Timestorm by Julie Cross Read Free Book Online Page B

for Grayson.
    “Ah, B-29 supplements, of course.” He waved his gloved hand toward a cabinet against the back wall. “Would you mind stowing them away for me? I’ve just scrubbed up and don’t want to contaminate the specimen.”
    I walked over to the cabinet and opened the metal door, eyeing rows and rows of medical supplies and pills. An entire shelf was filled with unopened bags of B-29 supplements identical to the one in my hand. “Do you not have access to B-29 here?”
    Grayson glanced at me through his safety goggles. “Actually, B-29 hasn’t been discovered yet. Not until 2048. And won’t be widely used for another fifteen years after that.”
    I had learned about the necessity of B-29 in health education in school but hadn’t known it was a more recent discovery. In my present, it was received as a vaccine once a year on the first day of school. I knew B-29 was an emotion regulator, but I had never thought about what would happen if people went without it, since it works to keep the mind focused on calm, rational thoughts and actions. Not that anger, fear, and sadness no longer exist. I’ve definitely experienced my share of fear and anger growing up with three older brothers. But was the lack of B-29 in 1987 the reason for the noise and chaos in the world? Did quiet places exist outside New York City?
    “So, do you give them to people here?”
    Grayson shook his head. “No, we don’t tamper with the past unnecessarily.”
    “Right.” I swung my arms back and forth, not sure how to maintain a conversation with this much older time traveler and not sound like an immature child. I’d rather he think I was mature and responsible, following orders the United States military had given me. “Um, Dr. Ludwig said not to come back right away. Since I’m alone this time. My mind needs rest.”
    Grayson’s eyebrows knitted together. “Yes, it’s very risky, indeed, that long a jump.” He pulled out a stool and pointed at it, indicating I should sit, which I did right away. “Let’s give you a quick check, all right?”
    I nodded and allowed him to shine a light in my eyes, listen to my heart, and measure my pulse. Grayson seemed very different than the others I’d come to know. He seemed more expressive and full of secrets that he couldn’t hide completely. Somehow this made me feel calm and secure, probably because a lot of times I felt the same way. Like I couldn’t keep my feelings from showing on my face. That’s probably what delayed Dr. Ludwig from letting me jump on my own. He could tell I was scared to try even if I didn’t say it out loud.
    “I think about two or three hours’ recovery time will be just fine,” Grayson finally said after his thorough exam. “Probably best if you hang out here, stay out of trouble.”
    “Sure.”
    He pulled up another stool and sat across from me. “Tell me about your family. How are they handling things so far?”
    “I haven’t really talked to them much,” I admitted. “My mother called on my birthday. Thomas said I wouldn’t be able to go back home, too much of a security risk, I guess, and it would be easier if I just let them go.”
    “Easier for whom?” Grayson asked, then shook his head. “He’s partially correct. Since your identity and ability have been revealed worldwide, there are all kinds of possible terrorist threats, and targeting your family, who aren’t as well protected as you are, is a definite concern.”
    I looked down at my hands, trying to hide any fear. “That’s what President Healy said, too.”
    “Do you have brothers or sisters?”
    “Three older brothers. I’m the baby of the family.”
    He smiled. “What are they like? Do you get along?”
    I spent three hours talking to Grayson about everything from my oldest brother’s new wife and daughter to the girls at my old school and my mother’s inability to remember which kid was named what whenever she got angry with us. He said that parents had very similar