Timecachers

by Glenn R. Petrucci

  “That would be a good thing,” said Adam. “He’s somewhat high maintenance and ornery, but we would like him back in one piece. Don’t let his sharp tongue fool you; his wit is just as sharp. His resourcefulness can be surprising.”

  “Oh, my yes,” said Alice. “He might be crass, tactless, and impertinent, but he’s our squirrely friend and we don’t want him broken.”

  “Gee, you’re so thoughtful. I didn’t know you cared. Hey, what the heck is with the squirrel-man stuff anyway?” Sal asked with irritation.

  “It’s your name,” Alice snickered.

  “My name? Whadaya mean?” said Sal.

  “Sal Lolliman,” said Alice. “Back at the farm Sally told me that in the Cherokee language saloli is the word for squirrel, so that makes you the squirrel-man.”

  “Perfect,” said Sal, rolling his eyes. “I guess that’s what I get for hanging out with a bunch of nuts.”

  Chapter twenty-four

  The mood in the barn grew doleful as the group’s discussion turned to the disheartened mood of the community. They agreed that it was most important to prevent people from falling into despair, lending merit to the decision to let Adam and his team become helpers for a few families.

  They decided that it would be best to keep knowledge of the unusual circumstances about Adam’s group limited to only those who already knew. John Carter felt that the others would most likely accept it as easily as he had, but folks already had enough on their minds as it was. For now, they would simply tell the others they were visiting from up north, from Philadelphia or Delaware. Most of the Cherokees in Georgia had never been to those places, so they would attribute their peculiarities to being whites from a northern city.

  The four Cherokees continued their discussion of several community issues. John Carter conveyed several bits of society news from his trip to Red Clay, and then conferred with Yonah on the matters he would relay. Yonah would be traveling toward the western boarder of the Cherokee Nation, and would carry news to those who lived there.

  After the tribal business John turned his attention to Adam’s team, filling them in with some more details about the people they would be with. He drew a map on the dirt floor of the barn to illustrate the general location of each family so that they could get a sense of where the others would be.

  The meeting concluded, they loaded the empty food baskets back into the wagon, and made preparations to go their separate ways. While they were outside, Yonah caught John’s eye and pointed his chin to a place away from the others where they could speak privately.

  “What are you thinking, John Carter? I do not understand why you believe any Real People need the help of these yonegas. They can barely look after themselves. I suspect you have ulterior motives.” The wrinkled folds of skin tightened around Yonah’s eyes as he squinted warily at John.

  John Carter placed his hands on his hips and feigned a scowl. “Always the suspicious one, eh, Yonah? You are right, they are not familiar with our ways, and are disoriented because they are not even from our time. However, you of all people should comprehend my ulterior motive. I wish to determine the reason the Creator sent them on such a strange journey. He sent them to us, and they don’t know why. It is up to us, those who understand the ways of the Great Father, to figure it out.”

  “It is not always possible to understand His intentions. What do you believe you have figured out?” asked Yonah.

  “Very little, so far,” he admitted. “Perhaps His purpose is served when they return to their own time. Our part may be to have them experience our plight. They should be shown how we are in this time, and see that we suffer this injustice in spite of all our attempts to live among the whites and all the appeals to the white government. It may be that His purpose is to have them take those experiences back to their own time, so people do not forget; so that the things that happen in this time will not happen again.”

  “Mmm, perhaps,” said Yonah, rubbing his chin. “Perhaps you are right. I suppose that is better than the alternative.”

  “Which is?”

  “That they were sent to show us we have no place in their future.”

  Chapter twenty-five

  Yonah and Sal were the first to leave. They had the furthest to travel, starting out on foot through rugged mountain trails. Sal said his goodbyes to the others, cracking jokes as usual, attempting to reveal no indication of anxiety about spending time with Yonah, although the nervousness in his voice belied his effort. They bid him and Yonah farewell, and made Sal promise to be extremely cautious. Naturally, he shrugged their warnings off as inconsequential. The rest of the group watched as the pair ascended the hill behind the barn, Sal turning for a final quick wave before disappearing from view over the hilltop.

  “My goodness, I’d give anything to have a video of Sal’s next couple of days,” said Alice, eliciting laughter from Tom and Adam.

  “Yeah,” said Adam, “I’m not sure about your reason for partnering those two, John. They seem to irritate each other considerably. Unless you thought it would be amusing.”

  “I admit that their partnering may be somewhat entertaining,” John Carter answered, “but I believe they will come to find they are much more complimentary than they realize. Like you, I also see great potential in Sal, and what he will learn from Yonah in a few days will add greatly to his character. I also believe that Yonah will benefit from Sal’s wit, so he may learn to see humor in serious situations. Sometimes things that don’t mix well can together create something good, the way oil and vinegar are combined to make an excellent salad dressing.”

  Adam wasn’t totally convinced. “I just hope that Sal doesn’t come back as coleslaw.”

  John and Tom were the next to leave. Tom borrowed Jimmy’s horse so he could ride with John to the Ward place, while Jimmy and Adam would hitch a ride home in Benjamin’s wagon. The Ward farm was several miles from town, and even on horseback it would take them several hours to reach it. Tom was an experienced rider, but out of practice. He checked the saddle, gracefully mounted the horse, and trotted around the barn once to refresh his horsemanship skills. “Just like riding a bike,” he said.

  John Carter mounted his horse and said, “We should be going, now. It is not good for us to gather for so long in one place.”

  “Howa, very well,” said Benjamin. “Ride with caution, my friends. John, I suppose you know that the colonel is looking for you.”

  “Uh,” John affirmed. “Yes, I have heard. I don’t think I’ll give him the pleasure of my company today, though. Dodadagohvi, my friends, we will meet again soon.”

  John and Tom set off trotting down the lane. The others loaded into the wagon, following them, but turning the opposite direction at the end of the lane, toward New Echota. They had to take a slight detour to reach Jimmy’s place before returning to town. Adam and Jimmy would ride in the wagon as far as the cutoff to the Deerinwater farm, and then walk the rest of the way. The farm was less than a mile from the cutoff, and walking would give Jimmy a chance to show off some of his modernized farm.

  When they stopped at the Deerinwater cutoff, a group of about a dozen men on horseback rounded the bend in front of them at a gallop and surrounded the wagon. Through the great cloud of dust kicked up by the horses, they could see that they were not wearing uniforms, but were dressed in civilian clothes and appeared to be farmers or townspeople. Some had shoulder-length hair, and many were bearded. They were all armed with pistols and rifles. Several had their weapons drawn, and they pranced their horses around the wagon to prevent it from moving.

  “Well, just lookee what we got here,” said one of the men, evidently one of the leaders. “Looks like a bunch of injuns out for a picnic. Or maybe they been havin’ them a political meetin’. We just might hafta run ‘em in for that!”

  “Yeah, Jeb,” said one of the other men, “or maybe it’d be best jus’ to shoot ‘em right here!”

  “Not all of ‘em, though,” said Jeb. “I got a better use for
that there little blonde half-breed,” he said, flashing a toothy, leering grin at Alice. “I betcha wouldn’t mind sharin’ some of that injun coochie your sittin’ on with all o’ us, would ye’?”

  Adam stiffened and started to act in response, but Benjamin placed a restraining hand on his arm as a warning not to speak. The man Jeb smiled and waved his pistol as if he would like nothing better than for Adam to give him a reason to use it. Alice gave the man a cold, disgusted look, then summoned all of her willpower to lower her eyes and refrain from making a sharp reply. She knew how to handle ignorant comments from rude men, but these men were armed, and she was not ashamed to let her fear guide her actions in this case.

  “We are simply giving our friends a ride home, before we return to our own home. We are not breaking any laws or causing anyone harm,” said Benjamin.

  Jeb responded with a snort. His face told Benjamin that it didn’t make much of a difference whether they were breaking any laws or not. These men would find a way to detain them, or worse, if they wanted to.

  “I know’d them two,” said one of the other men through a wad of tobacco in his cheek, indicating Jimmy and Benjamin. He spit out a long string of brown juice, most of which dribbled into the slimy stain already in his beard. “That there is Rogers from ‘cross the river, and that ’ns Deerinwater who lives down there a piece. At least that’s where he used t’ live. I don’t know’d who them others are. I ain’t never seen ‘em before.”

  “That right?” said Jeb. “I know’d the man what really owns that Deerinwater place—won it long ago in the lottery. He’s been a-waitin’ for them redskins t’clear out. Been me, I’d a done run ‘em out by now. I seen that other place ‘cross the river, too. That’s some good land. Maybe I ought a just shoot this injun an’ go claim it for myself.”

  “There is still time to leave before the deadline,” Benjamin stated.

  “It’s way past your deadline, injun. We been waiting years for ya’ll to git your damn red asses out-a here. All of you what don’t git will be a-gettin’ new homes, though. General Scott’s a-buildin’ ‘em for ye’ now. Look like pig pens. Ought a make ye’ filthy savages feel right t’ home.

  “Ya’ll is lucky today, though, seeing that we got us some other business to tend to. We ain’t got time t’ mess with ye right now; but ye best be a-headin’ fer the injun territory afore we see ya’ll agin’. Lest ye want our help leavin’; feet first, that is. Ye kin leave lil’ blondie here fer me, though. Ah bet a bottle o’ wisgi helps her git real friendly,” he said, winking at Alice and grabbing at his groin. Alice silently seethed, but did not look at the man.

  “Come on, boys. We got more important things t’ do with our time than t’ be a-foolin’ with these redskins. Blondie, ya’ll keep it warm fer me an’ ah’ll shows ya a real good time next time ah sees ya.” He wheeled his horse around and galloped off. The rest of the men followed, hooting and shouting as they kicked up a cloud of dust and disappeared down the road.

  “I had hoped to avoid any confrontation with the Georgians,” Benjamin said. “I should have taken a more indirect route to Jimmy’s place. I am sorry you had to endure such behavior.”

  “Don’t blame yourself,” said Adam. “You warned us that we might have to face this sort of thing, and we came anyway. I am ashamed to admit feeling frightened and helpless facing that much anger and loaded weapons.”

  “That was nothing,” said Jimmy Deerinwater. “Usually we have to face much more than just their verbal abuse. Several of my friends have been dragged from their homes by yonegas who claim they are now the owners of the property. Others have felt free to steal anything they want from us, as we are no longer permitted to use the Georgian courts. Men like those have been doing their best to intimidate us into leaving for the last several years. It was fortunate for us they seem to be in a hurry.”

  “They are disgusting animals,” said Alice, still seething at having to hold her tongue. “Good heavens! If the women have had to put up with that type of abuse,” she said, “I can’t blame them for being tempted to just leave. Don’t feel bad for being frightened, Adam, I certainly was. You know I normally wouldn’t put up with that sort of nonsense from anyone, but I got the message loud and clear that they wouldn’t hesitate to use violence.”

  “Yes,” said Benjamin. “With that sort, it is usually best just to not respond to them, and try to ignore their verbal taunts. You were wise not to respond to them, Alice. Of course it would be a different matter if they began to act out their aggressions; unfortunately, since we have no weapons, our resistance would likely be short-lived.”

  “If you face that kind of aggression every day,” said Adam, “I’m surprised you don’t all carry guns.”

  “The Georgia military ordered us to turn in all our arms some time ago,” said Benjamin. “They were collected by General Wool at Fort New Echota. Of course not everyone turned in their weapons, although the penalty for being caught in possession of a firearm is dire. I suggest we save our further discussion for another time and place. Danger is no longer imminent and I do not believe we will be troubled further by them today, but we must be getting underway to reach the ferry and make the crossing before sundown.”

  “Guess that’s our cue to get going, Adam,” Jimmy said jumping from the wagon. “It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Alice. I hope we can meet again and you have the opportunity to meet my wife Rebecca sometime. Donadagohvi, Benjamin, and safe journey.”

  Jimmy and Adam gave a final wave and headed down the dirt lane to the Deerinwater place. Alice and Benjamin watched Jimmy pointing enthusiastically, already beginning Adam’s tour of the property surrounding his farm.

  Benjamin had correctly foreseen their unmolested and relatively uneventful trip back home. When they reached the ferry, they were grumbled at by the slaves who were preparing to discontinue operations for the day, but Benjamin soothed them with an extra coin and some of the leftover food from Catherine’s baskets. He spoke to Alice of his appreciation for the time she was willing to spend with his family, and told her it would be especially rewarding to Sally, who had quickly grown very fond of her.

  “I’m fond of her too,” Alice told him. “She’s quite a darling and bright for her age. I enjoy sharing the stories with her. I just hope when all this is settled she will get a chance to make use of her intelligence and charming personality. She deserves a chance for a happy and productive life, as do you all.”

  “I wish that as well. I believe that your companionship will be most beneficial during the difficult times she must face. I also hope that you do not underestimate the danger to yourself. Simply because my farm is across the river from town does not mean that it is any less threatened. We have had incidents there as well, so you must be on your guard at all times. Do not let the serenity of the farm lure you into a false security. Yes, the open acreage around the house and our gilis, our dogs, give us warning when a threat is approaching, but it does not eliminate the dangers. And as I have said, we have been deprived of most of our weapons and have insufficient means to defend ourselves.”

  “Don’t worry,” Alice said. “Gracious, after the scare I got today I’ll be on my guard. You know, I’ve read about these events happening in my version of history, and I knew it was a terrible and shameful episode for our country, but I never considered how much courage it took for the Cherokee people to stay and face this terrorization. Many people say they would defend their home against someone trying to take it from them, but risking your life to preserve your homeland against such overwhelming force takes remarkable bravery.”

  “Let us hope,” said Benjamin, “that it is not all in vain.”

  Alice didn’t have the heart to tell him that in her history, it was.

  Chapter twenty-six

  You ride well, Tom,” said John Carter.

  They had been traveling at a quick gait since leaving the barn. After the first mile or so, Tom had no trouble controlling his horse. He was actually enjoyin
g his ride on the well-trained steed, despite the seriousness of their mission. He was also enjoying his dialogue with John. They rode side-by-side so they could converse.

  “I used to ride quite a lot,” Tom replied. “My parents have a place in central Virginia, where I grew up, and they’ve always kept horses. I haven’t had time to see them much lately, so I’ve gotten out of practice.”

  “You live far away from your parents?”

  “Kind of far; it takes about four hours to get to their place from mine. Of course that’s by car, er, motorized transportation. If I had to go by horseback it would take much longer.”

  “It would be most unusual for a Cherokee to live that far from his family. I can see how that might not always be the case in the future, as we become more integrated with the white culture.”

  “It’s still not something that most families like doing, even white families.” Tom said. “But in our society it is sometimes necessary to move away to a larger city in order to find work, as in my case. I think most people would prefer to live close to their family.”

  “It would not be very pleasant for me,” said John. “It is bad enough to be away for so long when traveling. I do not think I could bear to live apart from my family all of the time.”

  Abruptly, John held up his hand, signaling Tom to stop. He reined his horse to the side of the road. John looked back down the road in the direction they had come. Tom followed his gaze, and could see a dust cloud being raised by something coming along behind them. Listening closely, he could hear the hoof beats of at least several horses in the distance.

  “I think it would be prudent for us to avoid whoever that is.” John’s voice was tinged with uncharacteristic nervousness; he seldom showed any sign of unease. “If you feel you can handle a short gallop, there is a place up ahead where we can get off the road and remain out of sight until they pass.”