Uchronie Page 5

  ‘We were running late.’ I said. ‘We ran into headwinds.’

  ‘… don’ nee me, no giz mo.’ burbled Biffo, suddenly standing beside the door, ‘…noon …quit time, n’…’

  ‘No… we don’t need you anymore, off you go Biffo.’ said Wright. But Biffo had already vanished through the black curtain.

  Captain Wright pulled open the door to shout, ‘Thanks’ but Biffo had disappeared.

  ‘He’s a strange character.’ said Wright, ‘I can never ever find him in the afternoons; Biffo is one of those men who are almost too clever.’

  ‘Well I feel that I haven’t really met him at all.’ I said. ‘Only his shadow.’

  ‘Yes…He keeps much kept in reserve… I’m sure there’s some immense ingenuity waiting in ambush behind those stuttering sentences’ said Wright, looking outside. ‘He’s a suspect.’

  I looked outside as well and suddenly felt that strange and mysterious sensation which is awakened in my mind when one looks down from the top of the stairs or a mountain peak.

  To my surprise the stone faced Corporal Price was standing there beside an equally stern Commander DeBlanc.

  ‘So he’s admitted it, has he?’ snapped DeBlanc.

  Captain Wright jumped to attention. ‘Sir, yes sir. He admits knowledge of Paul’s timepiece. We have acquired a hand cast that matches prints found on the red and blue wires and he seems to know all about the timing of the bomb.’

  ‘Nate Drywood.’ barked Commander DeBlanc, before I could say a word. ‘You are under arrest for the attempted bombing of the Hindenburg. Clap him in irons Corporal Price and take him below to the Brig. It is our duty to protect the Chronological Order.’

  Next: Prisoner! Nate finds an unlikely ally… and learns more about the mission to Germany. But will he be allowed to play his part?

  Find out on October 29th

  Doctor Mentor

  Nate has been arrested for allegedly being part of a plot to blow up the Hindenburg on May 6 1937.

  ‘What am I being arrested for?’ I asked, as Corporal Price held my arms firmly and tightened the screws on my brass handcuffs.

  He didn’t reply.

  ‘I don’t know what I’ve done.’ I protested, as he deftly removed my Nerf pistol from its holster in one swift movement.

  ‘Take him down below,’ ordered the purple faced Commander DeBlanc, ‘and read him his rights as we go.’

  ‘But,’ I protested to DeBlanc, ‘you said you didn’t know what I’d done aboard the Hindenburg either.’

  ‘That was before we found your fingerprints all over the bomb parts,’ said Captain Wright, ‘taint right that you’re roaming free around our airship… our masterpiece of masterpieces... the Uchronie’

  ‘Finding my fingerprints on a pocket watch and some wires proves nothing.’ I protested, ‘I told you that Paul, the waiter, showed everyone his timepiece. It was a Bewitchment, he was proud of it… I never stole it. Although I did see someone in the kitchen around about the time it went missing.’

  ‘Push and toss.’ said DeBlanc, shoving me towards the door. ‘Huh! This one will say anything to wriggle out of trouble. Captain Wright, you have a training session to deliver - see to it. Corporal Price, take Nate down to the Brig and have him searched. Make sure he’s given a thorough medical by Doctor Mentor… we don’t want any mysterious injuries.’

  With DeBlanc’s words ringing in my ears I was unceremoniously bundled down a steep metal staircase into a labyrinth of echoing tunnels and clanging metal doors that slammed shut behind me.

  ‘Doctor Mentor’s in here.’ said Corporal Price; finally pushing open a door marked ‘Medical Orderly.’

  The doctor, wearing a white coat and a stethoscope, looked up as we entered.

  ‘Ah! Who do you have for me today?’ asked a high pitched voice that made me wonder whether Doctor Mentor was male or female.

  ‘This is Nate Drywood.’ barked DeBlanc, following us in.

  Doctor Mentor leapt to attention, knocking a chamomile daisy plant off the cluttered desk and scattering pencils.

  ‘Carry on.’ said DeBlanc, catching the plant before it hit the floor ‘After you’ve processed the prisoner I want you to psychoanalyze his story about mysterious figures he claims he saw in the kitchens.’

  ‘It was just one figure.’ I said, much to DeBlanc’s obvious annoyance.

  ‘Why don’t we do both these things at the same time?’ suggested Doctor Mentor, calmly straightening a row of hypodermic needles on the desk.

  ‘Good idea said DeBlanc, turning to Corporal Price. ‘You go to the Bridge and take command. Everything was running smoothly when I left… no doubt, it will all be an utter shambles by now. Take over, Corporal.’

  ‘Sir! Yes, Sir.’ said Corporal Price, saluting as he strode out of Doctor Mentor’s surgery.

  ‘Nate here denies having anything to do with the Hindenburg bomb.’ said DeBlanc, ‘but we found his fingerprints all over it. And now, because we’ve got evidence on him… he’s accusing some shadowy figure he claims he saw in the kitchens.’

  ‘I did see someone.’ I protested weakly.

  ‘At what hour did you see this ghost?’ asked the high pitched Doctor Mentor, looking into my left eye with a brass and crystal ophthalmoscope.

  ‘I can’t remember exactly.’ I said, ‘It was the morning the Hindenburg left Frankfurt.’

  ‘So… Tuesday, May the Fourth.’ said the Doctor listening to my heart with a cold stethoscope. ‘After breakfast… but before lunch.’

  ‘Yes.’ I said.

  ‘Around ten or around eleven, then.’ said Doctor Mentor, consulting an elaborately colored version of the twenty4seven Time Card on his wall. ‘Tuesday hmm... I’d need the exact hour.’

  ‘Around eleven.’ I said. ‘I’d been on night-sight training while we were moored at Frankfurt and I’d missed breakfast so I went to see if the kitchen had anything left.

  ‘Interesting.’ said Doctor Mentor, looking over at DeBlanc. ‘Eleven o’clock on Tuesday… the hour of Mercury.’

  ‘Superstitious poppycock.’ said DeBlanc, dismissing this statement with a wave of his white-gloved hand. ‘Check his fingerprints.’

  ‘Still…’ said Doctor Mentor, looking into my ear with an Otoscope. ‘Mercury is a familiar hour for apparitions bearing messages.’

  ‘Ghosts don’t make bombs.’ snapped DeBlanc. ‘Ask him about the red and blue wires.’

  ‘Well…wires?’ asked Doctor Mentor, looking at me and examining my head with nimble fingers.

  ‘The German crew showed me the inner… em… workings of the…erm, electrics’. I said, looking at the heavily barred windows of the surgery.

  I paused to take a deep breath. This room was having a decided effect upon my brain. Shut up between these four walls I knew that I would soon lose the power to associate words and ideas together. How many prisoners in solitary confinement had already gone mad for want of some space to exercise their thinking faculty?

  As I struggled to find my next words I knew I had to say something to save myself from this unfounded accusation or I would end up in the brig.

  ‘The erm…electrics… were part of my Health and Safety training.’ I continued, ‘You would have found my…erm… fingerprints… on all of the Hindenburg’s wiring.’

  ‘Humph, we shall see what Ginger has to say about that when he comes back.’ said DeBlanc, pushing me again. ‘Take him to the cells - solitary confinement.’

  Doctor Mentor rattled a large bunch of keys on the desk and stood up slowly.

  ‘But Ginger isn’t back till Tuesday,’ said a familiar voice behind me.

  I spun round.

  Standing in the doorway was Lolly, looking radiant in a light brown corset dress. Her hair shone like gold in the afternoon sunshine that streamed in the stained glass windows behind her.

  ‘Hello, my dear.’ said DeBlanc, visibly softening. ‘What are you doing down here?’
>
  ‘I was intending taking you to lunch.’ breathed Lolly, ‘I asked in the Armory and they said you were down here.’

  ‘Just dealing with a little problem.’ smiled DeBlanc, forgetting his ill temper, ‘Nothing for you to worry your pretty little head about.’

  ‘Ginger vouched for Nate,’ said Lolly, her heels clicking on the metal floor as she walked slowly into the metal barred room, ‘and he said that all the Hindenburg crew trusted him as well. Nate can’t be locked up on some thin circumstantial evidence and Biffo Noone’s cryptic suspicions.’

  I caught a whiff of her perfume as she passed by and everything suddenly seemed better.

  She smelt wonderful.

  ‘Well, you’re the one who studied law at university, my dear.’ said DeBlanc, going purple again ‘What do you suggest we do with him?’

  ‘You could put him under house arrest.’ said Lolly, linking her arm into his and giving him a peck on the cheek. ‘That’s a neutral action that gives you time to assess your position as regards the evidence.’

  ‘But I don’t have any spare crew to shadow him.’ said DeBlanc, blushing brighter red. ‘Anyway, it would be a waste of time to have a chaperone trailing around after him all day and night. I think we should just lock him up.’

  Doctor Mentor hesitated , not sure whether to move or not.

  ‘Look daddy, I’m off duty until Tuesday.’ said Lolly. ‘I’ll look after him, cross my heart and hope to die.’

  My heart leapt. I could think of nothing sweeter than spending an entire weekend with Lolly, but I kept my face sullen and my eyes firmly on the thick metal bars on the windows of Doctor Mentor’s curious surgery.

  ‘I’ll have to think about that.’ said DeBlanc. ‘It’s your long weekend and you’ve been so busy with erm… what not… you need a break.’

  ‘Oh Daddy,’ smiled Lolly, still holding his arm, ‘I’m a big girl now. Besides… how much danger is an unarmed airman with a posy of flowers in his top pocket going to be?’

  ‘Alright!’ said DeBlanc, disengaging himself from his beautiful daughter. ‘Alright... but I’m going to say from the outset that I’m not entirely happy about this.’

  Doctor Mentor found the key that undid my handcuffs.

  ‘You are still under arrest Nate Drywood.’ said Commander DeBlanc, ‘and you’ll do well to remember that! Also, for your information, Lolly is an expert shot... our shooting range champion, in fact... and she carries the latest Wave gun.’

  I nodded slowly, keeping my eyes firmly on the dull metal window bars.

  ‘Good.’ said Lolly. ‘That’s settled then. Let’s go and get you a quick lunch Nate. I know you’ve missed half the afternoon’s training session already but you must be starving.’

  ‘Oh, push and toss!’ said DeBlanc, his eyebrows bristling. ‘I fed him this morning.’

  ‘Oh… Daddy.’ sighed Lolly. ‘That was over five hours ago. Look at him, he’s a growing boy! Come along Nate.’

  Leaving Commander DeBlanc standing bright purple and fuming, I walked free from the prison-like surgery on the arm of his beautiful daughter.

  I was sure that Ginger would vouch for me on his return but for now I was being allowed to continue my observer training.

  Episode Seven: Captain Wright’s Practical Time Travel Training. published 05/11/12 - Look out for fireworks!

  Afternoon Training Session

  In which Nate learns more of the practicalities of time travel and hears one of DeBlanc’s ‘short’ speeches

  Lolly took a different route back up to the training room so I could get a quick snack from the canteen.

  As we hastened through Area 51 we passed all sorts of brass and steam powered wonders that I wanted to examine. I wanted to stop and explore this marvellous vessel, I wanted to chat forever with the beautiful Lolly, but my schedule had me down for jump training this afternoon and I was already late.

  'I’m in the observer corps.’ I said, chewing my sandwich, ‘surely I don’t need parachute training!’

  ‘There’s more to jump training than just the parachute.’ said Lolly, using her key to open the door to Area 51 and the training room. 'Let's go and learn.'

  ‘So you’ve finally decided to join us Mr Drywood.’ said Captain Wright, as Lolly led me into the darkened training room. ‘You should have been here over two hours ago! You’ve missed half the lecture.’

  ‘You know where he’s been and why.’ said Lolly, sliding into the seat beside me ‘Pray continue with your lecture Captain Wright.’

  Captain Wright stood looking at her for a second, thought about saying something, and then turned away and pointed his baton at the blackboard.

  ‘When we travel in time we must take the journey as near to the middle of the day as possible.’ he said. ‘Before six a.m. or after 6 p.m. is cutting it rather too fine. In an emergency the minimum safety gap is three hours because, at certain times of the year, clocks can differ by two hours which will result in confusion as to which date we are traveling too.

  Captain Wright turned back to the class.

  ‘As we discussed earlier, Friday, May the seventh does not occur every year. You should consult your link chart for appropriate connections that will streamline your mission.’

  ‘I don’t have a link chart,’ I said, putting my hand up.

  ‘There’s a small one on the back of your timecard, but I’ll issue you with a full sized version later.’ said Wright, pointing at a chalk stick figure drawn inside a poor representation of a cube on the blackboard. ‘Now…Space is three dimensional.’ he said, ‘Could everyone stand up please.’

  Everybody stood up.

  ‘Up and down is one dimension.’ said Wright, smiling smugly, ‘does anyone know what the other two dimensions are?’

  ‘Left and right, innit.’ said Dwayne, touching both arms of his chair.

  ‘Forwards and backwards,’ said Wayne, swinging his arms back and forth.

  ‘Yes, very good,’ said Wright. ‘Could everybody take one step forward?’

  We all stepped forward as far as we could.

  ‘…and then back,’ said Wright.

  We all stepped back. I stood on my backpack that was still under the chair.

  ‘…and left.’ he said.

  We all stepped left.

  ‘…and right.’ he said, ‘and then sit down.’

  We all sat back down in our seats.

  ‘These three dimensions are the visible dimensions.’ said Wright. ‘The fourth dimension – time - is invisible, but we all exist in that dimension as well… Now, what do we need to travel in time?’

  ‘Time machine, innit.’ said Wayne.

  ‘Yes.’ said Wright. ‘But the smallest, working, time travel mechanism ever constructed weighs over 1000 kg. Something that size is rather difficult to carry around to ensure your safe return. You might decide you could hide it but, where would you hide it for total security?’

  No one answered.

  ‘Exactly.’ said Wright, ‘There is no completely safe place to hide it. So we have come up with an alternative method of time travel. We bring the time machine to you when you require it.’

  ‘How do you do that?’ asked Dwayne.

  ‘I’ll tell you that in a moment.’ said Wright, consulting his training manual. ‘Now…it takes a lot of focused energy to tear a hole in Einstein's space time continuum. The Wells-Tippler cylinder must be safety locked to the link year you want to travel to. You’ll find that Greenwich Mean Time is very unforgiving – a very mean... Mean time.’

  He paused and looked at his audience but no one laughed.

  ‘Now… we believe that there is an unknown element in the air that causes aging.’ continued Captain Wright. ‘Food in sealed cans doesn’t go off if you want proof of that… and, as we discussed earlier, covering your skin in Garcia fluid will stop you from reverting to childhood when you travel back in time. Nate you can obtain Garcia fluid from stores
Bay D.’

  ‘Now, as you can see, it is now after three thirty. said Captain Wright putting the lights on and pointing at the clock. ‘Time marches on… as they say, so I think we’ll leave the parachute training until Monday.’

  Dwayne and Wayne immediately stood up and stretched.

  ‘We’ve covered most of the basics of time jump training.’ continued Wright, ‘The importance of historical research... don’t believe everything you read. We’ve looked at the accuracy of PS weather reports, flight paths, clothes and money.’

  Dwayne looked at the door.

  ‘Remember the parachute jump is an essential part of your time travel training. The safest place to materialize in a new time zone is 10,000 feet in the air.’ said Wright looking at me. ‘You have almost zero chance of being seen and, as long as you stay away from flight paths and zeppelins you won’t materialize inside anything. So I’ll see you all on Monday to plan a trip to Germany 1926.

  ‘Why 1926?’ I asked.

  ‘It’s a link year… May seventh is a Friday.’ said Captain Wright, handing me a link chart.

  Twentieth Century Chart of Link Years - January First

  Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

  1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905

  1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911

  1912 1913 1914 1915 1916

  1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922

  1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928

  1929 1930 1931 1932 1933

  1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939

  1940 1941 1942 1943 1944

  1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950

  1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956

  1957 1958 1959 1960 1961

  1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967

  1968 1969 1970 1971 1972

  1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978

  1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984

  1985 1986 1987 1988 1989

  1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995

  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000