Date: 05/10/2001
From: SouthernSlider

Good morning, all.
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Chapter Four

“You’re right, brother,” Quinn said, his words tangled within a deep sigh. “I have no idea how this time thing works yet. I’ve already subjected us to one scientific
blunder. I certainly won’t do it again.” He picked up the books, stacking them one on the other, then headed for the sofa.

“Way to go, Farm-boy. Just when we had almost finished building our castles in the sky, you come along with the wrecking ball of reason and tear it all down.” Remmy
patted his friend on the back when he saw Colin’s sorrowful look. “Seriously . . .thanks. We were about to get carried away with the unknown again. Thank goodness you were around to bring us back down to earth.”

“Yeah, Colin,” Maggie added. “We needed that.”

Colin’s face took on a look of relief as they all headed over to where Quinn was already engrossed in one of the books. They each took one, and settled in without another
word, to find out what they desperately needed to know -- how time travel worked on this world. Could they go back to erecting their castles, and make them a reality?

As the night wore on, they read page after page until their eyes were red and miserably scratchy. Remmy yawned, and let his eyelids waver between half-open and fully closed. Maggie squirmed, popping her lids wide every few minutes, to try to stay awake. She and Remmy had been told to look for simple background ideas, and write them down as they came to them. Quinn didn’t think they would remember the details of what they read since they weren’t scientifically inclined. For once, they agreed with him.

He and Colin flipped pages as if speed reading, both taking notes also, but of a more detailed variety. Quinn was so consumed in the book in front of him, he never noticed Maggie and Remmy finally succumb to the slumber that pulled at them relentlessly. They slept soundly while he looked for the answers to the questions they had been asking among themselves.

Dawn broke, bringing a stream of sunlight into the room. It crept across the floor, making its way to the sitting area where four dead-to-the-world travelers slept with open
books across their chests; pads and pencils resting on the floor after their slide from relaxed laps and fingers.

Colin’s eyes came open first. He pulled himself out of his slumped position to shake himself fully awake. At least, I was not alone in letting sleep overtake me. He picked up the tablet that lay at his feet, reading the words he had written.

There were a lot of technical and scientific terms he didn’t comprehend very well, and what he did understand, he wasn’t sure it would help them. He looked up at his
brother and friends, staring at each for several moments. They were all so excited about the possibility of time travel. He hoped their dreams wouldn’t be too crushed if things didn’t work out like they hoped.

<<I understand their desire to go back and change a glaringly disturbing moment in their lives, but I am just not sure it is the right thing to do. We need to know more about the aftereffects of such a course.>>

He set the scientific manual aside and picked up the book in Maggie’s lap. Turning it over, he released a smile when he discovered she had never gotten past the first page. Checking out the title and discovering it was more history-oriented, he thought he might find more of what he wanted to know. He moved his chair to the window to take
advantage of the morning sunlight, popped the top of a soda can retrieved from the courtesy bar, and began to read.

The first sentence jumped out at him like a slap in the face. He sat up and reread it, not sure his eyes had seen the right words the first time. Looking up to stare out the
window, he shook his head in disbelief. <<Maggie must have dosed off before she ever read the first line. Surely if she had seen it, she would have said something.>> He returned his attention to the next paragraph.

Looking back at the sleeping trio, he wondered whether or not he should awake them immediately. After a second’s thought, he decided against it. He would continue
reading this book; there would be plenty of time to tell them when they awakened. It was only six a.m.

Colin was so enthralled in the book, he never gave the others a second thought when he got into the reading. He didn’t even know they were up and about until a hand
was laid on his shoulder.

“How long you been among the living, Farm-boy?” Remmy asked with a yawn.

Colin jumped at his touch. He closed the book suddenly, as if he didn’t want Remmy to see the secrets it held. Rising, he stole a glance at the sofa to see if Quinn and
Maggie had awakened.

“For awhile. Since daylight, I guess. Where is Quinn?” he asked, seeing his empty spot in the chair. Maggie was sitting up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

“He, uh, took a potty break.” Remmy frowned slightly, wondering why Colin was so jumpy. The concerned look on his friend’s face didn’t ease his curiosity any.

“What’s up, Farm-boy? Don’t tell me you’ve been up all night reading about this time travel stuff.”

“No, I have not. I, too, fell asleep somewhere in the night, but I awoke with the sun and decided to continue my research here by the window.”

“Find anything interesting?”

“Yes. Yes, I think I did. As soon as Quinn joins us, I will tell you all about it.” He stepped away from Remmy, hoping to avoid any more of his questions.

Remmy frowned as a tingle went up his spine. Something about Colin’s reaction didn’t set right. <<The boy has found out something I don’t think we want to know.>>
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I'll give you till tomorrow to mull that over.

SS

Let me guess

Date: 05/10/2001
From: DieselMickeyDolenz

The first line he read was a dedication to the Tennessee Volunteers, who, thanks to time travel, had won an astounding 30 SEC Championships and 22 National Championships while beating the Dawgs and Gators in each of the last 43 seasons. Now THAT's my idea of Hell.

DMD

I think...

Date: 05/10/2001
From: Missye

It has something to do with sliding. If this world can go back in time then they might have sliding. Or you can visit the past, but change nothing. Kinda like The Chirstmas Carol type thing. Can't wait. I'm getting all gitty.
Missye

very nice:)

Date: 05/14/2001
From: Yeontoo

Dear SS,

I'm a readin, just behin'

Smooth readin too. Lookin forward to the rest :)

Blessing
Yeontoo

Original URL http://www.scifi.com/bboard/browse.cgi/1/5/1095/3383
Nominated by DieselMickeyDolenz