by P. T. McHugh
“They want to talk,” Trigva said skeptically. He looked at the Earl, his face full of suspicion.
The Earl nodded. “It’s Dresden. He wants to speak with me. Alone, it would seem.” Privately, he wondered what kind of game Dresden was playing. He knew better than to trust the man. His one-time associate was full of deceit, and cared only for his own goals and power. He had refused to meet numerous times in the past. Why was he willing now? And why in this manner?
The Earl rose to his feet, sweat pouring down his back and sides, and considered the path before him. The situation. The repercussions. Finally he decided that he had little choice in the matter. His men were surrounded, and wounded. Some of them were dead. As their commander, it was his job to save them if he could. Even if that meant risking his own life.
He walked to one of his men and accepted his horse, nodding once to the man. Reaching one hand up, he rubbed the horse absently on the nose, then mounted and turned back to Trigva.
“How far back was the bridge we crossed at the river?” he asked.
“Perhaps as much as a full thirty minutes, my Lord,” Trigva replied.
“That’s if you follow the path my friend,” the Earl said. He looked past Trigva to the hill on his right. “Find a faster route to the bridge, and then think of a way to get the men out of here. Quickly.” He smiled faintly. “I will try to give you as much time as I can, but I cannot guarantee that I will be joining you. I do not trust this situation, and fear that I may be walking into a trap. Wait as long as you can. If things begin to get ugly, run. Save yourselves.”
Trigva nodded, unquestioning, and the Earl turned and spurred his horse forward, toward Dresden’s waiting horsemen.
Doc shook himself out of his memories. And particularly bad memories, at that. That day had nearly cost him his life. The peace flag had been a trap, as he’d suspected. Men had descended on him as soon as he’d entered the woods. They had seized his reins, dragged him from his horse, and blindfolded him, then led him, shaking, blind, and cursing, to Dresden.
The scene itself was no worse than Doc would have expected from the man. Dresden had accused him of terrible things, insulted his family, asked him questions he couldn’t answer, and finally threatened his life…
Doc shook himself again, and heaved a sigh. He had escaped, though it had cost him the lives of several of his most trusted men. Men that had laid down their lives willingly for a man they hardly knew. He shook his head in wonder before his mind turned back to the image of Dresden. That man didn’t forgive, and he didn’t forget. Doc couldn’t be caught again, because Dresden would be more careful, more brutal, next time. This time … this time he had to win. He had to finish things, because he wouldn’t be going back again. He had promised himself that much, and he always kept his promises.
8
“Would you please leave it on one channel?” I snapped, my eyes struggling to adjust to the television screen. Paul was rolling through all two hundred-plus channels again and again.
I, on the other hand, was doing what I did best–drawing up a list of facts. Things I knew to be true, at least as far as I was concerned. Doc was into something heavy. It was definitely dangerous, and not only for him. From what I could tell, the entire world as we knew it was depending on his success. I might be quiet, and I might not speak out in class if I didn’t have to, but I wasn’t stupid. And I sure wasn’t the type to sit back and watch while someone else had an adventure or did something monumentally stupid.
Doc had said he was jumping again on Monday morning. Today was Sunday, so that meant that I had only one day to come up with a plan. Paul’s obsessive channel changing wasn’t helping me think. I wanted to be alone, or at least in a quiet environment, to lay out the facts and figure out what my next move was.
“There’s nothing on,” Paul complained.
“Paul, you’re not helping me here. Remember all that stuff I just told you about? All that jumping through time stuff? I’m trying to figure out what to do about it. And you’re worrying about what’s on TV?”
Paul grunted. “You know, buddy, I’ve been thinking about that. Don’t you think it’s all a little strange?” He turned down the TV and looked at me. “I don’t mean that your grandfather’s crazy or anything like that, but don’t you find the whole situation a little … farfetched? Maybe you’re a little too quick to believe in fiction. Reading too many comic books, these days.” He grinned.
I felt my mouth tighten in frustration. Paul was my best friend, and I loved him like a brother, but some aspects of his personality really drove me crazy. This was not what I needed from him right now. I needed him to take me seriously, not play devil’s advocate. Or joke.
“What exactly do you mean?” I asked quietly.
Anyone who knew me knew that I was generally pretty easygoing. I didn’t fight with people, didn’t usually throw around threats, and almost never got angry. When I did, though, I got very quiet. It was something I’d inherited from my mom, who’d had a hot Irish temper, and had trouble keeping it. She’d never shouted, though. A drop in her voice was how you knew you were in trouble.
Paul evidently missed my voice, though, since he kept going. “I just think you should chill, that’s all.” He turned the TV back up. “Watch some TV. Return to reality. Forget about all the time travel crap. There’s no way it’s true, so why bother thinking about it?”
I sucked air through my teeth to give myself a moment to settle down. Then I counted to ten. When my anger still hadn’t cooled, I held my breath for twenty seconds. Paul was just trying to give me good advice. Trying to be a friend, and help me settle down. Calling my grandfather’s story into question was the wrong way to do it, given my defensive reaction, but…
Before I could find a reply to Paul’s statement, someone hammered on the door.
Paul and I stared at one another for half a second, then jumped up and ran toward the front door. Doc had been reading the paper in the kitchen, and met us in the mudroom.
“Must be that new boarder,” he said, smiling. He tucked his newspaper under his arm, and the three of us made our way toward the front door together.
Paul got there first, and swung the door open. “No way,” he mumbled quietly. “Mr. Slayton?”
At the name, I stopped next to Paul and stared. Mr. Slayton? The Special Forces sub Paul had told me about? What was he doing at our front door?
“Yes. Have we met?” the man asked, puzzled.
“Boys,” Doc said, nudging the two of us aside, “where are your manners? Please come inside, Mr. Slayton.” He opened the door wider and stood aside to let the man in. “I’m sure the boys don’t mean to stare.” He gave us a quick, hard glance, and we both looked down.
The new boarder stepped past us and set down his bag, then turned back. “Thank you, sir, and please call me Reis.” He smiled and turned to Paul. “Now I remember you. History class, fifth period, right?” He held his hand out.
“Yes sir,” Paul replied. He accepted the offer and shook Reis’ hand, then turned to me with a dumbstruck look on his face. “This is that substitute I told you about.” He looked toward Doc. “He’s been filling in for Mr. Fulton, Doc.”
Doc chuckled. “Ah, a man after my own heart. Nice to meet you, Reis.” The two men shook hands.
I just stared. So this was the guy John Fleming had hired to watch after us. More precisely, to watch over me. Keep me out of danger. Presumably, then, to get in the way when I wanted to do something. I didn’t trust John Fleming, and didn’t really know what he had to do with my grandfather’s situation. I’d had a long talk with myself about this body guard person, and had already decided that I wouldn’t trust him, wouldn’t let him in. He was here to guard me, and that alone rubbed me the wrong way. Beyond that, though, this guy was taking his orders from Fleming, and if I didn’t trust Fleming, then I couldn’t trust his employees.
So I was shocked when that little voice inside my head–the one that always judged someone as good
or bad, within five seconds of meeting them–started telling me that I could trust this guy. Reis had a genuine, relaxed charm about him. He looked around confidently, assured of his place, but didn’t look down on us like he could have. He smiled warmly at me in greeting, nodding gently in my direction. His easy manner made me feel like I’d known him for years. He looked to be just over 6 feet tall, and had a lean, hard physique; the type of muscular body I’d always wanted and would probably never have. He had dark green eyes, short blond hair, and a small scar on his left cheek. I thought he was in his late twenties until I looked into his eyes. Those eyes had seen too much to be that young. I’d never met a Special Forces guy, but if I had, I was willing to bet he’d have had eyes just like that.
Damn, I thought. I’d been so ready to hate this guy. And instead, here I was already liking him, and trying to figure out where he’d been. So much for making my mind up ahead of time.
“Listen, I really appreciate you guys letting me stay here,” Reis was saying. “I’m new in town, and I don’t know anyone. Looks like I might be here for awhile, so I hope this works out.”
“Well, you come highly recommended, and this house is obviously large enough to accommodate all three of us.” Doc glanced at Paul. “Well, sometimes four. But Jason and Paul effectively share a room.” He grinned at Reis and leaned down to pick up his bag. “I’ve got your room all set up. Let me show you where it is.”
Reis’ hand jumped out to stop Doc’s. “I’ve got it sir, if you don’t mind.” He bent over to retrieve his bag himself.
Doc shrugged. “Sure. Do you have any more luggage?”
Was it my imagination, or did Reis’ mouth harden just a fraction? I blinked, and looked again; if I’d seen a change, it disappeared as quickly as it came, because he was smiling now.
“I have a couple others, but I can get them later. I generally carry my own bags. Personal quirk. Is it okay to park on the street?”
“Oh, that’s fine. But we also have plenty of room in the driveway, if you want to park there. It’s totally up to you.” The two of them made their way back through the mudroom, through the kitchen, and out of view.
I shook myself and closed my mouth. I felt an odd urge to follow Doc and Reis to spend more time with the man, but restrained myself. I’d be seeing plenty of him, and I wanted to gather as much information as I could first.
“That’s the guy who manhandled the kid in class?” I asked.
“Yup.”
I whistled. “I believe it. He certainly knows how to fill up a room. I wouldn’t want to mess with him.”
“Told you,” Paul quipped.
“It’s weird, though.” I shook my head. “I like the guy. He seems … like a good guy, I guess.” Then I laughed. “Man, this is getting stranger by the minute. Last week I was worried about my Physics midterm. Now I’ve got a body guard.”
“It’s bad ass,” Paul replied with a smile.
“I’m glad you think so. Except now I also have to worry about people trying to kill me because my grandfather travels back in time to stop a madman who wants to change history. I have enough people after me that I need a body guard.”
Paul shrugged. “I have to admit, this does help your story. I don’t want to believe it, because it’s crazy, but this Reis character showing up…” Paul shook his head. “Well let’s just say that’s one hell of a coincidence. Sort of clinches it, I guess.” I got the feeling that Paul didn’t want to admit what I already knew. I didn’t blame him–once you admitted that the crazy story might be true, it was a little hard to deal with. Still, if he was starting to consider it, then that meant that he was on my side.
“No joke.” I paused. “One thing’s for sure, though. There are still too many questions. This is one piece of the puzzle, but there’s a lot more. We need more answers.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“When Doc was talking to Fleming at dinner, they talked about there being a stone here. If there’s one here, then that’s where it all starts. And I want to see it with my own eyes,” I replied.
Paul snorted. “Well that’ll be a neat trick. You don’t know where it is.”
“Actually, I’ve got a pretty good idea,” I said.
“Then let’s go,” Paul replied. He took a step toward the door.
I shook my head and grabbed his arm. “No, Doc can’t see us searching. He doesn’t want me to know about it, which means I have to find it without him knowing that I’m looking. He leaves in the morning, and I want to know what’s going on before then. We’ll go tonight, when everyone’s asleep.”
“Thank you for coming on such short notice, Mr. Slayton,” Doc said, watching as Reis laid his green canvas duffel bag on the bed.
“Please, sir, call me Reis.”
“Of course, of course. As long as you’ll stop calling me sir.” Doc smiled. “I must admit, Reis, that this is all a little unexpected. I’m not used to having a…”
“Body guard?” Reis finished with a reserved smile.
Doc nodded. “Exactly.”
“Well, Mr. Fleming has paid me a lot of money to make sure that you and your grandson are safe. I don’t know why he thinks you’re in danger, but his convictions are very strong.”
Doc nodded again. “You must understand, Reis, that my personal safety means little to me. My grandson’s safety, however, means everything. The only reason I’m agreeing to John’s plan is that I think he may be right about the danger. I didn’t want to believe it, but I’m afraid that I may no longer have a choice.”
Reis took a deep breath. “Doc–may I call you Doc?–Mr. Fleming was awfully vague about why he felt you were in danger. I realize that there are things you might not want to tell me, but knowing what I’m up against and who we’re fighting–would sure give me a better shot at doing my job.”
Doc studied Reis for a moment, then nodded slowly, having made his decision. Something about the man made him feel that he could be trusted. And as long as he was going to be protecting Jason, Reis was right–he needed to know everything. Regardless of John’s reservations.
“Well, Reis, I suppose you might as well know. I can hardly keep it from you, and it may help you at some point. The fact is, I’m in possession of an object that allows me to travel back in time. Unfortunately, there are others who know about these objects. And others who use them. One of these men is in the past now, attempting to derail history for his own–questionable–reasons. I’m the only one who can use the objects to stop him. In short, I’ve been entrusted with the fate of the world. John Fleming believes that this fate may bring my grandson into fairly … unique danger.”
Doc stood absolutely still as he finished speaking, and watched Reis carefully. What would this man do? Believe him? Ridicule him? Storm out? After all this time, to tell someone the whole truth, without censoring the facts, and expect belief…
Reis stared back blankly for several seconds before shaking his head. “Listen, Doc, I didn’t mean to offend you by asking the question. If you don’t want to tell me the real reason that I’m here, you can just say so.”
Doc snorted, then barked with laughter. He didn’t know whether Reis truly didn’t believe him, or was acknowledging and accepting the situation and secrecy with a code of his own. Either way, it appeared that the secret and the stones–and Jason–were safe for the moment. He nodded in relief, smiled, and strolled casually out of the room.
Behind him, Reis sank slowly onto the bed and began to breathe again. He watched Doc leave the room, closed his eyes briefly, and turned to unpacking.
9
I rolled over and looked at my alarm clock. It was past midnight–1:14AM. That was it, it was time. I hadn’t slept a wink all night, waiting for this, and I wasn’t going to wait any longer. I reached for the pretzel that was lying on my nightstand and threw it at Paul, who was sleeping at the foot of my bed.
He jerked awake when the pretzel hit his forehead. “What the hell?” he grumbled.
; “It’s time,” I whispered as softly as I could.
He groaned and cracked one eye open. “I’m up, I’m up. I hope you appreciate this.”
I laughed. Paul was complaining now, but he’d been beside himself with excitement when I first told him about my plan. Paul loved an adventure more than anyone I knew, and as far as he was concerned, doing it in the middle of the night just made it better. We got up and slipped on our sneakers, which were sitting ready next to my door. I opened the door as quietly as I could, and poked my head out into the hallway, listening. Dead silence, though the house was half-lit with the shine from that damn street lamp. Most importantly, the hallway was empty. I had half expected Reis Slay-ton to be standing guard outside my room, and was relieved to see that he wasn’t. Luckily, his room was on the opposite end of the house, away from the stairs. I didn’t think he would pose any problem to our plan. Doc’s bedroom, on the other hand, was directly between my room and the stairs. And his door was wide open.
I paused. Doc never slept with his door open. Why tonight, of all nights? If he woke up and saw us, it would throw a very large wrench in the works.
Paul and I glanced at each other, then took a couple of steps forward. The squeak of a floorboard reverberated through the house, and we both froze. When nothing happened, we crept forward again, sticking to the walls and stepping carefully.
“Like walking on explosive eggshells,” Paul breathed quietly.
I glared at him and pressed my finger firmly to my lips. If we got caught now, just because he’d felt the need to make a clever remark…
I got to Doc’s door and peeked around the wall. Inside, my grandfather’s comforter rose and fell with his slow, steady breathing. Still asleep, then. I darted past the door, and motioned for Paul to follow me. We descended the carpeted stairwell as quickly as we could, nerves rattled but intact, and sprinted through the living room and kitchen. In the mudroom I stopped, collapsing onto the bench in relief. It was working. We weren’t out into the shed yet, but we were almost out of the house. So far, the plan was going exactly like I’d hoped. I’d honestly expected to be caught by now, though, so the thought of actually going forward was a bit daunting. Still, that was what I had planned to do, and turning back wasn’t an option. I breathed slowly, trying to collect myself.