The Meeting

 

Chapter (?) The Meeting.

 

 

Sitting behind an old desk and leaning on the worn out leather was the man in the black hat, the one Trent had nicknamed The Crow. His face was in shadow and he was wearing dark glasses. As Trent and Maggie approached, the Crow didn’t move at all. The room was almost bare. The walls were made of old grey wood strips, and the old wooden floor needed some repair. A single light bulb gave just enough illumination to see a couple of old wooden chairs you might see in a farm kitchen. A small grey filing cabinet stood against the left hand side of the desk. As they crossed the creaking floor the Crow’s deep voice filled the room.

“I've been expecting you Mr Trent and your most able assistant Mrs Carmody. Please take those chairs and come and sit down.” The suddenness of the order caught them both by surprise. The Crow hadn't looked up or moved as he spoke. Trent looked at Maggie and then grabbed the back of the chair nearest to him and swung it around and placed it behind her. Maggie didn't speak she just sat down and crossed her legs. Trent reached over and pulled the other chair to him. They both sat silently waiting in front of the man in black.

“You found this place without too much difficulty Mr Trent?” Trent wasn’t sure what he was expected to say so he simply replied,

“Yes, it wasn’t at all hard to find.” Before Trent could add anything to his reply the Crow interrupted him.

“Good, good.” He said in a fading voice. All the time the man’s face was hidden behind a deep shadow and dark glasses.

“Can you actually see anything?” Said Trent. He couldn’t see it but the figure was smiling.

“Mr Trent I am so very sorry that you were injured. I hope you are recovering well.”

“Yes, yes thank you. The Doctor says I should make a full recovery, although my arm will not be as useful as it used to be. I have some difficulty writing at the moment but they say it will improve with time.” As he said it Trent looked down at his right arm. It hurt him from time time and ached almost all the time.

“And you Mrs Carmody? How are you coping with this change in circumstance?”

Maggie sat with her hands on her lap.

“I....Mr Trent is making good progress and we should soon have the office in full working order.” She hadn’t known what to reply and said the first thing that came into her head. Trent was impatient to find out why they’d been summoned here and started with.

“Why have you brought us here? I mean, what do you want from us?” The figure behind the desk sat back and relaxed. The pair could see more of his face. White like chalk and flawless.

“Can I assume you have by now concluded that your mission was not to save that boy, but to help ensure his death?”

“Yes, I realised that when that android woman was kneeling beside me. But it didn’t work, did it?”

“No Mr Trent it worked perfectly, just as it was supposed to. I watched you from some distance away..” Maggie jumped to her feet.

“It was you in the shadows that night. If you knew he was going to be shot why didn’t you come to help me when I shouted?” Maggie put her hands on the desk and leaned towards the Crow. Maggie was vexed. Trent liked it when Maggie was cross. The dark figure spoke softly.

“My dear Mrs Carmody I didn’t need to interfere. You had the whole situation under control. We trusted you to protect Mr Trent and that is exactly what you did.” The Crow turned his head slightly in the direction of Trent.

“You did well to choose this young woman Mr Trent. She will be an invaluable assistant to you in the years to come. Now let us get down to business.” The dark figure pulled open a draw in the filing cabinet and removed a stack of papers. He placed them on the desk in from himself before pushing them towards Trent and Maggie.

“What is it you want us to do?” Asked Maggie as she reached forward to retrieve the papers from the desk.

“In a few days I shall visit you at your office and together we three shall return to my time.” Trent didn’t think much of that idea at all.

“You mean you expect me to go back there again? To that flying village filled with female droid things that want to kill me?” The Crow allowed himself another smile.

“When you have read those files I think you will be less anxious about that prospect Mr Trent. And you Mrs Carmody, how do you feel about the idea of jumping into the future. Do you think your husband will mind if you are away from home for a few days?” Maggie was thinking about it. She had to admit she found the idea exciting.

“No Marty will understand, he knows I’ll always come home to him, now.” Maggie and Marty had renewed their relationship and each felt safe in the love they had for each other. “Will I....will WE be in any real danger?” The hatted Crow was warming to Maggie, he liked the way she thought about things.

“I cannot lie to you there may be some danger, yes.” Then he quickly added “But... if you look out for each other things should be alright, and don’t forget I shall be there and you will have Alexandra three to help you.” Trent's eyebrows lifted at the mention of Alexandra Three. “Arrr I see you remember her Mr Trent. She remembers you fondly and was dismayed considerably when she heard about your ‘accident’.”

“ I would have thought she’d have known it was going happen from your historical records.” Trent's logical assumption impressed the Crow.

“Very good Mr Trent. Under normal circumstances that would be the case. However your time line is in a state of flux, that is to say it has not yet been definitively established. That will depend to an extent on what happens when we return to complete our work.” Trent nodded.

 

“Now, if you don’t mind I have a great deal to prepare before we can use the Time Jump Vortex.” With that the darkly dressed figure stood up briefly and held out his hand showing them it was time to leave.