The Door

by Tony Harmsworth

  ‘What!?’ said John.

  ‘Okay. I get it,’ I said.

  ‘What the hell are you two talking about?’ asked John, becoming increasingly frustrated. ‘One fucking thing in two different places at the same time. It’s nonsense.’

  ‘It is possible, John,’ I said. ‘Quantum particles like electrons can be in two places at once. Some guys won the Nobel prize for discovering it about ten years ago, I think. If electrons can do it, presumably there must be a way of us doing the same thing. Is that right, Schletz?’

  ‘Yes. In principle. We introduced the concept to your Nobel prize-winning scientists.’

  ‘Wow,’ I said. ‘They got the idea from you?’

  Schletz nodded.

  ‘All gobbledegook to me,’ said John, throwing his hands into the air in exasperation.

  ‘I have heard of it,’ added Jennifer. ‘One of those theories like black holes that you don’t really understand.’

  ‘However, Schletz, it really doesn’t matter if you return us or not. Your current civilisation will no longer exist, will it?’ I said.

  ‘Many of us think that is true.’

  ‘So why not send us back and let us help?’

  ‘Because there is no record of us having done that. An almost complete library was found buried in Africa and extensive research shows that there is no mention of us being present in your time.’

  ‘There won’t be until you do do it!’ I said, becoming irascible, ‘And when you do, this civilisation will no longer exist. You will have killed us unnecessarily.’

  ‘Many can’t accept your logic.’

  ‘What about your leader?’

  ‘She thinks we need to protect the past.’

  ‘But you don’t?’

  ‘I am not sure. I have lost my family. I don’t know how I would feel about never having existed at all.’

  ‘Then come back with us. We’ll get you to the people that matter in our time. I’ve done a lot of work for Cambridge University as a consultant. I know people, and they know even more people, who know key scientists.’

  I saw fear and apprehension wash over his face. He was scared to go against his scientists.

  ‘Come on, Schletz. Let us take our argument to some of your scientists.’

  ‘I will need to think about it. For now, I must return you to your community dome.’

  There was little more I could say. I hoped my suggestions wouldn’t fall on deaf ears. Had I put the germ of an idea into his head?

  We returned to the vortex room and were, yet again, in among the swirling mist of quantum particles, deciding where they should be – here or there – there or here – and shifting us from here to there. Fascinating.

  22 Physics

  The vortex returned us to the capital and Schletz took us in one of their vehicles back to the community dome. Once through the glass doors we climbed out of the car and he said it would be all right to inform the rest of the group what we had learned. Throughout the journey I was trying to get him onside about involving us in the project.

  ‘Can you get me a meeting with someone in power, to talk through our perspective on the project? There must be a better way,’ I said as we were about to part company.

  ‘I will see what I can do. Find a small committee group to put your point of view over – three or four would be ideal, but with real credibility.’

  ‘I’ll call a meeting and we’ll find out what talents we have among us.’

  ‘That would be good, Mr. Mackay.’

  ‘How do I contact you?’

  Schletz fumbled with his waist bag and extracted a small device. ‘Press the blue button to call me.’

  ‘Thank you, Schletz.’

  The vehicle’s doors reappeared, and it disappeared along the glass tube, back towards the city.

  - o O o -

  The community hall was abuzz with mumbling and general conversation. Hors d’oeuvres and sandwiches were being collected from a serving table and some teenagers were helping out by serving wine and soft drinks to the growing assembly.

  At the appointed time, Jennifer, John, and I made our way onto the stage where we joined Greg. We’d already discussed the nature of our presentation, so now it was just a matter of calling the community to order.

  Greg hit the table in front of him with his glass, loud enough to call attention to us, but not so loud as to break it. Gradually the babble of sound died and people took their seats.

  ‘Positive news, everyone. Henry, Jennifer, and John have made real progress with our captors and have several revelations to explain to you. I shall ask Henry to get that underway and then, later, when you are aware of our true situation here, we will be looking to form a delegation to take our ideas to the powers that be.

  ‘Without further ado, I hand over to Henry.’

  There was a burst of subdued applause and I began a well-rehearsed explanation of where we actually were, why we were here, and why we’d be unable to go home soon. I then outlined a way we could influence the outcome.

  All in all, it was a successful conference. In among our twenty-first century community we discovered we had Mike, an electronics manufacturer from Southampton who reckoned he and his business could build anything. John was staying on board owing to his police connections, as was committee leader, Greg, who was a Liberal Democrat2 member of parliament. Jennifer was also staying with us as her karate offered us the benefit of a concealed weapon. Together with me, this was to be our delegation to put our case to the future people.

  Over the following days we devised a strategy which we thought would stand a fair chance of succeeding. We believed that while the future humans were perhaps more intelligent and mentally advanced than us, they seemed to not have quite the same grasp of logic and common sense as twenty-first century mankind. Perhaps it had been bred out of them during those countless millennia. Greg and I felt we could use persuasion to convince the leader that assisting us to move them to the past was the best answer.

  ‘How high in the government do you think we could organise a meeting back in our time? The current government is rather opposed to the Liberal Democrats,’ I said.

  ‘That won’t matter, but I have an idea of how to go about this if Schletz will assist,’ replied Greg.

  It was decided by our committee that Greg and I should be co-leaders owing to his political connections and my contacts in Cambridge plus my multi-discipline negotiation skills acquired running my consultancy business.

  All we could do now was wait.

  The following day, a construction crew arrived and built a small building near the entry point.

  I called Schletz. ‘What’s happening?’

  ‘They are installing a matter-transfer vortex so that we can travel to and from your internment dome more easily. We can also remotely activate it for you to travel away from the dome. We couldn’t do that with the bell-jar vortices.’

  ‘Does this mean you are going to stop imprisoning us?’

  ‘Perhaps. It is being considered.’

  ‘Any joy with a meeting with your leader? There are five of us and that includes a member of parliament, a police inspector, and an electronics manufacturer. Together with my contacts at Cambridge, we think we form a credible force.’

  ‘Using an idiom of which I am aware, “wheels are in motion”, Mr. Mackay.’

  ‘We’d like a meeting with a vortex scientist first please.’

  ‘I should be able to organise that. I’ll let you know.’

  - o O o -

  Three days later there was a knock on the door and Hazel opened it to find Schletz and a woman called Grvlxntst. She invited them in and we sat in the lounge.

  ‘Grvlxntst is one of our vortex scientists,’ said Schletz. ‘These are Mr. and Mrs. Mackay.’

  ‘I’m Hazel.’

  ‘And I’m Henry. Let’s drop the formal stuff. Can I call the others?’

  ‘Yes.’

  I looked at Hazel and she set off to contact Mi
ke, Greg, John, and Jennifer.

  I made a stab at the vortex scientist’s name and had to give up. ‘Can we call you Grav? Sorry, but I just can’t get my larynx around the sounds.’

  ‘No problem, Henry,’ she said, ‘our voice boxes have evolved more variety than yours over the eons.’

  ‘Yes. That must be it.’

  We chatted generally until Greg, Jennifer, and Mike joined us.

  ‘John thinks he won’t be a lot of help if the talk is going to get technical,’ said Greg.

  ‘What do you want to know?’ asked Grav.

  ‘Firstly, some practical things. We know we need to be with one of your people in order to use your cars, the vortex, and the time-vortex. What mechanism is being used which only allows you to use them?’ I asked.

  ‘We have, as you know, some telepathic abilities. Perhaps I should explain those,’ she said.

  ‘Yes. Good idea.’

  ‘We can cast a web of force which is what disables you,’ she said and we all felt the quicksand force freeze our limbs for a few seconds. It quickly disappeared. ‘That can be cast up to about twenty to thirty metres and is more powerful the closer you are to us. It is very useful for moving building materials around and several of us are able to work together to lift and move more substantial items.’

  ‘How do you think it evolved?’ asked Greg.

  ‘How does anything evolve?’ said Schletz. ‘Some of us found we could do it and we think practice extended the range. One theory is that the increase in radiation during the first expansion phase of the sun might have caused it. Many of us can’t do it to any great extent so it is also an inherited ability. It was first noticed after the last primitive period and allowed us to begin to rebuild a technological society just in time to create some domes to protect some of the population.’

  ‘But the lack of materials?’ Mike asked.

  Grav continued, ‘Yes, well as part of the web of force, we can affect the molecular structure of things. At first it could only be done on a small scale, converting inert materials into protein and carbohydrates for food. Over time we found we were able to make metals and oil-like chemicals which, in turn, permitted us to manufacture plastics. The technological society grew rapidly with those discoveries. A little like your industrial revolution.’

  ‘You know about that, then?’ I asked.

  ‘Oh yes, I have studied your development from a hundred years prior to the Waste Epoch.’

  ‘How about the controlling of the vortex and transport?’ asked Mike.

  ‘Same principle. Controls are turned, pressed, or switched on or off mentally. Even those who don’t have our full powers are able to control the cars.’

  ‘How does the matter-transfer vortex work?’ asked Mike.

  ‘The science is complex.’

  ‘I have a Master’s in physics and degrees in electronics and chemistry,’ said Mike.

  ‘You might still find the principles challenging. I suggest we work quietly together as it would be meaningless to Greg, Hazel, Henry, and Jennifer.’

  ‘You okay if we go back to my place?’ asked Mike.

  We all agreed and they departed, leaving the rest of us with Schletz.

  ‘How are you getting on with arranging a meeting with your leader?’ I asked.

  ‘She has agreed and is learning your language.’

  ‘How long will that take?’ asked Greg.

  ‘A few more days,’ said Schletz.

  ‘You’re kidding, man! Days?’ I said in surprise.

  ‘Remember, she’s had her genes manipulated since before her birth. She has a huge intellectual ability and capacity to learn.’

  ‘Amazing,’ said Jennifer.

  ‘So, she’s agreed to a meeting?’ I asked.

  ‘Yes. It will be soon.’

  ‘Thank you, Schletz,’ I said.

  Hazel prepared some lunch for us all and then the meeting broke up.

  Greg and I burned the midnight oil working on ideas and strategy and we later learned that Grav was returning to work with Mike the following day. We were making progress.

  23 Cabinet Reshuffle

  The big day had arrived. Schletz was coming for us at ten in the morning for an audience with the queen, Nrgghnntitigzxt.

  ‘Any further forward on the vortex?’ Greg asked Mike as we waited by the new vortex building.

  ‘Yes. There is no reason we can’t build them in the twenty-first century. The only thing we don’t have is thallium201, but I’m sure I could locate a supply once I’m back.’

  ‘You realise we are just about to consign air travel to the recycle bin if we develop these things in the twenty-first century,’ I said.

  ‘I suppose so,’ said Greg. ‘I wonder, would personal home vortices be a possibility? That would eliminate almost every need for a vehicle.’

  ‘Well, not immediately, but I wouldn’t rule anything out. They’ll be expensive to make initially but remember what happened to computers and flat-screen TVs. Mass production will bring the price down,’ said Mike.

  ‘But you can make one?’ I asked.

  ‘Yes. No real problem. The physics is complex and there are some new principles, but the resultant gadget is not that difficult to manufacture. The bulk of it is software,’ he replied.

  A low, grumbling sound emanated from inside the building. We turned towards it and a few seconds later, Schletz stepped out and we all greeted him.

  ‘There are one or two protocol matters during your meeting,’ he said.

  ‘Fire away,’ said Greg.

  ‘Can I remind you not to speak unless you are spoken to? Nrgghnntitigzxt understands you are not from our time, but you will still be expected to behave properly in her presence. Also, you will feel a slight force holding you. It will not stop you moving around, but Nrgghnntitigzxt cannot be allowed to come to harm and the ruling council has insisted that she be protected.’

  ‘Okay, we understand,’ said Greg.

  ‘What do we call her? Her name is impossible for us to say,’ I asked.

  ‘Yes. She has agreed to be called Nargen.’

  ‘Is there any honorific title we need to use with the name?’ Greg asked.

  ‘No. Just Nargen.’

  ‘Thank you, Schletz,’ said Greg.

  ‘Come. We must not be late,’ Schletz said and we all entered the matter-transfer vortex room.

  - o O o -

  We materialised directly into the ornate room where we had first met Nargen.

  There were two soldiers or police standing to each side, but none of the other people who had been present on the previous occasion. I immediately sensed the slight pressure of the force field, but it was not enough to make movement too difficult. It was, however, a reminder of their powers.

  ‘This way,’ said Schletz and we followed him towards the door to the left of the throne, which seemed strangely deserted without her commanding presence. The soldiers accompanied us, one on each side and the others bringing up the rear. It was somewhat unnerving.

  The room we entered was much more of a lounge than a formal environment. A dozen plush easy chairs faced more or less towards each other. There were small side tables and a central circular table at coffee table height. One of the easy chairs was larger than the remainder. I was sure this must be for Nargen and found myself envisioning her incredible long-legged beauty. In fact, I found myself desperate to see her again. What was that all about?

  Four more of the future people, three men and a woman, came into the room through another door and took seats either side of the larger one. They were dressed in much more formal wear than we normally encountered. We guessed they were part of the queen’s team. There was no attempt at introductions, although I noticed one of them give a friendly nod to Schletz.

  Another door opened. An armed guard entered and stood to attention beside the doorway. Nargen and the same two escorts we’d seen during the last audience entered the room. The escorts were dressed as before in the latticework sa
ndals and the golden shorts, and had their swords hanging at their sides, their bronzed flesh and rippling muscles most intimidating.

  Nargen walked in front of them and was dressed much less ornately, but equally as regally as before. A gossamer light, golden evening gown with a side-slit to waist height and spaghetti straps was all she wore. I wondered if I were literally accurate in my description, that this was her only garment. I could see no support for her breasts which moved freely under the dress as she walked. It hung sheerly over her hips, too and there was no sign of any undergarment beneath the flimsy, clinging material. Why did she affect me like this? I couldn’t stop myself reacting to her sexuality. I was sure I must have coloured. Was it something projected from her mind? I must ask the others later whether I were alone in being aroused by her. I felt guilt wash over me, knowing that I desired her. It wasn’t in my nature to see women as sex objects, but I could feel myself becoming aroused just by being in her presence.

  Their heights still amazed. She certainly stood over seven feet six inches, the taller man was closer to eight feet and the other, who I had originally thought of as “shorter”, must have been at least seven foot two.

  As she entered, I jumped to my feet and saw Mike, Greg, John, and Jennifer do the same. There was an immediate tightening of the force field around my legs and Nargen stopped in her tracks. Her eyes bored into us, bringing it home to me that she saw us as less human than herself.

  ‘Sit,’ she commanded.

  We all sat.

  She looked at us suspiciously. ‘We can only permit you freedom if there is no aggression,’ she said slowly, carefully pronouncing the words of what was a new language for her.

  I raised my hand like a schoolboy.

  ‘Speak,’ she said.

  ‘Nargen. In our time, it is polite to stand when an honoured person enters the room, particularly if it is a lady. We were honouring you. It was a sign of respect,’ I said.

  I felt the force field loosen and she moved forward to her seat, somehow spiralling her body gracefully into the space and swinging her, almost bare, left leg across the other in a mesmerising manner. Again, I felt that bewitching sensation of being in the presence of a supernatural sexual enchantress. There had to be more to this than just her appearance.