Ever-Life the Two Book Set: The C.P.T Incident and Time Trust (39 page)

“Yes; while you were in Jerusalem, and in several subsequent meetings, during my training months, Bathwaite and I got to know each other rather well.”

“So are you dating? For God’s sakes, man!”

“It’s just that I never thought I’d be interested in ‘time travel’, never believed in it. Frankly, I thought like most, that it was something it isn’t. Anyway, my security training took months; and well, I spent several days with ‘Time-Trust’, learning its reality, and how travelling really works. The short of it is; I got hooked, Sir. We didn’t do anything wrong, you understand; but, within the confines of rules, of course, Bathwaite allowed me to take several brief trips. I did go back in time.”

“Oh my; that was a mouth full; now wasn’t it? I see. You realize, now, of course, that there is no such thing, as a brief trip in time.”

“Um, yes; I suppose that’s true.”

“And you met this, this author?”

Little beads of sweat began appearing on Jakes forehead.

“Yes Sir, I did. I met him four times. Like I said; it’s an interesting story.” Jake smirked. “I didn’t expect my trips could trigger anything…That reminds me; there is something else; this morning. It is important.”

“Well none of us expected this, much less ‘something else’, now did we?”

“No, Sir; it’s about the Carriers.”

“I certainly realize what time trust means, and its function; as well as the importance of Carrier relations; so,
one thing at a time. There is a lot on our plate. It’s all quite a bit to follow. Give me the short versions, Jake.”

Before Jake could begin again, a priority call clicked on both Swanson’s and Jake’s Knofers.  It was Bellos.

“Hello, you two. We have another situation here in Arden City. Two bombs have gone off, blowing up the Fargo building, completely, and Time-Research building 26.”

“Mathew, I’m sure Marion Brock is involved. It is his way of saying hello, and good bye.”

“Brock, hmm…I saw the security call from Jake. The bombs just went off…We saw Brock taken, by a Carrier, months ago?”

“There is something very wrong, Mathew. His news, about buying ‘Time Travel Inc.”, was displayed on all my monitors. He is alive and well.”

“Interesting; he has been in hiding all this time. Neither one of us was notified status from Carrier relations?”

“Yes; and more intriguing; his timing with the Sidron events is very suspicious. He has vowed revenge toward us-me, really, for our stopping his effort to steal C.P.T. He told me that he is after me, specifically. Mathew; and, he has a Knofer; very dangerous.”
             

“We have put the colonies on alert. Burns is there with you. Clarify and discuss all the issues, and report to me.”

“Yes, Mathew; we will. You have very big issues right now with the three clergy.”

“Yes, but this has top priority.”

“It’s all related, Mathew.”

“I agree.”

“Jake is already working on something. I will have him get into all of it. We will keep you posted. Are you taking all three of the bickering boys, back in time, with you?”

“That is my plan. Hopefully this will fulfill our obligation to GGM-‘S’. He wouldn’t have given them the book, if he wasn’t sure of something. It couldn’t be worse timing, though.”

Swanson grinned. “You will think of something… By the way, when do you and I undergo the new C.P.T. procedure?”

“They are going to final test it, today
. I should receive results soon, as a matter of fact. I recommend we go a.s.a.p., after that. Considering our total population, the Sidron breach and, now, Brock; Knofer solid holograms don’t cut it anymore.”

“Yes, big changes. The food budget will have to increase.” Swanson smirked. “I will be in Arden, day after tomorrow. Mathew, was anyone hurt in the blasts?”

“Fifty people, all from the Complex; no one from below; Jake; are you listening?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Mathew, what about Wheeler?”

“I am handling it. Gordon, you and I are scheduled to have a meeting about the Sidron at Carrier-Hive Post 8. Are you prepared?”

“Jake and I are going over some new information that may also implicate Dr. Sheldon’s Particle Displacement.

“Well, we are investigating the bombs. Hopefully, that will tell us more. We have to keep ahead of all this, guys.”

“Mathew, how many Carriers will attend?”

“I’m told each ambassador assigned to our Posts and two Primary Adult Time Controllers, so ten.”

“I never understood why so many; when they have a hive mindset. Good luck with the clergy.”

“Yes, thanks…Be safe.”

The Knofer cut the call. Swanson focused on Jake.

“Okay, my friend; back to it. So, now tell me; how much does the author of this book know, or think he knows?”

“Sir; will I be going to the hive meeting?”

“You will now. I see no way around it, now that you have opened another Pandora’s Box. You need to tell me about your time trips. How much does this author really know about us?”

“It was not that kind of situation; and, besides, it is imperative that I tell you what happened to me, during my trip to you this morning.”

“Marion Brock is no fool, Jake. You never knew him. He was a billionaire pirate, and a killer; but no fool. I don’t know how or why he is alive; but, if he finds out, or already knows who this author is, and he can get to him through time travel; catastrophe. We need to know how much this man knows, and where he is.”

“He is dead. He died centuries ago.”

“Oh, my...Yes, of course.” Swanson thought for several seconds. “So, you think what?”

“I think, I agree that this book could motivate Brock. But, I’m not sure he can do much. Remember, since the author is dead, Brock can’t change anything in the timeline.”

Swanson rolled his eyes, perked up and said, “Hmm, well, I’m sure you learned a lot, in your training; but, perhaps one thing you don’t know, is that, by meeting
this author, you made yourself part of his timeline. So, if Brock could talk to him; and, through him, get to you in that timeline, he could use you to change things here and now. In that case, we would have quite a different game, all together; would we not? You are not dead, at all, are you?”

Jake pondered, as he listened, and watched Swanson, flipping through the pages of the book.

“Also, my friend, there is a lot of information, within these pages that reveal our culture. While it only generally describes C.P.T. and Mathew’s success transposing the holograms, this could result in dramatic consequences; up on the surface, if read by the wrong people…Jake, Jake…”

Swanson sighed, while Burns got up and paced.

“Sir, I want you to understand. I met the author four different times during his life. I, of course, was the same age I am now.”

“I know how old you are.”

“Yes, well, the ‘sum total’ of our time together was only four of his days.”

Swanson’s eyes widened and he was noticeably annoyed as he listened.

“So, four days with you in them, are just sitting out there, forever. That is a lot of time and opportunity for Brock to make catastrophic changes. This is ‘a hard way’ to learn the lesson. That time can be used, as a most powerful tool, against us, Jake. It can’t be taken lightly, or used, frivolously, at the whim of the moment. Now; how much can you tell me?”

“Actually, that book was found last week, in the New York Public Library. An old police buddy of mine called me. He read it and noticed my name. He thought it funny, given the date the book was written. He sent it to me
at the Arden police station. I read it, and sent it to you, via Carrier, because I wanted ‘strict security’.

The truth is, that the author was a very stimulating man, and I did not resist conversations. But, I may have twisted his life a bit, showing up when he was different ages.”

“I am certain of that.”

Jake grinned and continued, “It was during our second meeting; we hit it off so well. He was fortyish, as I recall. I even thought,
‘What a great candidate for ‘Ever-Life’
; if only it hadn’t been a ‘Time-Trust’ issue. Anyway, we talked at great length, about many issues and subjects. I tell you Gordon; there have been some pretty intelligent average people, living on the surface.”

“Hah! No one ever argued that point. So, is that when he wrote the book?”

“I think he started it then; but, later he said he dismissed our first meetings as dreams. I think that was due to the fog that comes from the experience.”

“Obviously he was able to overcome it. What were his other ages, when you met?”

“The first time was during his college years. He was a first year student, as I recall. It was 1965. We were together around six hours. He was in crisis. I tried to help. Something horrible had happened to him. I felt he needed me; and, there was something about him…”

“1965, eh? Make a note. Find out if anything significant happened, concerning Brock back then.”

“…I left; and came back to orientation; but, I couldn’t get the experience out of my mind.”

“He never told you what the crisis was?”

“Not really; I had to see how he turned out, though. Bathwaite had no problem letting me go back. So, I met him in his forties. He was in crisis again. We talked for a good fifteen hours. I was convinced that my help made a difference. Our final two meetings were during his fifties. He was in physical crisis then, heart issues. Looking back, it was all so odd to me. Each time he had gone through a life-changing event, just before I arrived. Each time I went, my urge to see him was irresistible. Of course, as part of my orientation was Bathwaite, explaining I could never repeat a particular trip; so, I could never reconcile my anxiety about the visits; so, stopped.”

Swanson slowly stood up. “Jake, your irresistible urge? You followed irresistible urges, eh; really…Good thing you weren’t a teenager. What in blazes were you thinking, man?”

“I realize, now; I was the one in a fog. I was addicted, selfish and a bit stupid. But, I did learn a lot. It was mutual. I thought of him as a son, if that makes any sense. And, another thing, you should know; I did give him a head-set session.”

“You what? Christ, Jake!”

“It just happened.”

“I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard, ‘it just happened’. No wonder he could write the book. What else does he know that Brock could steal? My God, Man, you are Chief of Security. This man is a virgin, by our standards. Did you think of the domino effect from this; the collateral damage on those who knew him; not to mention, the obvious long term affects, on Ever-Life. If this is true and Brock succeeds, I won’t be sitting here, and we won’t have the memories, we do now, of anything that has happened. He will wipe us out; and, all that we have done, with the surface, and the Carriers.”

Jake stood up at attention.

“Sir; I have to say; I would go back and be with him again, if I could; or better yet, I would bring him here.”

“Well, that is something.” Swanson wiped his mouth and returned to his chair. “Relax, relax,  Jake; you look ridiculous.”

“I have absolutely no doubts about him, Sir. But I am truly sorry about all of it. I realize; it may have an effect on us here, now; especially if it had anything to do with what happened this morning.”

Swanson sat back with a questioning face.

“Well, the book was not that well written, anyway. Maybe no body read it; or we would have heard about it. Let’s follow this through. Maybe you can keep it a good memory.”

“I am talking about something else. Something happened to me, this morning, Sir.”

Swanson sucked in another deep breath and let out a slow blow.

“My plate’s pretty full; what do you want to add?”

“We have a Carrier complication. This morning my transport Carrier spoke to me.”

“Really?”

Swanson sat up again; and, with his elbows on the desk, he looked pensively at Burns.

“Go on.”

“He said his name was Allenfar. He spoke to me, complimented me, actually…Apparently, when the Carrier took me back in time, those months ago, she claims to have had ‘a compatibility’ with me. They want me to take more time trips within her.”

Swanson stood up, walked around the desk and sat on its corner.

“Did he say anything else?”

“That I was a potent sustenance to her-to them all; more potent than they have experienced in over 200 years; I am sure what happened to me, relates to everything else; the explosion, Sidron, the event at the ceremony. Gordon, there were two tremors at the Bering Straits too. We all thought it was earthquakes. But now, I’m not sure.”

Swanson got a blank stare at first, then he began speaking, as though he remembered something from long ago, “‘A Compatibility’, eh; I haven’t heard that term in a very long time. Now, that I’m not GGM, things become foggier, with every minute. I almost forgot it was possible. Jake, this could be good for us, if it’s true. Ever-Life could expand, at an accelerated rate, beyond anything we have ever known in modern times. The last ‘compatibility’ was during the GGM before me. Carriers were not as happy as you’d think, to accept my authority.” Swanson seemed to strain to remember. “You know, the Carriers live with us symbiotically, sort of, and synergistically of course. Normally; they derive very little from us, and only while we travel in them. Even if we could, we are bound by treaty not to calculate readings or amounts. But, we know; whatever it is they receive from us; it’s more than from any other life form. They need us. Historically, only once in a great, great while, almost never, someone very special comes along; and voila, ‘a compatibly’; a massive link, directly into their most stimulating, private being. It’s rather confusing to us, because we don’t sense what we give them. We derive measurable, physical benefits from them. Their abilities to travel in this environment, to heal, to control time, to create anything from nothing within their bodies is what we get. But, we really have no idea what it is they get from us.”