The Didymus Contingency

FOUR
The Fall
1985

Zambia, Africa

An unfamiliar cracking noise filled the jungle, causing birds to jet away to the safety of the sky. Light flashed through the thick foliage like a frantic photo shoot. A shard of light split open, just above the ground, and spilled David out. He appeared, stumbled a few feet and leaned on a moss-covered tree for support. Boom! With a clap like thunder, the light vanished. Glowing blue sparkles twinkled to the wet ground around David, signifying the completion of the event.

David struggled to take another step, but fell to the ground and vomited into a patch of ferns. Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea? For all he knew, time travel was only safe for inanimate objects. David pulled himself back to his feet and looked at his surroundings-lush jungle as far as the eye could see. This had to be Zambia, but were his coordinates correct? A thought occurred to David and a smile came to his sickly face, it had worked! He had traveled through time and space! He- crack! A gunshot pierced the air in the distance and David remembered what he had come to see.

He carefully made his way through the dense wilderness toward the sounds of gunfire. He crept low to the ground while attempting to avoid the many snakes, spiders, and larger predators that he couldn’t see but thought must be lurking nearby. A metallic click froze David in his tracks.

“Tuhn arownd,” came a deep voice. “Slohly.”

David did as he was told and came face to face with four men he thought must be from a local tribe. Their dress was half-modern, half-tribal and one of them wore a Yankees baseball cap… David’s memory was triggered. He remembered the night Tom broke down and told David the entire story. Four men, in tribal clothes with rifles…and one of them, Tom called him the Yankee fan, because he wore a Yankees hat. These were Megan’s killers! These were the men Tom was going to kill mere minutes from now! David’s mind raced with thoughts and theories about what his presence would do to this past and his future.

He thought about transporting himself back to the future right before their eyes, saving his own life, but perhaps distracting or frightening these men enough so that the events of the past never occur. David cringed at the thought that he might be changing the past just he feared Tom would.

David winced as he felt cold steel press against his forehead. “Who ah you?” the Yankee fan demanded, “Ah you wit de missionaries?”

“No,” David replied. He wondered if that was his ticket out of this. “I have nothing to do with the missionaries.”

The Yankee fan leaned in close and inspected David’s face. “Do we know you? I tink we do.”

“No.” David answered. “I’m a scientist.”

David’s answer seemed to cause the men some confusion. It was not an answer they had anticipated. The Yankee fan noticed David’s LightTech badge still attached to his outer shirt. He lifted it up and looked at the picture, then back at David. He looked up and down David’s body, taking in his ornate tie, his pressed shirt and polished shoes. They seemed to dissuade any suspicion that David was lying. The four men held a quick discussion in their native tongue and then the Yankee fan said, “You ah fortunate, Mr. Scienteest. You do nah balieve as dey do, so you weel live… But we tink we will see you again. Yes we will.”

David felt a pang of guilt as he stifled the urge to stand by his fellow believers and tell these men that he did believe in the same God. But he felt, no, he knew that the fate of space and time depended on his keeping his mouth shut.

The Yankee fan had more news to deliver. “Howevah,” he said, trying to sound smart in the presence of a scientist, “You have trespahssed on tribal lahnd and must beh punished.”

David didn’t like the sound of that and dove surprisingly fast into the jungle. He had to lose these guys before it was too late for them to murder Megan. David nearly froze with horror at the fact that here he was, in a position to stop Megan’s murder and all he could think about was helping her killers. What the hell was he doing?

The four men moved like stalking lions and sprinted after David. Thorns and branches tore at David’s clothing and flesh. He tumbled through a heap of brush and crashed down onto a path. To his right he heard a gunshot, to his left lay a field. David’s memory was triggered again. Tom told him of the field, with the tall yellow grass. That was it! This is where it happened.

Quick to his feet, David managed to make it only ten more steps into the forest on the other side of the path before the four men caught him. There was no dialogue between them, no chance for David to redeem his actions. The four men simply began beating him. He felt the butt of a rifle bruise his ribs. One of their heels pounded his back. A fist to his jaw struck next. These men were punishing David for trespassing, but he knew another minute of this would mean his death sentence. There had to be a way out, something he could offer them. David’s train of thought was brutally interrupted by a popping noise as his shoulder dislocated.

He screamed as his shoulder sent surges of electrical impulses to his mind telling him his body couldn’t take much more. He was sure his life would soon come to an end. His eyes began to twitch. He was feeling the impacts of fists to his head and boots to his body, but the pain delivered by each blow was now only a numb throb. His body’s natural painkillers flooded his bloodstream. He was going into shock.

One of the men tried frantically to remove David’s watch from his wrist, but was fumbling the job in his excitement. David thought he heard someone yell, “A woman escapes!” and looked up through his one good eye-the other was swollen shut. Standing not ten feet away was a woman on the path. She was staring at David with a confused expression. The four men must have been confused too because they didn’t take action right away. This delay gave David the time he needed to put the pieces together.

David recognized Megan from pictures he had seen at Tom’s house. She was as beautiful and strong as the photos showed and as Tom had told. But she wasn’t moving. Why wasn’t she moving? “Megan! Run!” Blood sprayed from David’s mouth as he yelled.

Megan wrinkled her forehead. David thought she must have been trying to figure out how he knew her name. But his message seemed to sink in. She pounded dirt and ran toward the field. The four men leapt toward her in pursuit, and as they did, David thought he saw something unusual. He watched as the Yankee fan ran, and there, trailing behind him on the forest floor, were two shadows, as though there were two sources of light. But one of the shadows was different; it didn’t follow the man’s every move and at times it seemed to have a will of its own. David was sure his failing vision and beaten mind were playing tricks on him. He had seen enough and would surely die if he remained any longer.

David looked at his watch through his clear eye. Thank God, they weren’t able to get it off his wrist. David punched in a series of numbers and hit one final button. A bright light began to pulsate over his head. He prayed the loud noise his tear in time would create wouldn’t distract Megan’s murderers from carrying out their evil act.

The light expanded toward David’s face. He watched it increase in speed through his good eye. He felt his head spinning, his ears thrumming with each pulse of light. He fell back into the grass and watched the passing clouds overhead as his eye closed shut. David lost consciousness and light enveloped his body.

In a flash, David was gone. Boom! Time resealed itself.

Sally gasped when David reappeared seconds after he had disappeared. He was a bloody mess, sprawled out on the floor. Sally thought something must have gone wrong with David’s time jump. She imagined David’s insides being twisted and disfigured by the time travel process-the side effects of which, if any, had yet to be documented. Sally kneeled down next to him and said, “David! David, please be alive. Please David…”

David’s good eye cracked open and he saw Sally looking down at him. “Sally, thank God… it works… it works…” was the last thing David said before passing out again.

When he woke up, David found that all his wounds had been tended to. He could see out of both eyes again, and he looked around the room. It was a standard hospital room-nothing fancy. An old TV was bolted to the ceiling in the corner; the room stank of dry cleanliness and to his right was…Sally? She was sitting in a chair to the right of his bed, sound asleep.

David couldn’t believe what he was seeing. How long had she been with him? How long had he been unconscious? He slid out of bed and picked up the clipboard containing his vital stats. He strode to the window and looked out. The skyline of Phoenix greeted him. A sign by the road read, “Phoenix Baptist Hospital amp; Medical Center”. They must have flown me in, he thought.

David looked at his chart and read the damage report. Three bruised ribs, a dislocated shoulder-now repaired-and a few scrapes and bruises. Nothing life threatening, but David knew it would have been if it weren’t for Megan. David remembered the sparkle in her eye, the long hair and smooth skin of the woman Tom loved. While David had never loved a woman so deeply, he had a better understanding of what Tom survived and how it could’ve shaped his life and beliefs.

“Ahem,” Sally coughed, “You’re ah, exposing yourself.”

David nearly jumped out of his white and blue, polka dot, hospital johnny as he spun around, realizing his backside was bare and exposed. David’s bruised face flushed red and he said, “Sally, you’re awake. I, uh… I…”

“Relax,” said Sally, “It wasn’t that bad of a thing to wake up to.”

David froze. Was that a compliment? On his butt? Sally must have realized how it sounded too, because she quickly corrected herself. “I mean, it could have been worse,” Sally insisted. “How are you feeling?”

David was relieved the subject had changed. “I’ve been better, but I’m glad to be alive.”

“What happened?” Sally asked.

David sat on the edge of the bed and cringed in pain as his ribs flexed slightly. He stared straight ahead, as he relayed it to Sally, “I saw her,” he said. “I saw Tom’s wife.”

David thought for a moment, staring out the window. “The only adverse effect of time travel is temporary, but extreme: nausea. After I arrived, already disoriented, I was confronted by four men. The ones who put me in this sorry state,” David said, as he waved his hand over his injuries.

“I would have died had it not been for Megan. She was running toward the field, no doubt to warn Tom when she saw me being beaten. She stopped… I recognized her. She was so beautiful, so afraid. I told her to run, and she did. The rest, as you know, is history,” David said with a frown.

“I was lucky this time,” David said, “My presence could have changed the entire event. If they had let her go and killed me, if she hadn’t stopped on the path, if that one man hadn’t spotted her, we wouldn’t be here having this conversation.”

“But it works? They work? The watches?” Sally said.

“Without a hitch,” David managed a slight smirk.

“That’s good news. That’s great news. Think of all the things we can learn. All the things we can do. We’re going to-”

“Sally,” David’s voice was stern. “Don’t forget, Tom is still out there and if we don’t get him back, you and I and our entire world might cease to exist as it does right now.”

“Worst case scenario, how much of our world could Tom alter by visiting ancient Israel two thousand years ago? That’s where you think he is, right?” Sally asked very seriously.

“He’s there. Trust me,” David said. “Worst case scenario? Imagine a world without Jesus Christ.”

Sally got a sickly look on her face, which then changed to amused. “You mean a world without Christianity? No more TV evangelists? No more Jehovah’s witnesses banging on my door? Tell me how I can help.”

David was not amused, “This isn’t a joke. While you might not hold my particular beliefs about Jesus, you can’t deny the influence his life had on the entire world for the past two thousand years.”

Leaning back in her chair Sally began to wrap her mind around the endless possibilities.

“The Roman Empire, the Catholic Church, the Crusades, countless lives, deaths, marriages, births-all shaped by that single life,” David said.

David took Sally’s purse and opened it. She began to protest, “Hey!” but David quickly found what he was looking for. He pulled out a dollar bill and thrust it in Sally’s face.

“What does this say?” David asked.

Sally glanced over the bill. She knew what David was showing her and she read the words aloud, realizing the ultimate meaning of, “In God We Trust.”

“Exactly,” David said, “In God we trust. The God this currency refers to is Jesus. This country, like many others, was founded on a belief system created by the man Tom now seeks to debunk.”

Sally’s eyes began to widen.

“If Tom proves to the world that Jesus was a fraud, he will destroy everything we know and everyone we hold dear. This isn’t just Christianity that is being threatened; it’s millions of human beings for the past two thousand years.”

Sally looked at David, her face pale, “When can you leave?”

David stood to his feet, “Is everything ready?”

“Yes.”

“Today.”

“You can’t. You’re-”

“In no mood,” David said with authority, “Tom has to be stopped and I’m the only one who can do it… Now, give me my pants and turn around.”

Sally smirked, picked up David’s pants and tossed them at him. “I’ll be outside.”

As David watched Sally leave, a feeling snuck into his consciousness. Amid the tumultuous scenarios playing out in his mind, something unfamiliar and equally as frightening dug in deep. Affection.

Looking at himself in the wall-sized mirror, David didn’t recognize the man he saw. Not only did he look authentic, he looked downright ancient. It took only two days for LightTech to get all the necessary supplies. He didn’t like waiting to leave, but his wounds needed time to heal and with time travel, David could leave in ten years and still get there on time.

He was dressed in a red-tinged, brown robe and sandals, and his watch had been cleverly disguised as a twine bracelet-not exactly standard issue for ancient Israel, but it shouldn’t attract any attention. David knew that retrieving Tom could be as risky as Tom’s own jaunt back in time and he wasn’t taking any chances.

Sally laughed at David when she entered the small orientation room, designed for times like this when people would be preparing to travel through time. “Not bad,” she said as she handed him a small pouch.

David opened the pouch and looked inside. It was full of ancient gold coins, gems and jewels. David’s eyes lit up. “You don’t think this is a bit overboard?”

“I want to be prepared for every contingency. Just because you have the money, doesn’t mean you have to spend it,” Sally explained.

“What contingency needs me to be filthy rich?” asked David.

“Do you know how to tend sheep, work the fields or grow olive trees?” Sally asked.

“No, but I’m only going to be there for a few days at most, probably less. Once I find Tom, we’ll both be back. I couldn’t spend this much in a lifetime,” David said, as his own comment began to sink in. “Oh.”

“If you get stuck back there, if your watch breaks or malfunctions or…”

David tied the pouch to his twine belt. “I get the idea.”

“Just find a hole in the wall little town and try not to interact with anyone…for the rest of your life.”

David hadn’t considered getting stuck in the past as an option. He cursed himself for not thinking of it after his last adventure through time. He had come close to losing the watch even then, and he had only been in the past for a few minutes! David would make sure he and the watch would never be separated.

“I’ll come back,” he said with confidence. He looked into Sally’s eyes and smiled, “I promise.”

Sally smiled and said, “You better get to the prep station. The boys are getting antsy.”

“Will you be coming to watch?” David asked, trying not to sound too hopeful.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

As David turned to leave, Sally suddenly said, “David, wait.”

He froze in his tracks. What was this? David turned toward Sally as she walked over to him. Her face looked softer and her eyes were locked on the floor.

“I wanted to apologize,” she said.

David nearly passed out but managed to stay standing.

“I know I’ve been a real ass over the years,” Sally said slowly and deliberately, “but try to understand that it’s not who I really am. My job is…complicated, and I have to sometimes say and do things I don’t like, to make sure things get done. I just wanted you to know…in case something happens.”

Through his smile David said, “I understand. Thank you for apologizing.”

He thought he should leave before anything more was said-or done-that might cause him to change his mind about risking his life to retrieve Tom. “See you down there,” David finished and started for the door.

“David, let’s keep this between you and me. I can’t have anyone else knowing I’m not a complete bitch.”

David stopped at the door, “Your secret is safe with me.” He closed the door behind him on the way out.

Sally stood alone, looking at the door and a wave of sadness swept over her. She closed her eyes, but quickly composed herself as the door behind her opened. Three men entered and she turned to greet them with the cold gaze she had perfected over the years.

The man in the blue suit was George Dwight, CEO of LightTech and one of only three people with more clout then her. He was like a politician stuck forever on the campaign trail. His hair was slicked back and his nails were impeccably manicured. George had more power than Sally, but she knew she still intimidated him.

Jake Parrish, a tall and astute man with squinty eyes, was George’s assistant. He was George’s voice, his errand boy and a constant thorn in Sally’s side. Every executive order from George came from Jake’s lips. He took such joy in delivering those orders too. Sally knew that Jake lusted for power. She could see it when he gave orders, smiling fiendishly. She watched him like a hawk whenever he showed his face in her department. Today was no different. He had a look of “I know more than you,” on his face. She could swear his eyes were smiling at her.

The other man was a stranger-tall, shaved head and clean. Sally imagined that there wasn’t a loose flake of skin on the man’s body. There wasn’t a trace of stubble on his slick, cleft chin and even less intelligence behind his eyes. Sally didn’t like him.

Smiling his pearly white, phony grin, George said, “You handled that well. I think that’s a new low, even for you Sally, leading him on like that.”

Sally swallowed hard, “Whatever it takes.”

“Glad to hear that’s still your policy,” said George.

“Why?” Sally raised an eyebrow. “You have something planned?”

George gave a sideways glance to Jake, who promptly stepped forward. “Director McField, as you know, one of our lead scientists, Tom Greenbaum, has traveled back in time using LightTech owned equipment. Not only is this a crime against LightTech, but taking into account Dr. Greenbaum’s intentions, it is a crime against all humanity. Given what is at stake, we believe it necessary to implement a few safety precautions, a few…failsafes.”

“Meaning?” Sally asked, seemingly unfazed by this information.

“Meaning, Director McField,” the stranger said, in a voice that screamed military, “if the situation cannot be contained, it must be eliminated.”

“And you are?” asked Sally.

“Captain John Roberts.”

George intervened, “Captain Roberts is the head of our Time Enforcement Division.”

“Time what? Why wasn’t I told of this?” Sally crossed her arms tightly across her chest.

“You’re in charge of technology development. You didn’t need to know. Captain Roberts has been training for years in case your division succeeded,” George explained as he chuckled, “And as soon as you succeeded, you lost control.”

“What are you planning to do?” Sally asked, already knowing the answer.

“You heard Captain Roberts. If the situation cannot be contained it will be eliminated. Roberts has been trained for every situation imaginable. He speaks fifteen languages, is a master of cultural blending and is trained in several kinds of hand-to-hand and special weapons combat.”

“That’s just what we need, a gung ho G.I. Joe killing people in the past,” Sally said with a chuckle.

“Miss McField,” Roberts said, “I assure you, I am the best equipped man alive to handle this situation. When Dr. Goodman fails, I will not.”

“What event are you planning on going back to?” Sally asked.

“We’ve calculated the date on which Jesus was most likely crucified. If Dr. Greenbaum wants to disprove the story of Jesus, that is where he’d start,” Jake explained.

“I’m leaving three minutes after Dr. Goodman,” added Roberts, “If he hasn’t retrieved Dr. Greenbaum when I find them, I’ll take care of the situation in the most expedient way possible.”

“Sacrifice their futures to save our past,” Sally said, understanding the plan.

“Exactly,” George said with a smile.

“I expect you’ll keep me informed?” Sally asked, as she headed for the door.

“Naturally,” George replied, “Oh, and Sally, keep this to yourself.”

“Naturally.” Sally left the room wondering how she could have let this happen. Tom and David had been sentenced to death, and she was the only who could save their lives.