by Mark Spaid
“I don’t want any trace of this place left. All of the records and the notebook were in their so, it’s all gone. The fire department came to put the fire out but the building and contents were gone.
“Let’s get a cab to the hospital for Tom,” After an hour Tom came out of the ER with a cane.
“I’ll need light duty for a few days, Captain.”
“Done.”
“Did you notice anything when we drove through the town?” Little Wolf asked.
“Yes, no Nazi flags anywhere and the SS Patrol Station is a shoe store again,” Warren said.
“There’s one thing we need to do,” Captain Shellhause posed.
“What?” Belinda asked.
“Notify the FBI and tell them about the descendants of the Nazis,” Tom said.
“I’ll do that immediately,” Captain Shellhause said.
“What about all the Nazis who engineered the trip through time to start all this mess,” Belinda said.
“There all dead,” Warren said.
“How do you know that?” Tatiana asked.
“I killed them.”
“What?” Tom asked.
“They were here to watch the annihilation of a rebel group in Romania. I switched the coordinates and missed the rebel group then I turned the weapon on all the Nazis.”
“Interesting,” Little Wolf said, “But I think we need to talk about this when we can be somewhere secluded and not here at the hospital where people can overhear.”
“Yeah, makes sense. Tom, how’re you feeling? A stupid question I know but that’s what people say all the time and I thought I’d keep a good thing going,” Captain Shellhause said grinning.
“Nice touch, Captain and I’m doing fine.”
“Let’s go and catch up with the rest of the gang,” Tatiana said. Eventually they met and Ariel and Warren were reunited. There were tears as they hugged what seemed like forever and maybe it was.
“I want to go to my house and…” Lexi said fearfully. Dave, Sol and Warren thought everything would be returned as it was before the Time Frame change but their knowledge of the effects of time travel was limited based on a very small sample size…one…and a general lack of information regarding Time Displacement/Influx/Infraction/Skews/Jumps etc. So, with nervousness they all went in Edna’s hearse, got out and walked to the front door. Lexi opened the door and they went inside. There didn’t appear to be anyone home. Lexi sat on a kitchen chair and lowered her head. Jozette sat down and comforted her friend.
“What happened?” Lexi asked as she looked up with wet eyes.
“I don’t know, Lexi,” Dave said.
“You walk too fast for me,” a voice said as there was a commotion at the back door. Lexi looked up and it was clear by her expression that she recognized who it was.
“Will,” she said and went to the back door.
“Hey, where’ve you been?” Will asked. Lexi hugged her husband, squeezed tight and began crying.
“Mom, are you okay?” Lexi looked up and saw Zara.
“Baby, you’re here,” Lexi said and hugged her daughter.
“Of course, I’m here.”
“Where were you? Daddy and I went for a walk but he’s slow.”
“Funny; I just don’t have the spring in my step like you do.”
“Hey, everybody’s here,” Zara said and she and the girls went to the living room and surrounded their friend who’d been lost for a time.
“Will, what’ve you been doing the last few days?” Lexi asked.
“That’s funny you should ask. I’ve had the strangest experience. I got up today and it was like I’d been gone somewhere or in suspended animation or something. I can’t describe it. Do you remember that Twilight Zone where the guys robbed a bank and were asleep for a hundred years? That’s what it felt like; it was like I was away or something. I don’t know, I’m just glad it’s over whatever it was.”
“What about Zara?” Belinda asked.
“She had the same experience. We both felt weird all day and I’m just glad everything’s back to normal.”
“So are we, Will,” Justin said. They settled in and two days later they had a cookout at Jozette and Andy’s house.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
“Is Tom okay?” Will asked as they all sat around the patio talking about the last few days insanity.
“I talked to him this morning and he’s fine. He’s heeling and should be back to full duty in a week,” Justin said.
“Little Wolf, how about you?” Will continued.
“Fine, I had a tetanus shot and an antibiotic, so I’m back to my old self.”
“I’m glad,” Will said.
“You say that as if it’s good thing,” Julieta said. “When he’s sick or hurt he’s less obnoxious.”
“He could never be obnoxious,” Belinda said.
“Don’t encourage him, Miss Belinda, please.”
“My biggest fan. I’m just glad we all came out of this with no one getting seriously hurt,” Little Wolf said.
“Now, can someone tell me what happened?” Will asked.
“Didn’t you have your packet?” Justin asked.
“I did but then there was a wave or a jolt that hit me and the next thing I remember Zara and I were on a walk and we came home and found you guys.”
“You may’ve been lucky in a way, Will,” Dave said.
“What happened to you guys?” Will asked.
“Dave, can you give your version of things,” Justin asked.
“Alright, I’ll see what I can do. We were all in the truck and we know what happened there then the Time Influx occurred and we felt that the new Time Frame was in place.”
“But I didn’t feel anything exactly or maybe I missed the new Time Frame,” Will said. Dave looked at Lexi and she nodded.
“That’s because you died in the new Time Frame and so did Zara. You were killed by the Nazis because you were Jewish and Zara died with her brother because she didn’t know the girls in the new Time Frame and she was at home that night instead of here,” Lexi explained.
“How did the Nazis take over America.?” Will asked.
“Wow, do you have a few hours?” Dave asked.
“Yes, and I want to know what happened,” Dave looked at Jozette and Andy who shrugged their shoulders.
“How about this; I give you the basics then you and I can sit down sometime and I’ll tell you all the details.”
“Deal.”
“Historians suggest that if Hitler had invaded England instead of Russia in 1941 then things might’ve turned out differently. The Nazis who’ve always been present in the United States and still are were putting forth the descendants of the Nazis who were born in Schensburg in 1944. That’s why they wanted the UFT to be solved and why they killed that physicist and his family and why they hoodwinked Warren into solving the problem and building them a time portal. He made the portal or he would’ve been shot. No one can blame you Warren and that’s that. Don’t you dare feel guilty about anything. We know what you did at the end and you’re a hero…end of point.
“Hear, hear,” Andy said and there were plenty of yesses and nods of agreement. Warren listened and nodded.
“Four men went back through the portal to 1939 and convinced Hermann Goering to convince Hitler to invade England first. It worked and England was knocked out of the war. Germany didn’t invade Russia until 1945 when they were ready with new weapons including nuclear bombs and Russia surrendered. The United States also surrendered eventually and Germany essentially conquered the world. The United States was Nazified. Then Warren created a particle beam weapon and they had the ability to wipe out resistance anywhere on the globe.”
“Boy, that’s scary stuff,” Will, said
“Yeah and I’ve talked enough. I’m getting tired of listening to me. So, now we’ll hear from the time travelers,” Dave said as he turned to Tatiana.
“Little Wolf you tell them,” Tatiana said.
; “No, Miss, Tatiana, you were our leader, you give the rundown.”
“Okay, here goes. We went through the portal and were joined by an unexpected guest.” Belinda lowered her head.
“Yes, we know,” Jozette said with a smile.
“I wanted to help,” Belinda said.
“And she did,” Tatiana said.
“She did?” Andy asked.
“Yes, Belinda was a big help. Our girl’s full of surprises,” Tatiana said as she looked at Belinda and grinned. Belinda gave her big smile back then looked at Jozette crossed her eyes and wiggled her nose. Jozette rolled her eyes and shook her head. Their rivalry was long standing but friendly.
“Yes, she’s amazing,” Jozette said.
“I know. Well, Tom and Captain Shellhause were very valuable but Little Wolf was the key to everything of course. I know he doesn’t want me to say that but it’s true. We went to Germany as quickly as we could and in Munich we encountered some bandits and dispensed with them.”
“You killed them?” Lexi asked.
“Yes, we did and others as well. It wasn’t a peace mission. We knew we had to kill all four of the original time travelers.”
“What happened?” Andy asked.
“At the Berghoff it was much more crowded than we expected so, we had to be patient. There were Nazis everywhere.”
“How’d you get inside?” Justin asked.
“Well, I’m not sure we would’ve ever gotten past the gate if it hadn’t been for Mate Hari here,” Tatiana said as she reached out and squeezed Belinda’s wrist. “And, of course, as always it was Little Wolf who got us through everything else.”
“Overstated,” Little Wolf said.
“No and no again. He led the way every time and when it came time to act he killed the first guy. We finished at the Berghoff but left a trail of bodies and Little Wolf took us on a harrowing race away from that place. We made it back to Bloomington, through the portal and, here we are.” Tatiana finished and leaned back in her chair.
“So, the people who were killed by the Nazis while they were in control in the second Time Frame are now all alive,” Will suggested.
“Yes, because when Tatiana and her group killed the Nazi time travelers the second Time Frame was cancelled,” Dave answered.
“So, the descendants of the Nazis from Schensburg are all still alive,” Will said.
“Yes, and to that end Captain Shellhause has alerted the FBI to their activities,” Justin said.
“But are they under arrest?” Lexia asked.
“They’ve done nothing wrong,” Little Wolf said.
“They’re Nazis,” Lexi said. “Isn’t that enough of a crime?”
“It’s not against the law to be a Nazi,” Little Wolf said.
“But don’t you dislike them?” Lexi asked.
“Yes, but you can’t be arrested for what you think or say in this country. If we start doing that then we’re no better than the Nazis,” Little Wolf reminded Lexi and everyone.
“I guess you’re right but it still gives me the creeps that these guys are running free,” Will remarked.
“Me too but I wouldn’t change the law no matter how heinous their ideas are,” Little Wolf said. There was a pause and everyone took in what Little Wolf had to say. As a lawyer, they listened to him on any legal or constitutional matter.
“Warren, I understand you had a few close calls during this whole thing,” Will said.
“I think you could say that.”
“You solved the UFT. That sounds like a Noble Prize to me,” Will said.
“It’s kind of tricky,” Warren said.
“How?” Will asked.
“First of all, Dave and Sol helped me; I didn’t do it alone.”
“Warren, we contributed a few things but you found the right path. We didn’t have a clue about how to proceed. You were ninety percent and we were ten percent. Is that about right, Sol?”
“Don’t give us that much credit,” Sol, said chuckling and there was laughter by everyone except Belinda who never quite understood the subtleties of semantics.
“The people have spoken,” Will said.
“Okay, it was a breakthrough and I was glad to find an answer to a decades old problem but I’m not sure I can publish what I found. No one knows what I did in this Time Frame except the Nazis and they’re very much alive and well. I have to keep everything under wraps or they’ll try the same thing again.”
“How can you do that?” Andy asked. Warren sighed and looked at Ariel. She gave him a look that said go ahead and tell them.
“I destroyed all my work…the notes and everything. The FBI will be watching me and protecting me. I’m not sure which one concerns them more; probably watching me.”
“It’s like you did something wrong,” Jozette said.
“I did.”
“What do you mean?” Lexi asked.
“I…” Warren started then stopped.
“Little Wolf,” Dave said.
“What Mr. Warren started to say is an answer to a long-standing problem and argument between scientists, politicians, philosophers and all aspects of society I guess.”
“What problem?” Lexi asked.
“How far can and should science go in pursuit of the answers to the natural world.”
“Explain, please, Little Wolf,” Belinda said. Little Wolf looked at Dave and Sol.
“Go ahead, Little Wolf, you don’t need our help,” Sol said with a wink.
“Alright, I’ll give a condensed version. All matter in the Universe is made up of atoms.”
“That’s those electron and proton things, right?” Belinda said.
“Yes, that’s right,” Little Wolf said grinning at Belinda who smiled back and wiggled in her chair. Jozette looked at the ceiling and shook her head and Belinda stuck out her tongue at Jozette.
“Nice touch, Lind,” Jozette said as she rolled her eyes.
“Girls, let’s behave,” Tatiana said and that ended it.
“Okay, if we can get back to where we were,” Little Wolf said. “The nucleus of the atom is where the Universe gets all of its form and energy. The sun and all the stars produce their heat and light from the nucleus of atoms. Scientists began trying to figure out if the atom could be split and the energy used for something. Albert Einstein first formulated the idea in his work on relativity and came up with the solution; E=MC2. That says that a small amount of matter can be converted into a very large amount of energy. In 1939 Hitler was in power and it was feared that the Germans were trying to make an atom bomb. Two German scientists, named Otto Hahn and Lise Meitner had split the atom. If the atom could be split then possibly it could be made into an atom bomb using Einstein’s equation.
A scientist name Leo Szilard came to America in 1939 with warnings that the Germans were working on the bomb. He and Enrico Fermi worked on experiments at Columbia University in New York to see if a bomb could be built. They determined that it could though it would be very difficult. To shorten things; They built and tested a bomb in the desert of New Mexico under the direction of a physicist named J. Robert Oppenheimer. It worked and the destruction at the desert site was unimaginable. What they had created was a bomb that could in time destroy the Earth. Science had found the secret of the sun but should they have done it? That’s been a question that has no answer. The bomb was dropped on Japan, twice and the war ended. They got what they wanted; an early end to the war.”
“But now the bomb was created and it’s dangerous,” Belinda said.
“That’s right, Miss Belinda.”
“You see, Jo, I’m not as stupid as you think.”
“I never thought you were stupid, Lind.”
“What then?”
“An ego maniac, maybe.”
“An ego---!” Belinda started but Tatiana cleared her throat and that was it.
“Let’s move on if we can,” Little Wolf said.
“I shouldn’t have said that,” Jozette said. Sorry, Lind. Go ah
ead, Son.”
“Alright, now it was Einstein who first worked on the Unified Field Theory but he wasn’t sure if the world was ready for it because he saw the potential very bad things to be made and they were. Mr. Warren was forced to solve the UFT and he did. The invention of the teleportation device, the time portal and the particle beam weapon were a short trip. Science again solved secrets of the Universe. The question is should we have solved the UFT. Now, in Mr. Warren’s defense, someone would’ve solved it if he hadn’t. So, I agree that Mr. Warren has absolute no reason to feel guilty.”
“That doesn’t help, Little Wolf,” Warren said.
“I know it doesn’t, Mr. Warren, but I wanted you to know that I feel strongly that you’re without fault.”
“Thank you, Little Wolf, your opinion is important to me,” Warren added.
“It’s important to me too,” Ariel said and Little Wolf nodded.
“That’s the great debate about science and Mr. Warren along with Mr. Dave and Mr. Sol have landed right in the middle of it. But someday it’ll be solved…again…and some government will have the secret and they’ll have to decide what to do about it.”
“Warren are you going to be pressured by the U.S. government to work on it or do they know about you?” Andy asked. Warren shifted uncomfortably.
“They do know, don’t they?” Justin asked and Warren nodded yes.
“Have they asked you to work on the UFT?” Dave asked.
“Yes.”
“Will you?” Sol asked.
“I don’t know,” Warren said. There were looks of surprise and Warren clarified. “Look, this is the government and more particularly the military. If I out and out refuse then I could be a security risk. They could watch our house around the clock, bug our phones, read our mail and you can’t do anything to stop it. I did it the first time with a gun to my head so don’t judge me.”
“No one’s judging you, Warren,” Jozette said.
“I saw the looks on your faces.”
“Warren, please, these are our friends,” Ariel said. Warren sat quietly and sighed.
“I know and I’m sorry but I’m scared and I don’t know what to do. I’m sorry everyone, I guess I’m on edge, please forgive me.”