Time Camp Episode 1: Family Time Read Online Free Page B
Author: John Huegel
mouths shut!” quipped Liz.
Brad took them to Wardrobe and they changed into clothing appropriate for the season and era, just for good measure.
Once they finished their preparations, Brad led them to the huge room that they came into the night before. Though mostly empty, there were a few people at desks near the center. Brad approached one of them, an operator. He told her, “Brandy, three for January 20, 2010, Washington DC TimeStation 4.” She tapped out a bit and repeated back the coordinates. “Booth 7. Return to now +1?”
“Roger, now +1, booth 7. Good day,” replied Brad, and led Liz and Tom off down the hall.
Booth 7 was lit in blue, and had the date and their names indicated on the front. Brad walked up and the doors opened. “How does the booth know it’s us?” asked Liz.
“My enhancements tell it who I am. It verified the flight plan as well. You two can’t travel without an escort until you’ve taken the enhancements.”
The doors whisked open and they entered. The booth was the size of a large elevator, nearly identical to the booth that brought them in from Tonawanda. After the doors closed, there was a brief delay and the far door opened into a brightly lit office.
Brad had a brief conversation with a man at a desk in the office. Opening an office door, they emerged into an outer office, which opened onto a side street in Georgetown. Across they alley, they saw a sign for ‘Blues Alley’. Shortly, a cab rolled up and drove them about three miles, taking them as close to the Capitol building as possible. The three travelers walked the rest of the way in, staying close to each other among the immense crowds.
The inauguration events unfolded as they had been recorded – the USMC band played, the San Francisco boys’ and girls’ choirs sang, the introductions and invocations and other celebratory events took place for America’s first African American president, and he took the somewhat fumbled oath, which he retook correctly a day later.
Brad, Tom and Liz blended into the crowd but stayed together and out of the reach of media cameras. Liz took Tom’s hand and gripped it tight during Elizabeth Alexander’s recitation of the poem “Praise Song for the Day”, and all stood proudly for the Navy Chanters’ rendition of the national anthem. Tears streamed down Tom and Liz’ faces as the anthem completed, and Brad watched them with a gentle smile.
After the ceremony, they slowly but quietly returned to the Georgetown office. As they walked, Tom asked quietly, “So would we mess up the timeline if we stopped and had lunch somewhere?”
Brad replied, “Not usually. Of course if it’s a place that gets some attention with a notable or historic event, you may step into a dangerous Placetime, which could disrupt the timeline. But with enhancements, you’ll know that before you get into danger.”
To prove that there was no real risk, Brad did take them to a café on a side street, and they had a nice lunch before they completed their return to the TimeStation. Brad paid with cash, and they set out walking once again.
As they approached the Georgetown office, they greeted the staff who set the door for return. Once they were through the lock, they returned to the InterTime Zone exactly a minute after they left.
“It’s so immediate. I can’t get used to traveling to a different place and time in the blink of an eye!” said Liz.
Brad replied, “It is amazing. No one from our time exactly understands all of the principles involved. Let’s go talk about the whole experience, OK?”
Tom and Liz nodded, and they went to Brad’s office to debrief.
“So, how was it?” he asked, as they sat down in comfortable overstuffed chairs.
Liz commented, “Not bad. I knew I was out of place in the mall, but I was conscious of needing to be inconspicuous. I guess since it was so recent, I didn’t feel too
Brad took them to Wardrobe and they changed into clothing appropriate for the season and era, just for good measure.
Once they finished their preparations, Brad led them to the huge room that they came into the night before. Though mostly empty, there were a few people at desks near the center. Brad approached one of them, an operator. He told her, “Brandy, three for January 20, 2010, Washington DC TimeStation 4.” She tapped out a bit and repeated back the coordinates. “Booth 7. Return to now +1?”
“Roger, now +1, booth 7. Good day,” replied Brad, and led Liz and Tom off down the hall.
Booth 7 was lit in blue, and had the date and their names indicated on the front. Brad walked up and the doors opened. “How does the booth know it’s us?” asked Liz.
“My enhancements tell it who I am. It verified the flight plan as well. You two can’t travel without an escort until you’ve taken the enhancements.”
The doors whisked open and they entered. The booth was the size of a large elevator, nearly identical to the booth that brought them in from Tonawanda. After the doors closed, there was a brief delay and the far door opened into a brightly lit office.
Brad had a brief conversation with a man at a desk in the office. Opening an office door, they emerged into an outer office, which opened onto a side street in Georgetown. Across they alley, they saw a sign for ‘Blues Alley’. Shortly, a cab rolled up and drove them about three miles, taking them as close to the Capitol building as possible. The three travelers walked the rest of the way in, staying close to each other among the immense crowds.
The inauguration events unfolded as they had been recorded – the USMC band played, the San Francisco boys’ and girls’ choirs sang, the introductions and invocations and other celebratory events took place for America’s first African American president, and he took the somewhat fumbled oath, which he retook correctly a day later.
Brad, Tom and Liz blended into the crowd but stayed together and out of the reach of media cameras. Liz took Tom’s hand and gripped it tight during Elizabeth Alexander’s recitation of the poem “Praise Song for the Day”, and all stood proudly for the Navy Chanters’ rendition of the national anthem. Tears streamed down Tom and Liz’ faces as the anthem completed, and Brad watched them with a gentle smile.
After the ceremony, they slowly but quietly returned to the Georgetown office. As they walked, Tom asked quietly, “So would we mess up the timeline if we stopped and had lunch somewhere?”
Brad replied, “Not usually. Of course if it’s a place that gets some attention with a notable or historic event, you may step into a dangerous Placetime, which could disrupt the timeline. But with enhancements, you’ll know that before you get into danger.”
To prove that there was no real risk, Brad did take them to a café on a side street, and they had a nice lunch before they completed their return to the TimeStation. Brad paid with cash, and they set out walking once again.
As they approached the Georgetown office, they greeted the staff who set the door for return. Once they were through the lock, they returned to the InterTime Zone exactly a minute after they left.
“It’s so immediate. I can’t get used to traveling to a different place and time in the blink of an eye!” said Liz.
Brad replied, “It is amazing. No one from our time exactly understands all of the principles involved. Let’s go talk about the whole experience, OK?”
Tom and Liz nodded, and they went to Brad’s office to debrief.
“So, how was it?” he asked, as they sat down in comfortable overstuffed chairs.
Liz commented, “Not bad. I knew I was out of place in the mall, but I was conscious of needing to be inconspicuous. I guess since it was so recent, I didn’t feel too
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