“It’s so horrible, Milt. I don’t understand.”

  “I’m getting an idea. Just let me get my wits about me again. We’ll discuss this when we get in the Envo, alright?”

  “I know what happened. But why? Why there? Why us? Is someone after us?” She whispered, still wild-eyed. Milt was worried. They obviously looked banged up. He did not want to be stopped, did not want to be discovered. They needed to be on their way.

  Smoke was still prevalent on the street, and people were hurrying away from the city area, headed to their cars or whatever way they would take out. Milt and Pinky walked with their heads down, not looking at the shops, the police officers, or the panicked people around him. Several passersby gave them glaring stares; questioning faces looked ready to offer help. Milt kept his head down and steered the two of them as far away from the streets as possible, back to where the Envo waited. All the while, he was forming a hypothesis in his mind. When the facts did not make sense, he knew there must be an implausible answer.

  There was a film on the Envo’s windshield. Probably due to the heat and the dust in the smoky air. That’s right, Milt thought. We’re closer to the point of explosion. He opened the side door and helped Pinky in. She was obviously feeling quite weary.

  “How’s that headache, Pinky?”

  “Not so good, Milt,” she answered meekly. She had laid back on the seat immediately upon entering the vehicle. “I need that ibuprofen.”

  Milt reached into the first aid box. He also took a muscle relaxer out of the package. “I’m giving you a muscle relaxer too.” What he didn’t tell her, was how strong it was. He handed her the liquid burst, and she downed the pills. He hated keeping this information from her, but he needed just a half an hour, and if things didn’t work this time, she wouldn’t see the horrible aftermath. He had an idea what was going wrong; though he’d likely never be able to prove it, at least he could know he was giving Elise a chance. Could whoever was planting the bomb actually be after him and Pinky? He had to do things differently, or they’d be witnessing the demise of another section of the Boston streets, as well as the demise of their dear friend, Elise.

  Chapter 22

  Coming Around Again

  Pinky leaned back and closed her eyes. She was so much looking forward to getting home. The things they’d seen, the things they caused….all faded from her mind. Her headache had dulled, and she was feeling extremely tired. In the distance, she could hear Milt powering up the Envo. She opened her eyes and saw him adjust what he called the time-odometer. Such a scientific name….Funny, it didn’t seem like he’d changed the year at all, only the time….She closed her eyes and let it go. Sleep was beckoning her, and he was a handsome, comforting gentleman.

  Milt turned and saw Pinky drifting off into sleep, looking so peaceful. “I pray this works,” he said, to whom, he wasn’t sure.

  He descended down into the city streets and hovered, looking for a parking spot. Definitely not at the park, considering they might see themselves there. Instead, he found a spot on the adjacent street, facing the park. He hoped they wouldn’t look that way and see the Envo. For all intents and purposes, he had to believe he’d see them arrive in the Envo.

  It was a quarter of 9 in the morning. Just a little before they had arrived there, the time before. He saw Elise taking her seat on the bench, and two children running to the swing. If he was to see himself arrive, it would happen soon.

  Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide. There was the Envo, parking by the park. He saw himself and Pinky get out. Please, don’t see me. He shrugged down further in the seat. Pinky was no worry; she had slouched down minutes ago when she hit deep slumber. If he had to leave her alone here, it would not be long. He sat and watched the events unfold. Finally, Elise and Phillipa made their retreat into the breakfast shop. Moments later, they came back, bag of greasy food in hand, and satisfied smiles on their faces. There was a little more small talk. It was almost as if he could read her lips.

  “Hey, when I get off work, I tend to stop at the coffee shop on International Lane. Mostly older folks in there, quite a mellow atmosphere until late at night. I get another smoke in before heading home. But the coffee’s great too! If you guys meet me there, I’ll buy you a cup!”

  To which he knew he was replying quite positively, something to the effect of “We might see you there!” He saw himself and Pinky walking away, into the city. How much longer would Elise be there? He saw her taking out some food from the bag and offering it to the oldest girl. Well, of course, she’d be the one most likely to tell. He pulled his hair loose from the ponytail holder, and tried to smooth it a little. Dang it! The hand! In his intense focus, he’d forgotten the pain, but it certainly stuck out visually. He quickly pulled a bandage from the first aid kit. That took care of the blood. He’d have to keep it in his pocket. A wet wipe was the best thing he could find to clean up his face, so he used one, hoping he looked semi-normal again. He took off the bloodied button down shirt, as it had taken the brunt of the exploding walls, mortar, and dust. He hurried out of the Envo. Elise was getting up from the bench, wiping the young girl’s jacket free of crumbs. Phillipa watched the other two children. One of them must have been Phillipa’s responsibility; he hadn’t noticed it before.

  As he came closer, he called out, “Elise!” and waved his hand, careful to keep the other one in his pocket. She turned and smiled.

  “What’s on, Poppy?”

  He really wanted to ask what was up with the poppy thing, but didn’t. “It’s Milt.”

  “Yeah, I know. I’m sorry; you don’t mind, do you?”

  “Actually, Milt is a nickname too. I’m fine with it, truly.” Say it Milt, come on. He floundered.

  “Pinky’s looking at a store window. We thought to ask, could you meet us here after you get off work? Maybe you could show us some of the neighborhoods around here. Get your smoke break at the breakfast shop again, and we’d wait. Just, wait for us here, okay? We’d really like that.”

  “For you Milt? Anything. I’d love to show you and Pinky around.” She spoke through a smile again, showing that cute gap between her front teeth.

  “Thank you.” He bowed. Customs were rubbing off on him. Then, impulsively, he reached for her hand, and squeezed it. “You are such a kind soul. We both appreciate it. Take care.” He turned, wondering if she realized those were parting words.

  I have to head in the direction of the shops, he thought. He walked away, repeatedly looking back. Elise waved once, but then devoted her attention to the children. Milt felt emotional. He stopped as soon as he got past a building corner. Then, he turned back and peeked, deciding to walk on the other side of the street. Elise and Phillipa were not in view, but that didn’t mean they weren’t there. He put his hair up in the ponytail again, just in case.

  Finally, he was parallel to the Envo, and quickly crossed the street. Pinky was sleeping as calmly as before. Good. It had probably been an hour.

  “Where’d you go?” She squinted at him.

  “Are you sure you want to know?”

  “No, but tell me anyway.”

  “I just spoke to Elise.” Pinky’s face looked puzzled. “It is around 10:30 a.m. Still 2047. Same day. I just thought I would let you sleep.”

  “You knew I’d try to talk you out of it. But, really, what are you trying to do?”

  “I changed the location at which we will meet her. Only, we won’t be there. We have to get home. It was hard to do, but if it saves her life…”

  “Will it save her life?”

  “If my hypothesis is correct, yes. I am sure it will.”

  “Okay, so, what is your hypothesis?” Pinky was sitting up now, wide awake.

  “Someone is after us. You and me. And it’s not fate.” He started up the Envo. “If it was fate, we would have died. Someone is setting these bombs at the locations where we could be found at that specific time of day. Changing the location didn’t matter. I have to believe it is someone here, in 2047, maybe someone who tracked Elise to us in the afternoon, and maybe it’s someone who followed us here. And because of that, she died. I hope and pray she will be alright now. She will not meet up with us again. I feel we are safe right now, but in the afternoon, something changes.”

  “What are you talking about? You’re way out of reality. It’s like this is all a dream, and someone else is controlling it. As if the walls and buildings are just made of paper, to crumble down at someone else’s whim!” Pinky’s voice got higher.

  “Bingo! You hit the nail right on the head! But it’s only because we DON’T know they’re here. Or didn’t. Maybe they don’t arrive until the afternoon. But I know someone’s here. That’s why I think this one change was reasonable, and will save Elise’s life.” He maneuvered the Envo to a hover, slowly easing up from the streets and buildings.

  “What, who? Is it someone from our time and year?” She was rubbing her eyes. This was a lot to wake up to.

  The Envo was picking up speed, and Milt was steering it toward empty air space. “We can talk later.” He monitored the screen and looked left, then right.

  “No, we’re talking right now.”

  Milt sighed deeply, wanting to focus on getting them out of there, but knowing full well it was her right to know. “Remember what we discovered about time travel being outlawed? By someone I will end up working with, someone that I will turn in to authorities, someone with the moral makings of a killer, going back or forward in time to kill his rivals or enemies?”

  “Yes, I remember that,” she said, somberly.

  “Hold on,” Milt put his arm in front of Pinky in a protective gesture. He pushed the overdrive button and then, it suddenly got brighter. They were back in 1997. Pinky felt a rush of relief.

  “How would he know to find us in 2047? Why go there to kill us?”

  “Because no one else knew we were there. All I can surmise is, I must have said something to him about my, our, travels when I worked with him in the 2020’s. Maybe he found out before his arrest that I would be the one to turn him in. HE must be the George Mahoney of 2021 that I turned in. --Er, will turn in. There is no telling what year he may have come from to stop me.”

  “So….someone from the past, the past before 2047, whom you haven’t even met yet in your LIFE time, knows what you are going to do, and so, is here in 2047, knowing we will be here, to kill us? This is CRAZY, Milt! This is the problem with time travel!”

  “Yes, and inevitably, the reason I turn him in and retire any possibility of time travel. As long as there are people using it for such means, it cannot be an ethical scientific technology.”

  “We have to destroy the Envo as soon as we can!” Pinky screamed, eyes wide open.

  “Please don’t rush me. I have considered it. But I’m not ready for that.”

  “There are probably other time travel rules that would be disastrous if we broke them.”

  Milt’s face, though still somber, grew more animated. “Yes. If you or I brought back some little thing, say, Elise’s bobby pin, I could study it and find a whole new metal, undiscovered as of yet. I’d love running tests on it, but if it fell into the wrong hands…we could have a whole new technology before its time, a technology we are not ready for as a human race.”

  “Like time travel?”

  “Well, I trust that you and I are ready, but, remember your vow of secrecy.”

  “Of course, Milt!” Pinky looked offended.

  “I’m not saying…I didn’t mean to imply anything. It’s just all coming up again in the conversation.”

  “I remember all the rules Milt. -Including, don’t get too close to anyone there.” She sighed. “We have no way to truly know that she’s alright, do we?”

  “No, Pinky. I’m afraid that to do so…”

  “Would jeopardize her life again! It was all our fault. If what you said is true, and someone’s after us, anyone we befriend in 2047 could have their life ruined because of us! We got her killed the first time! But you think she’ll be alright now?”

  “The process of deduction leads me to believe….”

  “Simple speak, Doc Braddock, please. Remember my headache, and those pills you gave me. I’m feeling a little slow at the moment.”

  “I can infer…”

  Pinky rolled her eyes at him.

  Not really simple speak, but he continued anyway, “…that someone is actually after us, since, 2 out of 2 times the bomb was placed near us, and I know that’s a really small sample but we are messing with outcomes every single time we go back….”

  “Simple speak, Milt!” She was right, and he felt like he was going in circles. But then, time travel was quite circular.

  “Okay, 2 out of 2 times. That’s good evidence that the constant is us. She met US in two places, and died each time. We felt it was our fault, well, maybe just inadvertently. So, this time, she will not meet us. I imagine she’ll grow tired of waiting at the park, and leave, long before we’d make our way back to where the Envo was parked. After the initial meeting, we would never cross paths again, as we’d be leaving the city of 2047 to come back to 1997. We can feel pretty sure that she is safe. I feel it was truly the right thing to do.”

  “Well then, we did the best we could.”

  “Thank you, Pinky. Thank you for understanding.” He grasped her hand quickly and held it for a moment longer. She smiled up at him, then leaned back as if she might fall asleep again. The Envo started to descend to the streets of home: Alexandria, Va., 1997. Back to Milt’s job at George Washington University, and Pinky’s art galleries in Georgetown.

  Chapter 23

  Semi-Normal

  “I broke one of the rules, Milt.” This was not entirely surprising to him, knowing Pinky’s rebellious nature. But still, it could have disastrous consequences. He knew it must have something to do with their trip to the future. He should have done a thorough de-briefing when they got back, except Pinky was not his employee. It would have been quite awkward and she’d feel offended, no doubt.

  “Pinky, not on the phone, please. I’m coming over. And don’t worry about your diet. Just, tell me when I get there. It’ll be alright.” He tried to throw in uninteresting bits to his response, holding back his true feelings. For all he knew, the phones could be bugged.

  Paranoia was growing in Milt’s mind since their return to 1997. Pinky didn’t seem to feel it at all. Sure, there was the return to normalcy, his job, her job, co-workers, projects he’d left unfinished. It had felt like they were gone for three months. Pinky only seemed to express a feeling of fatigue since their return, but she made a true effort to re-enter into her normal life. Milt had to fight the nagging feeling that George Mahoney could be lurking around any corner, ready to enter his life, and he wouldn’t know if this was a natural occurrence in the progression of time or if it was a time traveler here to infiltrate his life and bring it to an untimely end. He pushed it to the back of his mind as he continued his research on a potential money-maker, the self-cleaning laminate floor. There were many problems to overcome, though, and his focus was not totally clear. He’d vacillate between the self-cleaning floor and the poison-emanating car alarm, which emitted a smoke that would disable its perpetrator for at least 15 minutes. He had to work out a way that it could sense the perpetrator’s body weight, so as not to overdose the offender. The purpose was not to kill anyone, but to put them out of commission until their apprehension by the cops. These inventions were money-makers, and could earn him rights and a contract to generate revenue for years. This is what he needed to do right now, set himself up for a stable future, and keep a distance from quantum physics and things not seen. This wouldn’t last long, though.

  Though he was able to push it back, keep it from the forefront, the paranoia was there. He had hired a private investigator to track down George Mahoney. There was no doubt he could find out on his own: he had the contacts, but he needed anonymity, and this guy promised it. The last thing he needed was for Mahoney to find out his identity before it became inevitable; he didn’t plan to speed up that process. To do his own search via the web could lead to a digital trail, and contacting one of his hacker friends would only bring another person into the process. Better to involve a person for hire. Someone who could not be tortured for information. Jack Fontaine was the man; Milton had checked him out thoroughly and Fontaine didn’t mind. He was just about Milt’s age, but that only meant he was experienced. Military service and time as a POW in Vietnam had hardened this man, and Milt felt that was required for this job. He only hoped that the Mahoney he would meet would be the one that had no fore-knowledge of Doctor Milton Braddock. His thoughts were heavy and chased themselves in circles as he drove over to Pinky’s apartment.

  He climbed the five flights of stairs, not wanting to meet up with anyone for idle conversation in the elevator. Three knocks, and she answered, looking beleaguered, a blanket around her shoulders. Her eyes immediately got wider.

  “Come in! You’ve gotta tell me what to do. I’m afraid….”

  Milt was expecting the worst when she reached into the pocket of the jacket that she had worn on their latest travels. “I was about to do laundry, when I found this.” She took out a cookie.

  Milt was incredulous and about to just leave, when a slow realization occurred.

  “Those were Polly’s cookies, weren’t they?”

  She nodded slowly. “Yes.”

  “I recall there was a box on the counter, a non-sugar sweetener. No doubt something we haven’t discovered yet. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t aspartame. You were right to call me.” He took the cookie and looked it over, sniffing it.

 

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