It was almost dusk and Jack was reading a book when Jasper came into the room. “So, this is it. I have to admit, I’m more excited than I was before the surgery.”
“Speak for yourself,” Jack replied, “you have the easy job.”
“I would have gladly traded places with you but you would hear nothing of it.”
Jack merely smiled.
“So,” Jasper said, moving forward, “you’re sure about the timeline?”
Jack had not been sure at first but after their discussion over lunch, he decided he would travel to nineteenth century London as Jasper had suggested. He wasn’t sure why that time was appealing to him. He didn’t find that period overly-exciting. It was almost as if something was drawing him back to that time.
“As long as you’re going back, you might as well go to a time where we can study an integral part of history,” Jasper explained, excited. “Who knows, maybe we’ll get lucky and solve the mysterious identity of Jack the Ripper.”
“You can solve the mysterious identity,” said Jack. “I’m going back to prove that time travel works. I’m only going back to this particular time and place because of your suggestion. I doubt that I’ll go back to that specific time again. Instead, I’d like to go back and visit some of the great physicists of our history. Imagine having an actual conversation with Einstein.”
Jasper sighed disappointedly but perked up at the mention of Einstein. At that moment, he started to fully understand the possibilities that existed with their technology.
“You’re ready then?”
“I’m ready,” Jack agreed. They had spent the last few days reviewing old phonograph recordings from late 1800’s London to make sure Jack had the accent as well as the slang and pronunciations down. They had also made arrangements for money and authentic clothing from that period.
Jasper cautioned Jack that most of the men of that time frame were around five foot six and with Jack measuring six foot one, he needed be careful not to draw too much attention to himself.
Jack listened as Jasper went over the procedure one final time. “You will start by inducing yourself into a state of hypnosis. This will allow you to tap into your subconscious. The energy from your subconscious will be released and will activate the chip.
“Once the chip is activated, the wormhole will be created. Because the wormhole is created by the energy from your subconscious, your subconscious will have the ability to affect the wormhole. You must control your subconscious through the association areas of your cortex. Because this is the area that controls thought and decision making, you have the ability to make the wormhole exit in a time and location of your choosing.”
Jasper looked at Jack. “Do you have any final questions?”
“No, Jasper I do not,” Jack answered seriously. “Thank you for your work in making this possible. I am forever indebted to you.”
Jasper smiled in appreciation of the comment. “It’s been my pleasure to work with you. Now,” he said lightening the moment, “if we’re going to hold hands and make out, let’s get it over with. If not, let’s move on with the task at hand, shall we?”
Jack smirked and nodded.
“Okay, now close your eyes,” Jasper said softly.
Jack did as he was asked.
“Jack?” Jasper said in a slightly louder tone. Jack opened his eyes and looked at Jasper. “Be careful,” Jasper finished.
Jack nodded and closed his eyes. He started with the number ten and counted backwards as he initiated the self-hypnosis sequence. By the time he reached one he had hypnotized himself.
Jack inhaled slowly and searched his thoughts until he felt his inner-mind. He concentrated and felt himself being drawn inward. He could see flashing as if heat lightning danced across the sky and felt himself continue inward.
Finally, he reached a dark, quiet spot in his mind. He knew this was his subconscious. He concentrated on the nothingness that was there and soon felt a breeze. The breeze increased until the wind howled as a lamenting widow. The winds took on a physical form and slowly began to gather in the center of the nothingness. Collected, the winds revolved in unison. Then, a cyclone appeared.
The cyclone was thin at first but thickened exponentially. Before long, the cyclone had grown to such a size that it dominated his sight. If possible, the winds gained again at a tremendous rate and he felt himself being pulled forward. He watched as the cyclone churned and he found himself looking down into the heart of the cyclone, resembling an elongated spherical passageway – the wormhole.
The winds grasped him fully and he was dragged towards the long emptiness of the cyclone. The heat lightning reappeared and became violent. The sound of the wind grew until Jack was confident a train was passing through the center of his head. He was certain he was not going to be able to withstand the intensity a moment longer when he was suddenly jerked forward and thrust into the cyclone. He entered the passageway and found the inside of the cyclone was surprisingly calm.
Looking ahead, he saw a bright light hastily approaching. At first he was not concerned but then realized he was being hurled towards the light. He closed his eyes but the light penetrated his eyelids and entered into the heart of his existence. He felt blinding pain as if his brain would explode. The light flashed one final brilliant time and then everything went dark. He had been traveling at a tremendous speed when suddenly, without warning, everything stopped.
He did not open his eyes but could hear sounds of a city around him. Water was dripping. People were shuffling their feet as they walked.
