Timeless Heart by Karyn Gerrard Read Free Book Online Page A

to
overhear the conversation with Brian, get his hopes up for nothing.
This seemed so futile, but what could it hurt to inquire? Closing
the door gently she walked down the hall into the living
room.
    Reaching for her cordless phone and punching in
the number to Brian’s office, she smiled as she thought of her
life-long friend. Brian never changed, he had been the rumpled
professorial type even as a teenager. He always wore a tweed jacket
with well worn elbow patches that hung loosely from his Ichabod
Crane frame. She adored him, the brother she never had. He
answered, and after exchanging pleasantries, he asked her the
reason for her call.
    She took a deep breath. "What is your opinion
on time travel?"
    He snorted derisively. "You want me to explain
Quantum Physics? You always sucked at science, Sandy."
    "I know, Bri. Is it possible?"
    "On paper, sure it’s feasible, but in reality?
Impossible," he replied emphatically.
    "What about...about being struck by
lightning..." she ventured tentatively.
    "Did you just watch those 'Back To The Future'
movies again?" he snickered.
    Sandra sighed. "Just answer the
question!"
    "You mean, the 1.21gigawatts...the space time
continuum, all that?” he snorted again. “Sure, I suppose most
movies have some basis in fact. Even 'Back to the
Future'."
    Sandra felt foolish, but she plunged
forward.
    "If someone arrived in a vehicle of some sort
that was struck by lightning would another strike send that person
back?"
    Brian could not hold back his laughter now.
"Don't tell me you found a DeLorean!”
    "Stop laughing, Bri, or I swear when I see you
next, I will kick you in the nuts." She closed her eyes and sighed.
"Well? Is it possible?"
    Brian stopped laughing. "Yes, if they arrived
that way, but who is to say the person would get back to their own
time? They could wind up anywhere, in any era. Are you writing a
book, a screenplay?"
    Sandra’s eyes snapped back open."Yes, a book,
one of those time-travel romance things. Now, what about if there
were other passengers, in that...vehicle. What would have happened
to them if, let's say, the person in question, a man...arrived
alone? Where is everyone else?"
    "That's a good question. They could be
anywhere, possibly in a state of suspended animation, lost in time,
as it were. There are theories of space-time, or time curves. I
like to call them ribbons of space-time. Perhaps the others could
be trapped in a closed time loop with their only means of escape
being this vehicle, or time machine!" Brian declared triumphantly,
thrilled at his own expertise in contriving a time travel plot out
of thin air.
    "And..." he continued, his enthusiasm building,
"this is where the lightening comes in! It’s a catalyst, the means
necessary to return the person through the time curve he came
through, though not necessarily to the same time and place he came
from. The theory of time travel is not exact. Perhaps then, it
could conceivably snatch one of the others out of their time
ribbon, and deposit them just about anywhere!"
    Sandra’s eyes widened in wonder. How close was
he to the truth here? They may never know.
    “This is fiction we are talking about here,
right? A romance?"
    Brian was far too clever, time to end the call.
"Thanks, Brian, you’re a pal."
    "What is this, Sandy? You’re serious about
this, aren’t you?”
    Sandra was touched by the disquiet in his
voice. "Don't concern yourself. I’m taking up writing to keep my
mind off...things. That's all."
    Brian sounded dubious, but accepted her
explanation. They made plans for dinner the following week, and
said their goodbyes.
     
    ****
     
    After her phone call with Brian, Sandra slipped
out and picked up a bucket of chicken. Looking in on Jerrod, she
saw he was still asleep, books all around him. He was laying flat
on his back, one arm carelessly thrown over his eyes. He must be
exhausted. He probably had not slept much since he got here. All
this must be overwhelming to him. And a small part