Trapped in Time 1: The Time Takers (3 page)

“Why?”

Andy sighed, “Have you ever entertained the thought of going back in time and killing your father or mother?”

Ayo said, “I have.”

Andy looked at the handsome black man and said, “What would have happened if you did that?”

The group all thought about the question and Linnae said, “He would have never been born.” She paused, “And if that were the case, he could have never gone back and killed his parents.”

Joshua said, “It would create a paradox.” Andy nodded. “Are you saying that by sending us here…”

Andy nodded, “We could be jeopardizing the future of the human race.” Everyone you’ve ever known could be erased from the future, including you. Killing that Allosaurus will probably have an effect on the future. I should have thought about it before I did it but I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time.”

Akira said, “How were you so accurate with that weapon?”

“I went to school on an athletic scholarship. They paid for me to attend school because I have an athletic talent. I went to Georgia Tech on an archery scholarship. I am, I mean was, considered one of the best archers in my country.”

Joshua said, “Do you think we were brought here to destroy the future?”

Andy stared at the group and said, “You haven’t made the connection yet.”

Cheng looked puzzled, “What connection?”

Andy swept his arm across the cave, “Everyone here is of childbearing age. No one here is too old or too young to have children. We were put here to start a new civilization a hundred and forty million years before the first human appeared. The question is whether or not we’re going to do it.”

Joshua said, “What do you mean? Are you saying we should all just walk out of the cave and die?”

“No, that would also change the future. We will have to kill everyone inside the cave to prevent changing the future.”

Linnae lowered her eyebrows, “Is that what you think we should do?”

Andy looked at the pretty blonde and everyone saw danger in his eyes, “No! I take what I’m given and make the best of it. But you should discuss this with your groups and see how they feel about it. All of them have ancestors that will be put in jeopardy if we don’t just end it here.”

The interpreters looked at each other and knew there was going to be a huge problem explaining the concepts to people who didn’t even know about the solar system. Andy watched them walk away and saw the pretty Swede turn and look at him as she left. He wondered what her expression meant. He knew it didn’t matter what they decided. If he had to leave the cave, he would. The future could just take care of itself. There was a reason for what happened and he knew whoever had done it was not evil…they were desperate. He looked at the wall above him and saw a small indentation. He looked down the wall and saw the indentations appeared at regular intervals all the way around the cave. Something was behind the cave’s walls. That was an issue that would be looked at later.

A
ndy sat next to the wall and wondered how long it was going to take someone to ask about how they were going to be fed. He looked at his watch and saw six hours had passed and he knew some of the people had to be getting hungry. He suspected no one was going to suggest leaving the cave to find their meals; they would probably end up being a meal themselves, if they tried that avenue. Well, first things first. He saw movement and looked to the right. The Swede interpreter was walking toward him. Andy saw she was devastatingly beautiful but he also figured she knew it as well. That was not a good trait. Beautiful women often used their beauty as a weapon, “What’s up, Linnae?”

“Something you said earlier started me thinking.”

“What is that?”

“You said that everyone here is of childbearing age. It also made me realize we are stuck here with no rescue from this nightmare. Do you see it differently?”

Andy sighed, “I don’t think someone would go to all the trouble to create this cave and transport us here if they were planning to remove us. I think we’re stuck here.”

Linnae nodded, “I thought as much. I also suspect that if we decide to move forward and build a life here, everyone is going to start pairing off. I was wondering if you would consider pairing up with me.”

Andy moved his head back and then smiled, “You do get right to the point.”

“Would you prefer subtlety? You impressed me as someone that would appreciate honesty.”

“Why do you want me? There are many men in here that are far more attractive than me.”

“I think you know the answer to that. Every woman wants the best father possible for her children. You’ve demonstrated that you possess the skills needed to defend a family and you also possess information that no one else has. You could teach our children the things they would need to survive. That’s two very important attributes in a mate.” Linnae stared at Andy and then said, “I also think you’re beautiful.”

“Now I know you’re being deceptive. I’m not that much to look at.”

“No, I’m not being deceptive at all. Beauty is more than just a face and body. It’s the underlying character that makes a person desirable. You could have taken control of us at the start and become our leader; but you choose to avoid it. You forced us to come to decisions among ourselves and you avoided directing us into doing things that we didn’t agree on. It’s those actions that tell me you have a good heart and don’t possess an enlarged ego.” Andy was surprised at Linnae’s remarks. He sighed and slowly shook his head. Linnae said, “What’s wrong? Do I not measure up to your standards?”

Andy decided that she didn’t know just how beautiful she was. “No, you’re beautiful, smart, and straight forward; I could go on and on.”

“Then what is it?”

“I loved a woman who betrayed me with my best friend recently. She broke my heart and I’m still suffering from the experience. I gave her my trust and love and she threw it all away. I just don’t know if I can trust anyone again.”

Linnae sat down beside him, “Are you going to wait a hundred and forty million years to get back with her?” Andy’s eyebrows went down and Linnae said, “That place is now gone. She and everything you knew is beyond your reach. You should admit to yourself that you made a bad choice and now you’re going to have to learn to make new and better choices. How long were the two of you together?”

“About eight months.”

“You should always wait a year to be sure about any one you would consider spending your life with. You should see each other through all four seasons to really learn who you are choosing to love. If there are problems, they will show up within a year.” Linnae smiled, “In your case, it took eight months to rear its ugly head. I suspect there was evidence she was the wrong one before you caught them.”

Andy looked at the floor and slowly shook his head, “There was; I just refused to see it. I though Brad’s comments to her were just in jest and her smiles was only her attempt at being polite. I suspect they were seeing each other months before I caught them together.”

“So what did you learn?”

Andy looked in Linnae’s eyes and said, “I will never ignore signals of another’s infidelity. I suspect I will withhold my feelings until I have some proof my next love can be trusted.”

Linnae smiled, “You should give any new relationship a year.”

Andy smiled, “Are you saying I should take a year to see about you?”

“If you are willing to devote that year to really get to know me, yes I am. If you want to look around and make a choice; no. I know I am a very valuable person and, if you take the time to get to know me; you’ll see that I’m right about beauty being more than a face and body. I would never betray your trust and you could always count on me to protect your back. You’ll see my value if you take the time to look.”

Andy smiled, “And just how would you protect my back?”

“You’re going to teach me how to shoot that bow you used to kill that creature.” Linnae stared into Andy’s eyes and said, “Besides, you should want to do this.”

“Why?”

“I’m approaching you now because I know a large number of women here are starting to plan to see if they can get you to notice them. I see them staring at you when you’re not looking. If you make it known you and I are an item, you won’t be chased by every other female in the cave. It will spare you having to hurt anyone’s feelings. If you need time to heal, by all means, take it. Just take the time to get to know me. I really think you’ll see I’m all you’ll ever want or need in a mate.” Linnae looked out at the people in the cave and turned back to Andy, “You’ll not find anyone with my bravery or loyalty. You and I should be together.”

Andy started shaking his head, “Linnae, you don’t love me; you don’t really know me. How can you be so sure I’m the one for you?”

“I’m not sure…yet; however, I really think that once I take the time to really get to know you, I will. Love comes after respect. I’ve seen what’s inside you and I respect what I see. You’re not selfish or pompous; I really think that you are someone I could trust with my feelings and that you would never betray me. No one else in this cave holds any interest for me after I’ve seen you interact with the leaders here.” Linnae paused and smiled, “I thought about approaching you by batting my eyes and touching your arm and flattering you; but you deserve better than that. You deserve honesty without deception; to do less would be dishonest.” Linnae stood up, “Let me know what you decide. We should get started.”

Andy watched her walk away and was shocked into silence. She was so beautiful…and she didn’t use it to get his attention. She walked right up and asked for it. He still hurt from Loree’s betrayal, but…for the first time since that night he caught Loree and Brian together, his heart beat differently. He watched Linnae walking into the crowd and several men approached her. She smiled and declined their offers. Maybe…just maybe.

“Andy.”

Andy was startled and turned around; he saw Joshua and Akira standing behind him. He wondered if they heard the exchange between him and Linnae, “Yes.”

“The groups have asked for a meeting. We’ve decided what course we want to follow.”

Andy stood up and smiled, “Lead the way.” Andy followed them to the center of the cave and sat down between two of the groups. Joshua looked at him and said, “Would you mind moving into the center of the circle?”

Andy looked around and said, “Why?”

“So that everyone can see and hear what you have to say.” Andy shrugged and moved into the center of the groups. Joshua said, “We’ve discussed the situation we’re in and all of us have reached a consensus. Before we tell you what we decided, would you answer a question for us?”

“If I can.”

“Do you honestly think we’ll cause massive harm to the future if we choose to survive?”

The six interpreters stood up and faced their groups waiting for Andy’s answer. Andy sighed and said, “There is a possibility that it will happen.” Andy paused after the speakers finished talking and said, “However, after some thought about it, I doubt it will be a problem.” The six speakers were shocked silent. People in their groups started asking what Andy said and they gathered their wits and told them. Everyone in the cave stared at Andy.

The Leader of the Romans said something and Joshua listened and said, “Maxus asks why you had us discuss this problem if it’s not a problem?”

“Because I honestly don’t know if it’s not and we should make our decisions taking into account all the possible outcomes.” The speakers spoke and the Samurai Leader said something. Akira said, “Togawa wants to know why you don’t think it would be a problem.”

Andy stood up and looked at the people sitting around him and said, “Please translate what I’m saying in the best manner possible. I’ll pause to allow you to keep up.” The six speakers told the gathering what Andy requested. Andy sighed and said, “I’ve struggled with the notion that if we go out into this new world we find ourselves in, we would harm the future from where we came.” Andy waited a moment. “Then a few minutes ago it dawned on me that we were very carefully selected to be brought here.” Andy waited again. “All of us were taken a moment before we were supposed to die…that has to be important and it has to mean something about why we were selected. It caused me to think about what would have happened in my time after I was taken here. I realized that everyone would have thought that I was killed by the shark, even though there wasn’t a body. I would not have any impact on events after that moment. Life would have just continued…without my participation. I want all of you to think about that. Why did they have to take only those that were about to die?”

Andy sat down and after a moment the speakers stopped talking. Silence filled the room. Linnae said, “Time won’t be affected by our being taken.”

Andy smiled, “Go on; why do you think that is true?”

Linnae’s eyebrows lowered and she said, “Because none of us had any further impact after that moment. All of us were assumed dead. That means we could be moved to another time without causing damage to the future. If they took us in the middle of our lives, our actions after taking us wouldn’t have happened and the future would have been affected.”

Andy nodded, “There had to be a reason why whoever put us here had to select those that died in their normal time stream. I believe that taking those people would not endanger the future. I think that, if one could look at time, it would have shown us being taken by whoever brought us here. If we were taken before we had done things in our lives, the future would have been changed because we wouldn’t have done them. We had to be taken when we were not going to do anything else.”

Maxus spoke and Joshua nodded. He turned to Andy, “So you think we’ve been put here for a reason?”

“I do.”

“Do you know what it is?”

“I do not. However, I don’t think those that did it are bad or evil.”

Ayo said, “How can you say that? We were forcibly taken out of the world we knew and brought here against our will.”

Andy tilted his head and smiled, “Ayo, if they hadn’t taken you, what would you be doing at this moment?” All of the Romans, Samurai and Vikings started laughing. Andy looked at them and turned back to Ayo, “Warriors know that being saved from certain death is a blessing.”