Fugitives of Time: Sequel to Emperors of Time Read Online Free Page B

internet.”
    “Right,” Julie said, putting her hand to her chest. 
“Geez, my heart’s still racing.  We were in that time  for less than
twelve hours and the Emperors of Time already had people out to arrest us.”
    “Sure,” Tim agreed.  “So that’s clearly their plan-- to
catch us-- what’s ours?”
    “Oh come on, why’s everyone looking at me?” Julie asked,
annoyed.
    “You’ve been doing this time-traveling thing longer than the
rest of us,” Tim said. 
    “Longer by like a day.  It’s not my fault that I met
Hopkins before you did,” she countered.  She paused, biting her lip. 
“But that’s what we need to do, obviously.  Meet Hopkins, just like we
were going to do before.  Unless there were any objections?”
    “I don’t think there’s any ‘obviously’ about it,” Billy
said.  He shook his head.  “Any world where I’m traveling through
time to go meet someone from the year 2347 isn’t one where the word ‘obviously’
applies.  But I agree with the plan.   We’re not going to him
empty handed anymore, so we have no reason not to meet him.”
    “Whoa, now,” Rose said, sticking her tongue out.  “No
need to argue, we’re all suggesting the same plan.  Now, since I got us
here at eight, my aunt and uncle won’t be in the shop yet, so we can just sneak
right out, but we should already be at school, ‘cause it’s a Tuesday. 
Let’s go.”
    “So, wait,” said Billy.  “Why does it matter so much if
we’re in school already?”
    “Well, just, our past selves would be really freaked out if
we ran into them.  I’d probably report us to the police or something,”
Julie said.
    “Oh, yeah…  That makes sense,” Billy decided.
    There was no further discussion.   Julie seemed
happy not to be the one leading for a change.  Tim had known Rose for less
than two weeks, but this was the most determined that he had ever seen her, so
he figured it was best not to question her.  Tim guessed that Billy’s
thought process was something similar.
    It was about a half hour walk between the antique shop and
Julie’s house, and the four teens spent the time rehashing the events in 1916
that had led to them getting back to their own time.  This was probably
fair, since they hadn’t had much time to process it.  After all, less than
24 hours ago, according to their own personal timelines, they had all been
locked in a hotel room while a bunch of thugs in the next room worked on
building a bomb that would change the outcome of the 1916 election and American
history in general.  But Tim was still a bit frustrated because all the
chatter from his friends meant he couldn’t get much of a word in edgewise
concerning how excited he was about the prospect of spending some time further
in the past to correct the changes the Emperors had made to the mid-1800s.
    Downtown was deserted this time of day.  In their town,
downtown was just a fancy name for a couple blocks of Main Street where the
eight or so main commercial offerings were.  As they strolled down the
streets, they seemed almost eerily empty.  Once, they spotted a car coming
toward them. 
    “Off the road!” cautioned Rose.
    When Billy responded by raising his eyebrows, Rose shook her
head as she pushed Billy off the road and down a little hill beside it. 
Julie and Tim followed as Rose explained, “We’re walking through our hometown
where people know us, and even though we’re not being pursued by the cops
anymore, we’re still truant from school.  If we get caught, we’re going to
have a crazy time explaining why we’re two places at once.”
    Everyone took a few steps away from the road, turning their
backs to the oncoming car, hoping that no one would recognize them.  The
car didn’t slow down as it passed, which the teens took as a good sign. 
Either way, after the car passed, they were a little more alert as they
continued to Julie’s house, staying further from the street and