by Tim Heath
Thirty minutes later Robert was sitting in the car with Tommy and Jessica, making their way north again towards the village that Robert had last seen a week or so ago, the day he’d raced clear with Katie Taylor next to him, her wild husband not too impressed with their escape.
The pick up had been reasonably straightforward, Robert reaching them on the phone while they were still ten minutes away from the agreed pick-up point, allowing Tommy the time to alter his route and avoid any trouble that might have been ahead. They’d stayed as short a time as possible in the town, Tommy parking the car in a remote little car park, before going to buy some fresh clothes for Robert, who hid in the back of the car, not wanting to take any chances. Jessica used the break to go and find a toilet, as she continued to battle the symptoms of what it was that had upset her stomach.
They both returned at the same time, Jessica saying very little as she took her place in the front passenger seat, Tommy passing a bag into the back for Robert. Robert quickly changed out of his current things and into the new dry stuff, a cap the final piece he put on, changing his image as much as possible in case they were unlucky on the way out.
They got away all right and made significant progress on the nearly deserted streets as, unknown to any of them, martial law was now in force in much of the area north of them, making movement almost impossible. They’d spotted many helicopters and jets flying overhead, racing around busily but ultimately not knowing what they needed to do as the missiles had continued to pound the northern part of Kent. A large section of the southbound M25 was taken out so that many of the cars that had been fleeing were now just stuck there, people not knowing what to think. All they could see on the horizon was rising smoke which filled the blackening sky. Another RAF helicopter came in low again over them, as if checking them out, though the section that they were driving on, while empty, wasn’t off limits quite yet. Tommy had been asking what the plan was and Robert explained about his house and how it had been when he left it although he had no idea what state it would be in now. Robert then mentioned more about the Door, both Tommy and Jessica listening intently.
“So will we ever see you again?” Tommy said, trying to remain focused on the road as yet more RAF jets flew over at high speed and low altitude.
“I was waiting for someone to ask that,” Robert said, thinking through his words carefully. “It’s going to get quite hairy for you for a while.”
“Can’t we come through with you?” Jessica said.
“No, that wouldn’t be good. Look, it’s going to be hard to understand, but once I’m back through to my time in the future, where I originally came back from, I need to make every effort to get back to Switzerland. I’ll be praying like mad that the Door there is still in one piece. Assuming it is, once it’s fired up and I walk through it, it’ll take me further back in time, some years before even Nigel Gamble went back to, and everything should start to undo.”
“I don’t get it?” Tommy said, looking puzzled. Jessica turned to Robert as well, bewilderment also on her pale face.
“I don’t understand it all, either. But look at it like this. If I’ve gone back, to be there waiting for Nigel when he first came back, arresting him straight away, he would never go on to do all these things that he has done.”
“So everything would revert to what it was before?” Jessica said.
“It would play out like last time, without the interference, but it would be in essence the third time around, though none of you would know it. I’m sure most things would be very much the same.”
“But what would happen to us? What would we feel?” Tommy said, looking concerned, slowing the car somewhat before increasing speed again, his concentration back on the road.
“When Nigel changed things here, doing so when I was in this time too, it was only me who noticed the changes when I went back. Somehow everyone else’s memories altered because I guess, in reality, the things that I thought had once happened to lead to that life experience didn’t end up happening so that the people concerned had different memories. I don’t know how it felt, or how it happened, but it just seemed to happen. So I guess for you, there will just be a moment when it all changes back.”
Smoke was now visible on the horizon as they neared the village, flames even seen lifting into the sky, some distance away. Tommy and Jessica looked at each other a little concerned, Tommy asking the question that they were both thinking at that moment.
“But once you’ve gone through, it’s going to take you some time to sort things out again. It could take you months! What happens if all this escalates and one of us, or both of us get killed?”
Robert looked out into the distant smoke to which Tommy had been referring. The truth was Robert didn’t know but the one piece of hope he’d clung to he offered them, trying to sound as knowledgeable on the subject as possible.
“Look at it like this,” Robert started, trying to organise his thoughts. “If these bombs killed you both, what was it that had killed you?”
“The war, the missiles? What do you mean?” Jessica said, not quite knowing if she’d answered correctly.
“Exactly that, the war, Nigel’s war. Until today, this never happened. Now, when I arrest Nigel by getting back before him and then waiting for his arrival through that first Door, there would never be a war, right? But you two were both alive when he first came back. Therefore you both would be around when I arrest him. You would have been only young back then, but importantly you were around. My thinking is that whatever happens, it all goes back to that point again, like the ‘Undo’ option on the computer. Though there have been many changes made, because we can revert to a previous version, it’ll all get undone in the end.”
“Sounds like you’re clutching at straws here a bit, Robert,” Tommy offered, “but it’s all we’ve got so let’s get it done.”
They were now on the edge of the village, the fires in the distance far closer than they once had seemed. None of them commented aloud about it though. Robert indicated them to pull over a bit, as he had spotted something ahead down the road, though his view was blocked a little by a large clump of trees. At that moment another helicopter came racing over them, not more than fifty feet above them, before starting to turn as it dropped behind a group of trees on the raised hill marking the north side of the village. Up ahead there was a definite sound of some heavy vehicle starting, Robert spotting it now slowly moving from behind the trees and towards them. It was Tommy who spoke first:
“You two, go and take cover. I’ll drive off and take their attention. Clearly, that chopper spotted us and alerted their friends ahead. It’ll be back over us in a minute, so go now and make your way to the house.”
He kissed Jessica quickly on the lips before pushing her on, encouraging her gently to leave. She looked intently into his eyes one last time.
“I love you, Tommy. Keep safe, and we’ll see you soon.”
Robert had her door open and was helping her out, up ahead now out of sight again due to the turn in the road, and a truck was coming towards them at some speed. They rushed into a small patch of trees, climbing a fence, and headed into a thick bush that gave them great cover. Tommy had the car round as the army truck emerged at speed from around the corner, coming straight for him. The helicopter was now coming back, a sniper visible at the open door. Orders were shouted from the truck as Tommy sped away, shots now clearly being heard, one hitting the back windscreen as he opened up the engine a little, pulling away from the truck, the helicopter keeping track from up above.
Jessica sat there shaking with a hand over her mouth.
“He’s going to be okay, isn’t he?”
“Jessica, he’ll work something out.” Robert knew things didn’t look good, but at least Tommy’s bravery had given them some time to get to the house.
“But I didn’t even get time to tell him…,” she broke off, tears now rolling down her face. They both stopped, Robert holding her as she wept on his shoulder. A m
inute later she’d composed herself a little, her words sounding mumbled as she tried to figure out what she was saying:
“I mean I don’t know, can’t figure out what it means, what’s changed, why now?”
“What is it, Jessica?”
“I’m pregnant, Robert, that’s what it is! I took a test when we last stopped as I just didn’t know what was wrong with me. The chemist suggested I did it to be sure. I told him it wasn’t possible, that I couldn’t...I mean, I thought I couldn’t? You said...”
Robert didn’t know what to say. The reality had been that they had never been able to have children. And yet, if what she was saying was true, then whatever problems they’d had before must have been later on in life, when they’d got around to trying for a child having spent so long in the public spotlight up to then.
“Look, Jessica, I don’t know what to say. That’s great news, and it means there’s hope for you. What I told you, though, was the truth. You were both known for your public position in helping people after you’d announced that you couldn’t have children. I guess it was something that came on later in life.”
“That’s what I’ve been struggling with this last hour, Robert. At this moment I have a little child in me. Tommy and I therefore now have all we were never able to have. If things go back to as they were, I would effectively be killing my baby, my only chance to have a child. Have you any idea what that feels like? To finally have what you want and know that you’ll never be able to enjoy it?”
Robert had no idea what to say. Some gunfire in the distance broke the silence.
“Tommy!” Jessica said, looking up in horror, her eyes filling with tears.
“Come on, and we have to get moving. There’s nothing but trouble here for you now, and you have to see that. We have to get this done; there’s no other option. Millions are dying today and will continue to.”
They came to another clearing, where the road had gone back around on itself in a half circle. Jessica looked on the far side in terror as she spotted their car, the one Tommy had been driving moments before, trashed and dented, its front having gone into the stone wall so that the metal was all crushed up and a few of the stones from the wall now sat on the car. There was no sign of Tommy as they approached, but having both looked in the car there was blood visible, especially on the steering wheel where he’d hit his head on impact. Jessica had her hand on her face, hiding from the shock of it, her crying silent as she stood there, fearing the worst. Robert pulled her into some more trees again, as once more the army truck could be heard approaching. Twenty metres down the track they both spotted Tommy’s legs as he lay half hidden in the bushes. Jessica went running on, bending down and hugging her Tommy, who smiled up at her, though there was pain in his eyes, and concern now that they would be caught.
“Go!” he said. “I’m done here, but I’ll give you all the cover you need. Now get moving.”
Jessica couldn’t bring herself to tell him about the baby because she knew there was not much future for him here now anyway. The soldiers would be there very soon, and even if he survived that, she didn’t have to be a nurse to know his wounds were severe, a lot of blood staining his shirt, a sizeable cut on his head and blood visible in his mouth.
They started to trot down the path again, working their way towards the house, before Tommy called one last time to Robert, his voice strained, pain kicking in.
“Now, you hear me right. You’d better succeed, you know. Don’t fail us now!”
Robert thought of nothing to say, struggling to hold even his own emotions in now, needing to stay focused. Robert merely nodded his head in reply, turned and continued running with Jessica, needing to get to the house as quickly as possible, everything now resting on his shoulders to get back through the Door and undo all this mess that Nigel had made.
32
The house stood large and quiet as they approached from the rear and looked much as Robert had always remembered it. He wanted to take no chances, though all signs were that the village had been evacuated sometime earlier, clearly the presence of the army a sign that they were there to stop any looters who might fancy their chances.
Robert led Jessica to the back door, which he hoped was still unlocked, it was the last thing Robert had done before he’d raced clear of the place with Katie in tow.
Reaching for the handle, Robert turned it gently, the catch opening with little noise, the door following, leading them into the darkened room. Jessica started to reach for the light, but Robert stopped her, putting a finger to his lips while he listened carefully, the silence now all-consuming. He reached over to a large kitchen drawer and pulled out a savage-looking butcher’s knife, passing a large wooden rolling pin to Jessica as he ushered her on, tiptoeing through the room towards another door that stood open a little.
In the lounge it was clear that someone had been sleeping there, trousers lying around, the furniture scattered messily. Still, Robert couldn’t hear anything, Jessica some three feet behind him, heart pounding and arms raised high with weapon ready.
Robert took a scan of the place and realised that it seemed quiet. The front door was locked from the outside, and that confirmed to him that whoever had been there apparently wasn’t at that moment, presumably gone with the rest of the folk in the evacuation. Getting to the cellar door, Robert pulled the key from the string that he’d hung around his neck and opened it, leading her down after him, only now turning the light on so that they could see where they were going.
The Door was left as Robert had remembered it, apparently the old damp cellar not worth an investigation by the home’s uninvited guest, which Robert could only assume had been Katie’s beast of a husband. Jessica watched on as things were set up and Robert was soon ready to walk through the Door himself.
“Are you sure I can’t come with you?”
“No, Jessica, I’m sorry, we’ve talked about this already. If you are on the other side when the changes take place, then I don’t know what would happen.”
“But what happens to me in the meantime? I mean, I don’t stand a chance here on my own, do I?”
“You’ll find a way, sweetheart. Just get as far away from here as possible and avoid London completely.”
“But what about my baby?”
“I’ve been thinking about that ever since you told me. Look, I don’t know how but I’ll find some way of letting you both know.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I will be around in your time. I’ll see you again, even though you won’t remember me.”
“What will you do then?”
“I figure I’ll have about ten years to wait before Nigel shows up. It’s a long time, but it’ll be worth it. I’ll have lots of time to think about things. You would only be a teenager, if that, when I go back, but with Nigel out of the picture you should go on to do all the things that you are capable of doing. I’ll somehow be there for your parents maybe; I don’t know. Somehow I could make sure that you both try for children earlier.”
“But how?”
“I don’t know. I will figure something out.”
“So you just have to wait?”
“Of course. I’ll use the time to fill in all the gaps, nailing down exactly when it is that Nigel first came through his Door. Lost in everything is what happened to Austin himself. Maybe in my time waiting I’ll find where they buried Austin and make sure he gets the recognition he deserves, as well as his brothers. For all it’s worth, I might as well make it home. I mean I’ll have many years there where I need to get on with something. Maybe I’ll meet someone and have what you and Tommy shared.”
“Okay, Robert,” Jessica said, giving one last hug to the man on whom everything now rested. “You be careful and keep safe. I guess you don’t even know what kind of world you’ll find back through that doorway, but above all things, make sure you survive and pull this off, for everyone’s sake. And when you do, make sure you get to know us and help us. I know I would want
to know about the pregnancy issue so I’ll leave you to work out how!”
He held her for a moment, looked her in the eyes one last time and saying his goodbye, walked through the Wentworth Door and was gone from her for good, the Door shutting down a moment later so that she was alone again in the dimly lit room, her eyes adjusting back to the light. Overhead, she could hear many jets flying, the sound of heavy trucks moving some way off.
Running back up the stairs, she looked out the front windows, the smoke and fire now only about ten miles away, if that, the missiles still raining down, no end it seemed to the destruction.
Robert Sandle emerged through the Door, many years into the future in a time that had once been his own, though now nothing precious was left for him there. Walking into a room, the light that flooded through the windows told him things had probably changed beyond recognition.
Outside, the city, while still modern and bustling, offered a far smaller scale to things. Robert would eventually learn how far Nigel had gone. Things had escalated seemingly beyond control, but then Nigel was captured, and the people he had worked with had turned on him, all greedy for the same power that Nigel had.
One of the significant changes, which followed the fall of London, and then the UK after that, was the uniting of the whole of Europe into one nation, with no borders and one common language. Though Robert could have stayed and learnt a lot, the events from back then, still so recent in his memory, only drove him on through Europe. The lack of borders helped his progress amazingly, though he quickly learned who to avoid, twice narrowly escaping the hands of mobile hit squads who seemed to roam around entirely freely, stopping anyone they liked, demanding all sorts of fees and fines. The fabric of society was struggling to remain intact; such had the changes been. But just three days after walking through the Door, Robert found himself on a boat crossing over Lake Geneva, docking on the eastern side before he got a bus for five miles. That took him to the foot of the mountains, on which he hoped Vers-Cort remained. It was clear that most of Europe had stayed undamaged by the conflict, as the scale of destruction in the UK had shown everyone what was possible.
