Impossible Journey, A Tale of Times and Truth

"I feel so frustrated. We couldn’t get anywhere with them.”

"I wonder if it will be that way in Eden."

"Nah, they’re already set in their sinful ways. In Eden, it’ll be the first time, so we should have an easier time of it."

"I hope you’re right. Say, let’s go back and try to contact home base again. Maybe they found the date or, at least, a good idea of what it might be."

"Good idea."

************

“Yeah, we found it alight!" John's voice comes droning over the communicator. "Of course, there are different viewpoints, but the predominant theory is that fall of Camelot began the night of August 16, 875 A.D.”

"That’s tonight!” observes Kerry.

"It all started,“ continues John, “when the queen, Guinevere, was captured in her room in the act of adultery with Lancelot, who escaped, only to try to rescue her, causing the final war."

"Oh, my goodness!” exclaims Walt. “We’d better go and try to warn them."

"I’m afraid it’s too late," observes Kerry.

"What do you mean?"

"Just take a look out that window."

Looking out, they see a group of knights in battle array, surrounding the capsule. "Oh no! It must be a contingent of Mordred's men, sent to prevent us from interfering."

"Shucks! What can we do now?"

"We could try to blast them, but It’s probably too late anyway. I’ll bet at this very moment, another contingent of Mordred's men is arresting the Queen for unfaithfulness."

"Then, this is the beginning of the end of Camelot, eh?"

"Sure as shootin'!"

"Well, we might as well be on our way. I’ll break out the new envelope of fuel. Kerry, bring the water and the brandy over here, and the measuring cup too. Daniel, stand by at the controls."

************

Meanwhile, the soldiers surrounding them are talking also:

"Wow! What kind of device is that?"

"Beats me. All I know is we’re suppose t' keep 'em surrounded. Fortunately, they didn’t hear us followin' 'em."

"Fortunately, we saw 'em leave the castle.”

"Well, now what do we do?"

"Just stand here and wait, like we were told, dummy!"

"Well, how long we gonna have t' wait here?"

"I don’t know--till we hear somethin' from Mordred."

"Sure was lucky runnin' into him, eh? I mean things were gettin’ t’ be really dull around here."

"Y' c'n say that again."

"Things were gettin' t' be really--hey, what th'--?!"

"Fer th' love o' Murd, would y' look at that!"

"I can’t believe it! It’s just hangin' there, goin' round and round in the' middle o' th'-- well, bless my soul, it’s disappeared. Did you see that?”

"Yeah! It was goin' round 'n’ round and then it up and disappeared, all of a sudden like!"

"Well, either we’re all crazy, or that’s th' most special kind o’ magic I ever saw."

"We’d better not say anything t’ anybody."

"But how are we gonna explain t’ Mordred?"

"Maybe we won’t have to. If he succeeds in what he’s tryin' t' do, he’ll be so happy, he’ll forget about us."

"I sure hope you’re right."

"Well, let’s go. Nothin' else t’ do here."

************

And, inside the capsule:

"What a take-off!"

"Wow! I bet they were surprised!"

"But do you think their presence here means--I mean, maybe it isn't possible to change history."

"Nah! That was just a stroke of bad luck."

"Say, old King Arthur came pretty close to eliminating evil in the world, didn’t he?"

"Yes, but he failed to deal with evil at its source--sin in the heart of man."

"And that’s what we’re going to prevent."

"We’re sure going to try."

"I hope this new formula works."

"Yeah, I can’t wait to find out how far back we go now."

"Any bets?"

CHAPTER 11: CHRIST AND CRISIS

Again, the cylinder lands in a clump of trees beside a road.

Walt checks the indicator.

"Jerusalem: 33 A.D.?"

"That’s what it says."

"Ah!” sighs Walt, remembering. "The time of the prophet, Jesus."

"I thought we were through with hearing that name."

"I guess not. Maybe it's fate or something. Anyway, it’ll give us a chance to sharpen up our Hebrew."

"That’s right," observes Kerry, “they still do speak that language in this time, don’t they?"

“As well as Aramaic and Greek.”

"We won’t have to worry about looking out of place. We can just cover ourselves with the bed-sheets and towels and we’ll fit right in."