Out of Time by E W Barnes

Author:E W Barnes [Barnes, E W]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781733149242
Publisher: Now & Later Publishing
Published: 2019-10-31T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Parallel

The obchestpol officers searched the apartment for over an hour. They rooted through closets, overturned chairs, pulled out couch cushions, and seized food from the kitchen “for later inspection.” There was a terrifying moment when one officer began methodically pulling books off the shelves of the bookcases shielding their hiding space. Those crowded into the bolt hole held their breaths. Satisfied there was nothing troublesome in the bookcases, the officer retreated from the dining room, leaving the books scattered on the floor.

Finally satisfied no one else was there, they left taking the confiscated food with them. Petrone waited another 30 minutes before he pulled open the bookcase.

“They searched the other occupied apartments on this floor and have left the building,” he said. “I don’t think will return tonight.”

The group filed out of the hiding place. The apartment was a mess—the obchestpol had flung to the floor everything they had touched. Without comment, the others picked everything up and put it away, as if this kind of incident was commonplace.

Petrone pulled Richard and Sharon aside.

“They know you’re here. We don’t have time to wait. We’ll begin tomorrow.”

“Begin what?” Sharon whispered to Richard as Petrone joined the others in the kitchen to salvage what was left of the food.

“The mission to get to their temporal nexus,” Richard said as he eased the water pack from his shoulder. Sharon handed him her backpack full of vegetables and he carried both packs to the kitchen to replenish what the obchestpol had taken.

It wasn’t long before the group retired for the night. The couple returned to the dining room that was again a bedroom. The family slept in Petrone’s room while Petrone made use of a cot in the kitchen. Sharon slept on the couch and Richard on the floor by the front door.

Sharon rose early the next morning after a sleepless night. The dim gray light in the room suggested the sun had not yet risen, but already there was movement in the apartment.

“It’s market time,” Richard explained. “They will stand in line for hours for bread or milk, maybe flour or eggs. Sometimes they will get some. Many times they do not. The food and water we brought was most welcome.”

Soon, the only ones left in the apartment besides Richard and Sharon were Petrone, the two children, and their mother.

Petrone moved the bookcase away from the hiding space and disappeared inside. A moment later he returned with a small package wrapped in brown paper and twine. He opened it carefully, out of sight of the kitchen where the children and their mother were eating a morning meal. Sharon heard low giggles from the children as they enjoyed the fresh vegetables.

“These will get you into headquarters, along with the identification we’ll create for you,” he said.

“Uniforms?” Sharon asked as he pulled clothing out of the package.

“Yes, these are for those who work in the Science Division.”

“How did you get them?” Sharon eyed the fabric curiously. It had a slick feeling like nylon but looked like wool.

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