To the 19th Century by James W. Nelson

Author:James W. Nelson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy, time travel, magician, warlock, fantasy contemporary, crane operator, demolition crew

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Outside, Matherby guided them to the left side of the portico. Selby noticed Foreston's youthfulness had returned, "Hey, Rivet, you got your baby face back."

Foreston turned on Selby, clasped both sides of his face, squeezed his lips into a pucker, "You're the one with the baby face, little buddy."

"Gentlemen, must I remind you of the seriousness upon us?"

"No, sir!" Foreston released Selby immediately.

"Just a little horseplay, there, Mr. Matherby."

"I realize that. I simply do not want you to be imbued with false security just because we have returned to the twenty-first century. It's vital that apathy does not set in."

"After the tour we just had I don't believe I'll feel apathetic about anything ever again. How 'bout you, Rivet?"

"I don't know what 'apathetic' means." Foreston's brow raised as his eyes bulged, "But I don't reckon I'll ever feel that way again, either."

"All right, gentlemen. Your assignments."

Motioning Selby to wait, Matherby took Foreston by the arm and led him to the bottom of the steps, then onto the sidewalk.

About four minutes passed.

Foreston walked about fifty feet in the direction of Urbank Wrecking and the YMCA site, and waited.

Matherby motioned to Selby.

"Mr. Foreston's job of laying the crane's jaws on the steps for a few seconds at noon Monday, so that I will have a stable target, presents very little difficulty."

"I assumed I wasn't to know his job," Selby said.

"But you must, Selby. Knowing his job is your job."

"I don't understand."

"Think of my dilemma, Mr. Staples. Mr. Foreston is the crane operator. Had it been you, I would have brought you here alone."

"Well, so, why couldn't you bring Rivet here alone?"

"Think, Mr. Staples, or I will have to question my judgment in bringing you here."

"Ah, I know." Selby slapped his head, leaned close, "Because Rivet is not the smartest man on earth. But then, neither am I."

"I imagine you are not, but without your settling influence on your big friend, well, I could not chance with just Mr. Foreston alone. I must shatter the canister right after the noon whistle, which should put it close enough to one hundred years. You must see to it that the crane gets here no sooner and not much later. And one last thing."

"Yes…?"

"I already told Mr. Foreston, but you must make sure. He must stop the center of the crane on the twenty-first century side of the line. The door is your guide. Just a few inches but the center of the crane must not sit on the nineteenth century, nor the center. We must project this spell from the present into the future, not the opposite."

"Okay." That part had sounded kind of important, "Well, see you Monday." Selby started to leave, then stopped, "Say, why didn't you just call Reynard back?"

"In the first place, Mr. Staples, I am not exactly in personal contact wit Reynard's canister shattered on the steps. I want mine to shatter on the vehicle of destruction. The crane's jaws."

"What you're saying, Mr. Matherby, is that you don't know if any'a this'll work.

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