Cretaceous Sea

As if on cue, Green entered the room. James instantly fell silent. One look at Green and Rick abandoned all ideas of complaining. Green's expensively sculpted face bore an in-timidating look. His cold eyes fixed on Pandit and Rick, siz-ing them up. 'I'm Peter Green, CEO of Temporal Transport. Welcome aboard.' With those minimal pleasantries aside, Green addressed die group. 'This evening, we will leave on our first paying excursion downwhen. All of you need to know how impor-tant this trip is. It's much more than a maiden voyage. The future of time travel and the future of mankind are at stake. This is no exaggeration.

'If this trip seems shrouded in secrecy and hurried, it is because of our situation. Consider for a moment how truly dangerous time travel is. I'm not referring to any danger to the traveler—that's negligible. But think of the effects such travel could have on history itself. It does not take much imagination to conceive how even a minor alteration of the past could cause unpredictable changes to the present. If those alterations were motivated by greed or a political agenda, catastrophe could result. I feel so strongly about this, I would halt all development in this technology if it were in my power. Unfortunately, it is not. Others, without my scru-ples, are also working on time travel.

'One of the paradoxes of this technology is that, even though I am far ahead of my competitors, being first means nothing. If they ever succeed in discovering its secrets, they can go back in time, destroy my research, and gain sole con-trol over the technology. With additional capital and re-search, I believe that I can prevent that. I am working on a system for Temporal Field Stabilization. To put it simply, it will prevent anyone from altering the time continuum. The future will unfold without interference.

'At the present, this field is not in place. This is the reason why your nondisclosure agreements are so important. Up-when, people are researching history to pinpoint our precise location in time. Talk to your grandchildren years from now about this trip, and these people may find out. With that information, they might travel downwhen to kill your mother.'

Green paused to let the implications sink in. Already, Rick regretted his talk with Tom. Have 1 already said something that might be traced in the future? he wondered. Was that the real cause of Mom and Dad's auto accident? I was in that car. Was someone trying to get me? This convoluted chain of causation was as confusing as it was ominous. It meant that there would have been an unaltered past where the accident did not occur. Yet somehow, Rick would have spoken to his brother in that time line also. But why? puzzled Rick. My life would have been completely different. Rick became aware that Peter Green was staring at him. He hoped he did not look guilty and was relieved when Green continued his talk. 'The real purpose of this trip is to gain money to fund my research into temporal stabilization. I chose our destination, aside from its obvious appeal, be-cause it's far enough downwhen to prevent us from affecting the present. Our first client will be the billionaire John Greighton, along with his fiance'e and daughter. I hope to demonstrate the potential of time travel to him, both for good and ill, and obtain his backing for my research.'

'Your jobs are to make 'this trip as enjoyable as possible for Greighton and his party. That's all you need to do, noth-ing more and nothing less. Everything I just said stays in this room. Remember, they're on vacation. I'll broach die fund-ing matters with Greighton myself. That's my job. Just do your parts and it will be easier.'

As Green finished talking, Nick entered the room pushing a cart laden with food and a huge bottle of champagne. 'That's enough of business,' said Green as his expression softened. He popped a cork and started filling glasses. 'We have something to celebrate.' He handed out glasses to everyone, then raised his own in a toast. 'To Montana Isle!'

The power of Peter Green's personality was such that everyone in the room soon mirrored his festive mood. Rick dismissed his guilty fears about his parents' accident and began to feel excited again about the trip. By his second glass of champagne, he was even ready to chat with Green himself. When Rick caught Green's eye, he said, 'Now I understand why we're going so far downwhen.'

'I'm glad,' said Green.

'Just before the K-T event, it's perfect.'

Green got a confused expression on his face, as if he didn't understand what Rick had just said. Rick clarified himself. 'I mean, the asteroid impact will wipe everything clean. It'll be as if we were never there.'

'Oh yes,' said Green, 'of course. Well, we can't be too careful, can we? By the way, I need to discuss your job. I'll need your help if I'm going to get to Greighton. I can't do that with his daughter hanging around. I want you to keep her away from camp as much as possible. That's the main reason you're on board, to arrange trips for her.'

'Won't Mr. Greighton and his fiancee be interested in the sights also?'

'Maybe one trip, if that. We've researched them pretty well. They're more interested in the birds and the bees than wildlife,' said Green with a knowing look. 'Greighton's only other interest is business. When he talks business, his fiancee gets bored. She'll go off sunbathing or swimming.'

'I don't think swimming would be a good idea,' said Rick. 'The Interior Seaway had some pretty dangerous creatures in it—mosasaurs, crocodiles, and not all the plesiosaurs ate fish.'

'Don't worry, we have a protected beach. But it's good you're on your toes. We'll need that expertise.' Green abruptly turned toward James and Pandit and began to dis-cuss provisions. Rick felt that he had been dismissed and wandered over to the food cart.

Joe was there, making himself a sandwich. 'Trying to schmooze with the boss?' he asked in a joking tone.

'Was it that obvious? Then I guess I'm not very good at it.'