“A what’s meant to be thing,” Hal added. “Hopefully that’s not the case. Because if it is, it won’t be long before we lose Dean and Ellen as well. They die in the Great War. Helping people in a battle zone. But George has a theory. Tell him, George.”
“What if we didn’t stop or halt the Great War, but changed it,” George said. “What if we are already in the Great War.?”
“What do you mean?” Frank asked.
“What if by going to the future, by discovering the twenty-four hundred, my presence, all that switched things up? What if now the invader isn’t tens of thousands of soldiers, but rather a germ? A bacteria. A battle we need to fight. If our Great War now is a germ, then Robbie was indeed the first casualty.”
“And Dean and Ellen would be in the battle zone helping people,” Frank said.
“But just like we wanted to do all along,” Hal said. “We can stop it. Or try. This trip is important. It is not the first time you used time travel to stop an illness from wiping us out.”
“It’s risky, Frank,” George added. “It really is. Going back that far, interacting, and trying to secure that much medicine. If we don’t succeed. If we can’t figure out a way, then like in this book … we will lose a lot of people, just like we do in this book.”
Frank stared for a moment, shifting his eyes from George to Hal. “That’s a lot of pressure.” He stood.
“Where are you going?” Hal asked.
“To wake up Dean. You need to put this on him too. Henry too. I’ll wake him up. You need to put this dramatic shit on them. Fuck. I’ll be thinking about this the entire time I’m eating crab legs at the buffet.” He walked out and to the other room.
George looked at Hal. “Crab legs?”
Hal lifted his hands. “I haven’t a clue.”
“What do you think, Hal?” George asked. “You think this will work.”
“I don’t know.” Hal shrugged. “Tomorrow will tell.”
SEVENTEEN
Danny Hoi wasn’t a man who got jealous very often, but even he had to admit of twinge of the green monster when he woke up on the day of the big time trip. A part of him felt upset with himself because he didn’t put his name into the running for the time trip. Now he’d have to stay back, and prepare for their return, hoping that they have success.
Until then, he thought of Vegas and the cool souvenir Frank promised him.
The more he thought about it, the more Vegas sounded pretty cool. The lights, the glitter. All things that would never return to the world. Not according to the future history he had learned. The world goes bleak for a very long time.
There was no way to ever have that again.
Or was there?
Danny’s mind, which always spun, was spinning fast as he prepared to leave to start his day.
What if there was a way to send people on vacations? What if it could be done safely, using the time machine? Then people could go to places like Vegas or Los Angeles or even Cleveland. Anywhere before the world went basic.
Danny was trying to change the basic world. He was making progress.
Just like he had to make progress on his day.
His number one priority was to get to Bowman and catch the Society fuel plane before it returned. Danny needed fuel for the large truck that would go to Billings the next day to get the surplus of antibiotics.
He spent hours the day before getting a truck from a stop eighteen miles south of Beginnings. It was out of Beginnings safety range, in an area that time seemed to forget.
He brought a battery, and enough fuel to get back to Beginnings and then to Bowman. He’d need more fuel to make the Billings trip.
Danny believed at first, that it would take some master manipulation because any fuel other than for George’s plane was not authorized.
The plan was to get there, charm the guy then bribe him. Until he realized George could give the authorization.
It was no problem to get George to do so, but he had to get there earlier than even he planned on. The plane was leaving shortly George and the others would take off for Vegas.
So, Danny called Elliott to inform him he was on his way.
“You picked a good morning for that,” Elliott said. “The mess hall has a treat.”
“I wasn’t planning on breakfast, but what kind of treat.”
“Bacon.”
“No.”
“Yep.”
“Bacon. Bacon? Like the real stuff we used to have?” Danny asked.
“Bacon, Bacon, like the old world. I didn’t know they had it. No one did but the kitchen. They were smoking it for a while and today they are cooking it. Danny, you can smell it all over town.”
“Oh my God.”
“Everyone is rationed two strips, but there should be plenty and extra...”
“Sergeant Ryder, this is awesome. Can you maybe grab the fuel tank guy and bribe him with a meal. I’m leaving Beginnings now and I’m cutting it close to his departure time.”
“Absolutely,” Elliott replied. “I’ll give it my best shot.”
Danny thanked him, and pumped about the bacon, grabbed the truck from the back and started his journey to Bowman.
He didn’t make it far.
Mark from Security stopped him at the front gate.
Danny expected a sign out sheets, especially since it was just at the crest of check in, check out hours. He wound down his window and smiled. “Hey, Mark.”
“Hey, Danny, you’re up and about early.”
“Yeah. I’m headed to Bowman so I’ll just sign the Bowman sheet.”
Mark shook his head. ‘I can’t let you leave.”
Danny checked. “You’re joking right?”
“I wish I was.”
“Mark, I have to get to Bowman. That Society fuel plane is taking off just at sunrise and I need fuel for this truck. Plus, Bowman mess hall is having bacon.”
“Bacon?”
“Bacon.”
“Real bacon?” Mark asked.
“Real bacon.”
“Holy shit.”
“I know.”
“But I can’t let you through. I got the order about three hours ago that no one gets in or out.”
“Orders from who?” Danny asked.
“Lars.”
“Since when does Lars have authority to shut things down?”
“Since Dean is in Bowman and we’re in a medical crisis,” Mark said.
“Oh my God. Are we under quarantine?”
“No. No.” Mark shook his head. “He expects to open up the passageway in a few hours. He said it’s just until he can blood test everyone in Beginnings for the bacteria.”
“So it’s just a matter of testing?” Danny asked.
“Yeah, that’s what he told me. He said if he lets people travel, then he won’t test them all.”
“Ah, that makes sense.” Danny nodded. “What time are they starting?”
“Eight.”
“Eight? Mark, that’s two hours from now. I will be there and back in an hour.”
“Danny, I can’t let you go.”
“Come on, Mark, I need this fuel. Beginnings needs the fuel. This truck will be used to carry the antibiotics to fight the infection. We don’t have fuel, we don’t have the truck.”
“I know but…”
“They have bacon in Bowman. Bacon, Mark.”
“Danny…”
“I will be one hour,” Danny said. “Give or take ten minutes. But I will be back, right here, long before they start testing. They won’t even know I’m gone.”
Mark started out for a moment. “If I let you do this, will you bring me back some bacon?”
“Absolutely.”
“Fine.”
“Yes.”
“And Danny,” Mark said. “You can’t tell anyone.”
“I swear.” Danny lifted his hand in an ‘I promise’ manner, then pretended to zipper his mouth closed.
“Okay. Go.” Mark stepped out of the way.
“Thank you.” Danny put the truck in gear and drove off. He was held up a few minutes, but not enough to make a difference. He was certain he’d get to Bowman on time for the fuel truck and to the mess hall to get that bacon.
<><><><>
Frank was the last to board the plane. They all had to do so to avoid contact with the fuel plane pilot. Blue had come by to collect a blood test for Lars. Frank didn’t understand why they had to take another tube, especially since Lars had told them the night before that all they needed was a drop.
The conversation with George and Hal the night before, kept his mind spinning and thinking. But Frank eventually caught another nap, only to be woken again by a needle in his arm.
He washed up, made sure he smelled nice, put on his vacation clothes and boarded the plane.
“Why do I smell bacon out there?” Frank asked.
“Because you’re insane,” Hal replied from the back of the plane. “There is no bacon anymore.”
“Yes, another thing I have to look for in Vegas,” Frank said.
“We’re going early, Frank,” Henry added. “You could get breakfast.”
“I can.”
“You know you’re a big eater.”
“I am.”
“Oh, stop,” Hal snipped.
“I’ll tear up those crab legs for lunch,” Frank added.
“Enough about crab legs,” Hal said.
“Oh, you’re just jealous,” Frank refuted.
“Normally, I would deny that. But sadly I am.”
“I’ll bring you some back.”
“You do that.”
“This is a nice plane.” Frank looked around the small, private jet. “Where’s Dean?”
Hal merely pointed to the seats across the aisle.
Frank peered over. Dean was laying, curled up on the two seats. “Ah, look how cute.”
“He’s been like that since I got on the plane,” Hal said.
“Dean!” Frank blasted.
Hal cringed.
Dean sat up immediately.
Frank laughed and plopped down next to him.
“Really?” Hal asked. ‘There are twenty other seats on the plane.”
“I’m not staying. I’m the copilot.”
“I’m sure George welcome’s you in that tiny cockpit.”
Frank snickered. “You said cockpit.”
“Oh, grow up.”
“Why do I smell bacon?” Dean asked.
“See. See.” Frank pointed, then leaned over to Hal. “What are you doing?”
“The map of the strip,” Hal replied. “He’s going to try to land on the strip, but we can’t guarantee there won’t be cars there. So he may have to land at the airport.”
“Makes sense.” Frank nodded.
“But that’s quite a walk in the heat.”
“Heat. Hal. Please.”
“It’s July, Frank, in Vegas.”
“So.” Frank tossed out his hand. “It’s different now.”
“How is July different now?” Hal asked. “Just is July. It will be hot.”
“Actually,” Henry interjected. “Global temperatures have dropped because of lack of carbon monoxide being thrown into the air.”
“How do you know what it’s doing globally?” Hal asked.
“I don’t. It sounded good.”
“Well, I know one thing,” Hal said. “July is July and in the desert, it will be extremely hot.”
“Nah,” Frank scoffed. “Suck it up buttercup. It’ll be fine.”
“Suit yourself. Where we land will more than likely be south of the strip,” Hal explained. “You three will need to walk all the way north to get to where the Convention Center is.”
Henry asked. “Why can’t we just go through further away from the center?”
“Because you can’t just appear out of nowhere,” Hal explained. “North is less crowded and there are a few empty lots. However …” He glanced down to his watch. “You may not have a choice.”
Dean nodded. “The time lock.”
“Why did he do that?” Henry asked. “Why did Jason program the HG Wells to only send us at a certain time?”
“Because he wanted to lock it in,” Hal said. “It wasn’t in case you make a mistake. It was so you don’t go traveling all over. Like …” He lifted his eyes to Frank. “To see Elvis in 1976.”
Dean shook his head. “Yeah, but after we return from this trip, the HG Wells isn’t locked anymore. It’s just programmed to send us at that time. I don’t think it’s distrust.”
“Then we can go see Elvis in 1976.” Frank said.
“No. N we cannot,” Hal replied. “We go. While you three are walking, I am going to enjoy the old casinos, raid the bars as well.”
“And I’ll be eating crab legs.”
“And I’ll be listening to you vomit,” Dean said.
Ding.
They all looked up.
“Gentlemen,” George’s voice came over the speaker. “This is your captain. We have been bacteria cleared for takeoff.”
“Oh, yeah.” Frank stood. “Vegas here we come.”
“Where are you going?” Dean asked.
“Like I said. I’m the copilot. Buckle up.” Frank headed toward the cockpit.
Frantically Henry searched for the belt. “There’s no belt. There has to be a belt. Where is the belt … oh, here.” He exhaled loudly with a ‘whew’.
“Henry,” Hal chuckled especially when he saw Dean hurriedly buckle his belt... “Really, you two, if we crash no seatbelt is going to save you.”
“I’m not worried about crashing.” Henry said. “Have you ever flown with Frank?”
Hal cleared his throat. “Point taken.” Hal reached for his belt.
EIGHTEEN
It hadn’t changed one bit. At least not from the air. Hal perched close to the window, barely blinking. He even paused in his vomiting when George announced, “We’re done pissing around. Take a look.”
It was breathtaking.
He felt the same thrill he had experienced when he first flew into Las Vegas at the age of twenty-five. It looked similar, although a few of the casinos had been imploded since his first trip. Hal took a yearly vacation there without fail.
It had been ten years since a plague wiped humanity to the brink of extinction.
Ten years of no traffic, no people in his favorite escape destination. In his mind, Hal envisioned Las Vegas to look like something from the many apocalypse movies, like Resident Evil. A once beautiful desert oasis buried beneath sand.
That wasn’t the case. Henry explained it would take at least another fifty years before layers of sand formed around the buildings.
“As for now,” Henry said. “It just kind of blows. A light layer I guess. Not much more.”
Hal couldn’t see it. At least not in the air. George circled twice double checking where he could land.
None of the buildings looked weather worn, not from what he could see. They all glistened, reflecting the bright sun.
Finally, George determined that he could land on the boulevard just east of the airport. He had no plans to turn the plane and wanted to find a stretch long enough to land and take off.
He made his way out of the cockpit to let Hal, Dean and Henry know.
“From what I see …”
Hal interrupted. “Who … who is flying the plane.”
“Frank,” George answered. “He’s fine.”
“My stomach is still not fine. Are you sure?” Hal asked.
“I’m positive. I just wanted you three to be prepared.”
Dean asked. “Prepared for what.”
“A reminder,” George said. “That the world ended. That humanity as we know it … is gone. There are no cars. That’s why we can land. What you will see will be that reminder.”
Hal didn’t say anything. He didn’t want to. Unlike, Dean or Henry, Hal climbed the countryside looking for his family. He saw the abandoned cities. He saw the reminders w
hen they were fresh.
“You know …” Henry spoke up as George returned to the cockpit. “Not to bring up the past, but … I didn’t forget.”
“Neither did I,” George said solemnly and made his way to the cockpit.
“Way to go,” Hal said. “Put a damper on the trip.”
“He started the plague,” Henry argued. “Not that I still hold a grudge, but he started it.”
Dean cleared his throat. “If I recall … it was Joe, who tackled the guy who was trying to stop it and inadvertently started it.”
“Okay, all right,” Hal said. “What’s past is past.”
“That is such a Joe thing to say,” Henry countered.
Maybe Hal just wanted to silence the conversation so he could take in the landing. Watching every single thing as it passed by the window. It had a scary aspect to it, landing on a street as opposed to the wide open airfield.
They touched down with what Hal felt with a slight skid. He listened as the engines powered down and grabbed his near empty backpack, shouldered that and his weapon, making is way to the door of the plane.
Hal shook his head slightly when Frank emerged from the cockpit. He finally got a good look at what he wore. A loud, colorful Hawaiian shirt, a cargo shorts and blue shoes that were a cross between tennis shoes and sandals. “Frank, I don’t recall ever seeing you without boots.”
“It’s Vegas,” Frank replied. “Ben picked out my outfit. Said I needed air flow for my feet.”
“Looks like we’ll have to turn around to taxi,” George approached the doors. “The walkways across the strip will make it impossible.” He lifted a rope ladder and hung it over the frame of the door. Then he opened the doorway.
The second he did, every single one of them groaned when the blast of hot air hit them like a full force blow dryer.
“Everyone have water?” Hal asked. “Good. Let’s do this.”
“Be careful climbing down,” George said.
Hal was first. He felt the heat beat on his back as he lowered to the ground. The street was covered with a thin layer of sand. Much like the sand that would blow in from the beach onto a pier.
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