A Rebel In Time by Harry Harrison

Author:Harry Harrison
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2012-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

NINETEEN

Silence greeted Troy’s words. Kleiman started to say something, then changed his mind. It was Roxanne Delcourt who finally spoke.

“That’s quite a decision to make. Have you thought it through clearly?”

“No, not really. It’s more of an emotional decision than a logical one. I’ve been on this case since the beginning. I’ve met the colonel, just once, and I didn’t like him, not at all. Since then I’ve seen what he has done—and I’m certain that he plans worse. I have grown to loathe the man. He must be stopped. And right now, from where I stand, it looks like I’m the only one who can do it.”

“But—it’s irreversible,” Kleiman said. “You can go—but you can’t come back.”

Troy nodded slowly. “I know that. But I’m not going that far. It will still be the US of A. Only it will be a few years ago. And it will certainly be a new kind of experience! Added to this is the unarguable fact that there really isn’t that much here that I am going to miss. Maybe I’m being too morbid or depressed, but, personally, things haven’t been quite the same since my wife died. Going on two years now. She had been ill a long time. It wasn’t very nice for her. And it hit me hard. I was ready for a section eight there for a while. But the work has helped, keeps my mind off how I feel. Helps me sleep when I’m tired. Helps with the depression. I felt suicidal for awhile, but basically I’m not the suicide type. Sorry. I don’t know why I’m telling you this.”

“Because we’re your friends,” Roxanne said.

“Yes, I suppose you’re right. It’s not easy to make friends in the military. You move around a lot, particularly in the kind of work I’m involved in. With Lily, I suppose I didn’t need any other friends. I have no family to speak of. I might as well follow the colonel.” He had been staring down at his clasped hands while he talked; now he looked up and smiled. “It’s no big deal. But I’m going to do it.”

“You can’t!” Kleiman exploded. “Look at what you’re leaving behind. The technology, the advances in science, the things that are happening in research …”

“Bob. None of that means anything to me. I don’t live your kind of life. The kind of work I do—I can do just as well in 1858 or 1958. And what I really want to do is nail that son-of-a-bitch. Are you going to help me?”

“No! It’s suicide. I won’t be a part of it!” His anger slowly wilted before Troy’s calm gaze; he lowered his eyes. “All right. You talked me into it. But I still don’t like it.” He smiled suddenly and clapped his hands together. “But, by God, what an experiment into the nature of time! What we can learn! I’ll do it, but you have to promise to help. We must think of a way for you to send a message to us.

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