The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 83: Keeping Sam Safe

"No matter the cost, we must watch Sam at all times." Mrs. Steers pounded her fist into the palm of her hand. "He's our hope and our future. The one who can do it. I am just sure of it.  No!  I know so. He has to be the one."  She turned to look at Xavier who just sat and watched her.

"Lottie," said Xavier, fluffing the pillow under his head.  "You mustn't worry. We are all taking turns in guarding him without his knowing it. Right now, Rose is waiting outside his school to make sure nothing happens to him on his way home. He'll be fine."  Xavier stretched out his legs on the sofa in the Steers' front parlor.

Mrs. Steers put her head in her hands. "I know, but now I've made matters worse. He doesn't trust me anymore.  He hates me.  I've got to rebuild his trust. I still can see him yelling at me." Her mind flashed back to the last time she has spoken to Sam.

"You crazy old woman!"  Shaking, Sam had been furious with her.  "He tried to kill me.  You said this would be fun.  You said that it would be great to go back and see people and places and history.  All that's happened is this old freak wants me to tell him where the books are."

"Sam, you must trust me," said Mrs. Steers, concern and fear coloring her words.  "We let you down and Dr. Herkeimer got you, but he won't again.  I promise you.  He can’t get a copy.  That would be bad. Very bad."  She shook her head.

Her words fell flat to his unforgiving ears.  Sam ran up the stairs, yelled down at her, and slammed the laundry door.

Returning to the present moment, Mrs. Steers cried, wiping her eyes with her handkerchief.  "This is all my fault.  I should have been more cautious."

Xavier got up and walked her to the kitchen.  "Lottie, no it isn't.  He's scared and very hurt.  He just got beat up by Doctor Herkeimer.”  He sat her down at the kitchen table then picked up the tea kettle from the stove, filling it with water at the sink.  "You were as cautious as you could be. We all were.  This is not the time to be regretting anything."

Mrs. Steers put her head in her hands.  “I know.”

Xavier was firm in his tone.  “Sam is our number one priority.  We have an obligation to protect him.  He's just a kid trying to find his place in the world.  He thinks he's only got his mother, but he has all of us.  He will come around and learn that in time."

Mrs. Steers barely listened to Xavier.  "We're not going to be able to convince him.  I don't know how to make it up to him."

Xavier tried brightening the mood.  "Maybe it's not you he needs right now.  He took a great liking to Rose.  Maybe she needs to talk to him. It's going to be just fine.  Let’s have some hot tea."

Mrs. Steers managed to agree.  “Maybe you’re right on that, but I still feel guilty.”

Just then, there was a slight pop and a piece of paper fluttered down from nowhere.

"Hmmm...  A note," Mrs. Steers grabbed the falling piece of paper and unfolded it.  "It's from Jameson.  He says he's got some good and bad news.   He wants me to come at once."

After reading it, she dropped it into a nearby glass of water.  The paper dissolved and turned the water a glowing bright purple before fading away.

"I love that color.  I must ask him how he get that."  Xavier studied the water as the color vanished.   Jameson had created papers soaked in special solutions for Club members. With this system, they could authenticate that a note really came from a Club member. The paper was simply placed in water, if it turned the sender's chosen color, then it was a real note.  It would do the same if thrown into a fire, turning the smoke the designated color.

"Good luck on finding out. He's got special recipes for those."   Mrs. Steers paused.  “Right!  I’m off to Jameson’s.”  Mrs. Steers disappeared and stood in front of Jameson's shop.  The historic storefront looked funny on the side of a metal building.

"Where am I?"  She said looking around.  There were patches of green grass scattered about the red soil.  Dead trees stood bare.  "This looks like the outback."

"It is," said Jameson from his shop door.  "Welcome to Australia.  I found this old abandoned military building a long time ago and often settle here for a while.  No one ever comes by. At least no one expected."

Mrs. Steers chuckled as a small troop of kangaroos hopped by.  "At least the wildlife is fun to watch."

They went inside. Several fans turned, keeping the shop cool.  Jameson had placed rocks on top of stacks of paper to keep them from flying off in the breeze.

"Since it's summer here, I don't need the heat."  He offered her a seat and some lemonade.

"Spill it.  What's the good news and the bad news?  I know you didn't just call me here to chat about the weather."  Mrs. Steers sipped her drink.  "Hmmm... Perfect."

"You are going to like hearing this," said Jameson, fluttering about looking for something.  "I know I left it over here somewhere.  You know how I am.  Keep stuff hidden until needed."

Mrs. Steers didn't argue.  "Humph.  That's very true."  She watched him thumb through a stack of books.

"Aha," exclaimed Jameson.  "Here it is.  A map."

Mrs. Steers sat her drink down and got up.  "What kind of map?"

"An old map.  A map with important information.  Information you will want to know.  And study."  He unfolded the supple piece of aged paper.   "Look at that."

Amazed at the excellent condition of the map, she swooned over it.  "Wow.  Extraordinary.  Brilliant.  What am I looking at?"  Now she was a little flustered.

Jameson spoke slowly.  "This is a 1642 map indicating the possible location of the lost archives."

Mrs. Steers gasped.  "What?  Who?  Where? Show me."  Her trembling hands carefully grasped the map.  Jameson pointed to a location at the map's edge.

"You see here.  These unnamed mountains.  There is a line through them.  See how it snakes along.”  His finger moved along a very faint line. “Then a river." 

"I see it," said Mrs. Steers.  "The line.  It goes through a forest, over another river, and...  Is that a lake or a sea?"  She followed it to the other edge of the map.  "But where does it go?"

"That's the bad news," said Jameson.  "The rest of the map is missing.  I have no idea how big it is or how much is missing."

The excitement collapsed like a balloon being deflated.  Mrs. Steers drooped.  "Damn."

"But wait, look here."  Jameson showed her a few words across the bottom.  "Almost faded, but they're there.  In old English script.  It reads when translated From KDO, a possible line to the lost archives of Tempos Servos. 1642.  Two hundred.  Find the paths... or maybe parts... to create the way."

"How odd," said Mrs. Steers.  "May I take this with me to study."

"Certainly."

An hour later, Mrs. Steers had finished another glass of lemonade, talking about Sam, and her research.  Together they watched an Australian outback sunset.  The red sun sat and eventually the clear sky filled with stars.

“Gorgeous,” said Mrs. Steers, awed by the millions of stars.  “Simply gorgeous.”  Then, Mrs. Steers was gone. Back home with her new treasure.

The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 82: Nightmares

"Sam, tell me about your nightmares," said Dr. Thomas, studying his reaction, her pen poised to jot notes.  "Tell me about this man who’s chasing you. Is he someone in your life? Or does he remind you of someone in your life?"

Now on his third counseling session, Sam sat hunched over on the hard sofa in her office. He looked up at the framed college degrees on the wall behind her, then over to the African violets near the window, and finally back to Dr. Thomas before giving her an answer. She waited, anticipating his response.  Sam weighed telling the truth to the alternative.

"Well...  It's an old guy."  Sam paused.  "He's mean.  He pushes me to the floor and slaps me around.  Screaming at me.   Holding me down."

"What is he screaming?"  Dr. Thomas looked up from her note pad.  “Do you know why he is yelling at you?”

"Why is he screaming? I'm not really sure." Sam's nightmares had gotten worse since being kidnapped by Dr. Herkeimer. They had become violent causing him to lose sleep and making him cranky and snippy.  Emily had heard him screaming one night, but he pretended to be alright when she asked about his nightmares. But she had a mother’s instinct that made her realize he wasn't the same boy.  Something had changed him.  Alarmed and frightened, Emily hoped counseling would help and this phase was part of his grieving for his Dad and their move to Connecticut.

After his white lie to Dr. Thomas, Sam thought to himself.  I know what he's screaming...  He wants me to give him a copy of the book... The book about time travel...  What would you think of that Dr. Thomas?

Dr. Thomas glanced down at her notes and moved on after realizing her question was getting them nowhere.  "Sam, in our last session, you also mentioned your landlady. Mrs. Steers? Can you tell me about her?"

Sam hemmed and hawed, making a zigzag pattern on the floor with his foot.  "She lies to me.  She tells me everything will be OK, but I don't believe her."

Looking puzzled, Dr. Thomas quizzed Sam further about his thoughts and feelings, while Sam covered up as much as possible without giving anything away about the Time Travelers Club. He knew telling her the truth behind his nightmares would only complicate matters. He feared being put in a mental institute by claiming to be able to time travel. Sam believed Mrs. Steers and the rest of the Club would keep their secrets at any cost.

"Sam, you hide your feelings well.   I have to admit that I’m not sure you are really telling me what’s really on your mind.  Maybe in time you will.  I mean trust me enough to really talk.”

Sam continued to make the zigzag pattern on the floor.  “I guess.”

 Dr. Thomas went back to the topic of Mrs. Steers. “I understood that you were becoming friends with her.  Is this not so?"

Sam shrugged his shoulders.  He didn't really want to talk anymore.  This was his Mom's idea. He knew nothing would change the past. His Dad's dying. Being kidnapped. Being lied to. Being slapped across the face. He couldn’t get past being slapped by Dr. Herkeimer. Not getting any answers about why this was happening to him.

It was now mid-December. Sam hadn't seen Mrs. Steers in over three weeks.  He had purposefully avoided her, not ready to put his plan in place. Sam rubbed his hands against the sofa’s smooth suede upholstery.  His mind began to wonder without noticing that Dr. Thomas was waiting for his answer.  Glancing at the clock, he had only a few more minutes to endure until the session's end.

Flashing back to the last time he saw Mrs. Steers he remembered her exact words.

"You must trust me, Sam," said Mrs. Steers.  "We let you down and Dr. Herkeimer got you, but you must trust me."

Shaking all over, Sam was having an anxiety attack.  He tensed, trying not to cry, but the tears rolled down his cheeks.  Sam jerked away from her as Mrs. Steers reached out for him.

"You must listen," said Mrs. Steers, tears filled her eyes too.   Xavier stood by and watched, not sure what to do.

Sam shook his head and pushed her away.  "I don't trust you."  He dashed up the stairs.  He turned and yelled.  "Keep away from me.  I'm shutting this door and I don't ever want to see you again."

Sam slammed the laundry room door behind him and locked it. Sam glanced at the clock.  Emily was still at work and wouldn't be home for another hour.   That would give him enough time to cry out his anger.

Throwing himself on his bed, he screamed into his pillow to muffle the sound.  Sobbing, he tried to calm himself.  Finally, he went to the bathroom, wiped his face off, and lay back down.

“Sam, are you listening to me, Sam?”  Dr. Thomas was staring at him.  Sam came back to the present day, back to the sofa in the counselor’s office.

“Sorry, I was just thinking about Mrs. Steers.   She scares me a little.”

Dr. Thomas started to ask about Mrs. Steers when the alarm clock went off.   “Sorry, Sam, but our time is up.  I want you to think about why Mrs. Steers scares you and we’ll talk about her first thing next time.”

Sam left the office and headed home.   He and his Mom didn’t walk home together on Tuesdays because the counseling office wasn’t on the same route as the library.  So, he had time to walk alone and think about his part in the Club.   When he got home, he stretched out on the living room floor and tried to read, but finally gave up, unable to concentrate.  The words just blurred together on the page.  Closing his book, he stared up at the ceiling and began to mumble.

"I have to get one of the books.  That's the only way.  I've just got to get a hold of one."

He concocted a scheme to trick Mrs. Steers into telling him the location of the books, steal one, and hand it over to the Doctor.  He hoped this would bring an end to his fear of Dr. Herkeimer and no more attempts to kidnap him.

“It won’t work.  She won’t fall for it.”  Sam sighed and nodded off.  Before he knew it, Bruno was chasing him.  They were running across a hot desert.  The wind blew the sand.  Sam kept falling in the shifting sand, feeling it go in his mouth, up his nose, and into his eyes.  Bruno seemed to float along.  His feet hardly touched the ground.  Sam struggled to get up, but it was too late, Bruno was over him.  Sam's arm flailed at his assailant.

"Sam, wake up.  Why are you laying the floor?  Are you alright?"  His Mom woke him up.  She stared down at him then walked to the kitchen.  "What were you doing?  Running a race."

Running to the bathroom, Sam splashed water on his face and combed his hair.

Emily chatted while preparing their dinner.  "You know, I wish you would tell me what these dreams are all about.  I feel helpless here watching you toss and turn.  Waking up in the middle of the night screaming."

Emily did feel helpless; her pleading with him to talk with her went nowhere.  Every time, Sam would give the same response.

"I can't tell you.  I just can't.  Even though I know I should."  Sam blurted out at her.  “Just leave me alone.  Just leave it.”

Sam ran off to his bedroom and shut the door.  Emily was stunned.  She didn’t know what to say.

Break Time

Dear reader,

It's Fall Break!  I've taken a short break and will be back soon with Book Three.  The last chapter was the finale of Book Two.

As I've posted the chapters of the past two books, I revised each one, cleaning up bad grammar, weird plot issues, and "killed my darlings" (meaning I edit out extra words, sentences, etc.).  I actually enjoyed this part.  It tightened up each chapter, the overall plot and sub-plots.  Ah the life of a writer.

And soon, I will start adding Book Three, chapter by chapter.  I hope you are enjoying the story.  If a serial isn't your thing, I plan on adding posts that have a list of the chapters so you can read one after the other.

Best wishes

CSM

The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 81: Into the Tomb

Deep inside a cave, a cloaked figure had finally found his treasure after years of searching.  He glanced down at the parchment of a hand-drawn map.  His lantern contained a bright white orb.

Holding the lantern over the map, he rechecked his location, knowing he had followed the passages just as shown.  Only one more turn and he would be in the great chamber.   Somewhere in the distance ahead, he could hear a water falling, splashing into a larger body of water.

Feeling his footing, he stepped cautiously on the wet rocks.  He could see the next turn ahead.  Quickening his pace, the figure stopped, leaning against the stone wall to keep his balance, and peered into the last passageway.  At the end of the dark corridor, he could see light.  The sound of the waterfall echoed louder.

Slowly, he crept down the passage.  He feared any traps that might be waiting, but he found none as he stepped in the great cavern.   Orbs burned in several pits, illuminating ancient carved pillars.  He could see two waterfalls into the center of the opposite wall. Between them stood two massive marble pillars side by side.  He walked to the edge of the pool and stood at the stone bridge that led to the other side.

Examining the scroll, he turned to his left where he saw a limestone wall with a grid of twelve shallow engravings on different squares forming a checkerboard.   Standing in front of the wall, he scanned the carvings, shining his lantern over each one.  Some reminded him of Egyptian hieroglyphs while others looked like ancient letters from the Roman and Greek languages.

The cloaked figure referred to the map, then the wall, then back to the map.  He began feeling his way along the stone wall until he found one particular engraving.  He pushed on the stone that looked like a figure eight with wings.

Somewhere on the other side of the wall, he could hear gears creaking and grinding. The stone panel sunk a few inches into the wall.  A gust of wind fluttered his cloak as it blustered through the cavern.  The pillars between the waterfalls began to separate, revealing a wooden door.

He ran over to the door to open it.  He turned and pulled the iron door latch. Its metal hinges creaked as he pulled the door open.  A musty and damp smell emerged.  He entered a dark passageway that led to a small chamber, where a bright white orb in a large silver bowl illuminated the entire space.

In the chamber, he surveyed several wooden boxes in stone crevices.  Some metal, some wooden.  Papyrus scrolls filled spaces between them.  Old leather-bound books lined other shelves.   Folded cloth and golden pieces of jewelry sat undisturbed.

The cloaked figure grabbed all of the papyrus scrolls and put them in pockets inside his cloak. 

Leaving the chamber, he stood in front of the facade and spoke the words of the incantation that would veil it.

"Velum hoc porta et ab omnibus qui quaeritis eam... Modo per heredes..."

The facade faded, taking on the appearance of the rest of the stone wall.

Gusty winds blew through the caves.  Their force moving through cracks and crevices sounded like moans and groans.   He spoke the transition incantation and disappeared.

The year was 1831.

The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 80: Not Over Yet

Dr. Herkeimer sat fuming.  Dreda stood as far away from him as she could.

"I am disappointed and furious over this."  The Doctor sat in his chair.  The face at the top stared down at them. Its eyes had turned red.

The Doctor glanced over at Fan.  "And where were you?"

Fan bowed.  "I was doing what I was told to do.  I followed Mr. Steers to seek out the location of the book dealer's shop.  Just as you asked me."  The last words Fan emphasized in the Doctor's direction.

Vincent spoke up nervously.   "And I was in the garden reading about the caves of Fingal.  I was preparing my report for you..."

"Oh, shut up, you dribbling jackass."  The Doctor shouted.  Vincent took several steps back.

Bruno was busy repairing the broken windows from the outside.   He felt the bump on the back of his head where he had been hit.

Dreda didn't speak, not even paying attention to the Doctor.  The same thoughts ran through her head.  I shouldn't have... I shouldn't have...  Albert... I'm sorry...

"Well, if it's any conciliation," said Farkas.  "I figured out a big part of the potions in the back of the book despite the fact that none of them are complete..."

"And you let one of them get burnt up," said the Doctor, fury in his eyes as he stared at Farkas.  Bowing and stepping towards the door, Farkas excused himself and returned to the laboratory in the basement.

"Get me that damn brat!  Leave me!"   Dreda, Vincent, and Tinean scurried out of the room.

Tinean was the last one out.  "I have the information you asked for.  I was out doing as I was told.  Let me know when you want it."  Despite being mean and vicious, Tinean kept his voice low and calm.   Immediately out in the hallway, he staggered upstairs taking a swig from his flask.

"Drunk as usual..." Dreda muttered as she watched him.  "I've got to do something.  Hmmm... Daddy will know what to do."   She disappeared.

Alone, the Doctor leaned back in his chair.  He placed his head in hands, then he got up and walked over to the chest, the same on Sam was curious about.

"I promise.  I promise you.  I will make things right."  Dr. Herkeimer opened the chest, the one with his initials on the silver plaque. Reaching down inside it, he picked up the present wrapped in faded green paper with what was left of blue bow.  He felt guilt.  He cried.

The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 79: On Things to Come

Griff came downstairs.  "They sent me away.  The old boy is burnt all across his stomach.  It's going to take some time to heal.  At least, that's what I heard."

An hour later, Xavier came downstairs and walked into the front parlor.   Rose, Ari, Griff, and Trenda waited patiently to hear about Albert.

"Albert is gone.  He has left us."

Rose stood up.  "What do you mean? He's dead?"

"No, he left with Dr. Teeter.  It's going to take some real doctoring to get those wounds to heal."  Griff gave Xavier a big hug and then proceed to squeeze him really hard.  "Don't ever scare us like that again."

Several days later, in the evening, Rose and Mrs. Steers sat in the front parlor. Their chairs were pulled up to the fireplace, warming themselves in front of the crackling fire and sipping hot chocolate.  The parlor was dark except for the glow from the fire.

"What a week," said Mrs. Steers.  Her voice quiet and soft. "I can't believe that I met one of the Uncle Matthew's great-great grandchildren."

"What? I didn't hear about this."

"While Sam and I were seeing the building of the pyramid, two young men wearing pink sunglasses showed up.  He and his twin brother are new members of the West Coast chapter."

"Really.  They are related to you?"

"Yes.  My Uncle Matthew had traveled west.  We had no idea whatever happened to him, but apparently, he married and had two children.  These twins are his great-great grandchildren."

"Wow.  That's amazing," said Rose.  "And they're involved with the West Coast Chapter.  Come to think of it, Trenda did say they had two new members."

"They are coming to visit soon.  We have a lot of family history to sort out."

Rose sipped her hot chocolate.  "So... How old are they?"

Mrs. Steers was already onto her.  "Well, from what I gathered they're in their late twenties and would probably prefer Xavier's company more..."  Mrs. Steers gave her a look that said, "If you know what I mean."

Rose sighed.  "Always my luck."

For the first time in the past few days, Rose saw Mrs. Steers smile.  Rose took a sip and turned to her.  "Well, Lottie, what's your thoughts? Are we doing the right thing about Sam?  I haven't seen him since."

Mrs. Steers shook her head, still staring at the fire.  Wrapping her hands around her mug, she took a quick drink, before answering.

"I haven't either.  He's been very distant."  Mrs. Steers was concerned, and her expression showed it.  "I hope so.  When I first meet him, he was still grieving over the death of his Father.  I worry he's not strong enough physically and mentally, but his abilities to use the incantations are remarkable.   Very remarkable.  The best I've seen ever. He wound-up one mighty orb when you were teaching him.  He's going to need a lot of practice and attention.  You will be perfect for him."

"I wouldn't worry too much.  Have you taken care of all the paperwork, especially the will?   We want to make sure that Sam is taken care of."

"Yes," said Mrs. Steers.  "I met with the council's lawyer and took care of everything.  Poor boy.  I hate to think what this has done to him.   He'll need a lot of support."

Rose assured her.  "Don't fret over it.  The council is fully aware.  The Doctor has got to have at least one weakness.  If only we could learn what it was, Sam would be able to play on that.  I just hope Sam can do it."   Rose drank from her mug.

Mrs. Steers glanced over at her.  "When we get there, I know he will be there.  He'll either follow or be waiting.  We're not sure if he knows yet exactly where the cave is or not.  I think he'll find out.  I have to admit I don't think we know for sure.  There may be someone in a club leaking information, but we're not sure."

"I have my suspicions," said Mr. Steers.

"Really?"

"Yes, but I have no proof. I’ll let you know later."  Mrs. Steers stared at the fire.  "Do you think he will be able to get in?"

Rose shrugged her shoulders.  "We can only hope.  Your research, my dear, was flawless.  The International Council went over it several times.   They were convinced.  Sam is our biggest hope ever.   No one else seems to have his abilities."

They snuggled back into their chairs.

The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 78: A White Lie

 Back at the Steers' house, Ari appeared in Albert's room.  Xavier and Mrs. Steers followed.

"I'll call for Dr. Teeters," said Xavier as Ari put the semi-conscious Albert on the bed.  Mrs. Steers ran over to his side.

Xavier scribbled a note and sent it via the message incantation.  Moments later, Dr. Teeters arrived with her medical bag in hand.

"What happened?"  Dr. Teeters quickly opened her bag and pulled out a pair of scissors to cut open the sweater.  Xavier explained, while Mrs. Steers cried.

In the front parlor, Emily came to.  "What happened?"

Pulling herself together, Rose said.  "You passed out. Sam is fine.  We found him in the backyard. Looks like he fell off the back porch and knocked himself out."

In the back parlor, Trenda heard the conversation.  Sam was quiet and sat perfectly still.   Ari snuck into the back parlor via the kitchen.  He carried a bottle of brandy and a small glass.  Ari poured a small amount into the glass and gave it to Sam. "Drink a little." 

Sam struggled to swallow it. 

Ari took the glass and poured in liquid from a small vile he had pulled from his pocket.  "Drink this."  

Sam sat straight up. His eyes wide.  The aches and pains vanished instantly.

"What was that?" said Sam before lapsing back into the chair.

Ari smiled. "A cure."

Meanwhile, Emily was still drunk from being drugged.   Emily shook her head, trying to come to.  

Rose was talking to her. "Well, we ummm... we found him laying out in the back yard.  He'll be fine."  She was confused by Rose's story.

"What?"  Groggy, Emily slumped over.

"I'll be right back," said Rose, reassuring Emily that everything was fine.  Opening the sliding door into the back parlor, Rose looked at Sam.

"Sam, are you alright?"  Rose got down on her knees and hugged him.

"I think he's in a little shock," said Trenda.  "This isn't good.  This isn't good at all."

"William, why don't you pretend to be a doctor and talk with Emily?" said Rose.  "Ari and I will take care of Sam."  Trenda went into the front parlor, closing the door tightly.

Sam stared into space.   Rose shook him a little.  "Sam?  Sam?"

Finally, Sam looked at her and started crying.  Rose hugged him tightly.  Sam wrapped his arms around her, pushing his face into her shoulder.

"Sam, listen to me.   You will be fine.  This deed will not go unpunished.  The Doctor is a madman.   We are here to protect you.   You were tricked."  Rose repeated this over several times.

Sam sat back and looked at her.  "So that's Dr. Herkeimer... Wait, my Mom."  Sam jumped up from the chair.  "They've got my Mom."

"No.  No, they don't.  She's fine.  She's in the front parlor waiting for you."  Rose realized immediately what had happened.  She thought Damn you Dreda.  I know you were behind that.

Rose hugged Sam again. "Listen to me, Sam.  You've got to help us.  Your Mom mustn't know about any of this."

Sam started to argue. "But..."

"Sam, you must believe me.  We are here for you. You are protected by us."  Their eyes meet.  "Ari.  Xavier. Mrs. Steers.  Albert.  The entire club.  You are our youngest member.  We need you."

Sam sat back.  Rose smiled.  "I'm going to ask you to do something you may not like.  You have to go along with the white lie to protect the entire club.   Your Mom thinks you fell off the back porch and knocked yourself out.  Trenda is pretending to be a doctor.  Got it?"

Sam looked up at Ari, who nodded and smiled.  "You've got so much to learn.  Don't give up on us now.  The Doctor roughed you up.  His turn will come."

Sam turned back to Rose and whispered.  "Okay."

"Great," she whispered.  "Let's show your Mom that you're fine."

In the front parlor, Emily gave out a huge sigh of relief when she saw Sam.

Sam went over to her.  "Mom, it was an accident. I was messing around on the back porch. Mrs. Steers went out there and I followed her. She came back in. I stayed and was looking around and didn’t know about the loose board. I fell off the porch."

Emily believed the lie. Sam hated himself for lying but he knew it would be better than the truth. His Mom wouldn’t understand. He had to keep his secrets, at least for now.

"Where is Mrs. Steers?" said Emily.

"Oh, she's laying down upstairs taking a nap," said Trenda.  "I gave her some aspirin.  She was overwhelmed by the shock of Sam getting hurt."

Rose gave him a surprised look.  Trenda shrugged his shoulders.  Emily didn't notice.

"Come on Mom, let's go upstairs.  I want to take a nap."  Sam grabbed his Mom's hand.

Emily turned to Rose and Trenda.  "Thank you both.  I'm sorry I passed out.  I don't think I've ever done that."

"No problem."  Rose ushered them to the front door.  Emily and Sam walked up the outside steps to their apartment.

"Sorry, I gave you a scare."   At the top step, Sam gave his Mom a big hug.

"I just panicked for some reason."

Sam headed to his room but stopped in the doorway.  "Mom, I think maybe we should move."

"Why?  I thought you loved it here.  Mrs. Steers.  Her library.  You two seem to get along."

Sam looked at her.  "Those people down there are her family.   I think they might be staying with her now.  So, she won't be alone."

"Oh. I'll think about it and see what's out there.  But mind you, the rent is really good here."

Sam understood and closed his bedroom door.   Stretched out on his bed, he got lost in thought.

I'm never lying to my Mom again.  Next time, the police will be involved.   There's something going on that I don't want to be a part of.   This Dr. Herkeimer...

Sam started crying again into his pillow so his Mom wouldn't hear.   The thought of the Doctor scared him.   The aches and pains were gone, but not the memories of the horrible experience. Being thrown to the floor, tied up, threatened, slapped.   Sam had never experienced anything like it.  Sam wondered if he would be safe from now on.

Every time he closed his eyes, he could see the Doctor hovering over him.  Yelling down at him.  Screaming about the books.

Dr. Herkeimer thinks I have the books.  I have got to get one to give to him, so he'll leave me alone.

The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 77: The Fight Continues

 Outside, Bruno lumbered from nowhere towards Griff.   Griff tackled Bruno right in the stomach while Trenda watched in amazement.   Bruno tumbled backwards right back out onto the gravel drive.  Trenda stood not what exactly to do.

"I say," said Trenda.  "Do you need any help?"

"Naw," said Griff from a headlock by Bruno.  "I've got him."

"Are you sure?" said Trenda.  "You are getting rather red in the face."

"Well, perhaps one of the rocks from the garden would help."  Griff struggled.  Bruno let loose a little, just enough to get Griff repositioned and now a strong hold around the waist.  Bruno attempted to throw him over his shoulder, but Griff wrapped his legs around Bruno's midsection.

"Still need that rock?"

"Sure," wheezed Griff.  "Get a nice one.  Maybe in gray."

Trenda grabbed a fist-sized rock from a nearby garden and ran over to Griff.  Bruno didn't see him.

 Grabbing the rock from Trenda, Griff cracked Bruno on the back of his head, knocking him out cold.  Bruno fell backwards with Griff landing on top of him.

"This is too easy," said Griff.  With Griff staggering off him, Bruno let out a grunt. Griff poked Bruno in the side with his boot.  Bruno let out another grunt.  "Ha.  You'll be fine. Take two aspirin."

"Congratulations," said Trenda. "Next time, I'll try to help a little more, but you looked like you had the situation under control."

Back in the hallway, Dreda had cornered Xavier.   "So, little boy, what are you going to do now?"

"How about this."  Whack!  Albert smacked Dreda in the back with a wooden cane he had found in the Doctor's chamber.   Dreda crumbled to the ground.

"Xavier, run!" said Albert.   Xavier ran out the entrance.  Outside, he grabbed Trenda, looked down at Bruno, then over at Griff.

"I'm not even going to ask," said Xavier.

Meanwhile, inside the Doctor's chamber, Mrs. Steers shielded Sam.   Rose grabbed a chair and tossed it at one of the windows, sending glass out over the hedges outside.

"Hurry! Give me Sam," said Trenda who had run over to the window.  Rose ran Sam over to the window.  Mrs. Steers had seen Albert whack Dreda with the cane.  She had also seen Dreda roll over onto her back.

Mrs. Steers screamed.   Rose and Sam turned just in time to see Dreda hurl a melon-sized orb at Albert.  The orb hit him in the stomach sending him backwards through the chamber door.

"Albert!" Mrs. Steers ran over to his side and started shaking him.  "Albert!  Albert.  Oh, dear god!"   Sam watched as Mrs. Steers leaned over his body.  Sam started shaking and crying.  Rose picked him up and pushed him through the broken window.  Trenda and Griff grabbed him, and they disappeared.  Rose started towards Albert but stopped when she heard a door open nearby.  She climbed out through the window and ran over to the front doors.

Ari grabbed Dreda from behind and had her in a stronghold.  Rose started to run inside.  Her and Dreda's eyes met.   Rose saw Dreda's face turn from maniacal to sorrowful.

"Sorry, Rose." Dreda disappeared.  Ari stumbled forward.

Rose ran over to Albert.  His sweater smoldered from where the orb had hit him.  His head rolled back and forth.  Mrs. Steers cradled it.

"Albert!"  Mrs. Steers cried.  Ari picked Albert up and ran towards the main entrance.   Xavier wrapped his arms around Mrs. Steers and guided her to the door.

Just then, a voice cried out.  Dr. Herkeimer had come out of his chamber.

"What is going on?"  Dr. Herkeimer hurried to the main entrance just as Xavier and Mrs. Steers ran out.   They both turned to look at the Doctor.

"I will get you for this, you hell hound," said Mrs. Steers.  Xavier had never heard her swear.

Rose, Ari, and Albert had already disappeared, followed by Xavier and Mrs. Steers.

Dr. Herkeimer saw Farkas laying on the floor.  The paper he had been reading had been hit by one of Dreda's orbs and was a small ashen spot.   The Doctor could see Bruno on the front stoop.  He spun around and ran back into his chamber.

"Damn you all!" Doctor Herkeimer yelled and gritted his teeth.  "I'll get you, you little bastard!  I promise."