“Immediately. I’ll have furniture brought in so your boys’ll be comfortable while we’re gone.”
“That’s all right. They can just pull a few things out of the truck.”
“No... ah... please do not do that. I know it’s all your property but would you please leave everything in place for a while.”
“Why?”
“We’d like to, with your permission of course, record the location and condition of everything in the vehicle before you move it around. That is, if it’s all right with you.”
“What the hell is this? The opening of King Tut’s tomb?”
“King who?”
“We aren’t specimens to be examined! So you can shove it!”
“I’m sorry. I did not mean to be insulting.” Redmond paused for a moment, watching Jim for a reaction. “There is so much we do not know about your time and people.”
Jim turned and started walking with no specific direction in mind. His outburst was more a result of stress than an objection to an intrusion on his privacy. What little he had seen, so far, was well beyond the technology he knew. Maybe it was true. A sudden thought brought him to a dead stop. His wife, his mother, his brother Alan, Don, Marcie, the nice waitress they had met yesterday while having breakfast in El Paso. All gone? He felt nauseous. It was an impossible concept to grasp.
“Come on, let’s go outside. Colin, Mike, leave the truck as it is, they’ll bring in something to sit on. Make yourself comfortable ‘til I get back.”
“Do you all require something to eat and drink?” Redmond inquired.
“We just ate a light lunch. If the boys’re still hungry they do have some leftover pizza and coke but...”
“Pizza?” Redmond interrupted, his voice an octave higher. He walked forward a couple of paces, his arms waving excitedly as if he didn’t know what to do with them. “You have some pizza?”
“Yes, why’re you so excited about that?”
“We’ve all heard the name. It has been referred too in fictional literature many times. Not works from Old... ah... Earth, there’s very little of that still in existence. It’s some sort of delicacy is it not?”
“Something like that.”
“And this Coke, what is it?”
“Coca Cola, it’s a drink. Haven’t you heard if it?”
“Yes, again from early colonial literature. It was occasionally referred to as one of the things the early space colonists missed from Old Earth.”
The doctor raised his voice slightly. “Levin, look it up and correct me if I’m wrong. It’s never been determined exactly what it was and is only known by the name.”
“That’s correct doctor,” came the voice from nowhere.
“You don’t have it any more?”
“No… uh… you said ‘don’t’. Were you raised in the city or the country?”
“What’s that got to do with things?”
“Uh… I’ll have to explain later.”
Jim gave the doctor a perplexed look. This man was either one of the world’s greatest impromptu actors or else he was sincere. Whichever it was, he knew they had problems, major problems.
Chapter 4
Jim wanted his small band to remain together. The technicians, entering the large chamber seemed friendly enough, and whatever was going on would be best investigated alone. He wanted to gain as much information as possible before having the difficult task of explaining the situation to the boys. Proceeding alone was the logical procedure, but logic didn’t lessen the uneasiness he felt.
A number of alternative explanations came to mind. Was this some exotic government project? A drug induced fantasy? For an instant he had a flash image of someone appearing with a camera and telling him he was punked. It was instantly dismissed; this was too elaborate a situation even for TV.
In the isolation lock, Jim examined the suit handed him by a waiting tech. “This is real light,” he said as he lifted the filmy outfit looking it over. “What’s it made out of?”
“It’s...” The tech hesitated then flashed Redmond an awkward side glance. “...metal... very light... ah...”
“A titanium, carbon, plastic composite,” Redmond interrupted then again watched Jim for a reaction.
Jim looked up realizing that Redmond was testing his knowledge. It was the little things that caught Jim’s attention, preparing his mind for the idea that all was not as it used to be. “Oh, I’m used to carbon fiber plastics, but nothing like this.”
“This is not a straight carbon fiber, it’s an organo-metallic composite.”
Jim tugged at the material. “Strong?”
“Yes. A sharp metallic object, such as a knife, can not penetrate. It’s a safeguard for working in a contaminated environment.”
Redmond opened the front of the suit and turned it around for Jim to climb in.
“Do you know the problem we’re having, or if what you tell me is true, were having with synthetic fibers?”
This time Jim was testing Redmond using the limits of his one semester course in organic chemistry.
“I suppose it would’ve been gravity. Your civilization probably did not have orbital factories. Zero gravity allows a matrix of long chain molecules to form more efficiently.”
Jim’s knowledge on the subject had just exceeded its limits. One thing he found curious about the conversation was the doctor’s use of the words ‘suppose’ and ‘probably’. Didn’t the man know for sure?
The opening at the front of the silvery outfit had no obvious method of closure. Redmond hesitated while watching Jim to see if he knew how it worked. When it became evident that he didn’t, Redmond bent down and placed the two ends of the material side by side at the bottom and squeezed. The edges seemed to jump together when brought into close proximity.
“Magnetic?” Jim asked.
“Electrostatic forces bring them together then an actual chemical bond keeps them in place. Our regular clothing has similar closure devices, but they’re not as strong as these.”
“I take it that they’re also not as expensive.”
Redmond smiled. “You are correct.”
Jim felt a protuberance in the cowl of the helmet to the left of the transparent faceplate. “Chemical filter?”
“No, power unit for circulation. The filter is the lining of the suit itself.”
He put it on. The helmet cowl attached to the suit in a fashion similar to the front closure.
Redmond straightened the helmet. “Touch the right upper corner of your faceplate.”
Jim did so and heard a beep.
“That indicates that the suit is sealed,” Redmond said before turning to the tech. “Carson, activate the decontamination. Mr. Young, touch the left upper corner of your faceplate.”
Jim heard rushing air. The transparent plate turned dark. Bright blue flashes were barely visible.
“Antiseptic gasses and ultra violet light!” Redmond said above the noise of the air. “A second touch to the visor and the faceplate clears! Do it now!”
Redmond removed his suit. The outer door opened.
The doctor explained the magnetic sealing method used on the doors. Jim listened to his accent. He sounded slightly British with a number of Americanizations. Jim had spent two years at Mildenhall Air Force base in England on attached duty to the U.S. Air Force there. He knew the many variations of the British accent well, but he couldn’t identify Redmond’s.
It wasn’t the small differences that occupied his thoughts, but the lack of more. If this was two thousand years into his future, he would’ve thought that the language would have changed completely. He remembered watching Shakespearian plays and finding the dialogue difficult to understand. That change had taken place after only a few hundred years.
“Jim... ah... may I call you Jim?”
“Sure, call me anything, but late for lunch.”
“Pardon?”
The old joke seemed to baffle Redmond. Jim thought “Has humor changed or is he just a good ac
tor playing a part?” It wasn’t very funny as jokes go, but usually got him at least a smile. “Call me Jim.”
“You can call me Tal. Everyone does, including my assistants when we’re not at work. Before we go outside I have to reset the atmospheric controls for the room. Make it a little more comfortable for your family. Carson’ll take care of you. I will not be a minute.”
As the slightly overweight man left the room by a second door Jim briefly examined the doctor’s clothing. The outfit was casual, the style and material a complete mystery. He then examined the plain blue room. The walls were perfectly smooth with an even matte finish. A line of protective suits hung on one wall.
Jim held his hands behind his back and smiled at Carson. “So this is the future.”
“I... er.... ah.... guess it is. Ah... you were traveling when you ended up here?”
“Yes. On a long trip.”
“Someone sent you on this trip?”
“My favorite uncle.”
Carson gave a half smile while fidgeting nervously. “May I ask what your uncle’s name was?”
“Sam.”
Carson’s face dropped leaving Jim to try and figure out what this line of inquiry meant.
He frantically searched his mind for some sort of a test. A factor that would prove conclusively where he was, or where he wasn’t. Something exclusive to twenty first century earth. He thought of old movies depicting people of another era. There was one thing that gave away their origins. From cave men to monsters from planet X, the telltale mark of the man of his time.
Jim focused his attention on Carson standing to his left. “Excuse me for asking, may I see your teeth?”
The man stood for a moment; he seemed intimidated by the unusual request. “Wh.. wh.. what for?” he stuttered, fidgeting slightly with a look of mild confusion.
“Just humor me on this, please?”
The man reluctantly curled back his lips and opened his mouth. Jim leaned slightly to inspect the man’s perfectly spaced set of teeth. Not a single amalgam filling or gap was noted.
Redmond stuck his head back through the door. “Jim, follow me.”
“One moment Doc, may I take a look at your teeth?”
The doctor hesitated, then shrugged and opened his mouth. The same flawless set, not one missing or damaged. Jim straightened and nodded. The doctor gave him a curious but friendly smile.
“May I ask why you wanted to look at my teeth?”
Jim opened his mouth while tapping on the faceplate. The doctor looked. A slow expression of understanding crossed his face. “Yes, very observant of you. We have no need for such repair work on ours. A polymer coating protects them. Yours can be taken care of quite easily; even that gap in the back can be filled. The dentists will just grow you a new tooth. We’ll have you properly modernized in no time at all.”
“Grow me a what?” Jim said.
* * *
Jim followed Redmond down a long corridor. They went by three open doors. People congregated at every entrance just to see him pass.
“It seems that you’re attracting quite an interest,” Redmond said. “You’re going to have to get used to that.”
“What? Everyone wants to see the dinosaur?” Jim said as a joke, he was still not convinced.
The same puzzled look crossed Redmond’s face that Jim had seen before. These people, for all their technical advances, seemed to have large gaps in their knowledge. Either that or they were great actors.
At the end of the corridor, another door dutifully opened on their approach. Through the door was a large room that appeared to be a reception area. A row of contoured chairs was to the left and to the right a desk. The woman behind the desk was making Jim feel slightly uncomfortable. She stared at him, with her mouth slightly open. Behind her were eight monitors all displaying text.
“Hi,” was Jim’s friendly greeting to the woman. He got no response so he waved a hand. She moved her mouth, but nothing came out.
Everything he had passed so far was immaculate. The floor looked like polished marble, possibly synthetic; he could see no cracks between the blocks. The entire area was a mass of ferns and ornamental shrubs. Its total appearance was quite relaxing. It made him feel like strolling rather than walking.
Beyond the reception desk, a glass wall made the outside world visible. Jim could see a smooth, level road. Beyond the road was grass. The grassy area was flat and neat. It reminded him of the greens on the golf course at Fort Hood, only greener and healthier. The grass looked almost artificial.
He felt the receptionist’s eyes follow him as he passed. A small robot like machine darted out of another door. Jim jumped, trying to get out of its way. It was trying to avoid him so their paths crossed again. It stopped.
“I will remain stationary. Please pass,” it informed him.
Jim walked a wide arc around the thing, watching it. When the path was clear, it continued down the corridor they had just left.
“Small automatic service robotics cleaning unit,” Redmond explained. “We call them autoserves for short. You’ll see them everywhere. Other models perform different functions.” Redmond pointed down a large hallway to the left. “There’s another one, a carrier, probably taking someone their lunch from the cafeteria.”
Jim looked, catching sight of the tail end of another machine. He watched until it disappeared around a corner.
When they approached within two meters of the glass wall a section slid open. Jim jumped back startled.
“There were no automatic opening doors where you’re from?” Redmond asked, standing aside.
“There are. They’re all over the place. It just didn’t look like there was a door here. It surprised me when it opened.”
“Old style architecture. It was the fashion when this facility was built. Now you see it, now you do not. In the newer buildings the outside doors are more obvious.”
They walked out. The marble floor continued to the roadside. Above was a blue plastic canopy. On either side were flower beds. The large brilliantly colored flowers looked similar to nasturtiums but weren’t. They were lined up in perfect rows as if the spacing had been accurately checked to a tolerance of a millimeter. The soil was not like outdoor dirt, it had the consistency of fine potting soil.
Jim halted at the roadside, a vehicle was coming. It hovered centimeters from the ground as it glided quietly past. All that could be heard was a slight crackling. There was no steering wheel that he could see. In fact, not one of the four people inside seemed to be paying attention to the road at all.
“It rides on an electrostatic field,” Redmond said. “They’re called transits. We have very few wheeled vehicles; they’re not as efficient, too much energy lost through friction.”
“I expected them to jump out and gawk at me like everyone else is,” Jim said while watching the retreating vehicle.
“Only the personnel inside the building know of your arrival. I have not had time to inform anyone else, even the university director does not know.”
“Safe to cross?” Jim asked, gesturing with his hand.
“Go ahead. It’s a twenty k.p.h. zone. Enough time to see them coming.”
“I don’t want to get run down by a speeder.”
“A what?”
“Someone traveling too fast.”
“Little chance, the main does not allow it.”
This time it was Jim’s turn to look puzzled as they crossed the road.
“Is this grass real?” Jim asked as he reached down to examine a few blades
“Oh yes, it’s definitely real. An ornamental variety that grows with a uniformly shaped leaf.”
The area appeared to be a park. Well cared for trees, whose species he could not identify, dotted the landscape. In the distance he saw a small cliff supporting a rock garden of hanging plants. A lake to the left of the cliff was centered by an elaborate fountain. He could see bench seats next to small gardens with masses of brightly colored flowers.
; Jim looked up at the sky and stood frozen for a minute. One moon was directly overhead while another was close to the horizon. That was the moment when he knew he was no longer on Earth. If that was true, then everything else he was told was also factual.
Jim felt faint. He lowered his head and swayed a little. “I’ve gotta sit down.”
Redmond grabbed him by the elbow and led him to a bench seat a few meters away.
“Two moons?”
“There’s a third, not visible at the moment. It’ll rise some time tonight.”
“That’ll take a bit of getting used to, three moons.”
“It did when this planet was first colonized. Half of the transplanted species from Earth died out. There are differences in the tides and magnetic fields. Aquatic creatures were especially affected and migratory birds kept getting themselves lost.”
Jim slumped forward with his face shield in his gloved hands. “Everyone I know is dead?” He looked up. “Any chance that my family and friends can get here the same way I did?”
Redmond shook his head. “Billions to one odds, maybe more.”
“Can we….” Jim stopped mid-sentence and chuckled. “What am I saying? I was going to ask if I can go back to Earth. Do you know how weird that sounds to me? I’m on another planet?”
Redmond nodded. “I can understand.”
“Well, can we?”
“No, I’m afraid that’s extremely difficult.” Redmond lowered his head.
“Why?” Jim asked, preparing for the worst.
“It’s all been destroyed, the planet is uninhabitable.”
“Ok,” Jim took a deep breath. “What happened? Did some terrorist get the bomb?”
“If you do not know what happened then you must’ve left before things got bad. The climate changed.”
“Greenhouse effect?”
“Nobody knows for sure if it was man made or natural, but in the 2040s scientists discovered it to be irreversible, the planet was dying. So they set about the task of sending as many people as possible to the stars.”
“How many made it out?”
The Time Stone (The Time Stone Trilogy Book 1) Page 5