The Time Sphere (6 page)

Billy didn’t care that Jeanie could hear every word he said.  It was as if everything that he had ever felt, but could never say was ready to burs
t out of him.  What was this man saying!  That everything he went through was because his parents didn’t want him, so that they stuck him in a time machine to get rid of him! 

As if Dickens could read Billy’s thoughts, he said with a sad voice, “Your parents loved you.  This was done for your safety.”

“My safety!  If they cared about me they wouldn’t have put me where I would be punched out every day for being what I am!” Billy retorted, his voice booming.

“And what is that,
Mr. Townsend?” asked Dickens, his eyes hardened and narrowed.

“For being in this so called great system you all put me in, never being accepted; always thinking I’m something less!”

“For someone who is well fed, well educated and quite frankly, has the over confidence to yell at an old man, you appear to be in tip top health and overall good form.”  Dickens’s eyes continued to narrow further as he looked upon the enraged young man before him.  “I think you feel entirely too sorry for yourself, boy.” 

Billy stared at Dickens in disbelief as Jeanie finally found her voice.  “I
don’t think you’re less than anyone, Billy.” 

Billy turned to look at her.  She looked him steadily in the eye, almost challenging him to disagree with her.   Billy didn’t know what to say and quickly shifted his gaze to the ground. 

After a few moments, he returned his attention to the man sitting on the rock.  “Ok, tell me more.” Billy once again felt his anger drain away and the exhaustion set in.

“As I said, the Time Sphere connects all time streams and places within the universe.  Preston Thorn inadvertently opened a way to a world we call Habitat 3-4
2.  We don’t know what the beings call it; their tongue is beyond our linguistic understanding.  Anyway, this world exists beyond anyplace mankind has travelled, thousands of light-years away from us.”  Dickens gave a sad smile.  “In fact, we never would have met them if not for the Time Sphere.”  He sat there, seeming more the old man, as he silently lamented on the events he was about to tell them.

“In their realm
a gas was discovered, which humans learned to convert into an energy source.  We soon learned that this gas was a necessary part of the being's existence.  Somehow, it interacted with the planets of their star system and was a necessary ingredient to their biospheres.  Of course, we learned this when the beings attacked us, completely destroying the extraction center stationed on the outer rim of the star system.” 

In the moonlight, Billy could see Dickens eye’s shine with sadness and regret.  “It was so unexpected when the beings and their armada entered i
nto Earth’s domain.  We mistook their  docility for weakness, and soon learned how wrong we were.  We had no idea of their strength, their military might or their travelling capabilities until it was too late.  With typical human indulgence, we took what we wanted and arrogantly took no notice of any offensive or defensive capabilities they had.  We didn’t even deign to name them; only referred to them as the beings from habitat 3-42. 

“
Most of Earth was unaware of the travelling capabilities discovered by Thorn.  Earth was now at war, which did not leave much thought to this discovery but only to survival.” 

Dickens  looked
down at the ground, wearily shaking his head.  He took a deep breath and lifted his head to meet Billy with a steady gaze.   “There was only one man who had a Device which gave him access to a Time Sphere.  I took charge of his precious cargo, and placed his son in the safest place in history.  This man was Preston Thorn, your father.”

Billy was dumbfounded.  His father was responsible for the destruction of the Earth and mankind!  His breath became short and labored.   “Why didn’t he use the Device to go back in time and change it?  Like discovering the Time Sphere or discovering those beings
?” Billy demanded.

Dickens smiled a sad smile. “Billy, how could he go back so he would not create the Device?   Then it would not exist in the future, so he would never be able to go back to change it.  The discovery of the beings could not be prevented; it would cause a time paradox.  No human can meet themselves when the streams converge, it would shatter the fragile balance of the space time continuum.”

“Then why didn’t you go back and try to change things?”  Billy’s voice was beginning to rise.

“What could I have done?  Besides, your father thought he was doing the right thing when he genetically encoded the system.  Which meant that only he had access to the door, preventing others with poor intentions from using it.  Dickens took a deep breath.  “But alas, now only he can destroy it.  The only thing that mattered was getting you to safety.”  Dickens stopped speaking and rubbed his forehead.  “But it seems you have been found.”

“Why do they want to kill me?”

“You are the key to the door to their world and you have your father’s blood.  They will not stop until you and your father are dead and all ways to their world are closed.”

“So what does this mean?  What are we going to do?”  Jeanie was looking from Billy to Dickens.

“The only way to keep you safe is to bring you back to the 23rd century.  I’m sorry, but this includes you, Jeanie.  We can send you home from there and we have better capabilities to protect you both.  Unfortunately, due to that little encounter with the beings in your time, the coordinates to my time are lost.  In fact, I have no control where the Sphere will take us.  However, we happen to be in Syracuse and at precisely the right time.  We’re going to need some help and the way I see it, your father constructed his theorem based on the theories of the great mathematical minds of history.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning, we are about to meet the greatest mathematical genius of the ancient world, Archimedes of Syracuse.”

Chapter 7

For the first time since arriving into the past, Billy took a good look at his surroundings.  He had noticed the beach, but that was all.  Well, let’s face it; he had other things on his mind at the time. 

The moon was high in the sky and
it illuminated the great bay of water before him.  He could see boats swaying in the cool breeze and whitewashed houses dotting the hillside.  There appeared to be an island protruding from the mainland and out into the harbor. 

“First things first, we need to locate appropriate clothing.  Otherwise we’re not going to get very far, I’m afraid,” said Dickens, interrupting Billy’s silent observations.

“Well, I don’t know all about history, but I doubt these people take Abe Lincoln around here,” Jeanie said, as she rubbed her arms, which were chilled from the cool sea breeze.

“No need t
o worry, young lady.  There is only one true currency that has prevailed through the past few millennia and I always carry some on these, well, excursions.” 

Dickens pulled out of his pocket a handful of golde
n nuggets about the size of small grapes.  “Gold,” he said, as the small metal rocks shone in the moonlight.  “I think now is as good a time as any to get whatever items we need before the sun comes up,”  he added, as he led the way down the  beach, but still concealed in the dark overhang of the brush. 

They walked around most of the bay and toward the small island jutting out of the side.  As they approached the island, the group came upon a small household.  The house was dark and everyone in it seemingly asleep.

Jeanie quickly tipped toed towards it and peeked through a doorway which appeared to lead into a small courtyard.  “There seems to be clothes hanging to dry in here,” she whispered loudly.  “Sorry, guys, there’s only dresses though.” Dickens chuckled at Jeanie’s last remark. 

Suddenly, a loud barking sound emanated from the quiet household.  Billy, Jeanie and Dickens flattened themselves against the outer wall.  Billy’s chest began to hurt from holding his breath. 

He remembered what Dickens had said about the people of this time and their forms of cruel and inventive punishments.  We just got here! he thought.  All he wanted was to be anywhere but here.  But there they were, and he didn’t want to be some vicious dog’s dinner. 

The barking had evolved into a low and guttural growl.  Billy’s mind was racing, picturing an enormous black dog with fangs and drool hanging from its mouth.  As t
he animal drew nearer, he looked frantically around for someplace to hide.  However, there was nowhere to go except the barren beach. 

Then
as clear as day in the bright moonlight, a dog that reminded him of a Jack Russell, came prancing out of the doorway.  Billy laughed with relief at the sight of the pint sized dog, whose ear leapt up in response to the sound.  The dog tore out of the courtyard, heading for the intruders lurking outside his home. 

Billy looked in horror as the
growling little creature bounded towards him.  The dog jumped on his legs and began to emit a pitiful cry.  Billy gazed down in surprise at the pooch, not wanting to touch it.  He was small and mostly white, except for brown patches dotting his body.  He had short floppy ears and eyes that had a creepy human quality to them; at least Billy thought so.

“Ahhh, he’s cute,” whispered Jeanie, bending down to rub his belly, as the dog cried out for more of her attention.

“If he’s supposed to be a guard dog, he’s terrible,” replied Billy, however, feeling grateful to that fact.

Dickens took the opportunity to sneak into the courtyard.  He approached the hanging clothes.  “These will do very nicely, I think,” he said, as he looked around to make sure there were no more unexpected guests approaching.
  He took three of the garments hanging to dry, some sandals left by the entrance and placed a gold nugget on a nearby table. 

Dickens swiftly walked toward the dense brush for cover, the two children
following behind.  “I really don’t like taking their belongings without permission, but it can’t be helped, I’m afraid.  The gold is a hundred times more valuable than the robes, so I doubt they’ll mind too much,” said Dickens as he began handing out the garments to the awaiting children.

As Jeanie said her goodbyes to the little dog, Billy stared at the robe in his hand and looked up at the old ma
n.  “Ya, I’m not that.  You want us to blend in, but you’re going to make me wear a dress?” stated a horrified Billy, holding the brown robe up in the air, as he shook his head.

Dickens met Billy’s determined gaze with one of patience.  “Believe it or not, this is the customary attire for the men and women of this time.  Of course, design and the quality of the materials differs with different social classes but-”

“Ya, again, I’m not walking around in anything that’s gonna show off my birthday suit in good wind.” 

“Billy, I assure this is quite respectable and appropriate for the time period,” replied Dickens, trying to reas
on with the stubborn young man.

Billy just stared at the old man and stood his ground. “No, I’m not looking like an idiot.”

“Come now, stop being difficult.”

“No!”

“Are you serious?”  Both Dickens’ and Billy’s heads turned toward the unexpected speaker.  “You know what?  I’ve listened to your whining for as long as I’ve known you!” Billy felt stunned at Jeanie’s words.  “I like you, Townsend, but sometimes I wonder why.  And guess what?  We’re in serious trouble here.  I want to go home, and if you putting that
dress
on gets me there, then you had better get it on…Now, Townsend!” she shouted with her hands on her hips and a steely gleam in her eyes.

Billy stared at Jeanie.  She had been uncharacteristically quiet up to this point, but now she was definitely making up for lost time.  Billy just turned and walked into a dark part of the vegetation surrounding the bay. 

Did Jeanie really think he whined too much?  Ya, well, he had a reason to didn’t he?  He didn’t ask for the life had.  He didn’t ask to be dumped by his parents, who apparently were responsible for the destruction of mankind!  The more he thought about it, he didn’t think Jeanie had the right to say anything to him.  

Billy stopped at this internal remark.  Wait, she was here because of him.  In fact, she was in as much danger as he was.  Man, he hoped Dickens could get them out of this mess.

As he walked back to the group, his thoughts wandered to the fact that when Jeanie was really getting angry with him, she called him Townsend.  For some unknown reason, this made him smile.

As Billy approached Jeanie and Dickens, Jeanie began to giggle, and a broad smile spread over Dickens face.  Billy looked down at himself.  He wore a brown garment made of a coarse
woolen material.  The shoulders came together with metal pins, and it barely reached his knees.

“I still think I look like an idiot,” said Billy, gazing morosely down at his attire.

Dickens gave a short belly laugh.  “Maybe in your time, but here you’ll fit right in,” he chuckled, as he gave Billy a slap on the shoulder.

“Ohhh, I love my outfit,” exclaimed Jeanie, as she twirled around the beach
.

Billy turned to look and privately agreed with her.  Her dress was similar to his but was made out of a soft white material.  The shoulders were also clasped with pins, but the rest flowed gracefully to the ground.

Dickens handed Jeanie a long rectangular shaped garment.  “This is a himation.  You drape it around your shoulders.  Be sure to cover your hair, my dear.  We don’t want to stand out, and you certainly do with that glorious titian hair of yours.” Jeanie blushed prettily at Dickens compliment.

Dickens garb
more closely resembled Jeanie’s robe, except the sides flowed freely down to his feet, while Jeanie’s was cinched at the waist with a rope type belt.

As the trio continued to walk down the beach toward the island, Billy noticed
that the white and brown dog was following them.  Well, actually, he was following Jeanie.  This irritated Billy because he didn’t want anybody to notice them due to the continual mewling it emitted.  Jeanie, however, wasn’t helping matters by picking up sticks and playing with the little animal.  Billy just continued walking, determined to ignore the dumb dog.

The sun was beginning to peak over the horizon, and Billy began to notice several people milling about.  Everyone was dressed as he was, but most were carrying baskets or large clay pots.  Some were even taking their boats out into the water
for their daily haul of fish.

As Billy continued to gaze in wonder around him, he noticed that Dickens and Jeanie came to a stop. When they had come upon the water’s edge, Dickens approached and spoke to a man untying a wooden raft from a small dock.  He turned to Billy and Jeanie and motioned for them to step onto the raft.  To Billy’s chagrin, the flea bag followed them aboard.  Dickens discreetly gave something to the driver, and they began to sail across the water to the island beyond.

“Where are we going,” whispered Jeanie.

“The island of Ortygia,” returned Dickens, who at once
motioned for them to be quiet.

All three continued their trip in silence.  It was not long before they were once again upon a beach.  This time Billy could see numerous white buildings crammed tog
ether on the hills above them.

Dickens said a few words to the man with the boat and then turned to join them.  He immediately pinned a small metal square to the inside of their robes.

“What’s this for?” asked Jeanie, examining the small device.

“A language decoder.
  Very common where I come from and very useful here.”  Dickens laughed at the amazed expressions on the children’s faces.  “Well, my dears, if we can build a time machine, then I dare say, something like this would be a walk in the park, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Are you saying that we’ll be able to understand these people’s language?” Jeanie asked with awe in her voice.

“Not only that, but they you. We wouldn’t get very far if the natives heard you muttering in a tongue completely foreign to them.  We need to conduct our business without being noticed by anyone, especially the current ruler around here.  Heiron II is king at the moment and the cousin of our point of interest, Archimedes.”

“Wow, a real king!  M
aybe we can meet him!” she said, her eyes lighting up.

Dickens gave a little chuckle before replying, “Monarchies of this time are nothing like the ones from yours.  There is no prince William to swoon over, I’m afraid.  In fact, Heiron is a tyrant.  He was a commander in the army who gained his kingship when he saved the Syracuse people from a mob of
mercenaries.  Soldiers who war for monetary gain,” added Dickens at seeing the children’s confused faces.  “Of course, he also married the daughter of the city’s leading citizen who most defiantly aided him in his leap to kingship,” he said with a shake of his white head.

“Well, what’s the problem?  If the people around here wanted him to be king, then he must be a good guy.  He even saved them from a bunch of greedy soldiers, right?” Billy asked, as he shrugged his shoulders.

“I see your point, young man.  However, the kings in this era have absolute power.  If the ruler doesn’t like you, he can throw you in prison for the rest of your life.”  Then in a low and grim voice, Dickens added, “or end it if it so pleases him.” This statement caused an involuntary shudder go through Billy.

“So the best course of action is to just avoid the local government all together.  We stick together and let me do all of the talking.”  Dickens stressed, while Jeanie and Billy eagerly nodded their heads at this plan of action.

They continued to walk up a dirt path, leading to the city above.  As they entered, Billy gazed in wonder at the various structures lining the streets.  He could see some houses were made out of stone and others of brick.  Some of the roofs were tiled, while others were thatched.  It was easy to separate the homes of the wealthy and those of the poor.  There were houses with more than one story and high walls, hiding courtyards within.

His eyes then fell upon the people
moving about the stone streets.  Everyone was dressed in similar fashions, but again, their dress distinguished the wealthy from the poor.  Some were wearing course material the color of brown or black.  Others wore soft billowing white linens, with scarlet or purple wraps.     

There were women who wore their hair up, entwined with gold ribbon.  They had gold belts crisscrossing their mid section and intricately wrought earrings dangling from their ears.  The men generally wore their hair short.  Many of their faces were clean shaven, while others
sported neat and trim beards.

Billy was so engrossed i
n his observations, that he hadn’t been paying any attention to where he was walking until it was too late.

“Stop!
  Tell your slave to watch where he is going!” yelled a uniformed man atop of a horse.

“Hey, I’m sorry-” Billy said in surprise.

“I should take my whip to you!  How dare you speak!  Where is your master?” he yelled.