☣
As soon as Raphael
pressed the button, the man disappeared and the patch of ground flashed from
brown to green again. Jamie and the others stared in shock.
"Testing is over for the day," Raphael announced calmly. People began to disperse from the area, speaking in low murmurs. Chloe stayed firmly rooted beside the Machine.
"Raphael..." tears streamed down the girl's face. "How could you do that?"
Signor Raphael looked down at her. "I hope you never have to understand what I do, child," he finally answered.
Chloe turned and ran away. Jamie followed her, still trying to make sense of what he had seen. She rushed to her tent and shut the door, leaving Jamie outside. He stood awkwardly for a minute, not sure of what to do. Finally, he called out.
"Testing is over for the day," Raphael announced calmly. People began to disperse from the area, speaking in low murmurs. Chloe stayed firmly rooted beside the Machine.
"Raphael..." tears streamed down the girl's face. "How could you do that?"
Signor Raphael looked down at her. "I hope you never have to understand what I do, child," he finally answered.
Chloe turned and ran away. Jamie followed her, still trying to make sense of what he had seen. She rushed to her tent and shut the door, leaving Jamie outside. He stood awkwardly for a minute, not sure of what to do. Finally, he called out.
"Chloe?" There was no answer.
"Chloe, what's going on?"
"Oh, fine, you can come in."
Jamie stepped into Chloe's tent. She was lying on a cot holding a book of Voltaire. "I can't believe that happened," she told Jamie. Her face was still red and puffy from tears.
"Did that guy... die?" Jamie asked hesitantly.
"Probably. Without water, it would be hard to survive for very long out here.”
"Oh, fine, you can come in."
Jamie stepped into Chloe's tent. She was lying on a cot holding a book of Voltaire. "I can't believe that happened," she told Jamie. Her face was still red and puffy from tears.
"Did that guy... die?" Jamie asked hesitantly.
"Probably. Without water, it would be hard to survive for very long out here.”
Chloe sat up and moved over to make room on
the cot. "But with the Machine, we are capable of saving him at any time -
well, not with Signor Raphael around." Chloe dropped the book on Jamie's
lap and began striding around the tent. "We'll have to strike when he
isn't around..."
"Whoa! I never said I would help you with a rescue attempt! That's crazy!"
Chloe gave him a deep glare. "Say it then," she commanded.
"Huh?"
"Say you'll help me."
"Um..." Jamie could feel her laser eyes frying the air around him. "Okay, I'll help."
"As will I," said a voice from the door of the tent.
"Petrovina!" both of them gasped.
"I'm sorry for eavesdropping," she said with an apologetic smile, "but I know I must do the right thing. We must save that poor man!" Jamie gaped at the secretary, while Chloe looked skeptical. "And," Petrovina continued, "I can show that annoying albino who is really the boss." Her smile seemed to turn into a leer.
"Whoa! I never said I would help you with a rescue attempt! That's crazy!"
Chloe gave him a deep glare. "Say it then," she commanded.
"Huh?"
"Say you'll help me."
"Um..." Jamie could feel her laser eyes frying the air around him. "Okay, I'll help."
"As will I," said a voice from the door of the tent.
"Petrovina!" both of them gasped.
"I'm sorry for eavesdropping," she said with an apologetic smile, "but I know I must do the right thing. We must save that poor man!" Jamie gaped at the secretary, while Chloe looked skeptical. "And," Petrovina continued, "I can show that annoying albino who is really the boss." Her smile seemed to turn into a leer.
Jamie shuddered. She is so scary...
"Okay," Chloe said decidedly. "Come to the machine at two in the morning. If you’re late, we'll start without you, so be on time." Petrovina nodded and slipped out.
"I wish she hadn't been sneaking around," Chloe said, frowning, "but an adult might prove to be useful." She turned back to Jamie and gasped. "What are you doing?!"
He had opened her book of Voltaire - only to discover that the pages were hollowed out and there was a smaller book inside - a manga entitled Fleau de Hommes-Chat.
"Wha..." Jamie stared at the cover. "What is this?"
"Well..." Chloe looked uncomfortable. "I'm not supposed to waste my time on those, according to Professor Westing. So I have to read them on the sly. It's a series called 'Scourge of the Human-Cats'."
"It looks a little strange," Jamie remarked. It looks really weird, he thought. Turning a page, he realized it was in French. "You read French manga?" he asked confusedly.
"I'm actually an exchange student," Chloe clarified. "It's not so strange. Here, I'll read it to you in English..."
They snacked on Chloe's store of MRE's and read until nightfall.
"Okay," Chloe said decidedly. "Come to the machine at two in the morning. If you’re late, we'll start without you, so be on time." Petrovina nodded and slipped out.
"I wish she hadn't been sneaking around," Chloe said, frowning, "but an adult might prove to be useful." She turned back to Jamie and gasped. "What are you doing?!"
He had opened her book of Voltaire - only to discover that the pages were hollowed out and there was a smaller book inside - a manga entitled Fleau de Hommes-Chat.
"Wha..." Jamie stared at the cover. "What is this?"
"Well..." Chloe looked uncomfortable. "I'm not supposed to waste my time on those, according to Professor Westing. So I have to read them on the sly. It's a series called 'Scourge of the Human-Cats'."
"It looks a little strange," Jamie remarked. It looks really weird, he thought. Turning a page, he realized it was in French. "You read French manga?" he asked confusedly.
"I'm actually an exchange student," Chloe clarified. "It's not so strange. Here, I'll read it to you in English..."
They snacked on Chloe's store of MRE's and read until nightfall.
☣
"I
still don't think she is trustworthy," Jamie told Chloe in a whisper.
"Of course not!" Chloe hissed back. "But we had to let her come."
"Here we are!" Petrovina exclaimed brightly.
The three of them were standing at the base of the machine. In the darkness, it seemed like just a blacker black against the night sky.
"How do we run this thing?" Jamie asked.
Petrovina opened the control panel and began typing.
"Don't forget to set it thirty minutes forward," Chloe told her.
"Why?" asked Jamie.
Chloe rolled her eyes. "If you've watched many science fiction movies, you know about paradoxes, right?"
Jamie nodded.
"Well, to make sure that didn't happen, Professor Westing set up some rules. We have to go a half hour earlier or later than any previous trips to avoid running into our previous selves."
That is so incredibly creepy, thought Jamie.
"Ready!" Petrovina called.
The area in front of the Machine began to flash light and dark, wet and dry; days and decades flitting quickly in front of them.
"I still don't quite get how this works," Jamie remarked, transfixed by the sight.
"The Machine vacuums up time and stores it in a time-proof tank. To go forward in time, it can dump time onto a spot. Theoretically, we should be able to manufacture time, but the Professor is still working on that one. And if we could do that, we could then create anti-time..." Chloe's eyes shone as she got warmed up to her favorite subject.
"Wait!" Jamie shook his head to clear it. "How can the machine do all those things with time?"
"Oh, that?" Chloe shrugged. "Electromagnets."
"We're here!" Petrovina called.
Jamie and Chloe rushed to the edge of the Machine's range. They could see it was almost the same time as they had visited that morning, but with one difference.
"Uh... that guy is gone," Jamie remarked.
"He must have crawled to a different place!" Chloe gasped.
"Only one thing to do," Petrovina said decidedly. She walked briskly into the red dust in front of the Machine.
Chloe took a deep breath, then followed.
"Is this safe?" Jamie asked.
"I don't know," Chloe answered. "Come on!"
Stepping into the circle of light was disorienting. As soon as his feet were inside, the darkness around him vanished. Instead, he was standing on a vast, sunbaked oven of dust.
Chloe was standing still, staring around herself in awe.
"I found him!" Petrovina's call seemed to wake the girl and she took off running to the source of the sound. When Jamie caught up he found Petrovina and Chloe sitting by the man under a tall bush. He was sitting up and was drinking from Chloe's canteen.
"Tank you so much," he was saying in an accent that Jamie had never heard. "I surely would haff died if you had not come."
"It's nothing," Chloe said modestly. "You had better be on your way now. Please, take the water. We'll be fine."
"If you effer need anytink, me und my family will help you. Just ask around for Emil Whernam und-"
"You really should be going now," Petrovina interrupted. She helped the man to his feet and he walked away. He turned around once to wave, then got smaller and smaller in the distance, Chloe's bright pink canteen bouncing at his side.
"Great," Petrovina said, seeming businesslike as usual.
"How will we get back without the Machine?" Jamie asked, feeling worried. "And what time are we in, anyways?"
"I brought this along so I could control it remotely," Petrovina said, showing them what looked like a cellphone. "And the date is somewhere around 1880."
"Well, I think it is time to get back," Chloe sighed.
"Definitely," Jamie agreed.
"Actually, I plan on looking around a little," Petrovina said.
Chloe looked at her sharply. "What?"
Petrovina smiled, then pulled a gun from the purse she had been carrying. "Put your hands behind your backs and hold still," she commanded.
Jamie and Chloe gaped in shock.
"Now!" the evil secretary snapped.
Both of the children complied. Petrovina bound their hands painfully, then stepped back to survey her work.
"Very good. Now you stay right here until I get back!" As if there was any alternative.
Jamie watched as she walked away until she was lost in the shimmering heat waves.
"What is she doing?" he finally asked Chloe.
"No idea," she replied. "But I'm sure it is something really bad."
"Of course not!" Chloe hissed back. "But we had to let her come."
"Here we are!" Petrovina exclaimed brightly.
The three of them were standing at the base of the machine. In the darkness, it seemed like just a blacker black against the night sky.
"How do we run this thing?" Jamie asked.
Petrovina opened the control panel and began typing.
"Don't forget to set it thirty minutes forward," Chloe told her.
"Why?" asked Jamie.
Chloe rolled her eyes. "If you've watched many science fiction movies, you know about paradoxes, right?"
Jamie nodded.
"Well, to make sure that didn't happen, Professor Westing set up some rules. We have to go a half hour earlier or later than any previous trips to avoid running into our previous selves."
That is so incredibly creepy, thought Jamie.
"Ready!" Petrovina called.
The area in front of the Machine began to flash light and dark, wet and dry; days and decades flitting quickly in front of them.
"I still don't quite get how this works," Jamie remarked, transfixed by the sight.
"The Machine vacuums up time and stores it in a time-proof tank. To go forward in time, it can dump time onto a spot. Theoretically, we should be able to manufacture time, but the Professor is still working on that one. And if we could do that, we could then create anti-time..." Chloe's eyes shone as she got warmed up to her favorite subject.
"Wait!" Jamie shook his head to clear it. "How can the machine do all those things with time?"
"Oh, that?" Chloe shrugged. "Electromagnets."
"We're here!" Petrovina called.
Jamie and Chloe rushed to the edge of the Machine's range. They could see it was almost the same time as they had visited that morning, but with one difference.
"Uh... that guy is gone," Jamie remarked.
"He must have crawled to a different place!" Chloe gasped.
"Only one thing to do," Petrovina said decidedly. She walked briskly into the red dust in front of the Machine.
Chloe took a deep breath, then followed.
"Is this safe?" Jamie asked.
"I don't know," Chloe answered. "Come on!"
Stepping into the circle of light was disorienting. As soon as his feet were inside, the darkness around him vanished. Instead, he was standing on a vast, sunbaked oven of dust.
Chloe was standing still, staring around herself in awe.
"I found him!" Petrovina's call seemed to wake the girl and she took off running to the source of the sound. When Jamie caught up he found Petrovina and Chloe sitting by the man under a tall bush. He was sitting up and was drinking from Chloe's canteen.
"Tank you so much," he was saying in an accent that Jamie had never heard. "I surely would haff died if you had not come."
"It's nothing," Chloe said modestly. "You had better be on your way now. Please, take the water. We'll be fine."
"If you effer need anytink, me und my family will help you. Just ask around for Emil Whernam und-"
"You really should be going now," Petrovina interrupted. She helped the man to his feet and he walked away. He turned around once to wave, then got smaller and smaller in the distance, Chloe's bright pink canteen bouncing at his side.
"Great," Petrovina said, seeming businesslike as usual.
"How will we get back without the Machine?" Jamie asked, feeling worried. "And what time are we in, anyways?"
"I brought this along so I could control it remotely," Petrovina said, showing them what looked like a cellphone. "And the date is somewhere around 1880."
"Well, I think it is time to get back," Chloe sighed.
"Definitely," Jamie agreed.
"Actually, I plan on looking around a little," Petrovina said.
Chloe looked at her sharply. "What?"
Petrovina smiled, then pulled a gun from the purse she had been carrying. "Put your hands behind your backs and hold still," she commanded.
Jamie and Chloe gaped in shock.
"Now!" the evil secretary snapped.
Both of the children complied. Petrovina bound their hands painfully, then stepped back to survey her work.
"Very good. Now you stay right here until I get back!" As if there was any alternative.
Jamie watched as she walked away until she was lost in the shimmering heat waves.
"What is she doing?" he finally asked Chloe.
"No idea," she replied. "But I'm sure it is something really bad."
☣
It was two hours
before Petrovina came back.
By then, Jamie and Chloe were exhausted and very sunburned, and Chloe was furious.
"What were you thinking?" she raged after she had been released. "I could have died! Professor Westing is going to be so mad at you..."
Petrovina paid no attention to Chloe’s rants and led the two kids back to the place they had started from. Using the remote controller, she had the Machine deposit time, then stepped into the circle of the future. All of them were relieved when they found themselves in the correct time.
Jamie spoke up for the first time. "What on earth were you doing, Petrovina?" He was confused. It seemed like he had been confused ever since he had left home...
Petrovina just smirked at him, then hurried away in the direction of the Jeeps.
"Are you okay, Jamie?" Chloe looked concerned.
"What?" Her face seems a bit unfocused, he thought. "Yeah, I'm fine...."
Then his knees buckled and he collapsed into unconsciousness.
By then, Jamie and Chloe were exhausted and very sunburned, and Chloe was furious.
"What were you thinking?" she raged after she had been released. "I could have died! Professor Westing is going to be so mad at you..."
Petrovina paid no attention to Chloe’s rants and led the two kids back to the place they had started from. Using the remote controller, she had the Machine deposit time, then stepped into the circle of the future. All of them were relieved when they found themselves in the correct time.
Jamie spoke up for the first time. "What on earth were you doing, Petrovina?" He was confused. It seemed like he had been confused ever since he had left home...
Petrovina just smirked at him, then hurried away in the direction of the Jeeps.
"Are you okay, Jamie?" Chloe looked concerned.
"What?" Her face seems a bit unfocused, he thought. "Yeah, I'm fine...."
Then his knees buckled and he collapsed into unconsciousness.
☣
"Okay, he's
waking up," someone said.
Jamie opened his eyes and found himself staring at the green canvas roof of a tent.
"Good!" said a familiar voice. "I need to talk to him."
He sat up and saw that he was in the medical tent, and Signor Raphael was sitting beside him. Hovering at the end of his cot was a jumpy looking nurse.
"What's going on?" Suddenly Jamie remembered what had happened. "Did she get away?!"
Raphael looked grim - well, grimmer than usual. "Yes. And we have no idea where she is headed." He frowned. "Please relate exactly what happened? Chloe is too angry to make any sense."
Jamie told him the story as well as he could remember. "What happened to me?"
"You got sunstroke," the nurse answered.
The tent flap suddenly flew open and Chloe stomped in, followed by Professor Westing. She was covered in green slime. When she was closer, Jamie could tell it was aloe vera. She must have been burned pretty bad, he thought.
"What do you know about this?" She demanded of Signor Raphael.
In her hand was a note in hurried handwriting:
How are you feeling, Signor?
"We found this taped to the front of her tent," Chloe said accusingly.
"Strange." Raphael looked sincerely puzzled. "I've actually had a headache for the last hour." He turned to Professor Westing. "What is her plan?"
"Well, obviously she changed something in the past," the Professor deduced, "and it was something unfortunate, since she tied up the children." He frowned. "I can't believe she was dishonest. She had recommendations from Moscow University..."
"We have to find out what she did," Chloe spat.
"That should be simple," Jamie cut in. "We just need to go forward in time."
Jamie opened his eyes and found himself staring at the green canvas roof of a tent.
"Good!" said a familiar voice. "I need to talk to him."
He sat up and saw that he was in the medical tent, and Signor Raphael was sitting beside him. Hovering at the end of his cot was a jumpy looking nurse.
"What's going on?" Suddenly Jamie remembered what had happened. "Did she get away?!"
Raphael looked grim - well, grimmer than usual. "Yes. And we have no idea where she is headed." He frowned. "Please relate exactly what happened? Chloe is too angry to make any sense."
Jamie told him the story as well as he could remember. "What happened to me?"
"You got sunstroke," the nurse answered.
The tent flap suddenly flew open and Chloe stomped in, followed by Professor Westing. She was covered in green slime. When she was closer, Jamie could tell it was aloe vera. She must have been burned pretty bad, he thought.
"What do you know about this?" She demanded of Signor Raphael.
In her hand was a note in hurried handwriting:
How are you feeling, Signor?
"We found this taped to the front of her tent," Chloe said accusingly.
"Strange." Raphael looked sincerely puzzled. "I've actually had a headache for the last hour." He turned to Professor Westing. "What is her plan?"
"Well, obviously she changed something in the past," the Professor deduced, "and it was something unfortunate, since she tied up the children." He frowned. "I can't believe she was dishonest. She had recommendations from Moscow University..."
"We have to find out what she did," Chloe spat.
"That should be simple," Jamie cut in. "We just need to go forward in time."
☣
"Still
suffering from the heat," Professor Westing said dismissively, breaking
the surprised silence. "There is no reason to go forward in time!
Petrovina must be apprehended as soon as possible!"
"Wait..." Chloe was thinking hard. "I think he's right."
"What?!"
"If we go forward in time, we can figure out Petrovina's plan. Then we can come back here and stop it!"
"Makes sense," Signor Raphael agreed.
The professor seemed at a loss for words.
"Let's go!" Jamie hopped out of bed, they swayed dangerously. "Whoa..."
Professor Westing snorted. "Of course children will not be permitted to come - would not, I mean - if I even decide to go that route. I'll need some experienced scientists -"
"Hold on," Raphael interrupted. "There isn't time to set out an expedition. And-" he looked critically at Chloe and Jamie "- I think we should take the kids. They thought up the plan anyway."
"Wait..." Chloe was thinking hard. "I think he's right."
"What?!"
"If we go forward in time, we can figure out Petrovina's plan. Then we can come back here and stop it!"
"Makes sense," Signor Raphael agreed.
The professor seemed at a loss for words.
"Let's go!" Jamie hopped out of bed, they swayed dangerously. "Whoa..."
Professor Westing snorted. "Of course children will not be permitted to come - would not, I mean - if I even decide to go that route. I'll need some experienced scientists -"
"Hold on," Raphael interrupted. "There isn't time to set out an expedition. And-" he looked critically at Chloe and Jamie "- I think we should take the kids. They thought up the plan anyway."
☣
Thirty minutes
later, Jamie was sitting near the remaining Jeeps, fully packed and ready. He
was feeling less dizzy - and definitely ready to go!
"Is the Professor not here yet?" Signor Raphael asked as he walked up to the pile of luggage.
"He always takes a while," Chloe answered. Just then, Professor Westing lurched out of his tent, weighed down by a very heavy-looking hiking backpack.
"Are you going to take all of that?" Jamie asked in disbelief.
"Of course. There is important equipment in here," Professor Westing scowled.
"Looks like we're ready then." Signor gestured to three four wheelers parked near the Jeeps.
Shouldn't there be four? Jamie wondered. He had an uneasy feeling...
Raphael gave him a grim smile. "Since you and Chloe packed light, you'll share a ride. It saves gas."
Oh no!!!
"Is the Professor not here yet?" Signor Raphael asked as he walked up to the pile of luggage.
"He always takes a while," Chloe answered. Just then, Professor Westing lurched out of his tent, weighed down by a very heavy-looking hiking backpack.
"Are you going to take all of that?" Jamie asked in disbelief.
"Of course. There is important equipment in here," Professor Westing scowled.
"Looks like we're ready then." Signor gestured to three four wheelers parked near the Jeeps.
Shouldn't there be four? Jamie wondered. He had an uneasy feeling...
Raphael gave him a grim smile. "Since you and Chloe packed light, you'll share a ride. It saves gas."
Oh no!!!
☣
Fifteen minutes
later, all of the scientists, workmen and guards had gathered at the Machine to
watch them leave. It was tense and silent as they drove up.
"Please set the machine twenty years forward," Professor Westing asked calmly. Jamie was so nervous he thought he might faint again.
A scientist complied, and the Machine did its customary thing.
The little caravan trundled into the small area of future. Jamie stared as first Raphael, then Professor Westing disappeared. Then Chloe followed them, and the machine and other people were no longer there. They were all alone on the flat, dusty, deserted African plain.
"That's everyone," Raphael remarked. "Now follow me and we should get to Johannesburg by tonight." He took off suddenly, and the others followed. Jamie only hesitated for a second before wrapping his arms awkwardly around Chloe's waist. He prepared for a long drive.
What would they find in the city? Impossible to know. But with Petrovina involved, it would probably be exciting - and maybe even dangerous.
"Please set the machine twenty years forward," Professor Westing asked calmly. Jamie was so nervous he thought he might faint again.
A scientist complied, and the Machine did its customary thing.
The little caravan trundled into the small area of future. Jamie stared as first Raphael, then Professor Westing disappeared. Then Chloe followed them, and the machine and other people were no longer there. They were all alone on the flat, dusty, deserted African plain.
"That's everyone," Raphael remarked. "Now follow me and we should get to Johannesburg by tonight." He took off suddenly, and the others followed. Jamie only hesitated for a second before wrapping his arms awkwardly around Chloe's waist. He prepared for a long drive.
What would they find in the city? Impossible to know. But with Petrovina involved, it would probably be exciting - and maybe even dangerous.
☣
It was getting dark
when they came in sight of the metropolis, just as Signor Raphael had
predicted.
Jamie stepped off the four-wheeler and immediately fell down. His whole body ached from the hours of bouncing on the dreadfully uncomfortable vehicle. Even the usually stoic Chloe seemed exhausted.
Professor Westing, however, was brimming with energy.
"Chloe! Look what I have discovered!" The archeologist waved a child's sandal in the air. "A futuristic artifact!"
Raphael collected brush for a fire and soon they were sitting around it, eating the ever-present beans.
"Signor?" Jamie asked.
"Hm." Signor was watching the flatlands around them diligently.
Jamie gestured to the city. "What do you think we'll find in there?"
"No idea," Raphael answered, then coughed.
Soon they were all settled into warm sleeping bags.
Signor Raphael continued to cough all night.
Jamie stepped off the four-wheeler and immediately fell down. His whole body ached from the hours of bouncing on the dreadfully uncomfortable vehicle. Even the usually stoic Chloe seemed exhausted.
Professor Westing, however, was brimming with energy.
"Chloe! Look what I have discovered!" The archeologist waved a child's sandal in the air. "A futuristic artifact!"
Raphael collected brush for a fire and soon they were sitting around it, eating the ever-present beans.
"Signor?" Jamie asked.
"Hm." Signor was watching the flatlands around them diligently.
Jamie gestured to the city. "What do you think we'll find in there?"
"No idea," Raphael answered, then coughed.
Soon they were all settled into warm sleeping bags.
Signor Raphael continued to cough all night.
☣
Jamie woke up the
next morning to the sound of hoofbeats. Sitting up quickly, he saw that Raphael
was already alert and scanning the horizon for the source of the sound.
Chloe sat up too. "Do you hear that? Maybe there are wild horses...!"
"Oh no," Raphael wheezed as the first figures burst over a low rise.
Only about a hundred feet away, Jamie could see them very clearly.
Seated on tall, malnutritioned-looking cattle, there were about twenty people. They had assorted machine guns and masks made of gray burlap.
"Raiders!" Signor Raphael cried, then doubled over in a coughing fit.
Chloe sat up too. "Do you hear that? Maybe there are wild horses...!"
"Oh no," Raphael wheezed as the first figures burst over a low rise.
Only about a hundred feet away, Jamie could see them very clearly.
Seated on tall, malnutritioned-looking cattle, there were about twenty people. They had assorted machine guns and masks made of gray burlap.
"Raiders!" Signor Raphael cried, then doubled over in a coughing fit.
Jamie was
aware that he couldn't run from the armed cow riders, but he still looked
around frantically for something to help him.
Signor Raphael had procured half a dozen throwing knifes from within his clothing and was facing the approaching riders with grim determination.
Chloe was screaming at the top of her lungs.
Instead of simply trampling them, the riders stopped just short of the camp. Jamie could see them more clearly now.
In the front were four leaders, and straggling behind them appeared to be whole families, all of them masked. The foremost leader dismounted and walked closer to the camp. Jamie could see Raphael's grip tightening on his weapons.
"Are you aware of whose property it is that you are trespassing on?" the person asked in a surprisingly feminine voice.
Signor Raphael opened his mouth to speak, but just ended up coughing. He motioned for Jamie to work it out.
"Um... no," Jamie said, startled at having to talk.
"Are you raiders?" the woman asked abruptly.
"We thought you were!" Chloe broke in.
The spokeswoman laughed. "Of course not." She looked around her warily. "But this isn't the safest place for you to be, anyways. You may come into the city with us, if you want."
Their camp was packed away very quickly, and a few minutes later they were driving into the once stately city of Johannesburg.
It looked much different than the last time Jamie had passed through. The many well-tended parks had spread, leaving patchy foliage sprouting up everywhere. The buildings were in a disturbing state of decay, and very few people walked the cracked concrete streets.
Signor Raphael wheezed a curse. "What did that witch do?"
Soon they reached their destination; the old prison-turned-museum on Constitution Hill.
The leaders stood to one side and let their people go in before them. Then they tied the cattle and led their new friends to a large, crumbling room.
"Let's do introductions," the woman began. She removed her mask to reveal a young face, with crinkles around her eyes from her difficult desert life. "I'm Victoria. You can call me Viki if you want."
A tall man in a black cape took off his mask to reveal a brown face crisscrossed with scars. "My name is Vader," he said in a deep, rumbly voice.
The third person was wearing a hockey mask. He took it off to reveal a bright young face with an energetic smile. "They call me Cole," he said, and grinned at Chloe.
"Why the hockey mask?" Chloe asked defensively.
Victoria answered for him. "Cole just always has to be different."
The young man shrugged. "Perhaps."
Everyone's attention turned to the fourth person in the room. The individual had chosen a corner and was sitting beside a small black and brown goat. The figure did not remove its mask. As a matter of fact, the whole individual was swathed in wide strips of cloth, while its hands fit into small leather gloves. There was no place where any skin showed through.
"Oh," Victoria said, breaking the silence. "That's Shroud. It doesn't talk a lot."
Jamie was shocked at hearing a person called 'it'. Cole noticed.
"She's not being mean," he assured Jamie. "We just don't know if Shroud is male or female."
Jamie introduced himself, and so did the others. Professor Westing was still confused as to where they were, since he had just woken from a long nap he had caught as they traveled into the city.
Finally, Signor Raphael was able to ask the question on all of their minds.
"What is going on in this town?" he wheezed.
Victoria seemed surprised and leaned forward attentively. "Is it different from where you came from?" she asked.
Uh -oh, Jamie thought. This doesn't sound promising...
Signor Raphael had procured half a dozen throwing knifes from within his clothing and was facing the approaching riders with grim determination.
Chloe was screaming at the top of her lungs.
Instead of simply trampling them, the riders stopped just short of the camp. Jamie could see them more clearly now.
In the front were four leaders, and straggling behind them appeared to be whole families, all of them masked. The foremost leader dismounted and walked closer to the camp. Jamie could see Raphael's grip tightening on his weapons.
"Are you aware of whose property it is that you are trespassing on?" the person asked in a surprisingly feminine voice.
Signor Raphael opened his mouth to speak, but just ended up coughing. He motioned for Jamie to work it out.
"Um... no," Jamie said, startled at having to talk.
"Are you raiders?" the woman asked abruptly.
"We thought you were!" Chloe broke in.
The spokeswoman laughed. "Of course not." She looked around her warily. "But this isn't the safest place for you to be, anyways. You may come into the city with us, if you want."
Their camp was packed away very quickly, and a few minutes later they were driving into the once stately city of Johannesburg.
It looked much different than the last time Jamie had passed through. The many well-tended parks had spread, leaving patchy foliage sprouting up everywhere. The buildings were in a disturbing state of decay, and very few people walked the cracked concrete streets.
Signor Raphael wheezed a curse. "What did that witch do?"
Soon they reached their destination; the old prison-turned-museum on Constitution Hill.
The leaders stood to one side and let their people go in before them. Then they tied the cattle and led their new friends to a large, crumbling room.
"Let's do introductions," the woman began. She removed her mask to reveal a young face, with crinkles around her eyes from her difficult desert life. "I'm Victoria. You can call me Viki if you want."
A tall man in a black cape took off his mask to reveal a brown face crisscrossed with scars. "My name is Vader," he said in a deep, rumbly voice.
The third person was wearing a hockey mask. He took it off to reveal a bright young face with an energetic smile. "They call me Cole," he said, and grinned at Chloe.
"Why the hockey mask?" Chloe asked defensively.
Victoria answered for him. "Cole just always has to be different."
The young man shrugged. "Perhaps."
Everyone's attention turned to the fourth person in the room. The individual had chosen a corner and was sitting beside a small black and brown goat. The figure did not remove its mask. As a matter of fact, the whole individual was swathed in wide strips of cloth, while its hands fit into small leather gloves. There was no place where any skin showed through.
"Oh," Victoria said, breaking the silence. "That's Shroud. It doesn't talk a lot."
Jamie was shocked at hearing a person called 'it'. Cole noticed.
"She's not being mean," he assured Jamie. "We just don't know if Shroud is male or female."
Jamie introduced himself, and so did the others. Professor Westing was still confused as to where they were, since he had just woken from a long nap he had caught as they traveled into the city.
Finally, Signor Raphael was able to ask the question on all of their minds.
"What is going on in this town?" he wheezed.
Victoria seemed surprised and leaned forward attentively. "Is it different from where you came from?" she asked.
Uh -oh, Jamie thought. This doesn't sound promising...
☣
"Oh... not really," Signor Raphael
lied.
"We were hoping things would be different here," Chloe put in. "What started all this?"
Her query was replied with blank stares.
"No way," Cole groaned. "You don't know? Everyone knows about it! Didn't you get some kind of educa-"
"If they don't know, that's fine," rumbled Vader's deep voice. "I will tell them."
The time travelers scooted closer so they wouldn't miss a word.
"About twenty years ago, an anarchist in Russia made the news when she said that she was in the possession of a deadly plague. The Russian government stated confidently that it would be impossible for a young student to get her hands on this disease. She had applied to work in a biohazard lab but was turned away for inexperience. So the government arrested her, but at her trial, she revealed that she had already released the virus," Vader sighed.
"Petrovina!" Professor Westing gasped.
"No, not quite. Please do not interrupt." Vader gave the Professor a reprimanding glance, then continued. "The girl was locked up, of course. Soon there were outbreaks of the disease. She was eventually charged with war crimes and put to death. Meanwhile, the world was in a state of turmoil. There were not nearly enough vaccinations to go around. Out of the chaos, a lovely vision of peace and justice appeared, promising that if she were permitted to enforce some new procedures, she could save us." Vader snorted. "The world embraced her as dictator. She controls the people who are left with promises of vaccinations for them and their children, while dissenters are executed by her secret police. People will do anything for her, just like the loyal friend who took her blame. The disease is so dreadful that all that matters is the vaccination."
"Whoa..." The four time travelers wore identical expressions of shock.
"What does this illness do?" Chloe asked quietly. Jamie was shocked when he realized what she was thinking. If she gave Signor Raphael has it, he's probably given it to all of us! We might die! I might die!
"If you haven't heard of it, you guys are totally out of touch," Cole complained, then added, "Not to offend you or anything," when Chloe gave him an angry look.
"The disease Dictator Petrovina uses to control us is Smallpox," Viki began. "Everyone gets it eventually. Either the community does something to annoy her and she infects us, or it comes through naturally every ten years or so. One out of three people die from it, while one out of six survivors goes blind. If you get it, you will have pock marks for the rest of your life. And it is illegal to get vaccinations from anywhere besides the government." She sighed. “Even now, nobody knows how she acquired the virus.”
"So Signor Raphael doesn't have it," Jamie sighed in relief.
"He definitely doesn't have spots," Chloe agreed.
"Well, actually..." Viki broke in, "the victim doesn't get spots until about a week into it. The disease starts with headaches, nausea, general weakness..."
"(CENSORED)," Raphael remarked.
"We were hoping things would be different here," Chloe put in. "What started all this?"
Her query was replied with blank stares.
"No way," Cole groaned. "You don't know? Everyone knows about it! Didn't you get some kind of educa-"
"If they don't know, that's fine," rumbled Vader's deep voice. "I will tell them."
The time travelers scooted closer so they wouldn't miss a word.
"About twenty years ago, an anarchist in Russia made the news when she said that she was in the possession of a deadly plague. The Russian government stated confidently that it would be impossible for a young student to get her hands on this disease. She had applied to work in a biohazard lab but was turned away for inexperience. So the government arrested her, but at her trial, she revealed that she had already released the virus," Vader sighed.
"Petrovina!" Professor Westing gasped.
"No, not quite. Please do not interrupt." Vader gave the Professor a reprimanding glance, then continued. "The girl was locked up, of course. Soon there were outbreaks of the disease. She was eventually charged with war crimes and put to death. Meanwhile, the world was in a state of turmoil. There were not nearly enough vaccinations to go around. Out of the chaos, a lovely vision of peace and justice appeared, promising that if she were permitted to enforce some new procedures, she could save us." Vader snorted. "The world embraced her as dictator. She controls the people who are left with promises of vaccinations for them and their children, while dissenters are executed by her secret police. People will do anything for her, just like the loyal friend who took her blame. The disease is so dreadful that all that matters is the vaccination."
"Whoa..." The four time travelers wore identical expressions of shock.
"What does this illness do?" Chloe asked quietly. Jamie was shocked when he realized what she was thinking. If she gave Signor Raphael has it, he's probably given it to all of us! We might die! I might die!
"If you haven't heard of it, you guys are totally out of touch," Cole complained, then added, "Not to offend you or anything," when Chloe gave him an angry look.
"The disease Dictator Petrovina uses to control us is Smallpox," Viki began. "Everyone gets it eventually. Either the community does something to annoy her and she infects us, or it comes through naturally every ten years or so. One out of three people die from it, while one out of six survivors goes blind. If you get it, you will have pock marks for the rest of your life. And it is illegal to get vaccinations from anywhere besides the government." She sighed. “Even now, nobody knows how she acquired the virus.”
"So Signor Raphael doesn't have it," Jamie sighed in relief.
"He definitely doesn't have spots," Chloe agreed.
"Well, actually..." Viki broke in, "the victim doesn't get spots until about a week into it. The disease starts with headaches, nausea, general weakness..."
"(CENSORED)," Raphael remarked.
☣
In minutes, the
community's Pandemic Plan was in full effect.
Anyone who had been in contact with the group was quarantined away from the others. Jamie and his friends found themselves in a large meeting room with the leaders of the nomads. Everyone looked decidedly grim.
"These measures will be totally worthless," Viki stated hopelessly. "Even if not everyone is infected, they will be eventually. And without any vaccines, we can't even save the little kids."
Nobody looked at Signor Raphael. Jamie was sure he was burning with guilt.
Anyone who had been in contact with the group was quarantined away from the others. Jamie and his friends found themselves in a large meeting room with the leaders of the nomads. Everyone looked decidedly grim.
"These measures will be totally worthless," Viki stated hopelessly. "Even if not everyone is infected, they will be eventually. And without any vaccines, we can't even save the little kids."
Nobody looked at Signor Raphael. Jamie was sure he was burning with guilt.
The room was silent for several minutes, then
the sick man spoke up. "Does the government have any vaccines around
here?"
Cole answered him. "There is an embassy in the city, but of course the vaccines are heavily guarded. None of us are sure exactly what is in the building, but there are rumors of medicine, food - even a computer."
"No way to know if the rumors are true," Vader cautioned.
"How heavily is it guarded?" Signor Raphael asked.
Chloe glared at Raphael. "I know what you are planning to do. But violence is never the answer!"
"Depending on the question," Cole remarked, and winked at Chloe as she turned her angry gaze at him.
Viki broke in. "The embassy is guarded by at least forty well-trained soldiers. The windows are high up, and none of us have ever been in real hand-to-hand combat-"
"I have. And so has Shroud,” Raphael broke in.
Viki shifted uncomfortably. "How do you know about Shroud?"
"I can tell another mercenary when I see one," Signor Raphael replied calmly. "If you get weapons for my people, we can make it into the embassy without losing many fighters. Then you could vaccinate everyone."
"Mercenary?" Jamie whispered to Chloe. "What is he talking about?"
"Who knows? All I'm sure of is that there is no way I am fighting."
Cole answered him. "There is an embassy in the city, but of course the vaccines are heavily guarded. None of us are sure exactly what is in the building, but there are rumors of medicine, food - even a computer."
"No way to know if the rumors are true," Vader cautioned.
"How heavily is it guarded?" Signor Raphael asked.
Chloe glared at Raphael. "I know what you are planning to do. But violence is never the answer!"
"Depending on the question," Cole remarked, and winked at Chloe as she turned her angry gaze at him.
Viki broke in. "The embassy is guarded by at least forty well-trained soldiers. The windows are high up, and none of us have ever been in real hand-to-hand combat-"
"I have. And so has Shroud,” Raphael broke in.
Viki shifted uncomfortably. "How do you know about Shroud?"
"I can tell another mercenary when I see one," Signor Raphael replied calmly. "If you get weapons for my people, we can make it into the embassy without losing many fighters. Then you could vaccinate everyone."
"Mercenary?" Jamie whispered to Chloe. "What is he talking about?"
"Who knows? All I'm sure of is that there is no way I am fighting."
“Wait!” Cole broke in. “Vader has all those
awesome scars - he has fought before, right?”
Viki gave him a stern look, and Vader grunted
a non-affirmative answer.
"That plan is awesome!" Cole exclaimed, ignoring the reprimand. "Everyone come on and we'll find you some killing devices!"
Chloe shuddered.
"You guys go ahead," Signor Raphael sighed. He looked exhausted. "I'll try to rest up."
The room cleared quickly, with everyone scattering in search of weapons. Viki gave Raphael a cup of hot herbal tea and led him to a room with a cot. After she had left, he sat down dismally and listened to the hurried preparations in the other areas of the compound. As Jamie had suspected, the guilt of endangering so many lives weighed heavily on his conscience.
If this doesn't work out... Raphael stopped himself. I will make it work. Even if I expire from smallpox when I get done.
"That plan is awesome!" Cole exclaimed, ignoring the reprimand. "Everyone come on and we'll find you some killing devices!"
Chloe shuddered.
"You guys go ahead," Signor Raphael sighed. He looked exhausted. "I'll try to rest up."
The room cleared quickly, with everyone scattering in search of weapons. Viki gave Raphael a cup of hot herbal tea and led him to a room with a cot. After she had left, he sat down dismally and listened to the hurried preparations in the other areas of the compound. As Jamie had suspected, the guilt of endangering so many lives weighed heavily on his conscience.
If this doesn't work out... Raphael stopped himself. I will make it work. Even if I expire from smallpox when I get done.
☣
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