Date: 06/13/2001
From: SouthernSlider

Ah, it feels so good to be back on-line. So let's see what our gang is up to.
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Chapter Twelve

Maggie was pulled roughly into the back room of the small building, and dumped unceremoniously into a plain, ladder-back chair. The rest of the room was unadorned,
except for one shelf lined with a dozen or more identical black bottles. The man pushed the door closed silently, then folded his arms as he took her in with cold, steely eyes. He resembled nothing of the jovial man of a few moments ago.

“Now, young lady, do you want to tell me what’s going on?”

Maggie narrowed her eyes at him in defiance. “Funny. That’s exactly the same thing I was going to say to you -- minus the young lady part, of course.”

The man half-chuckled at her remark. He knew she was being sarcastic rather than humorous, but he liked her spunk. She didn’t appear to be the least bit intimidated by his rough handling. The government really has themselves a winner in this one. He moved toward her with a slow step, keeping his eyes bored into hers.

“Let’s just get down to brass tacks, little lady. I know what you’re trying to do, and it won’t work. I run a good business here, and I’m not about to mess it up with
underhanded tactics like this. Tell your bosses they’re slipping. They used to be much more subtle than this.”

Maggie frowned. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, but I’m sure you do. You’re about as discreet as a lighthouse beacon in the night.”

“Look, mister,” -- Maggie stood up with bravado, but was quickly pushed back into the chair with rough hands. Her blood boiled inside. She glared at him momentarily, then stood again, abruptly, side-stepping him and knocking the chair over with force.

“Look, mister. I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. I just came into your store on a whim. It seemed like the right thing to do under the circumstances, but I
see I was very wrong.”

“And what circumstances would that be, little lady?” He grabbed her wrist and squeezed with forced. Maggie winced, then swallowed the pain, and dared him with her eyes to do more.

“I made a mistake earlier today, and I just wanted to rectify it. I didn’t come here to compound the problem.”

The man narrowed his eyes while glaring into hers. His mind took measure of what she had to say. She sounded sincere. <<Maybe the government hasn’t slipped as
much as I thought they had. She’s doing a pretty good acting job right now.>>

“You want to explain what this mistake might be?” He purposely taunted her to see how far she would carry her story.

“No.”

“I see. Maybe because there really wasn’t one. I can’t believe the authorities wouldn’t provide you with some concoction.”

“There are no authorities. Just me and my big mouth. Since I can’t take back what I said, I thought I might go back to just before that moment and never say it. I
can’t imagine what would be the problem in that. Why don’t you enlighten me for a change? What’s with the third degree and manhandling just because I want to go back in
time for a few minutes and correct a big mistake?”

The man frowned. She was either the best the government had ever hired, or she was telling the truth. He was beginning to think the latter. There was something about
her, although he couldn’t put his finger on it, that made him believe her. Maybe he was just remembering the old days, when time travel first started. Her voice rang as true as all those that had passed before her, trying to change their mistakes, but making a mess of the world in the process. <<Who is this woman? And why doesn’t she know?>>

***

Remmy strode down the busy sidewalk, mumbling to himself and barely watching where he stepped. More than once he bumped into oncoming traffic and had to interrupt his thoughts to apologize. Maggie’s words kept ringing out, over and over, in his ears.

<<How could she say something like that? She knows what Wade’s disappearance has meant to me -- to all of us. How could she be so cold? She’s gone to far this time.>>

As he turned the corner a flashing light caught his attention. An arrow pointing to the door of a strange building. "Time in a Bottle" flashed in rhythm. Of course! He could go back in time. That way he would never have to hear Maggie utter those words. He stood mesmerized at the sight. Surely it couldn’t be that easy.

His foot stepped off the sidewalk onto the street. Horns blared; tires screeched. Remmy came back to reality and jumped back to the sidewalk just in time to avoid being
sideswiped by an oncoming red Buick. He thanked the Lord he was brought back to his senses in time to dodge the bullet. Going to the corner, he availed himself of the
crosswalk and the traffic light.

Remmy peeped inside the window of the building to see nothing but shelf upon shelf filled with rows of bottles. A heavy feeling weighted itself in the pit of his stomach.
He watched his fingers curl around the doorknob as he pushed the door open with ease. A bell tinkled. He opened the door the rest of the way and entered. A strange, eerie
silence penetrated his ears. Slowly taking in his surroundings, he seconded-guessed his previous idea.

Remmy turned to the door and started to head out when he thought he heard a voice float toward him from the back.

“Hello? Anyone here?” he called out. Silence. “Hello!” he yelled again. Still nothing. He thought it strange that someone would leave their store unoccupied with the
front door unlocked. Taking note of the contents of the room -- nothing but bottles that appeared to be empty -- he had other thoughts. <<Maybe this isn’t a store. Maybe it’s just an abandoned building.>> His eyes fell on the cash register. He started toward it, but suddenly stopped. <<Freakin’ crazy fool. Man, you have no sense at all.>>

Remmy turned and hurried to the door. The bell rang out harshly as he jerked the door across it’s path and headed out. He turned to his right, hurrying down the street to
get as far away from the weird place as possible.

In the back room of the building, Maggie stood frozen with a beefy, clammy hand over her mouth, and what felt like the tip of cold steel to her spine. The hot breath of the
man whispered in her ear to be still and silent if she expected to come out of this unscathed. She was unsure she could make a move without causing herself harm, so she
did as he said. All the while, she wondered if her mind was playing tricks on her. She could have sworn that was Remmy’s voice. <<But how would he know I was here . . . and
why on earth would he come after me if he did know?>>
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See you tomorrow.

SS

wonderful as always

Date: 06/14/2001
From: Missye

Can't' wait to read more.
Missye

Wha?

Date: 06/14/2001
From: DieselMickeyDolenz

If this is how he treats people that he thinks work for the government, I'd hate to see how he treats Jehova's Wittnesses. Please let Maggie get slapped around just a little bit before being rescued? Pretty please?

DMD

Original URL http://www.scifi.com/bboard/browse.cgi/1/5/1095/3445
Nominated by DieselMickeyDolenz