The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 94: The Duel

The clock read 11:11 p.m.  Sam couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning.  Finally, he got up and turned on his desk lamp.  Thumbing the corner of the stack of paper about the Club’s history, he sat down and flipped through the first half.   An illustration caught his eye.

Leafing back to the page, it was a black and white illustration of two shields.  Each had strange emblems on them -- a sleigh bell shape, a crown, a bear, a snake, a symbol in the shape of a P with two lines through the lower part.  The caption read “A rendering of the two legendary shields from the duel in Northern Castile.”   An extra note was written in pencil at the end “Now Spain.”

Sam scanned the page looking for more information about the duel, turning back to the previous page.  Mrs. Steers’ handwritten notes were scribbled in the margins and within the text.

The Duel in Northern Castile (now Spain) decided the leader of group.  Before this time, The Tempos Servos consisted of small groups of time travelers, who didn’t know each other existed.  It was shortly before this duel that they had discovered (or rediscovered according to Merton’s notes) each other.  This duel is considered only a legend because no one has ever had any success in actually seeing it. Many attempts have been made over the years to go back and witness the duel.

As the story goes, Ranulfus of Rugen and Iordanus of the Southern Rhine met on a hill to duel for leadership.  Over one hundred spectators gathered from all of Europe to witness the fight.  There was to be no death or injury from the duel.  The winner would be based on how well he used the dueling incantation.  (Note in the book: “Never found.  LA?  FC?”)  Highwood’s research claimed that the incantation was actually for making orbs and that one of the duelists died.   The duel lasted for twenty minutes according to one unnamed source.  (See Wilper’s note in file drawer 8a.)

“LA?  FC?” mumbled Sam.  “Los Angeles?”   Sam pondered what “LA” and “FC” and wondered what they might mean. He shook his head and continued reading.

The Tempos Servos organized after the duel ended.   Ranulfus won.  (Iordanus apparently went on to live in Switzerland – somewhere in the mountains) Much research has been done over the duel incantation, but to date no information has been found.  (Not listed in Namvelt’s book) The time and location of the duel has been determined, but there is nothing to see.  There are unsubstantiated rumors that the exact time frame of the duel has been blocked by an incantation to prevent from anyone from seeing the event.  (Best approximate date – August 10, 1204 AD)

“Hmmm…” Sam sat back in his chair and looked out the window.  In the light of the lamppost across the street, Sam could see snow falling. He rubbed his chin then leaned forward to rest his elbow on the desk with his chin in his left palm.

“Could I go see it?  Would I be able to see the duel?”  Sam pondered.  He knew that if he traveled without another Club member, he could get into real trouble.  Maybe even risk being told he was out of the Club.

From his travel bag, Sam pulled out his notebook, opening it to the time travel incantation.  He spoke the words and added “the duel between Ranulfus and Iordanus.”  He closed his eyes.  Without moving, Sam could feel his body shift into a standing position.   A warm breeze blew across his face.

Slowly, Sam opened one eye, then the other.  He was no longer in his room sitting at his desk.  Inches in front of him, was a man in dark rough woolen clothes. The man smelled awful.  Sam scrunched his nose at the smell and stepped away quickly.  Sam then looked behind him.  There was an open field of tall grass.  Mountains rose in the far distance.  The sun was almost overhead in the clear sky.

Moving further away from the foul-smelling man, Sam realized that he was standing at the back of a crowd.  Some were dressed in peasant clothes of dirty browns and pitch blacks while others looked regal in rich clothing of deep purple, bright reds, and sky blues.  They all were watching something, but Sam was too short to see what.

Weaving his way through the crowd, avoiding any contact with anyone, Sam made his way to the front where he was standing at the bottom of a hill.  Everyone was staring up at two men facing each other.  Standing next two Sam were two distinguished, almost queen-like, women who were quietly talking.  Sam didn’t understand the language, but he did hear the word “Iordanus” as one pointed to the man on the left.

Sam looked up at the men.  “Iordanus,” pointing at the one on the left.  “Then you must be Ranulfus,” pointing at the other.

Iordanus stood proud and muscular.  His red beard was well trimmed.  He wore a yellow tunic, brown leggings, and a purple cape.  On his left arm, he had a silver rectangular shield with gold crest in the shape of a bear.

Ranulfus was gallant and majestic.  His blond hair stood out against his indigo tunic and rust-colored cape.  His round silver shield was painted blue and had a silver crest of a snake in the shape of a sideways figure eight.

The duel began.  The men stood their ground as each quickly shot lightning bolts at each other.  When one held up his shield to protect himself from being struck, the bolt would be absorbed into the center of the shield.  The bear or the snake would glow bright white when it absorbed the energy from the bolt.  The force of each hit would cause the opponent to stumble backward then brace himself as if leaning into a strong wind.

Sam watched Ranulfus and Iordanus throw lightning bolts like javelins at each other, one after another.  With each throw, they began to slow but eventually Iordanus seemed to get tired more quickly.  His knees buckled and sweat ran down his face into his beard.  The whole duel lasted about ten minutes, before Iordanus stopped and fell to his knees.  He leaned against his shield which sank into the soft grass.  Ranulfus stopped and ran over to aid his opponent to his feet.

The crowd cheered and applauded as Iordanus shook his opponent’s hand.  Ranulfus held his shield up and everyone cheered louder.  He turned it for all to see.  With Iordanus by his side, Ranulfus began to speak in what Sam thought sounded like German or a something like it.  When he concluded, once again the crowd cheered.

Wrapped up in the crowd's excitement, Sam applauded as well, glancing around at the spectators and back up at the two men.  Ranulfus and Iordanus were looking down at the crowd with puzzled looks on their faces.   Slowly taking a few steps down the hill, they stared in the same direction.  The crowd stopped cheering and turned to look at each other.  Iordanus mumbled a few words that Sam didn't understand but were clearly meant for him.  Sam realized that they were looking right at him.

Freaked out, Sam looked up at them, both still moving towards him.  Drawing near, Ranulfus reached out to touch Sam.  Panicked, Sam said 'Domum me."  He was back in his desk chair in his chilly room.  Outside it was still dark and heavy snow was falling.  The clock read 12:17 a.m.  Sam looked down at the book.  He placed a bookmark on the page and neatly restacked the loose pages.

Crawling back into bed, Sam couldn’t believe what had just happened.  He had seen the famous duel.   The one that would unite the time travelers.  The Club’s beginnings.

The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 93: Getting Away

Dr. Herkeimer dreamt.  He had fallen asleep in his high-back chair.  He moved uncontrollably.  First, his head would jerk to the right then left.  He gritted his teeth.  His hands were white knuckled from grasping on the chair’s arms.  He mumbled.

“I’m going to get you…”

His eyes closed tightly.  “I will find you…”

“You cannot hide…” He was angry.

“You will die when I get you…”

Fulop Farkas had crept into the room, watching and listening. He didn’t like what he saw or heard.  Dr. Herkeimer displayed anger even in his sleep. Fulop began to fear that helping the Doctor and his obsessive pursuit of the book was a bad idea.  As he had done in the past, his allegiance began to sway in another direction.  Now he started to think the Time Travelers were the ones to go to.

Slowly leaving the sleeping Doctor, Fulop had to make a decision that could mean his death.   He stood for a few moments contemplating his options.

I could go to the Club.  Even better the old lady… What’s her name?  Fulop fidgeted, rubbing his fingers against his temples.

Her name is…  Come on… You’ve heard it…  Steed.  No.  Stein.  No.   Steers.  That’s it.  Steers in Connecticut...  I must get to her.  She’ll be able to protect me.

Fulop heard the Doctor scream out.  “You will pay!”

With that, Fulop headed back to the basement where had been working night and day trying to create potions from the book.  He would have to move fast.  In the lab, he gathered up his notes about the incantations that he had been working on.  Shoving them in a knapsack, Fulop had one more thought.

“The book.  I should take the book.  I knew they will want it.”

Fulop knew where it was stashed in the Doctor’s bedroom upstairs.  He had learned its location by accident, spotting Dr. Herkeimer putting it in its no-longer-hidden location.

“It will be a terrible gamble.”  Fulop rubbed his temples again.   Determination set in.  He grabbed the knapsack and scurried quietly back up to the main hall.

Creeping over to the doors to the library, he listened for the Doctor.  He could hear him in there, still talking in his sleep.  This would be his chance.  Fulop headed up the stairs into the Doctor’s bedroom.  Flipping on the light switch, he glanced around the immaculately clean and tidy bedroom.  Once inside, he went right to the bookshelves.

“The top row, the last book on the left… Here it is.  The Time Machine.”  Fulop pulled the book off the shelf and opened the cover.  It was a hollow.  A fake book serving as a shell for hiding treasure.  Inside was Dr. Herkeimer’s raggedy copy of Namvelt’s book.  The back cover was missing.  The leather cover was almost gone.  Fulop could tell pages were missing.  He put the fake book back on the shelf and tucked the worn book into his knapsack.

Fulop turned off the lights and cracked the door open.  He looked out in the hallway. Pulling the door closed as quietly as he could, he walked to the top of the stairs.  Bruno was coming up.  Thinking quickly, he stepped across to the opposite door and pretended that he was coming out of the room.

Bruno spotted him.  “What are you doing?”

Fulop realized that it was a bathroom.  “And what do you think?” Fulop nodded towards the bathroom.

“Sorry,” nodded Bruno and walked on down the hallway.   Fulop watched Bruno enter his room at the far end of the hall.

Running as fast and quietly as possible down the stairs, Fulop slipped out the front door and ran across the driveway.  “I have to get to Connecticut.  Wherever that is,” he muttered

Outside, the sun had set beyond the trees.  Twilight had arrived in the clear sky.  Soon, it would be dark.  Fulop headed into the woods to get as far from the house as possible.  Struggling through the underbrush, Fulop kept looking back to see if anyone had seen him leave.  Fulop tried not to think about it and just kept working his way through the woods.  As he came into a small clearing, he stopped to catch his breath and orient himself before he got too far.

Huffing and puffing, wishing he were in better shape, Fulop panted.  "Good so far.  Connecticut... Connecticut... Which way is Connecticut..."  He began to doubt his plan would work.  It wasn't going to be easy.

From behind him, he heard a rustling. Someone stepped out from behind a tree.

“Oh, what are you doing here?” said Fulop, surprised.  He soon realized he was in trouble with no one to help him.  With no chance of escaping, he found himself being gagged and tied up.

The last thing he remembered was a dark shadow saying "And where are you off to in such a hurry?"  He blacked out being hit over the head.

The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 92: Concerns

As the week flew by, Sam’s attitude towards Mrs. Steers and the Club began to change.  Between the trip to see Nazi Germany and throwing the orb that blew Bruno out of a window, he began to feel more confident and to understand the power of the books and incantations.  Even more, he felt braver and safer.

Sam sat at the kitchen table, snacking on some crackers.  The apartment was quiet.  His mom was at a meeting at the library and had left Sam alone.  Sam's thoughts raced.  His mind wondered back to the last day of school, before winter break.

Sam had passed Mr. Martin’s classroom.  Mr. Martin was sitting at his desk grading papers.  

“Hi Sam.  Come on in.  I’m just finishing up grades.”

“Can I ask you a question about something?” said Sam.

“Sure.  What’s on your mind?”  Mr. Martin leaned back in his chair.

“Can someone change history?”

Mr. Martin smiled in puzzlement.  “From my experience, no, depending on what history you are talking about.  If you made a mistake yesterday and want to correct it, you can try to change that, but no matter what it’s now history.  If you’re talking about changing the far past, forget it.”

Sam shook his head.  “I understand.  What if someone could go back and change history?”

“That could be disastrous, if it were possible.  Choices are based on previous choices and the knowledge and understanding of them. Why do you ask?”

“No reason.  I was just curious.”

“I can tell.  You have a great interest in history.  Not many kids your age do.  I will tell you this,” said Mr. Martin.  “History has all the answers.  All you have to do is look for them. Do you know what I mean?”

Sam pondered Mr. Martin’s words.  “Maybe.”

“Good. Someday it will make sense.  Any plans for winter break?”

Sam nodded.  “We going to stay with my Grandma and Grandpa Henry.”

Mr. Martin nodded.  “Great.  Have a good winter break.”

A thud from somewhere downstairs brought Sam back to the present.

Working up his confidence, Sam opened the door in the back of the laundry room. He went down the hall and to the top of the stairs.  Standing there, he listened for voices.   He could hear Mrs. Steers and Rose.  It sounded like a meeting in the front parlor.

“Any news?” said Xavier.

“None,” said Mrs. Steers.  “Somehow they knew.”

“Lottie,” said Rufus Leightstone.  “Do you think that… I mean… I don’t want to accuse the boy, but…”

“No, I don’t believe it,” said Rose.  “Sam wouldn’t.  I refuse to accept that.”

By now, Sam had made it down the stairs unnoticed. He could see Rose and Ari, but only heard the other’s voices.

“I didn’t,” said Sam, marching into the meeting uninvited.  Everyone turned to look at him.  Rose got up and brought Sam to the center of the room.

“I think that it is time we include our newest member of the Club in our meetings.”

Mrs. Steers started to argue, but Rufus Leightstone stepped in.

“I agree.  Master Henry isn’t just our newest member, but also the future of the Club.  Maybe he’ll be a future president of the International Council.”

With much hesitation, Mrs. Steers jumped in.  “I would like to say that I may not agree, but I do understand.”  She brought the group's attention to Sam.  “What say you?”

Sam didn’t know what to say, then he began.  “I want to be involved, but I also want to know what this is all about.  I’ve been kidnapped, slapped and punched around. And there’s that orb I made caused that guy to fly out a window…”

Rufus Leightstone jumped in.  “A most impressive orb.  I heard about it.  Master Henry, I’m going to be honest.  You have exhibited some impressive abilities to use the incantations in Namvelt’s book of time traveling and incantations.  We are very interested to see if you would also be able to use some of the ones that very few have mastered.”

“Like the painting in Jameson’s shop,” said Mrs. Steers.  “You saw that incantation.  Only a few members over hundreds of years have mastered that…”

Xavier jumped in.  “And communicating with the dead and ghosts.  I would love to see someone use that one.”

“Or how about that one that supposedly turns stones into gold,” added Rose.

Sam’s head began to spin, trying to take it all in. He had never thought that he would be able to create gold from rocks.  He shook his head and sat down.

“Are you alright?” said Mrs. Steers, concerned that he might pass out again.

“This is too much for me to think about,” said Sam.  "Do you really think I could do some of that?  Like talk to dead people.”

Mrs. Steers whispered.  “You already have.”  Sam's eyes met hers, realizing that she knew about his experience in 1886 London.  Nobody else had heard her comment.  Mrs. Steers winked.

“I think that it is time that we begin some formal training,” said Rose.  “I will be glad to train him in orbs.”

Before Sam knew it, an entire regimen of training and instruction had been organized.  Mrs. Steers had already taught him the basic time traveling incantations and now he would move onto the more complex ones.

Mrs. Steers left the room.  The conversation turned back to the Doctor's knowledge of the trip to Jameson, speculating about how they knew that they would be there.  Word of Bruno and Tinean’s sudden appearance at the shop had spread throughout the Club, causing a ripple effect of heightened security.

In a few moments, Mrs. Steers returned with a pile of papers.  She handed the hefty stack to Sam.

“This is my working copy of the history of The Time Travelers Club.  It’s a patchwork of information that I’ve pieced together from the research I’ve done over several years.”

“Well, I think we’ve covered everything we need to for now.  I’ll be off.”  Rufus Leightstone left.

“Sam, I will be back tomorrow,” said Rose.  “Let’s take a little trip away to practice our orbs.”

Sam’s eyes widened.  “Sure.  Oh, and I have a question.  I remember looking at the book about time travel while we were at Jameson's shop. There was a lot more than just incantations in it."

"Ah," said Mrs. Steers.  "You are correct.  Namvelt's book does have all the incantations that we know about and how to use them, but when he printed the book he added a lot of other information.  We're not exactly sure how he knew so much.”

Sam scratched his head.  “Oh.”

"Don't worry," said Rose.   "Let's just focus on your abilities for right now."

Feeling overwhelmed by all the attention, Sam headed upstairs with his book.   He was now officially involved with The Time Travelers Club.  There would be no turning back.  As he walked up the stairs, he thought about Dr. Herkeimer and the gang.

What are they all about?   What do they want with me?  It has to be more than just the books.

The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 91: Dreda

Dreda felt ill.  She was so over this whole unknown plot of Dr. Herkeimer's.  She despised his nonsense.  Laying in the yard outside, she finally had some time away to think.  The sky was clear.  The grass was soft.  She sat up.

I have to find out which one of them did it.  Her rage built up for a moment before she calmed back down.  One of you did it.  And you will get yours.

Dreda shook her head.   I can't think about it now.

Besides, that wasn't the real reason she had formed an allegiance with the Doctor.  It was much more.  She reached down and picked up a twig, snapping it in two.  She could still see him, sitting across from her at the bistro in Paris.  Dr. Herkeimer had approached her when she was an art student.

"Don't worry, we'll get the one that did it," said Dr. Herkeimer, charming and reassuring her.  "But more importantly, what I have here may be of more interest to you."

Dr. Herkeimer pulled a plain white legal-sized envelope out of his coat pocket.  He held it with both hands as he ran his fingers down its sides.

"This contains a much better reason for you to join me.  A secret that would bring you down.  Something that would affect your parent's... well... health, I might add."  Dr. Herkeimer crept his way around her, still running his fingers along the sides of the envelope.

Without looking at him, Dreda leaned forward.  "What would that be?"

"Let's just say, Santiago last summer wasn't your best vacation, was it?"

A skinny waiter filled their water glasses and moved on.

Closing her eyes, Dreda knew what he referred to.  "That was not my fault.  You have no proof.  Nothing whatsoever to connect me to that."  She glared at him.

"Regardless, Mommy and Daddy aren't going to like what have we in the envelope.  And more importantly, neither is the International Council."  His voice went from sweet to stern by the end of the sentence.  "But then there is that other issue."

He meant Pavel.

Now, outside the Doctor's mansion, Dreda needed time to think.  She walked around the dormant gardens behind the mansion, out of sight from prying eyes.   Eyeing the partly cloudy sky, she turned her attention to a small window at the base of the mansion's wall.

Down there, she thought.  Somewhere down there is that safe.  I could turn the tables.

The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 90: Fan's Mission

Fan weaved his way through the back streets, away from the alley where he had been watching Jameson’s bookshop.  He wasn’t sure what had happened inside, but seeing Bruno flying out of the window was enough to convince him to scram.

Now, he had another mission.  He was to report to China Doll as soon as possible.  She had sent instructions on where he could find her and when.  This time, he hoped to understand his mission for her, what his goal was. Their last meeting in Beijing a few weeks earlier had not been very informative.

China Doll had checked into a local hotel where she awaited him. Fan knocked on her door.  A moment later, she greeted him in a red silk dress and black shoes. Her hair was done up in a taut bun that looked like a series of dark chocolate donuts stacked on her head.

“And what have you learned?”  She stood erect and stern, arms folded across her chest.

“He is the one,” said Fan.  “They are protecting him.  He is heavily guarded.”

China rubbed her hands together.  “Good.  Very good to hear.  Now I have to figure out how to persuade him.”

Fan stood firm.  “He will do it and, I might add, without force.  You will simply have to ask.  I am sure that Mrs. Steers would listen to your request.  Perhaps if you could tell me…”

China spun around.  Her eyes fixed on him.  “You may be correct on that point.  He is young and perhaps easily influenced.  I should meet him. Dr. Herkeimer will not get in my way.  If the text of the incantation is there, then I want to be the only one to have it.  I will have to plan.”

“If you could tell me about the incantation…”  Fan edged towards her.  "If you would tell me more..."

“No, it is my secret,” she said, unmoved to offer more information.  “The incantation is just as dangerous as the ones the Doctor can do.”

Fan didn’t push any further.  “I would like to suggest you simply approach the boy in a safe manner and ask him.  Or as I suggested, perhaps you might speak to Mrs. Steers.  Or even Rufus Leightstone.”

China walked to the window.  Outside the snow had begun to fall.  “I will decide.”

“Is there anything else you would like me to do?”

Without turning around, China gave him his instructions.  “Yes, I want you to get close to the Doctor. Do all you can to keep the books away from him. He is very dangerous. His unsettled emotions are guiding him. He has yet to confront his demons.”

Fan nodded.  ‘So far I have accomplished all that you have asked.  I will continue.”

"On the desk is your payment."

Picking the envelope up, Fan tucked it in his coat pocket.  Without saying anything further, Fan left her.

China sat down at the desk, opened a small book, and began to re-read the handwritten notes.

An unnamed knight or crusader believed the text to have left Mesopotamia before the Crusades.  Legend speaks of a man carrying the scroll with the incantation to the East, perhaps into Mongolia.  The scroll was translated into Chinese by a man whose name is unknown. Altai Mountains?  The scroll is believed to be lost, perhaps the Hebrides?

She sat back in the chair.  “The incantation of all.  More important than any others.  How to ask?  How to get him to look for it… If he is the one.”

Closing her eyes, she meditated.  The room was quiet.  The built-in heating unit kicked on.  Its fan hummed.  China opened her eyes.

"I wonder."  Taking up her pen, she wrote a few more notes in her notebook.

To meet God you must go through Hell.

Outside, the snow fell heavier.  China Doll packed her belongings and disappeared.

The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 89: Attacking!

“Blast it, answer me.”  Jameson took on a fierce tone, with no response.   He backed away from the door.  The knob turned then wiggled maniacally. Someone was forcing their way in.  Before anyone could move, the door burst open.  Tinean pushed his way in.

“Hello, ladies,” said Tinean.  “And look, it’s our good friend Sammy.”  Tinean grinned menacingly at Sam. Bruno was right behind him.

“Go!”  Jameson yelled.  Bruno pushed Jameson out of the way, knocking him into a stack of books.  Bruno lunged towards Sam.

Rose stepped in front of Sam.  She was in a tough position, but couldn’t leave Sam alone, unable to defend himself.  She had faced Bruno before in fights.  He was one of the few who could use the deflector incantation. Bruno and Rose faced off.  This would be a physical fight.  She pulled a small knife out from its holster strapped to her leg.  Sam glanced around Rose.  Without Rose or Bruno’s seeing him, Sam hid behind the potbelly stove.

Watching Rose and Bruno preparing to fight, Jameson grabbed Sam by the arm and pulled him down behind the counter, wedging him between stacks of books and papers.  Sam could still see what was about to happen.  Rose jumped backwards, just missing Bruno’s first swing as he lumbered towards her.  From under her boot holster, she grabbed her small knife and threw it. The knife whizzed past his right ear as he ducked to one side. Bruno pushed hard against the counter.  Dust flew into Sam’s face and he fought to keep from sneezing.

Above him, somehow Rose had gotten Bruno face down on the counter, her knee in his back and an arm twisted around.

"Say Uncle!"  Rose demanded, yanking hard on his arm.

"No, I won't," mumbled Bruno. His face was scrunched down hard on the counter.

Meanwhile, Xavier and Ari had appeared just at Rose and Bruno stood off.  Xavier saw Rose throw her knife and ducked. Just as Ari grabbed Tinean and was trying to toss him back out the door, Rose’s knife flew between Ari's face and Tinean's head and stuck in a wood beam.

"Hey!" shouted Ari. "Where did that come from?"

Xavier laughed. "Someone thinks you're quite the cut-up."

Finally, Xavier got the door open again and Ari tossed Tinean out into the snow in the alley.  Tinean bounced off the pavement and rolled a few feet, crashing into the brick wall across the alley.  Xavier slammed the door shut, but Tinean was already up trying to get back in.  Acting as a brace, Ari pushed his shoulder against the door and stood his ground.

Xavier stood back.  “Well, you did make a good door brace.”

Jameson grabbed the door brace, shoving it down into the brackets on each side of the door.  Ari eased up.  Tinean backed off and was now looking in the window.

“Not a good time to stop and chitchat.  Looks like Rose needs some help.”

Xavier saw Bruno try to grab Rose.  He had broken from the stronghold she had on him.  Rose leapt up on the counter right above Sam’s hiding spot.  Dust flew down again.  This time, Sam couldn’t hold back and let out a huge sneeze.

Bruno grinned maliciously.  “Looks like the pup has given himself away.”

Pushing Rose aside, Bruno reached down behind the counter, feeling for Sam.   Sam jumped out from his hiding spot and ran to the opposite end of the shop towards the back of the store.  Bruno lunged after him, but Rose jumped on his back, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his chest.  Xavier tried to get to Sam, but he was blinded by a pile of papers flying off the counter.

Sam backed up, watching Rose struggle with Bruno.  He saw Xavier trying to make his way out from under the papers.  Sam had to act.  He had to make a decision.  Putting his hands together, he began to recite the incantation for making orbs.  Within a second, he could feel the electric sparks.

Rose looked up and saw Sam.  “No, Sam!  It’s too dangerous!”

It was too late.   Sam had formed a pure white orb that grew to the size of a melon.  Sam could feel himself losing control of it and began to panic.  Xavier stood straight up, just in time for Rose to leap from Bruno’s back.  She grabbed the unsuspecting Xavier and pulled him right back to the floor, dazed again by another pile of falling papers.

Ari and Jameson raced away from the braced door, seeking shelter from the impending orb attack from Sam. Ari pushed Jameson against a bookcase and stood in front of him.

“Don’t move from behind me unless absolutely necessary,” said Ari over his shoulder.

“How will I know it’s necessary?” said Jameson.

“When you see an orb flying at you.”  Ari joked.  Wide-eyed, Jameson sunk further down.

Outside, Tinean pressed his nose against the cold glass pane of the shop window. He could see Bruno facing Sam, not fearing the orb.  Knowing the deflector incantation would protect him.  He took a few steps towards Sam.  The time had come.  Sam sent the melon-sized orb towards Bruno.  Bruno stopped, bracing for the impact as the orb sailed towards his chest.  Within seconds, the orb’s impact sent sparks flying.  A bright glow like a small atomic explosion filled the room.  A gale force wind created a dust storm. Papers and books flew in every direction.

Tinean sprang to one side as Bruno flew backwards through the glass window and slammed against the pavement, landing with a heavy grunt.  Sam’s orb had created such an impact that Bruno’s incantation could not withstand it.  Bruno was knocked senseless.  Tinean got up and stared in disbelief, first at Bruno, then through the broken window at Sam. Stunned, he reached down, grabbed Bruno’s arm and they disappeared.

Sam stood silent.  The aftermath began to settle.  Ari slowly lowered his arms.  Jameson peeked out from behind him.  Xavier and Rose stared at the window, then at Sam.  Only once before had they ever witnessed an orb of that caliber.

Rose slowly moved from behind the counter.  Sam was frozen in place.  She whispered.  “Sam… Sam…  Are you alright?”  She reached out and touched his arm.  Sam blinked and began to stagger to one side.  She grabbed him before he fell.  Xavier pulled over a nearby chair and together they sat him down in it.

“Did I just… I mean was that my…”  said Sam, dazed.  “I’m not sure how I…”

“Relax, Sam.  You just made history.”  Xavier patted him on the shoulder. 

Rose nodded her head.  “You have a lot of practicing to do.  A lot of practicing to do.”

Sam, still pulling himself together, muttered.  "Yea, I guess I do."

Jameson handed Sam a small glass.  "Here, sip this slowly."

Without heeding Jameson's instruction, Sam gulped it down, chocking and coughing.  Sam snapped out of his daze and rubbed his throat.   Sam squeaked. "What was that?"

"Brandy," said Jameson.  "That's why I told you to sip it slowly."

Xavier jested.  "Great. Let's get him drunk.  That won't upset his Mother."

Rose, on the other hand, got upset at first, then joined in.  "Don't worry Sam.  You can't compete with Xavier, the teetotaler."  It was their way of shaking off the intensity of the moment.

"Ha!" interjected Ari.  "Shows how much she knows."  He was poking Xavier in the shoulder.

Form nowhere, Mrs. Steers appeared, took one look at the shattered window where snow was blowing in, then the disastrous mess of papers and books, and threw her hands up.

"What happened here!  What did you do?"

Rose jumped in first.  "Sam sent Bruno out the window with an orb which caused a hurricane level wind."

Mrs. Steers stood silent with her mouth open.  First, she looked at Jameson, then Sam, then at Rose.

"Well, I didn't think that Sam would get that involved," said Mrs. Steers, calmly.  "But, I guess I was wrong about that."

Sam was astonished at her reaction.  Is this the same woman who worried about stuff?  Now she’s not really caring, thought Sam. 

"Well, let's get him home Rose," said Mrs. Steers.  "Ari and Xavier, you two should stay here and help Jameson get back to normal... What a night."  Mrs. Steers shook her head, grabbed Sam and Rose, and they were gone.

Down from the alley from the shop, a dark figure watched from just around the corner.  The figure swiftly scurried off into the night.

The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 88: Jameson’s Bookshop

In a matter of moments, Sam was whisked away to the amazing bookshop and its unusual proprietor that he had heard so much about.   Jameson had managed to find an alley among some empty warehouses in New London where he could park the shop.

Rose, Mrs. Steers, and Sam stood outside in the falling snow.  Mrs. Steers knocked and waited.  It was just as Sam had imagined, like something he had seen in illustrated Dickens’ novels.  The windows were aglow with candles.  The name was painted in black with gold trim.  Rupert Jameson, Dealer of Rare and Unusual Books and an Assortment of Other Strange and Mysterious Finds.  And the falling snow just made it ever more magical.

A shadow moved about, the door creaked open, a bell tinkled, and there stood Jameson, also looking like he had stepped out of a Dickens’ novel.  Sam marveled at the sight of him.

“Well, this is a great day for me.  And this must be Master Henry.”  Jameson stretched out his hand, welcoming them to come in.  Mrs. Steers motioned for Sam and Rose to enter first.

Master Henry!  Another one, thought Sam.

Thrilled to finally see the fabled shop, Sam had never seen so many old books in one place.  He didn’t know where to begin.  The pot-belly stove warming the whole room. The row of glistening crystal balls. The stuffed peacock, peregrine, and parrot on their stands.  Stacks of old photographs.  The aisles in the back of the store seemed like endless hallways leading to some far off unseen end.

Jameson, Mrs. Steers, and Rose started talking about the recent attack, while Sam made his way to the cabinet labeled “books bound in human skin.” He passed a gilt-framed painting of a woman wearing a purple turban and sat under a portico.  Slowing to study the piece of art, the light from a nearby kerosene lamp reflected on her eyes. With a kind face, she seemed to fix her gaze down at Sam.

Behind her, Sam could see a seaport.   A tall ship sat docked at a pier.   As he looked closer, he thought for a moment that the ship’s sails rustled in the wind.  The white fluffy clouds in the sky began to blow away by an unfelt wind; soon darker clouds pushed their way in.  Sam moved back watching the whole scene, unaware that the woman in the portrait was actually looking at him.  He moved right and her head turned to look at him.

Lighting cracked in the background.  Sam pulled back.  A rainstorm moved in soaking the small port.  The ship swayed gently as waves brushed against its sides.  The sails fluttered harder.  Sam watched the downpour blow away.  The clouds broke up and a few rays of sunshine brightened up the whole painting.

“Don’t worry, Sam,” said a voice from behind him.  It was Jameson.  “It’s an illusion created by a very rare incantation that no one has mastered since the artist rendered this painting back in the 1740s."  Jameson brushed away a cobweb from the corner of the frame.  "She was the wife of a town merchant and traveled the world.  Eventually they lived in St. Augustine in Florida.  On the Atlantic Coast.”

“Really?  Who painted her?”

Jameson scratched his head.  “I’m not exactly sure.  The Club acquired the painting several years ago and I’ve been researching past members for an artist, but so far no one has surfaced.  I do know about the incantation that created the illusion. There are three other paintings like this that we know of, as well as the ones that are said to be lost.  Possibly destroyed by the Nazis during World War Two.”

Fascinated, Sam couldn’t help but look back at the woman.  He waved at her, but she didn’t respond.

“Come over here and look at this, Sam,” said Mrs. Steers.  Sam saw she held a copy of a small book bound in dark leather.  “I suspect that you’ve been wanting to see this.  Jameson has kept it safe here at least for now.”

Sam’s eyes widened.  “Is that the book?”  Sam reached for it.  Mrs. Steers treated it like a fragile bird, handing it to him very gently.  The leather binding was in perfect condition.

“This was Albert’s copy,” said Mrs. Steers.  “It’s one of the seven copies we know about.   Dr. Herkeimer has one copy in very bad condition.  Thank goodness for that.  We have four copies that have taken us many generations of Club members to track down.”

Sam opened the book and read the title page.  Gently, he thumbed through the pages, too excited to focus on words.  The brownish pages felt old, yet supple.  Sam finally stopped to read a page.  The incantation had something about making salt water drinkable.  The words were like the incantations he had already learned.

Sam saw an incantation about making gold from stone.  He quickly read the words which were easy to remember. “Fac in hoc lapide auri.”

After repeating that incantation several times, he had managed to memorize it.  Then the title of one incantation caught his attention.  An incantation for visiting the dead.   Just as he started to read the first of three pages of instructions, someone banged on the door.

“Who could that be?” said Jameson.  “I told only you where I would be.”

Mrs. Steers grabbed the book from Sam’s hands and held it close to her chest.  She stared at the door then reached into her bag and pulled out a piece of notepaper and pencil.  She scribbled a quick note and said a few words.  Poof!  The note was gone.

Rose pulled Sam next to her.  Jameson looked out the window, but since it was early evening in the winter, it was getting dark and he could see only a shadow.

Whoever it was banged on the door again only this time it was louder and harder. Jameson stood near the door, not looking through the porthole.  “Who is it?”

There was no response.

The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 87: Making Amends

Mrs. Steers picked up the shiny silver frame from her office desk and gazed at the face of Albert.

“I hope we are doing the right thing, Albert.  I pray that I have the right descendent.  I pray that all will be well.”  She set the frame back down, just as the telephone rang.

Mrs. Steers rummaged among books, piles of papers, and notebooks on the worktable next to her desk for her old-fashioned rotary telephone.  “I have got to clean up this office.”  Pushing file cabinet drawers shut, she closed several open books and stacked them to one side.   The telephone kept ringing.  “Hold on.  I’m trying to find you.”  Finally, she dug up the receiver.

“Hello.”

“Mrs. Steers, this is Emily.  I’m sorry to bother you.”

“Oh, no bother.  I was just going over some plans... organizing a few things.  I’m at a good stopping point.”  She braced a stack of newspapers with her hip, while holding up another stack with her free hand.

“Oh good.  I have a meeting tomorrow night that run late. My in-laws are out of town and I need someone…”

“I’ll be happy to entertain Sam,” said Mrs. Steers, juggling the receiver.

“Great.  I’ll tell him to check in with you first thing when he gets home.”

After she hung up, Mrs. Steers yelled for Rose.  “Rose?  Are you out there?”  Mrs. Steers’ office was off the dining room, where Rose sat at the dining room table going over some research with Griff Graff.

“Yes, Lottie?” said Rose, without looking up, studying a long list of names, then organized some index cards.

“What do you think about taking Sam to meet Jameson?”  By now, she had levered the stacks against each other, hoping to avoid an avalanche.

Rose paused and started shuffling another stack of papers.  “If you think it’s time, I’ll take him.”

Mrs. Steers stood in the doorway.   “We’ll take him. I think it’s time I try to regain his trust. I’ll message Jameson to find out his location tomorrow night.  We’ll keep it a surprise.”

Without looking up, Rose double-checked a list of names against one book's index, then another, then back to the first.

“Lottie, did you read this?” said Griff, handing her a newspaper clipping.  “Did you take this into consideration?”

Mrs. Steers read the headline and looked at Griff.  “I know. I suspect there is a major connection to Dr. Herkeimer’s mad obsession.”

Putting the clipping back down on the table, Mrs. Steers shook her head and went back to her office.  From there all they heard was "Oh no!", then a crash of a pile of something, and a final "I'm fine.  Just fine."

The next day when school let out, Rose was waiting for Sam.  “Master Henry, I am your escort home.”

Reminded of Rufus Leightstone’s manner of addressing him, Sam grinned.  “Does he call everyone that?”

“Leightstone is a very professional man.  He follows every rule of etiquette to the last.  You should have seen your face when he called you that.”

“Did I have a dumb look?”

Rose laughed.  “No.  You appeared to enjoy being called that.  Anyway, I have a surprise for you tonight.”

“I’m supposed to tell Mrs. Steers that I’m home, but I really don’t want to talk to her.”

His comment gave Rose an opportunity to try to change his mind about what had happened.  “Sam, I hate to push you since I know you had a rough experience, but you really need to forgive her.  It wasn’t her fault. She is extremely concerned about you.”

Sam remained quiet, listening to her words.  He looked up at the clear December sky.  "Holiday break.  I like this time of year the most.  Everyone just seems to get happy," said Sam.  As they walked, Rose remained silent, giving him time to think.  As she was about to say something, Sam let loose on a major rant.

“I have never been slapped before by anyone.   I’ve never been pushed to the floor and held down by someone.  I hurt my shoulder.”  He rubbed his left shoulder.  “I thought he had kidnapped my Mom.”  Sam was getting worked up.   Rose could see his eyes tearing up.  “To make it all even more terrible, I lied to my Mom.  I’ve never really lied to her even when I thought it would keep me from getting into trouble.”

Rose remained silent, letting Sam carry on.  At some point, she knew she would have to interject, but wasn’t sure when.  She was however ready to tell him a part of her past, that might calm him.

“And the other thing is that I was tricked into this club by Mrs. Steers.  She probably left that attic door unlock.  She probably put that box with the newspaper in it where I could find it.  And she scares me.   She knows all this stuff about me and I’m not sure how.” Sam stopped talking.

“Sam, I want to tell you a story.  I know you want to talk, but I also think you need to listen.”  Rose gauged his reaction and felt that she could continue.

“My parents were in the club.  When I was two years old, I was kidnapped by a group in France.   They demanded some of the more dangerous incantations from my parents for my safe return.  Because of this, my parents left the club after I was returned.   Even though I was only two years old, I can still see their faces.   I can still see the place where the kidnappers kept me.”

Rose stared down at the pavement as they continued to walk.   Sam glanced over at her.   Without looking, she knew she had his attention.

“As I got older, my parents wouldn’t allow me to become involved with the Club.  I defied them.  Secretly, I found out the names of club members.  Then, one day, I met Lottie and Albert.  I was sixteen at the time.  They had been traveling in Oslo, studying the city’s history.   I overheard them talking about how the city looked and how “they would be going back to double check facts.”  I realized then that I had been given the chance to get involved.  I heard a lot about the club and met members who had remained friends with my parents.  My parents weren’t as enthused about my wanting to get involved.”

The wind picked up and snow began to fall.  Rose and Sam stepped up the pace.

“What happened?” asked Sam.

“Well, I talked with Lottie and Albert right then and there.  Asking them if they were involved with The Time Travelers’ Club.   At first, they didn’t want to talk to me, but I soon found out that they knew my parents.   Eventually, my parents reluctantly agreed to let me learn from Lottie. This was right after Albert became “The Rescuer.”

Sam jumped in.  “How did he become The Rescuer?”

“That’s a very long story.  I’ll tell you later.  But my point is that I learned that there are people out there in the world who want to do bad things.  We can do our part to keep them doing something really horrible.”

“Dr. Herkeimer is one of the people for what he did to me.”

Rose nodded.  “You got it.”

“Just like the kidnappers treated to you so terrible.”  Sam felt sympathy and empathy.  He took hold of her hand.

“Yes.” She squeezed his hand.

They reached the Steers house.  Heavier snow was now coming down.  The first real sign that winter had arrived and would be staying.

Mrs. Steers greeted them at her front door.  “Rose.  Sam.  Come in here.”  They stepped into the front hall. “Don’t get too comfortable.  I’ve got a surprise for you.  We’re going to Jameson’s.” 

Sam reacted just as Mrs. Steers’ hoped.  “That’s the shop where you got the book, right?  Awesome.  Will I get to see the books bound in human skin?”

“Yes, it is,” said Mrs. Steers.  She prayed that she had hooked him.  “Rose and I have to go and since we’re supposed to entertain you…”

“We thought this would be the perfect time for you to meet Jameson,” said Rose.  “Where are we meeting him?”

“Downtown.  He’s picked an out-of-the-way alley.”

Mrs. Steers slipped on her coat.  “Let’s be on our way.  He's expecting us.  He wants to meet you.  And believe me, you’ll like his shop.  Books bound in human skin and all.”