by A. E. Albert
Billy ran for dear life. He just kept running up any flight of stairs going in the direction of the parapet on the fort wall. He finally found an opening to the outside. When he looked behind him, he saw that the lone soldier was only steps behind. Billy didn’t think as he turned around and kicked the guard as hard as he could in the chin, causing him to stumble down the stairs with a wounded yelp. He then instinctively grabbed the handle of a large lit basin used to light the walkways at night. He tipped it over so it’s burning embers rolled down the stairs. This forced the young soldier, who was once again in hot pursuit, to go another way.
Billy darted along the ledge toward his target. He could see soldiers running in his direction, coming at him along each side of the fort wall. Captain Lucius led the charge on the one side. If it was possible, he looked even more ferocious than before.
“Get him!” he screamed.
Finally, Billy reached the only thing that could possibly save them.
Archimedes Claw.
He didn’t know how to use it, but he knew what it could do. He looked for the soldiers pursuing Dickens and Jeanie and breathed a sigh of relief. They did exactly what he thought they would do, follow his friends by sea.
Billy looked behind him and could see the captain running ahead of his guards. By the look in his eyes, Billy knew he wanted to be the one to seize him personally. He needed more time!
As if he could read Billy’s mind, Patches ran from his side and bolted toward the captain at ramming speed. Billy saw the little dog jump in the air, his mouth open, exposing the razor sharp teeth within. Billy returned his attention to the Claw. He didn’t see where the dog bit him, but by the sound of the captain’s screams, he had an idea.
As quickly as he could, Billy maneuvered the Claw over the boat and turned the crank. At that moment, Billy realized that more than one man was meant to work the colossal machine. He only had enough strength to let go. Billy leaped to the edge in time to see the great metal Claw land on the soldier’s boat, capsizing it.
He looked back. Just as a guard was about to grasp his garments, he jumped the three stories off the fort wall, into the Mediterranean Sea below.
Chapter 14
When Billy hit the water, the sound was like thunder cracking. All he could focus on was swimming forward and breathing, having no idea which direction he was going. His muscles began to tire and lose mobility. The only reason his head was still above water was because a very wet dog was nudging it up. Just when he thought he couldn’t go on, he felt something grip the back of his shirt and pull. Then everything went black.
When Billy awoke he felt firm ground beneath him. Before he could form a coherent thought, Jeanie was wrapping her arms around his neck.
“I thought you were going to die! I thought we were all going to die!” she cried into his neck. “I can’t believe you did that! I thought I was never going to see you again and then there you were jumping off that wall!”
Billy looked down on Patches and smiled wearily. “Thanks, buddy,” who barked in response. Billy had no idea how he ever thought the little guy was creepy or dumb.
“Well done, my boy, well done!” praised Dickens, who slapped Billy heartily on the back.
“Where are we? How long have I been out?” Billy asked.
“Actually, only about an hour. We managed to sail to a small island off of Syracuse. Young man, I applaud your ingenuity and daring, but the navy is scouring the seas as we speak. Many small islands dot the area, but it will only be a matter of time before they find us.” replied Archimedes.
Billy looked up into the eyes of the brave inventor. “I’m sorry we got you into this, Archimedes. I think you should know that Lucius wants you dead.”
“Oh, do not worry about me. I am the king’s man, he will forgive me. And Lucius? That man concocts hair brained schemes to get rid of me weekly! He thinks it is my inventions are what protects me.” Archimedes leaned over to whisper, “He does not realize that it is really my cheese and lamb sandwiches that the king cannot live without! Anyway, the knowledge and inspiration that I have acquired through our short acquaintance was well worth it. Besides, do not let this frail body fool you, it can handle a little adventure. However, the king’s mercy will not extend to you three. After your escape, he will surely be convinced that you are all spies.”
Billy sat up straight and looked around. The island was tiny, not even big enough for habitation. There was only thick brush in its middle
Billy looked from Jeanie to Dickens. “Just give us a sec, Archimedes.” Billy pulled the other two aside and spoke quickly. “We can use the Device in the brush. We may disappear mysteriously, but he’ll never know what really happened.”
Billy then licked his lips and spoke to the inventor. “Remember what you said about anything being possible, Archimedes?”
“Yes,” he said slowly
“Well, you’re about to see its ‘practical application’. Are you sure about your being safe?”
Archimedes waved his hand in front of his face, “Oh, of course.”
“All right, I want you to get in the boat and sail back to Syracuse.”
Archimedes hesitated. “What about you three?”
“Trust me, we’ll be fine. Can you do this?” Billy peered around a large tree and could see the king’s ships headed towards them. “Archimedes, we have to go now!” Billy said with urgency.
“All right, all right!” Archimedes face reddened. “I am just worried about the girl,”
Jeanie gave Archimedes a tight hug and kiss on the cheek. “I’ll miss you too!”
“Thanks for everything, old chap,” said Dickens, shaking Archimedes's hand, who looked confused as to why he was doing so. Dickens gave a hearty laugh and began to walk Jeanie into the overgrowth.
Archimedes gave his full attention to the wet and bedraggled boy before him. “Well, Billy, a true scientist acknowledges when his thoughts have led him down the incorrect path.” Archimedes looked him straight in the eye. “You are quite the young man,” he smiled with approval.
Billy’s thoughts returned to his fight with Jeanie in the dungeon. It was funny, he thought. The very person he wouldn’t think about helping had been the one to save them. Billy felt more than a little ashamed of his words that day.
“You’re all right for a crazy naked guy,” laughed Billy. “Don’t forget to take care of Patches,” he added.
“Billy, we need to go!” Dickens urged, waving him into the overgrowth.
Billy began to hurry toward his friends, only to stop suddenly and he turned to look at Archimedes for the last time. He didn’t want history to be wrong. He wanted Archimedes to get the real credit for all of his discoveries.
“Hey, Archie, take another bath, but think about the king's problem this time,” Billy smiled and ran into the interior of the island.
“What are you talking about!” yelled Archimedes in his usual irate and impatient tone.
Billy just laughed and thought, Archimedes, you really are a genius. You’ll figure it out. Billy then turned to the others and said, “Let’s go.”
And just like that, the world turned upside down.
Chapter 15
“Billy, stop tormenting yourself,” Dickens chastised, his mouth full of apple.
All three of the weary travelers were sitting under a large apple tree feasting on the fallen fruit. Only Billy didn’t have much of an appetite.
“What do you mean stop tormenting myself? There I was standing with Archimedes and I didn’t even think to ask him how to get home! We could be back right now! Jeanie could be home right now! But because of my stupidity, we’re in another place looking for answers.”
Billy closed his eyes as he lightly banged his head against the trunk of the apple tree. He looked at Dickens and Jeanie with a sour expression on his face, thinking that they were enjoying their apples far too much.
Jeanie took a big bite of her fruit. “Besides, you saved our backsides back there. I think
that counts for something.” Her words were garbled by the hunk of apple in her mouth.
“Why aren’t you guys more worried? We’re in an unknown place and you two don’t seem to have a care in the world!”
Jeanie let out a laugh. “Ya, I’m just glad to be alive. I really thought we were goners!’”
Dickens leaned toward Billy, his elbows on his knees. “Did you know that in Hebrew, there is no word for ‘coincidence’?”
“So?”
“Well, perhaps things have happened as they were meant to. Did you ever think of that?”
“That’s right!” said Jeanie. “You used the Archimedes Principle to get Archimedes to help us. Not that I really get that by the way,” she added, taking another bite of her apple.
“That was rather ingenious of you, my boy. Not only using it to help us, but setting aright the time stream.”
Billy’s face took on a thoughtful expression. “That’s the thing; I don’t think the time stream was wrong in the first place.” Jeanie and Dickens turned to stare at Billy. “Well, it’s crazy, but I thought that maybe we were supposed to be the ones to tell Archimedes about the principle. You said that the past, present and future are happening at once, right? So maybe Archimedes discovered the principle from us. Maybe us going back in time is part of the real time stream.”
“I was actually worried about that, you know, affecting time. So, when we return to our own time, giant potato bugs are ruling the world,” laughed Jeanie.
Dickens ignored her. He gazed at Billy steadily, a small glimmer of approval in his eyes. Finally, he said, “I think you may be correct.”
“Wait, that doesn’t mean that we won’t affect time from here on out does it?” Jeanie had a look of concern on her face.
“Jeanie, you have seen too many sci-fi movies. The space time continuum is vaster than anything you can imagine. Our small presence won’t affect anything. But if what Billy says is true, who is to say that our presence is not an unexpected intrusion and a part of the natural flow of time.”
Jeanie closed her eyes and gave her head a shake. “This stuff gives me a headache,” and she moved to grab another apple sitting on the ground.
Billy shook his head. “I don’t know, Dickens, who says there won’t be mention of ‘strange travelers’ in Archimedes writings when we get back?” he said, his expression revealing his alarm.
“It is a known fact that most of the inventor’s writings were never found. I’m convinced that if he did write anything about us, it is lost, which collaborates with your theory.”
“Ya, but how do you know? How are you so certain about things!” exclaimed Billy in a frustrated tone.
“I think you need to have a little faith, Billy. Like when you thought of using the Archimedes Claw or jumping from the parapets.”
“I didn’t have faith, I didn’t even think. I just did what I thought was our only chance at the time.”
“But for that time, you had enough faith that it would work and it did.”
Billy didn’t say anything. He just didn’t want to argue with Dickens. He understood a little bit of what Dickens was talking about. But he couldn’t live his whole life not worrying about anything. Billy had been a worrier for as long as he could remember. When am I going to leave this house? Where will I go next? Am I going to be bullied here like at the last place? Besides, now they were in real danger.
That reminded Billy. “What about those beings from the future, could they find us again?”
“It’s possible. The longer we stay in any time stream, the more of a chance there is of them locating us.”
Billy saw a look of terror envelope Jeanie’s face. She promptly stood and said, “Then let’s not waste anymore time here. Let’s go!” She stopped suddenly and actually observed her surroundings for the first time since they had arrived. “Where are we, anyway?”
Dickens stood up and looked around. “I don’t know. But judging from the rolling hills, fields of wheat, and tall Cyprus trees, I would say we are still somewhere around the Mediterranean.” Dickens squinted into the distance. “There seems to be a large town up ahead.”
The three began to trek down a dirt road, following a large body of water. It wasn’t long before they heard a noise coming from behind that sounded like gravel being crushed under a wheel. They looked behind and saw two peasants coming toward them, pulling a donkey hitched to a wagon.
The man wore a drab brown shirt that went to his knees, and tight green wool leggings underneath. He had on worn looking leather boots that were pointed at the end and on his head he wore a matching brown hood.
The woman was dressed in a similar fashion, but her dress was black and reached down to her ankles. Billy could see grey hose covering her legs and brown leather shoes on her feet. The peasants overall appearance was shabby and worn-out. As they passed, Billy could see that various fruits and vegetables filled the wagon.
“Ahem, excuse us.” The man and woman stopped in the middle of the road. “Could you please tell us the name of yonder town?” Dickens asked, motioning to the settlement up ahead.
The couple just stared at the travelers with curiosity. Finally, the man spoke. “That is the city of Pisa. Are you three troubadours?” the man asked with a furrowed brow. “There is going to be a lot of work there for performers, what with the festival going on.” The peasant man then cocked his head and asked, “Do you people generally wear your costumes while you travel?”
Dickens laughed. “We are but poor entertainers. There is a festival, you say? What is being celebrated?”
“It is the mayor’s daughter’s birthday. There is to be five days of feasting, a tournament and a grand banquet at the end. But of course, that is only for the loftier citizens of Pisa.” The husband rolled his eyes and grinned at his wife.
“Thank you very much for your help,” Dickens said with a polite nod. As the peasants made their way down the winding dirt path, Dickens turned to Billy and Jeanie. “Well, it seems we’re in Medieval Europe, Italy to be precise.”
“I don’t know much about history, but I know there are no ‘mayors’ in the middle ages. It’s Feudalism or something isn’t it?” asked Billy, looking about the country side.
“That’s very true in most of Europe. Here existed the feudal hierarchy system, the king, to the lords and then to his vassal. Then of course, there were the craftsmen and the serfs working the lands. However, Italy during this time was something special. During the last century or so, Italy has risen to be the economic capitol of Europe. The city states gained independence from their feudal lords through wars with the papal power, promoting development of commerce and a merchant class. Many Italian cities have banded together, creating alliances in order to fight each other and their enemies. It is called the Medieval Commune. Pisa is a maritime power, controlling their own navy and fleet of trading ships.”
“The city has become rich through trade, shipbuilding and banking. Now, in the beginning there was a spark of democracy, unheard of during the middle ages. Rich merchants and nobles were elected, calling themselves the consul and overall ran the city. But this idea died out and in its place a mayor or ‘podiesta’ was put in power.”
Dickens paused and began tapping his finger to his lips. “That being said,” he mused, as he looked about the countryside. “This must be the early 13th century. Mmmmm.”
“What?” inquired Jeanie.
“Oh, nothing, I’m just considering the important figures of the time. Anyway,” he looked down at his ancient Greek robe, “we can obtain less conspicuous clothing in the city.”
Jeanie gazed down at her dirty and tattered garment. “Is this why the man called us troubadours?” she asked, gesturing to her gown.
“It’s a good thing too, considering the suspicious minds of the time.”
Chapter 16
As the trio approached the city, Billy could see it was encompassed by a great wall. The apexes of the taller structures within peeked over top. Two guar
ds flanked the large entrance, but everyone was being waved in due to the day’s events.
Billy was in no way prepared for the spectacle that lay before him. They approached a large square where boldly colored tents and wooden stalls filled the area. Every merchant and tradesmen seemed to be out doing business that day. There were booths selling everything from sweets to fruits and vegetables. There were stalls selling fabrics, clothes, herbs, spices, toys, wine and ale, olive oil and many other rare or interesting items.
To the far right, he could see a raised platform where actors were performing a play. Musicians and singers strolled about, providing their own special services. Billy looked at Jeanie, whose eyes couldn’t seem to soak in enough of their surroundings.
“What is that he’s playing? Its looks like a weird little guitar,” she asked, motioning to a group of musicians.
Dickens laughed. “You’re quite right, it does. It’s a lute and notice the pear shaped body.” He then pointed to another. “That similar instrument is a mandolin.” Dickens then motioned to a flute type object. “See that one? It looks like a long tube. That’s a Cornett. Of course, you can recognize the drums and bells, very common playing instruments for this time period. These entertainers are referred to as troubadours or minstrals. They sing songs or recite poetry, usually about courtly love or knightly chivalry,” he said, as he rolled his eyebrows, making Jeanie laugh.
“Sounds boring,” Billy stated, with a light blush on his cheeks, causing Dickens to chuckle.
As they made their way through the throng of merchant stalls, Billy couldn’t help but stare in wonder at how different this world was from his. They walked by a table filled with various breads and pastries. Billy’s mouth watered at the sight, but he quickly lost his appetite when he saw the vendor smiling at them. He had barely any teeth and the ones he did have were black and rotting.
Jeanie laughed with delight and pointed toward a nearby table where people were devouring pies.
