Blood Trail

by David Rhodes

  Lisa and Charles were already eating as Lisa told him, “This will do.”

  The orderly smiled and said, “If you need anything else either buzz us or walk down the hall to the right. Anything at all, just let us know.”

  “He was nice,” Lisa said.

  “Everyone is,” Charles agreed.

  A few minutes later, Lisa asked again, “Take that walk now?”

  “If I can move,” Charles replied. “Living on nothing but protein bars can make you appreciate a good breakfast.”

  As they walked toward the door, there was another knock and then a woman in green scrubs came in. She smiled and said, “Well, you both look better than yesterday. I don’t know if you remember but I’m Doctor Blacke. How are both of you feeling?”

  “Just fine,” Charles answered.

  “That’s great,” Doctor Blacke told him. “Could both of you have a seat? I’m sorry, I just need to poke and prod for a minute and check your dressings.” It didn’t take very long, and she said, “Everything looks fine, but I am surprised you’re up. You’ve both had a close call. Even though you had some penicillin there was some infection starting. We do want you to walk around but please be careful and watch that you don’t tear any stitches. Lisa, you have a slight fever, but I don’t think it is anything to worry about. I’m going to prescribe some antibiotics and for the pain - ”

  “I really don’t want any more pain medication,” Lisa interrupted.

  The doctor made a quick note and continued, “I understand. I usually never complete a prescription of pain meds either. I like to hear what my body has to say.” As Lisa nodded, Doctor Blacke continued, “But, you will need the antibiotics…all of them. Please follow the directions on the bottles and I’ll check on you again tomorrow morning.”

  “So, we need to stay one more day?” Charles asked.

  “Yes, just one more I think. You can take the meds at home and your physician can take out the stitches. It’s really fortunate that you had the person in your group that bandaged you and gave you the penicillin. Otherwise, I’m sure you would have had a lot more complications. Now, what else do you need from me?”

  “Can we walk outside?” Charles asked.

  “Again, I thought with all the walking you’ve done you would want to rest, but you can check out Dino City if you want. Just pay attention to your bodies and if you think you need to rest, then make sure you do.”

  “Dino City,” Lisa said. “That’s right, that’s what the pilot called it.”

  “You got it.”

  “Well, we’d rather be outside, and I think all the walking we did the past few days actually is now helping us. So, I guess we’ll explore Dino City.”

  “Just take it easy and they do have golf carts if you need one. I bet someone would also love to drive you around. Oh, one last thing. If you are up to it, the RABAR executives would like to meet with you today at noon.”

  “Okay,” Charles replied. “Any idea what it will be about?”

  “No, but I’m sure it’s to bring you up to speed on things. You’ve been gone a long time.” Before Charles could say anything else, Doctor Blacke opened the door and said, “I will be checking on you again before you leave. Please take care.”

  “We will,” Lisa called out.

  “Let’s try going outside one more time,” Charles said. Then he took Lisa’s arm and they walked into the hall, found an exit and went outside. “I forgot how hot it was,” he sighed.

  They paused for a few seconds to look around. In front of them was a large park-like open space covered with mown grass and dinosaur statues. A sidewalk led from the center of the park to each of the eight buildings that surrounded it. Though each building was slightly different they were all two stories tall and were made with stone and had large glass curtain wall facades. There were a lot of people either walking or driving around and they noticed there were streets and sidewalks between each building that disappeared into the surrounding jungle.

  “Interesting place,” Lisa said. “And we’re finally outside. Why?”

  Charles leaned in close and said, “You are smart, as I’ve said before.” They continued walking along a sidewalk leading away from the building and after a minute Charles continued, “My room was entered last night after I went to sleep. Things were moved and then someone tried to put them back where they were. I’m sure we’re being watched, and I don’t doubt our rooms are bugged, maybe even monitored. That just makes me suspicious - ”

  “And cautious,” Lisa said. Then she yawned and stretched.

  “Do we need to go back in?” Charles asked.

  “No. Just checking to see if there were any drones above us.”

  “And?”

  “We’re good. Now, what do you think they’re after?”

  “I’m still thinking about that, but that made me think about something else. When we were running from the Rex, why did you say something was wrong?”

  “Wow, you just didn’t answer my question and changed the topic all at the same time. I need to keep an eye on you.” As Charles smiled she continued, “We ran past part of a Stegosaurus skeleton. I picked up enough from Ron to know that the Stegosaurus and the Rex lived in completely different time periods. Something wasn’t right. But now I remember when we were in the copter we saw they keep animal pens like it’s a reserve or a zoo or something. Maybe they just mixed the animals together for some reason.”

  Charles said, “That’s interesting,” then he was quiet for several minutes.

  “Going to let me in on things?” Lisa asked.

  Charles took a second to answer then said, “No, not right now. I’m sorry, because this is the second time I’ve kept you in the dark about something, but I need you to act naturally.”

  “And just go along with whatever you say and do.”

  “Exactly.”

  “And watch everyone.”

  “Yes.”

  “What am I watching for again?”

  “People lying. Or rather indications they are lying. It’s hard to do because it is not an exact science. Things you may have heard before, like a person will not look you in the eyes or they nervously tap their foot, are not always signs they are lying. You have to see if the person always taps their foot or has a hard time looking someone in the eye. That means those are just their normal habits. You have to know what they normally do and then see if they deviate from that.”

  “Like ‘tells’ in poker.”

  Charles smiled and nodded as he said, “Well, yes, that’s an example. So, look for those things but also watch body posture, facial expressions, do they get louder or softer, does it take them an extra second to think of something to say, do they omit things or get mixed up. But again, you have to establish a base line, do they already do those things, so they aren’t lying, they are just being themselves.”

  “Okay, watch and learn. Don’t go all in the first few hands.”

  “And one other thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Remind me not to play poker with you.”

  “Got it,” Lisa said, then she pulled Charles around and started back to the medical building. “I’m hot and I want ice cream and the doctor said we should listen to our bodies.” Charles put his arm around her as they walked back, and she just smiled at him and said, “Don’t say anything else. There are people watching us so just keep your arm around me, smile, and keep walking.” Charles did what Lisa said and they walked back inside.

  As Charles and Lisa stood at the head of a long table, they watched everyone file in and stand behind their chairs. They knew Jenson, Richards, and Doctor Blacke but not the other five. At a nod from one of the men, a woman standing next to Charles said, “Mr. Dawson and Ms. Wells, it is a relief to find both of you still alive and an honor to have you here with us. But before we go any further, please, let’s all sit down, and I’ll introduce everyone.”

  When everyone was seated she continued, “On your right we wanted some fami
liar faces. You met Security Chief Richards and Security Officer Jenson yesterday and Doctor Blacke today.” They nodded but didn’t say anything. “This is Ray Budgem, Site Director, this is Almar Ritt and I’m Sheila Travers, Associate Site Directors, and at the end of the table are Rachel Sims and Jack Barman, the founders and CEO’s of RABAR Industries.” She turned back to Charles and smiled as she continued, “First, we hope that all your needs have been taken care of?”

  Charles smiled back and replied, “Please, all of you, accept our thanks and gratitude for what you have done for us. I’ll begin by apologizing first to Chief Richards and Officer Jenson for making their day that much harder yesterday. It was my fault that we didn’t immediately follow your instructions and caused some alarm and confusion for you. And Doctor Blacke, neither one of us knows exactly what you did for us but whatever it was, you have worked miracles. Our injuries are healing, and we feel better than should be expected.

  “Mr. Budgem, Ms. Travers and Mr. Ritt, your staff have treated us like royalty and after what we went through it is deeply appreciated.

  “Ms. Sims and Mr. Barman, we want to commend you on the staff at this facility. We’re sure they reflect your concerns and values and you do not know how safe that makes us feel. We are now, and always will be, in your debt. And please, as we speak here, I’m Charles and this is Lisa.”

  “I am honored you feel that way,” Barman said. “Thank you Charles, for your praise. We do take pride in all of our businesses and our workers. They are our family and Rachel and I feel that everyone at this site did an exceptional job yesterday. Now before I say anything else, I know you both have many questions. Please, ask.”

  “Thank you,” Charles said. “First, how long have we been gone?”

  Barman spread his hands and said, “In our time frame, about twenty years.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  LIES AND TELLS

  As Lisa dropped her head, Charles said, “Thank you.” He paused and then continued, “Before any other questions, I would like to explain to you why we were gone.” It took him over an hour to briefly describe what happened during their first jumps with Taggit and then the last time travel with Steve.

  When he finished everyone was quiet then Barman said, “That’s unbelievable. A terrible story to be sure but one of great personal perseverance on your parts.”

  “We were lucky,” Charles said. “Lucky in so many ways. But I wanted you to understand that to us we’ve only been gone about a week this last time. There was no such place as this when we left. What is it?”

  Barman nodded and replied, “Much of what I’m going to tell you will be a surprise I’m sure and some of it may not be pleasant news. But you need to know it and what RABAR plans to do about it.

  “Rachel and I were limited partners of EXENCO. We knew Steve but not very well, he was distant and not a very social person. When he and his brother Ben disappeared, there was a lot of concern. The police began an investigation at his residence and we assisted by checking the records at EXENCO. At first there was nothing out of the ordinary, and then, well you can imagine what we found.

  “Instead of reports and data about new energy sources, there was data on dinosaurs and impact and bite forces and people dying. There were orders for unusual equipment and the formation of a group called Walkers and then later the Team.

  “In the warehouses we found items that shouldn’t have been there. Guns, like the one you were carrying, bullets and something called a DOPE. There was a huge training area with dinosaur images, even a dinosaur holograph, a Tyrannosaurus Rex.”

  “It scared the hell out of me,” Rachel said. “While I was walking through the training area it just appeared and it was so life-like. Then we found the real one, the one I guess that ate the team member. Fortunately, it was dead. It starved to death we think before we started looking into things. As you can guess, after that we had to know what was really going on at EXENCO because it obviously didn’t have anything to do with energy.”

  “So, we bored down through every scrap of information we could find. No report, piece of data or memo was too insignificant. And slowly we got the picture though it took us a while to believe it. Time travel. Invented by you, Charles, and stolen by Steve. But you were gone too and I’m sorry to confirm it, but Steve did have your house and the other time machine destroyed.”

  “I believed him when he told me,” Charles said. “So RABAR replaced EXENCO and took over time travel?”

  “Yes. Some of what Steve, or perhaps more to the point, Otto was doing was actually ground breaking. The energy initiatives and safety for military personnel were very interesting and we hoped we could follow up on them, but we haven’t been able to yet.”

  “Too many problems?” Charles asked.

  “Way too many. All of the dinosaur protection and guns, bullets, those items, are great. But so far we have not been able to stop them from disintegrating within a few days. So, there is no way to make these items available at a reasonable cost and no one would want to purchase items that quickly turn to dust.

  “The cheap energy claim had no merit past drilling for oil in the Cretaceous period. Windmills, ocean currents, river flow, all of it, just speculation and fantasy. All of it was just words to lure investors and unfortunately, it seems, your friends, into becoming part of EXENCO.

  “The only real promise was in Otto’s work. His updates to your ideas, DOPEs and weapons actually worked as seen with the time travel unit. Several of Otto’s future ideas, which I guess now were to be completed after his return from getting rid of all of you, seemed astounding. Unfortunately, Otto didn’t want anyone to know his secrets. When we accessed his files, they self-destructed.

  “So, we were left with the only real ideas that worked. All your records were in Steve’s database Charles. And we successfully used them to create time machines and added a new division to RABAR, one that focused on the benefits that time travel might provide. When we were ready, we went public and of course met with a lot of skepticism and ridicule. That soon changed to complete amazement and a public demand for it.

  “The government immediately stepped in with rules and regulations, beneficial rules and regulations I might add. We also had employees that tried to steal the technology, so they could set up their own companies, but we stopped them all.

  “To shorten a story that is already too long, the government granted us exclusive rights to time travel, we adhere to their rules and we supply the public with what they want.”

  “Which is?”

  “Basically, time travel to prehistoric times only to obtain animals for zoos and study. Believe me when I say that keeps us busy enough and of course has made us a lot of money. We are a business after all.”

  “You can’t be faulted for that,” Charles said. “We knew that EXENCO was going to make money and they were going to pay us to help.”

  “Thank you for saying that, Charles,” Rachel said. “And I think this is where I should let you know what we will be doing for you. Obviously, everything we have accomplished is thanks to you and your research. Unfortunately, all of your assets, home, work and money are gone. Stolen by Steve and then absorbed by us and various other institutions.

  “First, we will pay you whatever you think we owe you for our use of your work. I hope you understand we weren’t trying to steal it, we felt we had inherited it from EXENCO. We were thinking in the one-billion-dollar range, but you let us know. Next, we would be honored if you would become the spokesman for RABAR. We would include with that position several homes, private jet and a staff equal to your needs. Also, I’m sure the public will want to know your story. We would help you in any way necessary and publish any magazine articles, scientific papers or books that you would author. If any of this is not satisfactory or if I have left something out, please let me know.”

  Charles nodded and replied, “I am stunned and encouraged by your generous offer. When you confirmed what had happened to everything I ever owned
just now I was concerned about my prospects.

  “I would like to ask for RABAR to consider one other action. Many people died that didn’t need to. Ron and Lauren, the Team members, Aria and Tony and people I never met, the original Walkers. Would it be possible to take some of the money you have offered me and give it to their families? When this news gets out they won’t have any chance of litigation to get compensation, Steve is gone, and his company dissolved. Unless, that is, you have already done it.”

  Barman shook his head slowly for a few seconds, then said, “Charles, I’m ashamed to say we never even thought about it. The first few years we were wrapped up in figuring things out, after that was manufacturing and making things public, and then the business grew astronomically, and we had to meet all the restrictions that were placed on us. And we built Dino City.

  “I can only plead we were busy and that’s not good enough. Even after we knew who had been involved we have obviously dropped the ball. We will make due compensation to family members as soon as possible out of our pocket, not yours.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Charles, I hope you don’t mind,” Barman said, “if I ask you and Lisa a…well, a personal question.”

  “Not at all, sir.”

  “Please, I’m Jack. My question is about your wife, Lauren and Lisa, your husband, Ron. If you could, would you go back and save them if it were possible? Maybe save everyone?”

  “I do not want to speak for Lisa,” Charles said, “but I will tell you what I think. If you go that route, changing the timeline, you run the risk of changing time in ways that can’t be understood. Lauren was vehemently opposed to time travel but I’m not. We argued about it constantly. We had already separated before we became involved with Steve and Lisa was never married to Ron. We were all still friendly, and my house was big enough for all of us, but Lisa and I are actually together now, we have been for some time, and I don’t need to save her.