Prisoner in Time (Time travel) (66 page)

David raced to Geoff’s side and knelt down. Quickly, he checked Geoff’s pulse.

“He’s still alive,” David shouted, with guarded optimism.

“Not fer long. Ya done kilt ‘im,” Sgt. Cooper spat angrily.

David looked up and stared. Shock spread through his body.

“Sgt. Cooper?” he said in disbelief.

The sergeant looked up and stared at David in surprise.

“Doc Warner?”

Speechless for a moment, the two struggled to accept reality.

“What the hell are you doing here? What are the odds of this?” David said, still struggling.

“Y’all saved my life. I came to save his, but he wouldn’t let me.”

David rolled Geoff over slightly and examined the wound.

“Oh no, this is bad… this is real bad,” he said in fearful tone.

“Can you fix him?”

Doc raced up next to David’s horse and leaped off. He pulled his horse over for added cover then joined the others.

“I saw the whole thing from below. Is he dead?” Doc asked in grave tone.

David stared up at Doc. He face told the story.

“David, this
can’t
be. You
have
to save him!”

“Doc, I can’t. His wound is too great. He’ll be dead in a few hours,” he said as sympathetically as he could.

“This can’t be. This just can’t be. David, you’re the greatest surgeon I’ve ever seen. There must something you can do.”

“Not without modern medical care,” he shot back.

“Then get it for him dammit,” Sgt. Cooper shouted.

“Arles, I’m afraid what David is talking about is far beyond reach,” Doc responded, assuming the sergeant’s identity.

“The hell you say. Chattanoogi is only two hours by train. We all could load him onto one of them fancy cars y’all generals ride and have ‘im back in the future long before he’s dead.”

David and Doc stared at the Confederate sergeant in disbelief. Both men wondered how the sergeant knew about their time travel secret. Suddenly, David’s face lit up.

“Oh, I get it now. That time before we left, right after the battle of Rocky Face Ridge. Geoff was talking to you after your surgery. He must have told you the whole story about us,” he said.

“That means you aren’t Arles Moore?” Doc cut in.

“No Sir. I’m Sergeant Elijah Cooper.”

“Well Sgt. Elijah Cooper, I’d say your idea is the best chance we have at saving Geoffrey,” Doc responded. Turning to David, he continued, “What do you think?”

David checked his pulse once more and shook his head. “He’s not going to make it.” He paused a moment, then said. “But we have to try.”

Turning to Sgt. Cooper, he continued, “Sarge, thanks for your help, but we can take it from here. You better rejoin your outfit.” He placed his hand on his shoulder and said, “Don’t worry, I’m not giving up.”

Sgt. Cooper came to his feet. He looked down the hill at the approaching Union line. He nodded to David, then extended his hand.

“If he survives, tell him the missus said thank you.”

David nodded simply and said, “Good luck.”

Sgt. Cooper nodded to Doc, then turned and charged back up the hill. Within seconds, he disappeared over the top.

David turned toward Doc and said gravely, “We’re going to need a wagon.”

-----*-----*-----*-----

The wind blew through Doc’s beard, parting it in the middle of his chin and brushing it rearward over his shoulders. Seated at the buckboard, he snapped the reins to the team of horses, driving them faster. Rushing through the deserted city of
Nashville, his only obstacles were the occasional wagon filled with troops and supplies used to support the nearby skirmishes.

David sat on the floor of the wagon and monitored Geoff’s vital signs. The half hour ride north up Granny White Pike was bumpy and rough, and only served to further worsen Geoff’s condition. As they raced through the more refined roads through the city, David breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Within minutes of reaching the city, Doc had negotiated the dirt roads with great speed and skill. Pulling into the train station, he noticed a military transport train already boarded and preparing to leave.

“David, there’s our opportunity. That train’s pointed east. It has to be headed to Chattanooga. If you jump out now, you might be able to stop them in time.”

David didn’t answer. As Doc looked back, David had already leaped from the moving wagon and was running toward the now moving locomotive.

David ran faster as the train began to pick up speed. Paralleling the cars, he caught up to the coal car situated right behind the lead locomotive. He tried to outrun it, but he soon had exhausted his strength. As the train began to accelerate past him, he realized he had one chance. Watching over his shoulder, he saw the end of the coal car approach. With his hand outstretched, he grabbed a steel rung and pulled hard. Suddenly, his hand slipped, leaving a bloody hand print on the rail. Losing his balance, he tripped and tumbled. He rolled to a stop and leap to his feet.

“Dammit!” he shouted in anger.

He stared down at his hands. Geoff’s blood coated them, causing the earlier slip. As the train rushed past, he felt a sense of desperation. The speed of the train was now too fast for him to catch.

“Screw it,” he shouted in desperation.

He burst into a run once more. Running at full speed, he waited for another car to pass. He spotted another rung at the entry to one of the cars. He reached out and grabbed it. Suddenly, his feet left the ground, then dragged along behind him. He tried to run but the train’s speed was too fast. He felt his grip loosening. He panicked. Pulling on the rung, he lunged with his free hand, wrapping his fingers around a higher rung. He pulled hard and lifted his feet up to the entryway of the car. A second later, he was standing.

Quickly, he rushed through the doors between the cars, exiting one car and entered another. Running up the narrow isle, several soldiers watched him in surprise. As he moved to the front of the car, he exited the door and stood on a platform.

“Well, just like in the movies,” he said nervously to himself.

He stared at the coal car he first fell from. At its rear was a ladder that climbed over the top. Without another moment’s hesitation, he grabbed the rungs and began to climb. In seconds he stood at the top and peered over the long bed of coal that led to the front of the locomotive. He stepped into it and sunk to his calf. He placed his other foot in the bed of coal and began to wade forward. Losing his balance several times, he righted himself and continued on. Minutes later, he stood at the opposite end and stared down into the cab of the locomotive.

Two men were hard at work. One man was shoveling coal, the other working the controls. David shouted down to them.

“Hey, you there!”

Instantly, the two men spun around in shock. Immediately, they noticed the general’s stars on David’s applets.

“Sir, what in blazes are you doing up there?” the engineer shouted.

“I need you to stop the train… NOW!” he shouted back.

“Sir, we can’t do that. We have our orders. Once the train starts, we’re not at liberty to stop at any time.”

David opened his coat and pulled his Colt revolver from his holster. He pointed it menacingly at the engineer.

“If I have to tell you twice, your wife will be a widow by the end of the day.”

The engineer stared back at David grimly. He nodded, then turned back to the controls. Slowly, he turned a handle, releasing steam pressure, then applied the hand brake. Instantly, the train began to slow. A minute later, it came to a stop.

“Sir, you must understand. This could be my job,” the engineer complained.

“I’m sorry I had to do this, but I have a man that’ll die if I don’t get him on the train. I’ll be only a minute.”

David looked out, then rearward down the line of cars. Pulling up in the wagon, he saw Doc slowing to a stop on the dirt access path beside the tracks.

“There’s the man now. We’ll load him in quickly. I’ll signal you when we’re ready,” David said, then added, “And thank you.”

He leaped from the train and rushed to the wagon. Doc was in the back already preparing the stretcher.

“We need more help. I’ll recruit some men,” David shouted anxiously.

Doc only nodded as he continued in his work.

David hurried up the steps into the car. He stepped through the door and stared at the faces of the seated soldiers. He pointed to several men in front.

“You men! Come with me,” he ordered bluntly.

Instantly, the soldiers leaped from their seats.

“Yes Sir, General,” each man responded.

Within minutes, Geoff was loaded into the rail car, placed in the aisle between the seats. David rushed to the entry and signaled the engineer to continue.

“Double time speed,” David shouted.

The engineer nodded agreeably and disappeared into his cab. A minute later, the train began to move. Doc sat in a seat above Geoff and kept a vigil. David sat across and did the same.

As the train picked up speed, Doc stared at David, looking for hope.

“He’s still a long way from home,” David responded grimly.

-----*-----*-----*-----

Two hours later…

As the train pulled into the station, David’s heart began to race. Geoff’s condition had deteriorated greatly and now they needed to make the rough ride across town and through the woods to the time portal. With every minute and every bump, his condition would deteriorate. David had his doubts and Doc could see them in his eyes.

“Don’t give up Lad. Geoffrey’s counting on you,” he said.

“I’m scared Doc. I’ve never been this scared before.”

“I know. I’m scared too, Lad, but he needs us to be strong,” Doc said in a steady voice.

David nodded in understanding.

As the train came to a stop, the two men sprang into action. While Doc unloaded Geoff, David located a wagon. Fifteen minutes later, the two were off, speeding across the city of Chattanooga.

As the wagon exited the city limits, they rushed up the old country road toward Lookout Mountain. Rough and bumpy, the old road twisted and wound through the forest as it climbed in elevation. Fifteen minutes later, the trail leveled out and now ran parallel to the ridgeline.

“Almost there Lad,” Doc shouted rearward.

“I can barely find a pulse,” David shouted back, in desperation.

David opened Geoff’s eyelids and checked his pupils. He felt the wagon slowing. Looking up, his face dropped and his stomach began to churn.

“What now?” he said allowed.

“Not sure,” Doc responded.

Up ahead, in the middle of the trail, two armed soldiers stood guard blocking the path. With their rifles pointed at the wagon, the two meant business.

“State your affair,” a corporal shouted.