Chapter 13
County Hospital
Thursday 13 March 1997
Austin was lost in reverie for the duration of the bus journey. He used the time to collect his thoughts and try to figure out the best way to tackle the problems in front of them. He kept half an eye on his daughter, who was sitting next to Jordan on the seat in front of him. She was quite happy sitting next to the boy, who seemed to have taken on the role of older brother to her.
The more he thought about the recent events which had led them all to this point, the more he thought there should be a pattern to it all. He tried to connect all the dots, but there were just too many, over too long a period of time. If anybody could join the dots, it should be Jordan, he thought. For him, this is a few days worth of living, even if it has packed quite a punch. For me, it’s been twenty-six years; twenty-two of which have been in the service of my enemy.
Pilgrim. How could I have been so taken in by you? All those years searching for time orphans. All the times I handed them over to your ‘care’. And to top it all, the one person I really needed to help, I betrayed. I lured him into your clutches, and yet he’s still here, despite your machinations. Now where are you, Mr Pilgrim? Where did you go?
‘We’re here,’ said Jordan, tapping Austin on the shoulder.
Holding Aurie’s hand, Jordan led the way off the bus, and Austin was quite happy for him to take the lead. In the short time he had lived here, he had never needed to visit the hospital. Jordan, however, had spent his whole life here, and knew his way around.
They went in through the entrance, and Jordan looked at the signposts. Austin saw him pause, and wondered whether he should help him out. He remembered the reluctance with which Jordan had read anything at school, and still wondered whether it was because he didn’t want to, or whether he had dyslexia.
‘I think it’s this way,’ he said, and took off to the right. A cursory glance at the relevant signpost reassured Austin that they weren’t going on a wild goose chase. He followed Jordan, who was walking at quite a pace, and saw that Aurie was struggling to keep up.
‘Do you want to hold Daddy’s hand?’ he asked, coming alongside them both. Aurie nodded and she switched hands. Jordan barely even noticed, he was so intent on getting to the Maternity Ward. A few minutes later, they reached it, and Austin grabbed Jordan’s arm to stop him from charging head long into the place.
‘Let me deal with this, Jordan, okay?’ he said. ‘It’ll be better handled by an adult.’
Jordan was about to retort, but thought better of it. He merely shrugged, and tagged along with Austin, as they made their way into the ward. There was a nursing station on the left as they walked in, and a seating area to the right, with a box of children’s toys in the corner. Aurie asked if she could go and play, and Austin nodded. Then he made his way over to the nursing station. He took a deep breath, and addressed the nurse behind it, who was busy writing notes.
‘Are visiting hours over?’ he asked.
‘No, dear. There’s still half an hour to go. Can I help you?’
‘Yes, I hope so. Is there a Mr And Mrs. Baxter here?’
‘Yes, there is. Are they expecting you?’
‘No, this is a surprise visit. May I speak with Ron, er… Mr Baxter?’
The nurse looked them up and down, and Austin could imagine her thoughts. They still looked a state, and before she could say anything Austin decided to tackle the problem head on.
‘I don’t think we should just walk in, as you can probably see we’ve been on the road a little while now and we need to clean up.’
She nodded, relieved she didn’t have to bring the subject up. ‘I’ll go and see if he can come over to meet you.’
‘Thanks,’ said Austin, and the nurse left the station. Austin watched as she walked over to a bed at the other end of the ward. As she reached the bedside, Jordan let out a small cry as he saw his Mum sitting up in bed with a baby in her arms.
‘Mum,’ he said, and started to walk towards her.
Austin grabbed his arm and held him back. He felt terrible about it, as he couldn’t imagine what it must be like for the poor lad. So near, yet so far, he thought. To his credit, Jordan stayed put. The nurse approached Ron, who looked over to them straight away. Here we go, thought Austin, time to put my training into use. He waved confidently at Ron, smiling as he did so. This should be enough to get him to come over, he thought. Curiosity will get the better of him.
Sure enough, Ron waved back, although Austin could tell that it was a rather confused wave. He came towards them, and the anticipation from Jordan’s eager frame was almost tangible. Austin stepped forward to shake Ron’s hand, and introduced himself. Ron smiled, and extended his hand in greeting, too. Austin quickly studied his features; there was no wispy white hair, no wrinkles, no stoop. This man had been sixty-five when he last saw him. Now Ron was 13 years younger than him. I’ll never get used to time travel, as long as I live, he thought.
‘I’m sorry,’ said Ron, as he looked at both Austin and then Jordan, ‘but I really can’t place you. This is most embarrassing. Are you related to my wife? I haven’t met all her family, and the nurse did say you’d been on the road for a while.’
‘Well,’ said Austin, ‘we’ll get to that in a second. First of all, though, I’d like to extend my congratulations to you and your wife on the birth of your son, Jordan.’
‘Thank-you,’ began Ron, and then stopped. ‘Wait a sec, how d’you know his name?’
‘Well, that’s kinda why we’re here…’
‘We haven’t told anybody that’s his name!’
‘Mr Baxter,’ said Austin, ‘perhaps we could sit down for a moment? What I have to tell you is rather hard to believe…’
‘Who are you?’
‘I’m Austin Baker, and this…’ Austin put a hand on Jordan’s shoulder, ‘is Jordan Baxter.’
‘Hi Dad,’ said Jordan.
Ron looked at Jordan for a few seconds, and time seemed to stand still for them all. Austin could see him studying Jordan’s features, and he thought he saw a glimmer of recognition in his eyes. He remembered when he’d first entered the bedroom in the farmhouse and seen two Auries. He’d figured it out immediately, but by then he’d already encountered time holes. Ron had no such advantage. All that was in his future. A future that must be changed, he thought.
‘This is a wind-up!’ exclaimed Ron. ‘You’re winding me up!’
Austin had another flash of déjà vu. His mind went back (or was that forwards?) to his first conversation with Ron in his house. He’d said something similar, then. And what did I say, thought Austin. What was it? Ah yes…
‘I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s like Sherlock Holmes said…’
Ron snorted. ‘You mean eliminating the impossible?’
Austin nodded. ‘Yes!’
‘Pull the other one,’ said Ron. ‘Now tell me how you’re related to Claire…’
This isn’t working, thought Austin. Time to change tack, or you’ll lose him. ‘Ron,’ he said, ‘listen carefully. The number 13 is very important to you, isn’t it? It keeps re-occurring in your life. Dates, House numbers, membership numbers, times. Even the time of Jordan’s birth. 13:13. It’s been incredibly lucky to you all your life. But that will change in the future, which is why we’re here.’
‘How can you possibly know what’s going to happen in the future?’ said Ron. He had an edge to his voice now. The humour in it was fading. I’ve got to go for it now, thought Austin, or it’s all been for nothing.
‘Because that’s where we’re from,’ he said. ‘I know it sounds mad, but tell me… does your son have a birthmark on the nape of his neck?’
‘What?’
‘Like this?’ asked Austin, and gestured to Jordan to turn round and reveal his tridecagon. Jordan quickly did so, and raised the hair on his neck so Ron had a good view of his birthmark.
‘I don’t know,’ he said, ‘he’s only just been born.
I can’t say I’ve had the time or inclination to look!’
‘Then go and see,’ said Austin, ‘and if he doesn’t have it, then we’ll go.’
Ron frowned. He looked at Jordan, then back at Austin, then he shook his head. ‘No,’ he said, ‘this is stupid. Whoever you are, this isn’t funny. It’s time to stop!’
‘I’d listen to them if I were you,’ said a voice that sounded like liquid metal if it could speak. Austin looked up, his eyes wide with surprise. Standing next to the nursing station, wearing his trademark black suit, was the one man he never expected to see. He had blacker hair and fewer wrinkles, and didn’t need a walking stick anymore, but it was definitely him.
‘Pilgrim!’ he exclaimed.
‘Indeed,’ came the reply. ‘This is most unexpected. Are you, by any chance, Austin Baker?’
The Seed of Doubt
Thursday 13 March 1997
That’s Mr Pilgrim? It can’t be, thought Jordan. What’s he doing here? He looked back at Austin and his dad, and realised they had no idea either. Then a sudden thought struck him. He doesn’t know who we are! And he’s younger, too. This ain’t the same Pilgrim we met…
Mr Pilgrim walked over to Ron and shook his hand. ‘Good to meet you, Mr Baxter,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry for interrupting your conversation, but it looked as if you might need assistance.’
‘And you are..?’
Mr Pilgrim produced a business card from his jacket pocket. ‘My card,’ he said. ‘My name is Mr Pilgrim, and as you can see, I work for the Department of Missing Persons.’
‘Missing persons?’ said Ron. ‘Why are you here?’
‘Just following a trail,’ said Mr Pilgrim. ‘And it seems to have brought me here in the nick of time.’
‘Are you looking for these people?’ said Ron, pointing at Jordan, Austin and Aurie, who had stopped playing with the toys when she saw Mr Pilgrim, and had taken to hiding behind her father’s legs.
‘I wasn’t,’ said Mr Pilgrim, ‘but it makes my job easier now they’re here.’
‘Why are you here?’ demanded Austin, and Jordan could feel the anger in his voice. He looked at Austin’s fists, and they were tightly clenched.
Mr Pilgrim held up his hands in a conciliatory manner, and said, ‘Austin, I quite understand your hostility. I didn’t know my older self very well, but in the few short moments we had together, I gathered he’d made a few wrong turns along the way.’
‘Your older self?’ said Austin.
‘Yes,’ confirmed Mr Pilgrim. ‘It’s all very complicated and quite unbelievable, but can it wait for a while? There’s something we must show Mr Baxter, if he’s to… understand our predicament.’
What’s he trying to pull? thought Jordan. I don’t trust him. Then, Mr Pilgrim addressed his dad once again.
‘Mr Baxter. Put aside all your doubts. We are not here to spoil your wonderful day. We merely wish to confirm whether your new-born son has the same birthmark or not. Would you humour us, and just go and check?’
Jordan could tell his dad was far more convinced by Mr Pilgrim, with his posh suit, his credentials, and his authoritative voice. I prob’ly wouldn’t believe us, either, he thought, lookin’ like we do.
‘Okay,’ said his dad. ‘If it’ll get rid of you.’
With that, Jordan watched his dad walk back over to his mum. He looked at her, propped up against the pillows. She was cradling her baby in her arms. That’s me, he thought. That’s me as a baby!
‘This is it, Jordan,’ said Austin. ‘This is the moment when we plant the seed of doubt.’
Jordan felt as if his heart was beating in his mouth. He couldn’t bear it any more. I’ve gotta see her, he thought, and started to run towards the bed. He heard Austin call his name, but his voice sounded muffled beneath the thumping of his heart. As he drew nearer, he saw Ron checking the back of the baby’s neck, and then his startled face looked up at him.
‘How could you know?’ he said. ‘We didn’t even know!’
‘It’s me,’ said Jordan as he arrived at the side of the bed. ‘It’s me, Mum! It’s Jordan!’
His mum looked at him, then glanced at the baby in her arms, and back at Jordan again. ‘It can’t be,’ she said, tears in her eyes. ‘It’s impossible!’
‘No, it ain’t!’ said Jordan, ‘Honest! It’s me, Mummy, it is!’
The Power of Intuition
Thursday 13 March 1997
‘Jordan!’ said Austin, as the young man’s patience withered away, and he began to run towards his mother. Austin took two steps forwards before he felt Mr Pilgrim’s hand on his shoulder, urging him to stop.
‘Let him go,’ he said, ‘he needs to do this.’
‘What would you know?’ said Austin, shrugging the man’s hand off his shoulder.
‘I am not the man you knew,’ said Mr Pilgrim. ‘That man is dead.’
Austin looked at him. 13 years make a lot of difference to a face, he thought. This man is not the man I met in 2010. He’s different, somehow.
‘I get it,’ he said, ‘you’re 13 years younger. But people don’t change that much.’
‘You’re wrong,’ he said. ‘People do change. Life changes them. Experiences change them.’
Austin felt a tug on his trouser leg, and looked down at Aurie. ‘Yes, my lovely?’ he said.
She stretched her arms up for him to pick her up, which he did. Aurie whispered into his ear, ‘He’s a nice man. He glows all gold.’
I wish Zoë were here now, he thought. She’d know what that means.
‘So tell me how you came to be here,’ said Austin. ‘And tell me how you know about your older self.’
‘Wait,’ said Mr Pilgrim, pointing to the other side of the ward. ‘Look!’
Austin watched as Ron took the baby from his wife, and Jordan hugged her. He smiled to himself. ‘Well, I never. The seed of doubt has blossomed,’ he said.
‘Never underestimate the power of intuition,’ said Mr Pilgrim. ‘Women tend to trust it, whereas we men seem too often to discard it in favour of cold, hard logic.’
‘Thank God for intuition,’ said Austin.
‘In answer to your questions,’ said Mr Pilgrim, ‘I came here straight from my office in London and I know about my older self because I met him at 13:13 this afternoon.’
‘I see,’ said Austin. That makes an odd sort of sense. ‘And what did he tell you? A pack of lies, no doubt.’
‘I don’t think he did,’ Mr Pilgrim replied. ‘You see, he was dying, and in my experience, dying men tend to tell the truth. They’ve got nothing left to lose, have they?’
‘I suppose,’ said Austin. ‘How do you know he was dying?’
‘Because he died in my office. Turned to dust in front of my eyes. Black, gritty dust.’
‘Entropic dust,’ said Austin.
‘Yes, that’s what he called it. He could see the process starting. It was… disturbing, to say the least, to see oneself just… disintegrate.’
‘And so you came here? Why?’
‘All in good time,’ said Mr Pilgrim. ‘Your friend is coming back.’
Austin looked towards the other side of the ward, and Jordan was indeed walking towards them, accompanied by Ron. As they grew closer, Austin saw that Jordan was not looking happy. In fact, he had the look of a child that had just received the best Christmas present ever, and then had it taken away again.
‘What’s wrong, Jordan?’ he said.
‘I figured it all out,’ said Jordan, ‘but I’ve gotta talk with you… alone!’
Time Is On Our Side
Thursday 13 March 1997
Jordan saw his mother’s face soften into recognition, and then she said the words he’d been longing to hear for two years. ‘Come here, Jordan, and give me a hug!’
‘What?!’ said Ron. ‘You’re not taking this seriously, are you?’
Jordan’s mum held up her baby to Ron, and he immediately bent down to take him from her. As Ron cradled his new-born son in his
arms, Jordan lent over the bed to give his mum a long overdue hug. She smelt exactly the way he remembered, and he knew that he was finally home.
‘I don’t know how this is possible,’ she whispered to him, ‘but a mother knows, Jordan, and it’s fantastic to see what a great young man you’ve become.’
They stayed in their embrace for ages, and Jordan lost all sense of time. He felt so tired, so utterly exhausted, but so happy, too.
‘There now,’ said his mum, ‘you’d better stand up.’ She rubbed his back, and he wrenched himself from her side with great reluctance.
‘There must be some explanation for all this,’ said Ron. ‘You can’t be our son from the future. It’s ludicrous.’
‘But what about the birthmark, and me knowing your son’s name before you told anyone?’
‘Lucky guess,’ said Ron.
You don’t believe that, thought Jordan. You just can’t believe the truth. You need proof.
And then Jordan had the best idea of his life.
‘I can show you,’ he said. ‘The time hole; it’s gotta be there! At Number 13 Oak Road. We can go there and when I step through, I’ll be back in 2010! Yes!’ Jordan punched the air. ‘That’s it!’
‘Whoah there,’ said Ron, handing his tiny son back to his wife. ‘You want me to take you to where? There are no houses on Oak Road.’
‘What?’ said Jordan. ‘Yes, there are!’
‘Not yet,’ said his mum. ‘Don’t you remember, Ron love? All that hoo-ha about building that housing estate there, and knocking down that old oak?’
‘Oh yeah,’ said Ron. ‘You’ve got a point there.’
Jordan imagined arriving at Oak Road, finding the time hole and disappearing through it back to 2010. He imagined the look on his dad’s face as he disappeared into thin air. Then he imagined the look on his dad’s face when he reappeared 13 years later. He’ll be there to meet me, of course, he thought, along with my… mum. At that moment, Jordan’s happy scenario collapsed in on itself and he realised the horrible truth.
‘I’ve gotta talk with Austin,’ he said. ‘I’ll be back in a moment.’
He started to walk towards the others, and began to feel more lonely than he had ever felt before. This is worse than when I stepped through the time hole the first time, he thought. How can this happen? It’s not fair! Just when everything was starting to make sense and that.
‘What’s going on, Jordan?’ said a voice from beside him. He glanced to his left and saw that it was his dad. ‘One second you’re fine, the next… I don’t know what.’
‘Austin’ll know what to do,’ said Jordan.
‘Who is this Austin, anyway?’ asked Ron. ‘And who’s the girl?’
‘It’s complicated,’ said Jordan. ‘I’ll explain in a bit.’
As he reached Austin, he could tell that he knew that something was up. Sure enough, Austin said, ‘What’s wrong, Jordan?’
‘I figured it all out,’ said Jordan, glancing at Mr Pilgrim, ‘but I’ve gotta talk with you… alone!’
‘Don’t mind me,’ said Mr Pilgrim. ‘You go ahead.’
Jordan waited impatiently whilst Austin put Aurie down. He told her to go and play with the toys for a moment or two. She nodded reluctantly, and went over to the box in the corner and began to play. Jordan drew Austin to one side, and fought to keep away the tears.
‘What’s the matter, Jordan?’
‘I figured it out,’ said Jordan, ‘but it means I lose my mum again!’
‘Figured what out?’
‘If I go through the time hole now, I’ll end up back in 2010, but my mum will still be dead.’
‘Okay,’ said Austin, ‘now let’s take the first bit first.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You can’t go through, Jordan. If you do, you’ll end up in 2010 on your birthday, and that’s eight months before you go through the first time. There’ll be two of you for that whole time, and that’s no good, is it?’
‘But if I don’t go through, there’ll be two of me for 13 years, and I’ll have to watch my mum die all over again.’
‘Not necessarily,’ said Austin.
‘Eh?’ said Jordan. ‘You mean, we can save her?’
‘Excuse me, Austin?’ said Ron, as he came over to where the two of them were talking. ‘I’m going to go back over to my wife and my Jordan, okay? I think I’ve had enough of all this nonsense.’
‘No!’ said Jordan. You can’t do this to me!
‘Leave it, Jordan,’ said Austin. ‘I’ve got this, okay?’
Jordan looked at Austin. His mind was in turmoil, but for some reason, despite their chequered history, he still trusted him. Instinctively, and completely. They’d been through too much now, and Jordan had no energy left. He had no fight left. He sat down on one of the plastic chairs in the waiting area and held his head in his hands.
Presently, Austin knelt beside him and said calmly, ‘Your dad’s gone back over to be with baby Jordan, okay?’
Jordan nodded.
‘Now, listen carefully. I need you to be brave and tell me how and when your mum died. Can you do that?’
Jordan nodded again.
‘And then, Jordan, and this is the important part, we’re going to wait. Time is on our side at last, Jordan, and so is Mr Pilgrim.’
Jordan looked up, bleary eyed. ‘What?’ he said. ‘Mr Pilgrim ain’t on our side!’
‘Not the Mr Pilgrim we knew, no. He’s dead.’
‘Dead?’
Austin nodded. ‘He turned to dust, like the hive did.’
Jordan looked over at the younger Mr Pilgrim, and said ‘Good!’
‘But in his final moments,’ said Mr Pilgrim, as he walked over to Jordan, ‘he managed to find me. Here. Now. I don’t know how he did it, but I could see he was full of regret. I think the prospect of all that power corrupted him, but at the moment of his death, he came to his senses. He told me about you and Austin, and how the world ends up. So I came straight here, in the hope of changing things. I wanted to make sure that you and Austin never meet. That you never go through the time hole.’
Yeah, right, thought Jordan, you just didn’t wanna die like he did. ‘I don’t care,’ said Jordan. ‘I just don’t want my mum to die.’
‘And she won’t, I hope,’ said Austin. ‘So, we’re going to leave here and let your mum and dad enjoy you as a baby for a bit. You owe them that. You’re going to tell me all about how your mum died and when, but in your own time. There’s no rush, now, okay? We’re going to recover, and take stock, and make plans.’
‘But how?’ said Jordan. ‘Where will we live?’
‘I’ll take care of that,’ said Mr Pilgrim. ‘I have resources and contacts. We’ll sort this together, okay?’
Jordan looked at him suspiciously, but he had no fight left in him. Well, if Austin is okay with this, then I suppose I am, he thought, but he didn’t admit to it. He just shrugged and slowly rose to his feet.
‘Time is on our side,’ said Austin, putting his arm on Jordan’s shoulder, ‘time is on our side.’
The Way Home
Monday 3rd November 1997
As Austin climbed into the sleek, black Audi A8 Limousine, he glanced back at the window of the Victorian townhouse where Aurie, Jordan and he had been staying for the past eight months. Aurie waved to him from the sash window, and he thought again how brave she had been throughout her ordeal. Gloria, her Nanny, waved too, and he returned their wave and blew a kiss.
‘Come on,’ said Jordan, who was already sitting in the back seat, ‘let’s go!’
‘Okay, okay,’ said Austin, and ducked down into the back seat alongside Jordan. He put on his seatbelt, and the chauffeur pulled away from the kerb. This is it, he thought, we’re finally doing it. He glanced at the chauffeur’s eyes in the rear-view mirror, but he was busy concentrating on the road. Then, the chauffeur raised his hand and adjusted the mirror a tiny bit. He caught Austin’s gaze, and Austin quickly looked away. Ev
en after eight months, he still shuddered when he saw the man’s left hand still intact. It reminded him of that awful moment when he’d pursued him towards the time hole, and only his hand followed him through. But that’s still 13 years away, he thought, and after today, it won’t happen at all.
‘How’re you feeling?’ asked Mr Pilgrim, who was sitting opposite them in the seat backing onto the driver’s compartment.
‘Excited,’ said Jordan. ‘I’m really ready.’
‘Good,’ said Mr Pilgrim. ‘Now sit tight. We’ll be there in no time.’
Austin leaned back and gazed out of the tinted passenger window at the rows of houses speeding by. His mind went back to the first day they’d arrived at Mr Pilgrim’s townhouse, exhausted both emotionally and physically from their ordeal. It took them several weeks to recover some semblance of normality in their lives.
Aurie would wake in the night, screaming for her mum, and Austin had found that very hard. He was still wracked with guilt about leaving her, but he knew there was no other way. He hoped Aurie would understand one day.
Jordan was silent and morose for days after they arrived. Austin had been worried about him for a while, but then one morning he woke up and started to talk again. The first thing he told Austin was about the death of his mum.
She had died just over three weeks after his 11th birthday. They’d been at the beach, and although it was a cold April day, they had enjoyed fish ’n’ chips by the pier, and had spent time throwing pebbles into the sea. His dad had taught him how to skim the flat pebbles, to make them bounce several times on top of the water.
The accident had happened so quickly, there was no time to react. They were walking back to the car, and his mum had gone on ahead, intending to start the engine so it would be getting warm inside. He and his dad had been talking about the DVD they would watch when they returned home that evening, when there had been a screech of tyres, and a sickening thud. Witnesses to the accident said that the car had ‘come out of nowhere’. His mum was pronounced dead at the scene. The police had reassured him that she hadn’t felt a thing.
Austin could tell how relieved Jordan had been after he’d finished confiding his story. The boy had brightened up considerably after that, especially when Mr Pilgrim had told him that he was putting plans into effect to ensure that the accident would never happen.
Austin had wondered about one part of the accident, though, and had spoken with Mr Pilgrim about it. He couldn’t stop thinking about the way the witnesses had said how the car had ‘come out of nowhere’. Was this a time hole incident? Had Jordan’s mum been the first victim of a time hole?
As the months had gone by, Jordan had improved in health and outlook, and Aurie had stopped having quite as many nightmares about her mum. This had been largely due to the employment of a Nanny, to whom Aurie had taken an instant liking.
Austin had taken on a senior role within the Department of Missing Persons, thanks to Mr Pilgrim. He had headed up a new division which he had suggested they house in a little back street off Ludgate Hill. Mr Pilgrim had laughed when he’d been informed of the address. Austin had ensured that he would be indispensable to him. After all, he had worked for the DMP for twenty-two years, and knew roughly when and where the time holes would strike. With his help, he might be able to prevent many of them from happening at all.
And all the while, Austin had been very aware that he was carving a new time line, and that every little change he made could cause ripples that might spread far and wide. When Mr Pilgrim had suggested he offer Ron Baxter a job up North, Austin had suggested politely but firmly that perhaps this was not a good idea. This would mean, of course, that they would stay living where they were, and Jordan would grow up as he had originally, and attend the same schools, and meet Austin.
It also meant that there was a very good chance they would stumble across the time hole. It would grow in strength over the next few years, until it was ready to lure them in. Austin had his own nightmares about that, but he knew the risk had to be taken.
‘Are you gonna miss me?’ asked Jordan, and Austin was brought back from his reverie.
‘Nah!’ said Austin, and laughed.
Jordan stuck his tongue out at him, and Mr Pilgrim chuckled. ‘I don’t know which of you is the most juvenile!’ he remarked. ‘We’re all going to miss you, young man.’
Austin looked carefully at Jordan. He studied his features, which had matured over the past eight months. He wondered if his parents would notice the change. They would certainly notice the change of clothes, because although their school existed, they hadn’t yet adopted the new school uniform, so there was no way to get hold of one. I wish I could hear his thoughts, sighed Austin, turning away to look out of the window again. Just for these last few moments. It’ll be odd not to have him around any longer.
Is that you, Austin?
Austin shivered involuntarily, then glanced at Jordan again. ‘Did you say something?’ he asked.
No I didn’t, came the voice again, I thought it.
We must be getting near, thought Austin, and sure enough, as he looked out of the window, this time taking more notice of the surroundings, he recognised features of the landscape. It wasn’t anything particular; just the bend of the road, the pattern of trees, the shape of the hills. But it was enough to know that they’d almost arrived.
He glanced at his watch. It was 13 minutes to eight. In fact, it was 13 seconds past 13 minutes to eight. A few moments later, they passed a bus stop on the right. Austin did a quick count of the people waiting there. 13. Then the bus passed them, bit he didn’t see the number.
It was 13, came Jordan’s voice in his head.
Austin smiled. This used to freak me out, he thought, but now its quite comforting. It means everything’s going to be all right.
Jordan looked at him and smiled. Do you think she’ll be there? came his thoughts.
Austin nodded, then caught Mr Pilgrim looking at them both, and shaking his head. ‘It’s happening again, isn’t it?’ he said. ‘You’re sharing your thoughts. Like at the hive.’
‘Sorry, Mike,’ said Austin. ‘Didn’t mean to be rude!’
Mr Pilgrim smiled and shook his head again. ‘You’re not. It’s fascinating to see, I must admit. I wonder why it happens?’
‘That’s something I’ll find out one day,’ said Austin. ‘This isn’t the end of all this, by a long stretch.’
‘No, indeed,’ said Mr Pilgrim. ‘And it ain’t about the science, right?’
Both Austin and Jordan laughed at this remark. It was odd to hear the impeccably mannered voice of Mr Pilgrim say something like ‘ain’t’, but it reminded Austin that the man sitting opposite him made a much better friend than enemy. I wonder what it was that made him take such a wrong turn? he mused.
Don’t you mean will make him take a wrong turn?
Good point, Jordie, he thought. I hope I can make sure it never happens.
Good luck with that, came the reply.
‘We’re here, Mr Pilgrim,’ said the chauffeur, as he indicated left.
Austin automatically counted how many times the indicator sounded, but he needn’t have done so to know the answer. They drew up outside the plot that would one day be No. 13 Oak Road.
‘It’s weird there not being a house there,’ said Jordan, peering round Austin to take a closer look through the passenger window.
But not as weird as when you found out that the school had disappeared, eh? thought Austin.
The chauffeur came round and opened the left door. Austin stepped out first, followed swiftly by Jordan, and then Mr Pilgrim. They all stood looking at the plot through the temporary wire fencing panels, which had been erected to keep people off the land designated for No. 13. They gleamed in the early morning sun. A frost was still on the ground, and Austin could see his breath. He glanced at Jordan.
‘There it is,’ he said. ‘The way home.’
Make it Right
Monday
3rd November 1997
Jordan felt his pulse quicken, and realised that the familiar twinge had awakened in his stomach. How come I never noticed it before? thought Jordan. I used to go past here with me mates all the time.
I don’t know, came Austin’s reply. I guess it’s all part of the magic.
You don’t like that, do ya?
What do you mean?
That it ain’t about the science, of course!
No, I suppose not. It’s still quite alien to me. I don’t know anything about magic. I don’t even believe in the stuff.
You will, thought Jordan. ‘So how’re we going to get in?’ he said. ‘It looks pretty well locked up to me.’
Mr Pilgrim nodded to his chauffeur, who produced a set of keys from his pocket and walked over to the panel nearest them. He unlocked the padlock which secured the join, and then lifted the panel from out of its concrete foot. He levered it round on the other leg until the gap was sufficiently wide enough for them to walk through. Then, he stepped aside.
‘Thank-you,’ said Mr Pilgrim. He turned to Jordan and gestured with his right hand. ‘Your portal awaits,’ he said.
Jordan gulped. This is it, he thought. I’m going home. He turned to Austin, and was surprised to find that he had tears in his eyes. Austin smiled at him, then held out his hand. Jordan brought up his hand to take it, and then, to his surprise, he stepped forwards and gave Austin a hug.
‘Thank-you for coming back for me,’ he said. ‘Twice!’
‘Just make it right, Jordie,’ said Austin. ‘When you get through. You’ve got to make it right.’
Jordan knew exactly what Austin meant. They’d talked about it quite a few times over the past few weeks. He knew what he had to do. He nodded. ‘I will, Austin,’ he said.
Then, he turned to Mr Pilgrim and offered him his hand. Mr Pilgrim smiled and shook it warmly. Finally, he gave a thumbs up to the chauffeur, who grinned and returned the signal. He walked over to the edge of the fence, and looked back, suddenly realising that he would never see them again.
‘Never say never,’ said Austin. ‘Now go.’
Jordan stepped through the gap in the fencing, and started to walk up to the foundations, which still had a layer of frost on them. As he drew closer, he began to see a ripple in the air, and then he raised his hands up before his eyes. They had a white aura about them. Then he was right up against it, and he felt it pulling at his insides. He turned to look at the three figures outside the plot. The enemies who had become his best friends were waving goodbye to him. Then he noticed a woman walking her dog across the street. She had stopped to look at what was going on. Watch this, nosey-bag, he thought, and stepped through.
Jordan felt the familiar twist in his stomach, the burning sensation in his head, and then a kitchen blinked into existence around him. There was no kitchen furniture left. There was no fridge, no washing machine, no oven, no cupboards. Even the sink was missing, leaving a tap hanging in mid-air, dripping onto a bare patch of concrete. Through the grubby window he could see the back garden and the field beyond it. Everything was exactly as he remembered it. He turned round and saw the kitchen doorway in front of him, then realised that he hadn’t lost consciousness. I must be getting used to it. Then, he heard a muffled noise from the far side of the kitchen wall, and remembered where Austin said he’d been hiding. Time to put our plan into action, he thought.
‘Austin, I know you’re in there,’ he said, in as non-threatening a voice as he could muster. ‘I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to say sorry.’
He waited for a few moments, but Austin was not in a hurry to reply. ‘I know about the time hole, Austin,’ he said. ‘I’ve been through it three times now. You wouldn’t believe what’s happened to me.’
Still nothing.
‘I won’t hurt you, I promise. It don’t matter whether you like footie or not. I just want us to be friends, okay?’
Austin still made no attempt at a reply. Is he there? thought Jordan, or am I talking to a brick wall? ‘You and I, we could be good mates. I know you don’t like footie, but you like Sherlock Holmes don’t ya? Me and my dad, we watch the old films sometimes. And you could, like, help me with my reading and that. If you want.’
Jordan heard a shuffling sound, and then the door to the toilet in the hallway opened a fraction, and Austin peered out. Jordan gasped when he saw him. He looks terrified, he thought. An’ all because of me. ‘Don’t come through,’ said Jordan. ‘You’ll disappear, won’t ya?’
Austin nodded. ‘What happens if you go through?’
‘I end up 13 years in the future,’ said Jordan. ‘That’s why I’m not wearing my uniform any more.’
‘I did wonder about that. You had it on a few moments ago. When you were chasing me, I mean.’
‘Yeah,’ said Jordan. ‘Sorry about that. An’ for callin’ you Austin Powers.’
Austin shrugged. ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘It’s… groovy, baby.’
Jordan laughed. ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘I guess that makes me Dr. Evil?’
Austin smiled, then frowned, and looked at his watch. ‘I’m going to be late,’ he said, ‘and I’ll get into trouble with the head if I’m late. I’ve got to go!’
‘Right,’ said Jordan. ‘So I guess you’re going through the time hole, then?’
‘Yeah. Shouldn’t I?’
‘Probably best not to,’ said Jordan, grinning. ‘After this time, that is.’
Austin nodded, then returned the grin. He waved at Jordan through the doorway, then stepped forwards and abruptly vanished.
Jordan smiled to himself. Well, that went better than I thought it would, he thought. He went to the back door, and tried the handle. It wasn’t locked, and he walked through the doorway into the back garden. He made his way around the side of the house, and unlocked the side gate. As he stepped through, he saw an old lady walking her dog. It’s the same lady, he thought. Why’s she here every time? Nosey old bag!
‘What’re you doing, young man?’ she said. ‘You shouldn’t be in there. That’s private property, you know!’
‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I won’t go in there again.’
‘You’d better not,’ she said, ‘or I’ll be calling the police. Shouldn’t you be in school?’
‘Not today,’ said Jordan, ‘I’ve got people to see.’
The old lady tutted as he walked past her, but Jordan’s mind was no longer concerned with her, or even Austin. He could only think of one person now.
His Mum. Would she be alive?
Jordan ran the entire way back to his house, and he made it in under five minutes. It was such a relief to see the familiar front door, with its peeling paint, and scratches which he remembered making with a stanley knife one Saturday afternoon. He walked up the garden path and rang the doorbell. His heart thumped in his chest, and he began to sweat. Then he heard footsteps coming towards the door, and he took a deep breath and held it.
‘Jordan?’ said his dad, as he opened the door. ‘What’re you doing in those clothes? Where’s your school uniform?’
‘Hi Dad,’ he said, letting his breath out. He didn’t dare ask the question. But then a voice called out from the kitchen, and he didn’t have to.
‘Jordan? Is that you?’
‘Mum!’ he said, and rushed past his dad, and down the hallway.
Across the street from No. 13 Poplar Close was a sleek, black limousine with tinted windows. Jordan’s dad looked at it quizzically, then shrugged and closed the door. The limousine’s engine started, and it pulled out from its parking space. Inside the vehicle, the clinking of champagne glasses could be heard. As it drove off, the number plate gleamed in the morning sunlight.
It read simply, NUMBER 13.
Austin & Jordan will be back
in
Time Holes: The Fourth Hand
Time Holes: 13 Page 14