The Last Time Machine. Forum You walk into the bar.

I take a tangerine from the shattered glass bowl as I dig Chloe with my elbow and we watch Piano-man duck and cover from the sound of the cracking mirror. He is intoxicated with something, looks aroused. I have not seen him this jumpy in a long time. Hipster and Jonas, I think his name is, (this week at least) are drawing towards the axis. A party should distract for a while from this wet, uncongenial summer.

**behind my eyes...I see the tree, the villa, watched from amongst the branches. Crumble watches......**

I beckon to Sailor as the draw from the toilets pulls.
I turn to Amos to speak.
"Have you been to one of the parties before? Do you know the score?"

She shakes her head.

"Hey, Hipster, if that's your name. This is Chloe, Chloe, this is Hipster and her gentleman friend. Talk."




*** "Crumble, Come here, we are not finished, zip yourself in and come to me in the back bar." ***


I walk towards the back room. I shall pick up my time sailor on the way.

I start talkin to the guy in the brown turtleneck.
It's funny. I don't even know your name, but I bet you could spin me a tale to make me never want to sleep alone ever again.

And piano man....*grins* Im puttin my money on the Narnie girl....she seems to know you. At least, thats the impression Im gettin...she gets all googly eyed when she looks at you.

Jonas? Dude, I just wanna know what the hell is in the briefcase. And when he opens it, and there's a gold light reflecting from it, Im gettin away from him as fast my little legs can carry me.

So come on!! Lets get to the damn Villa Diodati!! Sheesh people!

I stroll over to the bar, and I pick up the bottle that the guy left. I take a pull off it, and I grimace. I hand it back to him.
Here.....this is definitly your poison. Ew!

Mamu returns. "Alright the car's here. Seats eight. The rest of you will just have find your own way. let's go party!" eixits with a flourish, followed by...

I run out with the piano man, and my new found friend.....I make sure I have plenty of pens and paper....

I look up into the rain, and I cant help but smile....This is going to be great!

currently in the car..the driver, me, hipster, his new found friend (I'm not sure who that is but It's not CRUMBLE!), that's four, and i'm impatient for a party...

She steps into the car and is immediately regretting it. The piano's man unique odour of stale cigarette smoke and whiskey, combined with a strong cloud of body odour is hardly the most inviting, when she doesn't know how long the journey will take. She squeezes in next to the Hipster and thinks of a way to relieve the fog.

'Smoke anyone?'

that's five.

An announcement on the P.A. system. "Ladies and gentleman the fog appears to be lifting and flights will resume in approximately one half hour."

Running to catch up, she looks back at the announcement wondering why Ebby didn't follow along. At least it would be one someone she knew. She steps into the open car door.

"Room for one more?"

Pulls down her shoes self-consciously, realizing she's using them to gesture with.

That's six.

(In the front seat. Snaps awake from his drunken semi-stupor. Into the rearview mirror.) Hey you, young feller! (No Response) (Turns around, taps the hipster on the knee) Hey you! Young feller. (She flinches, turns away, mumbles inaudibly) What? Let me see. (Leans over. Parts the hair that covers her face. Peers in) My God! You are too. And a cute one at that. But don't worry you're too scrawny for me. I like em with a bit of meat on their bones. A bit of wiggly, jiggly if you know what I mean. (Grabs Narnie's knee) (Looks her in the eye. Change of character less buffoonish, more menacing) First in, first served, baby.
(Sits back into the front seat. Into the rearview mirror) Anyway, young feller, I see you with that notebook all that time and I got a job going up at the mansion. Remind me later if you're interested. Mamu, put some music on. (Iggy Pop. Girl I Wanna Be Your Dog)(Reclines into the seat. Lights a cigar.)

Strokes a shard of glass then smiles.. The mirror has gone. So have the voices. He walks into the bar and gets another pint of cider, old scrumpy, and some pig lumps...

Leans over to the barmaid. "where did the people go?"

"Some to the car with the smelly pianist and two others to the back room."

She seems so unhappy. "would you like a drink?"

"No."

She looked blank for a few moments then produced two drinks and some snacks from under the bar. "Do us a favour. Take these to the back room."

I didnt want to but i felt compelled to nod then stashed the stuff away and made off for the back room.

My knuckles throbbed.

I pass across the room, avoiding any eye contact with the rest of its inhabitants, and dash out the door toward the waiting car.

Anxious to get in on any partying to be done and seeing the the fun is on the run, the guitar player throws his box in the case and the case in the sidecar of his Harley. He wipes the wet seat with a bar towel and fires up his bike. The crowd just ahead looks like they are about to pull out in the road.

I stumble in a black dress with black heals, my hair a mess, wet, I'm dumfounded like a clutz and ask for the first thing on mind, "hand me a beer, any beer," I look around, and look for my first target.

Sensing something is wrong the man grabs his briefcase and makes a move for the bathroom. He wanted until time was unfroze, but he felt uncomfortable being around someone with that ability. He turned around just before he left the table, and threw a twenty on it. He clutched the briefcase to his chest, and walked through the bar careful not to make eye contact with anyone. He knew the terms of the contract and he was careful not to break any of the clauses of else something terrible would happen to everyone in the bar. Sweat was once again pouring down his face, and he couldn't stand the feeling of the sticky heat in this bar. He glanced at his watch, and broke into a gentle walk sprint for the bathroom.