Alexis Reeves' Adventure in Time

Chapter 3: History Changes? Uh Oh...

"Okay, just one thing that I don't get," Wyatt said. They were walking down the road, hopefully into town. Maybe the bus that came into town would help them get to where they needed to go.

"Apparently, this time machine works. So why don't we just go back five minutes before Flynn stormed in and then shoot him in the face?"

"You can't go back to any time where you already exist, where you might meet a double of yourself," Rufus answered. "It is bad for the fabric of reality."

"Define 'bad,'" said Alexis.

"We tried it once," Rufus answered. "The pilot came back, but not all of him."

Alexis' eyes widen, wishing she never asked that question. Now she unterstood why Lucy said this could be a very dangerous mission. Lucy flagged down the bus, which slowed down. Alexis entered the bus, trying to avoid most of the people watching her.However, she realized that everyone was looking at Rufus, who moved to the very back of the bus. Alexis hated that kind of segregation that happened that time.

They finally exited the bus, now in town.

Lucy was lost in time, wishing her mother could see this, because Carol always loved history, no matter what.

"Come on, Professor, we gotta move," Wyatt muttered to her. They continued walking down the sidewalk.

"Tell us what we're getting into."

"Okay. The "Hindenburg" is just reaching the airfield, but she won't be able to land right away." There was lightning in the air. "Because of that. Light rain and high winds. So she'll make a bunch of turns, causing the air friction, building up static electricity. Then, at exactly 7:25 p.m., the "Hindenburg" will throw down the mooring ropes, but the ground crew will drag the ropes through the grass... They get soaked. Which electrically grounds the ship, causing a spark in the metal hull. The spark ignites a leaking hydrogen balloon, burning 2,000 cubic liters and 36 people alive. "

"So why is Flynn here?" Alexis asked.

Alexis took the money Christopher had given Lucy earlier and handed money for a newspaper.

"Thank you, miss," said the newspaper seller.

"So, maybe he wants to kill all 97 people on board instead of just the 36?" Lucy asked. "Make a bad thing worse? Whatever it is, we find him first, fast as we can."

And if we do find him?" Rufus asked.

"Leave that to me." Wyatt assured them. Alexis looked and noticed the gun in his pocket but says nothing.

"It might be the '30s, but Jersey's Jursey," Wyatt said, looking around.

"You see Flynn?" Alexis asked. She noticed that everyone was staring at Rufus and looked at him. "Um, everyone's staring at you. Maybe you should just wait outside?:

"On a scale from Million Man March to Mississippi Burning, how safe do you think I'm gonna be out there?" RUfus asked. Alexis opened her mouth, but she didn't know what to say.

"You should be fine, just, uh... don't make eye contact with anyone," Lucy told him.

"So glad I came," Rufus said sarcastically. He did what LUcy and Alexis advised him to do.

Wyatt approached the barman, sitting on the stool.

"Hey, man. How's it going?" Wyatt said.

"How's what going where?" the bartender sneered. Lucy and Alexis quickly intervened.

"How do you do, sir?" Lucy asked. "Um, we were just wondering if you've seen this man?" Alexis showed him the picture of Flynn, the only one they had.

"Why's he wearing pajamas?" the bar tender asked.

"Just have you seen him?"

"No, I don't think so." The barman said.

"Look again. It's important." Wyatt insisted.

"Hey, what are you, deaf? I said I haven't seen him." the bar tender sneered. Lucy gave a small "Sorry" gesture as the man walked away from Lucy, Alexis and Wyatt.

"Yep. Jersey's Jersey," Wyatt said.

Lucy looked around the bar and saw someone familiar...Kate Drummond.

"That's Kate Drummond," said Lucy, then another thought occured. "Oh, right, of course she'd be here."

"Who's she?" Wyatt asked without looking at them.

"She has a column in the Hearst papers," said Lucy. "She covered the wars in Manchuria and Ethiopia."

"What?" Wyatt looked back at Lucy.

"Just reminds me of someone, that's all." Wyatt answered. He got up and was going to talk to her.

"Wyatt!" Lucy and Alexis cried out, but he ignored them. They watched the two of them converse for a while, but they had to stop it before it got any worse.

"Miss Drummond," Lucy said, shaking her hand. "Um, it is so nice to meet you. You are a hell of a writer."

"This is my older sister, Lucy, and our niece, Alexis.

"That's kind of you, Lucy." Kate looked at Alexis. "What about you Alexis, do you read the papers too?"

Alexis was abotu to respond, but Wyatt interrupted her.

"She's mute," Wyatt said, Alexis shook her head yes.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Kate said. Alexis glared at Wyatt. Okay, just because she didn't talk much that didn't make her mute.

"You're in town to cover the Hindenburg's arrival?" Lucy asked.

"Yes, and then I'm riding it back to Europe for the coronation 'cause there's nothing like a tight, enclosed space with a bunch of stuffed shirts."

"Well, maybe you won't have to take that trip after all," said Lucy.

"Have you seen this man?" Wyatt asked. Alexis brought out the picture and showed it to Kate.

"Who is he?" Kate asked. "And why's he wearing pajamas?" She looked back at the pinball machine.

"He's a friend of ours," said Wyatt.

"Mm. Well, yes, he was here. About two hours ago."

"What was he doing?" Lucy asked.

"Well, when the officers at the airfield need a couple of extra hands, this is where they pick 'em up. Your friend is working as ground crew. He's gonna help bring down the Hindenburg."

"We owe Kate another drink for that one," Wyatt said as the exited the tavern to meet Rufus. The Lifeboat team made their way to where the Hindenburg was going to land. "She is amazing."

"Who we talking about?" Rufus asked confused.

"Kate Drummond," Lucy answered. "She only has about 90 minutes to live. She'll be right under the "Hindenburg" when it crashes down on top of her."

"Wait." Wyatt asked. Alexis and the others stopped, looking at her. Alexis saw Wyatt give Lucy a glare. "You just stood there, chatting her up, knowing she's about to die?"

"Well, we can't change anything." Lucy said. "Today's the day she..." She stopped. They didn't know who would be listening. "Today's her day."

Alexis looked at them.

"Uh, guys, I hate to break this up, but we've got a sociopath to stop," Alexis said. They all looked at her, knowing she was right.