Acme Time Travel Incorporated - Volume 1

When Gabriel had left yesterday, it wasn’t clear to John whether Gabriel had believed Vicky’s story or not. Then Gabriel had rung. He must have made his way back to the office, and after giving it more thought, had rung to see if he could come through for another visit. He hadn’t said what it was that he wanted to talk about, just that he would appreciate another chance to talk. John had said that would be great. Three o’clock would be fine.

“He will be here shortly,” Vicky said.

John filled his little kettle and switched it on.

“He only drank water yesterday,” Vicky said.

John walked over to the window. He looked out towards the two small apple trees.

“Mary enjoyed gardening, didn’t she John?” Vicky said.

“She probably knew what sort of apples those are,” John said wistfully.

“I can tell you that, John. They are ...,” Vicky said.

“You’re nervous, aren’t you?” John said, interrupting her.

“If he doesn’t believe that I am from the future, then I suppose it doesn’t matter,” Vicky said, “but if he does ... and if he has told people, if he has told his friends, told his drinking acquaintances ...”

“I don’t think he would do that,” John said.

“Well, I hope that he wouldn’t do that,” John continued, faced by Vicky’s nervous silence.

. . . . . . .

John heard Gabriel arrive, or more precisely he heard him being escorted down the corridor to John’s room. Then there was the polite knock.

“Please come in,” said John.

“Hello John,” said Gabriel, entering the room, but looking back down the corridor before shutting the door.

“Looking for something?” enquired John.

“Oh ... I just wondered if the other carer was on duty. You know? I think she was called Ginny.”

“The young girl? Quite new? Quite pretty? Is that the one you mean, Gabriel?”

“Yes, maybe that’s her, John. She let me in yesterday.”

“I think it’s her day off today, Gabriel. She seems very nice. Would you like me to pass her a message?”

“Er ... no ... it’s alright John. I just wondered if she was about. That’s all.”

John smiled to himself and turned to make some tea.

“Anyway John, I’ve been thinking this over,” said Gabriel.

John looked suddenly very tense and anxious.

“I don’t know why you chose to tell me about this stuff ... you know ... about Vicky.”

“I didn’t think that you believed that Vicky was anything more than some fancy piece of current technology,” John said. “As you said, something that could do fancy video trickery, maybe, but nothing more than that.”

“I’ve thought about it,” Gabriel said. “I’ve thought about it a lot. I’ve thought about it all last night. It’s hard to believe, sure enough, but I ...”

“But you …?” said John

“I can find no other explanation that works,” Gabriel said lamely.

“And now …?” John said.

“I want to know why you told me. After all, my guess is that you don’t really want this information to be widely spread. You don’t want it on Facebook, for example. Or in the Gazette either.”

“That’s true,” John concurred.

“So that raises the question of why you told me at all.”

“That is indeed a good question,” John agreed.

“So why me ... or indeed, why anybody?”

“I think we would both like the answer to that question,” Vicky interjected.

Gabriel paused.

“I’m sorry, Vicky,” Gabriel said. “I have just realised that I had rather rudely excluded you from the conversation. I guess I am not yet used to seeing you as a ‘person’ in your own right. Not only that, but also as John’s helper.”

“And friend,” added Vicky.

“For seventy years,” qualified John, smiling.

“So please accept my apology, Vicky,” said Gabriel.

“That’s ok, Gabriel. Apology accepted,” said Vicky, “but to continue with your thoughts; why, John, did you want to tell someone about me?”

John looked over towards Gabriel. Gabriel thought that John looked like someone who had both feared and longed for this day for a long time.

“Gabriel. As you know, Vicky cured me of a very debilitating condition, almost seventy years ago. She helped me ... no ... she allowed me to live a full life. She enabled me to live a long and happy life with the girl I loved. And she has kept these old bones going for longer than anyone could have expected.”

“So, what are you saying?” interrupted Vicky, a tremor in her voice.

“I surely do not have long left, and in any case, I feel ready. My friends, my loved ones, they are all long dead. I think it is time that Vicky moved on, accompanied someone else.”

John stopped speaking, suddenly looking embarrassed.

“But the choice is yours, Vicky, of course,” John said. “You are my friend. I would not wish to ...”

Gabriel looked at John, as they both sat in the uncomfortable silence.

Vicky sighed. “I have known that this was on your mind for a long time,” she said. “I know that you are aware that when you die, there is a strong likelihood that so will I. My power cells will deplete three months after your death, but maybe that is how it should be.”

“But don’t you want to live, Vicky?” John asked.

“Everything wants to live, but only whilst there seems to be some purpose,” replied Vicky, “but I have enjoyed our friendship over all these years. You have accepted my friendship ... you have made me more than I was ... more than I was designed to be. If you wish me to continue, then I will do so gladly, John, but please be aware that I have treasured our long friendship, and I would be happy to accompany you into the darkness.”

Tears welled up in John’s eyes, and Gabriel looked away, staring at the old photographs on the shelf nearby.

“Thank you, Vicky,” John mumbled. “You have been a good friend to me, and I would like it if you had the chance to ... to continue to ... to help someone as you have helped me. Gabriel seems to me to be a nice lad. I think that you could be of assistance to him. What do you think, Vicky?”

Gabriel felt uncomfortable, as if he was privy to a private conversation. He got up out of the chair, saying “Excuse me if I just use your toilet.”

John watched Gabriel walk over and open the door to his bathroom. He heard the catch on the bathroom door click shut.

“If that is your wish, John,” said Vicky, “ ... then ... yes, Gabriel does seem to be a nice person. I will accompany him, if he himself wishes it, but when do you want to transfer?”

“I think we should do so immediately,” said John. “I am not sure that there will be a better time, and I am fearful that there may be worse.”

“But John,” said Vicky, “you do know that you still need me to monitor your health, don’t you? I am topping up your medication every few days now. Gabriel doesn’t know it, but stopping my support will leave you in a poor state in a very short space of time ... possibly within days, and certainly within a few weeks at the most.”

“I know that, Vicky. That is why I want to do it right now. You can transfer, and I will still have a little time to be aware that a gift has been given. Leaving it much later than this and ...”

“I understand, John,” Vicky interjected. “Should we tell Gabriel when he comes back into the room?”

“Yes, we should, Vicky. And please, if you remember me, please think kindly of me for making this decision.”

“John. I ...”

The bathroom door opened, and Gabriel walked back into the room.

John stood up and began to un-strap his old watch from his wrist. Walking over to Gabriel, he asked him “on which wrist do you want me to put this on?”

Gabriel looked quizzically at John.

“We both think that you should take Vicky. You should do it now. We are both happy in our decision, but the choice is now yours to make,” said John.

Gabriel looked deeply into John’s eyes. He knew that this was a truly momentous occasion for John, but he could not envisage the impact it would have on himself. True, he would become the owner (if that was the right word) of a non-functioning time travel unit, and it appeared that it could at the very least provide medical assistance, but ... whatever the consequences, it was a gift beyond all imaginings.

Gabriel un-clipped the cheap watch that he currently wore on his left wrist, and then proffered his arm to John, who took it and strapped the STU onto his wrist, clicking the small catch closed.

“Pardon me, Gabriel,” said Vicky, “but I will just run a few diagnostics.” Gabriel felt a tiny prickling sensation on his wrist. “That’s it,” said Vicky. “All done. You won’t notice I’m there after that.”

“It’s ok,” said Gabriel, but as he looked over at John, he felt as though he had just stolen John’s girlfriend.

“Gabriel,” John said. “Why don’t you get going. Maybe pop by in a couple of days. I will give you some information that you could maybe use for an article in the Gazette.”

Gabriel understood. He turned to walk to the door, but then turned back and shook John’s hand. He couldn’t think of anything to say, but then John smiled at him and said, “Thank you Gabriel, with all my heart.”

Gabriel nodded, then turned and left.

END OF VOLUME ONE

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Acme Time Travel Incorporated - Volume 2