Magestic 2, p.116
Magestic 2, page 116
An hour later, Jimmy entered the Chinese Mission in Washington carrying a bag, modest security displayed for the small and run-down building. Big Paul followed Jimmy in, the other three guards waiting outside.
An interpreter stood waiting at the top of a flight of steps. ‘Welcome to the People’s Mission.’
‘I speak perfect Chinese,’ Jimmy informed the man in Mandarin. ‘You will not be needed.’
The man hesitated, but led Jimmy on and to the missions’ senior man, the individual not labelled as an ambassador, but a People’s Representative.
‘Thank you for your time in seeing me,’ Jimmy offered the man.
The startled official stared back. ‘You ... speak like you were born in Beijing?’
‘Maybe I was.’ They sat.
‘The American White House asked us to entertain you for this meeting, without an explanation as to the purpose of the meeting.’
‘The purpose ... is for you to discover who I am, what I’m doing, and how it affects you. We would then negotiate.’
‘And ... who are you?’
‘I was British, originally, a very long time ago. I may not look it, but I’m three hundred years old.’ He lifted a data-pad as the man simply stared back. ‘What the Americans haven’t told you, and what you have failed to learn about, is that both the Americans and the Germans have been working on time machines for many years – in secret of course.
‘Time machine?’
‘Yes, a machine to send people backwards in time, the hope being that soldiers could go back and attack America’s enemies at a time when they were using just bows and arrows.’
‘I have heard of such machines, in the newspapers here. And if such a machine worked, there would be historical references in the history books.’
‘True. Fact is, they didn’t work till they had a hand from a traveller like me. Then the German machine worked, but it didn’t send someone back through time, it sent them to another world.’
‘Another world?’
‘Computer. Display images of Shanghai, 2025.’
A wall came to life, a six foot image of the glistening city. Aircraft could be seen landing, traffic queuing, pedestrians rushing about, the People’s Representative startled. The man studied the images for two minutes, his mouth open, and finally turned back to Jimmy.
‘Computer, display communist Chinese soldiers from 1950.’
Images flashed up, black and white newsreel of soldiers with bolt-action rifles and bayonets.
‘1970.’
The images changed to that of colour, the soldiers in green uniforms, regimented rows marching along, tanks glimpsed behind.
‘2010.’
The images were not that different, save fighter jets flying past in formation, Tianamen Square clearly recognisable in each.
‘Computer, display images of Chinese Space Station, 2030.’
The space station could be seen drifting serenely over the earth, soon images of Chinese astronauts waving at a camera, words spoken to family back on Earth.
‘Computer, display images of Jimmy Silo with Chinese leaders in Tianamen Square.’
Jimmy could be seen on the podium making a speech.
‘End images.’ Jimmy faced his host. ‘Those images are not from this world, but they could be. Your scientists - those you’ve not yet rounded up and shot - could have told you about a theory, a theory that there are parallel dimensions in space, and many worlds all very similar. Perhaps you could find a few scientists in your prisons and ask them. Anyway, the Germans opened a door, and that attracted my attention, so now I’m here. And now that I am here things will change, because I brought with me tens of thousands of soldiers from the future, all armed with sophisticated weapons.’
Jimmy checked his watch. ‘Contact your government after this meeting, just to confirm that all electrical equipment in Shanghai has stopped working – as of now.’
‘Stopped working?’
‘My doing. A sample of what I could do, a lesson to be learnt, a tap on the shoulder, a … demonstration of what technology from the future can do.’
The man stared back.
‘Now, let’s get down to what I want, and what you want. On the world that I came from, Chinese communists took control in 1947, and spent decades trying to find their true centre, the nature of communism. They fought in many small wars, and they supplied weapons to many other communist groups in other countries, as you’ve done in Central America. They then decided to sell goods abroad, and did very well at it, eventually becoming the world’s largest economy, and its richest nation. Peace and prosperity was secured for its people, it just ... took a while. Tomorrow, there’ll be a meeting of the nations of this world, and you are invited to come along to negotiate on behalf of your people.’
‘Negotiate?’
‘Negotiate the future, peace or war, conflict or growth, prosperity or darkness. As an opener, you may inform your government that those of your aircraft lost approaching Japan in the last twelve hours were not lost due to Japanese aircraft, or Japanese missiles, or mechanical faults. They were lost because of sophisticated technology. From this moment on, none of your aircraft will reach Japan and, no one in Shanghai will get ice-cream today. Or tomorrow for that matter.
‘Mister People’s Representative, I aim to interfere directly, to bring peace to this world. Cooperate and I’ll help your people with advanced medicines and technology. Fail to cooperate … and you’ll be contained and isolated. Kindly figure a few responses and comments for tomorrow’s meeting, where you will be allowed a voice.’
Jimmy handed over two phones. ‘Press the green button and you will get through to me. Send one back to China so that your leaders can talk to me.’ He stood. ‘Thank you for your time today.’
They left a People’s Representative looking like he needed the People’s hospital. A few well-trained doctors would have been nice to go with the hospital, but most of those were now tilling the fields, guarded by the People’s loyal soldiers.
After lunch, Jimmy and the gang were driven around to the Russian Mission, the building again modest, tucked away in a side street, yet protected with high metal fences. They were expected, and allowed in, no effort made to search them. Again, Big Paul accompanied Jimmy inside, finding another interpreter.
‘You’ll not be needed,’ Jimmy told the man in Russian, soon sat with three representatives of the Russian People’s Union, not yet the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. They would need to conquer a few republics first.
‘How may we help you?’ the lead man asked in Russian, now sat a desk that had seen better days, he and his colleagues in dark suits that had seen better days as well.
‘My name is Jimmy Silo.’
‘We understand that ... you are a scientist working for the Germans, on their efforts with time travel,’ the lead man said, appearing as if he had smugly just revealed a great secret.
‘No, I’m British.’
‘A British scientist.’
‘No, a British time traveller.’
‘Ah, you hope to make use of this German machine, should it ever work.’
‘Last night, many thousands of your soldiers – those advancing on Moscow – were mysteriously killed.’ That woke them up. ‘Each was hit with a laser blast from an aircraft, those aircraft operated by my people. You will find that your soldiers have small holes and burns marks, burn marks on uniforms, and that their insides were burnt. Big Paul, laser pistol, please.’ Big Paul stood, drew his weapon, and cut a chair in half.
The three hosts were horrified. ‘This ... this is some new German weapon?’
‘No, it’s a weapon from the future.’ Jimmy lifted the data-pad. ‘Computer, display images of Moscow business district, year 2030.’
A wall burst into life, a large image of the business district, dozens of tall glass-fronted buildings, busy traffic below, signs visible on buildings in Cyrillic writing.
‘Computer, display images of Russian astronauts aboard earth space station, 2030.’
The images again changed, holding the attention of the three Russians for a minute.
‘I’m from the future, gentlemen, and I came with tens of thousands of soldiers, all armed with advanced weapons. You may be aware of the fighting around Germany, The Brotherhood being massacred by my people. My soldiers have also landed in Africa, in Kenya. After a little research by yourselves, you may confirm that. And, by the end of today, the Germans will have landed soldiers on the north German coast, with my assistance. They will re-take Germany.’
‘You ... you came here to fight us?’
‘No, I came here to save you, and to end the fighting.’ Jimmy eased forwards. ‘You are hereby ordered to disengage the German soldiers along the front that you’re fighting until such time as we negotiate.’
‘Negotiate? Negotiate what?’
‘Everything, and anything. You may not realise it yet, but I’m here to help you, starting with destroying The Brotherhood - people who would have turned their attentions to you after Germany, and you know that.’ He paused. ‘I can offer you advanced medicines for your wounded, drugs that will heal burns, and I can offer you advanced technology to make your lives easier. I don’t believe for a minute that you wish to make the lives of your own citizens easier, but the offer is there anyway.
‘There will be a meeting here tomorrow of the world’s principal nations - and warring parties, you are invited to come along. If you don’t we’ll just work around you. And gentlemen, it is my intention to pressure the Germans to leave Russia, Belorussia and the Ukraine, to return to their original borders. Russia will then be yours. I will be asking that the Japanese leave Vladivostok. All of the land from St. Petersburg to the east coast will be yours, provided that you are willing to negotiate with me. But don’t tell the Germans that yet, they think I’m on their side.’
‘If you wish us our lands back, why do you attack our soldiers!’
‘The Germans needed to move out of Britain and back into Germany; that’s the first step towards peace. And once the Germans are back home, their empire will crumble through dissent – as you must already believe.’ He waited.
‘You speak as if you were born in Moscow.’
‘Maybe I was.’ He stood. ‘Don’t forget to attend the meeting, it may be the most important meeting in your country’s development.’
Back in the White House, Kennedy and his team were waiting. ‘How did it go?’
‘Why, were you not bugging the meetings?’ Jimmy teased.
‘Of course not,’ Kennedy mock protested. ‘We don’t spy on dangerous rival nations.’ He took a moment. ‘Would I be right in assuming that you have some clever technology to stop such eavesdropping?’
‘You would be right,’ Jimmy confirmed.
‘Do you think they’ll play ball?’
‘I knocked out every piece of electrical equipment in Shanghai, and shot down twelve of their aircraft, so I think the Chinese will sit up and take notice. And the Russians now know that it was my aircraft that killed their troops.’
‘We’ve landed soldiers in Angola, more on the way, and the Navy,’ Kennedy reported. ‘We’ll create an air-bridge as you suggested.’
‘You could fly to northern Kenya, but we don’t have any av-gas there. I’ll arrange some, but I don’t think there’s a suitable runway. You can then send a team to meet my people.’
‘The military are keen to do so,’ Kennedy acknowledged.
‘How are the boys on the hill reacting to the landing in Angola?’ Jimmy enquired.
‘There are ten Congressmen and six senators on the Time Travel Committee, a Republican majority, so they’re all now in the loop and onboard. We told them that time travellers from the future are bringing us advanced weapons - and they smiled like idiots. They’ll cooperate.’
‘The public will notice a change of step, and it’ll leak in a heartbeat,’ Jimmy cautioned.
‘Fortunately, there’ve been hundreds of claims about a time machine over the years, and the voters don’t believe it anymore. Those that might believe it don’t care, and public commentators point to the fact that there’s no historical record of people appearing from thin air. They’d rather watch the ballgame than another show about time travel.’
‘I’ll be going public within weeks,’ Jimmy announced. ‘I need to address the public in Europe to break up the German Union, and I need the people to believe that I’m really a traveller.’
Kennedy took a moment. ‘Is there ... another way?’
‘Sure, but it will take longer. The news will leak eventually, so maybe its better that you plan for it now and control it, save it being leaked by some Air Force Captain looking to make a few dollars. And the voters will notice a sudden absence of The Brotherhood.’
‘You really think you can sit down and talk with Russians and Chinese?’ the Chief of staff asked.
‘I’ve done it before, many times. Besides, I like the carrot and stick approach. The carrot is advanced technology and medicines, the stick being that I turn out all of the lights in their cities – not so much as a car will start. And, after the tenth time that they’ve replaced all of their electrical equipment – at very great time and expense, they may just get weary and come and talk.’
Berlin
Lobster pulled up in a commandeered car, one of three in convoy, and looked up at a partly damaged house, the road strewn with litter. A German technician was along for the ride, as well as to act as interpreter. They approached the house and knocked on the door, the technician shouting through that all was OK, and that there was no danger.
An old woman eventually opened the door, looking the visitors over through tired eyes.
‘We are looking for the Hassel family,’ the technician explained. ‘We have food for them,’ he lied.
The old lady walked inside, leaving the door ajar. Sitting opposite the lady as she slouched down, they waited.
‘They are dead,’ she finally said, staring at the dying embers of a fire in the grate.
‘Which are their rooms?’ the technician asked.
‘All of these, I was a lodger after my house was destroyed.’
‘We’ll need to ... look around.’
The old lady offered no comment. Lobster opened a tin of meat, and placed it in her hand before he joined in the search.
After half an hour, the technician met Lobster on the landing. ‘There are many family photographs, but none of Peder.’
Lobster nodded. ‘A spy.’ They walked down bare stairs, clanking as they went. Sitting opposite the old lady, who was enjoying the meat, Lobster said, ‘Tell us about Peder.’
The technician translated.
After struggling to down the meat, the old lady said. ‘He came in 1969 as a student lodger. When he wanted a job, he needed a respectable family to look like his own, which were originally Jews. He paid them money, I know it, Maria Hassel confessed it to me.’
‘A back-stop cover story,’ Lobster stated.
The technician nodded. ‘No-one Jewish is allowed to work, and there are only a few hundred remaining. Some people with one Jewish parent sometimes, but not many.’
‘We will discover nothing more here,’ Lobster suggested as he stood.
‘He had a girlfriend,’ the old lady volunteered. ‘Sad, but she died, the child alive.’
‘Child?’ Lobster queried. ‘Who has this child?’
Half an hour later, a reluctant adoptive parent allowed the child to give a blood sample. With that done, the adoptive parents were escorted back to the portal, and given the shock of their lives. Lobster stepped through with them, handing over the blood sample to be analysed, the details then transmitted to Mawlini in secret, onwards to 2047, where everyone’s DNA was on record, everyone from that world.
Jimmy lowered his phone an hour later.
Big Paul noticed Jimmy’s look. ‘Problem, boss?’
‘We ran a secret DNA check on the technician who jumped through the portal, in case he was from 2047 on our world, and they found a match. We know who his father is.’
‘Yeah, who’s his father?’
‘I am.’
Magestic 2
Copyright © Geoff Wolak
www.geoffwolak-writing.com
Part 10
Family
Jimmy now had to figure out why his own child, from the future, had drawn him to this world. He was, however, reasonably sure that it was not done out of malice, but a postcard might have been nice. Facing Big Paul, he said, ‘Why would a lad of mine ... give the Germans coal-oil?’
‘Keep the war going, help you smash up the German armour. That’s what you said you wanted.’
Jimmy made a face. ‘OK, maybe I buy that. But why not make contact, why stay out in the cold?’
‘Why does anyone work behind the scenes?’
‘Because they couldn’t do what they need to do if exposed, or caught.’
‘The lad learnt that from you.’
Jimmy nodded. ‘He could send a bloody note in code. And now I have the added worry of him running around 1938, maybe getting shot at. You know, there’s a reason I never had a bloody family, and it’s because of times like this!’
Big Paul laughed, loudly. ‘About time you felt the pain the rest of us have had to go through!’
The big meeting was on, but so far only the Germans and Japanese had committed to it, the White House still awaiting word from the Russians and the Chinese. That word came late, around 9pm, the venue fixed for a hotel in central Washington. After all, it would be unseemly for the President of the United States to use the White House play host to Russians, Chinese, Germans, or Japanese.
The Secret Service went around the hotel all night, the various delegates arriving at 10am the next morning, Kennedy turning up last and flanked by many Secret Service agents. The other delegates had been frisked, their bags checked, but still – US Presidents needed their elaborate security. His team, however, had not been searched for bugs or bombs, that would have been just downright rude.
