The English Experiment & the Death of a King (Interviewed In Time)

by Colin Croad

  Interviewed In Time

  by Colin Croad

  The Facts

  The controversy surrounding the historical interviews of the past twenty years or so has divided opinion in those circles of society who have always had a care for the past, and who have always seen history as something belonging to them, as if they and they alone were the guardians of our heritage. There are still those who openly condemn what happened and there are those who openly support the events and who lobby those responsible to carry on with the field tests. From the official designation of Regulated Time Interview, or RTI, they soon became known as ‘arties’, and it was apparent from the start that such a breakthrough in technology was bound to cause problems. It was even more obvious that this technology, if it fell into the wrong hands, would cause a cataclysmic reaction in human society.

  When the ability to open up small windows into the past by means of bending time back on itself first became common knowledge, only those with their heads firmly planted in the sand failed to realise that something revolutionary had occurred, that mankind had turned a corner, yet again. The ability to pick a small space in time and then deposit oneself into it was mind-blowingly brilliant, yet at the same time frightening. The government, who were the real backers in this project, realised long before the final tests had been completed, that this new power would have to be strictly regulated and by them alone, or else risk the worrying possibility of some know it all amateur going back in time and suddenly changing the present day! So, just to be on the safe side, a department was set up, secretly of course, to look into the possible implications of the technology being used and abused, and into the consequences of actually using it in the first place. Needless to say, a lot of worried men and women behind closed doors debated and argued for weeks, then months, about what was and wasn’t best for mankind. The biggest question that stumped their collective brain power was the one staring straight back into their collective bureaucratic faces: to what end would this technology be used?

  What emerged from these cloistered meetings was a series of rules and regulations designed to keep the status quo as just that, with one golden rule standing out above all others: on no account was the person going back in time allowed to personally change key historical events. Strict supervision would therefore have to be maintained of anyone using the technology. They determined that the new power would be used for cultural and historical purposes, and not for altering in any way the major elements of our past. Hence the birth of the committee for RTI, destined to enlarge the knowledge of mankind, or so it was hoped.

  However, and it was a big however, there were those who realised that whosoever went back in time would, by the very fact that he/she was back in time, be unable to avoid changing the past due to their unavoidable interaction with people, with events etc. Unless the interviewer was able to completely avoid speaking to or interacting with people, then a change there would be. If this was the case, argued the eggheads, then what was the point in going back? Just the very presence of the interviewer could, in all probability, change something! A mind boggling paradox was in the making. In the end, they reasoned that a conversation with a humble peasant about politics was going to have less impact than a political conversation with, say, Oliver Cromwell. With this realisation, they were able to formulate the second golden rule for interviewers: gauge your audience well, and tailor your words accordingly. What’s more, some bright spark pointed out that surely those being interviewed would, once they finally believed that the interviewer was actually from the future, ask all manner of questions concerning their position in history; how had posterity judged them? They would also, it was concluded, always ask the interviewer what it was they could do to improve their image to future generations e.g. Henry VIII might seriously pose the question as to whether he should marry again and if so how does it turn out? The repercussions for everybody seemed scary enough. This was yet another reason why the government was determined to keep this initiative under wraps and solely under their control. It also brought to the fore the third golden rule: on no account was the interviewer to allow him/herself to have roles reversed and become the interviewed! How could this major concern be resolved? Then, quite out of the blue, there came one of those moments of simple logic and common sense that are pure genius: what if the interviewer goes back in time to a point not far from the subject’s death? By virtue of the fact that the subject was bound to have a deep seated belief in God etc they could relatively easily be convinced that the person before them must be heaven sent, an angel come to take them to a better place, or some wise academic whose mission it was to help them with serious matters of state. The subject would then be more open to in depth questions. It was one of those ‘ah, yes, of course!’ kind of moments which you get when you finally see what’s been staring you in the face all along. At last they had a solid workable plan.

  The emphasis from the RTI seemed to be on not disturbing the line of history, at least not too much anyway, and the committee were realistically aware that sending someone back in time was bound to create some problems, regardless of what they did or said. Damage limitation were the watch words. The temptation was too great, and the potential for getting first-hand knowledge from the characters in history was too good an opportunity to miss for the committee to err on the side of caution and just cancel the project, shelve the technology until some later generation could take the responsibility. Like excited children who couldn’t wait to open the Christmas presents, the RTI soon set the date for the first trip with almost unbelievable speed and had their first interviewer lined up.

  No known pictures exist of the room where the interviewer made that first historic step back in time, no pictures, that is, that have been released by the government, and they certainly weren’t about to let the journalists in to take any. But, official pictures there must have been, and where there is something of interest which excites the public imagination, someone will always be found who can recall speaking with a friend who worked in a government department that helped with this or that part of the project, and who just happens to have caught a quick glimpse of a picture of something that looked out of the ordinary. Add to this the natural tendency of officials to make that which is a secret less of one by their over protection of it, and the minions around them will, quite naturally too, try to find out what it is. So it is that several ideas of what the machine looks like are still floating around, but even to this day no one knows absolutely for sure. However, by reading all the ideas and weird concoctions put forward, it seems that everyone is agreed that the device is cubicle like; big enough to take just one person and that it has lots of cables of varying sizes running into it. The technology for such a device has long been debated, and many theories about alien involvement have bounced around the world, but no one can say for sure, although it would seem a plausible idea that, after all the years of cloak and dagger tactics of certain governments in the past regarding alien contact, something akin to a trade between them and us may have taken place. We can but speculate.

  It’s not a lot to go on, and it’s hardly awash with detail, but ever since the programme was closed down pending further ‘research’, the RTI have become even more secretive and the room where the experiments took place has become the scene for such high levels of armed security that even the most curious or noble minded of government whistle blowers won’t dare tempt fate.

  Even when the government grudgingly released a very abridged version of some of the interviews a few years ago in a vain effort to placate the hungry masses, and des
pite their best efforts to play down the significance of what had happened, and to try and archive the recorded dialogues well out of the reach of those who wanted to know and those who needed to know, the truth always has a way of coming to the surface, eventually, and this was no exception. Obviously, names cannot be mentioned, but suffice to say that the level of detail leaked is indicative of the high level of their office. And hoorah for them! Not only can we now get to grips with an issue that has clamoured for closure for years, but we can at last learn for ourselves what went on, listen to the characters of the past speaking to us as if it were just yesterday and not centuries ago. It also gives the vast majority of us the chance to look out for all the juicy bits which history may have left out. So it is then, that the journals can finally be seen by the inquisitive historian as well as those whose interest lies in the human side of the past.

  Alright, so we’ve put to rest some of the questions about what went on behind the scenes leading up to the first trip to the past. But, and it was a big ‘but’, what steps would be taken to prevent the interviewer from going back armed to the teeth with all manner of technology in the hope of helping someone in the past who was a particular hero of theirs? It was an important question, one that could have far more dangerous consequences than a mere idle chat about politics. To prevent just such a scenario, it was decided to put together a specialist interviewer ‘survival’ pack; a small bag containing enough modern technology to help the interviewer survive and to get the results they were after. This bag comprised of a small recording unit allowing them to get audio and video, discreetly, a small but powerful medicine bag in case the interviewer became exposed to some nasty disease, and some food and drink to help reduce the temptation to eat and drink anything in that time zone, which could also become a death sentence. Armed with this, the ‘arty’ had to go buck naked into the cubicle and don the special suit that was hung up in there; a thin black overall with lots of pockets to contain all the necessary kit, and a pair of sturdy boots. On top of this, the interviewer had to don a long cape with a hood to help give the impression that they were something that resembled some kind of messenger from God, sent to help the subject prepare for the afterlife, or the wise academic, whose intent was to convince everyone that they were there to help counsel the subject and nothing more. Deception was paramount.

  Getting there was one thing, getting back could be tricky. During the early tests, one or two of the test pilots often found themselves stranded in the past. This was all due to lack of knowledge on the part of those in charge, whose reckless disregard for the safety of the test pilots caused lots of distress in government circles and almost caused the project to be put on hold. Only after many weeks of thoroughly investigating the technology they’d been given, the committee realised just how the time cubicle worked. They discovered that the cubicle acted like a giant hand, constantly holding the person sent back and reaching back across time to the specified date, but never too far from the air space that the cubicle occupied in the future. Without proper calibration, the hand of time would rip the unsuspecting ‘arty’ back toward the point of origin, but sometimes would deposit them somewhere else, in a totally different time zone. The consequences of having someone stuck in the past, forever, with access to modern technological ideas were not lost on the RTI committee, or those who were way above them. For all they knew, the person lost in the past had already altered the present day, but who could tell? More headaches caused by more meetings and threats of closing down ensued. Once they finally figured out how everything worked, and properly calibrated the cubicle, the RTI committee could launch their brave volunteers into the past, knowing exactly where they were going too and how long they’d be there. Finally, the committee had control and could determine whether the RTI would be sent back for mere hours or for longer.

  Time was of the essence, literally, and the ‘arty’ now knew what amount of time they’d have in which to conduct the interview before the cubicle, or the ‘Ripper’ as they cheerfully dubbed it, ripped them away from the past toward their own time. Asking the right questions and not being too pushy were critical if the plan was going to work. The last thing anyone wanted was for the intended interviewee to close up due to some badly timed and ill-judged questions. To help the interviewer, each underwent an intensive course in counselling and interpersonal skills, in the hope that they would then be able to ask the necessary ‘open’ questions which would help their subject to open up and divulge some or all of their secrets and feelings.

  This, then, was their arsenal with which to help them deal with situations that they had only read about in some well written book on the period, and no manner of descriptive writing and no amount of active imagination can take the place of actually seeing and experiencing it at first hand. They were in for a treat. Once everything had been discussed, the safety precautions finalised and the regulations formalised, the last two most critical questions that had to be asked were: ‘who and when’? These two beauties posed the greatest challenge to the formidable minds of the RTI. Sure, they could iron out the problems of safety and what not to take and what to avoid etc, but just who would they choose as the first guinea pig? Of course, answering the question’ who’ would obviously answer the question ‘when’, so it was decided to focus on picking one lucky individual from the past and in so doing solve the double problem. Typically for government officials, they laboured for weeks in an attempt to try and reach a unanimous decision, making this list and that in the hope of coming to some agreement, but all their individual preferences differed too much for any real decision to be made. Finally, after many a heated discussion and too many late night headaches, the simplest and most effective way of solving the problem was chosen: they each put two names in a hat and the chairperson simply pulled one out. The scene was now set for the most historical of events, a rendezvous with the past that had the potential to change our perspective on history forever.

  There have been many attempts over the years by certain scholars to catalogue the interviews and to compile a book for public reading, but none, until now, have had access to all the facts. Now, for the first time, both professional historians and lay people alike can read for themselves what really happened. Though it would have been truly mind blowing to get our hands on the actual recordings themselves, government security is now so tight about this topic that the risks to those on the inside, our informers, is too great and so we’ll have to settle for the good old fashioned written word instead.

  What follows is a selection of some of the complete interviews with major characters from our past who have seriously influenced our lives today. The original recordings were transcribed into modern English for ease of reading and only a few have been selected in this work. The subjects chosen are those which most people would know or have heard about. For security reasons, the original name of the person interviewing was never recorded.

  Part One: The English Experiment & the Death of a King (Cromwell v Charles I)

  Regulated Time Interview No. 1 Subject: Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector 1653-1658 AD Location: London, the night before addressing Parliament Date: 12th April, 1657 approximately 10pm Background: Having helped Parliament defeat the Royalists in the two civil wars of the previous decade, and having been instrumental in the trial and execution of Charles I, Cromwell has dominated the political scene in England ever since. A fiercely religious man, who vehemently believes that Puritanism is the true worship of God, he sees himself as the instrument of God’s work. Seen by many as king already, Parliament even offers him the crown itself, but Cromwell is undecided and takes weeks to make up his mind. Eventually, on the 13th April, 1657, he delivers an impassioned speech to the MP’s telling them of his decision. The RTI finds Cromwell on the night before the speech, in quiet contemplation.

  Cromwell: Who is this that disturbs my prayers?

  RTI: I mean no disrespect, your highness.

  Cromwell: Then tell me what it is you desire here at so l
ate an hour? Come out of the shadows and declare your intent, sir.

  RTI: Do not be alarmed, your highness, I mean no harm. I merely come to speak with you in the hope of helping your highness to make a decision tomorrow. I am not sent by Parliament, but you have friends who would have you talk to me to help ease your mind.

  Cromwell: And what do you know of the decision I must make? How did you learn of this?

  RTI: It has rapidly become common knowledge among the people of the city. Such things can never remain a secret for too long.

  Cromwell: It is true. The people often get to hear of all the important things despite our attempts to keep them a secret. So, tell me, sir, how can you help me tonight?

  RTI: I thought we could talk about the path you have taken which has led you to this day. By reflecting the events in your life so far, it may help you reach a better, more informed decision.

  Cromwell: A better, more informed decision you say, sir? Will not God himself inspire me? Will I not be filled with His holy spirit which will reveal to me His plan?

  RTI: Of course your highness will have the full blessing of God, and I’m sure the Holy Spirit will reveal its purpose to you. I just believe that God wants us to help ourselves whenever we can, and if we can have fellowship with our fellow man to air our thoughts and concerns, then that will be pleasing to Him and may even lead to the revelation of His plans sooner.

  Cromwell: Well said, sir. As you say, the fellowship of my brother in Christ will be wholesome at such a time. Come, take a seat and let us talk a while. What would you have me discuss?

  RTI: I feel the most pressing thing at the moment is your impending decision regarding the crown. Why do you think Parliament has offered it to you?

  Cromwell: I have often wondered about this, sir. I know that there have been differences between myself and many of the MP’s in the past. To most, I am seen as no more than a tyrant, a dictator even, trying to rule the kingdom for my own ends. There are those who believe that I helped rid the land of one king simply to install myself and my heirs in their place. I also believe that those who would make me king do so out of fear, fear for the future and the unknown waters they believe we have drifted into now that the king is dead. I can almost feel their desire to get us back to the status quo of monarch and subject! Instead of embracing God’s will and going forward with the sure and certain knowledge that He will provide for us, they would have a king, a man to rule over them with absolute power and divine right!