The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 104: Rome

Rose fidgeted with skirt. “Are you sure about this?  This house doesn’t look that old.  They may not like us poking around in their basement.”

“Mrs. Labuler was very clear and precise about her directions,” said Mrs. Steers, looking at her map.  “This street, a corner cafe, and near a grocery in Rome.  And this is the oldest part of the city.”  Mrs. Steers glanced down to the corner and could see what looked to be a bakery.

“Let’s hope she’s not lost her sense of direction,” added Ari.  He reached out and knocked on the rough-hewn door.  They waited for someone to answer.

“So, according to her, there is something in a space behind the wall in the sub-basement of the house, if it’s still there.”  Mrs. Steers pulled out a piece of paper from her travel bag.  “We have to find the lowest level.”

“How could she possibly know that?” exclaimed Rose.

Mrs. Steers took no time in answering.  ‘She has her ways.”

“Why don’t we just use the migration incantation like we did to get here?” Ari was listening at the door for signs of life.  So far, no one had answered his knock and it appeared that no one would.

“And how would we explain how we got into the basement?” said Rose, looking up at the weathered Italian villa.  The red stucco walls had cracks, the windows dark and dirty. “And on top of that, we don’t know what we are getting ourselves into.”

 “We need to make sure nobody’s home,” said Mr. Steers.  “Judging by the fact that no one is answering, we’re probably safe.”

Checking to make sure there was no one in sight, Mrs. Steers placed her hands on Rose and Ari’s arms.  All three appeared on the other side of the door.  They stood in a dimly-lit entry way.

“This place is old and smells like it,” said Ari, sniffing the air.

“It’s been here a long time,” said Mrs. Steers.  They walked around the vestibule.  Their footsteps click-clacked on the patterned tile floor.  The house formed a square around an open-air atrium with a running fountain and vibrant garden. 

“According to the map of the house from Mrs. Labuler, the basement door is in the kitchen,” said Mrs. Steers, pointing to the right.  “We head that way.”

Tiptoeing, Ari led the way.  Lagging behind him, Rose and Mrs. Steers admired the Roman-style architecture of beige bare stone and archways.  Their footsteps continued to echo on the stone floor.  Shushing them by putting his finger to his lips, Ari pointed to their feet.  Rose rolled her eyes and tiptoed.  Mrs. Steers grimaced, trying to walk softly.

Ari opened door after door.  “I hope nobody is behind one of these doors.  We would be in big trouble.”  The last one he opened was a modern kitchen.  “And here we are and still no sign of life.”

Just as his last words left his mouth, a door opened somewhere upstairs.  They could hear a woman's voice talking to someone.  All three froze in place.  Realizing that she was talking in Italian on her phone, they listened to her. They heard her coming down a flight of stairs. Her footsteps clear.  Still frozen, all three held their breath.  At first, the conversation sounded like it was getting louder, then it took a sudden turn and headed towards the front entrance.  They could hear the front door open and close.

Exhaling, Rose whispered.  "That was a close one.  I heard her say something about checking a cake in the refrigerator, then decided she didn’t have time."

"Thank heavens for that," said Mrs. Steers.

Scurrying into the kitchen first, Rose went over to a corner and opened a small door.  “Here we are.  Stairs going down.  It’s dark and musty down there.”  The smell of dirt filled her nose.  She gazed down the narrow flight of stairs.

“Let’s go down,” said Mrs. Steers, stepping cautiously down the stairs.

A few moments later, they were feeling their way around the basement walls, using orbs for light.  Finally, Rose motioned for them.

“Here, I think this is it.”  Rose stood in front of another door.  Ari and Mrs. Steers came over to the shadowed corner.  Rose was turning the brass knob.  “It’s not budging.”

Ari stepped forward.  “Allow me.”  He pulled out a pocketknife and ran the blade along the side of the lock.  Turning the knob, he forced the lock and yanked the door open. They smelled damp air. Rose poked her orb into the dark, illuminating another narrow stairway going down.

“And here we go.” Rose went first and slowly crept down onto each step, making sure they were sturdy.  At the bottom, they found a long, narrow passageway.  The stone floor was wet.  A couple of rats ran away at the sight of the intruders.

“Perfect,” said Mrs. Steers.  “We should come to another tunnel and then left.  Then we look for a stone on the right with a half-moon carved into it.”   The trio felt their way along the passageway until they were able to turn left.   Heading down the passage, they started scanning the walls with their orbs.

Bending down, Mrs. Steers exclaimed. “Aha!  Here it is.”  The stone they sought was about a foot up from the floor.  She tried to pull on it, but it didn’t move.  Ari bent down to take hold of the stone.

“It’s wedged in there good,” said Ari, pulling and tugging until they heard a crack.  It finally shifted.  Slowly twisting it back and forth, then up and down, he got it out of its tight resting place.  Rose held an orb down to peer in. Mrs. Steers stuck her head next to Rose's.

“I don’t see anything,” said Rose.  "Just dust and dirt."

Mrs. Steers timidly reached into the dark hole.  “I don’t feel anything… Wait.  I’ve found something, but it’s not papery.”  Mrs. Steers pulled out a piece of cloth and stood back up.  Opening it, she found a rectangular silver amulet on a chain. A green stone was set in the center.  The silver casing had pressed symbols of a half-moon, a star, a pyramid, and an Egyptian-looking eye, pressed into it.

“What is that?” said Rose.  “I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

“There was supposed to be a scroll in here with the incantation for bringing the dead back to life,” said Mrs. Steers.  She reached back into the hole, feeling the back and side stones.  There was nothing else.  Holding the amulet, she ran her fingers over the symbols, following their smooth outlines.

Ari and Rose stared down at the amulet.

“That’s very strange,” said Rose.

“Let’s get out of here,” said Mrs. Steers.  “I’ve got to talk to Mrs. Labuler, Leightstone, and Jameson about this.  We’ve discovered something very unusual like nothing ever before.  Now, Ari, we can use the migration incantation to get home.”

After Ari pushed the stone back into place, they left.

The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 103: Keeping Up the Lies

“Enough of this,” exclaimed Dr. Herkeimer, sitting in his chair, the one with the scowling face.  His hands held tight to the arms. “It’s time to go full force into the heart of The Time Travelers Club.”

“What’re we going to do?” said Tinean.  “I hope it’s something nasty… and deadly.”

“They have come into our den, now it is our turn,” said Dr. Herkeimer, staring straight forward, not looking at anyone.  “I will get my copy and any other copy of the book I find.  Even it means pulling them out of that dead old woman’s hands…  Or the runt’s hands.” 

Vincent gasped.  Fan stood steadfast.  They could see that the Doctor’s anger was swelling. After discovering Fulop’s betrayal in taking the book, Doctor Herkeimer had used up all his strength to control himself.

“And if Farkas is there, he will also know the consequences of desertion.  His death will be agonizing.”

Dreda once again challenged the Doctor’s plan, wanting assurance that it was full-proof.  She sat in her usual spot on the sofa.  “And have you thought about whether the books are actually kept there?”

“You always seem to question me,” shouted the Doctor at her then glanced over at Tinean.  “Have you no confidence my plans.”

Dr. Herkeimer motioned for Tinean.  He grabbed Dreda from behind.  She dug her fingernails into his hairy tattooed arm.

“Just so you know, I enjoy the pain,” hissed Tinean into her ear, tightening his grip even more as she struggled.

“I have no other allegiance.”  Dreda choked, glaring at the Doctor.  “They killed my husband.  You were the one who showed me the proof.”

Dr. Herkeimer grinned menacingly.  “But my dear, you’ve been visiting your sister.  Do you take me for a fool?  You have been telling them our plans.”

“Not true,” rebuffed Dreda.  “She’s always butting in, trying to find out what she can.  But I’ve told her lies to keep your mission a secret.  I want us to succeed”

“Then, do tell me what you and your little sister talked about?”

“She keeps trying to convince me that you killed my husband” said Dreda.  “That I should go back and see for myself, but why should I?”

“As I have told you over and over… I personally went back and watched.  He died at the hands of a member of The Time Travelers Club.”  Dr. Herkeimer nodded at Tinean.  He let go of her. Dreda rubbed her neck then straightened her clothes and hair.

Dr. Herkeimer’s smiled as he reassured her.  “You must believe me.”   He walked her to the door.  “Now, why don’t you go rest a while and compose yourself?  All will be well.”

Dreda left the room and went upstairs.  Watching her, Dr. Herkeimer slowly closed the door.  He stood silent for a moment.  "Fan. Vincent. Please leave us."

"Any instructions?" asked Fan. "I am waiting to know what you want me to do next."

Dr. Herkeimer brushed him away.  "Not at this time.  Oh, Vincent, would you please make me some lunch?"

Vincent and Fan left the room

“That was quite a lie,” hissed Tinean.  An evil grin formed on his face.  “Got her to believe you once again.”

“Shut your mouth.”  The Doctor gritted his teeth and massaged his neck.  “I worry that I may be losing her.  I worry she will find out the truth.  She is one of our hopes for getting the books.  That stupid sister of hers will be useful to us if we can get her.”

Dr. Herkeimer walked towards the fireplace.

Tinean slinked along behind him.  “Can I slit her open?”

Dr. Herkeimer was repulsed by Tinean’s blunt statement.  “We are not in this to kill everyone.  I just want to make things right.  Understand?”

Tinean backed off.  "Yes, I do."  He then thought to himself.  Even though you keep changing your damn mind.  One minute it's kill everyone, then kill no one.

Dr. Herkeimer sat down in his chair, speaking softly to himself.  “I want to make it all right.”

“I’ll be outside if you need me,” said Tinean, not sure whether Dr. Herkeimer actually heard him.  Closing the door behind him, Tinean went outside to practice his knife throwing.

In the kitchen, Vincent was preparing lunch.  He had gone to the pantry to get a bottle of vinegar.  What he found on the shelf, he now held in his hand.  A bottle of rat poison.

“I could easily add it to the soup…”

Upstairs, Dreda stretched out on her bed.  “What am I doing?”  She chewed on her fingernails.  “Why do I care about the Doctor and his stupid plan for whatever?”

The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 102: Guests from the West

"Sam, these are my distant twin cousins."  Mrs. Steers introduced the two young men, sitting at the kitchen table.

Sam scrutinized them.  "Aren't twins supposed to..."

"Look alike?"  Darren Scott interrupted.  "We aren't identical twins."  Darren's bright smile, dark curly hair, and piercing blue eyes were the opposite of Lewis' crooked grin, blond hair, and soft green eyes.

Lewis added.  "We love to tell people we are twins just to see the look on their faces."

“So you aren’t twins?” Sam was confused.

“Yes, we are twins,” said Darren.  “We just don’t look alike.”

That confused Sam even more.

Over at the stove, Mrs. Steers poured hot water in mugs.  "Who wants hot chocolate?”  Everyone raised their hands. “I met Darren in Ancient Egypt after you left, Sam.  I didn't know who he was because I never knew my Uncle Matthew. He was the one that disappeared out west somewhere.  He married late in life and had one son, Harry, and these two are Harry’s grandsons.  They’re members of the Time Travelers Club in Oregon."

Xavier popped in the kitchen.  “Ah the twins!  I’ve heard about you both.  Welcome to the East Coast.”

“Where have you been?” said Mrs. Steers, looking at his heavy winter coat, bright red scarf that wrapped his neck twice, and a furry wool cap.

“I’ve been in Siberia,” said Xavier, unbuttoning his coat. “Following up on a lead from Mrs. Labuler.” With a pointed finger, he made a swirling motion at the side of his head.  “I think she’s got her indexes mixed up.”

“Why?  What happened?” said Mrs. Steers, arranging cookies on a serving plate.

“She may have gone mental.  It seems to be a wild goose chase.  Or at least, a wild Siberian chase.  Maybe what could be called a wrong turn.”  Xavier accented the last three words looking in Mrs. Steers’ direction. The words a wrong turn was their signal to each other that he had something important to tell her.

“Hmmm…” said Mrs. Steers.

"So, they've come to help when...,” started Xavier.  Mrs. Steers poked him in the arm while Sam wasn't looking.  Xavier quickly stopped talking and mouthed an apologetic Sorry.  Sam had missed the whole episode.

“We’ve been wanting to get more involved,” said Lewis.  “Leightstone told us that you might need some help.”

Darren was just about to take a drink.  “We’ve heard that they are getting braver in their attempts to get one of the books.”

Still fascinated by Darren and Lewis, Sam studied them. He couldn’t believe that they were twins.  Darren’s posture was perfect.  He sat up straight, while Lewis crossed his legs and slouched.  Darren’s clothes were pressed and fitted.  Lewis looked like he had just gotten out of bed.

“It is true,” said Mrs. Steers.  “We have a plan in place to get the books to safety.”

Sam did hear that comment.  It drew his attention from Darren’s precise napkin-folding after he had dried the corners of his mouth after finishing his drink.  “What are you planning on doing?” asked Sam.

Mrs. Steers was caught off-guard and didn’t know how to answer.  Xavier jumped in.

“We don’t exactly know at this time.”  Xavier rubbed his hands together.  “We are waiting to hear from the International Council.”  He glanced over at Mrs. Steers, begging for help.

“Yes, that’s what we’re doing,” she hastily added.

Listening attentively to the conversation, Darren realized that Sam was the one he had heard about.  “Sounds like you are going to need some help eventually.  Glad we’ve been asked.”

“Mrs. Steers,” said Lewis, ignoring the entire conversation and grabbing a chocolate cookie from the serving plate.  Crumbs fell on the table as he broke it into two.  “Did Darren tell you about Great-Granddad Matt?  He knew Dr. Herkeimer when he was a medical student.”

Mrs. Steers looked surprised.  “What?  No, I didn’t know that.”

“It’s true,” said Lewis.  “Great-Granddad Matt was the one who removed some of the pages from the book.  You know the ones that have important incantations on them.”

“He gave them to that lady in charge of the archives,” said Darren.

Mrs. Steers and Xavier stared at them, not really sure what to say.

“Well, that answers a couple of questions,” said Mrs. Steers.  “I knew that we had loose pages to one, but I didn’t know they matched Dr. Herkeimer’s copy. Tell me more about Uncle Matt and the Doctor.”

Darren finished his second mug of hot chocolate.  “Here’s what we know.  Dr. Herkeimer found a copy of the book in an old trunk he bought somewhere out East.  Maybe Baltimore or Washington DC.  Anyway, when he came back home, he had just entered practice… Or started school.  I can’t remember which.”

Lewis butted in.  “I think it was when he started school, but I could be wrong.  Anyway, Great-Granddad Matt went to Dr. Herkeimer to have a mole removed or something similar.  While Great-Granddad was waiting, he found the book tucked in a bookcase.”

“Great-Granddad Matt knew immediately what it,” said Darren.  “He had been involved with the Club for a while and had mastered several of the incantations.  It seems to run in the Scott family.”

Mrs. Steers was fascinated by the story.  “Wait, I need to write this down.”  She grabbed a pencil and paper and scribbled notes.  Everyone else took the opportunity to refill their hot chocolate.

Darren began again.  “Great-Granddad Matt never spoke his parents or any of his family. It wasn’t until later that we knew why.  It was to protect them.”

“That includes you,” added Lewis, pointing at Mrs. Steers.  “We think he knew that you had the abilities to use the incantations.”

“Me?  Why me?”  Mrs. Steers was surprised to learn that information.

“He knew that you had the power to use some of the incantations. He remembered a time when you made a small orb and pretended it was a ball.”

“You set your Mother’s dress on fire with it according to Great-Granddad,” said Lewis.

“Oh my,” said Mrs. Steers. “I don't remember that.  Mother never talked about it. So I’ve always been able to use them.”

  Across the room, Sam quietly asked Xavier. “So, did it also run in your family?”

“What?”  Xavier was confused at first by Sam’s question. “Oh, you mean the abilities to use the incantations.  Yes, it did.  Both of my parents and grandparents. Uncle Griff taught me after my parents died.”

“Really.  What happened to them?”

“They died in a plane crash,” said Xavier.  “I was only four at the time, so I don’t really remember them.  I lived with Uncle Griff most of my life, except when I was away at school.”

“Are you able to use all of them?”

Xavier intentionally kept his answers short.  “No, just a few.”

“Really, which ones?” asked Sam.

“A few.  Well, Sam, I need to go.” Xavier went to the back parlor where Rose sat quietly staring out into space.  He settled down into a chair next to her.  Fidgeting with his vest buttons, he rolled his head back and forth.  “Sam is a nice kid, but sometimes I just don’t feel like talking to him.”

“Still have those bad feelings from school?”  Rose jested with him.  “Feeling the teasing?  Set those feelings aside.  Sam is our only hope right now.”

Xavier nodded.  “I get it, but that doesn’t mean I have to spill my life’s story to him.”

Looking past him, Rose stared at Sam in the kitchen.  “He’s our best hope.  Our only hope right now.  We have to make him our priority and keep Dr. Herkeimer from getting to him again.”

Mrs. Steers popped her head around the corner.  “Aha.  Xavier, give me the scoop.”  She settled into her chair, making sure that no one could hear them.  “What were you looking for in Siberia?”

“Mrs. Labuler had found information about a cave in Northwestern Siberia that may or may not have something stashed in it.  Great lead, eh?”  Xavier rolled his eyes.  “But I did find a cave.  Inside, I found something interesting.  Symbols of a bird and a bear carved into the wall in the far back corner.”

“What does that mean,” asked Rose.

“I have no idea,” said Mrs. Steers, rubbing her chin.  “I’ll have to check my research.  This is very curious.  What do they mean and why are they there?”

The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 101: A Captive

Rubbing his eyes, Fulop Farkas woke up, staring up at a stone ceiling. Light streamed in from the small window at the top of the wall.  He yawned and stretched before getting up. Looking through the bars on the window, it was obvious he was in the lower part of a building, since all he could see were the roots of shrubs and some patches of grass.  Crossing to the other side of the room, Fulop squeezed his face into the bars of the window in the door.  It was only big enough to see the brick wall on the other side of the hallway.

“Hello?”  Fulop shouted out.  “Anybody out there? Anyone?”

Silence.  Letting out a heart-felt sigh, Fulop sat down at the rickety table in the corner.

“This is it,” said Fulop, looking around his cell.  “At least the bed is comfortable.  And I’ve got a table and chair.  And some books.”  He picked up the one he had been reading, opened to his bookmarked page, and read aloud.

“Ichabod, who had no relish for this strange midnight companion, and bethought himself of the adventure of Brom Bones with the Galloping Hessian, now quickened his steed, in hopes of leaving him behind. The stranger, however, quickened his…”

Out in the hallway, Fulop heard the squeal of rusty hinges as someone opened a door.  Muffled voices drew near.  His heart began to race, wondering if he would be freed or would meet some other fate.

The lock clicked.  The cell door opened.

“Ah, good morning,” said Rufus Leightstone, followed by Griff Graff and Mrs. Labuler.  “We hope that you don’t object to this safeguard too much.”  Leightstone looked distastefully around the cell.

“I’ve seen worse,” said Fulop, picking up on Leightstone’s unimpressed evaluation of his quarters.

“Oh, I’d like to hear about it sometime.”  Leightstone walked over to him.  “But for now, we feel this is the best place to hide you.  The Doctor or his gang have never located this place and the incantation will keep you hidden from the rest of the world.”

“I hope that I didn’t rough you up too much,” said Griff, putting his hand out to shake.  “I had been assigned to watch the Doctor’s lair.  I was amazed to see you come rushing out and into the woods.  I wasn’t sure what you were up to at the time.”

“I don’t mind,” said Fulop, shaking Griff’s hand.  “I was the lucky one.  I was on my way to Connecticut… Um… Wherever that is. To find the old lady. I had no idea where I was going.”

“And we’d like to thank you for the book,” said Leightstone.  “From what we can tell about it, Dr. Herkeimer’s partial copy include a lot of the incantations.”

Mrs. Labuler added.  “I had several of the missing pages and they are a perfect fit.  I’ve got the entire provenance on this copy.”  She then left, saying that she would go fix lunch.  Griff and Leightstone continued to talk to Fulop and assure him that he would be safe where he was.   They quizzed him about any future attacks that he might know of.  The International Council was on guard across the globe.

“I think that we can work this out,” said Leightstone to Fulop.  “We can offer your safety until we’ve taken care of Dr. Herkeimer.”

“And what are you planning on doing with him?”  Fulop nervously thumbed the pages of the book he held, more interested in his own fate would be.

“We don’t know yet,” replied Leightstone.  “We’ve dealt with his type before in a variety of ways. We will let most of it play out.  You, of course, will be kept here for your own safety.”  Leightstone straightened his tie and coat then added.  “And to evaluate your allegiance.”

“And the book?” asked Fulop.  “What will happen to it?”

Griff and Leightstone gave a sideways glance at each other.  “It will be destroyed along with the others.  We thank you for bringing it to us.”

Straightening his tie again, Leightstone promptly left the cell. Griff gave Fulop a thumbs up and left too.

Fulop’s allegiance began to waiver again.  “I don’t have the ability to use any of the incantations.  Thank heavens for that.”  Fulop laid down and began to read his book.

 Back in the archives, Leightstone and Griff sat down to talk about the plan. Mrs. Labuler had fixed a light lunch of sandwiches and mixed greens for them.

“We have to get to the cave,” said Leightstone.  “Lottie is very confident about the boy.  We’ve got to get to the cave.”

Griff polished off his first helping of mixed greens and dished out more.  “Don’t worry.  We’ll move very soon.  The last part of the plan is almost in place.  The boy’s Mother is going to be the tough one to convince.”

Leightstone drank his milk.  “Not much to worry about there.  You’ve heard about the Henrys.  Lottie filled in the Council about them.”

“Some of it,” said Griff.  “I’ll ask Xavier about it.”

Leightstone nodded.  They wrapped up their meeting and left.

The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 100: Seeking Papa

Later that evening, Rose waited and waited and waited, pacing the dressing room floor.  Finally, her mother, Maria, glowed from her last standing ovation.  All decked out in her opera costume. 

“My darling,” said Maria, giving her daughter a kiss on the cheek.  “I had no idea you were coming.”  She slipped behind a curtain to change out of her costume.  "I am playing one of the lead roles in La Boheme by the great Giocomo Puccini.  Did you see and hear me?  They loved me."

“I’m sorry to just show up,” said Rose.  “I won’t keep you long.  Have you heard from Papa?”  Leaning towards her Mother, Rose listened carefully for her answer.

“Not lately.  Why?”  Maria’s voice was muffled by the curtain. Maria wrestled out of her costume and into her dressing robe.

“Did he say where he was the last time you heard from him?”  Rose spoke impatiently.

Maria stepped out from behind the curtain.   “Alright, what’s going on?  The only time you ever ask about the whereabouts of your Father is when you are in trouble.”

Rose slumped down on the sofa.  “You know me so well.  I'll come clean.  It’s not me.  It’s…”

“Dreda, isn’t it?”  Maria put her hands on her hips.  “I suspected, but now I know.  What is it?”

Rose rubbed her foot on the carpet making circles and took a deep breath.  “She’s involved with them.  Dr. Herkeimer led her to believe that Pavel was killed by a member of the Club.”

“Poor Dreda.  That explains why I see her so little.  She never told me anything.  Remember how she hid everything from us?"

Maria brushed her hair, shaking her head in disbelief.  “She’s so vulnerable. This is my fault.  I shouldn’t have pushed her so hard.”

Rose got up and put her arms around her Mother. “It’s not true. You and Papa did the best you could.  She wouldn’t listen and still doesn’t. Do not blame yourself.  Dreda has always beaten to her own drum.”  Rose sat down on the sofa. “How about that time she ran off to South America and got involved with that strange group down there.  There’s not much more you could have done.”

Sitting down next to Rose, Maria snuggled up to her.  “I know, but I just can’t help but wonder what more I could have done.”  Maria turned and pointed to her shoulders.  Rose began to massage her mother’s shoulders.

“There’s only one person that she will listen to,” said Rose.  “Papa.  I’ve got to find him.”

Maria went to her dressing table and pulled out a postcard.  “Here’s a card from the last place I heard from him.  San Carlos de Baliroche in the Rio Negro Province in Argentina.”

“Hmmm… Why was or is he there?”

Maria poured herself a glass of water.  “Some sort of official Club business.  You know we retired from the Club to get away from all of this and he turned right around and accepted small projects.”  She rolled her eyes.  “That’s when I decided to start my singing career.”

Rose hugged her Mother from behind.  “And a great singer you are becoming.  And I love and admire you for it.  But now, I must track Papa down.  Is he accepting notes?”

“I haven’t gotten any of mine back, so I can only assume he is.”

Maria opened a drawer in her dresser and pulled out a sheet of small paper and a pen.  “Here.  Write your note and I’ll send it.  I need to wash my face.”

Rose jotted her note.  Dreda in trouble.  I need your help a.s.a.p.  I’ve tried to talk to her, but she really needs you.  Come quickly.  Rose

“Here you go,” said Rose and handed her Mother the note.

Maria spoke the incantation that would send it.  “Et eos qui de his verbis Andreas Reulen.”  Poof!  The note disappeared in a whirl.

Rose yawned.  “Now we wait.  Do you think the notes might be intercepted?”

“Who knows?  The mission may be too dangerous to contact Papa.  We’ll just have to wait and see.”   Maria stated to clean off her make-up.  “You know your Papa.  He gets so wrapped up in his work.”

“What’s he up to now?  Do you know?”

Maria shrugged.  “Something about the lost archives.  Always with the lost archives.  He thinks he’s Indiana Jones.”

They laughed.  Rose stretched out on her Mother's sofa.  “Are you going out to dinner?”

“Not for a little while,” said Maria, peering in her mirror for any stray hairs in her eyebrows.  She glanced at Rose’s reflection in the mirror.  “You want something else?

“Not really.” Rose yawned.  “But if you have some time, tell me again about Dreda and South America.”

Still removing her makeup, Maria began.  “Dreda went to steal about a copy of the book from a collector that supposedly had a copy. It was all a trick on Dreda.”

“What was she going to do with it?” Rose yawned again.

 “Who knows,” said Maria, gently rubbing her face with a cloth.  “She doesn’t know that the International Council already knew all about it.  The collector she met was hired by them.”

“What happened then,” asked Rose.  “Anything?”

“I don’t know.  That’s where your Father got involved.”  Now at the sink, Maria washed her face, cleaning off the last of her make-up.  “He would know more…”  There she stopped since Rose had fallen asleep.

The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 99: Surprised?

“You are sure of this?” pushed Mrs. Steers.  “You have double-checked your research?”

Mrs. Labuler promptly handed her a piece of paper and sternly answered. “Mrs. Steers, I will give you the speech I gave you the last time.  I can only do the research.  This is all based on information that someone else did.  Legends, myths, and facts are all mixed together.  The only way to really tell is to go and see for yourself.”

“I apologize,” said Mrs. Steers, backing off.  “It’s just that I’m worried about the Dr. knucklehead, the books, and of course, Sam.”

“I totally understand.  How many times have we been through this before?”  Mrs. Labuler picked up a stack of papers and began to sort them.  “This group is no different than any others in the past.  See this stack here.”  She held out what she had just picked up.  “Remember that group in Paris in the 1870s?  This is research that I pulled together about them. I have finally organized it after how many years?”

Eyeing the stack, Mrs. Steers empathized.  “I understand.  And I know that feeling.  As a Club, we haven’t done a lot to keep our own history organized.  I’m glad to see you’re making progress.”

From out of nowhere, a piece of paper fluttered down.  Mrs. Labuler grabbed and read it. “It’s for you. You’ve been summoned home.”

Mrs. Steers read it then dropped it into a nearby glass of water.  It glowed pink.  “Well, I guess I’d better be going.”

Returning home, Mrs. Steers found Sam and Xavier waiting at the kitchen table.  They had just refilled their mugs of hot chocolate.

“What’s happened?”  Mrs. Steers fretted.  “Is everything alright?  Your note was vague.”

Xavier motioned for her to sit down at the kitchen table.  “We’ve got something to tell you that you’re going to love to hear.  Hot chocolate?”

“Yes, please,” said Mrs. Steers.  “And then get talking.”

Sam jumped right in.  “Xavier and I went to see the duel.”

Mrs. Steers shrugged.  “What duel?”

Fumbling about with the tea kettle, Xavier emphasized his words.  “The duel.  The famous duel.  You know… the one that started the organization of the Time Travelers.”

Mrs. Steers was speechless, mouth gaping.  “Do you mean…”

“Yes, the duel.”  Xavier placed a mug of steaming hot chocolate in front of her then sat down.  “Ranulfus and Iordanus.  Now, before you get mad, you need to know something.”

Xavier pointed at Sam.  That was his cue.  He had been afraid of her once before, when he went into the attic.  He had no idea how she would react to his time traveling alone.

“Well…  I… I…,” Sam stuttered.  “Well, you see, I was reading and… I thought about going back…”

Mrs. Steers waited patiently, before interrupting.  “I know.  You don’t even have to say it. You thought about going back to the place and time.  And Boom!  You were there.”

Sam simply shook his head.  “I barely said them.  I only said them once.  Are you mad?”

“No,” said Mrs. Steers.

Sam was shocked.  “But I thought that…”

“Don’t fret.”  Mrs. Steers retrieved cookies from her cookie jar in the shape of a bird house.  “You went to a time no one else that I know of even did.  Alright now.” She pulled an envelope from her jacket pocket. “Xavier, I need you to go to Rufus Leightstone with this.”

“Fine,” said Xavier.  “I’m off.”  He glanced at Sam and shrugged his shoulders.

After Xavier disappeared, Sam turned to Mrs. Steers.  “Don’t you want to know more about the duel? Something strange happened while I was at the duel.”

Mrs. Steers looked perplexed.

Sam didn’t wait for her to ask.  “I think the guys who were dueling could see me.  They kept looking at me.”

Mrs. Steers puzzled over Sam’s comment.  “Hmmm…  I wonder.  They might have thought you were a ghost.  The two gentlemen you saw were the most powerful of all the Tempos Servos.  They could use all the incantations, but who knows for sure.”

“I was really freaked out by them looking right at me and saying something in some language I didn't recognize,” said Sam.

“It was probably an old German dialect or Dutch.  Who knows. Don’t worry about it.  It’s been my observation that these things work themselves out.”  Mrs. Steers got up.  “Now, I have some important business.  Why don’t you head upstairs?  Your Mom will be home soon.”

Sam left disappointed with her.  He couldn’t understand why she didn’t want to hear more.  Mrs. Steers, on the other hand, went to her office and immediately began sorting through piles of papers.

“Where is it?  I just know it’s here.”  She moved around the office.  "Where are those notes about Ranulfus and Iordanus?  I do need to get this office cleaned up."

Moving one stack after another Mrs. Steers muttered to herself over and over.  "They saw Sam.  They saw and touched Sam."  Then to "I read about it. I read about the whole scene.  I read about how they saw a ghost.  A ghost of a small boy."

Hours later, exhausted from looking through papers, Mrs. Steers stopped. She sent off two notes, summoning Rose and Ari to meet her when they could.  She glanced at the clock.  It read 11:12.  Outside the sun shined bright and reflected off the snow.  At 12:23, Rose came in through the back door in the mud room, removing her snow-covered boots.

“That sun is really bright when it hits the snow.”  Rose took off her coat and laid it over the back of a kitchen chair.  Rubbing her hands together, she went straight to the stove to make tea.  "I'm here."

"I'm in the back parlor." Mrs. Steers called out to her.  She put her papers down.  “We’ve got a lead. Mrs. Labuler found new evidence of the location of the scroll. Or at least part of the scroll. Or maybe not. You know how that goes.”

Stepping into the parlor, Rose watched Mrs. Steers’ face go from excited to disappointed.  “Now, Lottie, you have to remember that stuff gets lost.  The scrolls may have been destroyed long ago.”

“Yes, I always seem to forget that.”  Mrs. Steers smiled at her.  “You’re right.  I worry too much.”

“And besides, not everyone can use the incantations…”

Mrs. Steers stopped her.  “Until they read them and realized they worked for them.  Some of us were tracked down, just like I tracked down Sam.  Albert was traced by Jameson, but then as it turned out, Albert’s family had been involved with the Club many generations back.  They left the Club and never spoke of it again.”

"Doesn't matter right now," said Rose, nestling into one of the chairs.  "We've got to talk about Dreda."

"Fine, but we've got something else to talk about as well," added Mrs. Steers.  "Ranulfus and Iordanus.  Sam saw them. They touched him.  They spoke to him..."

"Just like in the legend..." said Rose, leaning forward.  Her mouth gaped.  "This is really breaking news..."

Ari arrived.  "I'm here."

"Yes, we see you," said Mrs. Steers.

Rose's mouth was still hanging open. "Why is Rose staring at me like that?" said Ari.  "Why are you staring at me like that?  Do I have something hanging from my nose?"

"Don’t mind her. She’s just stunned.  Sit down and we'll fill you in," said Mrs. Steers.  "We need to talk about Dreda, Sam, ghosts, and Rome.   We need to go to Rome."

The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 98: Just Like I Said

Lounging in the Steers' front parlor, Sam read about the Loch Ness Monster.  He studied the maps before moving on to the photographs.   His Mom had gone to work and Mrs. Steers had let him come down to read while she worked in her office.  Closing the book, he picked up the stack of papers about the history of the Club.  This was a boring segment about the archives being moved to its current location.  He was annoyed since it didn’t really say where that was.

“Studying hard.”  Xavier had appeared from nowhere.  Sam jumped.

“You like to just appear, don’t you?”  Sam was irritated with him.  “What are you wearing?”

Xavier had on a golfer’s outfit of knickers, a knitted red sweater, Argyle socks, and a newsboy cap.  Xavier spun about.  “It’s my favorite look. And what are you reading about now?”

“The archives,” said Sam, bored with the chapter.  “I wish there was more about the duel.  I saw much…”  Sam stopped midsentence and glanced up at Xavier.  He realized he had just slipped.

Xavier didn’t miss the comment.  With a questioning look, Xavier sat down next to Sam.  “What was that?”

Sam tried to skate around his response.  “Oh nothing, I just was saying that…”

Xavier zeroed in on Sam, a serious look on his face.  “You saw it, didn’t you?  You went back and actually saw the duel.”

Cornered, Sam confessed with a white lie, trying to cover the fact that he had gone back intentionally.  “I didn’t mean to.  I was thinking about what the incantation would be if I could go back, and before I knew it, I was there.  I was standing in the crowd watching the duel. I did something really bad, didn't I?”

Xavier didn’t know what to say at first.  “Listen. You should never travel by yourself right now, but I can’t be mad. You saw something that nobody has ever seen as far as I know.”

“I’m sorry for traveling by myself,” said Sam.  “I just thought that I could learn more…”

“I understand.  When I was first learning to time travel, I traveled numerous times by myself before I got in big trouble with Uncle Griff.”  Xavier tried to be positive.  He didn’t want to keep Sam from being curious. Xavier pondered a moment.

“Sam, do you think you could take me to see the duel?”

At first, Sam hesitated.  “I really should talk to Mrs. Steers first.”

“Don’t worry about her right now,” whispered Xavier.  “She may get mad and if I saw the duel, well, I could back your story. Take me to see it.  Let’s try.”

Sam reluctantly agreed.  He grabbed Xavier’s arm and within moments they stood at the top of a nearby hill.  This time, they were away from the crowd and had a side view of the duel with Ranulfus' back to them.  They had arrived just as Iordanus sank to his knees and Ranulfus walked over by him.  The crowd was cheering.  Xavier, however, was speechless as he watched.  Finally, the words came.

“It’s not a legend.  It really happened.”  Xavier took two steps while Sam still had a grip on his arm. “Look at all these people.  They were some of the earliest known time travelers.”

“I watched from down there,” said Sam, pointing at a spot in front of the crowd at the bottom of the hill.  “I remember those two women down there.  They were talking about the two guys dueling.  I didn’t understand anything they said except for one of their names.  That’s how I know the guy facing us is Iordanus.”

Xavier tried to move forward but was stopped by Sam’s grasp.  When Sam let go of his sleeve, Xavier disappeared.

Sam gasped. “Xavier?”  He looked around the crowd below, then up to Ranulfus and Iordanus on the hill.  Sam looked right at them.  His eyes widened.  Iordanus and Ranulfus were looking directly at him.  Sam stood perfectly still, staring right back.  The confused crowd below turned but seemed not to see Sam.  Ranulfus took several steps forward and said something in a language Sam didn't recognize.

Sam spoke to him.  "Can you see me?"

Ranulfus pulled back.  Iordanus took a step towards Sam, reaching out.  Sam didn't move this time as Iordanus touched Sam's shoulder.

"I felt that," said Sam.  "I felt you touch me."

Iordanus turned his head to Ranulfus, said something then turned back.  Iordanus reached out with both hands as if to grab Sam.

Freaking out like the last time, Sam shouted out the incantation that would take him home.  "Domum me!"  Back into the front parlor, there was no sign of Xavier.

“Xavier?”  Sam panicked.  He circled the room.  “Xavier, are you here?”

From the dining room, Sam heard running footsteps.  Xavier came into the front parlor.

“Here I am, Sam,” said Xavier.  “I’m alright.  I came back immediately after you let go of me. It must be because you can only travel back to see it. And somebody can touch you, but once they let go…  Anyway, Lottie’s not here.  I’ve sent her a note.”  Xavier began to laugh.  “We’ve got to talk about what just happened.  That was incredible.”

“Where is Mrs. Steers?”  Sam wanted to talk to her about what he had seen.  He had tons of questions.  Why could Iordanus and Ranulfus see him?  And how could they touch him?  What were they saying?

“Apparently, she has gone to the archives,” said Xavier.  “I’ve sent her a message. She should be home soon.”

Sam tailed Xavier to the kitchen.  In a few moments, they sat in silence at the kitchen table with steaming mugs of hot chocolate, waiting for Mrs. Steers to return.

Fidgeting, kicking the chair legs, gripping his mug, Sam couldn't shake Iordanus’ touch.  He could feel the pressure of his fingers on his shoulder.  Then there were the few words he had said.  What could they have been saying?

Questions whirled in Sam's mind.  He could hardly wait to talk to Mrs. Steers.