Trapped in Time 1: The Time Takers (10 page)

Linnae said, “The only reason I’m not slapping your face for your stupidity is because I know how much you were hurt by your last love.”

“What?”

“You thought I was going to leave you for that archer, didn’t you?”

“Well…I saw you staring at him.”

“Do you remember his holier than thou expression when you went over to talk with him?” Andy nodded. “I went to tell him that if he didn’t give you the respect you deserve, I was going to knock that stupid expression off his face. He and his stupid group owed their safety to your leadership and he and his group of outsiders could become just that; outsiders. If they weren’t happy, then leave.”

“I thought you found him attractive.”

“Andy, you have got to get over your self-doubt and fear and learn to trust again. I will be talking with many of the men in our community because they’ll ask me things they’re too afraid to ask you.”

“Why would they fear me?”

“Duh, you killed two men during the first hour. They don’t want to make you angry.”

“I’m not like that, Linnae.”

“I know that and after time passes, so will they. I told you no one else here holds any interest for me; that includes the outsiders.”

“Why do you call them outsiders?”

“You probably haven’t noticed but they don’t take part in any of the community’s activities. They keep to themselves and walk around with their nose stuck up in the air like they can get a better smell up there. We don’t need them.”

Andy shook his head, “Yes we do. They act that way because they don’t trust us. Something happened to them to cause them to feel that way.”

“How can you possibly know that?”

“It takes one to know one. They remind me of me.”

Andy was staring at the Outsiders and Linnae reached up and pulled his face back to her, “The next time you doubt my love, I ’m going to leave you for a week and let you see how much you’ll miss me.”

“Did you say love?”

Linnae rolled her eyes, “Yes I did. Now get over yourself and get it in your mind that you and I will be together until one of us dies.”

Andy reached forward and tenderly pulled her into an embrace. “I need you, Linnae.”

“I know; and I’ll always be here for you.”

Andy held her and they just stood and enjoyed the moment.

• • •

The outsider archer watched them from across the cave and shook his head. “What are you thinking, Jenak?”

“I’m wondering how a person can instill that much loyalty in such a short period of time.”

“What do you mean?”

Jenak smiled, “That woman told me it was going to be extremely hard to sit down with an arrow sticking out of my backside if I ever showed Andy any more disrespect.” Ronar stared at Jenak, “I really think she meant it.”

“You’ve been out with them; how good is she with a bow?”

“She’s as good as he is.”

“That’s highly improbable.”

“You need to get out more.”

“Why did you show them how to use the cutters?”

“I honestly wish I knew; it’s just that they are trying to honor their dead. I sensed their loss and sorrow and gave in to an impulse.”

“What do you think about them turning the cutters over to us?”

Jenak took his gaze away from Andy and Linnae and looked at Ronar, “I know we have doubts about this community working together, but it appears they are.” Jenak looked back at Andy and said, “He offered to assist us in building a new community separate from them.”

“He what!?!”

“He says no one should live in fear having to constantly look over their shoulders. He will help us leave if we choose to go.” Ronar looked across the cave at Andy and shook his head. Jenak said, “Do we want to leave?”

“I don’t know. Could we survive on our own?”

“You need to make that decision rather quickly.”

“Why is that?”

“I suspect our new leader has a clue as to who and what we are. He won’t allow us to be a danger to the others.”

“The real question is whether or not he will allow the others to be a danger to us. You’ve been around him the most; what do you think?”

“I like him,”

“Get serious.”

“I am; he’s refreshingly honest; almost to a fault. He doesn’t have a hidden agenda and that girlfriend of his is more open than he is. I really think you should have a conversation with him and make your own judgments.”

Ronar stared at Jenak and then looked across the cave at Andy, “That might be a good idea.”

“You should probably wait until after the funeral.”

“Why is that?”

“I think you’ll understand him better afterwards.”

“We’ll see.”

• • •

Maxus was lying on a mat and Julia rolled over, “What’s bothering you?” Maxus shook his head. “I know you; what’s on your mind?”

Maxus sighed and rolled over and looked Julia in the eyes “I’m not sure our leader is up to doing what’s necessary.”

Julia stared at Maxus and smiled, “You would have taken the blue swords and activated them before you asked the Outsiders if they would object to you using them.”

Maxus shrugged, “Something like that.”

“Would you then trust them to protect your back in a fight?”

“Of course not.” Julia remained silent and Maxus blew out a breath and said, “His is probably better.”

“Yes he is and you need to ask yourself if you would like to face our new leader when he has a bow in his hand.”

“Why do you say that?”

“He could have shot you instead of the one who you ordered to kill that man. He didn’t. He gave you a chance to come around to working with him.” Maxus thought about Julia’s remark and thought she had fallen asleep when she said, “What do you think Andy would do if you tried to harm anyone in our community?” Maxus didn’t answer and after a moment, Julia’s breathing was regular. Maxus thought about the question and knew the answer. He needed to watch Andy closely and see if he could learn something from him. He put his arm around Julia and felt her move closer in her sleep. He decided he wanted Andy protecting Julia if something happened to him. She was right. He closed his eyes and sleep instantly found him.

Andy had his arms around Linnae and he said, “I’m sorry.”

He thought she was asleep but heard, “You should be.”

Andy smiled and pulled her closer. Linnae snuggled into his arms and fell asleep. Andy sat and wondered when the Outsiders had come from. They knew how to operate the sword. That had to mean something. He thought about it and, after considering the issue from every possible angle, he closed his eyes and went to sleep.

A
ndy stood watch with the Romans and Samurai while the Vikings worked with ten of the Outsiders to cut the trunks into three shallow longboats. The masts were cut out from the center of the tree’s trunk and fastened to the boat’s hull. The three boats were finished by mid-afternoon and Reif walked over to Andy. “We have what we need to perform the ceremony. There’s just one thing that’s going to give us trouble.”

“What is that?”

“The wood used to construct the boats is green. How are we going to get it to burn? I don’t think anyone has started a fire since we came here.”

Andy stared at Reif and realized he was right. One of the outsiders said, “We can use the cutters to ignite the wood but I don’t know how you can keep it burning.”

One of the Indians heard the conversation and came over, “I know a way to make it happen.”

Reif, Andy, and the Outsider looked at the Indian. They were surprised; the Indians never said anything to anyone except themselves. Andy said, “How would you do that?”

The Indian pointed south and said, “About three miles down the cliff wall is a tar pit in the sand. If we could fashion some containers, we could transport some tar here and cover the boats in it. I suspect it would catch fire and burn.”

“How do you know about that tar pit?”

The Indian stared at Andy and finally said, “We’ve been rolling the wheel back at night and going out to explore the area around the cave.”

Andy stared at the Indian and said, “I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”

“Harvey.” Andy stared at the Indian and turned his head slightly to the side and stared at him. The Indian shook his head, “My Indian name is Hotah, which means strong. I told the priest that came to our tribe that it meant smart and he said I should go to a school named Harvard. He called me Harvey from that point on and all my friends called me that to make fun of me. I have to say that, after a while, I grew to like it. I especially liked it when I told white men and watched their faces. They looked just like you do now.”

Andy laughed out loud. The Outsider and Reif didn’t know if they should laugh at the Indian’s name; he might take offense. After a moment, Harvey joined Andy laughing and everyone relaxed. Andy shook his head, “Hotah, I’ve seen that you are the leader of our Indians. I don’t think any of them have the hoo hoos to call you Harvey.”

“I know but you have to admit it’s a good story.”

Andy laughed and then said, “Why haven’t you told me about your scouting trips?”

“We’ve been trying to decide whether or not we would stay with you. We’ve been looking for another place to settle.”

Andy’s smile disappeared, “I can’t say I really blame you. I would think you’d have a lot of difficulty trusting anyone.”

Hotah’s eyebrows lowered, “Oh?”

“The way your people were treated was a crime. There will be no reservations here.”

“What if we want to place you on one?”

“You wouldn’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Once you live in a nightmare, you would never wish it on anyone except the ones that put you in it. Unfortunately, those criminals are lost in the future. I’d help you hunt them down if I could.”

Hotah stared at Andy and after a moment said, “I can see you mean it. Do you see us as equals?”

“Oh hell no.” Hotah leaned back and Andy said, “You and your brothers are far and away better suited to survive in this world than any of us. Your ancestors hunted Mammoths. We need you a lot more than you need us. The fact that you could go out at night and come back alive speaks volumes about what we can learn from you.”

Joshua came over and Hotah looked at him. “Is everything alright?”

Hotah looked at Andy, “Joshua worries about us.” Joshua looked at Andy and his face showed some fear.

“Don’t worry, Joshua. I understand you want to make sure your friends are not hurt again. They are a very important part of our community.”

Hotah looked at Andy, “Joshua didn’t tell you how most of us here died. Many of my people died from sickness during the winter and there were only a few of us still able to walk. The soldiers took the food, supplies, and medicine sent to us to sell to traders. They forced us into a cave and blew up the entrance. Joshua chose to go with us.”

Joshua said, “I thought they might not go through with the massacre if I was in the cave with them; I was wrong.”

Hotah watched Andy’s face closely and saw the anger on it. Andy looked at Joshua and said, “You just gained an incredible amount of respect from me. I don’t know how you lived with what was being done to the Plains Indians.”

“I did what I could but the army hated them. The Sioux and other tribes had no chance.”

“They do now.”

Joshua stared at Andy and after a moment smiled, “We will support you.”

“Joshua, I want you to support us; our community; you and your brothers have to become a part of it; not a separate group. We must become a family.”

Hotah smiled, “We’ll give it a go. However, we will be watching how we come together.”

“That’s fair; all of us are part of who we’ve been. I don’t expect you to forget the lessons you’ve learned.”

“We’ll go and get the tar tonight.”

Andy nodded and waved Linnae over, “Do you remember the box of uniforms we found?”

“Yes.”

“Go to the cave with Hotah and look for a box like it in the wooden bow room.”

“Do you think there’s one there?”

“I don’t know. I just thought there might be.”

Linnae nodded, “Which one of you is Hotah?”

“You can call me Harvey.”

“Harvey it is.”

Hotah’s head went back and Andy yelled as they walked away, “She’s Swedish, Hotah. She wouldn’t know.”

Linnae looked at Hotah and said, “Know what?”

Hotah shook his head, “It’s nothing,” and followed Linnae up the hill. When they arrived, Linnae introduced Hotah as Harvey to everyone they encountered and Hotah didn’t have the courage to correct her. Hotah became known as Harvey in the community and the other Indians snickered every time they heard it. Hotah figured his little story took on a life of its own and eventually came to terms with his new name.

• • •

The Ousider looked at Andy, “What happened to his people?”

“His people populated the North American Continent before anyone from Europe arrived. They numbered in the millions and existed in primitive cultures. The Europeans arrived and most of them were pushed off their lands and massacred. At the end, most of them were forced to live on reservations and not allowed to hunt. What was done to them was one of the largest crimes ever perpetuated in human history.”

“Why did people allow it to happen?”

Andy shrugged, “Different time, different standards of behavior, different cultures. It was a century before the magnitude of the injustice was appreciated. The government tried to make up for it but it was too little, too late.”

“You sound angry about it.”

“They deserved better. It was their land; it was stolen from them.”

The Outsider stared at Andy and said, “What would you have done to the ones that did it?”

“Helped the Indians not be an easy mark.”

The Outsider nodded slowly and said, “My people forced others into slavery.”

“Why?”

The Outsider shrugged, “I guess because we could.”

“Slavery is the harshest form of depravity. It scars those that are enslaved and darkens the spirit of the ones that do it. It steals their heart and hardens their soul.”

The Outsider stared at Andy and Andy said, “It will always alienate the slavery society from any other.”