens arms as he brought up his sword and raised it in the air. Unfortunately, the stubborn dog met his stare and uttered a low growl.
“My lord, I beg forgiveness. Please, let me compensate you for your trouble, if you but allow my pet to live,” implored Dickens. As if on cue, the dog leapt from Dickens arms and ran into the crowded streets.
“I should take out of your hide what is owed me!” the soldier growled at Dickens, as he took a step in the direction the dog had fled.
Dickens hurried forward, with his head bent low and gave the man a pouch. “Please, take this gift as a testament of your mercy.”
The man eyed Dickens suspiciously and dumped the contents of the pouch in his hand. Three gold nuggets spilled onto the man’s palm. His eyes became aglow. He then cleared his throat and said in a gruff tone, “I suppose I can be merciful this time. But if I see that dog again
, my sword will find its neck, old man.”
Dickens began to back away, nodding his head. “Thank you, sir. You mercy will not be forgotten.”
The soldier’s eyes then flickered in Billy’s direction. “What about the boy,” he asked. Of course, it was too much for Billy to hope he had been forgotten.
Dickens immediately stood in front of Billy as he again bowed low before the man. “It is my fault, my lord, for not watching my servants better. I shall see that he is properly punished.”
The man glared at Dickens. “Fine, but see that it is done. A slave should show proper respect to a guard of the citadel.”
The soldier was now mollified, but as he trotted away on his horse; Billy could see him scanning the crowd looking for the little dog.
As soon as the soldier was out of sight, the very same loyal pooch came bounding through the crowd and jumped into Jeanie’s arms. Jeanie smiled down at her new friend. “You are a good boy, aren’t you! I’m going to call you Patches,” she cooed, scratching him behind the ears.
That dog is braver than I am! Billy thought. He decided that maybe having the dog tag along wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
As Billy bent down to pet the courageous canine, his heart was still hammering from the soldier’s threats. Billy thought groundings were bad! Never in his life had he been that afraid of a punishment. I’ll never complain again when Sandy sends me to my room for the night!
However, this new found appreciation didn’t stop him from turning to Dickens and asking with a raised eyebrow, “Slave?”
“Actually, that is a perfect alias for you considering your clothing,” replied Dickens, who was looking uneasily back at the uniformed man. “You are now my man servant and Jeanie is a younger relation of mine.” He turned to beam at her. “That being said, you need to now walk behind me.” Dickens flashed Billy a cheeky grin and turned to Jeanie, extending his arm. “Take my arm, dear.”
Jeanie looked back at Billy and gave him an apologetic smile. Great, Billy thought, this just keeps getting better and better. First the dress and now I’m a second class citizen!
