TEMPUS CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
Man … can go up against gravitation in a balloon, and why should he not hope that ultimately he may be able to stop or accelerate his drift along the Time-Dimension, or even turn about and travel the other way.
H.G. WELLS, The Time Machine
In the morning he took a walk around the cave, admiring what had been accomplished. The lecture hall was small but laid out well and the acoustics were excellent as he tried them out.
“Gentleman, thank you for coming here.”
“Cristian, think the sound system on, and please try again,” asked M1.
He did as he was asked. He could hear all his words, only clearer and louder.
There are also microphones at the stage for your guests.”
“Excellent M1 again, you have exceeded my expectations.”
“Thank you, Cristian.”
“Well done.”
Next, Cristian inspected the Living Quarters. Each room had two beds that lowered from the walls at the touch of a button. Another button would lower a table. Each room had its own bathroom with a shower. On the wall the most important item, a whiteboard that would record all written on it for printing later.
There were five rooms on each side of the hallway that led to the lecture room. The other end of the hallway would lead to a small cafeteria. Across from there, a doorway would lead to the rest of the cave.
He was ready. It was time to assemble the people on his list.
“Lorelei, would you like to travel with me today?”
“Yes very much, Cristian, when to?”
“2008 England.”
“M1 I need a uniform suitable for a janitor for Cambridge University 2008. The name tag and ID should have my name.”
“Cristian Wolf, what are you up to?”
“I am going to answer an invitation from Stephen Hawking.”
“As a janitor?”
“Yes, sweetie. Dr. Hawking sent out invitations for a time traveller to attend an event. He sent the invitations out after the event had taken place and recorded the session.”
“I see, so you are going to answer the invitation as a janitor.”
“Yes.”
During the trip, Lorelei snuggled against Cristian’s chest as she always did in the ship. He loved having her there, it felt right. He had missed her while he was away on his last long trip. He was concerned that the age difference if he kept travelling without her would eventually become a problem. He was sure he was already ten years her senior, at least. He was however wrong, his age had nothing to do with the love she had felt for him. She loved him for who he was, not his belongings or circumstances or for any other stupid reasons people used for excuses to feign love. She just loved him because she could not do anything else.
He thought the Ascalon into the River Cam near the University.
“How are we doing for time Watcher?”
“We have a half-hour if you want to arrive early.”
“Great. How do I look, Wife?”
“Husband, you look fab. I like the baseball cap with the shades. Very fetching. It makes me want to tear your overalls off and have my way with you.”
“Can we do that later, maybe in Ireland?”
“Oh yes, please, husband.”
“Watcher, I will need you to disable all security cameras in the area?”
“Not a problem with all the wireless and networks available.”
“Good, next we need a janitor’s cart and keys.”
“There is a staff and equipment room in the basement of the building we are going to.”
“All sounds too easy,” said Lorelei. “What should I do, Cristian?”
“Come along and watch the hallway for me.”
They found a cart and keys and headed for the room where Stephen Hawking was waiting in.
He opened the door and pushed the cart in. “Watcher, we need some external music. Like we rehearsed.”
Cristian was dancing and singing to the music as he pushed the cart into the room.
There’s no place to run (Time)
I might get burned up by the sun (Time)
The room was empty except for a man squashed down in his wheelchair, a camera on a tripod, and a table full of food and Champagne.
“I’m sorry sir, I must have my rooms mixed up, it’s my first day here.”
A computerized voice answered, ” I was expecting someone else. Chamber Brothers, great song.”
“One of my favourites. Say you are that Hawking fellow, aren’t you? I have seen you on the TV.
“Yes, I am.”
“Are you having a party, Mr. Hawking?”
“I am waiting for a time traveller” his computer voice answered.
“That is exciting, sir, do you think he will show up?”
“No, I do not. I do not believe it possible, but I hoped I was wrong.“
“Sorry to have bothered you sir” He started to pull his cart to the door, and he said. “May I ask you a quick question, Mr. Hawking?”
“Yes, what is it?” answered the computerized voice.
“If a feller could find a way to fold space and travel to and through the ergo-sphere of one of those rotating black holes at the right angle and then out through a white hole could he travel through time?”
“No, it would be impossible. Who are you?”
“Sorry sir, my name is Cristian Wolf.” he pointed at the name on his coveralls very proudly.
“I am the janitor. I clean up mess.”
“This room is clean Cristian Wolf janitor.”
“Oh sorry, sir, I will leave you to your meeting. It was very nice to make your acquaintance.” Watcher started the song again where he left off.
But I had my fun (Time)
I’ve been loved and put aside (Time)
I’ve been crushed by a tumbling tide (Time)
And my soul has been psychedelicized (Time)(Time)Now the time has come today(Time)
Cristian danced head bobbing and weaving very animated, pushed the cart out and closed the door behind him. Hawking wouldn’t forget the dancing Janitor. This left Hawking wondering how did a janitor know about rotating Black holes and white holes. This would be on his mind for years to come.
The janitor who belonged to the cart woke up in the change room an hour later, not remembering what happened to him. Undaunted, he grabbed his cart and tapped the keychain hooked to his belt and carried on.
“How did it go, Cristian? Nice music.”
“Very well, Lorelei, very well. On to Ireland, I promised, where to sweetie?”
“Outside of Dublin, Husband, in the country.”
“Dublin it is.”
They stayed at a small Bed & Breakfast. It was good that they were the only tenants because they made entirely way too much noise during the night.
“Is breakfast to your liking?” asked their hostess. “You must need nourishment.”
“It’s our honeymoon and yes breakfast is excellent and so was the room” answered Lorelei with a big smile.
Cristian left a little extra to compensate for the noise and smiled about it on the way out. Both of them laughed out loud as they headed out to the Ascalon now rising out of a pond close by.
“When to know, husband?”
“October 1936 Princeton, New Jersey.”
“Who will we see there?”
“Albert Einstein, we will need him for the Alliance.”
The trip went as all the trips did, it was uneventful with asleep in between the eras.
He lowered the ship near a golf course in Princeton, New Jersey. He thought it into the waters in nearby Carnegie Lake when they were clear.
“We have a short walk to the other side of the golf course. I think we will walk along the road, as I have an unreasonable fear of being struck by a wayward golf ball.”
“I think that a golf course is a waste of a perfectly good rifle range, husband.”
“Well spoken Lorelei, you are the woman of my dreams.”
“It could not be any other way.”
The house we are looking for is through here. They arrived at 112 Mercer Street near six o’clock at night.
Cristian knocked on the door. Albert answered the door.
“Mr. Einstein, my name is Cristian Wolf, this is my wife Lorelei. I wondered if we might have a moment of your time. I have some information you might find” he paused, “useful”.
Cristian handed him a piece of paper with a handwritten formula on it.
“What is this? This is not possible. Is this right? Who wrote this? Come in, come in.”
“You did in the future” Albert looked at Cristian and then at the formula and recognized his own handwriting.
“Have you had supper, we were about to eat. Elsa, we will have two guests for dinner.”
“What again Albert.”
“Yes.”
“Elsa, please come meet Cristian and Lorelei.”
“Pleased to meet you Cristian, Lorelei.”
“Elsa, could you use help in the kitchen?”
“Yes, I could, Lorelei.”
“Cristian, please come to my study. We have much to discuss.”
“Yes, we do, Albert.”
The two men disappeared into the study for an hour.
“Should we go get the men Elsa, supper is ready?”
“No, I know better than to disturb Albert when he is in his study. I am forbidden to do so.”
“What we endure for our men Elsa?” Lorelei said with a sigh.
Elsa sighed and nodded in agreement.
Albert and Cristian emerged and supper was dished out for the four of them.
“Thank you, Elsa, for the fine meal and for allowing us to disturb your evening.”
“Albert I like this man, and his wife, they are by far the most polite of your visitors.”
“I agree Elsa. I hope to see them again soon.”
“You will Albert, I promise. Elsa, Albert, we must leave soon. We have a long way to travel.”
A short while later, Cristian and Lorelei said goodbye to their new friends and boarded the Ascalon.
“What’s next husband?”
“I think we should find a warm beach and go swimming.”
“I didn’t bring a swimsuit, Husband.”
“You won’t need one.”
“Now I am intrigued.”
“We should pick up some supplies on the way,” said Cristian.
“We have a blanket and food in the ship what more do we need?”
“Watcher would you mind taking the control of the ship and fly us to 02°57′N 131°47′E”
“Good choice Cristian, the original Gilligan’s Island. I am guessing you want to go to the leeward side of the island.”
“Yes, Watcher, thank you. Right now, it’s important that I start kissing my wife.”
“I understand.”
They spent two days enjoying the island and each other. Their nanobots were busy repairing the damage done to their skin by the sun, which could have been completely avoided by wearing the clothes that never left the Ascalon.
The more time they spent together, the more they loved each other. For a while, they were able to forget about the war.
“Sweetie it’s time. I need to visit a Maker.”