Karen D. Badger - Yesterday Once More (25 page)

“Okay,” said Kale. “Back to work.”

* * *

Jordan glanced at the clock as the last technician left for the day. Try as she might, she was unable to stifle a loud yawn.

“Long day or short night?” Andi asked.

“A little of both,” Jordan confessed.

“Maybe we should skip the testing tonight,” Andi suggested.

“Not on your life. I’m looking”—Jordan paused to fight another yawn—“forward to testing my theory on significant digits. I have several ideas on how to approach the testing.”

“It looks to me like you could use a good night’s sleep. Maybe we should get some dinner and call it a day. We can resume the testing after the staff meeting tomorrow,” Kale suggested.

Jordan was crestfallen, but after failing to stifle a third yawn, she admitted defeat. “Maybe you’re right. But I would at least like to discuss my theories with you over dinner.”

“I can live with that. What do you think, Andi?” Kale asked.

“Works for me. Any suggestions for dinner?”

“Chinese,” Kale and Jordan chorused.

Kale helped himself to some pork fried rice. “So, Jordan, how do you think we should approach the testing?”

Jordan took a long drink of her beer. “Let’s look at what we know. The boot came back relatively new, so logic tells me that we retrieved it too soon.”

Andi nodded. “That makes sense, but how much later do we attempt the retrieval?”

“Good question. It may take several trials before we’ll know. That’s what makes your suggestion of using newspapers such a great idea. We should be able to narrow our test range down pretty quickly after a few trials by correlating the date on the returned newspaper to the number of decimal places used in our trials.”

Andi scanned the page of notes that Kale and Jordan had assembled. “I can see how you arrived at your estimate, but before we actually send and retrieve a newspaper through time, I think we need to carry out a preliminary test to determine if the estimate is even remotely close.”

“Don’t you think we can accomplish that with the newspapers?” Kale asked

“We probably can, but it wouldn’t hurt to test it first.”

Kale ran his hand through his hair. “I guess that makes sense, but what do we use as a test subject that would let us know if we’re in the ballpark?”

“How about the other boot?” Jordan suggested.

Andi looked at Jordan. “Do you know where the other boot is?”

“I do,” Kale replied. “Wait here, I’ll be right back.”

He returned a few moments later. “Here it is,” he said. “It was by the horse stalls.”

“Great. Put it on the platform while I reset the time on the power surge. If we’re right, adding the additional 0.11 seconds will return the boot in the same exact condition as when it left.”

Kale positioned the boot in the center of the platform and tied the grounding filament around it. He joined Andi at the control console and began programming the computer.

Andi reached out her hand to stop him. “Wait. Before we carry out the test, why don’t we write something on the bottom of the boot? If it comes back with the writing on it, we’ll know we’re either dead-on with the date, or we’re some time in the future. If it comes back without the writing, we’ll know we’re still retrieving it too soon.”

Kale grinned at her. “That, my dear, is a brilliant idea. You can do the honors.” He handed her a stylus.

Andi lifted the boot and penned a short message on the worn sole. She then placed it back on the platform and returned to the console. “Let ‘er rip, Einstein!”

The trio watched the outer rings begin to gain speed. Kale initiated the program to begin the rotation of the inner spheres. When the rings had reached maximum velocity, the boot began to levitate in the center of the spheres.

“Jordan, let me know when the boot has reached the center.” 

Jordan stared intently at the boot until she was convinced all movement in the center of the sphere had stopped. “Okay, Kale. We’re there.” 

They reached for their dark glasses and braced themselves for the implosion as Kale initiated the power surge. A moment later, it was all over, and equilibrium returned to the room.

Andi looked intently at the empty platform in the center of the still-spinning rings. “Go ahead and power the rings down, Kale. The boot is gone.”

“All right, phase one successful. Now let’s see if we can retrieve it.” Kale reversed the direction of the rings and powered up the system once more. “We’ll have to program the power surge at exactly 249.41 seconds, okay? Jordan, the ball is in your court. It’s critical we get this right.”

For a full four minutes, the trio stood motionless, watching the timer. When it reached 249.41 seconds, a reverse wave of energy swept over them.

Jordan struggled against the wave as she craned her neck to see the platform. “It’s back, Kale. It’s back. Power down the machine.”

Andi turned the boot over in her hand. “The writing is gone.”

“That means we still retrieved it too soon,” Kale said.

“Let me see the boot,” Jordan asked. Andi handed it to her. Jordan inspected it carefully. “Hmm. It looks pretty much like it did before the experiment. Here Kale, put it on the desk for me.” As soon as the boot was on the desk, it bent in half at the well-worn crease.

“See what I mean?” Jordan asked. “It’s unable to stand up by itself, just like before, so even though the writing is gone, I don’t think we retrieved it significantly early. I think we’re close enough to try with the newspaper.”

Kale nodded. “Okay then. Let’s give it a go.”

May 27th, 2105, 8:47 pm.

First attempt to send and retrieve today’s Burlington Free Press in order to identify the margin of error. If successful, the paper will come back with today’s date on it. If unsuccessful, the age of the paper will narrow the scope of our search field and allow us to further refine the number of significant digits used in our calculation.

Jordan completed the entry in the electronic log and closed the file. She turned to her friends. “Are we ready?”

They stood behind the barrier and watched the rings spin as the newspaper disappeared, then reappeared. 

“I guess this is the moment of truth.” Kale walked toward the machine. Moments later, he carried the paper to Jordan and handed it to her. The date at the top of the page was December 18, 2014.

Jordan frowned. “December 18, 2014... That’s almost exactly five months too soon. Wow, I’m surprised we’re even that close.”

Kale took the paper from Jordan’s hands. He scanned the articles. “I agree that we probably won’t get things exactly right, but we need to be closer than five months. Think about how your life might change if you relived the last five months. Remember our discussion about paradoxes? Well, this is one of them.”

“How close is close?” Jordan asked. “How accurate do we have to be to make this work with only minimal impact?”

Kale paced the room for a few moments before answering. “I’m not sure I know the answer to that question, but I’d like to get the accuracy down to less than a day.”

Jordan pulled the computer close to her and opened the algorithm. “I guess we have some more work to do then.” Andi reached across Jordan and closed the projection system. “Yes— when we resume testing tomorrow.”

Jordan sat back in her chair. “Tomorrow?”

“Yes, tomorrow. Look at how late it is. You’re still under doctor’s orders. Let’s not lose sight of that. All of this will be for naught if you injure yourself again because you pushed too hard, too soon.”

Jordan glanced at the digital clock on the lower right corner of the computer screen. 11:37 pm. “I didn’t realize how late it was getting,” she said. “Guys, we’re so close. I really don’t want to quit now. I’ll rest tomorrow.”

Kale immediately approached the control console and began powering down the computers. “Andi’s right. We’re calling it a night. No argument.”

Jordan spun her chair around. “You’re enjoying this way too much, Kale,” she said, a tinge of frustration in her voice.

“Enjoying what?” he asked.

Jordan’s hands flew into the air. “This... this power trip you’re on!”

Kale cocked an eyebrow. “Power trip?”

“Yes, power trip. You hold all the cards here, and you’re using that fact to manipulate me into doing what you want,” Jordan complained.

Kale walked away from the console toward Jordan. He stopped in front of her chair and placed his hands on the arms. Jordan leaned back as Kale invaded her personal space.

He spoke in a low, even tone, his gaze never wavering from Jordan’s. “Don’t you dare accuse me of manipulation. I am doing everything in my power to help you realize this half-crazed idea of yours to travel nearly one hundred years into the past because you have fallen in love with a dead woman. I am doing this against my better judgment because I happen to love you and because I want you to be happy. If it sometimes seems to you that I’m moving too slowly, that I’m using my power against you, then so be it, but someone has to look out for you because you are doing a piss-poor job of looking out for yourself. Someday, Jordan, someday you’ll appreciate all of this, and you’ll be happy that I was around.”

Kale stood up and reached his hand out to Andi. “I’m heading to bed. Care to join me?”

Jordan was speechless as she watched Kale and Andi walk to the door. Just before leaving the room, Kale turned to Jordan once more. “Don’t forget to shut the lights off when you leave.”

* * *

“Jordan, do you know where my saddle is?”

Jordan turned to see Maggie stroll toward her from across the barnyard. She stopped working on the repairs to the front porch to give the red-haired woman her full attention. As always, Jordan felt the rush of desire pass through her abdomen. “Your saddle? It’s not in the barn?”

“No. I put it on the stand yesterday when Shawny and I returned from our ride, but it’s not there today. I was wondering if maybe you moved it.”

“No, I didn’t. In fact, I haven’t been in the barn yet this morning. The saddler came yesterday, didn’t he? Maybe he thought it needed repair and took it back to his shop.”

Maggie stopped in front of Jordan and tilted her head to one side. Her curls escaped in all directions from beneath her cowboy hat. “Hmm. That’s possible, I suppose. I’ll call him to find out. This really stinks. I need to check on the horses in the north pasture, and you know Shawny doesn’t do well with saddles he’s not used to.”

Jordan looked into Maggie’s eyes and smiled. “Why don’t you take my horse? I’m sure Sally won’t mind the exercise.”

Maggie smiled back. “You’re so sweet. I just might do that.” She stood on tiptoe to place a kiss on Jordan’s lips. Jordan’s arms immediately circled Maggie’s waist as the kiss deepened. She pulled Maggie close to her.

“Hmm,” Jordan moaned. “I want you, my love.”

Maggie pulled back to catch her breath and to allow Jordan easier access to the sensitive skin of her neck. “God! If you keep that up, I’ll never get out to the north pasture.”

“You could always send Jan out to check on them while we make better use of your time right here,” Jordan suggested slyly.

“I would, but she doesn’t seem to be around right now. I’m having second thoughts about keeping her on. One moment she’s stuck to me like glue, and the next, she’s nowhere to be found.”

Jordan picked up her hammer and dropped it into the sling on to her tool belt. “If you ask me, I think she’s trying to win you over.”

Maggie blushed then gently punched Jordan’s shoulder. “Get out of Dodge. She is not.”

Jordan locked eyes with Maggie. “Trust me, love, she wants you. She gets that same puppy-dog look on her face that I do when I’m around you. You have that effect on people, you know.”

Maggie pulled Jordan close. “Well, lover, you have nothing to worry about. She can try all she wants. It’s you I love, and nothing she can do will change that.”

“The feeling is mutual. Now go on. Take Sally to the north pasture. I’ll call the saddler for you while you’re gone, okay?”

“Okay. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

A few minutes later, Maggie emerged, riding Jordan’s horse. She waved her hat in Jordan’s direction as she galloped toward the north pasture. When Maggie was finally out of sight, Jordan entered the house and called the saddler. “Are you sure you don’t have it? She left it on the rail by the horse stalls. It wasn’t there this morning, and I thought maybe you picked it up by mistake. No? Okay. I’m sure it’s in the barn somewhere. Thanks, anyway.”

Jordan hung up the phone and went into the kitchen for a glass of water. As she stood in front of the sink, she caught a glimpse of a figure leaving the barn. Jordan quickly moved to one side of the window so as to not be seen as she watched the figure move across the barnyard and into the bunkhouse. Suspicious, Jordan decided to investigate.

She sauntered toward the barn. Once inside, she paused to allow her eyes to become accustomed to the dark. She searched the horse stalls but found nothing unusual. She petted Maggie’s horse, Shawny. As she left Shawny’s stall, she saw that Maggie’s saddle was hanging on the rail, right where it belonged.