Time-Travel Duo

by James Paddock

  “James has been nothing but a brother to me, and an uncle to Elizabeth Anne,” Anne explained over and over to people, and especially to Abigail Morgan. “But, he really likes you,” Anne told Abigail when they managed to get into a quiet corner of the back yard.

  “I sure don’t get that impression,” Abigail confided. “I flirt with him every time he comes into the hospital. He sort of flirts back but seems very... very...”

  “Shy.”

  “Maybe. But he’s a police officer. Why should he be shy?”

  “He may be tough around the bad guys, but a woman leaves him tongue tied and sweating. Give him time. Whatever you do, don’t give up. I’ll bet he asks you for a date before this year is out; you wait and see. After that everything will be fine.”

  “I hope you’re right.” She was silent for a while and then she said, “I have a confession to make.”

  “Oh?” Anne said.

  “When you were at the hospital with your baby, I liked you. I think everyone liked you. There was no one who didn’t know about you and how you stood up to Maggie. As a matter-of-fact, you’re still sort of a legend. But, when you left to come here to live,... I became rather jealous.”

  Anne placed her hand on Abigail’s arm. “I’m married – very happily married. I have absolutely no intentions toward James.”

  Abigail smiled. “I truly do believe that now. But three months ago, I didn’t.”

  “I guess it didn’t look too good, did it?”

  Abigail shook her head. “No. But this party is helping a lot. One thing I do know though, and you’re not going to convince me otherwise, is that he fancies you.”

  “I’m married.”

  “I didn’t say you were returning it. I can see you’re not.”

  Anne let out a lung-full of air. “Yes, you’re right. And since we are full of confessions today, I’ll tell you this. You were not invited just because your parents were old friends of Ruth’s. I think Ruth has had her eye on you for a very long time to become the mother of her grandchildren.”

  Abigail blushed.

  “Maybe it’s more than shy that keeps James from coming around. Maybe it’s just a son being contrary to his mother’s wishes. Quite normal. There’s a second reason you were invited. That reason is mine. Yes, he has taken a fancy to me and I need you to take it away. If you can do that, I think we’ll win.”

  “How am I going to do that? What more can I do outside of throwing myself at him?”

  Anne chuckled, envisioning James’ face if Abigail became aggressive. “Don’t do that or you’ll definitely scare him away. Just be a little more patient.”

  “I’m getting up in years – running out of time.”

  “Before Christmas. I promise you. You keep up the pressure from your end. I still have one more card up my sleeve.”

  “Anne!”

  Anne turned to see Ruth rushing from the back door toward her, excited beyond words.

  “He’s here,” She exclaimed. “To see you!”

  “Who?” Anne looked to the open back door to see Admiral Harris stepping out, gold shoulder boards and rows of ribbons flashing in the sun. “Oh!”

  Anne and the admiral strolled through Battery Park. She hated leaving Ruth’s party, but under the circumstances, there wasn’t much choice. Not only did Ruth understand, but she practically pushed them out. So under the stares and open mouths of all the guests, Anne and the admiral departed.

  Nothing was said until they got to the park. The admiral directed the young Navy petty officer where to park. The two of them then walked for a time making small talk about the party, Ruth turning 50, and Elizabeth Anne who was left behind to enjoy the attention of all the guests.

  “So, Anne.” The admiral became serious. “I’ve observed Project Rainbow. I must say that you now have my attention.”

  “It really happened then?”

  “Exactly as you said it would. I admit that the fact that you even knew of the existence of Project Rainbow led me to believe you were possibly aligned with this German spy and were working me for more information; however, I cannot imagine how you could have possibly known what the outcome would be unless...”

  “Unless I was a time-traveler.”

  Wilson stopped and looked down at her. “Yes.” He continued walking. A couple hand-in-hand strolled by. Once out of earshot, he said, “I can’t believe I’m saying it, either. After seeing what I saw two days ago, I guess I’m prepared to believe anything.”

  “Thank you, Admiral.”

  “Wilson, please.”

  Anne grinned. “Thank you, Wilson. I assure you I’m exactly who I say I am. I would first like to bring you up to date since the last time we spoke.”

  “There has been some development?”

  “I heard from my husband. He’s predicting I’ll be home by Thanksgiving.”

  “Home being nineteen eighty...”

  “Seven. 1987.”

  “Well, that’s wonderful.”

  “It’s very wonderful. The timing coincides with why I think I’m here.”

  “You believe there’s a reason.”

  “Yes. First of all there are no coincidences. I believe everything is for a reason and everything is linked.”

  “Expand on that if you would.”

  “Why am I the one who wound up making this trip back in time 44 years? Why wasn’t it any of the scientists working on the project? Because, despite the fact that they are all geniuses, none of them have the educational background of history and nuclear science that I have. And none of them have the photographic memory. It’s odd that I, who had no idea what was going on, nor had a clearance, could position herself, unknowingly, into the time machine at the exact time that security had become totally lax. And that I should place my purse in such a position as to fall on its own accord so as to activate my time leap. And whom should I make friends with after my arrival but James Lamric, who over the past year or two, has already set up a friendship with you in preparation for my coming. Would you have agreed to see me if you didn’t already have a great deal of respect for him?”

  “No. Can’t say I would have. Felt rather stupid as it was.”

  “And why was the timing of that visit such that I overheard your phone conversation telling me that, only two days later, you were going to be in position to see the only thing that could prove I was telling the truth? I truly believe the only reason for Project Rainbow was to get you here with me right now. Project Rainbow will be nicknamed the Philadelphia Experiment and will simply wind up in the science fiction section, despite efforts by many to prove it actually happened. There will be no evidence, no records. The Eldridge’s deck log will show it was in New York on October 28, and it will also show that the merchant ship Andrew Furuseth, present in Norfolk and whose crew witnessed the sudden appearance and then disappearance of the Eldridge, will be shown on the record of ships’ movements as being in route to the Mediterranean, having left Norfolk October 25. The fact that Project Rainbow took place will no longer exist because it has already completed its task.”

  “If as you say, it didn’t happen according to history, how is it you know about it?”

  “Because I loved science fiction, and the Philadelphia Experiment fascinated me. There are still some who claim it happened despite lack of any evidence. When I was fourteen I read everything I could find on it. My mother died the year before and I retreated into books.” They approached a bench. “Can we sit? I’ve been on my feet all day with this party and I’m about worn out.”

  “Certainly, Anne. You say all this is to get you and me to this place. What happens now? What do you need me for?”

  “In a sense it’s like everything has been a series of bridges. With each bridge comes another. I think you may be the final bridge, or the last bridge before the big final bridge.”

  “How so?”

  Anne took a deep breath and began accounting to Admiral Harris the build up of the Manhattan Project and then her bel
ief that his part in history was to convince General Groves and Robert Oppenheimer to come to Charleston to meet with her.

  “If what you say is true, that you have knowledge that could overcome their problems, why not just contact them right now, before Oppenheimer goes to see the president?”

  “I’m not here to change history, Wilson, only to ensure it happens as written. The history books do show that the visit with President Roosevelt took place and that he gave the order to shut down the Manhattan project. All I ask is that some time after November 9, when they meet with the President, that you make contact with General Groves and convince him and Oppenheimer to come here.”

  “Why don’t you and I go there? I can arrange a flight.”

  “They have to board a south bound train on the 11th. I can’t change that. It may be that I’ll meet them halfway. I’ve no idea because there’s no accounting of where they are for the following four days, until Groves returns to Washington. Whatever will happen will happen. I’ll tell you this, Wilson; it’ll be nearly two more years before the war with Japan ends. It will be because of the Manhattan Project that it does. It’s anyone’s guess how long it would have gone on otherwise, or who the victors might have been, or how many more lives would have been lost.”

  “What about the war with Germany?”

  “The Manhattan Project will have no effect there. It’ll have already been over for six months, Hitler dead by his own hand.”

  “What kind of weapon is this that we’ve been working on for a year, yet won’t be ready for another two?”

  “It’s extremely complicated and intensely powerful. It’s a bomb. After giving fair warning, which will go unheeded, we’ll drop one on a Japanese city, fully expecting them to surrender. When they don’t, we’ll drop a second on a second city. Then they’ll surrender. Two bombs and the Japanese will lay down their arms.”

  Wilson leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. He turned his head toward Anne. “Two cities! How many lives?”

  “Because of the nature of these weapons and the long term effects of it over the years to come, no absolutely accurate count could be made. Estimates are upwards of a quarter million.”

  “My God!”

  “It will be calculated, Wilson. They will be given warning, and it will be necessary.”

  He stared between his feet for a time, a hat full of gold in his hands. “A quarter million lives.”

  “It has to end,” Anne said forcefully. “This war will go down as the most destructive in history. Between the Pacific and the Atlantic, Europe, Asia, and Africa, it will be estimated that more than 20 million lives will be lost.”

  He shook his head. “That’s impossible.”

  “I can give you the breakdown by country if you’d like. We’ll lose nearly 300,000 of our own military. The Soviet Union will reach ten million in military and civilian losses. Germany will push four million, Japan two. Need I go on?”

  “No... no. You’ve made your point.”

  Anne leaned back on the bench and let Admiral Harris think. It was a nice October afternoon but the breeze was beginning to pick up. She wished she had taken a sweater. The couple who had passed by earlier, went by again in the same direction. Two birds chased each other in front of them and then disappeared. Were they playing or fighting?

  “So, how do I do this? What do I need to say to General Groves that he won’t consider me a lunatic?”

  “I guess we need to talk about that,” Anne said. “Let’s walk again.”

  They shuffled through the dead leaves for a time while Anne thought. The two birds appeared once more still in apparent battle, and then separated into distances unknown. “Let me educate you a little on the theory of symmetric implosion and what an explosive lens is. It’s kind of my way of thinking out loud because I’m sort of guessing what the problem might be that would warrant scrapping the project. I figure if I can give you enough information that makes sense to you, you can get them to meet with me. Then, from there, I can figure out the rest of it.”

  “I’m all ears, Anne.”

  Chapter 52

  Tuesday ~ November 2, 1943

  Again the three of them stood together staring down at the circle of light. Anne had cleared a new area after the previous week’s arrival of the bag of rocks and letter.

  “Remember to close your eyes this time when you first feel it,” Anne said. She looked at her watch. “Three more minutes if it’s the same as last week.” Although it felt nice when they started the walk down to the graveyard, they were all smart enough to put on something warm. Ruth borrowed the same sweater as before even though she brought a jacket.

  “Two more minutes,” Anne said and then immediately felt the static in the air. “Here it comes – close your eyes.” She saw the flash through her eyelids and felt a quick rush of air. When she opened her eyes, what sat before her was a plain brown cardboard box roughly a foot and a half square; taped shut. Anne dropped to her knees, popped the tape, opened the lids, and pulled out a soft pink teddy bear. Attached to a violet ribbon around its neck was a tag.

  For Elizabeth Anne,

  Love, Dad

  Anne hugged the bear close and cried. Ruth kneeled down next to her, saw the tag, put her arms around her and cried with her. Nothing was said. James stood and watched, not really sure what all the crying over a bear was about. He could see that there was still a letter in the box, and wondered why Anne hadn’t already ripped it open.

  “There’s more,” he said.

  But Anne didn’t respond. Instead, she stood and walked the three steps over to the carriage and placed the bear with her daughter. “Your daddy knows about you and he loves you.” She then stepped up to James and put her arms around him. “Thank you for being there.”

  He hugged her back and chuckled. “It’s hard to say you’re welcome for something I won’t do for 44 years.”

  She pushed away and looked at him. “I wonder what you’ll look like?”

  “Let’s not think about that. I’ll be nearly eighty years old, probably feeble and in a wheelchair.”

  “I doubt that. You’ll be just as strong and just as handsome. I can’t wait to see you.”

  James blushed. “Are you going to open the envelope?”

  Anne dropped down next to the box where Ruth was still sitting and opened the letter.

  My Dearest Anne,

  Progress is slow. It seems that just when we solve one problem another rears up. We are very optimistic, however. Without your dad here, I don’t think we would be this far. And without James here we would be just shooting in the dark and probably would have already given up.

  We are nearly ready for the first test. We don’t want to wait another week so we’ll do it on Friday – same time. Have something inanimate ready – solid – about a pound. Place it exactly where this box arrived. Do not use the box. Save it for later. We’ll want to do a live test next – an animal that will fit in the box. If the Friday test works, we’ll want to do that on Tuesday – week from today.

  That’s all for now.

  I love you,

  Steven

  P.S. The desk is wonderful, but you don’t like antiques. A lot of money. A woman, Mrs. Browning, came by to check on it, make sure you were happy. Strange woman.

  “We’re coming up on Friday, James,” Ruth said after she read the letter.

  Steven, Jerry and James sat in the conference room, hands wrapped around their chosen beverage, two coffees and a diet coke. The remainder of the crew had gone home. It was 9:18.

  “It’s going so well, I’m scared to get excited,” Jerry said.

  “This is where it can really get tough,” Steven said. “Everything stops going wrong. All of a sudden, you’re in the home stretch and you know something is going to jump in front of you, trip you up, and make you land flat on your face. You can’t sleep, you can’t relax, and every nerve-end is vibrating. It’s hard to even go home.”

  “I had to practically escort
the others out to their cars.”

  “I’ve been waiting forty-four years for this,” James said, “and I’m having a harder time sleeping now.”

  “What’s next, James?” Jerry asked.

  “You would think after 44 years I would have forgotten a lot. I’ve forgotten very little. Anne and my mother cried over the bear and then they talked for a long time over what inanimate object to have ready. When that has been decided, Anne tells us she’ll come into town on Thursday afternoon with Danny, spend the night, and then go shopping on Friday. We’ll bring her back up in time for the test Friday evening.” James said nothing more despite Jerry and Steven staring at him.

  “Sometimes he drives me crazy,” Steven said. “He knows everything that’s going to happen, but won’t say shit.” He swung an arm at the word shit and knocked over his diet coke that, fortunately, was nearly empty. Jerry got up to get a rag. “But you’re not telling us everything. There’s something else going on. Why the hell do you not know if we’ll be successful? Circumstances! You told me the day you showed up at my house that, due to some circumstances, you didn’t know if we bring her back.” Steven slammed his fist onto the table. Jerry had just leaned over the table to wipe at the coke. He jumped, but James sat rock steady. “What in the hell is the circumstance?” Steven’s last word seemed to rattle the walls. “God damn it! You’ve got to tell us!”

  James maintained a stoic face and a flat voice. “You have a time-line which coincides with my memory. I’m concerned that if I say too much you’ll want to try and change it. Because it’s history, I don’t know if you could. If you could, I don’t know if you should – I take that back – I do know you shouldn’t. I can’t take the chance that you might attempt to change history.”

  “Shit!” Steven yelled and shoved his chair back. “Same old bullshit!” he added and walked out.