Time Travel Agency

Chapter 5

March 17,* 1642 - Boston, Massachusetts Colony

     "Oi! Get back here!" Agent Christian shouted in his native English tongue. He was chasing after a time terrorist who was trying to kickstart a war between the Natives and the colonists. They ran through back alleys of the town, and at one point crossed a busy road, nearly blowing Christian's cover. Eventually, Christian began to lose his stamina. No matter how many marathons you run, you'll always run out of stamina, he thought. When they both were in an alleyway on the east side of town, he pulled his pistol and silencer and capped the terrorist in the thigh. The terrorist tumbled to the ground, and as Christian put away his gun, he began walking toward the disabled man of temporal terror.

     Christian cuffed the terrorist when he caught up to him. As he was about to warp back to the present, he heard a commotion in the square, and when he looked out from the alley, there was a crowd surrounding a young lass and her infant child who were standing on a scaffold. The most eye grabbing and familiar part to Christian was the scarlet letter A knitted on her gown's bosom. Christian then remembered back to a book he read some weeks before he traveled back to the 17th century. He amassed his inner strength, and walked out into the crowd. At this time a man whose name was Reverend Dimmesdale was speaking to the woman on the scaffold.

     Christian went up to a bystander. "Do you know― uh," he stammered, realizing what year it was, "Uh, Doth thou knowest what is occurring in the square?" "Why Hester Prynne was sentenced to three hours stand on the scaffold," replied a bystanding man. "Doest she s-standeth there for a reason?" Christian asked, trying not to slip up on the dialect. "Why of course," replied the man, "She standeth there for the horrid sin she committed with a man we know not of. And now she stands as a symbol of public shame for a short while, then after the three hours passeth, she will be let down to live a life of partial normality. However the letter of scarlet hue she will weareth until the end of her days."

     Christian's eyes widened. Do they knowest not of the way God can restoreth her? Christain thought, Oh dear, this old talk is getting to me. Christian then said to the bystander, "If this be true, that thou believest not adultery is forgivable by God, then put me on the scaffold, too, so that I may say a word to the people." "I beg your pardon?" the man said, "But thou hast committed not such heresy as this, and I did not say Miss Prynne was married." "I beseech thee, sir of good nature, that I too be put onto the scaffold beside Hester, not because of a sin, but because I wish to communicate with thy fellow citizens a matter of utmost importance." The man was confused by Christian's proposition. "Well I cannot do it with what inconsequential power I possess," the man said, "So thou must do it thyself."

     Christian then took it upon himself to push through the crowd to get up to where Dimmesdale was speaking. When he did so, he went up to Dimmesdale, and cut off what he was saying. "Sir, if it be plausible, suffer1 that thou may putteth a ladder against the scaffold for a brief moment," Christian told him. "But kind sir, Mrs. Hester's three hours are not up," remarked Dimmesdale. "I beseech thee, suffer me onto the scaffold, so that I may declare a message for all of Boston to hear," Christian begged.

     Dimmesdale reluctantly asked the soldier to put a ladder on the scaffold's side so that Christian could join Hester on it. The soldier rebuked this request and said, "I have received strict orders to keep Miss Prynne on the scaffold for three hours. I refuseth to comply with thine request, Reverend Dimmesdale." Why do they have to do that? I could get up there myself, Christian thought, but I don't want to unless I get burned at the stake. Christian knew he had to act in order to get himself up there. "Fine I'll do it myself," Christian said, only realizing after that he slipped up his dialect. Christian grabbed a ladder from the side of a nearby house and put it against the side of the scaffold. He climbed up it, even though the soldier protested. As Christian was just shy of the top, the soldier gave the ladder a big push, but Christian saw it. He jumped and reached for the edge of the scaffold; the ladder fell from under his airborne feet. He grabbed onto the edge of the scaffold and climbed onto it, panting from exhaustion. Hester witnessed the whole thing and at this moment, gave Christian a confused stare, whilst clutching her infant child.

     "Who art thou??" Hester asked, shouting. "I am Christian Deumentime2. I have to speak to the people out there that look upon you, that are shaming you. Suffer me a minute or two and I shall be on my way," Christian calmly explained. He then turned toward the people surrounding the scaffold, who seemed to have doubled since his stunt. He began his speech after a pause because the dialect of the people was not native and that he said a little prayer to himself before beginning.

     "Hear ye, people of Boston!" Christian began to shout from the elevated position on the scaffold. What once was used for shaming or executing or beating, was now being used as a stage to tell a speech before the town. As people turned their attention toward Christian, he continued, "My name is Christian Deumentime. As I went about my business, I noticed Hester Prynne being shamed for the sins of fornication and adultery. To God, all sins are equal, but to you, these sins are unforgivable; and while these sins are devastating and damaging, so also is lying, cheating, stealing, and so forth. If adultery were as unforgivable as you say, then more of you shall standeth with us, for as Jesus himself sayeth in the book of Matthew in chapter 5 and verse 28, lusting after someone is committing adultery in your heart already. God can forgive all sin, so wilt ye not let Mrs. Prynne go with a brand of shame, a mark, a scarlet letter, however thou may calleth it? However, sorry, Mrs. Prynne, but Proverbs doth suffer discipline. Whether it be lashes with a whip, or a fine, or execution, a punishment and/or discipline is allowed. Thou mayest decide whether or not to believe me, but see for yourself that my words may be true. I bid you all adieu."

     Christian then stood back and let the crowd chat amongst themselves about what they had heard. He then asked for a ladder so he could get down. He stopped at Rev. Dimmesdale to tell him, "By the by, Reverend, I am aware of your situation, and as such I will warn you to confess thy secret before it eateth thee from inside outward in seven years' time. Asketh God to forgive thee, and thou shalt be spared from this." This shook Dimmesdale to his core, even though he never admitted or showed it.

     Christian then snuck to an alleyway to warp out, but a journalist found him. "Kind stranger," the journalist said, startling Christian, "How can these things be?" "The best I can say is to readeth thy Bible with care and earnestness, and remember the books Matthews and Proverbs in thy Bible, which is where my sources are," Christian replied. The journalist left, and at that moment Christian remembered the terrorist he had captured. He looked around in his vicinity until he noticed a pair of modern-day handcuffs broken on the ground.

     As Christian struggled to process the information, a green portal opened up at the end of the alley. Out came the man with muddy boots. With him was the terrorist Christian had captured. "Thank you," Christian said, "whoever you are." "All will be made clear in a moment's time," the man replied, "for now, take this man to your time and meet me here." The man handed him a card, and Christian read it. "Wait wait wait," Christian said after reading the card, "You're from the future?" The man winked, smiled, and gave Christian the terrorist. "That I am. See you there!" he said as he left back through the portal from whence he came.

Definitions

Suffer (17th century term) - to allow or permit

Deumentime - fictional surname which comes from Deum timens which translates to God fearing

* = Total guess.