Chapter 2 Mr. Smith Calls

Bad Guy intrudes, the rogue head of present day Time Travel Agency. Jim is kidnapped them, freed by mass action.

              Mr. Smith Calls

                by Captain Bill

 

Jim approaches a young woman still seated at the seminar table.  Marianne is average height, a little pudgy, has long hair worn up, and wears black glasses with thin rims.  She commutes to campus from the family home in Ballard, the Swedish enclave in Seattle.

Jim says, “Marianne, can I talk to you a few minutes, privately?  It is a professional matter.”

Marianne says, “Jim, first let me compliment you what you did for us with that Van Gogh showing at the Art Institute.  Professional ? Me?”

Jim says, “Everyone’s gone now.  Here is fine.  Let me sit down.”

Marianne says, “If it’s about Dianne, I won’t help with that.  Her mind is made up.”

Jim says, “That’s ancient history.  No, this is professional.  And very serious.  And since it is professional, let me put a fee on the table right now.”

Jim slides a white envelope in front of Marianne, and says, “Take a look.”

Marianne takes the envelope and opens the flap, and fingers some dollars.

She says, “Jim, that’s ten $100 bills.  And the smaller envelope says, ‘Open only in event of my disappearance.’  Ah, you think I’m a journalist! “

Jim says, “You are a journalist. And an assistant editor of our fine college newspaper.   Before I go further, I have to swear you to total and complete secrecy.  It is for your safety as well as mine. No one, unless the condition comes to be.  Swear ?”

Marianne says, “You sure know how to get a girl, I mean, a journalist interested, don’t you? I swear.  No one.  Unless…”

Jim says, “Hide that now.  Okay, it’s better you know nothing until it’s time.  So I won’t tell you much.  You earned your fee already by taking the envelope.  Enjoy it.  I see it as insurance.  You pay a small price and hope you don’t really need it.  I believe I might be in some danger, and might face kidnapping, and disappearance.  What I gave you might free me.  I will tell you it is all 100% true.  If they find you, feel free to give it up.  Unopened and you might walk.  So there is danger, until you publish.”

Marianne says, “Danger?  Kidnapping ?  You not kidding, are you?  What about the police?  That painting is involved, isn’t it?  I thought something was up.”

Jim says, “Marianne, now is the time to put a cork in it.  I will tell you that it is the government that I am worried about.  Think I’m just paranoid right now.  You have a fine mind.  Observe, don’t talk.  And maybe set up something with one or two people you trust like I just set up with you.  Inside your envelope, it can say you are working on a story with my name. Clear?”

Marianne mimes picking up a cork and putting it in her mouth, and then uses the same hand to make a salute to her forehead.

Jim says, “Thanks.  Now go to the bathroom for a few minutes before you leave.” 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

 

Caller: “I’d like to interview you about the painting you sold for $110 million.”

Jim:”Sorry, I don’t do interviews.  I don’t know anything about a painting.”

Caller: “Jim, I’m not a reporter. I’m with the government.”

Jim: “I paid some hefty taxes to you.  All done.  Everything my tax guy said to pay, I paid.”

Caller: “Jim, we can do this the easy way, or the other way.  I want to talk you.”

Jim:  “Just checking.  I won’t go anywhere else.  I will talk to you at my house.  If you’re outside now, just come to the door.  If it’s just you, I’ll see what you have to say.  If there’s more, I won’t cooperate.”

Caller: “Be about a minute.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Jim:  “Come in and have a seat.”

Mr. Smith: “I’m John Smith.  You didn’t try to call anyone or run.  Very good. I’ll tell you what I can, and then I’d like to ask you a few questions.”

Jim: “Mr. Smith, I have an idea what you are.  But I don’t have any idea if I can trust you.”

Mr. Smith: “At this point, trust is not a consideration.  The project I’m working with watches for unusual happenings, that might be best explained by temporal dilation.  In other words, time travel.  We are authorized at the highest level.”

Jim: “What do I get from cooperating?”

Mr. Smith: “You can join the project in some capacity, depending on your skills and our trust in you.  Or not.  There are no other choices.”

Jim: “Will you make the decision, or are you just a flunky?”

Mr. Smith: “I’ll decide.  You are pretty confident for someone in your position.  If I give the word, my agents in front and back will have you in custody in less than a minute.  The van is backed into your driveway right now. You will never see the light of day again.  You will long for your daily interview with me, at the facility.”

Jim: “Pretty much what I expected.  So if I tell you what I can, you wouldn’t want me to tell anyone else, would you?  Or tell the newsies?  Can’t have that, can we?”

Mr. Smith: “Your conduct to this point shows that you understand that very well.  How can I trust you to continue it?  If you just disappear, I won’t have to worry at all.”

Jim: “You could easily be someone else.  But I expected you about now, so I will assume you are who you say you are.  I’ll give you something today, but not all of it.  Not even most of it.  And you will leave.  You can follow me and listen to my phone, like you have.  And you can come back next week, and I’ll give you some more.  Perhaps we can learn a little mutual trust.”

Mr. Smith, “We know about your daily check in to (206)XXX-XXXX.  We can cover that.  We know about Roberta the reporter with the Seattle Times and her sealed envelope.”

Jim: “I expect that you do.  Do you know all of them, Mr. Smith?  How much of the law, and how many Amendments will you violate? If you don’t get them all, you will go down harder than I will.  For blowing it!  Do I have that right, Mr. Smith?”

Mr. Smith, “That is why I always think a personal meeting with a potential source is a very good thing.   We can try it your way.  If you start talking to anyone else, that will invalidate my agreement.  So what do you have to say today?”

Jim: “I was transported back from 40 some years ago.  I didn’t know before it happened.  When I woke up, I also had some money and two paintings.  That is all for today.  Let’s see if I can trust you now.”

Mr. Smith, “Well, that’s not a lot.  The money was our first clue.  Those serial numbers were on the list of “Lost, presumed destroyed bills”.  They are good money, but the government controls the money supply, and needs to know.  When a lot of them showed up from the Seattle area, we began watching closer here.  Did you wear gloves when you handled that money?  We never found one of your fingerprints on any of those bills.”

Jim: “You can’t be too careful, can you?  So come back next week.  This time is good. You can leave me a contact number.  And include your middle initial, so that the right Mr. John Smith will get a message.”

Mr. Smith:  “I can do that.  It’s Q.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Today is the paper group for the Philosophy class.  Father O’Brien is sitting in.  The Honors Program (HP) is his brainchild, and he still teaches classes.  Today he is sitting next to the regular teacher.  Jim’s paper is an examination of Hegel’s Phenomonology of the Mind  with reference to the ‘Zeitgeist’ (German for World Spirit) moving through history.  This is contrasted with a materialist view, presented by some of the works of Mao ZeDong.  Jim makes the point that they are talking about the same thing, with the difference of an idealist and materialist point of view.   He defends his paper from searching questions from fellow students and the teacher.  When the session is done, the teacher hands him back his paper with ‘A’ on top, and the comment ‘Most of us are idealists to one degree or another.   Your views provide a challenging contrast.  Keep it up!’ ”

After class, Father O’Brien asks Jim to stay for a minute.

Father O’Brien says, “Jim, that event for the HP people was special.  Observing your intellectual development has been a treat, even if you have chosen materialism as your guide.  And thanks again for that Xerox equipment for the HP.  You got your own key for after hours, but it has upgraded everything to let students get good clean copies for their paper groups.  I didn’t have the budget.  And your paper donations are appreciated.  All anonymous, of course.”

Jim says, “Father, your HP is excellent training for the mind, so thank you. I wasn’t sure about asking you, but I will.  Can you keep a secret for me?  Swear by the bond of the confessional?”

Father O’Brien says, “Some things might not be as secret as you want.  Some things might be obvious if someone really looks at things.  That is why I sat in on the paper group today.   But I will swear by the confessional to keep whatever you tell me quiet.  I will expect the appropriate contribution to the HP.”   …with a smile.

Jim hands him a sealed white envelope, with this written on it ‘To be opened in event of my disappearance’.   Jim says, “And a good fundraiser you are, sir.  I planned on it already.  For your protection and mine, don’t open that until it’s time.  Knowing less will protect us both.“

Father O’Brien, “Curiouser and curiouser.  You have my word.  I hope the HP won’t lose in the process.”

Jim says, “Your promise doesn’t mean you have to die for the envelope.  Give it up if you have to.  The people that I’m worried about will probably give you a pass if it’s not opened.  I’m spreading this out so they can’t get them all.”

Father O’Brien, with a searching close look at Jim, says, “Curiouser and curiouser.  And the time might be soon?  How about the police?”

Jim says, “I think the HP will come out well, Father.  And it is the government I’m worried about.  I have paid all my taxes, too.  Maybe soon, yes.”

Father O’Brien puts the envelope inside his cassock, “Jim, you’re one of us.  Good Luck.”  …and leaves.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

At class later that day, Marianne sat next to Jim.

           She says, “Jim, I agreed to tell No One.  I haven’t.  But I didn’t swear not to open it.  I did.  Now I see I need another one, in case.  Jim, I don’t believe it, but if … What a story!!”

          Jim says, “Here’s another envelope.  Tear and flush the other.  Here is a list of people to talk to, only if…  and thanks.  This is for expenses.”  

         He slides her an envelope with more bills in it.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Jim opens the door for Mr. Smith.

Mr. Smith says, “You say you told me everything, but you won’t answer some important questions.  When and where did you first meet the time traveler?”

Jim says, “I’ve told you everything about me.  You can go quite far with that.  But I won’t let you set a trap for someone who was good to me.”

Mr. Smith shows Jim an opened envelope, “This is Roberta’s, your tame Seattle Times reporter. The seals and sealing wax are a nice touch. She hadn’t opened it, so I might release her in a few days, when I’m sure.  You agreed not to tell anyone.  This is everything you told me.”

Jim says, “I haven’t told anyone.  No one will know if I just keep doing my usual things.”

Mr. Smith says, “Maybe in a few days or months, you’ll think differently.  There are chemicals if I have to.  You’re coming in, right now.”

Mr. Smith touches a button on a pager, and in less than a minute, three men in suits come in the front door and two come in the rear door.  Both doors had been locked.  Jim goes quietly to the green van backed into his driveway, without any fuss.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

At the HP seminar room later that day, Marianne notices that Jim is not there.  She excuses herself and goes to the HP secretary, and asks to use the phone.  She calls Jim’s number, and gets no answer.  There are funny noises on the line.  Marianne thinks ‘I just made a mistake.’

Marianne says, “Mrs. Jackson, we all have an emergency, right now.  Get ready to get out of here.  I’m going to see Father O’Brien.  When you leave, disappear for two days. Not home, completely out of sight .. two days. If you get caught, tell them anyone but me made the last phone call.   More than you possibly know depends on it.”

Mrs. Jackson, with a shrug, says, “I’ll do whatever Father O’B says.”

Marianne knocks on his office door, and opens it without waiting.  She says, “Father, Jim’s not here at class.  I think he’s disappeared.  I called his house.  No answer.”

Father O’Brien says, “Did you get a sealed envelope?”

Marianne says, “Yes, and nosy like I am, I already read it.  I need you to send Mrs. Jackson into hiding, and to back me up with the class.  Then read your letter.”

Father O’Brien says, “Someone with a plan!  I back you up for now.  Let’s go.”

Father O’Brien enters the seminar room, followed by Marianne.

He says, “Class, an emergency involving one of our own is apparently taking place.  I ask you all to listen to Marianne here and follow her directions.”

Marianne says, “Thank you, Father.  Show the class your letter, and the seals.  Then open it and then make copies for everyone.  Send Mrs. Jackson into hiding.  Now.  Okay, everyone.  This is not a drill.  I read my letter already, nosy reporter that I am.  The outside cover says ‘To be opened in the event of my disappearance’.  I looks like that has happened.  I can’t take the chance that it’s something else.  So read your copy, we’ll talk for a few minutes, and then I want you to leave and be in the lobby of Campion Hall at 8am tomorrow.  It will be a good idea to stay away from your usual places today and tonight. This will be to save Jim.”

Overheard Remarks: “Why not the police or FBI?”  “This is crazy stuff.  It has to be prank!”   “Jim’s a good guy.  Just listen.”

Marianne says, “Jim was worried about his disappearance.  I asked him the same question.  He said it would be the government that did it.  And only exposure would save him.  If you get taken in for questioning, give up your copy.  Whatever you tell them, keep me out of it until tomorrow morning at 10am.  You have to last that long. Tell no one about this until tomorrow at 10.  After that, it’s okay.  In Hegel’s terms, a world historic moment is upon us.”  

Father O’Brien passes around copies and says, “I just read my letter.  It sounds crazy, yes, but how else does someone end up with Dreamtime?  All of you got the benefit of that.  Jim is the anonymous seller, obvious, correct me if I’m wrong.  And maybe the government wants to keep it quiet, or to control it themselves.  Don’t know.  But Jim is ours.  We want him back.  Listen to Marianne.  It behooves each of us to hide out until 8am tomorrow.  If you’re not up to it, stay hidden for the day.  Class dismissed for two days, at least.”

Marianne says, “Filter out the other entrances, one or two at time.  Bob, Dianne, stay for a minute, please.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

At 8am the next day, a group is gathered in the lobby of Campion Hall.  Marianne greets them.  And says, “I’ve been up all night, but it’s done.  Here’s the plan.  There’s a van outside with bundles of papers.  Everyone help unload it here.  Then you will be assigned floors of each dorm.  A paper under each door.  Then take some bundles to the regular racks.  I think we’ll get raided before long.  Anyone who’s left, just take what you have and get them out here or anywhere.   Jim says if you are caught, don’t run or resist.  Don’t give them a reason to kill you.  Just wait it out.“

At 10am, Marianne sits at the desk of a reporter for the Seattle PI.  She says, “Yes, I’m the assistant editor for our student newspaper.  It’s my story.  I know you’re the low man here, since you’re on the duty desk. If you do something with this story, it could be your ticket up.  The worst it could be is a college prank.  If it’s more, how far will the story go? My story, my sources, you can have the lead, but I want my name on it too.”

Steve says, “Do you know how many stories we get like this?”

Marianne says,  “Start with Roberta at the Times.  I think she has disappeared, too.  She had a sealed envelope with the student’s  story.  It won’t be unusual for another reporter to call the Times.”

Steve says, “Okay, I’ll give you that much…. Hmmm, no answer.  Roberta, switchboard, editor.  Hey Jack, anybody talk to the Times lately?  What do you mean, quarantine?  What’s your name again, Marianne?  Marianne, we might have a story.  You got sources.  Let’s go.  Jack, I got the Seattle U story.  Save me some space.  You drive while I read this.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Steve says, “Mrs. Harris, you’ve read your son’s letter.  What do you have to say?”

Mrs. Harris says, “I was sworn to secrecy, to prevent something like this.  I guess the secrecy thing is over.  So will telling the story help?”

Marianne says, “It is the only thing that might.  Jim set up some people with an envelope like this.  They’ve quarantined Seattle U, the UW, and the Seattle Times.  The Sea-Tac airport is closed.  Phones for the area codes for the Seattle U area are down.”

Mrs. Harris says, “He said what he was doing was legal, but bad people might kidnap both of us, so it had to stay secret.  I listened, but didn’t really believe it.  What you said is more than that.  This is all for Jim?”

Marianne says, “I opened my letter before I was supposed to.  I’m a reporter, after all.  My promise was not to tell anyone.  I didn’t.  So I got a student newspaper out as soon as it happened.  We gave it out at UW too.”

Steve says, “I’m recording.  Then we’re going to drive to Portland to get the story out.  So go ahead.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

The door opens, and a guy waves them in. 

John says, “I only opened the door for you, Marianne.  You warned me.  I listened, but didn’t believe it. Now … Well, after today, I will believe a lot of things.  What do you want?”

Steve says, “Steve here, investigative reporter with the PI.  Gotta be fast, deadlines, fast cars.  Tell him, Marianne.”

Marianne slides a sheet of paper to John, and says, “Jim thought this might happen.  He gave me this note saying you should talk to me.  Before secrecy was important.  Obviously, it wasn’t good enough.  Now we need exposure to save him.  I think some government project has kidnapped him.”

John says, “Ben brought your student newspaper home.  Well done.  The campus is quarantined now.  If you enter, you can’t come out.  And no phones work.  Okay, let me tell you my story.  I owe Jim my life. He said he had a gift and sometimes he KNEW what was going to happen, not what it says here.  Now I see he couldn’t tell me the whole thing.  It was after the last final, and we had an appointment.  But my girlfriend was waiting at the airport.  Jim called, and I only answered because I thought it was her.  Jim insisted on seeing me right then, saying it was a matter of life and death.  I was mad, and gave him a hard time for everything he said.  Until this: ‘Sometime in this Christmas vacation, I will get a call from your mom, saying you are a day late and will I check your dorm room?   There was no answer.  I found the guy in charge and insisted he open your door.  John, you were in your bed, stiff and blue, with a plastic bag over your head.  They told me later you took a can of glue from the wood shop where you worked, and one breath burned out your lungs.  And I went to your funeral a few days later.’ And he ends up giving me $20 and told me to get a bottle of the good stuff, but stay away from the glue.  And I was going to bring it to my room the next day.  Anyway, I’m alive today because of Jim and his warning.”

Marianne says, “You can tell everybody, and it will help.  Jim will appreciate it.”

Steve says, “We’ve got some driving to do. Bye now.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

A young black kid with four buddies approaches the soldier at the main entrance, with a basketball under his arm.  Sergeant Phil says, “Quarantine, can’t let you in.”

Malcolm says, “Da school lets us use da gym dis time a day.  Doan care bout no quarantine.  Dat’s for white people.”

Sergeant Phil says, “That guy in the suit is running things.  Talk to him.  But if you go in, you can’t come out.”

Malcolm says, “Hey suit, we got a deal ta use da gym.  You wanna  check dat?”

The suit says, “Get lost, kiddies.  No gym today.  We’re filling that up with detainees.”

Malcolm retreats across the street, and then the kids start throwing rocks at the suits.  Meanwhile, the open windows of the dorm have paper airplanes sailing out.  Some land in the crowd gathered there, and are taken away at gunpoint by the men in black suits.  Some land in the trees, and the fire department is directed to use the hook and ladder to retrieve them.  Some in crowd start a chant, “Free Jim! Free Seattle U!  After a while, everyone is chanting “Free Jim!  Free Seattle U!”

A suit orders the soldiers to shoot the kids.  Sergeant Phil tells the suit, “My oath is to defend the Constitution and the citizens of the U.S.  You are the danger to both. You think soldiers are stupid.  We can see what you are quarantining.  Paper airplanes of the college newspaper!  You shoot a kid, and we’ll shoot you.”

The kids continue to pelt the suits, the Big Red One (The First Infantry Division has a red 1 on its unit patch) and the suits face off with aimed and loaded automatic weapons, safeties off.  A reporter gets the picture, and gets away fast.  No one is available to chase him.

AP:  A developing mystery continues to grow in the Seattle area.  A quarantine was declared for the Seattle U and UW campuses, and also the Seattle Times newspaper.  Phone service for the entire Seattle area is down.  It began with the area codes for Seattle U area.  Sea-Tac airport is closed to outgoing flights.  Fuel emergencies can land, but not take off again.  The major border crossing to Canada at Blaine, Wash. has been closed for unstated reasons and an unstated duration .  The Atlanta Center for Disease Control has released a statement saying that they are unaware any quarantine situation involving any medically infectious agents.   {End}

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

After a three hour drive to Portland, Steve and Marianne sit at the editor’s desk of the Oregonian. 

Editor Sal says, “You want to write a Seattle PI article and take half of my front page, and the PI gets the credit.  I wouldn’t be talking to you if we could talk to ANYONE in Seattle.  Your ID checks out.  Linda knows you a little.  This could be a hell of a hoax.  So I guess it’s good that the PI puts its name on it.  I need to sign off on it before it runs.  Let me listen to the tapes with you.  Marianne, is it?  You started all this? Roberta at the Times disappeared too?  Can’t have that, can we?  Start typing, Steve, use this one. Marianne, get a nap on the big bosses’ couch.  I’ll wake you when we’re ready to run.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Mayor Fineberg and a young Chinese woman share a platform with a lot of microphones. 

Mayor Fineberg says, “The gentlemen and women of the press might have wondered that their credentials were checked very closely.  You might have noticed that police with automatic rifles are in sandbagged positions around City Hall.  I will say for the record that all the police on the force were reminded of their oath to defend this city against all enemies.  We will not be superceded by any other authority, without due process.  Those men out there will enforce that, with their lives if necessary.  I will say that what has happened in Seattle will not happen here.  That is not the reason for this press conference.  This young woman is.  She came to me today, as a campaign contributor asking a favor.  When she got to me, she gave me some proofs.  And I recorded her story.  I’m going to play it now.  There are copies of the tape for each of you, along with a letter.  After the tape, I’ll have a further statement.” 

A loud buzz is followed by total quiet.  Two words were heard, ‘unprecedented’ and ‘incredible’.  May Lee tells the whole story of meeting Jim to the present.   When the tape ends, May says, in a firm quiet voice, “Jim is my fiancé. I want him back.”

Mayor Fineberg says, “As incredible as it sounds, I believe her.  She showed me a small pouch with a lot of medium sized diamonds.  I had them verified as genuine.  She showed me ten $100 bills in sequential order.  An expert has taken a look and guarantees that they are genuine, not counterfeit.  The mint certifies these numbers as ‘Lost presumed destroyed’.  A Xerox of the bills is available for you.  For the protection of Jim, May, myself, and even yourselves, I’d suggest you file this, and then come back for more interviews.  We’ll be here till it’s over.  One thing that I will add.  I got through to the big man.  Same party, right.  He’s says Jim is being detained for questioning and it’s over his head, and go with your own plan.  And he would deny he said it.” 

         (Chuckles all over.)  Reporters line up for their copied tapes and Xeroxes, and head for the door.  Overheard remarks: ‘I might come back through time for that one.’  ‘A woman fighting for her family is utterly fearless and very, very dangerous.’  ‘Someone’s bigger than the President?’

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Mr. Smith enters the room where Jim is staying.   He says, “The M-1s in that gun safe were all Match grade.  The safe and the rifles were made in 1943, and lost with the sinking of Liberty Ship 301 in the Atlantic, in August 1943.  The aging of the rifles and safe are consistent with 1943.  No evidence of salt water immersion on anything.”

Jim says, “That is nice to know.”

Mr. Smith puts his hand out, and shakes Jim’s hand. ”You earned it.  Presidents come and go, and don’t have the smarts or balls you do.  My successor has given me a half hour.  I’m not a p***y.  I’ll do it myself.  The first time you see it is usually rough.  Tell them to have a bucket handy for you.  A chance for this country to stay Number One for all time, and you and a lot of others don’t understand that. Hard to believe I got beat by a college student, an assistant editor of a student newspaper, a part-time mayor, and some neighborhood kids throwing rocks.  Roberta is already back home. Good luck on a normal life.  At least you have one.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Jim is sitting on a stage, with a microphone on the table in front of him.  Also sitting with him are Marianne, John, Mom, Roberta, and Father O’Brien.

Jim says, “I’ve written most of this up, and you’ll all get a copy.  First, thanks to everyone who helped get me free.  The courage shown by everyone at this table,  many of the Seattle U community, our neighborhood kids and many others is awesome to know about.  You fought for your principles, and I benefited.  I won’t forget.”

“Next, let me state the obvious.  I was kidnapped by an unregulated and unaccountable government agency.  That has to change and it will.  I saw the body of the former head of that agency before I was released.  He was allowed to commit suicide.  There are the good guys and bad apples in everything.  Let’s hope the new ones get it right, or the next agency that handles it.  Some agency is needed, that should be clear, too.  Or it will be just the bad apples.  I have a code that I follow, and there have to guidelines for this.  I’ve agreed to be involved with that.”   

“I’ll just call it time travel.  I’m not someone who controls it.  I don’t know much, just what happened to me.  When I woke up here, I had some instructions, which I will continue to follow.  ‘Don’t tell the big things.’  As part of my release, I made an agreement that includes talking to the media about time travel.  I not supposed to, after today.  I’ve already made what I know available for that student newspaper, but I’m sure there will be more questions.  I agreed to be interviewed by official agencies, and our political bodies.  That will be under oath.  Those bodies will give you what they decide to.  If I’m released from that agreement, I’ll work something out with you.  Otherwise, this is my last public statement about it.”

“I do have knowledge of what happened in my former life.  I couldn’t let a friend of mine die.  That is John right here.  Was I right or wrong on that?  Anyway, I couldn’t let it happen.  To someone who wants answers to questions big or small, I won’t be doing that.  If I gave an answer, the first thing people would do is try to change things.  Where would that lead?  The next thing would be to cash in the knowledge.  So I won’t do it.  I will not testify about or divulge the future for any politician or any official agency.  I will not. Period. They might put me back in jail for refusing to cooperate.  I’ll need your help again if that happens.”

“In case you don’t know, I was the anonymous seller of Van Gogh’s Dreamtime.  When I woke up, it was there, a gift to me.  If it wasn’t a gift, it wouldn’t be here at all.  I recently made the sale to the Met in NY, which will give maximum public access to this treasure.  I probably could have gotten more at the auction.  I paid a boatland of taxes on the $110 million.  My agent Mr. Goldman certainly earned his percentage.”

“I had a warning, and was planning for survival for the last month.  But I had some time to think when I was detained for the last few days.  In some way, I was a volunteer to come back.  I suspect that the ‘friend’ had a purpose in sending me back.  I suspect that whoever is doing time travel in that future sent me back as part of correcting a disaster waiting to happen with this government agency.  That painting was sure to attract their attention.  And here we are.  Our time has the chance to do this thing the right way.  I’ll do my part.”

“A word to the big gamblers.  You are all bad to begin with, but some are even worse.  I know some things, but not much.  I didn’t care about sports in a previous life.  I didn’t gamble or bet before, and I’m not going to do it now.  My offer is this.  I’ll stay out of your business if you stay out of mine.  I won’t release any knowledge I have from the future.  Keep the bad guys away from me and my family.  I would give up whatever I knew if a loved one was kidnapped.  Money, or a sporting score, it’s not important to me. But my promise is this.  If the bodies of the bad guys that do something like this are not delivered publicly, I will take down all the big ones. If I know five are involved, I’ll settle for four bodies.  You can give a pass to the one turning them in to you.  Put my name on them. ‘To Jim’.  If I’m not around to do it, I’ll have arrangements in place.  Public knowledge of what I do know will mean you won’t make anything for that event.  Limited knowledge of a sure thing will put you out of business.  I can’t end gambling. And I might have to take down the next group of big guys.  Someday we might get to some who will take my offer.  I want to stay out of your business.  Stay out of mine!”

“I came back through time for my fiancé.  She proved herself in a previous life, and she’s proved herself in this one already.  I’m happy to say I have a wedding to plan for.  I already know that I am a lucky guy.”

“I’m going to ask each person up here to talk for a few minutes.  Then I have a final to study for.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

When Jim got to his house, there was a printed message on the sheet in his typewriter.

            “Friend:

            You have done well with the warning I gave you. 

            I had no idea you would get it all done, but you did.

            Yes, you were the stalking horse.  You volunteered, and you got your wish.

 And you got a nice reward.

            No problem with what you revealed, or what you concealed.  When you find someone in authority you can trust, tell the rest.  We have used your recent conduct in our training classes.”

Jim checked the typewriter ribbon.  None of the above was on the ribbon.  And the typeface wasn’t the same. Jim thought that was pretty efficient energy usage " just ink across time, placed with exceptional precision. 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Jim meets the plane from SF.  May comes down the ramp.  He holds her close for a minute.

Jim says, “Hen hao, airen! (Very good, loved one!)  Now the whole damn country loves you.”

May says, “Hen hao yeh!  (you too!)  You told me what to do, but I wasn’t sure.”

            Jim says, “Let’s walk!  Did you tell the mayor?”

May says, “I did everything I could.  Yes.  I whispered into her ear, so no else could hear.  ‘US Senate, Majority Leader’ and pointed to her.  She heard.”

Jim says, “Well, no more of that.  Let’s go home.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Jim and May sit at the kitchen table.

Jim says, “Let’s talk about how it’s going to be with us.  Let me tell you a few things I have to do, and see if you can live with it.”

May says, “I’ll listen.”

Jim says, “I’ll start with the hard one.  In about five years or so, racist groups like the Ku Klux Klan and Nazi Party are going to pop up everywhere, and try to grow like they did before.  That would affect us and our children in a big way. In a previous life, I did a lot to stop them.  The way I did it made it strong and effective.  We won but it took a few years.  I had to go to jail for six months.  I joined a group that helped with that.  That group let me down later.  So I need to work on this project for two or three years.  And this time I can hire a good lawyer if I need one.”

May says, “Can you get hurt doing this?”

Jim says, “I never got a scratch.  Actually I was the one hurting them, a number of times.  My plan is to train a lot of men and woman to really hurt them.  I won’t be the only one fighting.  That is why I’m learning karate and stick fighting now.  I’ll give people some basics, and train them to fight as a team.   It was devastating before, and will be better this time.  When this project is done, I will withdraw and give full time to the family.  I’m not sure our side will win if I’m not there.  So I have to do it again.”

May says, “If you have to do it, fine.  I’ll let it go for three years.  And then full time for the family, okay?”       

Jim says, “Agreed.  So let’s fly to Hawaii next week and get married.  We’ll have banquets here and San Francisco to celebrate.”

May says, “Okay.  What about those guys following us around?”

Jim says, “They might be with us always.  We’re famous, you know.  With time travel involved, they don’t want bad guys or some other country to get us.  The agreement is that they are only there for that, and they won’t be used to enforce any laws on us.”

May says, “We don’t have a choice, do we?”

Jim says, “No.  I made the best agreement I could on that.  Last item: please don’t nag me and nag me this time around, especially for little stuff.  If I leave a light on, we can pay for it.  Here’s a bundle of $100 dollar bills.  Let me leave a light on, and put the heat where I want it.”

May laughs, and says, “I wasn’t that bad, was I ?”

Jim says, “You were!  I put up with it because you were a good wife, but it was terrible.”

May says, “Okay, I’ll try really hard not to.  What’s next?”

Jim says, “Let’s talk about career decisions.”

May says, “I’ve never considered not working.  I could, couldn’t I?”

Jim says, “I don’t think either of us would be happy doing nothing.  We really enjoyed retirement. But we had earned it.  Okay, here are some choices for you.  Take your accounting all to the way to CPA.  Take the postal test and get on the list.  You enjoyed some of the jobs we did there, and now you would have better seniority.  We knew a lot of good people there.  Study for a real estate license and sell houses.  You liked that part time.  What do you think?”

May says, “All of those sound good.  Let me think for a while.  What about you?”

Jim says, “My transfer to the SF State Nursing Program is approved.  I think we’ll be happy in the Bay Area.  I can be done in two more years, with some summer school.  If I’m an RN, I’ll have a job where I think, and I’ll be around a lot of good people.  I could even go somewhere with the nurse’s union.  That’s what I’ve been getting ready for.  Now there are some other choices.  I could apply to medical school and pay for it myself. I’m taking the right classes now.  I don’t know if I want to stay in school that long.  Another choice would be to do something with this time travel agency.  I’ll have to talk to them anyway.  I could spend a lifetime having conferences to publicize the right way to do that, after I figure that out.  I don’t think I want to be around all that publicity.  I think if I write science fiction, people would read it.  I could even include some ideas about time travel.”

May says, “I need a little time to adjust.  We just did some big things.  I’d like to live in the Bay Area as soon as we can.  The money is in place with Dad and Uncle.   On an audit, it will appear as a gift.  I’ve checked the neighborhoods where you say we lived before.  We can buy when we’re ready.”

       “I will support you with any of those things.  But I don’t think I would like you as a writer.  Whatever you said about a woman, everyone would think you were talking about me.  And some of it would be about sex, right? I think that is private. Privacy!  Is it possible to ever have a private life again?  I heard your news conference.  I hate gambling!  And we have to worry about gamblers grabbing me and our kids.  For who wins a Superbowl?  What you said on TV, I believed you.  I hope the gamblers did too.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

            Jim sits a booth in the back of Ivar’s Restaurant on the waterfront in Seattle.  A young thin guy with grey glasses, 4 years out of date, sits across from him.

            Jim says, “I know you wouldn’t have come unless I said I was buying.  I requested a private area, and this is the best they could do.  Let’s order first.”

            The thin guy says, “I don’t know what you want to invest in.  But I’ll take a free lunch anytime.”

            They order.  Then Jim says, “I want to invest in you, and any company that you form.”

            The thin guy says, “That shows a lot of confidence.  I haven’t done anything yet.”

            Jim says, “Are you familiar with the computer language CP/M?  I wondered if you used the onboard Editor or something else?”

            The thin guy says, “Their Editor is okay.  But I wrote my own.  I’ve been all over that program.  Pretty good stuff.  Do you know programming?

            Jim says, “I like to read the machine code, then take a look at it when I’ve assembled it.”

            The thin guy says, “The assembler just came out.  You must have connections.”

            Jim slides a piece of paper across the table, and says, “I just like that stuff.  Here’s part of what I want to give you today.  We’ll talk about the other part, and I’ll have a paper for you to sign.”

            The thin guy says, “That’s a certified check for $100,000 from Seattle First Bank, in my name !  That’s really something.  And the other part?”

            Jim says, “You get a choice.  I’ll give you another certified check for $400,000.  Or another $900,000 in cash.”

            The thin guy says, “As long as it’s not stolen, I’ll take the cash.  What do you want for all this?”

            Jim slides a standard typed page over to him, and says, “This means you give me 20% ownership of any company you form in the next ten years.  The cash is $100 bills in the original mint wrappers.  Not stolen.”

            The waiter brings lunch, and someone is with him, who says, “I’m the manager. Lunch is on me today, Spaceman.  And I took care of the tip. Let me shake your hand. (He does.)  My boy was a detainee at Seattle U.  Well done.”  (They leave.)

            The thin guy says, “I don’t get out much, but I did see your news conference.  Sorry, I didn’t recognize you.  And now I get it. All this money, for what?  I would take the money of course.  But now I have a clue.  Why not 50% or more?  I would sign it.”

            Jim says, “Can I call you Bill?  ( a nod)  I don’t want control, or to inhibit you.  Or to change the future.  Twenty percent shouldn’t change much, and the money will let you concentrate on what you do best.  I won’t lose anything, believe me.”

            Bill says, “Now I know I can trust you.  I saw you had integrity with that Seattle U thing.  So let me sign that paper now.”

            Jim says, “I have a notary waiting in the bar area.  I have a room reserved in her office if you want to count the bills.  Let me get her.” 

            Jim leaves and returns with the notary. She sits and asks for Bill’s ID, and takes his thumbprint.  Then Bill signs her book and the paper in front of him, and two more copies.   Jim slides a briefcase over to Bill.  Bill opens it partially, fingers a bundle, and then closes it.

            The notary leaves, and Bill says, “I really enjoy programming, and think it might go somewhere.  This tells me it will.  Am I right?”

            Jim chuckles, and “Yes, you could say that.  You know the Woz and Jobs in Berkeley?”

            Bill nods, and says, “I know of them.  They’re doing some good stuff with hardware.  Some with software too.”

            Jim says, “They are going to make small computers everyone can use.  When it catches on, IBM is going to put big money into it, to get into that market.  They can make the hardware, but they’ll need software to make it work. They’ll need an operating system.  All their programming guys work on the mainframes.”

            Bill says, “I see it now.  If a guy had something they could use right now,  he could get him his big break.  And that’s what I do best.  Parameters, stacks, I/O, hexadecimal numbers.”

            Jim says, “When I looked at the code, it looked like you started with CP/M, and developed from there. The best thing you did, they used your system on their computers, but you kept the copyright.   I think you make it so it was cheaper to have you do it, and pay something for each machine.   So you end up with your operating system on a lot of computers, even the clones.  And later you do all the other things too….  Oh, use what I said, but I need your word that you will keep all this secret, and keep my name secret too.”

            Bill Gates says, “Agreed.  What you told me is probably worth more than the money.  Boy O Boy, that was hard to admit and even harder to say. (Bill chuckles, and Jim smiles.)  Call me anytime.”

            Bill offers his hand, and Jim shakes it.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

 

Jim and May are circulating around the five tables in the Chinese restaurant, greeting the guests, and answering questions about Chinese food.  Bob is showing the HP students at his table how to use chopsticks.  Mom and Dad are using forks.  May is beaming, wearing a new red dress.  Jim is proud to be with his new and previous wife.

Author's Note

Thanks!