Time-Travel Duo

by James Paddock

“It’s a word used by uneducated and unrefined men,” Ruth lectured. “Not around ladies and especially not by ladies.”

  Anne realized she had just been reprimanded and forced the smile off her face. “Yes, Ma’am.” She dropped her eyes to the carriage and began walking again. After a minute of silence she said, “I’m sorry.”

  “No harm done. We put it past us. So now we need to consider all four times.”

  “Just this week. Next week it will be 7:00 for sure. I just don’t know what day. Tuesday or Wednesday.”

  At 6:40 Ruth said, “I feel warm now but I’m sure I’m going to get chilled again. Can I borrow one of your sweaters?”

  “Of course. But you don’t have to go. You can stay here where it’s warm.”

  “Of course I don’t have to go. I want to go. I would just rather not shiver.”

  “Okay.” Ann could still sense the tension in her voice. She fetched a sweater and handed it to Ruth. “Here’s the one you admired so much when I bought it; said it cost too much.”

  “I remember. $8.50! It’s a nice sweater, but it’s still too much.”

  “In my day this’ll cost $80.00, or more.”

  “Ridiculous!”

  “Maybe. But wages will be much higher as well. $10,000 a year is poverty. Decent salaries run from $20,000 up, 30 and 40,000 being normal.”

  “That’s ridiculous too. Sounds like everything gets out of control.”

  “It does seem that way to some, but really not much different from now. The world is at war right now and there are some, the doomsayers, who believe this is the end of the world. I’m standing here assuring you, it’s not. We, the world, will come out of this okay. A lot of lives will be lost, millions. We, the United States, may never forget, but we’ll forgive, as well as will all the other allies. As a result Japan, Germany and Italy will rebuild themselves into prosperous and peace-loving nations.

  “Out of control. No, I don’t think so. I think the speed of change and advancement in technology overwhelms many people. The challenges seem insurmountable. Then the next generation comes along, figures it all out and moves on. When they get tired, their children pick up the ball. It’ll just keep going. Has for centuries. The only difference now is it’s moving faster.”

  Anne looked at her watch and then gave Ruth a hug. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s a different world forty years from now. Yes, the words I used are still offensive but we have learned to be more tolerant, more accepting of differences in people. Such verbiage has crept into the language of more people, even proper young ladies. That’s not to say I didn’t deserve to be admonished. I did, and I accept it, and again I apologize... Mom.”

  As Ruth returned the hug, Anne felt the tension flow away.

  “Thank you,” Ruth said, her voice breaking. “We’d better get going.”

  Although there was still plenty of time, they kept a brisk pace all the way to the graveyard. Anne expected Ruth to be winded, but she wasn’t.

  “What time is it?” Ruth asked.

  “Five of,” Anne said. James set the lantern on an adjacent flat-topped grave marker.

  “This is it,” Ruth said.

  “Pardon?”

  “This is it? We’ll get something tonight. I can feel it. Call it an old woman’s...”

  “You’re not an old woman.”

  “All right then, call it a mother’s intuition...” she looked down at Elizabeth Anne snuggled in the carriage, “or a grandmother’s intuition,” she grinned at Anne, “but I feel it right in my gut – it’s tonight.”

  “I hope you’re right, Mom,” Anne said, “I hope you’re right.”

  And so they stood together, staring at the circle of cleared ground, feeling the minutes tick by, a heart beat at a time. Whether by her own gut feeling or spurred on by Ruth’s sudden optimism, Anne wasn’t sure, but she also felt this was it. Something was going to happen. She looked at her watch. 7:02. She sighed and continued to watch.

  7:05. Her shoulders slumped and she looked around. It had gotten darker so she couldn’t see if there was anyone about, watching these strange people standing around in a graveyard.

  7:06. She sighed again. “I guess not,” she said and stared once more into the circle.

  7:08. “Well, so much for gut feeling. But it’s Monday there and it did say Tuesday, so for us that means Wednesday.” Anne looked at Ruth. “We’ll see if your intuition applies tomorrow night.”

  “No.” Ruth’s eyes were still in the circle.

  “What?”

  “Don’t you feel it?”

  Anne stopped breathing as she felt the hairs on her arms rise, and the air change. Static electricity.

  It was happening.

  And then a faint light began, but it wasn’t in the circle where they were watching. Instead, it was ten feet beyond, closer to the trees and bushes, not in the area Anne had prepared.

  The light grew and Anne began breathing again. A little bit off in calculations, she thought, but that’s okay. At least he didn’t miss it by a mile.

  There was no sound. Just a quiet, growing light. She waited, her heart beating rapidly.

  Beating.

  Breathing.

  She remembered the intensely bright light and said, “Close your eyes...” but it was too late. The light jumped to a blinding intensity and then was gone. Elizabeth Anne started crying.

  “I can’t see anything!” Ruth exclaimed. “What happened?”

  All Anne could see was the lantern, more like a flashlight with nearly dead batteries. “Wait for your eyes to adjust.” She started moving toward the place where the light had been, spots circling in her vision against the black night. Gradually, shapes started coming back and she saw lying in the grass and weeds what she knew wasn’t there before. A plastic bag. As she bent to pick it up, she saw it was a zip-lock.

  Heavy.

  Weighted with stones.

  Inside with the stones was an envelope. It was later that Anne considered and was impressed by Steven’s forethought in realizing the time and day differences, and then sealing and weighting the letter. Right then she ripped the bag, and then the envelope open, and dropped down next to the lantern. Elizabeth stopped crying.

  Dear Anne,

  Since you are reading this you know we are back on line. Lots still to do. A few problems yet to solve and tests to run. We’ll be asking for your assistance in that. A couple of weeks yet before that begins. Then, if everything goes well, we expect to have you home by Thanksgiving.

  We’ll update you again in a week.

  All my love.

  Steven

  P.S. Your father and James and the entire crew send their love.

  “Oh, my God!” Anne looked up into the expectant faces full of yellow light and dark shadows.

  “What?” Ruth demanded.

  Anne looked back down at the letter and then up at James. “You’re there!”

  The whine died and the intense light went out. One by one the goggles and earmuffs came off. A silent hum of anticlimax filled the room.

  “Okay, gentlemen. That’s what we came to do tonight. She now knows we haven’t given up, haven’t forgotten about her. Is that right, Mr. Lamric?”

  “That’s right. And I can tell you Jerry, Steven, Dr. Hair, everyone; right now she is pretty damn excited.”

  “And my father is there!” Anne came to her feet and threw herself at James, wrapping her arms around him and screaming. “Oh, God! Yes! Thank you! Thank you!” She knocked him off balance and he nearly fell straight back. “Wow! Forty-four years from now you’ll be there! This is going to work. You wouldn’t be there if you didn’t know I was going to make it, right?” She let loose and bounced back a couple yards, read the letter again and started jumping up and down, and rotating in circles. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” She screamed again then threw both arms straight in the air and continued in circles, rapidly stamping both feet like a wide receiver who just made the winning touchdown.

  A
nd then she stopped and looked at Ruth and James who were just watching her with their mouths hanging open. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I know this means I’ll be leaving, but you have to be happy for me.”

  Ruth crossed to her and embraced her. “We are happy for you. But allow a mother to be sad when her child leaves home. It’s what I want for you more than anything in the world. What is most sad for me is that I’ll never see you again.”

  Anne looked across Ruth’s shoulder at James still standing where she left him with the shocked look on his face. “James will be there. Why wouldn’t you?”

  “No Anne. I’m not going to live another half century. I just turned fifty and...”

  Anne pushed away. “When?”

  Ruth just stared at her.

  “When did you turn fifty?”

  “That’s not important.”

  “If it wasn’t important, you wouldn’t have brought it up.”

  “I was trying to make a point.”

  “When was Mom’s birthday, James? You’re my brother, damn it. You’ve got to tell me.”

  James forced his mouth shut then opened it. A look of distress crossed his face. “October 10.”

  “October 10! Your mother – our mother turned fifty sixteen days ago and we didn’t throw a party?”

  “I... I... ah...”

  “He forgot,” Ruth said matter-of-factly.

  “Oh... my... God! You forgot your mother’s birthday. What if she up and forgot yours when you turned ten, or thirteen. Major milestones! We are going to fix this. Saturday we are having a party.”

  “I don’t need to be reminded how old I am.”

  “It’s not a celebration of old. It’s a celebration of young.” Anne reached up to the sky. “Hey world!” she yelled. “Fifty times around the sun and look at mom! She’s still young! Let’s party!”

  A smile began to break across Ruth’s face despite her effort to hold it.

  “In the morning we’re going to sit down with that address book of yours and make a guest list and we’ll make up invitations. A bit last minute, but who cares.” She grabbed the carriage and turned it around. “And then we’ll hand deliver them. Let’s go.” She started for the road.

  “You’re going back with us tonight?”

  “Of course. How else am I going to plan a party? We’ll go up to Gertie’s and tell them, and invite them. How’s 2:00 p.m. on Saturday sound?”

  “That’s fine, I guess,” Ruth said.

  “James?”

  “Yeah. Two o’clock is fine. I think it’s a great idea.”

  “Then it’s set.” They turned onto the road. Anne was quiet for a while, “I missed my dad’s birthday. August 7. He turned fifty as well. On August seventh, I was thinking I was crazy and didn’t even know enough to think of him.” She walked on in silence for a while. “You know, Mom, you and dad would make a great couple.” She stopped. “Maybe you could come with me.” She shook her head. “Stupid thought – blonde moment.”

  “A what?”

  “A blonde moment. You know how men consider blondes as ditzy and empty headed – generally not too bright... well, I just had a blonde moment. For a second there, my brain went down the blonde track.”

  James laughed.

  “What are you laughing at?” Ruth said. “I certainly hope you don’t think blondes are empty-headed.”

  “No, Ma’am.”

  “I’d think I taught you better than that.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  “Nurse Morgan is blonde.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  “And she’s smart. You’d do good by her.”

  Anne giggled. “Nurse Morgan goes on the guest list.”

  “Good idea,” said Ruth.

  James quietly led the women up the road, the lantern swinging gently from his hand.

  Chapter 50

  Thursday ~ October 28, 1943

  Admiral Harris took no notice of the on and off drizzle, nor his aide who sacrificed himself in an attempt to keep the umbrella over his boss. Instead, he focused on the pre-briefing by Captain Kelly Blaine who was standing atop a three-foot high bridge structure that allowed one to cross over the massive magnetic coils mounted to the deck of the USS Eldridge.

  “The power necessary for today’s experiment will be provided by these two 75 kilo-volt-amp, KVAs we call them, generators. These along with the four two-megawatt RF transmitters, the thousands of power amplifier tubes and the synchronizing and modulation equipment, will provide the needed electromagnetic fields.”

  “Captain,” Admiral Harris interrupted. “Everything you’ve just told us we’ve read before stepping on board, and as far as I can tell, is not much different from that of the July 22 experiment. What alterations have been made to ensure that the invisibility obtained is only to radar? How many crewmen will be on board and what has been done to protect them? What can we expect to see?”

  “In the first experiment we only used three RF transmitters. Now there are four. Four-hundred thirty-five additional amplifier tubes have been added along with an additional array of control and synchronization circuitry.”

  “My impression, Captain, was that there was too much power in the July experiment. It sounds to me as though we are adding even more.”

  “Yes, Sir. We’ve boosted the power available. However, the actual power level we’ll use will be much lower. One of the problems we had in July is we ran at near 100% capacity, and in the process lost control. Circuits overheated and frequency levels slipped out of tolerance and began oscillating. By rebuilding the system to handle higher power levels and then running at say 75% capacity, we’ll operate cooler and retain control.”

  “It sounds wonderful, Captain. But what safeguards are in place to ensure that a situation such as the one of July 22 doesn’t take place? If it should run up to 100% again, what do you anticipate should happen?”

  “Should happen, Sir?”

  “Yes. One hundred percent power now is much higher than one hundred percent three months ago. Instead of simply disappearing, could there be something such as, say, teleportation?”

  Admiral Gray and Army General Stevens looked at Admiral Harris with raised eyebrows. “Teleportation, Wilson?” Gray asked. “Where did you come up with that?”

  “Just a thought, William.” Admiral Harris forced a laugh. “I enjoy a little science fiction now and then.” He turned back to the captain. “Continue, please.”

  “Yes, Sir. I assure you, Admiral, we have a very strict operating procedure on this test. Seventy-five percent is the maximum. In any case, I do not see where something such as teleportation is even a feasible possibility.”

  “Thank you, Captain. Please continue.”

  As Captain Kelly Blaine continued with his tour and pre-briefing, Admiral Harris considered what it would mean if Mrs. Waring’s predictions were in fact correct. The fact that she knew of the experiment could simply indicate a breach in security somewhere. Maybe she’s working with this spy, Bronson, and this is a back door way of obtaining more information.

  “Admiral Harris.”

  Wilson focused on Captain Blaine, realizing he had drifted off in thought. “Yes, Captain.”

  “You asked about crew size. There will be forty-eight onboard, made up of ten officers and thirty-eight enlisted. This is the minimum number necessary to maintain the ship’s systems and security, and operate and monitor the test.”

  “Thank you, Captain.”

  “If there are no further questions it’s time we depart for our observation post. The test will begin at 1700.”

  “Do you anticipate any delays?”

  “No, Sir.”

  The observation post was actually the fourth floor of the radar school, which overlooked the harbor. The test target lay 2,500 yards at a heading of 97 degrees, according to the blip being painted on the radar repeaters, three of which were powered up to accommodate the observers. The radar room was darkened except for the glow from the repeaters, and th
e red lights that allowed one to see yet maintain night vision. It wasn’t possible to view the ship itself without going to an adjacent room where a window view and binoculars were provided. That’s where Admiral Harris stationed himself.

  He looked at the clock – 1700 – and turned back to the USS Eldridge, bringing the binoculars to his eyes. He watched and waited.

  1701 – Captain Blaine announced that there had been a delay. “Just a few minutes,” he said.

  Admiral Harris scanned along the piers, dry-docks and moored ships. He saw no activity, no people at all. The order had been put out by the Philadelphia Shipyard Commander, who was now standing next to Admiral Harris, that all eyes would be restricted to the indoors between 1700 and 1730.

  1707 – “Just a few more minutes,” the captain announced.

  “How is the family doing?” Rear Admiral Daily asked.

  “Pretty well. My son, as you know, is the operations officer aboard the hospital ship Acadia. He’ll be back in Charleston in a week or so with a shipload of war wounded. He’s been in the Mediterranean for a number of months now. His wife just gave me a grandson. They named him Wilson.”

  “You must be proud.”

  “I am. My youngest, Gracy, will continue to bless us for another eight years I would guess. She just turned ten.”

  “Nearly powered up. The test will begin in one minute,” Captain Blaine announced from the door to the radar room. Wilson glanced at the clock – 17:14 – and again adjusted the focus on the binoculars.

  Chapter 51

  Saturday ~ October 30, 1943

  The house was full of guests and some had spilled out into the small backyard. Ruth fussed because all the flowers that made the yard beautiful were out of bloom.

  “They’re here to see you, Mom, not your flowers,” Anne told her. The word, “Mom” was rolling off her lips much easier, much more natural.

  “I didn’t know you had a daughter,” one of the party guests said shortly after arriving. Ruth never seemed to get tired of telling people how close they had become. “Anne and I have become so close I have to remind myself on occasion that I didn’t give birth to her. She is so wonderful. Unfortunately, she’s here only for a short time. She must join her husband out west as soon as he calls for her.” That was the story the three of them had agreed upon.