yesterdays war

by gerald hall

  Harold sat down at the small table across from Dorothy.

  “I am very pleased that you were able to make it, Miss Watson.”

  “Thank you, Sir. I wasn’t sure that I would be allowed in the ship’s first class dining room. But

  apparently, you had already made arrangements for me.”

  “You are quite welcome, my dear. Now, why don’t we go ahead and order our dinner. I

  understand that the steak here is excellent, though the fish being served here has been freshly caught.” “Good evening,HerrCavill andFrauleinWatson. What would you like to have for your evening

  meal?” The waiter formally asked. He had arrived at Harold and Dorothy’s table less than two minutes

  after they had been seated.

  “I think that I will take the steak.” Dorothy told the waiter.

  “I believe that I will take the sea bass myself.” Harold declared with a smile after looking further

  at the menu.

  With a speed that Harold saw as remarkable even for a restaurant, his and Dorothy’s meals

  were quickly brought from the kitchen to their table.

  “I am very impressed with the efficiency of the staff here. The waiter addressed us both by

  name from the very beginning.” Harold noted.

  “I would agree. But I suspect that the staff here knows exactly who is sitting at each table before

  they come to it. It’s just good planning.” Dorothy said before continuing.

  “I have been thinking a lot about what I would be doing in Australia. While obviously, I have

  already committed to the job that you offered me, I would like to learn more about what exactly my

  new job would entail. I don’t want anyone to think that I am just being a ‘kept woman’ out here, far

  away from home.”

  Harold took a deep breath before answering Dorothy’s question. It was obvious that he was

  strongly attracted to her. But he did not want Dorothy to think that he offered her the job in order to

  seduce her. That was not his intent at all. He really did want her to work for him because of her obvious

  business and managerial talents.

  “It was plain to me that you were the real reason why Mister Bentley was as successful in his

  business as he was. You kept his office running smoothly and were very well informed about all of his

  business activities. I have a strong suspicion that you often advised Mister Bentley about certain

  business decisions as well. I need a talented person like you working for me.”

  Dorothy shyly looked down for a moment, a bit embarrassed by the praise that Harold had just

  given her. He was right about the work that she had done for Mister Bentley. She didn’t know how

  Harold had become aware of it though.

  Harold quickly decided to break the silence before the conversation got too strained. “We’ve done enough business talk for now. Let’s get started with dinner, shall we?” Dorothy quickly smiled, “That sounds like a grand idea to me. I’m famished.” They ate their meal and talked, but the subject of why Harold wanted Dorothy to work for him

  was never brought up again. There was far more than enough for them to discuss during this dinner and

  the many others that they had together on the way to Australia.

  SS Bremen

  Columbo, Ceylon April 25, 1930

  Harold was out on Bremen’saft deck when he heard the ship’s loudspeakers. First, it announced a message in German. Then apparently the same message was broadcast in accented English.

  “Ladies and Gentlemen, please clear the area around the aircraft catapult. We are about to launch our mail plane in ten minutes. Thank you.”

  Harold watched the Henkel mail plane being prepared for launch as the mid-ships catapult was traversed towards the port side of the ocean liner. After about five minutes, Harold heard the Heinkel’s engine rev up to maximum. A few seconds later with a loud ‘Woosh’ of high-pressure air fromBremen’s pneumatic catapult, the Heinkel roared over the side of the ship and into the air.

  As he watched the Heinkel fly off into the distance, Harold was suddenly reminded of a book that he had once read about warships that were hybrids of two different classes of vessels in an attempt to combine the best features of both. There was a chapter about proposed ocean liners that had many features of an aircraft carrier incorporated. Harold was also certain that he had an electronic version of that book on his computer database back in Derby. He made a mental note to look up the information upon his return home.

  But for now, Harold’s thoughts turned to his new employee and current companion on this voyage. He was already falling in love with Dorothy in spite of being old enough to be her father.

  Harold and Dorothy spent much of the next three months together onboardBremenas she made her long journey. They talked about a great many things during that time including the businesses that Harold was in the process of building, their views on world politics as well as sharing in their personal interests. Still, there was one secret that Harold dared not share with anyone, not even with Dorothy.

  Harold was falling more deeply in love with Dorothy Watson with each passing day. The sparkle in Dorothy’s eyes whenever she looked up at Harold told him that she was also falling for him as well. Before either of them even realized it, they were already saying “I love you” to each other every evening in addition to other terms of endearment. They were holding hands and kissing each other ‘good night’ as well.

  It was just two days beforeBremenwas scheduled to make port at Sydney when Harold met with Dorothy once again for dinner. They sat down at the dining room table and ordered their normal evening meals.

  “I have a very important question that I wish to ask you, my dear.”

  “What is it, Harold?”

  “Will you marry me, Dorothy?” Harold asked after getting down on bended knee and opening a small box to reveal a diamond engagement ring that he had purchased duringBremen’sstop at Singapore just a few days prior.

  Tears began rolling down Dorothy’s cheeks as she looked down at Harold. She then smiled in the midst of her tears.

  “Of course, I will. But how are we going to get married out here? It won’t have time to do anything once we get to Sydney with all of the things that you have to do.”

  “We just take advantage of an old maritime tradition and get married today. I will make all of the arrangements. You just find the best dress that you have to wear. I don’t care what you are wearing, only that you love me and want to be my wife.” Harold said before taking Dorothy in his arms and kissing her.

  The next few hours were a whirlwind of activity as both Harold and Dorothy hurried to make the necessary preparations for their wedding.Bremen’scaptain performed the marriage ceremony in the ship’s chapel. The wedding was attended also by a handful of other passengers that Harold and Dorothy had gotten to know during the journey.

  They spent the rest of the time of the voyage in Harold’s cabin. They didn’t bother coming out even to eat. Harold simply ordered their meals to be delivered via room service.

  The bellowing ofBremen’ssteam whistle announced the liner’s arrival at Sydney Harbor early that morning. Harold and Dorothy were still in bed though. The loud noise woke up the newlyweds, but they were in no hurry to get up just yet. At least one of them wasn’t in a hurry.

  Harold looked over to see Dorothy’s face, still glowing from the previous night’s lovemaking. Her eyes slowly opened up.

  “Hi, Sweetheart. Are we there yet?” She sleepily asked.

  “Yes, Dear. We will probably be docking within the hour.”

  “Do we have to get up now, Harold?”

  “I’m afraid so, my dear. This is going to be a very busy day for us.”

  A rented Hackney was waiting on the newlyweds at the dock along with a small truck. Harold and Dorothy then rode to the local aerodro
me with the truck carrying their baggage following behind. A Ford Tri-Motor was already there being warmed up to fly Harold and Dorothy to Derby.

  They took seats towards the front of the airplane while several hundred pounds of baggage and other cargo was being loaded into the back of the sturdy Tri-Motor.

  Harold noticed that Dorothy looked a little nervous while she was sitting down next to him in the aircraft in preparation for takeoff. They were the only passengers on the flight.

  “Is everything alright, Sweetheart?” He quickly asked.

  Dorothy nervously answered. “Oh, yes. I have just never flown in an airplane before.”

  Harold put his arm around Dorothy and tried to reassure her as she continued to stare out the window.

  “There’s nothing to worry about. I have flown many times. This is perfectly safe.”

  “How many times have you flown, Harold? I didn’t think that there were that many opportunities for people to fly, even for the very wealthy.”

  At once, Harold realized the mistake that he had made. While flying was a commonplace means of transportation in the twenty-first century, it was still largely the realm of daredevils in the 1920’s. He had almost revealed his origins in an attempt to calm his bride’s fear of flying for the first time. Harold had to think quickly to cover for his oversight.

  “I guess that I might have overstated things a little. I suppose that I have flown more than the average person though. We use airplanes a lot more in Australia because of the long distances between towns there.”

  Harold heard the airplane’s three radial engines start up. A few minutes later after the engines had sufficiently warmed up, Harold could feel the pilot release the brakes and begin to taxi the TriMotor towards the runway.

  Dorothy held tightly onto Harold as the airplane bounced on the grass runway, speeding up until with a great lurch, it rose into the air. Even though the airplane’s cabin was noisy, the flight became much smoother as the Tri-Motor climbed to its cruising altitude. Once there, Harold began to feel Dorothy begin to finally relax as she began to loosen her grip on him.

  Just a few minutes after the airplane leveled off, Dorothy began to peek through the nearby window at the clouds above as well as the ground below.

  “Are you feeling better now, Dorothy?” Harold asked with a concerned smile.

  “Yes…. I am feeling much better now. I just didn’t quite know what to expect. But it appears to be fascinating now.”

  “Flying can be a lot of fun. I’m sure that as the aeronautical engineers continue to improve airplane design, flying will become a lot faster and much more comfortable as well. Even now, we are travelling ten times as fast as all but the fastest passenger liners. While the air can get bumpy every once in a while, it is nothing compared to being in a ship in the middle of a big storm, bouncing around on the waves.”

  “I’m beginning to understand that already. Thank you, Harold. You continue to amaze me with how much you are opening up my world. I love you so very much.” Dorothy said before kissing him.

  Together, they sat and watched the beautiful Australian landscape pass beneath them as they traveled to Derby and their new life together.

  Chapter Eleven: Derby Aerodrome

  Derby, Western Australia June 5, 1930

  After flying for three days and more than 4300 kilometers, with a dozen stops for fuel and rest, the weary couple finally arrived at the Derby Aerodrome. During the journey, Harold would point out the many unique features of Australia to Dorothy as they flew over the landscape. He could tell that Dorothy was enjoying every moment of this new adventure for her though.

  The Ford Tri-Motor that Harold and Dorothy flew in on landed gently on the dirt airstrip and taxied to a couple of small buildings next to a hangar. A small handful of men waited by the hangar to greet Harold and to unload the aircraft.

  “Well, Dorothy. It may not seem nearly as impressive as London or even Sydney, but this is the town of Derby, Australia.”

  “Show me everything, Harold. I want to see it all.” An exuberant Dorothy told her new husband.

  Harold drove Dorothy through the middle of Derby in a small Ford truck of his. This vehicle was a lot newer and in far better condition than the vehicle that Harold had purchased immediately after arriving in 1918 through the temporal portal.

  “This is all so incredible, Harold. There are so many new buildings here with many more under construction.” Dorothy said, her eyes full of wonder.

  “We need the new buildings with all of the new people moving here to work for me. Look over there to the left. That’s the new hospital. We’ve got hotels, shops, a town hall and all sorts of other structures being constructed. We’ve even got a church that we just finished building.”

  “Who operates your new church? Is it Catholic or Anglican?”

  “Actually, the church is being run by a pair of Methodist missionaries. One is from England while the other one is from America. They have already been busy preaching and witnessing to all of the newcomers here, even the Aborigines. I personally think that those two men and their wives are among the most important reasons why this town is doing so well. They give everyone here an outlet beyond alcohol and sexual promiscuity that is both healthy and gives everyone hope for a better life.”

  “Harold, you are truly a blessing to this place and to me.” Dorothy said before leaning over and giving Harold a kiss on the cheek.

  “I have to take care of my people if they are going to be able to take care of me later on. So it is a little selfish and self-serving on my part.” Harold said with a smile.

  “I’ve seen a lot of wealthy business owners who did nothing for their employees. This might seem selfish to you. But I don’t think it is at all, my dear loving husband.”

  They continued to ride on a road out of Derby until they arrived what looked in the distance like a small hill with a few small wooden buildings nearby. But as the truck got closer, Dorothy could begin to make up a door and several windows that appeared to be imbedded in the side of that small hill. There was a wooden fence that surrounded the hill and the nearby buildings.

  Harold drove the truck over a bridge that went over a small creek. The creek fed into a farm pond within the fenced area. He drove up to a gate in the fence, got out and opened it before getting back inside of the truck and driving up to the hill.

  Harold then pulled up to the front door, got out and went around to help Dorothy out of the truck.

  “Harold, this is a very unusual little house. You can barely see any of it from the outside.” Dorothy noted with a hint of curiosity as she saw her new home for the first time.

  “It may not seem like much from the outside. But, it is far larger and more impressive on the inside, I assure you, my dear.” Harold said before opening the door.

  “Utterly remarkable. It is wonderful how the light comes in from those windows in the ceiling. Otherwise, it would seem very much like living in a cave. But for all of its uniqueness, I love it here in our home already. How many rooms does it have?” Dorothy joyfully said after walking in through the front door.

  “Those windows are called skylights. They combine with the northern facing of the front windows to illuminate much of the house during the daytime. Of course, the house has sufficient electric lighting for use at night. Our home is also very comfortable no matter what time of the year because the mass of the earth around it moderates the temperature.” Harold explained. He silently chuckled when he thought about how Dorothy might have found the house similar to the homes in Tolkien’s writings. The Hobbits’ homes in the Shire were also largely underground as well. But the novel, ‘The Hobbit’ would not be published for some years to come.

  “What did you make this house out of, Harold? Surely, it wasn’t simply made of earth.” Dorothy asked as she continued to look around.

  “The walls and ceiling are all made of reinforced concrete for strength. My builders used a tar coating on the outside of the walls to prevent any
moisture from seeping inside.

  The house currently has four bedrooms, two bathrooms with their own water closets, a kitchen connected directly to a combination dining room and living room as well as a private study. The kitchen and bathrooms all have running water. Both bathrooms also have large tubs to bathe in as well.” Harold continued.

  After they walked into Harold’s study, Dorothy couldn’t believe what she saw on the bookshelves that lined much of the room. There were numerous books on math, science, engineering, aviation as well as multiple volumes on history, military affairs and politics. There was also an entire shelf of the most recent novels of speculative fiction by authors like H.G. Wells and Jules Verne.

  “I have never seen so many books in my life outside of a library. There are hundreds of books here. You must read a great deal, Harold.” A wide-eyed Dorothy said in amazement.

  “I do when I can. But it hardly seems like I have enough time for reading though.” Harold admitted.

  “This is very impressive for our home’s seemingly modest size, although I would have thought that a man as wealthy as yourself would have already built a great mansion. Building great edifices to their self-grandeur seems to be the only thing that many of the wealthy in England want to do with their money.“ Dorothy said with a momentarily stern look before quickly continuing with a smile and a hug.

  “Of course, I didn’t marry you for your money or to live in a mansion, my brilliant, generous, loving husband. I would love you just as much if you were rich or poor, I’m sure.”

  “I do not hold much value in appearance, Dorothy. In fact, I relish my privacy very much. The subdued external appearance of my home helps to fulfill my needs very well in that regards.” Harold said before his own expression turned serious as well. One of those unspoken needs that this house provided was security for some very special possessions of his.