Part 49 (1/2)

CHAPTER 39.

To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths Of all the western stars, until I die.

-ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON, ”ULYSSES”

THE sensible thing to do would have been simply to leave it alone. Let Shel go. If he wants to wander through the ages, let him. But Dave knew that, if he did that, Shel would, in some manner, come back, or be carried back, to the town house on that Thursday night in mid-September. Before it burned. sensible thing to do would have been simply to leave it alone. Let Shel go. If he wants to wander through the ages, let him. But Dave knew that, if he did that, Shel would, in some manner, come back, or be carried back, to the town house on that Thursday night in mid-September. Before it burned.

He needed Helen. If it was at all possible to find a way to bring him home and sidestep the cardiac principle, he had to have her help.

The house had burned September 13. He pulled up the newscasts. Here was the town house, a charred ruin. And excerpts from a police statement that there'd been one fatality, a Dr. Adrian Shelborne. Then, two days later, another statement that the victim in the town-house fire had been bludgeoned to death.

One of Shel's cousins had posted pictures at her Web site, photos of Shel as a boy, Shel at ten in a rowboat with a fis.h.i.+ng pole, Shel with his father feeding a camel in the shadow of the Great Pyramid. And here was Shel in a high-school cap and gown. And with his prom date, whose name Dave had once known but had long since forgotten.

Shel at Princeton. Shel getting his doctorate. Shel sitting in a tree. Shel showing off his Toyota to a girlfriend.

And, finally, pictures of the funeral. The preacher. The coffin, supported above the open grave. The mourners. Helen was visible. And Jerry. But not Dave.

The drive home afterward was seared into his mind. He remembered the intersections, the people on the streets, people living as though nothing had happened. He'd kept the radio on, to put a voice in the car. Peace talks had broken down somewhere. Domestic a.s.saults were up or down. Couldn't remember which.

And there'd been that strange story out of California. The pileup on one of the freeways.

And two people stealing a body out of the wreckage.

Incredible.

At first, the aid workers had a.s.sumed they'd been trying to help. Panicked people doing what they could. Had to be. What other explanation was possible?

There was one.

DAVE called Helen at home-it was a Sat.u.r.day-and left a message. An hour later, she called back. called Helen at home-it was a Sat.u.r.day-and left a message. An hour later, she called back.

”Are you free this afternoon?” he asked. ”I have something to show you.”

”Okay,” she said. she said.

”Dress casually.”

When he got to her place, instead of escorting her to his car, he suggested they go inside for a moment.

That, plus the briefcase, got her curiosity up. ”Sure,” she said.

She lived in a sixth-floor condo above City Avenue. It was tastefully furnished, and a picture of Shel occupied a side table. They sat down opposite each other. ”I've been doing some traveling,” said Dave.

”Really? Where?”

He set the briefcase down on the sofa and opened it. She looked at the converters. ”What are they?”

”An invention of Shel's father.”

She picked one up. ”It looks like a Q-pod.”

”It's a time machine.”

That provoked a broad grin. ”Seriously.”

”Helen, Shel and I have been traveling in time.”

”Come on, Dave. You want to talk to me or not?”

”I'm not kidding.”

She sat back and nodded. Right. Of course. Why hadn't she thought of it herself?

”It's true,” he said.

”Dave-”

”If you'll allow me, I'll do a demonstration.”

She frowned at it. Looked at her watch.

”All right,” Dave said. ”Let me show you.” He handed her one of the converters. ”Can you attach it somewhere? To a pocket or something? There's a clip on back.”

”You're serious serious.”

”Humor me.”

She took a long, deep breath, put it into a pocket in her slacks, and fastened it. ”Okay. Now what?”

”Stand.”

He got up. She looked at him uncertainly, and stood.

”Ready?” he asked.

”I suppose. We aren't going back to play tag with dinosaurs, are we?”

”Laugh if you like.”

”If you haven't noticed, Dave, I'm not laughing.”

”Okay. There's a large black b.u.t.ton at the top. When you push it, the room's going to fade. Don't be alarmed when it does. Within a few seconds you'll be somewhere else.” The skeptical smile was gone. Her eyes held him in a frightened gaze. She was beginning to wonder if he'd lost his mind. ”Ready?”

She nodded, mouth open. Said nothing.

He fastened his own converter to his belt. ”One. Brace yourself.” That brought the smile back. But it was less self-a.s.sured this time.