Matt smiled a quick smile and said, “Very well, sir, well done. Will that be all?”
Bill sank down in his deep leather chair, put his feet up on the coffee table and said, “Yes, thank you, Matt. That’s all for tonight.”
John sat opposite Bill and picked up his coffee as Rocky paced the floor.
He stopped suddenly and said. “Got it! I have it.” He started to pace again, stopped and said in an excited voice. “Okay. If I have to remove someone from a ship, I have to be on another ship. It should be as large and powerful as the British warship and have an experienced crew. The problem is, nowhere in the world, at that time, could a private ship of that size and capability be built without people wondering what we were going to do with it. They’ll think that we were outfitting a pirate ship after seeing all the cannon that we’ll put on the ship to defeat the Brits.”
He stopped again and faced his colleagues. “And in fact, that’s pretty much what it would be in their eyes, a pirate ship getting ready to challenge the British navy.” He looked off into the distance. “No, that can’t be done. We can’t have a ship built. Too much can go wrong.”
He started to pace again, stopped and, with a big grin, snapped his fingers and said, “Got it! Got it! Let me think.” He started his thinking pace again and talked softly to himself. He finally took a sheet of paper from Bill’s desk and started sketching. “I think I have it.”
He turned to them again and said, “I have to go home and consult a few of my special books to tackle this.” He folded the paper and stuck it in his breast pocket, gulped down his coffee and said, “I’m going now, guys, but I’ll be back tomorrow with a plan. Okay?”
“Fine with me, Rocky,” said Bill, as he stood up. He turned to John and asked, “Can you be here tomorrow?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’ll be here. What time?”
Bill looked at Rocky for an answer.
Rocky closed his eyes and calculated, “Eleven in the morning good?”
“Good,” said Bill and John in unison.
The big clock struck ten as John and Rocky left the club.
Bill smiled as he texted up to his future grandson, “EDMUND, MISSION-PLANNING GOING WELL. MORE AS IT HAPPENS. LOVE GRANDPA.”
At eleven the next morning, Matt brought in eggs, bacon, toast and coffee for three. Bill sat at the end of the dining table and John sat opposite Rocky at the table’s middle. They were having their second cup of coffee when Rocky started describing his idea for the rescue.
“When I realized I couldn’t have a ship that would match a British ship of the line, I decided to look at other options. The problem was, how to remove their firepower advantage. Well, the way to do that is by having speed. And I will take advantage of today’s technology to speed up my ship to throw off their aim.” He took a sip of his coffee then continued excitedly.
“The ship I either will have built or converted will be stealthy. Not stealthy as in, radar evading, but stealthy in that it looks harmless and won’t alert the enemy until it’s too late. As for firepower, I’ll never be able to match a ship of the line, so once again I’ll try today’s technology. Not sure exactly how, but I’ll figure something out. I’ll need a crew and once again I’ll have to play that by ear. I’m going to have to sail from New York to England so I’ll need money.”
He looked at Bill who answered, “No problem. You’ll have enough to be a rich man back then. I suggest that if you are going to be traveling, rather than carry large amounts of money, you carry a pouch of diamonds. You can easily convert them into money as you need it and they’ll be easy to conceal on your person. Now I have a question. What if they press you onto a ship? What then?”
Rocky smiled. “I’m going back as a gentleman. A dandy in their eyes, and they don’t press gentlemen into the service.”
John laughed out loud, “You, a gentleman? Excuse me, Rocky, but that I have to see.”
Rocky gave him a light tap on the arm and said, “Then wait until you see the clothes I’m taking with me. I’ll be the best dressed dandy they ever saw.”
Bill laughed and asked, “So, Rocky, when do you think you can go?”
“Hey,” he said, shrugging his shoulders, “I’m ready now. All I need is the clothes and money and I’m off. Matt said the clothes would be ready for me in the morning. Now, I wonder if I can see a picture of my target?”
“No problem,” said Bill, as he reached into his desk drawer and removed the hologram. “Here it is.” He started the hologram and all three watched as John Elsey was dragged away tied up. “One more thing, Rocky,” said Bill, as he showed him a hairbrush.
“This is a text communicator. Just press down on the top of this hairbrush and swivel it.” He showed Rocky how it swiveled and how the small keyboard and monitor embedded into the open brush would appear. “Just type in a message and hit ‘send’ and I’ll get it.”
Rocky handled it and said with admiration, “This is fantastic! And don’t worry. I’ll get him out, Bill. I promise I will.”
Bill shook his head as he added, “Actually, there is one more thing to add to the list of things not to do.”
“What’s that?”
“No matter what happens, you can’t kill anyone.”
Rocky stood momentarily quiet as he processed this bit of information then said with a shrug, “Bill It never entered my mind that I might have to kill someone. Why would you feel that you had to say that?”
“It’s the one rule that the Time Tracking Group keeps hammering home. You see you will be among people who have, or will have, children of their own and there is no way we can tell what would happen to history if their life was suddenly snuffed out.” He held out his hands, palms up as he went on, “So you see that must be kept in mind at all times when you are on a mission.”
Rocky nodded and said, “No problem, Bill. I’ll be careful.”
The three went over some more details and called it a day in the early afternoon, agreeing to meet at nine the next morning. Rocky left with a printout of John Elsey’s picture to commit to memory.
Nine o’clock the next morning Rocky stepped out of Bill’s bedroom and posed for inspection in front of Bill, John and Matt. He strolled as though he were on a model’s runway with a big grin on his face. Bill and John clapped and chuckled approvingly at seeing Rocky dressed as a dandy.
He wore a light blue linen jacket over a white silk shirt that had a ruffled front and sleeves. His tight, light blue pants stopped just below his knees where white stockings began. Thin white suspenders held up the pants. He had on low, black slippers with large silver buckle decorations. On his head he sported a dark blue tri-cornered hat with a large white plume stuck in the hatband.
Rocky turned and faced the three men with a deep bow from the waist and a flourish with his hat.
“My dear sirs,” he said, “so very pleased to make your acquaintance.”
John looked at Bill and quipped as he fingered his two-piece, dark suit with black stockings, “I guess if we are spotted, they’ll be no problem telling whom the two servants are.” Bill nodded with a smile in agreement. They picked up Rocky’s gear and moved to the door and 1772.
DATELINE: 1772 PLACE: NEW YORK CITY
Bill and John escorted Rocky down the stairs to the door that allowed them to enter 1772. The probe showed that the door would open in a stand of trees, because the time selected, was before the 1800 Club building was built.
Bill opened the door a crack, ready to retreat if there were any witnesses. If anyone did see them as they entered 1772, it would look as though they just materialized out of thin air. A shaft of bright sunlight entered the doorway, and hearing birds sing told Bill that they were probably alone. He peeked out, and when he was satisfied that they were alone, stepped out into a patch of grass between two large oak trees. From where he stood there was nothing to be seen of the door entrance. It was nothing more than a spot between trees just as the drone scout had shown them.
> The first thing Bill did was to bend down and quickly mark the place with three stones he picked up. He patted earth and brush around them to make it appear as though they had been there for years. He then went back to the spot and, stepping over the stones, entered the stairway where Rocky and John waited.
“All clear, guys,” he said and motioned to the door, “follow me.”
Now the three stood in 1772. They put down Rocky’s gear and Bill shook his hand and said, “Remember, Rocky, when you return here, the door won’t be open. You have to text me so I can come down and open it. If by any chance you lose the communication device, after a time, I’ll open the door every Sunday at exactly noon. Got it?”
Rocky shook hands with both of them, then lifted the gear and smiled. “I’ll see you guys soon, and it’ll be mission accomplished. Now get out of here before you blow my cover.” John and Bill seemingly disappeared into thin air.
Now alone, Rocky looked around and smelled the air of the period. Fresh air and flowers along with the Hudson River but still, a hint of horse manure filled his nostrils. He hefted his gear and started walking toward the small inn spotted by the drone. It promised transportation down to the docks: his destination.
The sun was hot and his fine clothes were getting damp with sweat. There was a natural path that led to a cobblestone road with small stores on both sides. At the end of the road he saw the red roof of the inn. As he got closer, a boy of about twelve ran to him.
The blond-haired boy smiled and said, “Sir, good morn to you. May I help you with the parcels?”
Rocky was about to say no, but remembered his role as a gentleman and said with a sigh, “Oh blessed boy, I thank my heavenly stars to be so fortunate as to have crossed your path.” He put down his gear with a plop that kicked up dust which settled on his shoes. He feigned disgust, “Oh dear! Look at my shoes now. This wretched dust will ruin them for certain.” Then looking at the boy, he continued, “Boy, if you would but help me with my parcels to yonder eatery where I would perhaps hire a carriage, I would be most generous in my gratitude.”
The boy easily lifted the gear and with a smile said, “I be Will, sir. I live at yonder inn. The Eagle it is and there’s no finer place to fill one’s belly.”
“Then, The Eagle it is, Will. Let us be off.”
They walked down the road and Rocky noticed the small outhouse, out back and the two cows grazing in a small pen beside the inn. Smoke went straight up, which attested to the lack of a breeze, and hawks soared overhead.
This is as it should be, thought Rocky, as they walked up the wooden steps.
It was cooler inside and a woman called out, “Will Witherspoon! Where are you? Dawdling in the hay stack?” She suddenly appeared from the kitchen and stopped short as she saw Rocky with her son.
“No, mother,” said the boy, “I would be helping this gentleman with his baggage.”
“Pardon me, sir,” she said, as she fixed her golden hair, “I was in search of my son. I see he has been of use to you.”
“And quite a use at that, he was. My horse ran off as I rested and these parcels are all I was left with.”
“Are you traveling far past here, sir?” she asked.
“Yes. In fact I’m in search of a ship that may be departing to England, then to Scotland, so I’m off to the wharves of New York. Would there be a chance of perhaps getting transportation to my destination? I’ll pay whatever you deem it to be.”
“My son will take you on our wagon. But I fear that it’s not what a gentleman like you is used to riding in.”
Rocky removed a white silk handkerchief from his sleeve, waved it in front of his nose and said, “Please, worry not that I may be offended, for I truly am in need of transportation whatever the means may be.”
“Would you like to partake of food before leaving, sir?”
He shook his head and said, “Alas, I’m not sure of the time a ship may leave and I must sail as soon as possible. Therefore, I must decline the chance to savor your wares. Perhaps on the return trip.”
She smiled and looked up at the sun. “’Tis close to the noon hour, sir. Should you leave now, you could be at the wharves by one o’clock today. Is that your wish, sir?”
“It is, Madam, it is,” he said, fanning himself.
“Will,” she said, turning to her son, “go fetch the horse and wagon. I wish you to take this gentleman to his destination. But, mind that you are home before dark. There’s sheep to pen.”
Will ran barefoot to the back of the house shouting in a ‘happy-to-be-going-on-a-trip voice,’ “Yes, mother.”
The lad drove the horse as well as might be expected for a working boy of the 1700s. He expertly drove around holes and missing cobblestones in the road to produce a more comfortable ride for the gentleman.
Rocky looked at him and thought, This kid is so well-behaved, but I’ll bet anything he wants to run the horse. Turning to Will, he said casually, “I wonder how fast she’ll run if you let her?”
The boy looked at him and, with a mischievous smile, answered, “If she has her own head, sir, there’s not another horse around that’ll catch her.”
“So says you,” answered Rocky, appealing to the boy’s natural wild side.
“That be the truth, sir. Why, just last week . . . I mean, well, she got spooked and . . . well . . .“
“She ran?”
“Run she did, sir. I tell you Tiger has fire in her. But, I’m not to stoke it, says mother . . . but,” he said, looking around, “if by chance she ran, you’ll be at the wharf earlier than you planned.”
Rocky arched his eyebrows and said in a low voice, “Go for it, Will. I’ll not reveal our run.”
Will’s face lit up and he snapped the reins lightly over the horse’s rump, stood up and yelled. “Up, Tiger! Run, girl, run!”
The horse seemed relieved at being let loose and she ran. The boy became part of the wagon as he sank and rose with each dip and rise of the road. People and small carriages moved quickly out of the way, shouting at them as they flew past.
Rocky held tight and watched as his parcel bounced all over the flat bed of the wagon. The run lasted close to ten minutes and both the boy and the horse seemed happy to have gotten it out of their systems.
They went back to a trot when Will turned to Rocky and asked sheepishly, “Sir, would you be so kind as to not mention this bit of shenanigans to my mother?”
Rocky patted his shoulder, “Your secret is mine too, for I fear that I may have led you to run her.”
They arrived at the foot of New York and the wharves were full of sailing ships loading and unloading their cargo. Thousands of sea birds screeched as they flew low over the masts in their search for food. Rocky smelled the salt water and looked at what he had seen only in books as black-and-white drawings. Men actually sat on the dock mending sails and repairing ropes and other ship parts, as they chatted amongst themselves.
It suddenly hit Rocky as he thought, Wow! These guys really do sit here and work. But it’s not like they have to work here. It’s because they want to. They want to see the boats coming and going. It’s what makes a sailor a sailor. They want to be near the sea and ships. It’s their love as it’s my love too.
The time-traveler got down from the wagon and Will passed him his gear. Rocky reached into his pocket for a coin and handed it up to the young man.
Will was ecstatic. “Thank you, sir, thank you! Mother will be proud of me. Please come back and visit on your return.”
“I will, I will. Thank you for your kindness, young man.” Rocky said and walked toward the ships as he took in the sounds and smells of an era he only read about.
He saw groups of men who were reading signs posted on trees by the waterfront. The signs noted when ships were leaving New York and their destinations. He saw a large three-masted ship and walked over to a sign tacked on a post near it. The Lindsey May was going to leave New York that evening, and port in England. The sign also noted that the length of the
trip depended on the winds, but was normally four to five weeks long. He looked up at the ship, and, although being this close to a sea going, three-master blew him away, he feigned the look of a frightened man.
Rocky again hefted his gear and walked up the gangplank along with five other men. Most were dressed as working men and he felt somewhat out of character to look like a pampered gentleman and reminded himself, I have to buy some sea clothes before we sail.
On the deck a hefty and very tanned sailor gathered them all together and said in a booming voice, “Working seamen, stand to me left, paying travelers, stay put.”
Of the five other people who boarded with him, only one other stayed put. The man stood about six-feet-one-inches tall and seemed to be fit, not fat nor thin. He seemed to have no problem hoisting his large sea bag on his shoulder. He was dressed in what Rocky would call a business suit of the period, not like his own fine clothes, but not cheap either. A brown thick cotton jacket over a blue shirt opened at the neck and pants, a slightly darker brown that draped over high-top brown leather boots. He had a knitted brown stocking hat over the shock of blond hair that at times looked white in the sunlight.
“You gentlemen,” the portly sailor continued as he pointed to Rocky and the other traveler, “stay right there. The Capt’n would be speakin’ ta ya soon.” He went down a hatch with the others.
Rocky turned to the other man and thought, May as well start my cover right now. He rolled his eyes and said to the man, “Do you think we’ll get seasick? I tend to get upset in a carriage when it’s on a bumpy road, so I fear the rolling of a ship may induce the same effect.” He leaned closer to the man and said in a confidential whisper, “’Tis my first sea voyage, so I truly know not, what my disposition may be.”
The fellow looked back at him as though sizing him up. He put out his hand and with a smile said, “Edward Schure, sir. Pleased to make your acquaintance. And fear not about seasickness due to a rolling motion for I’m assured that this is a stable vessel. However, I am an apothecary and do carry some herbs to quell the uneasy stomach.”
Time Travel Adventures of the 1800 Club. Book III Page 12