Gunny and I took our food outside to the front steps of the library and sat down to eat. We didn’t say much at first. We were too busy enjoying the taste of fifty-first century chocolate chip cookies. They tasted the same as the twenty-first century variety. Luckily time hadn’t changed everything.
While we ate, I had a chance to think. I wrote before that I had a nervous feeling, but didn’t know why. It wasn’t until now, as we sat on the steps of the library, that the reason became clear. It had been staring me in the face since we arrived on Third Earth, but I couldn’t bring it into focus. Now, as we sat there on that beautiful warm day, I finally got my mind around it. It was totally obvious, too. Maybe that’s why I didn’t get it at first. It was too simple. But the more I reasoned it through, the more sense it made.
And I didn’t like it. My appetite was suddenly gone. I put the last cookie down uneaten.
“What’s the trouble, shorty?” Gunny asked.
“It doesn’t matter what Patrick comes up with,” I said.
“Excuse me?” Gunny replied. “I think it matters a whole lot.”
“But it doesn’t. I already know what we have to do.”
“Really?”
“You know it too, Gunny,” I said. “I think we’re both hoping that Patrick comes up with something that tells us we’re wrong, but he won’t.”
Gunny stopped eating his cookie and looked out over the scene in front of us. What had once been a busy, congested city was now beautiful countryside. We could see a few modern housing units scattered around, but mostly it was clean, green country full of people enjoying a beautiful, sunny day. In the distance I could see the unpolluted East River. The air smelled fresh. There was no violence. It was perfect. From what Patrick told us, the rest of Third Earth was the same way.
Perfect.
I looked into Gunny’s eyes. He was troubled. We were on the same page.
“Doesn’t look like a territory that Saint Dane pushed into chaos, does it?” Gunny said.
Exactly. The wreck of theHindenburgwas a horrible disaster and classic Saint Dane. We even hoped that by saving it, we might be able to stop World War II. But the truth was, Earth had evolved into a truly wonderful place in spite of the fact that theHindenburgblew up.
“We won’t make things better by changing history, will we?” Gunny said.
“No.”
Reality was closing in fast. Our mission was about to be turned upside down. If we wanted Earth to evolve into the wonderful territory we were now looking at, we had to make sure history played out the way it was supposed to.
That meant only one thing. Winn Farrow had to succeed. TheHindenburghad to go down.
“Saint Danewantsus to change history,” I said with finality. “That’s what this has been about. That’s the turning point. If we change history, this is a world that may never be.”
Suddenly the whole challenge seemed too huge. I’m embarrassed to say this, but I snapped.
“I hate this!” I screamed, jumping up.
“What’s the trouble?” Gunny asked with sympathy.
“The trouble is I don’t want to do this anymore. It’s not fair. Why are we the ones responsible for saving the territories?”
“Because we’re Travelers,” Gunny answered.
“Yeah, well, I don’t want to be a Traveler. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t volunteer. How did I get chosen? Howdid youget chosen? Don’t you wonder about that?”
Gunny said softly, “Everyday.”
“And it doesn’t bother you?”
Gunny took some time to think about this. “To be honest, I think that if I had the choice, I’d still be sitting here with you right now. But it’s different for me. I lived a long life before finding out my true calling. I can understand why you’re troubled.”
“Yeah, you got that right!” I said. “I’m fifteen years old. I had to leave home when I was fourteen. Nobody my age should see the things I’ve seen. I’m supposed to be playing ball and sweating over tests and zits and hoping girls like me-not making sure thirty-six people die in a horrible accident. I don’t want that responsibility!”
The stakes had suddenly gotten very big, very fast, and it scared me to death. I knew I wasn’t smart enough, or strong enough to have that kind of responsibility. I wanted somebody else to do the job. I wanted Uncle Press to be there. Or Osa, or even Loor. I didn’t want to have to make these kinds of decisions. I wanted to go home. I wanted to see my mom and dad again.
I wanted my old life back.
I was half a second away from going back to the flume and launching myself home to Second Earth for good, when I heard a voice call to us. ”I’m finished.”
It was Patrick. He walked down the last few steps to join us. I hope I can do a good job of describing the way he looked. He was shaken. I swear, it was like all the color had left his face. I know this sounds weird, but he looked ten years older than when we last saw him. He didn’t even stand up tall, he was kind of hunched over, like there was a tremendous weight on his shoulders.
“Come inside and see what I found,” he said softly.
“What is it?” Gunny asked while standing up.
“You’re going to have to see for yourself, because you won’t believe me otherwise.”
“I’m guessing you don’t have good news,” I said.
Patrick managed a sad smile. “No, no good news, except to say you were right. You found the turning point on First Earth, all right. It’s theHindenburg. And you hit the mother lode. It’s not just the turning point for First Earth. What happens on May sixth, 1937, is going to affect First, Second, and Third Earth as well.”
“Is it as bad as all that?” Gunny asked.
Patrick’s only answer was an ironic chuckle. He then turned and walked up the stairs back to the library.
Gunny and I stood there, stunned. I wanted to run home now more than ever. I felt sure that whatever was waiting for us in that library, it would be gruesome. I was truly at a crossroads. I knew how important this was, but I had to convince myself not to run for my life.
“You want to know why we’re the ones responsible?” Gunny asked.
I looked up into a pair of wise eyes that had seen far more than mine.
“Because there’s nobody else,” he said. With that, he slowly walked up the stairs after Patrick.
I stood alone, trying to keep from crying. What Gunny had said was simple, and it was the truth.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and ran up the stairs after them.
(CONTINUED)
THIRDEARTH
You’ve got to get back to make sure theHindenburgis destroyed,” Patrick said. Though his voice was quivering with fear, he couldn’t have been any more clear. “If you don’t, everything is going to change.”
“I’m guessing it won’t be for the better,” Gunny said.
“Not even close,” Patrick answered.
“Do we want to see this?” I asked.
“No,” was Patrick’s answer. “But you have to.”
We were back in the small library room. Patrick motioned for us to take seats. Gunny sat, but I was too nervous. When I get anxious like that, it’s hard for me to sit still.
“Here’s the deal,” Patrick began. “Remember I talked about mathematical equations and if you changed one number, the whole equation would be altered?”
“Yeah,” I answered tentatively.
“Well, it’s true, but it also depends on what number you decide to change,” Patrick explained. “You might change one number and the overall difference would be small. Or you might change a number that has a much bigger impact.”
