Kill Them Wherever You Find Them (15 page)

As they awaited his return, records outside
the temporal shielding were also constantly monitored and compared
to those within the facility.

No change in any of the McGlothlin family
records. Nothing. Was the science flawed? Perhaps something
happened to Stauffenberg in the past, or perhaps he never reached
that time, his body scattered in atoms among the stars due to some
miscalculation.

Video feeds and McGlothlin family
genealogical records were continually monitored while scientists in
each of the three facilities poured over their notes, checking then
rechecking their calculations and calibrations.

Now it was known that an object moving from
one point in time to another made no sound, nor was there any
attendant light, gust of air, or other effect. These were Quantum
Leaps on a mega level. A Quantum Leap, in short, is when a particle
- such as an electron orbiting the nucleus of an atom - moves
instantly from point "a" to point "c" without crossing or touching
or even passing through point "b." The exact
how
of Quantum
Leaps remained elusive, though they were successfully duplicated by
his team after countless attempts and refinements.

Other crucial aspects such as Quantum
Entanglement and artificial Einstein-Rosen Bridges commonly known
as "Black Holes" come into play. Another Facility devised a way to
create a stable Black Hole, smaller than a molecule, for just a
fraction of a second.

Jeff's return was, in nearly every way,
anti-climatic. A couple of scientists working in the cavernous room
when he
landed
didn't even notice him as he stood there,
dazed and weakened from his ordeal.

Though the landing itself wasn't awe
inspiring, the results were anything but.

The team had two identical books that were
compiled on the descendants of Martin McGlothlin. One located in a
highly secure building outside the shielded facility, the other in
the facility with history books, magazines, and newspapers of
various countries - but especially the United States - for specific
events of historic or personal, to the team members and leaders of
various countries, interest.

In addition to these printed and compiled
newspapers, books, and magazines, there were thousands of reels of
microfilm and tens of thousands of sheets of microfiche of
newspapers and genealogies in the shielded areas. The entire
facility was shielded to protect the work and research from time
changes. The same was true of the other two facilities in
The
Project
with their identical twins outside the shielded
area.

Those who were shielded when time changed
would remember the old timeline, as well as be able to instantly
integrate into the new space-time frame once they left the
protection of the shielding. The psychologists at the other
facility felt that this emotional and physical adjustment would be
relatively easy and smooth, provided the differences in the
timelines were not too significant in terms of world, or personal
history.

Moshe and the heads of the other facilities,
along with the Prime Minister were in a facility conference room,
planning how they could salvage and retool the apparently failed
Project when news came of Jeff's return.

Surprise, then cautious excitement, charged
the previously sullen atmosphere as they followed the Prime Minster
and General Ashkelon to the area where Jeff awaited.

He appeared visibly different - physically at
least, and considerably worse for the wear compared to when he
first stepped through time to arrive in the Civil War. Smiling as
he recognized faces familiar to him he nearly passed out, slowly
steadied himself, then looked at those nearest him. With that
impish grin of his he winked at Moshe. As if of one mind, cheers
and back-slapping erupted throughout the group.

Following the cheers and brief joviality a
silent stillness prevailed, as the unspoken question circulated in
everybody's mind, "Was the mission in the past successful and, if
so, were the desired outcomes realized?"

First and foremost he needed medical
attention, and quickly. For all of the doctors assembled, only one
was a bona fide surgeon. He and Dr. Siwel got Jeff on a cot, then
carefully removed his shirt and pants, noting the latter were
darkened with a copious amount of fresh blood. Rachael also took
note of the fact that he wasn't wearing the uniform he had on when
he departed.

Both were shocked to see so much physical
trauma evident. It was difficult for either to wrap their heads
around the fact that in just over two weeks Jeff had been in a
fight, received a severe wound to his leg, and had undergone
surgery. Heaven only knew what else. Physical injuries taking
precedence over any other consideration the medical doctor went to
work assessing the damage, cleaning and dressing the wound that
showed no sign of infection, though he administered a wide-spectrum
antibiotic as a clearly indicated preventative course of action. He
also gave Jeff a large glass of water to drink. An IV drip placed
at the ready should it be required for additional fluids and an
overnight course of antibiotics. Such a measure was possibly
unnecessary, but wise nonetheless.

After Stauffenberg had being treated, then
cleared of being in any immediate medical danger, the conversation
began to swell with nearly all speaking in excited, hurried voices.
Though the room was large, larger in fact than several mid-sized
American homes put side-by-side, it still seemed too small to
contain the excitement and shared wonder.

Calmer, more focused minds took over, led by
Ashkelon whose immediate concern was the military application of
the experiment. The results of the anticipated history alteration
would determine the ultimate success or failure of this initial,
all-important experiment.

"Dr. Abrams, please contact your facility,
ask them to compare their McGlothlin records with the unshielded
records."

"No need sir, a message has already come
through. The McGlothlin genealogy records outside the shielding
shifted from those in my facility. They delayed contacting me
because they wanted to confirm it for themselves. It appears that
the records shift happened simultaneously with Jeff's
landing
in our own time frame."

Again cheers filled the cavernous space.

"Incredible!" The demeanor of the Prime
Minister manifested the diametric opposite of the person he had
been during the meeting moments earlier. "Please call your
assistant in the unshielded archives. Ask him to read from page 20
of the McGlothlin Family History on video. We'll put our page up on
the wall monitor for comparison."

The face of his assistant filled half of the
enormous split-screen as the other half displayed a projection of
the page inside the shielded archives:

"Page 20. Andrew Martin McGlothlin, born 14
December 1793 in Alexandria, Virginia, United States. Son of Doc
and Sara McGlothlin. Married Inez Johnson, daughter of William
Smith Johnson and Mary Jane Roth, 12 June 1815 – same town."

"Children" the assistant continued to
read.

"James Steven McGlothlin – born 15 April
1816, Alexandria, Virginia, United States, died, killed in battle,
30 November 1863, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee – survived by wife Mary,
son James Jr., and daughter Hannah.

Martin Joseph McGlothlin, born 25 August
1817, Alexandria, Virginia, United States, died, murdered at home
23 June 1864, Roanoke, Virginia – survived by wife, Belle,
daughters Sarah and Annabelle.

Sara Jane McGlothlin – born 07 July 1818,
Alexandria, Virginia, United States, died 18 June 1856, cancer,
Alexandria, Virginia – survived by husband, James Olmos, and son,
Frederick Olmos.

William Smith McGlothlin – born 03 January
1820, Alexandria, Virginia, United States, died, pneumonia, 10
December 1822, Roanoke, Virginia.

Baby Boy McGlothlin – stillborn, 19 March
1821, Roanoke, Virginia, United States.

Lucille Mame McGlothlin – born 23 August
1822, Roanoke, Virginia, United States – died 21 July 1877,
Honaker, Virginia – survived by children, sons Bruce and David and
daughters Cheryl, Denise, Lynn and Kathy."

Cheers erupted yet again, accompanied by more
back slapping, hugs and hand shaking. No'am asked the assistant to
confirm that there was a Martin McGlothlin recorded as murdered at
home in 1864. Confirmation was made verbally as the page was
scanned and e-faxed to him for secondary verification.

There, between James and Sara, could be found
the name of Martin McGlothlin. But the death date was therein
listed as more than two decades later, of the Consumption. He was
listed as being survived by his youngest daughter and two sons,
including Martin McGlothlin, Jr.

Next researchers went scurrying to compare
datum: names, dates, times, events, financial markets, world
leaders, and etcetera, with their counterparts outside the shielded
area. While they would require months to compare every detail
available in the thousands of rolls of microfilm and sheets of
microfiche, as well as the mega quads of digitally-stored data,
there were certain key global events and persons of note that were
immediately checked and cross-verified. It appeared that the
experiment was a stunning success, beyond what anybody had
reasonably dreamed. Pending the outcome of the comparison of facts
of history they would be able to move forward.

It was always theorized that at the very
instant a change in the past had been effected resulting ripple
effects would be immediately apparent in the present. Knowing now
that Jeff's mission was a complete success, but that there were no
changes until after he
landed
again, a new theory would
arise. It postulated that only the return of the person or persons
in the present would be the catalyst for completing the change in
the past and its ripple effects through history to the present.
They also weren't sure why he was unable to return to the very
moment from whence he left. Theories until now unchallenged, for
want of any genuine Scientific Method to prove or disprove, would
be rewritten or discarded. Much was still unknown but it appeared
possible that time wasn't quite the meandering river it was once
thought to be.

Cigars were lit and champagne, which seemed
to magically appear ex nihilo, flowed freely. This directly
flaunted the "written on the tablets of Sinai" rule of no drinking
or smoking during the course of
The Project
. If anybody
remembered, let alone objected, they were wise to keep it to
themselves. A bottle of Jeff's favorite chocolate milk from the
American chain store
Safeway
was already opened and poured
into a fluted glass for him.

The Prime Minister, usually given to making
speeches himself, asked Jeff if he felt sufficiently well to offer
the toast.

Standing shakily but resolute, chin held
high, Jeff considered what he should say in a toast to celebrate a
victory shared by all. At such a jubilant but also somber moment
only one seemed appropriate to him, "Kol hakavod yedidim sheli.
L'chiam!" - Good job my friends. To Life!

"L'chiam!" the response arose in loud unison.
It was important to always remember the ultimate goal, that being
the sanctity of life and the often painful decisions and actions
required to maintain it for the majority as well as the often
defenseless minority.

Mimicking the joy shared by all the others in
the gathering, one person in the room had to stop himself from
shaking with frustration and personal recrimination. At the first
opportunity he would make a grim report to Abd El-Monem Abou
through his new "handler" in Israel while Mona was away for a
couple of weeks to resettle once again.

Without question Abd would be furious that
the
landing
proved successful. As he couldn't bring records
outside the shielded area as proof, even photocopied pages would
instantly change once they passed into the new timeline, perhaps he
could make his report without full disclosure.

Getting away from his responsibilities with
Lt. General Ashkelon was never an easy task, but given the many
consecutive days he had been working he felt sure he could secure a
couple of days leave.

It would be nice to see Mona again, just one
of the benefits of his job. The millions of US dollars in his Swiss
account was a singular benefit in and of itself, but time with her
came in as a distinct tie. With the uncertainty of the Euro, thanks
largely to Socialism and greed, he insisted on American
dollars.

Not being a scientist or privy to the
scientific details of
The Project
he simply couldn't find a
way to postpone this first phase, this first
landing
. There
was no viable reason to postpone it and he knew he couldn't bluff
his way into an excuse with the General.

Immediately after the toast Jeff was reported
to the facility's medical center for some 21
^st
century
treatment. The MD admired his 19
^th
century counterpart.
Stauffenberg would, thanks in large part due to the excellent – if
slightly antiquated - care he received, make a full recovery in
short order. It was amazing how some things in medicine had not
changed all that much from nearly 150 years ago.

Remove a bullet, clean the wound as best as
possible to try to prevent infection, stitch it up, let nature to
do the rest while hoping that no infection be introduced post-op.
The only difference of note was that 21
^st
century
medicine would also administer antibiotics, unavailable in the
19
^th
. He made a mental note to ask Jeff about the
circumstance of the surgery and what he remembered about the doctor
who performed it.

After Jeff left the room to go to the
infirmary, flanked by two men in case he required assistance, the
room started again buzzed with excited conversation. Rachael had
never witnessed such animation in her colleagues before. She shared
their jubilation as she slowly sipped the champagne, relief and
excitement replacing the concern and doubt that had hung over
The Project
so very recently.