TIMESCAPE

3

Dante took a step back. How? How was this possible? He hadn't been here in years...and now he was here, looking at himself? On a date he went on years ago? He felt pale and sick. Soon the professor was tugging on his arm, pulling him away towards the treeline.

Professor Campbell took Dante's head in his hands, forcing him to look him in the face. "It's going to be alright. It's quite a shock, when you realize what's happening. Believe it or not you're actually doing quite well. You haven't fainted...yet."

"What's happening?" Dante managed to sputter.

"What's happening is that you've travelled back in time. We're in 2008. Not too far back, but I wanted to show you what the machine was capable of. Show you something personal. So you'd believe me. This is one of your memories, and that's you. There's no way I could possibly recreate this moment."

Dante looked back through the trees at the younger version of himself. He remembered that night. It was the first night he'd ever held a girl's hand. They were still talking and laughing. About what he couldn't tell. But it was definitely him.

Dante turned to the professor. This was all incredible, but it didn't explain why the professor had brought him here. He was just a fireman! He didn't know anything about time travel or even history! He was terrible at history. "Why did you bring me here, professor Campbell? Why are you showing me this?"

"Let me try to say in this in as few words as possible. It's a lot of history to go through, so try and keep up. That machine, the platform, is my own time machine, I didn't invent it, time travel, but I am one of the experts on it. Very few people know about it and I aim to keep it that way. That's my field, as you may remember, relativistic mechanics. Anyways, I've been using it to travel for a few years now. To make a long story short, I've come into the possession of a code, a code which reveals fifteen different locations in time. In each of these locations is a box with a piece to a map which leads to a treasure, the greatest treasure of all time. Throughout history the treasure has been gathered. Someone figured out where it was and split the location into fifteen pieces, like a puzzle. And we've intercepted the code. We know where the pieces to the puzzle are. All we need to do is gather the pieces and we can put the map together and find the treasure!"

Dante took a moment to process everything he was hearing. The greatest treasure of all time? If what the professor was saying was true, then it was extremely important, and whoever found that treasure would undoubtedly be extremely rich. "That's insane." Dante finally said "But what does all this have to do with me?"

"You? Well it has everything to do with you!" The professor beamed "I'm gathering a team of six individuals who I believe have the skills necessary to navigate time and find the pieces. I want you to help me find this treasure!"

Now it was all clear. He was going to be a treasure hunter?? The child inside Dante was almost exploding with excitement. This was...well this was amazing! How many people had the chance to go back in time, and go back in time and find treasure! He'd be just like Indiana Jones! But then all of Dante's excitement came screeching to a halt. He was nothing like Indiana Jones. Indiana was cool because he could do cool things, things like using a whip and fighting bad guys. Dante couldn't do any of that. All he knew how to do was put out fires. "Professor....I'm flattered that you would think of me. But I'm just a fireman. I'm sure there are much more qualified people to help you."

Professor Campbell thought about this a moment before he responded. "In one way Dante, you're correct. You are just a fireman. And yes, you're not academically speaking, the most intelligent person for this kind of job. But let's look at it from another angle. Is anyone, and I mean anyone, really qualified to go back in time and navigate another culture? All we know about history, a lot of it is speculation and guesses, but does anyone really know? And I have chosen some people who are familiar with history, but I believe that for this kind of a journey you don't just need people who are smart. I need people who are strong. I need people who are young. I need people who are wise. And people who I can trust. And your brawn and small amount of medical training will be extremely helpful, I think, should anything go wrong."

"But what about my dad?" Dante asked. "You know him a lot better than you know me."

"True, I do know him a lot better than I know you. But he's old now. Treasure hunting requires young people. It will be physically exerting. And I may not know you, but I've done my research, and from everything I've learned about you, you've proven yourself to be trustworthy. Honest. Kind. Moral. And that's the kind of person I want on my team, Dante."

Dante had to think this through. What were the pros and cons? Pros: He could go back in time, he could find the biggest treasure of all time, he would have adventures and stories to tell. Cons: He could die, going back in time had to be dangerous! What if they ran into the middle of a war, or what if they got stuck back there? Or what if the professor was lying and really had some other, secret plan? There was a lot to consider, and a lot to trust. And he didn't even know the other team members. What if they didn't like him? And what about his job? And the fact that the professor had been spying on him or learning about him without his knowing had to be considered. After all, he really didn't know this guy!

That's when Dante knew that he couldn't say yes. He was a fireman, not a time travelling treasure hunter. He wanted to help people, not go after treasure. He had to be realistic. Realistically, he couldn't do those things. And as much as the professor thought he could, he knew that he couldn't. "I'm sorry, professor. But I can't. I have my job, I'm just a fireman. I think you've got the wrong guy."

The professor sighed. "Well, I have to say, I'm disappointed in your decision. You do realize that if you signed the contract, and you'll have to live the rest of your life in secrecy, having found out about time travel and not being able to tell anyone about it? And knowing that you had the chance to help me, and never did?"

Dante hadn't thought about that. He'd wouldn't be able to tell anyone about this, ever! His heart sunk again. But if that was the price he'd pay, so be it. It's not like anyone would believe him if he told them anyway. "I understand." said Dante. "My answer's the same."

The professor looked Dante with his bright, blue eyes. Dante got the feeling that he was reading his mind. "You sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure." said Dante."

"That's too bad. You have to."

What was he talking about? Had to? He couldn't force him to do it. Was he crazy after all? "What do you mean?"

"The contract. The one you signed. You do remember it? The contract states that you will help me complete the missions and find the treasure."

Dante should have been angry. But instead he found himself kind of amused. "And if I don't?"

"If you don't...best case scenario you'll be watched the rest of your life by the government and you'll never have any privacy again."

Dante smiled "And the worst case?"

"Worst case you'll be locked away in an insane asylum somewhere, probably not in the U.S., where you'll remain for the rest of your very short life," Professor Campbell grinned. He was very pleased with himself. "The US government takes their secrets very seriously."

Dante cursed that stupid contract. Like it or not, he was stuck. Suddenly the danger, the fear, and the shocking thought of how desperately unprepared he was to go running around in the past rushed like wave over him. But there was a small part of him that was still excited. A part of him that had secretly hoped he'd be forced into it because this was what it wanted. Who knew? Maybe this would be a good thing. Or maybe it was a terrible thing and he'd be dead in a few days...either way, there was no getting out of it now. "All right. Well seeing as I have no choice, I guess I'm in."

The professor put his arm around Dante and they began to walk back down the path, away from the bench where Dante's younger self was sitting. "My boy," the professor said "Always read the contract."