TimeTravel Adventures of The 1800 Club [Book 12]

by Robert P McAuley

  THAT EVENING

  Dave had chopped enough wood to fill the wood holder near the fireplace. He wanted to chop more but dark clouds approached as the sun went down. He was sitting on the couch sipping lemonade as Ellen wrapped the blisters on his hands with linen strips.

  “Well, Samson, chopping wood was definitely not the job you had before you went into the army.” She looked into his eyes and quickly shifted her gaze as she said, “Perhaps you were a doctor? I mean your hands are so smooth.”

  He grinned, “Believe me, Ellen, if I were a doctor I would have had a higher rank than private.”

  “But, I keep telling you that your uniform had captain’s bars on the shoulders.”

  Dave placed his drink on a small table next to his easy chair and held his head as he said, “I remember being in a line of troops lying on my belly as the enemy charged right up the hill at us and believe me I was no captain. I was a lowly private. Maybe I had an officer’s coat on for some reason.”

  She shrugged, “If you say so.” She looked in his eyes once again “All I know is that you are my knight in shining armor.” Before she realized what she had done, she pecked his cheek and quickly left the room. Dave sat there not knowing what happened . . . but he liked it a lot. He left the room and upon entering the kitchen bumped into Ellen as she exited the room and both knew that the moment was for them and they embraced . . . which turned into a lingering kiss. Outside a flash of lightening followed by the clap of thunder seemed to be the spotlight and applause of the world accepting their union.

  The next three days saw the couple having a picnic by the pond, followed by a dip in the cool waters as the moon shone down on them, a buggy ride followed by another picnic and a lot of giggling after lights out.

  It was on the fourth day that Rocko said as he mounted, “Hey guys, according to the map we only have another four areas to check on and two are out of town. Want to split up?”

  Bill looked at John and both nodded, yes. “I’ll take this one about five miles out of town and we’ll meet right here before lunch. Sound good?”

  They each rode off in a different direction.

  Bill allowed his horse to walk as the road they took had roots sticking up and he didn’t want it to get hurt. The hanging vegetation blocked out a lot of the direct sunlight keeping it fairly cool and Bill enjoyed the trip. If not for looking for Dave, he thought, this could be a nice vacation. He spotted the house, which was off the path and he headed towards it. As he pulled up to the tie up post he heard chopping sounds coming from the other side of the house. Bill tied the horse to the post and followed the chopping sound until he saw a man from behind splitting logs.

  “Hello,” he called only to see the man continue chopping. He walked closer and as he raised his hand to call out, a shout came from behind him. ”Don’t move or I’ll shoot ya!”

  Bill raised his hands as the man spun around to see what the shouting was about. He stared at Bill with a puzzled look on his face.

  The woman stood in a stance that told Bill that she knew how to handle a shotgun. “What is it that ya want?” she demanded, “The soldiers took most everything.”

  “I-I just want to talk, that’s all.”

  “Then talk. Make it short and quick.”

  Bill addressed Dave, “Dave, are you okay?”

  Dave looked around and answered, “Who’s Dave? Is that my name?”

  “Yes! Dave McKinnon. Don’t you remember? You completed your mission and I’m here to take you home.” He turned slowly to Ellen, “Can I lower my hands?”

  “Go ahead, but I’m watching.”

  “Me too!” shouted Cleo from his left side. She held another shotgun.

  “Alright, alright, I just want to talk to Dave.”

  Dave sat on the tree stump one hand holding his head.

  “Dave,” Bill said in a soft voice, “you’ve been hurt. Let me see.”

  “I’m alright. Who are you and what do you want? It’s not too often that a colonel looks for his men.”

  “Dave, it’s me, Bill Scott. From the 1800 Club. Don’t you remember? You came here to warn General Sherman to stay away from the hill that still had enemy soldiers on it.”

  Dave lowered his head as he tried to think. “It’s no use. I can’t remember. Best that you leave.”

  Bill turned to Ellen and asked, “Where’s this southern hospitality that I heard about? Don’t you ask a visitor in for a cool drink?”

  She lowered her rifle. “What’s a colonel want with a private anyway?”

  Bill let the rank remark go by and answered, “He is more than just a private: he’s a friend and he’s hurt. Let me take him where he can get better.”

  “Cleo,” she called out, “please set up some lemonade on the front porch.” She tilted her head towards the front of the house and said to Bill, “Walk around to the front and take a seat on the porch. But move slowly, I’m watching.”

  Bill walked to the front and sat on one of the wicker chairs at a round wicker table. Dave sat opposite him and Ellen sat close to the man she called Samson. Cleo came out and poured four glasses then sat to Dave’s left.

  Bill took a sip and said as he looked at Ellen, “Miss O . . .”

  “Miss Robillard, colonel,” she said, “Miss Ellen Robillard.”

  Bill opened the folded map and said, “I have a different name, but that’s normal these days what with the war and everything.” He closed the map and went on, “Miss Robillard taking in a wounded soldier is admirable and we thank you. But his wound alone says that it’s time to ‘discharge’ him.”

  “But,” she said pleadingly, “he wishes to stay, colonel.”

  Dave slowly stood and all looked as he said, “Ellen, I’d-I’d like to speak with the colonel alone for a moment.”

  “If you want to, Sam . . . ah, Dave. I’ll be within shouting distance should you need me.” She turned to Cleo and added, “Come on Cleo. Leave these two gentlemen to talk alone.” They went inside the house.

  Dave looked at Bill and slowly said, “Bill from the 1800 Club, correct?”

  Bill leaned across the table and grabbed his arm. “Yes! Yes, you remember!”

  Dave shook his head and said, “I-I think I do. When I saw you standing there something clicked in my head. At first I couldn’t remember your name and all I saw were fleeting pictures in my head. Pictures of you dressed as a civilian, then Matt handing me clothes and my train ride. Now I remember that I was sent here on a mission to prevent General Sherman from being captured. And the explosion! The pain in my head, the two ladies who took me in and nursed me back to health.”

  “Dave, I’m so glad that you have recovered. Now you can come home with me and have your eye attended to.”

  “Do you think they can fix my eye?”

  “No, not these doctors nor the doctors in our time, but I bet that the doctors in the future can. We’ll go back and see what they can do. Okay?”

  Dave gave a smile that looked more like a grimace, “Okay.”

  Thirty minutes later the four of them stood around the table in the dining room.

  “We are gonna miss you Mister Samson,” said Cleo as she tried to stop a tear from leaving her eye.

  Dave hugged her and said, “Me too, Cleo. Me too.” He moved to Ellen who fought to keep from crying. “Ellen. Please forgive me.”

  “For what?” she said as she stood tall, “Getting hurt just as we were passing by? Don’t be silly. Get well and, well, if you’re ever in Atlanta, come visit us.”

  He went to her and his hug became a warm embrace. She looked up at him, “Please stay safe. I’m going to miss you terribly.”

  He turned and left with Bill.

  The two men met where Bill, John and Rocko agreed before splitting up. After handshakes, they rode to Captain Merrill’s tent.

  “We’ll wait here, Dave.”

  Dave entered Captain Merrill’s tent and seeing him, Merrill jumped up and the two men hugged.

  “Dave!
What in tarnation happened to you? Look at that eye! We got to get you to the doc right away.”

  “Bill, thanks anyway but I’m going back to my time and have it looked at. I’m sure you understand.”

  He nodded, “Yeah, I understand. Them doctors in your time must have some top-notch stuff. I sure hope they can fix you up. Now, tell me, did you meet up with your friends?”

  “Yes. They’re waiting outside. I just came back to get my grip and say thank you for everything.”

  “Thank me? Why if not for you the General might be dead or at least captured. No telling how this battle would have turned out. What’s next for you?”

  “We’re going to catch the next train north.’

  “Then return to your time I imagine.”

  “Yes.”

  Bill slapped him on his shoulder and asked, “Will we ever meet up again, my friend.”

  “I really don’t think so.”

  After a moment of silence, Bill said, “Can I ask you a question, Dave?”

  “Sure. What is it?”

  “Can you tell me if the country becomes one again?”

  “Yes, it does.”

  “Then I’m a happy man.” They shook hands. “Dave please take care of yourself.”

  “You too, my friend, you too.” The time traveler turned and walked towards the tent opening as his one eye suddenly started to blur up with tears.

  The train ride north was much faster than the one south and the four time travelers sat at the open end of the last car sipping scotch and enjoying cigars. Bill encouraged Dave to debrief on the trip rather than waiting until they got home. “I think,” he said to Dave, “that the sooner you get it out of your system the better for you.”

  Dave told them everything that he remembered and Bill asked “Why did you insist that you were a private when you were dressed as a captain?”

  “In my mixed up mind I saw myself as a re-enactor dressed as a private so that’s what I believed I was.”

  The time traveling group arrived at the gate of the 1800 Club’s garden and Bill Scott paid the cabby then opened the gate and they entered the garden. The men gathered in front of the security door where Bill opened it and they entered the stairwell. He then took out his Time Frequency Modulator and before entering anything turned and said, “Hey guys. I’m just going to type in October 27. 2015. That way we’ve been gone for a couple of weeks. Is that good or do any of you have an appointment or something earlier?”

  All shook their heads and Bill entered OCTOBER 27, 2015, 12:00 P.M. and pressed the activate button. They went up the stone stairs and he opened the door to his den.

  DATELINE: OCTOBER 27, 2015, 12:00 P.M. PLACE: THE 1800 CLUB, NEW YORK CITY

  Samson greeted Bill with a sniff all around as he tried to find any treat that his master might have brought back with him. Matt entered the room and greeted them with a smile and said, “Welcome home, sirs. I trust that the mission was a success?”

  “Yes, Matt, it was.” Answered Bill as he sat on his leather easy chair and the others sat on the couch and other easy chair.

  “Would you like some lunch?”

  Bill looked at the men and each one shook his head no.

  “Bill,” said John, I need to change and go home to go through my mail.’

  “Same here,” added Rocko.

  “I suggest,” Bill said to Dave, “that you wait and see what the people upline say about fixing your eye.”

  “Fine with me,” said the wounded time traveler.

  After John and Rocko left, Dave had a ham and cheese sandwich and Bill had a mug of hot chocolate and a grilled cheese sandwich as he sat in front of his communicator and entered his message to Alexis Shuntly.

  DEAR MS. SHUNTLY. FIRST. THE MISSION WAS A SUCCESS. NEXT, I HAVE A QUESTION TO ASK YOU AND SEEK YOUR ADVICE. ON THIS MISSION OUR CLUB MEMBER, DAVE MCKINNON GOT HURT AND LOST THE USE OF HIS LEFT EYE. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR YOUR DOCTORS TO FIX IT?

  He sent it and after twenty-minutes received an answer.

  “BILL, PLEASE HAVE MR. MCKINNON READY TO COME UPLINE TOMORROW MORNING AT EIGHT O’CLOCK. OUR DOCTORS WILL DO A PROCEDURE AT NINE A.M. TOMORROW. IF THIS IS OKAY TEXT ME. THANK YOU, ALEXIS.

  Bill read the message to Dave who agreed. He slept over that night and at eight o’clock the next morning he followed a messenger sent to get him. The procedure was done in a portable pressurized operating room and took two hours. He was back in Bill’s den by lunchtime.

  Bill and Dave sat in the alcove eating sandwiches. The weather had changed and dark clouds seemed to cover all of downtown Manhattan, Brooklyn and south New Jersey.

  Bill said as he smeared egg salad on his rye bread, “Dave, those people from the future never fail to amaze me. That was fast! Did they give you any meds or something?”

  “Nope, they just want me to sleep on my back for two weeks.”

  “That’s it?”

  “Yep, that’s it.”

  “Will you recover one hundred percent of the vision in that eye?”

  “They believe that I’ll have 20/80 in that eye.” Dave took a bite and looked out the window.

  After a few minutes of silence Bill asked, “Hey, Dave. Is something wrong? You look like ‘The Thinker.’”

  “Ahh, sorry, Bill. Just a little down.”

  “That happens after a mission,” quipped Bill, “You get to meet people and suddenly you are in different world than them.”

  “Yeah,” Dave mumbled, “They’re dead and we’re not.”

  “Hey, Dave, wait a moment. When you were back there they were as alive as you. They spoke, they breathed and did everything that you did. Some even hugged you. I mean if you went back right now they’d be as alive as you, correct?”

  Dave nodded slightly, “Yeah, I guess you’re right. It’s just that, well, for me they’re gone now forever. I know they’re dead and I can’t help but kick myself for befriending them.”

  “Dave, making friends no matter what time you’re in is always a plus! That stays with you forever.”

  Dave looked out the window and asked, “What if I asked to be sent back there? What would you say to that?”

  Bill put his sandwich down and with his elbows on the table asked, “For how long?”

  Dave looked at him and said, “Forever.”

  Now it was Bill who looked out the window. “I have to be honest with you, Dave, you would not be the first.”

  Dave looked at him with hope filled eyes, “I wouldn’t? So did he stay in the past?”

  “Nope,” he said with a nod, “they stayed in the past.”

  “They?”

  “Yes, one was a female club member. She is a wonderful person and after completing her mission fell in love with the period and asked to stay. The man was a champion hang-glider pilot who also fell in love with the past. He’s a great guy who had a tough mission but succeeded.”

  “And the people from the future said okay?”

  Bill grinned, “Well, not exactly. You see I never told them. You know the saying: Better to beg forgiveness than ask permission.”

  “Then it’s okay?”

  “Can you tell me what you are going to do? Where are you going to work? Stuff like that. Things that should be addressed before going back only to be tossed in a debtors prison or something similar.”

  Dave shrugged his shoulders. “I-I really don’t know. I-I just felt a kinship with the period and can’t stay here much longer.”

  Bill sat back with a sigh and said, “As a fellow club member who now knows about our time traveling capability, I feel that we must help you. After all you did rescue history from making a wrong turn and deserve our help.” Bill went to his desk and pressed the intercom.

  Matt’s voice came back, “Sir, you called?”

  “Yes, Matt. Would you be so kind as to bring me a ‘Travel Pack’ for Dave McKinnon?”

  “Very well sir, what year?”

  “1864.” Bill went back to his seat and took another bite of his sand
wich. “How soon do you want to leave?”

  “I’d like to go home and pay a few bills and let my landlord know that I’m leaving so I’ll be ready tomorrow morning.”

  “I imagine that you wish to return to Ellen?”

  He nodded, “Yes, but not as a soldier.”

  “You do know that Ellen Robillard is her mother’s name?”

  “I figured as much.” He chewed on his fingernail, “I’d like her to tell me why she’s using it rather than her own.”

  “Then that’s between you two.”

  There was a tap on the door and Matt entered. He placed a leather grip on a hassock and opened it. He took out a tan suit, brown boots and tie that contrasted with a white shirt. A dark brown fedora finished the outfit. “Besides the suit, sir, there are three pairs of pants, one tan, one black and one blue. Two jackets, one blue and the other black. Six pairs of socks, underwear, shirts and another pair of boots, black.” He passed a leather billfold and a pouch to Bill who opened the billfold and said, “In here are five thousand dollars in 1864 bills and in the pouch there about ten thousand dollars worth of diamonds. We would never let one of our club members go back without assets.”

  Dave couldn’t speak for a few moments. When he could, he said, “I-I can’t thank you enough. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

  The next morning Bill, Dave and Matt stood in Bill’s den. Matt passed Dave a manila envelope and said, “Sir, in here you will find train tickets from New Jersey to Washington. The trains are now running from Washington all the way to Atlanta. There’s mostly military officers riding that line but civilians are also taking it. From Atlanta you will need to seek transportation as it is still a bit chaotic.”

  Although Bill was dressed in jeans he said as he scratched Samson’s ears, “Samson and I will go down to the garden with you, Dave. I would suggest that you return around November 20, 1864 as General Sherman took most of his army out of Atlanta to continue his so-called ‘March to the Sea’ on November 15, 1864. This will allow you to arrive during a relative peaceful time in the area.”