Regression (5 page)

Journal of Doctor Nicholas Weaver

August 10, 98 P. I.

My father’s journals
keyed me into the nature of Time. He and my mother died when I was
fourteen –I never realized I was responsible for their deaths until
later, but that is a story for another journal entry. Father was
researching the geomagnetic polar shift with the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration in the years before he died. I
found his journals Post Impact. Fortunate to not have lived near
the impact site, I continued to visit the house during the Strife
years, often living there for months at a time. It was peaceful,
filled with memories of happier times. But, I digress.

Those journals made
note of unusual magnetic signatures within the Earth’s orbit. The
magnetosphere was well studied, but these anomalies he discovered
appeared to exist on their own, having no relationship to the
magnetospheres of either the Earth or the Sun. Father died shortly
after his discovery, just before Impact drew everyone’s attention
away from anything but survival. I will follow his protocol, and
document my understanding.

Quotes, both famous
and infamous, echo through my mind. Robert H. Goddard comes to the
forefront.

It is difficult to say
what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today
and the reality of tomorrow.

I do what I do for
Hope.

The Summer Carnival and Fair was an annual tradition. It
marked the closing weeks of the summer, held on the second weekend
of August. Mid-way rides, buskers, games, and of course the fortune
tellers made for an entertaining evening. The livestock on exhibit
for the fair included cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, chickens, and
other species. The carnival set up each summer on the lake shore
and patrons could wander through the tents, booths, and rides
before walking one of the many paths cutting through the dunes to
the sandy beach. The family arrived late in the
afternoon.

“
Let’s do the ring
toss, okay?” Annie dragged Adya toward the stand while Samantha and
Evan went to the midway booth to purchase ride tickets. Throwing
two rings at the same time when the attendant was not looking, Adya
grinned as one of them landed perfectly on a yawning bottle
top.

“
Wow, awesome toss.”
The little girl scorned the minuscule toy being offered by the
carnival attendant, pleading with her big sister, “Do it again. I
want a bigger toy.”

The attendant shrugged, collected
their money, and turned to serve another customer. Tossing two
rings again, Adya looped the same bottle neck.

“
Yay.
Again.”

She continued to ring bottles,
earning successively larger prizes for her excited sibling. Finally
they walked away with a giant unicorn, taking it back to Samantha’s
car.

“
Let’s go see the
animals. Do you hear that cow mooing?” They toured the stockyard,
admiring the beautiful Arabian horses and looking into the soulful
eyes of the Jersey dairy cattle. The sharp tang of fresh hay was in
the air and they breathed deeply of the scent mingled with the
musky smell of animals. Annie began to sneeze. They left the stock
area, the smaller girl dragging her feet with slumped
shoulders.

“
I want a
pony”

“
They make you
sneeze.”

“
So. What’s a little
sneezing if you can ride like the wind?”

“
How ‘bout a pony
ride? See them over there?” Adya pointed to the tiny ponies walking
in circles inside a temporary fenced enclosure. The riders’
enraptured faces were alight with pleasure but the ponies
themselves moved with heads down and eyelids almost closed.
Sidewalkers maintained the safety of the riders. One of the ponies
was larger than the others and Annie admired her glossy black coat
and brilliant white stockings.

“
Can I ride that one?
Her name should be Midnight.”

The attendant spoke with a grin.
“That’s her name and she’d love to have you ride her.” After
collecting payment, he swung the child up on the pony where she
joyfully sawed away at the reins during her two minute circuit
around the enclosure. With a satisfied smirk, Annie gave Midnight a
pat before being lifted off.

“
I didn’t sneeze
once.”

“
No, you’re right. I
think it’s the hay.”

As they walked past the various
booths, each operator attempting to get them to play their game or
purchase their wares, Adya thought poignantly of her own children
and how much they would have enjoyed the festivities. Annie pointed
with delight to the work being done by a caricature artist. They
observed the stylist as he captured the essence of the current
patron. A sample of his work, a self-portrait, emphasized his roman
nose and sculpted cheeks.

Adya took both Annie’s hands,
crouching to be eye to eye with her sister. “I want to get one
done, will you watch?”

“
Oh, that’ll be fun.”
They waited as the artist finished his impression of the man
occupying the chair, turning the patron’s long face into a horse
with wispy hair emerging from the sides of a bandana, the mullet
making him fair game for the wit of the artist. The subject left
the artist with a tip and a laugh. She assumed the seat he vacated
and smiled at Annie.

“
I am afraid to see
what he does to my face. I hope he isn’t too mean.”

“
I can be kind,
especially with someone as flawless as you.”

She blushed at his blustering
compliment, smiling in spite of herself. “I bet you say that to all
the girls.” Pointing to the line of sketches, she continued, “I
would like one of the pictures which puts me into a background.
What can you do?”

“
You don’t look old
enough to have a job,” he gestured toward the samples where people
sat at desks or leaned over tables, “What’s your name?”

“
Adya D…
Jordan”

“
Okay,
Adyad.”

“
No D, just
Adya.”

“
Here, just let me
look that one up. Adya’s a very unusual name. Jordan refers to
descending or flowing down and specifically relating to the river
Jordan.” The artist made a few quick pen strokes then bent down and
rummaged through a duffle bag. He pulled out Origins and Meanings
of Baby Names and leafed through before glancing back at
her.

“
Your name in Sanskrit
means Mother Earth. Turn your head to the side, please.” He began
to sketch in earnest. She jumped up, glaring down at her right hand
to check for the insect which stung her.

“
Hold still, please,”
the artist complained.

“
Sorry, something bit
me.” She rubbed at the stinging birthmark while he continued, not
allowing her to see the portrait until it was complete. Annie
giggled frequently as she watched, increasing Adya’s curiosity.
With a final flourish, the caricature was presented.

“
I…it…wow.” A flowing,
glowing creature reminiscent of an angel sported the hint of a halo
in her hair as it gently waved around her head. In the drawing, she
stood in profile surrounded by a sea of children. With a
bittersweet smile, her image led them all toward a distant horizon.
A shiver ran up her spine as she paid the man, tucking the portrait
under her arm and leading Annie to Samantha.

“
Mom, I’m going for a
walk down to the water, okay?”

“
Sure, hon, we’ll be
over by the food booths.”

Adya stood and watched the waves
gently roll in, allowing everything else to fade away with the ebb
and flow of the water. Inhaling the sharply ionized air, she walked
along the shore, letting the lake draw her down to the edge.
Couples strolled hand in hand, some stopping to kiss. Others sat on
the warm sand, tempting her to take a seat herself. She
hesitated–she needed answers about her future first, though, and
was going to visit the psychics.

Holding the opinion they were
merely play actors or, at best, very good at reading people’s
physical responses, Adya had never visited a psychic. Intrigued at
the possibility they might be legitimate, able to detect her unique
nature−someone truly connected with the future should be able to
sense her own connection−she was especially eager to go. Returning
to the main carnival area she immediately ran into her
family.

“
I’d like to visit the
psychics, Mom. Wanna come with me?”

Samantha’s response was aggrieved.
“Really? You never wanted to go any time I asked.”

“
I changed my mind. I
think it’ll be fun. Are you game?”

“
Yeah,
sure.”

Evan spoke up. “You guys are crazy
spending money on those quacks. I’ll take Annie to the rides. Then
she won’t fall under your influence and begin to believe in hocus
pocus.” He guided the little girl away, narrowly missing the smack
Adya aimed at his shoulder.

“
Hocus pocus, go work
some magic on those games and try to top my unicorn.”

They laughed as they approached a
gaudy, brightly decorated tent on a hillock overlooking the
carnival grounds. Peering through the billowing entryway, they were
hesitant to enter. A woman in her twenties stepped forward to greet
them.

“
Which of you ladies
would like to see Madame Lenormond first?”

Samantha motioned to Adya. “It was
your idea…”

“
Okay, I’ll go first.”
She stepped forward.

The woman directed Samantha to a
small nook. “Please have a seat in the antechamber while the
reading is completed.” Adya was led toward a second room within the
confines of the tent. “What is your name, my dear?”

“
Adya Jordan.” she
replied while handing the woman the twenty dollar fee for the
reading.

“
Madame Lenormand will
see you now, please come this way.”

They entered a third room, meeting
eyes with the ancient woman seated at the round wooden table. A
glass sphere rested on an ornate pewter hand, the ornaments above
it swaying slightly with the movement of the tent. The gypsy slowly
stood to greet her, the top of her head barely reaching Adya’s
shoulders. Flowing garments and colourful scarves floated around
her body and her tiny black eyes sparkled in her creased cheeks.
The younger woman left the room. The crone cackled, “Ah, the young
girls always want to know if they will find love.”

“
I really don’t care
about falling in love, that’s not why I’m here.”

Madame scanned her face, “Oh, but
you will find yourself surrounded by men, only men, who do not have
the right answer. You do.”

“
I have one question
for you and if I don’t like your answer I do not wish to have a
reading done and will go to your competition−Madame
Zita.”

“
Ask, child, that is
what I am here for.”

“
Where have I come
from?”

Madame Lenormand examined her eyes
and responded, “My dear, you came from that place which all people
came from, one person’s love.” Adya turned and left the room. That
was not a relevant answer.

“
That was quick.”
Samantha’s brows rose in surprise.

“
I didn’t like her
style. Let’s go see the other one.”

“
Okay, visiting the
psychic was your idea. Lead the way.”

The second tent they approached
could not have been more clichéd. The faded stars and moons printed
on the exterior had once been gaudy and bright but now looked dull
beyond measure. Samantha recognized an old friend and hailed her
just before they reached the entrance. Adya patiently waited as the
two chatted, becoming restless after ten minutes. “Mom, would you
be terribly upset if I went in on my own?”

“
Oh, honey, I’m
sorry…I haven’t seen Jane in quite some time. Jane, you remember
Adya? Go right ahead, honey. Or, did you want me there?”

“
No, I’m good. I’ll be
out soon.”

“
Good
luck.”

A small room with a tattered couch
contrasted Madame Lenormand’s extravagance. She took a seat as
indicated by the sign near the door. The low murmur of voices came
from the other side of the curtain dividing the tent space.
Eventually a young woman stepped forth, weeping with whatever news
had been shared by Madame Zita. She took a moment to compose
herself before thanking the gypsy and exiting the tent. Adya rose
at the psychic’s directive, scratching her right hand with
annoyance at the return of the itch.

“
Please do come
inside. I expect you did not find the answers you seek visiting
Madame Lenormand.” Her violet eyes crinkled at the corners in
silent laughter.

“
Perhaps not, perhaps
I will not find them here either.” Adya pointedly glanced at the
modern day jeans and blouse.

“
I am not what you
expected.” Not a question, but a statement. “You are confused about
many things, but one fact is clear – you have greater experience
than your years…and more years than you know.”

Adya gasped. Madame Zita might
actually have the ability to see the future.