Waking in Time

by Angie Stanton

  “Will, I haven’t seen you around campus since that day you played matchmaker for us. Where the devil have you been?” Walter asks.

  “Well,” Will pauses, probably searching for a plausible reason. “I needed to help out on the farm, and I wasn’t able to get back to school until this semester.”

  “That’s unfortunate, but I’m glad to see you again.”

  We’re sipping our sodas when out of nowhere, Will says, “Walter, have you ever been inside the Carillon Tower?”

  I can’t believe his bluntness. I kick him under the table, but he doesn’t flinch.

  “Inside, you say?” Walter scratches his head. “Can’t say that I have, but yesterday I was in one of the tunnels that run beneath campus.”

  “I didn’t know there were tunnels,” I say.

  “Oh yes, miles of them, but you need a good light with you. Some are quite dark and dangerous.”

  Ruby turns to him in surprise. “What were you up to in the tunnels?”

  “I needed someplace to hide after campus police caught me riding the fire escape in Science Hall.”

  “What is so special about a fire escape?” Will asks.

  “It’s loads of fun to ride,” Ruby says, swirling her straw around her glass. “But you have to sneak up to the top floor of Science Hall. The graduate students working up there don’t care for undergrads interrupting their research.” She puts on a hoity-toity face and says “research” in a playful, mocking voice.

  I smile and say, “I’ve never heard of such a thing.” It cracks me up to discover that my great-grandparents are much more fun than the stoic family portrait in my hatbox would indicate.

  Ruby continues, “Walter took me to the fire escape on our first date.”

  He shakes his head. “Aw, shucks, Ruby. Now you’re making me look like a cheapskate. She left out that I took her to the movies first.”

  “That is an imaginative date. I’ll have to figure out how to top it.” Will peeks at me, his blue eyes dancing.

  Whoa. Is he planning to ask me out?

  “What has you wanting to get inside the Carillon Tower?” Walter asks.

  I raise an eyebrow at Will and think, Because he hopes to find the secret of time travel within its stone walls.

  “Why else? Because it’s there.” Will laughs, showing off that contagious smile of his.

  Walter slaps the table and our glasses jump. “In that case, I’m your man for the job.”

  CHAPTER 16

  Ruby and I, dressed in dark coats and stockings, sneak out the back exit of Liz Waters just before eleven. She puts a rock in the door, propping it open a tiny bit, and winks at me. She’s done this before.

  We follow the sidewalk close to the woods, then turn the corner and climb the short hill to the Carillon Tower. It shoots upward, with the twinkling stars in the inky black sky as a backdrop. The dim light from the corner street lamp doesn’t reach the tower, casting the area around the hulking black giant in ominous shadows fit for a horror movie.

  “Is it always this quiet at night, or is it because we plan to break the law?” Ruby clutches my arm as we approach cautiously. “Where are the fellas? This is not a night I want to be out in alone.”

  I scan the woods for the guys, but they aren’t here yet. A car approaches, and we scramble around the back of the tower to hide. As the car rumbles past, someone jumps out of the shadows.

  Ruby and I scream.

  “Gotcha!” Walter says and pulls Ruby into his arms.

  “You nearly scared me to death! Shame on you!” She swats him playfully.

  Will appears at Walter’s side with a flashlight and an easy smile. “Nice evening for a stroll, ladies.” He tips his cap as if it’s every day he sneaks around in the dark, breaking and entering.

  “I can’t believe we’re going to do this.” Ruby pulls her coat tighter. “I feel like a cat burglar!”

  My heart pounds with anticipation as we gather around the door. My arm brushes Will’s, and his friendly gaze lands on me.

  “Have you had a change of heart, Ruby? Maybe you girls should go back and let the men handle this,” Walter teases.

  “Not on your life. I want to see what’s up there too! But we’d better not get caught,” Ruby says to Walter. “I can’t afford to have Miss Peabody call my father.”

  “I won’t let that happen.” He puts his arm around her and kisses her temple.

  Will turns to me. “Abbi, are you still with me on this?” He winks and rests his hand at the small of my back. I step closer. “Atta girl,” he says.

  If there’s something in that tower that can help us determine what keeps hurtling us through time, we need to know.

  “If there’s any sign of trouble, Ruby, run into the woods,” Walter tells her.

  “I will,” she answers.

  “So we’re all set?” Will asks, looking to each of us.

  Everyone nods. Ruby presents a long hatpin, and Walter, a screwdriver. I hold out the bobby pin and say, “I solemnly swear we’re up to no good.”

  With a chorus of snickers, we circle around the front door as Will shines the light on the lock.

  “Good thinking to bring a flashlight.” I huddle next to him for warmth.

  “Thank Walter for that. He borrowed it from a pal who works for university maintenance.”

  “It’s all in who you know.” Walter takes the hatpin. He straightens it and slides it into the lock, jiggling it about, but nothing happens.

  “Try using it with the bobby pin at the same time,” I say. “That’s how they do it on TV.”

  They all turn to look at me oddly. “TV?” Ruby asks.

  For a second I think she’s kidding, and then my brain clicks on. “Oh, I meant radio. It’s how they do it on the radio shows.”

  Will gives me a meaningful look. He doesn’t know what TV is either, but clearly he knows it’s from the future and that I shouldn’t have mentioned it. Oops.

  Walter jiggles both pins. “This isn’t working. The lock is strong and sure.” He hands Ruby the pins and brings out his screwdriver. But there is no place to use it. The screwdriver is useless.

  Ruby peers over my shoulder and whispers in a panic, “Someone’s coming! Quick, scram!” She and Walter run behind a nearby oak at the edge of the woods.

  Will clicks off the flashlight, grabs my hand, and pulls me behind the tower. We wait, my back against the cool stone wall, and Will gently grasps my shoulders. My heart pounds so hard in my chest, I’m afraid it’ll give us away.

  He gazes down at me and smiles, seeming unconcerned that we could be busted at any moment. His face is so close I feel his breath on my forehead. He smells of mint and woods and… home, I realize with surprise. Will’s eyes, dark and mysterious in the shadows, lock onto mine, and I forget to breathe.

  “All clear,” Walter calls, interrupting the moment.

  Will gives my shoulder a warm squeeze and then releases me.

  “It was only a student walking home,” Ruby says, appearing with Walter.

  “I don’t think a screwdriver is going to get us in,” I say, refocusing on our task and trying to get the feel of Will’s touch off my mind.

  “That’s all right, because I found another way.” Walter points to a small window partway up.

  “This is why I asked for your help. I knew you’d be good in a jam.” Will pats him on the shoulder.

  The two guys start feeling the large stones for places to grip. I doubt either of them has ever taken a rock climbing class. Still, they both attempt to scale the wall, trying to wedge the toes of their shoes into the crevices between the stones. Walter is wearing thick shoes and immediately falls off. Will makes it up about three feet in his leather loafers before losing his grip and sliding down.

  They begin to try again, but I have an idea. “I think I can re
ach the window if I stand on your shoulders.” Two years of high school cheerleading taught me a thing or two.

  The guys stare at me.

  “What?” I say.

  Walter links his hands and holds them out. “Here, Will. I’ll boost you up.”

  They totally ignore me and look like a couple of monkeys wrestling as Will attempts to climb on Walter.

  “You guys, I know how to do this.”

  Ruby giggles when they fail for the third time, scratching their heads in defeat.

  “Seriously? Would you let me try?” I bark.

  Walter and Will stare at me again but this time at my legs.

  “Abbi, you’re wearing a dress,” Ruby says under her breath.

  “Oh, please. I’m sure they will be total gentlemen and not peek up my skirt.” I think of the uncomfortable garter belt and stockings I wrestled myself into.

  Will fights back a smile, covers his mouth with his hand, and looks away.

  “I might,” Walter admits with a sly grin.

  Ruby yanks him away. “Walter, you’re terrible! No, you won’t.”

  Shaking my head, I bite back a laugh, then take off my coat so I can move more easily in just my cotton dress and sweater. I shiver and kick off my heeled leather shoes and step next to Will. The dress certainly doesn’t help any, but I’m pretty sure I can do this. I hike it up above my knees and wonder for a minute what these two guys would make of miniskirts.

  Will raises an eyebrow, but slips off his coat too. “Abbi, I fear this will end badly. You saw how difficult it is. Leave it to us.”

  It’s clear he doesn’t believe I can do this. “Seriously? You need to give women more credit. There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

  “I suppose I’ll have to work on that,” he says with a wink.

  “Will, plant your feet farther apart and squat down a little. I’m going to step on your thigh, here, with one foot, and then up to your opposite shoulder with the other.”

  He looks at me like I’m crazy, but reluctantly does as I say, squatting awkwardly next to the tower.

  “Now hold your arms like this for me to grab.” I raise my arms up and toward him. “Keep them steady as I go up.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Will takes his position.

  Ruby watches, her jaw open in wonder as if we’re a circus team doing a death-defying trick. Walter stands by, ready to catch me if I fall.

  I place my stocking foot on Will’s thigh near his hip. This would be a lot easier in tennis shoes, but that’s not an option. I grab his outstretched hands and place my other foot on his shoulder, straining the seams of my skirt. He wobbles, but holds tight.

  “Hang on.” I step up, pushing hard against his arms, and carefully stand using the wall for balance. The whole maneuver takes a couple of seconds.

  A low whistle sounds behind us. “Well, I’ll be,” Walter says.

  Will holds me easily. He’s even stronger than he looks.

  “Grab on to the back of my calves,” I instruct.

  There’s a long silence before Will asks, “Did I hear you correctly? You’d like me to place my hands on your legs?”

  I realize this must be pretty racy for 1930. “Uh, yeah. Unless you want me to fall, I suggest you do it.” From my ankles, his hands slowly grope their way up to my calves. Heck, it feels a little racy.

  “Can you reach?” Ruby asks, bringing me back to reality.

  I inch my hands up the rough stone and can almost touch the window ledge. “Not quite. Can you get me any higher?”

  “Hang on. Walter, give me a hand and let’s try to boost her up farther.”

  Strong hands grasp one foot and then the other. I wobble.

  “On the count of three,” Will says.

  I cling to the wall, and on three I’m lifted an arm’s length higher. I reach for the window ledge and check for a way to open the window. But the window has a metal frame and cross bars. There’s no screen and it doesn’t look like it was built to be opened.

  “What in tarnation are you doing?” a stern voice demands.

  Walter falters at the sound of the voice, releasing his hold. I topple down, skinning my hands against the wall.

  Will fumbles to catch me as I land helter-skelter, elbowing him in the head. He accidentally grabs my breast with one hand and my thigh with the other. He wavers, but doesn’t drop me. After an awkward second of realizing where his hands are, he sets me down quickly.

  We spin around, me smoothing my dress into place, and find a man in a university maintenance uniform, hands on his hips. “Are you trying to break in?”

  “More or less,” Walter confesses.

  We glare at Walter.

  “Why didn’t you ask to borrow my key instead of my flashlight?” the guy says.

  Walter shows a rascally smile. “Gee, Frank. It never occurred to me you’d have one.”

  “I swear. I’m smarter than all you knuckleheads put together.” He looks us over. “What tomfoolery are you saps planning to do up there?”

  Will steps forward. “Actually, I’m the one who needs to get up in the tower. I assure you, sir, it’s for purely self-serving reasons.”

  “And those would be?” Frank crosses his arms in front of himself, but it’s clear he’s curious, not angry.

  Will whispers something in his ear. The man grins broadly, showing off crooked teeth. He pulls a key ring from his pocket, selects a key, and slaps it into Will’s hand.

  “There you be. I think I’ll take one last cigarette break and stroll to the observatory and back. If you can’t accomplish what you need to by then, you’re a damn fool.”

  “You’re a good man,” Will says, holding the treasured key.

  Frank heads down the hill away from us. “Don’t I know it.”

  We huddle around Will. “What did you say to him?” Walter asks.

  “A gentleman never tells,” he answers with a knowing glance at me.

  Walter chuckles.

  “Let’s get on with this.” Will helps me on with my coat and then slips into his as I put my shoes back on. At the front door, he slides the key into the lock and turns it. The massive door clicks and swings inward silently, revealing a pitch-dark room. The flashlight lands on a set of metal stairs leading up.

  “Walter, would you and Ruby keep watch while we go in?”

  Some sort of telepathic male communication passes between the two, because Walter nods. “Of course.”

  “But I want to see the view from the top,” Ruby complains, tugging on Walter’s sleeve.

  Walter whispers something to her. She looks from me to Will then back to Walter and giggles.

  “Besides, that place is filled with cobwebs and mice. Stay down here where I can keep you safe.”

  Ruby shudders. “Oh, that’s fine then. I’ll stay.”

  I grab Will’s arm in a grip that says, Are we seriously going into that? but he’s unfazed and steps through the doorway.

  “Stay close,” he says over his shoulder.

  “Not a problem.” I hustle to follow his beacon of light. Will takes a step up. I put my hand on the metal handrail. It’s gritty and rough, and then my hand brushes against a cobweb. I jerk my hand away and follow Will, taking the middle of the stairs and praying my legs don’t brush against any more cobwebs.

  There’s a dank, musty smell from the cold tower. I hear a skittering movement. “What was that?”

  “I didn’t hear anything,” Will says softly.

  “Slow down, will you?” I grab his coattail and inch closer.

  Step by step we continue up flight after flight until we finally reach a landing and a small room. A sliver of moonlight shines through the window, creating shadows where the flashlight doesn’t hit. I stand close behind Will, not ready to let go of him.

  He shines the lig
ht on the bulky covered form against the wall. “Must be the organ under that tarp.”

  “Now what do we do? What are we even looking for?”

  Will switches the flashlight into his other hand and pulls me next to him so I’m not hiding behind him like a terrified child. “I don’t know. Maybe there’s a sign that says, ‘Press here for time travel.’”

  He scans the walls and moves the beam upward, looking for any possible clues that could help us. The light brushes over the figure of someone standing in the room. I scream and shrink against Will, clutching his arm in a death grip.

  “What?” He turns his light back to the spot, but I bury my head in his chest.

  “It’s only a bell.” He laughs.

  I raise my head for a peek. Sure enough. I see a dark bell about the size of a person’s head. “I thought it was a man.” I release his arm and smooth his jacket.

  “You are a big scaredy-cat. No one else is up here. You don’t believe in ghosts, do you?” he teases.

  “I didn’t believe in time travel either until very recently, so I’m not counting anything out.” I shift my feet in case any spiders try to crawl up my legs.

  “So, who’s up here playing the bells on the nights we travel?”

  Will continues to shine the flashlight around. “Maybe it’s the wind.”

  “It doesn’t feel drafty in here.” But just then a whoosh of air rushes by my face, and then another.

  I screech and dive back into Will’s chest. His arm falls protectively around me.

  “Bats,” he says, ducking his head.

  “Are you kidding me?” I squeal. “They’re flying rodents!” I tighten my hold, noticing his solid chest and lean waist. My face is near his neck, which happens to smell amazing.

  He laughs, yet still holds me close. “I won’t let them get you, I promise.”

  “Is everything okay up there?” Walter calls, his voice echoing off the walls.

  “Just a little folly with bats.”

  Will chuckles, his chest rumbling beneath my hands. “You are enjoying this way more than you should,” I say near his ear.