Prisoner in Time (Time travel) (50 page)

“Geoffrey, you little demon! Two can play at that!” he shouted in animated tone.

Instantly, he lunged at the still kneeling teen. Before Geoff could react, the old man wrapped his arm around his neck and his legs around his waist. As the two rolled to the ground, Geoff’s laugh grew to a hysterical pitch. David burst out in loud laughter as he watched the old doctor wrestle the young teen to the ground, pinning him almost immediately.

“I got you so good, Santa,” Geoff shouted through his laughter, further teasing Doc with disrespect.

“Santa, huh?” Doc shouted back.

He arched his back and bent Geoff’s body backwards causing him slight discomfort. As he continued to apply pressure, Geoff soon began to feel a small amount of pain.

“Uncle,” Geoff shouted through a short burst of laughter.

“Not this time, junior,” Doc said, squeezing harder.

“Uncle… uncle,” Geoff shouted again.

Bending him further and applying greater pressure, Doc now held his vise-like grip. David sat and continued to laugh at the spectacle.

“UNCLE,” Geoff shouted, now in a more serious tone. “Jeez Doc, I give up.”

“You sorry for your mischief?” Doc asked, now grinning to David.

“Yes, I’m sorry… I’m sorry. Let go. You’re turning me into a pretzel,” he exclaimed.

“Apologize for calling me Santa,” Doc demanded.

Instantly, Geoff shouted, “I’m sorry, man. I’m sorry for calling you Santa.”

“And for spilling my coffee,” Doc added with sadistic grin.

David burst out laughing once more.

“Ok, ok… I’m sorry for spilling you’re coffee. Jeez, will you let go already?” Geoff pleaded.

Doc released his hold and rolled away from Geoff. Standing quickly, he nonchalantly brushed off his uniform.

“Dang, I sure wouldn’t want to run into you in a dark alley,” David said jokingly.

“Ahh, it was all in good humor,” Doc replied, now feeling a bit embarrassed by his aggressive act.

“Man Doc, you really have to teach me to wrestle like that. You’re amazing,” Geoff said, still grinning from the fun of it all.

“Any more shenanigans like that, Lad, and you can bet the Lord himself, I’ll be showing you a lesson or two,” he responded humorously.

As Geoff moved back to the fire, he picked up Doc’s cup.

“Can I get you more coffee, Doc?” he asked sincerely.

Doc nodded in genuine appreciation.

“Why yes, Lad. That really would be nice,” he responded in a pleasant tone.

As the three sat around the fire, they listened to a moment of quiet. Doc returned his stare to the fire. Geoff did the same. David laid back and gazed up at the stars once more.

“You know, as much as I like modern living, I really enjoy the peaceful solitude of camp life. It may be uncomfortable and inconvenient, but it’s all real. There’s nothing about it that feels artificial,” David said aloud, still star gazing.

“I do recall you saying that the last time you visited this time period, David. Does that mean you might consider staying when you’re business is finished?” Doc asked, in hopeful tone.

He looked at Doc with an incredulous stare, then laughed.

“If I could find a place that made a good pizza, I might consider it,” David joked.

“Ahhh, pizza again. You complained about that the last time you were here too. I’d sure like to try some of that someday.”

“Yeah, me too. If feels like I haven’t had any in forever,” Geoff replied. “All this boiled meat and vegetables, crackers and coffee, are ready to make me puke. What I wouldn’t give for a slice of pepperoni pizza.”

“What’s pepperoni?” Doc asked.

“It’s only the most incredible topping you can put on pizza,” Geoff shot back.

Doc looked at Geoff with a puzzled stare.

“It’s basically spicy seasoned sausage,” David cut in.

“Ah yes, sausage. I’ve tried that once before, when I was passing through New York. Very tasty as I recall,” Doc responded.

“Doc, what’s your favorite thing to eat,” Geoff asked, now curious.

“Well, if I could ever get it again, it would have to be wapiti and roasted corn… simply delicious,” he said, smacking his lips as he talked.

“What the heck is wapiti?” Geoff asked, now intrigued.

“Wapiti is the Chiricahuan term for elk,” he responded.

“Chiricahua? As in the native American Indians?” Geoff asked.

“Huh… I’m surprised you know that term, Geoff. Most kids your age barely know what an Indian is, let alone the name of their tribe. Very good,” David complimented. “Where’d you learn that?”

“School… social studies,” Geoff shot back, proudly.

“You know Geoff, you’re so smart. It would be such a waste if you didn’t go to college,” David said, encouragingly.

Doc looked toward Geoff with a scornful stare.

“Geoffrey, what’s all this? Am I to believe you won’t be attending college?” he asked in surprise.

“I just don’t know Doc. It costs so much money and I just don’t know if I’m smart enough,” he responded.

“Nonsense Geoffrey, I concur with David. You’re as sharp as a tack. I can’t comment about your finances, but I would certainly agree that you not attending college would be a shameful waste of intellect,” Doc added.

“I’m telling you Geoff, you really should reconsider. You have your whole life ahead of you.”

Geoff’s face suddenly turned sullen as he thought about Bobby. Thinking of his plan to save him, he knew his future was uncertain. Pushing the disturbing thoughts from his mind, he looked around the campfire for a new topic to discuss. Suddenly, he saw Dell Casey standing by a campfire several tents down from them. Silhouetted by the fire, he could see his profile laughing in the dim light.

“Hey, there’s Dell Casey,” he said, jumping to his feet. “I’ll see you guys,” he shouted over his shoulder as he rushed off, relieved to have evaded the uncomfortable topic once more.

Before the two could respond, Geoff was already gone. Doc and David watched him rush up behind the teen and shake his shoulders with a jolt, momentarily scaring Dell. The two shoved each other for a moment in play, then settled in by the fire. Even at their distance from the two teens, Doc and David could hear them laughing.

Doc looked back to David, his face looked thoughtful and sympathetic.

“I believe young Geoffrey is still very much tormented by his brother’s death,” he said.

“I know. I saw the look on his face when I talked about his whole life ahead of him. What do you think that means?” Doc wondered.

“I don’t know David, but whatever’s going on in that boy’s mind, we better keep a close watch on him.”

David stared back at Geoff and watched him still laughing with his friend. He nodded and said, “Agreed.”

-----*-----*-----*-----

May 30, 1864

By the end of the second week, word of the Battle of Dallas reached the marching column of men. The bloody battle had seen heavy casualties on both sides of the engagement. With Gen. Thomas’ army transitioning through the region, his medical corps was now ordered back to assist with the wounded. Marching in double-time step, the small detachment of men rushed to the nearby medical encampment set up just west of Dallas GA., and four hours north of their position.

Saying goodbye to his friend, Geoff felt sadness that he might not see Dell again. He extended his hand and Dell gladly accepted it. In a gesture modern only to Geoff, he pulled his friend close and hugged him. Instantly, Dell recoiled.

“Blazes Geoff! I ain’t no gal,” he said, pulling back in shock, his head darting around, looking to see if they were observed.

“Relax Dell, it’s ok. Where I come from, men hug in friendship,” Geoff said, now laughing.

“I ain’t never seen that before. Is it new?”

“You don’t know how new,” Geoff said cryptically.

Dell’s mind processed his feelings and logic about the subject. His face turned puzzled, then accepting.

“Well, just the same, I prefer a shake,” he said nodding agreeably.

“Shaking works for me,” Geoff replied, extending his hand once more. As Dell grasped his hand again, Geoff added, “Just remember what we talked about: fight like you’re going to live.”

Dell smiled back in understanding. “Don’t worry about me. Ain’t no Reb gonna whoop ole Dell Casey is all I’m gonna say,” he boasted proudly.

“Well, just the same, be careful,” Geoff responded in a worried tone.

“It’s them Rebs that’s gotta be careful,” he joked.

An authoritative shout, called out from nearby.

“Casey! Fall in, NOW! You’re holding up our picket,” shouted his sergeant standing menacing with his hands on his hips.

“Yes Sir sergeant,” he shouted back over his shoulder.

“More drilling. I hate drilling,” Geoff said in sympathy.

“It ain’t so bad. Beats fighting anyway,” he retorted.

“You always say that,” Geoff joked.

“That’s ‘cause it’s always true,” he countered.

The two smiled in friendship. With a purposeful nod, Dell turned and hurried off. Geoff watched him for a moment. Suddenly, an uneasy feeling overcame him as he watched his friend disappear from view.

“Good luck Dell,” he said quietly to himself.

-----*-----*-----*-----

“Geoff! Hurry with that chloroform!” David shouted as he desperately tried to fix the tourniquet on the writhing wounded soldier.

Within minutes of arriving at the medical encampment, Gen. Thomas’ medical corps quickly got to work. As horse-drawn ambulances arrived on the scene, Doc and David assessed the wounded and began work on the most serious of injuries.

“I’m on it,” Geoff responded.

Moving quickly, he tried to place the cone-shaped breather to the soldiers face. Each time, the wounded man shook his head in reflex, knocking the apparatus to the side.

Crying out in agony from the gaping wound in his leg, he shouted, “Lord it hurts. Doc stop the pain, PLEASE!”

Geoff stared into his eyes. He saw agony and torment registering in them. Swallowing hard, he forced his emotions into his throat.

“David, isn’t there something we can give him,” he shouted in desperation.

“Just get him under. That’s all we can do,” David shouted back, still struggling with the man’s leg.

Looking down sympathetically, Geoff said to the wounded man, “Hang in there buddy, we’re doing our best. I know it hurts. Try to lay still so I can put this thing on you. You’ll feel better afterwards… I promise.”

Suddenly, Doc shouted from the ambulance next to them.

“David, I’ve got two bleeders over here. Can you break free?”

David looked up, an exasperated expression stretched across his face. “Doc, you gotta be kidding me.”