What James Did: The Accidental Time Travellers-Book 3

by Marc James

  “I’m sorry Edward what is it that you are getting at?”

  “I don’t think we should go through with this.”

  “What?”

  “We are all marching into certain death. I have the generator in my jacket pocket, we can leave.”

  “What about the others?”

  “They would not want to come with us.”

  “I am here for Bobby and I am seeing this through, one way or another.”

  Edward sighed. “I almost didn’t come.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Back in Dallas. When we were in Mr Stinson’s condo. You had all walked through the wormhole, and I contemplated leaving.”

  “So why did you come?”

  “I was stood there and then I heard the front door being opened, I panicked.”

  Sarah was unsure as to what she should say.

  “I suppose you must think me a coward?”

  “No, no I don’t. I understand that you are scared Edward. You are not a soldier, like you said, you are a scientist.”

  “You are not a soldier either.”

  “No, but I care about Bobby. You are here because you are trying to fix a mistake, I have more of a motive. The important thing is that you did come with us.”

  “You are very kind.”

  In the other bedroom, Chase was doing his best to ignore Jacob’s taunts.

  “Do you think you might do a little better tomorrow young man?” Jacob asked sarcastically.

  “You do realise that I will be dressed as a Nazi and you will be my prisoner, I could kill you if I want and no one would care.”

  Jacob laughed. “You don’t have it in you.”

  “You think?” Chase replied.

  “Yes I do. I think that you are brave but highly incompetent.”

  “I think you are a scumbag.” Chase snapped.

  “Maybe I am, but caring about others is not necessarily a good thing. It gives me the freedom, to do what must be done. People like you and Bobby do not have such freedom.”

  “But we have friends.”

  “Where has that gotten you? We are both in the same place and I do whatever I want.”

  Chase was silent. “Consider this Jacob, if something goes wrong tomorrow and the others have to save me, then if they could do it they would. Do you think anyone would risk their life to save yours?”

  Jacob laughed. “I think I can look after myself. Tell me, what if Sarah is captured, are you going to risk your life to save hers?”

  “Yes.”

  “Even though she doesn’t care about you?”

  “She does care about me.” Chase snapped.

  “Do you think Bobby would come back for you?”

  “Yes.”

  Jacob chuckled. “I suppose he would, bloody fool.”

  Chapter 25

  Over the next few days, the Auld Hole in the Wall remained closed to the public. Abaddon’s visit to the Wallace Monument was in three days’ time, on Monday, 31st, August, 2015. Faraday and Jane had left early in the morning and Guy was left with Clint and Scarlett in the flat. They were sitting in the living room, moping.

  “Why is it that you are both so down?” Guy asked, breaking the silence in the room.

  Clint looked at Scarlett who answered. “They are such hypocrites. They tried to change world events so many times, and then we want to save the First Minister and all of a sudden we can’t intervene because it is too dangerous. It’s so annoying.”

  “I assure you, I am quite capable of doing this myself.” Guy advised.

  “That’s not the point. I am an adult, I can do what I like.”

  “I would agree with you.” Guy smiled.

  “So you think we should just do it anyway?” Clint asked.

  “Do you think that they listened to their parents before they tried to change things?” Guy asked.

  “No.” Clint replied.

  “Then why should you?” Guy asked.

  “So how do we kill him?” Scarlett asked.

  “You showed me that tower the other day, what was it called?”

  “The Wallace Monument.” She replied.

  “Well, I presume they will be going up the Monument?”

  “Yes, I would think so.” Clint replied.

  “Well, we blow it up.” Guy stated.

  “It’s a Scottish landmark, we are not blowing it up.” Scarlett protested.

  “As I recall William Wallace was essentially a freedom fighter, killing these rulers would surely be something he would approve of. It would be incredibly symbolic to kill them there, especially with a huge explosion.” Guy continued.

  “He has a point.” Clint said, looking towards Scarlett.

  “Blow it up with what?” She asked.

  “Do you have access to gunpowder?”

  “No.”

  “Do you have anything explosive?”

  “We have alcohol?” Scarlett replied.

  “I don’t know if that would work.”

  “Wait I know, a few years ago there was that weed killer that was banned, I can’t remember the name. We have a regular in the pub who is a farmer, he was complaining because he had just bought loads of the stuff from the wholesaler and it was going to be made illegal.” Clint spoke excitedly.

  “Are you talking about Chris?” Scarlett asked.

  “Yes, I don’t know if he still has it, but it would be worth a shot.” Clint stated.

  “Let’s go and see him.” Scarlett suggested.

  Clint drove them from the flat to the farm in little under half an hour. The farm house was beautifully built. Chris had gotten rid of the old farm house and built a new one. He had designed the house himself and he had droned on and on about it during his frequent visits to the pub.

  When they arrived on the chipped driveway, Chris was standing watching an Alsatian running around the garden. He was a tubby man, with a thick grey beard, he wore an orange jumper that was caked with mud and light blue jeans.

  As they stepped from the car, Chris smiled.

  “Are you delivering my drinks now?”

  “We aren’t selling today Chris, we are actually looking to buy.” Clint replied.

  “What do you want from me? You looking for fresher beef?” Chris chuckled.

  “This is a little awkward to tell you the truth.” Scarlett began. “Clint remembered that a few years ago you bought some weed killer that was later made illegal.”

  “Why would you want that?”

  “An experiment.” Clint replied.

  Chris eyed them suspiciously. “Forgive me if I don’t believe you.”

  “To make it easier for you. How about no questions asked and free drinks for a year.” Scarlett replied.

  “Two years.” Chris said.

  “If it’s two years then we get the weed killer free.” Clint suggested.

  Chris chuckled. “You have yourselves a deal.”

  Chapter 26

  Jane and Faraday took their seats in the First Ministers office. Faraday could not help but stare at the man, he was very charismatic. Alex Salmond was a rotund man, he had brown hair that was thinning slightly, and he wore a navy suit, white shirt and a tartan tie.

  “Thank you for seeing me at such short notice Alex.” Jane began.

  “I always have time for you Jane, who is your friend?”

  “This is my husband, James Faraday.”

  Salmond looked surprised, he rose to his feet and shook hands with Faraday.

  “I had no idea you were married?”

  “He works away from home a lot.” Jane explained.

  “I never even noticed the ring on your finger, my apologies.”

  “You are a busy man.” Faraday said.

  “That is true. So what line of work are you in Mr Faraday?”

  “Security work sir.”

  “Are you here for a job?” Salmond asked.

  “Actually no, we came here to warn you about something.” Jane replied.

 
“I think I know where this is going, we have known about the assassination for weeks.”

  “You have?” Jane asked in surprise.

  “Yes, they plan to assassinate me on my way to the Scottish Parliament on Monday morning. I will not be going, I had a better idea.”

  “What idea?” Faraday asked.

  “I will go to the Wallace Monument like they are. After Abaddon has made his speech condemning me, I will tell the world what he planned to do to me. It will not come as any surprise, the man is corrupt and so is his lapdog George Bush.”

  “To what end?” Faraday asked.

  “How do you mean?”

  “Well, what will that accomplish, he is all powerful, who cares if he tries to assassinate you?” Faraday continued.

  “James, how can you say that?” Jane asked.

  “It isn’t an insult, but what difference does it make? With all the people he has had murdered, outside of Scotland, who cares if you are added to the list?”

  “Well, I don’t understand, what it is you want me to do?” Salmond asked.

  “What if you do as you intend to, go to the Wallace Monument and make your speech, then when he is leaving we assassinate him.”

  “How?” Salmond asked.

  “Shut up James.” Jane instructed.

  “Car bomb.”

  “We don’t have explosives Mr Faraday.”

  “Then what do we have?”

  Salmond was silent for a moment. “Nothing really, the police here don’t even have truncheons.”

  “Is he going by car?” Faraday asked.

  “Faraday what are you saying?” Jane snapped.

  “I imagine so.” Salmond replied, ignoring her.

  “Well then put me in the driver’s seat.”

  “What?” Jane asked in astonishment.

  “You heard.”

  “What do you intend to do?” Jane asked.

  “I’ll drive them into the Forth River and leave them to drown.” Faraday declared.

  “He’ll recognise you.” Jane argued.

  “I’ll drive a limousine, he won’t even see me.”

  “I think this may be a little drastic.” Salmond said.

  I agree, what about you James, how do you intend to survive?”

  “I’ll jump out just before we head into the water, I’ll be okay and he won’t suspect a thing.”

  “I don’t want to lose you again.”

  “You won’t, I promise.”

  “But he will see you before you go to the Monument, you will be collecting him from his hotel.” Salmond stated.

  “Well then I can replace the driver whilst Abaddon is at the Monument, you can ask him to do something Mr Salmond, and I can take the car.”

  “You aren’t serious!” Jane barked.

  “Yes I’m serious.”

  “After what we told the kids?”

  “This is different, it is practically risk-free.”

  “Risk-free are you crazy!” Jane snapped.

  “Jane what Guy said was right. I was being short sighted, if we let him live then you know what he will do.”

  “Faraday I have been living here for over twenty years and he has never once come near me!” Jane yelled.

  “But he thinks that you are dead. You didn’t know anything that could hurt him.”

  “Would you two like some privacy?” Salmond interjected.

  “No Alex its fine, he is not doing it.” Jane shouted.

  “Someone needs to do something or this will go on forever.” Faraday shouted back.

  “There really is no need. I will make my speech and we will leave it at that.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure that will make a difference! He is the President of America, the most powerful country on the planet. With the touch of a button he could destroy the entire world and everyone in the world knows that. But you making a speech stating that he wants to kill you is supposed to cause the people of earth to rise up against him?”

  “Faraday who the hell do you think you are?” Jane yelled.

  “Jane I am doing this for us.”

  “I don’t understand, what does Abaddon have against you?” Salmond asked.

  “It’s complicated.” Jane replied.

  “He wants me dead, I know too much about how he got to power.”

  “How could you know that, you must be in your twenties?”

  “Don’t!” Jane yelled.

  Faraday looked at her, he had never seen her angrier than she was at this moment. He understood why she was upset, but he needed to correct his mistake, he owed it to David. “Leave it to me Alex, come Monday, Abaddon Wolf will be at the bottom of the Forth River.”

  Chapter 27

  Bobby, Will and Emmerich stared at the car, not quite sure what they should do. The piles of metal and wood lay beside the door to the cabin. The morning sun was almost blinding, it was just after 09:00.

  “So what do you want us to do?” Emmerich asked.

  “Well, we can’t build a time machine, I suggest we turn this into a good getaway car.” Bobby replied.

  “And how do you intend to do that?” Will asked.

  “We cover the windows, first with wood, and then with metal. At least the bullets might not get through.” Bobby replied.

  “What about the tanks?” Will asked apprehensively.

  “What choice do we have? Why should we wait around here to be killed.” Bobby stated.

  “So when do you want to make a break for it?” Emmerich asked.

  “Today.” Bobby replied.

  “What?” Will asked, sounding exasperated.

  “Well, why not?” Bobby replied. “There’s never going to be a good time to do it.”

  “We’ll never make it.” Will argued.

  “What is the point in staying here?”

  “I agree with Bobby, this is the only chance that you have to escape from here.”

  “Don’t you mean? This is the only chance that we have?” Will asked.

  “Not without my family, I have told you.”

  “Give it a rest!” Will shouted.

  Emmerich walked towards Will aggressively.

  “Calm down both of you. If they see you fighting, they will kill you! Let’s just get started and then we can see where we go from there.” Bobby interjected.

  Chapter 28

  The car had not been quite as big as Wernher had led them to believe. It was certainly a long car, but the Mercedes Benz 770 had only been designed to hold six people, three in the front and three in the back. As luck would have it, it had been built in a limousine style, so there was a lot of floor space. The roof could come down, but it was pouring with rain and the sky was almost black.

  On the front bench, Clyde sat in the driver’s seat, with Bonnie at his side. Beside Bonnie, sat the young Wernher Von Braun. All three were wearing the jet black Nazi uniforms, decorated with silver buttons and a swastika on the left arm. In the back, the older Wernher sat beside Chase, to Chase’s other side was Dr Teller. They were also wearing the Nazi uniforms, whilst Jacob and Sarah sat on the floor. Chase had initially offered Sarah the seat but had been instructed that it would not look very believable that a Nazi officer would give up his seat to a prisoner.

  They had been on the road for almost an hour and barely a word had been spoken, the nerves of everyone in the car had taken over. They had been forced to stop at various military checkpoints on the route, and each time Chase had been sure they would be arrested, but the young Wernher had dealt with it. He looked towards Sarah who gave him the smallest of smiles.

  “That’s it straight ahead.” Wernher instructed from the front.

  “You never mentioned there would be tanks.” Clyde snapped. “How the fuck are we supposed to outrun those?”

  “Well, if all goes to plan we won’t need to.” Wernher replied.

  “And if it doesn’t?” Clyde barked again.

  “Well, I would suggest you drive fast.” Jacob shouted.

  “Well, I w
on’t be waiting for you!” Clyde shouted.

  Jacob chuckled, he was the only person in the car who didn’t even seem to be scared.

  “Sarah I think you should stay in the car.” Chase advised.

  “Will you stop treating me like a child!” She snapped.

  Chase blushed and he caught Jacob grinning at him. “Fuck yourself!”

  “What?” Sarah shouted.

  “I meant him.” He said pointing to Jacob; this caused Jacob to laugh again.

  “Quieten down.” Wernher barked from the front.

  They were approaching the gate and Clyde began to slow down the car, a Nazi guard appeared at the driver’s window. Clyde rolled the window down and Wernher did the talking.

  They were allowed entry and they drove through the gates that had the words “Arbeit Macht Frei” sculpted on to them.

  “What does it mean?” Bonnie asked.

  “Work will set you free.” The older Wernher replied, almost blushing.

  “Clyde if you want to wait at the gates with the car, we can go and find this prisoner.” The young Wernher instructed.

  “Bonnie.” Edward said, speaking for the first time since leaving the house. She turned and looked at Edward.

  “I want you to take this.” He handed her the wormhole generator. “You both have the best chance of walking out of here, the top line is the time and date that you want to go to, and the second is the location. You will figure it out.”

  “There is really no need to hand that over.” The older Wernher replied.

  “Why not?” Edward replied.

  “Things will go smoothly.”

  “You’ve changed your tune?” Chase interjected.

  Neither Wernher replied.

  “Thank you Edward.” Bonnie smiled before accepting the device.

  “Is everyone ready?” Chase asked.

  “Yes sir.” Jacob said sarcastically.

  Chase noticed Mengele approaching the car. “Let’s go then.”

  They stepped from the car, leaving Bonnie and Clyde alone.

  Chapter 29

  Clint, Scarlett and Guy had left the flat before Faraday and Jane had even awoken. They had not seen them over the course of the weekend. After going to meet with Chris, they had managed to come away with fifty pounds of the banned weed killer.

  They had decided to try and take out Abaddon’s car after he had left the Wallace Monument. They had placed the weed killer in a suitcase, and were intending to try and put it inside the car with the fuse lit. They knew they wouldn’t have much time to put the suitcase in the car, so they had left early in order to take up a position just outside the Monument. Large crowds would undoubtedly be gathered for Abaddon’s arrival.