The Cassandra Complex by Wendy Nikel

Author:Wendy Nikel [Nikel, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: time travel fiction books, time travel adventure books, time travel series books, time travel adventures, Cassandra complex, early 20th century american history, historical fiction world war i
Publisher: World Weaver Press
Published: 2019-05-07T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Madeline purchases our tickets back east as I watch the California Limited pull away with Fanny, Mary, and Alice aboard. I appease my guilt by telling myself that I’ll send them a telegram as soon as I’m able. When that will be—or where I’ll get the money for it—I don’t know, but I’m sure they’d understand if they knew the whole story. I couldn’t turn down the opportunity Madeline presented.

The first-class observation car aboard the eastbound train still isn’t as comfortable as the airtrains back home, but it’s a huge improvement over the Harvey Girls’ quarters, and I’m so exhausted that I fall asleep almost immediately and don’t wake again until well into the next day.

“Ah, you’re awake,” Madeline says, tucking away an appointment book. She’s wearing a different outfit than the one she left in—this one a powder-blue traveling suit with a matching fathered hat—and her hair is done up in perfect ringlets. “Excellent. Let’s get you something to eat and then we can get started on planning our next steps.”

My stomach rumbles as I follow her to the dining car, but even more than food, I’m eager to hear what she has in mind to do with my foreknowledge. My PVDs, still tucked away in my blouse, press against my chest.

Madeline orders soup and bread for us, and as the waitress hurries to fill our order, the older woman opens her appointment book to a clean page.

“Now, as soon as we arrive in New York, I mean to call an emergency meeting of my organization. I’m certain that my colleagues will be very eager to meet you. Am I correct in assuming that you are here because of some horrific future event? Like the traveler who came to the Titanic?”

“I guess you could say that,” I stammer. “But I have a feeling that the general population wouldn’t react well to the news.”

“I assure you, my colleagues are very tactful.”

“But will they be able to help me reach people who can help? The president or his cabinet members? Someone who can really make a difference? Someone who will listen?”

“Don’t you worry,” Madeline says, reaching out to pat my hand. “You’ll find that we’re a very well-connected group. We won’t steer you wrong. Now, what else can you tell me about the next decade or so? The group will be eager to learn all about what the future holds.”

The tip of Madeline’s fountain pen touches the paper, leaving a black dot that grows and grows as she waits for my answer.

“The more specific the details, the better,” she prompts.

Finally, someone who’s willing to listen, to take me seriously. I hardly know where to start.

I look around the dining car, and though it seems like everyone else is engrossed in their own thoughts, it still feels strange to be speaking so openly about it. After all, my family kept time travel a secret for years, even from me.

“Don’t you think we ought to wait until we’re somewhere more private?”

Madeline scoops

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.