Time Riders

CHAPTER 34

2001, New York

Liam clung desperately to the side of the perspex tube with both hands, unhappilykicking at the warm liquid beneath him. Bob floated beside him, calmly treading water.

‘OK, Liam, you’re going to be there for two hours exactly. We’ve set theco-ordinates for the first of September 1956. We’re sending you to the grounds of theWhite House — the president’s Washington office. All you and Bob are going to dois observe, OK? Just observe. Do you understand?’

Liam nodded. ‘Y-yes.’

Foster patted his hand. ‘Relax, Liam. You’ll do just fine.’ He looked atthe support unit treading water. ‘And you must trust Bob. In that silicon brain of hisis everything you’ll need for this quick trip. He’s going to be your walkingencyclopedia… aren’t you, Bob?’

‘Ja. Ich habe alle benotigten Daten, HerrFoster.’

‘English for now please, Bob.’

Bob nodded sternly. ‘I have all the required data, Mr Foster.’

‘Good.’

Liam looked up at the old man. ‘I… I’ve got to admit I’m a littlescared.’

‘I know,’ he replied softly. ‘First time alone is always a bitdaunting.’ He smiled. ‘I’ve been there before myself. You’ll befine.’

With a little effort Liam managed a cavalier grin.

‘Just go there, lad, look around, see what you can see… and come back to the samespot a couple of hours later.’

‘What if we’re late?’

‘If you miss that window, we’ll open the window again exactly an hour later, forjust a few minutes. If you miss that, then we open it exactly twenty-four hours later.That’s the standard missed-rendezvous procedure. Don’t worry, Bob knows all aboutthat and will keep you on schedule.’

‘But if we miss all the windows?’

‘Just make sure you don’t.’

Liam swallowed anxiously. ‘But… but if we do miss every one of themwindows… is there not a way to arrange another one?’

‘If it comes to that, there is a way for us to talk to you, but it’s one-wayonly. You’ll not be able to talk to us.’ He patted Liam on the arm. ‘Justmake sure you stick to the schedule.’

‘I… I’ll try me best, Mr Foster, so I will.’

‘I know you will, lad.’

Foster got to his feet and took the steps down the side of the cylinder on to the concretefloor of the arch. ‘OK, Madelaine, begin the launch procedure.’

‘Launching in one minute.’

The displacement machinery attached to the water tube began to hum deeply.

Sal stepped forward, staring at their foggy outlines inside the tube. ‘Good luck,Liam!’ she called out. ‘Be careful!’

He let go of the side with one hand and quickly waved. ‘I’ll be all right there,Sal. Don’t you worry about me now.’

The lights in the arch dimmed and flickered as power diverted to the tube.

‘Forty seconds to go until launch!’ announced Maddy.

‘Remember, Liam,’ shouted Foster as the hum grew more intense,‘you’re just going for a look … Don’t getinvolved in anything.’

‘Right you are!’ cried Liam, his voice rattling nervously.

‘Thirty seconds, fellas!’

Liam’s legs kicked in the water, sending cascades of bubbles up the tube. The hum ofthe generator increased in volume and pitch.

‘Twenty seconds!’ Maddy called out, her voice almost lost in the deafening whirof charging-up machinery.

‘OK, Liam,’ shouted Foster, ‘time to let go and go under!’

Liam nodded, sucking in one deep breath after another.

‘Fifteen seconds!’

‘Come on, lad… you’ve got to let go!’

Liam nodded, still sucking and blowing air, hyperventilating, his legs thrashing in the waterbeneath him.

‘Ten seconds!’

‘Come on, Liam, you’ve got to let go now!’

Taking one last gasp of air, he did so, quickly sinking under the water. Through the scuffedand foggy plastic, Foster, Maddy and Sal watched him flail in panic as he sank slowly to thebottom. Bob ducked down effortlessly beside him… and touchingly — so Sal thought- reached out and held Liam’s hand.

It seemed to calm him, just a little.

‘Three… two… one…’

With a pop the water and both occupants vanished.