Photographs in Time

by Terry Segan

  The ink appeared faded, as if it had been written long ago. The package itself looked worn. A date stamped on the side read February 23, 1983. Perhaps when the package had been received by the delivery service?

  Carefully tearing open the parcel, I found a green, silk scarf wrapped around a yellowed piece of paper. All it said was: February 15, 1983. I didn’t recognize the hand writing, but I had a hunch who penned the note.

  I was being summoned by the elder Chang. My intuition about not seeing him again had been misguided. The journey to Elba Island in the year 1815 would have to be put on hold. It distressed me not to go immediately back on a third, and hopefully final journey to retrieve Jimmy. Given his recent willingness to help me, I felt obligated to honor Mr. Chang’s request. There must be a reason he chose this day for delivery. Nothing that man did could be construed as mere coincidence.

  Since the note didn’t specify a time, I assumed a precise hour and minute wasn’t necessary. Carrying the paper into my office, I retrieved my Family Slide from the safe.

  Taking the device into the studio, I pressed the button and clearly gave the location, “The Jade Pagoda, Chinatown, San Francisco, upstairs living room.” No need to alarm any store patrons that may be inside the shop. I spun the date wheels to February 15, 1983, set it for 12:00 noon and selected a time frame of four hours. My index finger poked the power button. In an hour, I would know why my presence was required.

  Even though I knew Carney no longer posed a threat in the present time, it was still prudent to be cautious. I double-checked the lock on the front door.

  To fill the hour-long wait, I set about doing research. Using the computer, I wanted to make sure Carney hadn’t done anything to make himself noteworthy in history. My extensive search on the internet, turned nothing up that would’ve even referred to Carney. That didn’t necessarily comfort me. It still concerned me he might have somehow escaped from that time. I didn’t see how, but the fear lingered.

  As the hour dragged on, it was finally time to journey back to the Jade Pagoda. Roughly two years prior to the date, Mr. Chang would have passed away.

  In the studio, I pressed the thirty-second timer, sat down on the cushioned bench and waited for the flash. This time I kept my eyes closed, so wasn’t blinded when it hit.

  Appearing in the living room, the place was as I remembered it from my first visit to Mr. Chang in 1979. The two red couches and all the other furnishings were mostly in their places.

  Behind me I heard a familiar voice. “So, you got my note.”

  Chapter 44

  “Jimmy!” I whipped around and found him leaning in the doorway to the kitchen. Launching myself, I almost knocked the man over as my arms went around his neck.

  He started to return the embrace, then winced with pain. Pulling back, I saw something uneven underneath his shirt. Placing my hand on the spot, I felt a wide bandage wrapped around his chest.

  “You were shot,” I remembered. “The second time I went back you were…were…” it was difficult for me to say the words.

  “I was dead,” he filled in for me.

  “Yes,” I whispered, caressing his cheek.

  “Grandfather told me you saw my lifeless body the second time you went back.”

  “How could he know?” I asked.

  Sighing, Jimmy said, “He won’t tell me. There’s more going on than he’ll reveal. But he said you saw me dead, and he couldn’t let you try a third time. He stepped in, even though he knew it was wrong.”

  “He went back to Elba Island and brought you here? But that’s personal gain. Why would he suddenly change?”

  “Again, he won’t say. All I know is Carney wrestled the gun away and shot me twice. Next thing I know Grandfather squatted beside me taking my hands. When I woke up I was in my old room in his apartment with this bandage.”

  “I have a friend that is a doctor,” Mr. Chang said as he entered the living room from the top of the stairs.

  We both turned to look at him. I spoke first. “How did you know where and when to go back?”

  “Miss Manchester, why do you continually ask questions you know I cannot answer? Can you not just be happy my grandson has been returned to you?”

  I stared at him for a moment. Then I kissed Jimmy on the cheek and walked over to Mr. Chang.

  “You’re going to hug me again aren’t you?” he asked cringing.

  “Not if it makes you uncomfortable,” I said. Then threw my arms around the man and held him close a minute. Like before he was stiff but didn’t push me away. As I released him, I saw a brief smile flash across his face.

  Returning to Jimmy’s side, I asked, “So can I take you back with me?”

  “That’s why you’re here. Grandfather sent for you, so you wouldn’t go back a third time,” he said hesitantly.

  “What happened to Carney?” I had to know.

  “After he shot me, he ran off. I started to lose consciousness, until Grandfather came.”

  “You used one of the one-time use slides to get him? Were you there when I went back the second time? There’s no other way you would have known what I found,” I said to Mr. Chang.

  He gave me a slight nod. That would be all the explanation offered. “You have seen the last of Carney. He will no longer be a threat to any of us.”

  Jimmy started to sag a bit, so I tucked myself under his arm and helped him to the couch. “How long have you been here?” I asked.

  “Grandfather retrieved me a week ago. I’m mostly mended, just makes me a bit tired when I exert myself. Or get the life squeezed out of me,” he said with a sly grin.

  Sitting next to him, I beamed with joy. Things had finally come around right, and we were rid of Carney’s evil ministrations.

  “Now you have choices to make,” Mr. Chang said. “You have one more match to complete your quota, do you not?” He walked toward us and sank down onto the other couch. The crimson cushions swallowed his thin frame.

  “Yes, I guess we do. There is a possible Betrothed for our final match in 1952 New York City.” Looking at Jimmy I said, “It’s Dede’s granddaughter. She came to me yesterday asking for help. The young woman’s ex-husband has been stalking her, and Dede feels it’s the only way to safely get her away from him. That wouldn’t be a misuse of the slides, would it?” Looking at the old man, I waited for his reaction.

  He was silent a moment. It always seemed to be his way. Finally, he spoke. “There are no coincidences in this business. You should know that by now.”

  “Well, then,” Jimmy said. “It looks like retirement is right around the corner for us.” Still having his arm around my shoulders, he pulled me in closer. “You still interested in going through your golden years as Mrs. Chang?”

  I held up my left hand for both of us to see the delicate silver strands wrapped around my ring finger. Gazing into his eyes, I asked, “What do you think?”

  Kissing me on the lips, he said, “I think we have a wedding to plan.”

  Mr. Chang quietly, but purposefully, cleared his throat, as if to remind us he was still present. We both turned to look at him then laughed.

  His expression turned serious. “You also have another choice to make.”

  “About what?” I asked.

  “There remains one more box of slides, with thirty Suitors waiting for their brides.”

  “Are you telling us we’re expected to fulfill Paolo, Jr.’s, quota as well as our own? That could take years!” I felt Jimmy’s pressure on my arm, urging me to calm down.

  “Grandfather, how can you lay that obligation on us? Shouldn’t that be Paolo’s burden?”

  “You misunderstand me. I do not expect you to place the Betrothed’s yourselves. But I think you will know a way to assist in that task.”

  As cryptic as always, Mr. Chang simply got up and walked into the kitchen, leaving us to puzzle out what he really meant. Once again, he’d only given a small portion of what he wanted us to do, without fully explaining his request.
<
br />   “Jimmy, how can he ask us to keep going? Once we place a bride with our thirtieth Suitor, we should be permitted to focus on our own lives. The slides and process are done as far as we’re concerned, right?”

  “I’m not sure what Grandfather meant, honey,” he said, placing a hand on my cheek. “Since we never had children, there are no more heirs to carry on. How much longer are we here for?”

  Looking at my watch, we’d only used a half an hour. “We have three and a half more hours. I set the time span for four. Why? What do you have in mind?”

  “Let me talk to Grandfather. Maybe he’ll offer up a few more clues about what he means by facilitating the fulfillment of the Fortuno slides.”

  “Either way it sounds like we won’t be off the hook after our quota is fulfilled. It hardly seems fair after everything we’ve been through,” I pouted.

  Smiling at me, he placed another soft kiss on my lips. “Don’t you worry, my Betrothed. I’ll get this sorted out.”

  I liked the sound of that—Betrothed. Since my mom never married, but loved my father, not tying the knot seemed fine with me. Now that marriage loomed before me, it was exciting, and obviously something I’d always wanted.

  Thinking of my mother, I asked, “Did your grandfather tell you how I was able to return more than once?”

  “Yes, that much he revealed. Of course, he always holds back some details. Like why he didn’t offer your Family Slide when he surrendered the Chang Family Slide to me. It might have eliminated some of what occurred.”

  “Well,” I said, “maybe it was the only way to account for all four of the Family devices. If we hadn’t stolen the Fortuno slide, it might have been lost forever. At least in its deactivated state, we know nobody else can use it.”

  “As Grandfather keeps reminding us, not all of our questions will be answered.”

  Leaning into him, I knew the pressure from my body caused him to wince slightly, but I needed to be close. The warmth that radiated out from him spread through me and calmed my nerves. At some point this roller coaster ride needed to end. Until then, we wouldn’t be free to focus on our own lives without constant concern for others and the process. It was time for us to leave the arena, as Francois would have said.

  Chapter 45

  With a few hours to kill, we chose to leave Mr. Chang to his own thoughts for a bit. We wandered down the street for lunch and took advantage of the authentic cuisine available there in China Town. Putting the process aside for the next couple hours, we talked of our upcoming nuptials. It was liberating to discuss something normal.

  Back in the apartment, we found Jimmy’s grandfather enjoying tea in the kitchen—with a guest.

  “Jimmy told me you found him dead in his home,” I blurted out to Mr. Chang, “and that he smashed his Family Slide.”

  “A pleasure to see you too, Mademoiselle. Congratulations on your upcoming marriage.”

  “Francois, how did you survive that wound?” I asked.

  “I guess you could say my body is very resilient,” he chuckled.

  Looking to the other elder, I remained confused, and a little bit angry. “Why did you tell Jimmy that Francois was dead?”

  Mr. Chang continued sipping his tea for a moment before answering. Placing his cup on the table, he put his arms up and shrugged. “I lied.” The playful grin on his face was out of character.

  “That’s obvious, but why?”

  Francois and Mr. Chang exchanged a silent glance.

  “I’m sorry, Mademoiselle, but that is something you do not need to know. Suffice it to say, my death was necessary to end all the evil. It was quite uncomfortable, I must admit. Had it not been for my friend, Chang, I surely would have perished.”

  “When will you two stop talking in riddles?” I asked. “Every time we meet, I walk away with more questions than answers.” My hands involuntarily worked themselves in and out of fists. My feet twitched and wanted to start pacing, but there wasn’t enough space in the crowded kitchen.

  “Grandfather,” Jimmy pleaded, “I can’t enter into marriage with this woman having secrets. You must bring her into your trust, like you have shared with me. She has more than proven her worth.”

  Now I was really confused. Jimmy had shared more than a living space with his grandfather since being retrieved from exile on Elba Island. Just when I thought we were given as much information as we would ever be allowed, there remained more.

  Mr. Chang looked to Francois once again, who gave him a slight nod of assent. “Very well,” he said, “it seems you have won over our confidence, Miss Manchester. However, what you are about to hear is a tale that is ages old. It is not to be shared with anyone. Do I have your solemn vow, this information will not go beyond your ears?”

  The severity of the situation took hold of me. Mr. Chang was about to impart sacred knowledge of the process. The solemnity of the mood struck me that not many involved were taken into this confidence. I felt honored and frightened all at once. Gulping, I said, “I promise.”

  Both older men nodded, and Mr. Chang continued. “The part you are aware of is that there are four families. All of us in this room belongs to one of three. The fourth one is the Fortuno family.”

  “Yes, I…”

  He held up his hand, “Please, Miss Manchester, no interruptions. Some stories must be allowed to flow in their own rhythm. Do you not agree?”

  Not being able to help myself, I smiled then nodded. He was politely telling me to shut up and listen. For once, I had to agree with him.

  “Francois let you in on the secret of traveling through time. It erases years. More years than you may realize.”

  Jimmy put his hand on the small of my back and guided me to a chair at the table. While his grandfather had been talking, he’d prepared tea for both of us. I sat in front of a cup with steam rising. He took his place in the chair across from me with a cup of his own.

  “I must again confess, Mademoiselle, that I told you a little white lie,” Francois interjected.

  “You mean other than faking your death?” I asked with a smirk on my face.

  He burst out in a hearty laugh. “You truly do amuse me with your bluntness. If only more women were like you, we men would not always be in a quandary over what you are thinking.”

  “It’s part of her charm,” Jimmy chimed in.

  “I believe you will have your hands full with your soon-to-be bride.”

  We all got a laugh out of Francois’ observation. How could I take offense when I knew he was right?

  “As I was saying,” Mr. Chang brought us back to the conversation at hand, “while time travel erases years, there is more at play for us Elders.”

  This stopped me cold. “Elders? What do you mean by that,” I started to feel there was a severe undertone to this conversation.

  “While I call myself Jimmy’s grandfather, my life began a few generations back. As did Francois’.”

  My eyes grew wide as I tried to grasp what I was hearing. “You aren’t really Jimmy’s grandfather? But he is of the Four Families. He could repeat a location. Are you saying the two of you aren’t related?”

  “Not at all. Jimmy is of my lineage. However, I was born in the year 1812. His father was not actually my son, but one of my descendants. The same is true of Francois and Carney. While it seemed he was Carney’s grandfather, he too was born a few generations prior.”

  My chair scraped on the linoleum floor with a loud smudging sound as I pushed back from the table and stood up. Walking to the window as if gasping for air, I found it hard to believe what I was being told. Strange how I accepted the whole match-making process with such ease yet found it odd I couldn’t grasp this additional twist without a healthy amount of amazement.

  “Please, Miss Manchester,” suggested Francois, “Sami, sit down. It is a fantastic tale, yes, but one I know you would want to hear. You have been questing for the truth, and here it is. Come sit back down.”

  I turned to see all three men looking
at me. The anxious expression on Jimmy’s face pleaded for me to accept this truth. How could I not? After all these years participating in this bizarre lifestyle, it was merely one more chapter of the process. One I longed to hear. My resistance to believe surprised me more than anyone here.

  Jimmy stood up and held his hand out. “I know exactly how you feel, honey. When Grandfather told me, I didn’t want to believe him at first. Until I realized it all made sense the way things have happened.”

  “But, if he really isn’t your grandfather, what happened to your real grandfather?” I looked from him to Mr. Chang.

  “He was killed in China before Jimmy was born, along with his wife. It broke my heart as he was only 42 years old. Too young to go on and be with the ancestors. There was a riot in the small town we lived in. I do not even remember the cause. Yet that is what happened. Life in China was hard. That is why I took Jimmy’s father and moved to California. It seemed a better place.”

  With that thought he stopped, and I could see his eyes watering. Quickly he looked down and concentrated on his tea. Francois reached across the table and put his hand on the other man’s arm. They both must have endured loss and death living as long as they claimed, while their offspring lived a mortal life.

  A question popped into my mind. “Did you have a choice?”

  This seemed to fluster both men as they contemplated my question. “What do you mean?” Mr. Chang finally asked.

  “Did you have a choice to become what you are?” I thought it was a valid notion. While they both seemed sad from the passing of generations, at some point they had chosen this life. The blame would have fallen on themselves.

  “That question has many answers,” Francois said. “When offered this life, it seemed we did not have a choice. Ultimately, you are right, it was our own doing.”

  “Tell me how it began.”

  Chapter 46

  “It was shortly after the First Opium War in China. The British fought the Qing Empire and won in 1842,” began Mr. Chang. “The Treaty of Nanjing was signed, and Hong Kong became a British colony.”