Watson smiled as he held the jacket up to his chest and looked in the long mirror. “Just think, I shall be meeting Lord Nelson himself.”
Matt turned to Shirley and said, “Ms. Shirley I have a valise for you but rather than guessing what it is that you would bring along, I’ve decided to take you up to the section of ladies wear, 1805.”
She smiled, “Thank you Matt. Whenever you wish.”
“First,” Matt said as he opened a large manila envelope, “I’ve set up and paid for three first-rate cabins aboard the Packet ship, the Penguin. You three will be greeted by the captain, Captain Whiting, a friend of mine who is expecting you.” He picked up another envelope and said as he handed the important looking papers to Watson, “Sir, you have in your hand orders from the British Admiralty stating that you are Surgeon John Watson a graduate of the Royal Naval Institute. You have recently returned from Australia where you were attached to the Royal Australian Navy as a surgeon where your job was to guide their new medical division to have them ready to man the ships that will be part of their navy when the service is activated in a few years. They wish for you to board the HMS Victory and see if the men are being treated well. Using this excuse means that you will not have to carry a black bag around and that’s a plus as the instruments they carried back then were large and heavy.”
Watson looked frazzled, “Do-Do you think that they will believe this?”
“Yes,” answered Bill reassuringly, “They won’t question the top admiral’s signature and seal and as far as the every day captain is concerned: it’s not their problem. They just have to take you to the Victory and drop you off. Plus having a surgeon aboard their vessel is a plus for them should they find themselves in a battle. Watson, believe me we have used the ‘morale’ ticket more than once and no officer wants to be known as the man who interfered with the welfare of their crew especially when it comes straight from the top guy. They all remember the two mutinies of 1797 when British seamen refused to sail at Spithead and the Nore and the last thing they want is to be the cause of another rebellion. We also are arriving at the ship just as she is about to shove off and no captain wants to miss his tide and he knows how long it would take to have the writ authenticated. Besides, the signature and wax seal gets him off the hook.”
“I must say it does hold water,” Watson said as he shook his head and knowing the answer, he still asked the question: “I imagine that I will be a witness to the real death of Lord Nelson?”
Bill just nodded knowing that the scene will never leave the doctor’s mind. He held up the shoe brush and said as he tried to change that subject, “Should you need to get in touch with me, this is a communication device.”
“A-A what?”
“A communication device. What we call a computer.” Bill held the wooden handled shoe brush up and said as he pressed down on it, “Simply press down, turn and the brush flips up to show a screen and writing device.”
“A writing device?” said Watson puzzled.
“Yes. You press on the keys and whatever you write I can read after you press this ‘send’ button.” He handed it to him, “Here, but before you write anything you must type your password which I set up for you already. It’s SAMSON. Type that in and then the message and press ‘send’ and watch my computer.”
Watson typed in SAMSON and then GOOD DAY, SIR. IT IS I, SURGEON JOHN WATSON, and then pressed the send button. Almost immediately a chime sounded from Bill’s inside jacket pocket and he took out a slim flat billfold. He flipped it open and showed Watson the screen that read GOOD DAY, SIR. IT IS I, SURGEON JOHN WATSON.
“Why-Why that is fantastic! You have so many wonderful things in your time. It is bewildering indeed!”
“Doctor,” said Bill, “there is something that you have to remember. If you want me to join you wherever you are, it will take me as many days as it took you to get to where you are. In a real emergency I can be there almost right away but that is very complicated as I must leave to be with you before you even leave here to start the mission.”
Watson shook his head, “This becomes quite complicated, indeed.”
Matt passed an envelope of money and ship tickets to Bill as he said, “Sir, I shall take Ms. Shirley up to the wardroom.”
“Very well, Matt.”
Shirley followed Matt to the wardrobe on the top floor, which housed the clothing for almost every time period that the club may be needed to visit.
She went down the line of women’s clothing for 1805 knowing that the size of her valise dictated how many items she could pick. She went straight to the light-weight dresses and found what she was looking for: a long sleeve white cotton day dress that featured a three-inch wide white ribbon that surrounded her rib cage just beneath her breasts creating a fashionably high waistline. The neckline was low cut and the dress came with a white linen choker for her neck. Knowing that the simple dress took little room, she took five more of the same but in different colors along with four pairs of low-heeled shoes, two white, one black and one red. She held the dress up to her and thought as she looked in a mirror, Shirley, I do believe that we can escape wearing a bustle with this style. Good for me! She next selected a red, Shaker hooded cape to keep the night chill off and a black Empire-line coat with long sleeves, which would keep her warmer than the hooded cape. She selected a white, a black and a red Spencer jacket, which is worn today like a cardigan. A Spencer was a short form of a jacket that ended just above waist level and was cut to show the dress she wore with it. Next came three small hats, one with two long white ribbons for a windy day and two with pearl-headed hatpins. The hats matched the three small beaded grips she selected, one black, one red and one white. Her final dress pick was white muslin embroidered in silver thread or ‘plate’ embroidery with flowered sprigs that, from a distance looked like stars. It had a running border of flowered sprigs along the bottom of the dress all tied together with one long continuous sprig. The shoulders were short and puffed and if needed, an add-on sleeve of the same material that simply snapped on the inside of the puffed shoulder was available for chilly evenings. The bodice was short and finished with a casing of white ribbon. The back of the skirt was longer than the front and a simple snap, hidden in a crease halfway up the back may be used when walking to a carriage, keeping it from dragging through the dirt or mud of the streets of 1805. However the evening gown is designed to be worn with a bustle, which made Shirley fume at its necessity. She grabbed a small bustle and added it to the clothes. As she was about to leave she thought, Wait! Not so fast Ms. Holmes. Let’s step into the clothes for 2015 and see what we can take. She walked down the long room, went to a small section that had been set up just for her and after making her choice, brought it back to the den with her other choices.
When every valise was packed and ready to go Bill said, “Watson, my door will always be open for you to come visit but for now is there anything that you would like to see while you are here?
“I noticed that you have many books called ‘Sherlock Holmes’, and as it is I who am writing them I thought that perhaps I would read one or two. However, I then decided against doing that as it may hinder the investigations of the actual case they are written about. Next I thought of taking a stroll down the street alone but I vetoed that idea as I might step in front of one of those scooters or bicycles delivering food. No, much too dangerous.” He pulled at his mustache and went on, ”As much as I would have liked to gather more medical knowledge by reading your books on the various subjects, I realized that to do so would be like the toddler who tried to run before walking. Besides, going back to 1898 with that knowledge seems to me as though I were stealing from the doctors who put years and years into their research before their breakthroughs. Not cricket, one would imagine. So, as I am off to a trip of 90 plus years before my birth and knowing that I must be on my best game to meet these great men of history, I think it best to start off with a good nights sleep.”
Bill smiled, “You are truly a
gentleman, my friend.” Bill went to his desk and returned with three E-Readers. “The trip to England in 1805 takes about twenty-five days and as there will probably be no amenities aboard the early packet ships I thought that we could fill time with these.”
“An E-Reader,” said Shirley with a nod. “Great idea, Bill.”
“A-A what?” asked Watson.
Bill opened the reader and said, “It’s an electronic reader. I’ll show you how it works. What is your favorite book?”
Watson closed his eyes momentarily and said, “King Solomon’s Mines by Sir H. Rider Haggard in 1885.” He watched as Bill typed on the screen of the reader and after a few moments passed it to the doctor whose eyes went wide. “My word! How is this possible? Who put the story in here?”
“Nobody did, Watson. It’s an electronic book. I want you to give me enough books for a twenty-five day trip to England and another batch for the trip back to New York.” He turned to Shirley and went on, “Shirley. Will you do the same?”
“Of course, but won’t the batteries drain well before we get to England?”
“Ours would. However our friends from the future gave me the three e-readers that are solar powered and never die.”
For the next hour the three of them made a list of books they would like to read and Bill downloaded them from his Amazon account.
The grandfather clock struck ten o’clock when they decided to turn in and it was 10:30 when Watson thought he heard the door to Shirley’s room open and close followed by the door to Bill’s apartment open and close. He mentally shook his head and went to sleep with a smile.
Breakfast the next morning was eggs, bacon and ham along with buttered toast and tea. The three were dressed in one of their 1805 outfits and Matt said as he took Samson out for a walk, “Sir, there will be a cab waiting for you in the usual place: the first cobblestoned street. The cabby’s name is Johnnie. Once at the dock the ship is the Penquin and my friend, Captain Whiting who is expecting you all, captains her. When you arrive in London he suggests that you stay at the Green Heart on Seeley Street, which is a short cab ride away from the docks. I shall be back before you depart.”
“Splendid choice, the Green Heart,” said Watson. “I know it well as we had a few affairs there with my card playing friends.”
“I agree with Watson,” added Shirley, “I’ve attended a few weddings there and it is a well appointed place. It will be a thrill to be there when it was brand new.”
The three finished breakfast then washed up and did a final check on all they were bringing. The jackets that Matt had selected for the men all had a secret pocket on the inside and Watson placed his papers in it and closed the snap to secure the pocket. As the three of them gathered in the den Matt returned with Samson.
“Communications check, sir?” he asked and Bill nodded as he took out his combination hairbrush and communicator and opened it. He entered his password and then typed, HI MATT. HOW DOES THIS READ?
A chirp sounded in Matt’s inside jacket pocket and he opened his communicator and after reading Bill’s message typed, MESSAGE CLEAR, SIR. HOW DO YOU READ MY MESSAGE?
Bill snapped his unit closed and said, “Nice and clear, Matt. What was the time that you told the cab driver that we would meet him?”
“Ten a.m., sir, on September 15, 1805. On that date there is still a fifteen-minute walk through woods before the road is reached. I believe that in another year the city will have reached the time portal’s location and we will have to be even more careful opening the door.”
“Right,” answered Bill as he slapped Matt on his shoulder, “Matt, once again you have taken care of us. I hope to see you soon and will stay in touch.”
Before Matt knew it Shirley had him in a hug as she said, “Thank you for everything, Matt. I also hope to see you soon.” She pecked him on his red cheek. Matt watched as she bent down and scratched Samson’s ears and said, “Samson: one of my favorite guys no matter what time I happen to be in.”
“Well, old man,” said Watson as he shook Matt’s hand, “Thank you for everything and I do hope we can have a cup of tea in London some day.”
Matt smiled, “As do I, Doctor Watson, as do I.”
Bill opened his Time Frequency Modulator and after typing in his password entered, SEPTEMBER 15, 1805, 9:30 A.M., bent down and ruffled his beagle’s ears then opened the door and led the other two time travelers down the stairs. Once at the bottom landing he pressed the activate button and opened the door a crack.
DATELINE: SEPTEMBER 15, 1805 PLACE: THE TIP OF FUTURE TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK, NEW YORK CITY
Morning sunlight entered the stairwell and seeing no one and hearing birds singing, he opened the door enough to look about. The area was empty and Bill opened the door a bit more as Shirley and Watson stepped out into the wooded area. Bill quickly closed the door and went about placing a few stones to show him the opening back to the future when from behind a stand of trees a woman carrying a child came into the small clearing they stood in. She inhaled deeply in their sudden appearance and turned to run when she tripped over the exposed root of a tree. Bill saw immediately that she was a Native American who got spooked at their appearance and he took a step to help her up when one of the biggest men he had ever seen stepped quickly from behind the same tree. Both the man and woman were dressed in buckskins and she wore a beaded headband that kept her long black hair in place. Her terror-filled black eyes stared up at them as she lay in the tall grass and the man brandished a tomahawk as he stepped between the woman and child and the unexpected trio. The two groups stared at each other not sure what to do when the baby cried and Shirley stepped gently forward as the men watched. She kneeled down and took the woman’s slim hand and helped her up. She brushed some grass from the baby’s buckskin wrap and the woman smiled slightly as the baby giggled. The woman looked at Shirley then at the small pearl stickpin she used as a decorative touch on the shoulder of her red hooded cape.
Shirley removed it and pinned it near the neckline of her dress. The man lowered his tomahawk as they watched the two women communicate without speaking. The woman removed a beaded bracelet from her wrist and slipped it onto Shirley’s. The brave tucked the weapon into his waistband and took the woman’s hand and they melted into the woods.
Bill smiled at Shirley and said, “That was quick thinking, hon.” He led them through and out of the wooded area and they arrived at the cobblestoned street just as the cab pulled up.
“I be Johnnie, friends. Is it a cab you’re looking for?”
“Yes. A friend of ours said that you would be here.”
“And it’s the docks that ya wish ta go ta. Right?”
“That’s right, Johnnie.”
“Well, climb aboard and we’ll be on our way.”
The three time travelers climbed in and the cabby started off at a fast walk. Although Bill had been back in this time period before he still stretched his neck to watch as early New York went by and when he saw both Shirley and Watson doing the same, he grinned as he thought, This is a time travel trip for them as well and like any time traveler I’ve ever been with, they are mesmerized by the sights of an earlier time.
They passed a slow moving black and white spotted horse that had three shoeless children wearing straw hats riding on it as their mother led holding the reins with one hand and her dress hem with the other. All three smiled and waved excitedly as they passed them and the three time travelers waved back. Bill called up to the driver, “Johnnie, please stop a moment.” The cabby pulled over and Bill hopped out. He trotted over to the woman approaching with the horse and its young riders.
“M’am,” he said as he tipped his hat, “I believe that this fell out of your pocket.” He handed her a fist full of money and her mouth dropped. Quickly regaining her voice she stammered, “Sir, you must be mistaken. This is not mine. I wonder if perhaps another further up the road might be the true owner?”
“No, I see no one on the road ahead of you. And if I ask anothe
r to take it they may tell a lie and lay claim to it when I know for certain that it is meant for you and your children. Perhaps to soften the coming winter for you.”
A tear made a path down her dust-laden cheek as she answered with many sniffles, “Sir. I know not why you gift me with this, but yes, it will help me through the coming winter and perhaps I can purchase my home from our landlord.”
Bill smiled and tipped his hat, “Your children are beautiful, I hope you all have a great life.” He ran back to the cab and climbed in.
“Do you know her?” asked Watson.
Before Bill could answer, Shirley said, as she hugged Bill, “No He just did a wonderful thing for a struggling family.”
After a short time the streets were shared with groups of sheep and a few cows all heading south and led by their slow walking owners.
“What a wonderful time,” said Watson. “It seems to be an easier time than the one we come from, ah, Shirley?”
TimeTravel Adventures of The 1800 Club: Book 12 Page 11