Reversion (The Narrows of Time Series Book 3) (44 page)

Damn, he had been so close to a solution! This incursion almost worked when he snatched the baby. It wasn’t planned, and for a short while, his attempt had a chance to succeed. Eventually though, Time caught up to him, making adjustments to restore history on its original course.

What he should’ve done was not plan as far ahead. Fuji’s selection of obvious anchor points with specific timeline changes was a mistake. They should’ve simply winged it with sudden changes. Changes that time wouldn’t see coming. It might have worked, but the changes would’ve needed to be unexpected and instantaneous. Some type of swift, permanent change that time couldn’t stop or correct.

He looked at the dashboard clock just as its LED numbers advanced to the next minute: 2:12 a.m.

A smile of familiarity hit his lips. He’d grown accustomed to seeing that number, seemingly at every turn. Two-twelve must carry some cosmic meaning, he decided, almost as if this exact moment in time was the singular focal point of his entire existence.

Then the answer hit him like a freight train without brakes. He didn’t want to waste another second, giving the Narrows of Time a chance to correct.

He let his hands turn the steering wheel to the right, sending the bumper of the car crashing through the metal guardrail. A second later, the pavement let go of the tires and he and baby Lucas were airborne, heading for the final curtain below.

“Screw you, Time!” he yelled. “You can’t fix this!”

His mathematical brain ran a quick calculation, determining that a little over twenty-three seconds remained before the four-thousand-pound vehicle hit the bottom of the nine-thousand-foot drop.

Just a little over twenty more seconds and this nightmare would finally be over.

Baby Lucas was crying hysterically in the seat behind him. Lucas felt horrible for what he’d just done, but there was no other choice. He had to remove himself from the timeline—both versions of him.

If his journey ended this very minute in the past, then all the misery that came after it would never happen again. It was the only chance to protect everyone he loved, and save all those souls who lost their lives because of his reckless decisions.

The Lincoln’s left headlight was still working as the bottom drew closer in a wash of shadows. He could smell the scent of oranges getting stronger with each passing second, figuring the farmer’s grove was the impact point.

He waited for the time distortion waves to catch up to him, making changes to the timeline like a teenager switching channels with a remote control. But they didn’t come.

He’d done it.

He’d beaten Time.

Sometimes the simplest solution is the hardest to find.

Memorable words spoken in both the past and in the future by a truly great man and friend, Dr. Kleezebee.

A sudden vision entered his thoughts. It was a beautiful, loving scene—one he planned to remember for all of eternity.

Drew and Abby were standing across from each other, holding hands on the altar of a church. Drew was dressed in a handsome tux, and standing on his own two legs—no sign of a wheelchair or crutches. Abby was smiling back at him, wearing a gorgeous wedding dress that flowed down her body and across the steps of the altar. Abby’s teary eyes were locked onto Drew’s and her smile full. The glow on her cheeks was obvious, as was her love for Drew.

A blurry, faceless priest was performing the ceremony, while a throng of people witnessed the holy union with blissful eyes. He could see the faces of his friends and loved ones. Everyone was there, everyone except him.

He assumed the scene was a glimpse of the things to come, a future he’d just created. He accepted his fate, knowing what he was seeing couldn’t happen if he was still alive.

The vision changed, this time showing only a brief snapshot. He saw Masago standing in front of an easel on a mountain top looking west at dusk. She was holding a slender brush with its tip covered in red paint. But there wasn’t a portrait of Lucas on the canvas, only a rendering of the stunning sunset.

The final second arrived and so did the consuming blackness. It was a fitting end for the East Side Exterminator. A man who never believed in the unity of life, but one who believed in the harmony of death.

A hero’s death—for Drew, for Dorothy, and for all of humanity.

THE END

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We hope you enjoyed
Reversion
, the final book in the Narrows of Time Series.

Please show your support for this series and the Author by posting a star rating and short comment on Amazon.com for
Reversion
,
Book 3 in the Narrows of Time Series.

Jay J. Falconer is an author, publisher, blogger, editor, full-time engineer and Sci-Fi junkie who lives in the mountains of northern Arizona where the brisk, clean air and stunning mountain views inspire his workday.

He makes his on-line home at
www.JayFalconer.com
and is the author of the critically acclaimed Narrows of Time Series and the Emily Heart Time Jumper Series.

If the mood strikes you, please use the Contact the Author form on his website to connect with him. Mr. Falconer would love to hear from you. He personally reads and responds to all inquiries.

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