The Didymus Contingency (7 page)

Sally’s eyes began to widen.

“If Tom proves to the world that Jesus was a fraud, he will destroy everything we know and everyone we hold dear. This isn’t just Christianity that is being threatened; it’s millions of human beings for the past two thousand years.”

Sally looked at David, her face pale, “When can you leave?”

David stood to his feet, “Is everything ready?”

“Yes.”

“Today.”

“You can’t. You’re—”

“In no mood,” David said with authority, “Tom has to be stopped and I’m the only one who can do it… Now, give me my pants and turn around.”

Sally smirked, picked up David’s pants and tossed them at him. “I’ll be outside.”

As David watched Sally leave, a feeling snuck into his consciousness. Amid the tumultuous scenarios playing out in his mind, something unfamiliar and equally as frightening dug in deep. Affection.

*   *   *   *   *

Looking at himself in the wall-sized mirror, David didn’t recognize the man he saw. Not only did he look authentic, he looked downright ancient. It took only two days for LightTech to get all the necessary supplies. He didn’t like waiting to leave, but his wounds needed time to heal and with time travel, David could leave in ten years and still get there on time.

He was dressed in a red-tinged, brown robe and sandals, and his watch had been cleverly disguised as a twine bracelet—not exactly standard issue for ancient Israel, but it shouldn’t attract any attention. David knew that retrieving Tom could be as risky as Tom’s own jaunt back in time and he wasn’t taking any chances.

Sally laughed at David when she entered the small orientation room, designed for times like this when people would be preparing to travel through time. “Not bad,” she said as she handed him a small pouch.

David opened the pouch and looked inside. It was full of ancient gold coins, gems and jewels. David’s eyes lit up. “You don’t think this is a bit overboard?”

“I want to be prepared for every contingency. Just because you have the money, doesn’t mean you have to spend it,” Sally explained.

“What contingency needs me to be filthy rich?” asked David.

“Do you know how to tend sheep, work the fields or grow olive trees?” Sally asked.

“No, but I’m only going to be there for a few days at most, probably less. Once I find Tom, we’ll both be back. I couldn’t spend this much in a lifetime,” David said, as his own comment began to sink in. “Oh.”

“If you get stuck back there, if your watch breaks or malfunctions or…”

David tied the pouch to his twine belt. “I get the idea.”

“Just find a hole in the wall little town and try not to interact with anyone…for the rest of your life.”

David hadn’t considered getting stuck in the past as an option. He cursed himself for not thinking of it after his last adventure through time. He had come close to losing the watch even then, and he had only been in the past for a few minutes! David would make sure he and the watch would never be separated.

“I’ll come back,” he said with confidence. He looked into Sally’s eyes and smiled, “I promise.”

Sally smiled and said, “You better get to the prep station. The boys are getting antsy.”

“Will you be coming to watch?” David asked, trying not to sound too hopeful.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

As David turned to leave, Sally suddenly said, “David, wait.”

He froze in his tracks. What was this? David turned toward Sally as she walked over to him. Her face looked softer and her eyes were locked on the floor.

“I wanted to apologize,” she said.

David nearly passed out but managed to stay standing.

“I know I’ve been a real ass over the years,” Sally said slowly and deliberately, “but try to understand that it’s not who I really am. My job is…complicated, and I have to sometimes say and do things I don’t like, to make sure things get done. I just wanted you to know…in case something happens.”

Through his smile David said, “I understand. Thank you for apologizing.”

He thought he should leave before anything more was said—or done—that might cause him to change his mind about risking his life to retrieve Tom. “See you down there,” David finished and started for the door.

“David, let’s keep this between you and me. I can’t have anyone else knowing I’m not a complete bitch.”

David stopped at the door, “Your secret is safe with me.” He closed the door behind him on the way out.

Sally stood alone, looking at the door and a wave of sadness swept over her. She closed her eyes, but quickly composed herself as the door behind her opened. Three men entered and she turned to greet them with the cold gaze she had perfected over the years.

The man in the blue suit was George Dwight, CEO of LightTech and one of only three people with more clout then her. He was like a politician stuck forever on the campaign trail. His hair was slicked back and his nails were impeccably manicured. George had more power than Sally, but she knew she still intimidated him.

Jake Parrish, a tall and astute man with squinty eyes, was George’s assistant. He was George’s voice, his errand boy and a constant thorn in Sally’s side. Every executive order from George came from Jake’s lips. He took such joy in delivering those orders too. Sally knew that Jake lusted for power. She could see it when he gave orders, smiling fiendishly. She watched him like a hawk whenever he showed his face in her department. Today was no different. He had a look of “I know more than you,” on his face. She could swear his eyes were smiling at her.

The other man was a stranger—tall, shaved head and clean. Sally imagined that there wasn’t a loose flake of skin on the man’s body. There wasn’t a trace of stubble on his slick, cleft chin and even less intelligence behind his eyes. Sally didn’t like him.

Smiling his pearly white, phony grin, George said, “You handled that well. I think that’s a new low, even for you Sally, leading him on like that.”

Sally swallowed hard, “Whatever it takes.”

“Glad to hear that’s still your policy,” said George.

“Why?” Sally raised an eyebrow. “You have something planned?”

George gave a sideways glance to Jake, who promptly stepped forward. “Director McField, as you know, one of our lead scientists, Tom Greenbaum, has traveled back in time using LightTech owned equipment. Not only is this a crime against LightTech, but taking into account Dr. Greenbaum’s intentions, it is a crime against all humanity. Given what is at stake, we believe it necessary to implement a few safety precautions, a few…failsafes.”

“Meaning?” Sally asked, seemingly unfazed by this information.

“Meaning, Director McField,” the stranger said, in a voice that screamed military, “if the situation cannot be contained, it must be eliminated.”

“And you are?” asked Sally.

“Captain John Roberts.”

George intervened, “Captain Roberts is the head of our Time Enforcement Division.”

“Time what? Why wasn’t I told of this?” Sally crossed her arms tightly across her chest.

“You’re in charge of technology development. You didn’t need to know. Captain Roberts has been training for years in case your division succeeded,” George explained as he chuckled, “And as soon as you succeeded, you lost control.”

“What are you planning to do?” Sally asked, already knowing the answer.

“You heard Captain Roberts. If the situation cannot be contained it will be eliminated. Roberts has been trained for every situation imaginable. He speaks fifteen languages, is a master of cultural blending and is trained in several kinds of hand-to-hand and special weapons combat.”

“That’s just what we need, a gung ho G.I. Joe killing people in the past,” Sally said with a chuckle.

“Miss McField,” Roberts said, “I assure you, I am the best equipped man alive to handle this situation. When Dr. Goodman fails, I will not.”

“What event are you planning on going back to?” Sally asked.

“We’ve calculated the date on which Jesus was most likely crucified. If Dr. Greenbaum wants to disprove the story of Jesus, that is where he’d start,” Jake explained.

“I’m leaving three minutes after Dr. Goodman,” added Roberts, “If he hasn’t retrieved Dr. Greenbaum when I find them, I’ll take care of the situation in the most expedient way possible.”

“Sacrifice their futures to save our past,” Sally said, understanding the plan.

“Exactly,” George said with a smile.

“I expect you’ll keep me informed?” Sally asked, as she headed for the door.

“Naturally,” George replied, “Oh, and Sally, keep this to yourself.”

“Naturally.” Sally left the room wondering how she could have let this happen. Tom and David had been sentenced to death, and she was the only who could save their lives.

—FIVE—

Descent

28 A.D.

3:33 P.M.

Bethany, Israel

Tom woke up feeling sore. His head was pounding and his dry eyes stung as though he had spent too much time in an over chlorinated pool. His throat burned as though he’d swallowed a vial of acid; he was parched for even the smallest drip of water. Tom climbed slowly to his knees and rubbed his eyes.

His direct surroundings were strange and confusing. He was inside a bush. That wasn’t a good sign. As Tom braced himself against some branches, he remembered their success the day before. He remembered eating with David at Peggy’s. And he remembered drinking...a lot. Tom thought he must have made a fool of himself, but after his fourth beer, the night was a blank slate. From the headache, dryness and odd surroundings Tom deduced that he must have gotten thoroughly drunk. How long had he been unconscious? Why hadn’t David found him and dragged him home?

Stumbling from the bush, Tom leaned up against a tree. After taking a moment to relax his body and clear his mind, he realized what he was doing—leaning against a tree…
in the middle of the Arizona desert
? Tom absorbed his surroundings. He was encircled by trees, bushes and a dazzling array of colorful flowers—orange, yellow and red. He breathed deep as the smell hit him. The fragrant odor of the flowers was like none that had tickled his nose before. Tom had no idea such oases existed in Arizona. Wherever he was, it was beautiful, and Tom decided he would try to remember how to get back, just as soon as he found a way out.

Tom trudged through the thick forest for what felt like an hour, but was closer to ten minutes. He stopped to rest for a moment and fell asleep. He wasn’t sure how long he was out, but knew he hadn’t awoken on his own. A tingling sensation rippled across Tom’s head, causing his hair to stand a little taller. He was not alone, and judging from the amount of wilderness around him, his company probably wasn’t human.

A crack of twigs in the near distance widened Tom’s eyes and caused his chest to rise and fall a little more quickly. He was in no shape to outrun, outfight or outwit a grumpy animal. He pushed himself up and hugged a tree, pressing his body into the bark in an effort to look as treelike as possible. He sensed that whatever was out there—whatever creature was stalking him—was growing closer.

Hands tense around the tree trunk, Tom leaned out for a peek. He saw nothing. He leaned in the other direction and let his head slowly emerge from behind the tree. His heart beat to a maddening rhythm. He could feel his pulse in his neck. Then he saw it.

A floppy eared goat foraged through the forest floor, ruffling through pine needles and leaves as it searched for fallen fruit. Tom sighed. The goat looked up at Tom and immediately went back to searching for a meal. Tom watched the creature, his confusion growing with each slowing breath.
A goat? In Arizona?

Eyes closed, Tom turned, leaning his back against the tree, trying to think.
Where am I and how did I get here?
Tom’s nose twitched. He smelled something odd carried by the breeze, which had changed directions. He opened his eyes and his heart skipped a beat.

Ten feet away and low to the ground was what looked like an African lion. But it was built differently. Its head was thicker and its body was massive. Tom’s limbs locked as his mind shut down. The lion crawled forward slowly, its muscles tense, ready to pounce. Then it jumped.

The speed of the creature was amazing. Tom screamed as the lion burst into the air and sailed past his head. He heard the beast land and the whine of the goat before its neck was snapped. Tom’s head spun around. The panting lion was lying on the ground holding the goat’s neck firmly in its jaw.

Tom now knew he was no longer in Arizona. But he felt it wise to worry about where he was after the immediate physical threat of becoming a lion dessert no longer existed. Tom slowly crept away, keeping the tree between himself and the dining lion. As soon as he was sure the lion could not see, hear or smell him, he ran.

Trees and shrubs flew past in a blur. He knew this run would do him in, but dying of exhaustion or dehydration was far more appetizing than being eaten alive. He did his best to take in his surroundings as he ran. All around him were things that should not be. The trees were like none he had ever seen and some bore fruit: dates, figs and pistachios.

Tom grew more and more annoyed by his predicament as his run slowed to a jog. In all his years spent in Arizona, he had never once encountered a mosquito. But now a ravenous swarm of the pests were draining him as if he was a living blood bank. Now walking, Tom used a branch from a pine tree to swish the pests away. A large bird of prey circled overhead, taunting him and making the situation feel that much more perilous.

His thighs burned and his shins stabbed with pain, but he pressed on. Between the drinks he had the night before and the scalding heat, Tom knew he wouldn’t last much longer. He pushed through a low branch and stumbled into a clearing.
Not a clearing...a road!
A wave of relief surged through him as he reached his first sign of civilization. Tom looked in both directions. The road was empty. He reached into his pocket, pulled a quarter out, flipped it and caught tails. He headed left.

It was only ten minutes before Tom saw three objects moving toward him on the path ahead. He moved forward as quickly as he could, desperate for help and human contact. After all he had done in his life and believed he would still do, he thought it a shame if he died now, like this, in the middle of nowhere.