all electrical and electronic equipment.”
“Whoa.” Crane felt a major headache coming on.
“So, he decided to move to the year 2400 permanently, without telling anyone else, and use his knowledge and skills to help the people rebuild society in a way that would not result in war. He was an orphan and had no family, so that made the decision easier. In his new world, he tirelessly worked with people, teaching them and encouraging them. Soon he became revered, and someone started a movement to make him their king. Harry told them he had no interest in being a king, but the people insisted and began building a castle for him. Finally, he relented and became their benevolent king.”
“If you have no electricity here, how do you power a computer?” he asked.
“The time travel computer runs on a special battery that Harry invented. Apparently, it lasts forever when it is not in use.”
“So it will take you to any time period?” he asked.
“Yes. I can travel back and forth instantaneously—if I travel alone. When I bring someone here with me from another time period, both of us have to go over that bridge and through the tunnel. We’re in some kind of limbo when we’re in there—we’re just electrons inside the computer. So you definitely don’t want to get stuck in there. Taking you back is easy.”
“That’s what I want to do. I want to go back—now,” he said.
“Please, Crane—give it a chance.”
“I can’t.” He could feel tears welling up in his eyes. “I’m crazy about you, Conroe, but I can’t do this.”
Conroe’s eyes reddened. “I’m so sorry.”
22
C rane woke up in his bed with his stomach churning.
He ran to the toilet, flipped up the seat, and vomited. He flushed the toilet, sat down in front of it, and closed his eyes, hoping his stomach would settle. When he finally opened his eyes, he saw blood on the toilet bowl rim. He checked his hand, remembering how he had cut it on a rock in the tunnel. When he saw the gash in the palm of his hand, he barfed again.
The Dream Tunnel wasn’t a dream.
23
C onroe popped into her bedroom in the castle.
Geneva was sitting at the time travel computer.
“I may have lost him for good, Geneva.”
Geneva turned around. “I know. I’m sorry, Conroe.”
“Maybe if I had done this weeks ago and taken my time with him—brought him along slowly. It was just too much all at once.”
“Yes, that might have been better,” Geneva agreed, “but you knew your mother would be furious with you when she found out you were using the time travel computer.”
“I wasn’t even supposed to know it existed ,” Conroe said.
“Wally knew you had it, though, and he didn’t try to take it away from you. But then you’ve always had your dad wrapped around your little finger.”
“He knew I wasn’t in love with any of the suitors my mother chose for me. I should have gone after Crane weeks ago.”
“I understand why you didn’t,” Geneva consoled. “Time travel is dangerous at best, and we didn’t know if the time travel computer even worked. It’s a wonder you didn’t die.”
“Maybe I’ve just been kidding myself all along, thinking that Crane and I could be together.”
“Look what time it is,” Geneva said. “Did you forget about the party? It starts in just over an hour. Your father has already dropped by twice to check on you. He says the queen will die of embarrassment if you’re late. She invited hundreds of guests.”
“I do not want to marry Will Wincraft. He’s a nice enough guy, and I could probably learn to love him…eventually…to some degree, but I want Crane.”
“I know you do,” Geneva replied, “but if he doesn’t want you …”
“Maybe Mother is right,” Conroe said. “At any rate, I cannot let her down. I will become queen.”
24
T he Royal Banquet Hall served as the venue for all parties hosted by the
“Whoa.” Crane felt a major headache coming on.
“So, he decided to move to the year 2400 permanently, without telling anyone else, and use his knowledge and skills to help the people rebuild society in a way that would not result in war. He was an orphan and had no family, so that made the decision easier. In his new world, he tirelessly worked with people, teaching them and encouraging them. Soon he became revered, and someone started a movement to make him their king. Harry told them he had no interest in being a king, but the people insisted and began building a castle for him. Finally, he relented and became their benevolent king.”
“If you have no electricity here, how do you power a computer?” he asked.
“The time travel computer runs on a special battery that Harry invented. Apparently, it lasts forever when it is not in use.”
“So it will take you to any time period?” he asked.
“Yes. I can travel back and forth instantaneously—if I travel alone. When I bring someone here with me from another time period, both of us have to go over that bridge and through the tunnel. We’re in some kind of limbo when we’re in there—we’re just electrons inside the computer. So you definitely don’t want to get stuck in there. Taking you back is easy.”
“That’s what I want to do. I want to go back—now,” he said.
“Please, Crane—give it a chance.”
“I can’t.” He could feel tears welling up in his eyes. “I’m crazy about you, Conroe, but I can’t do this.”
Conroe’s eyes reddened. “I’m so sorry.”
22
C rane woke up in his bed with his stomach churning.
He ran to the toilet, flipped up the seat, and vomited. He flushed the toilet, sat down in front of it, and closed his eyes, hoping his stomach would settle. When he finally opened his eyes, he saw blood on the toilet bowl rim. He checked his hand, remembering how he had cut it on a rock in the tunnel. When he saw the gash in the palm of his hand, he barfed again.
The Dream Tunnel wasn’t a dream.
23
C onroe popped into her bedroom in the castle.
Geneva was sitting at the time travel computer.
“I may have lost him for good, Geneva.”
Geneva turned around. “I know. I’m sorry, Conroe.”
“Maybe if I had done this weeks ago and taken my time with him—brought him along slowly. It was just too much all at once.”
“Yes, that might have been better,” Geneva agreed, “but you knew your mother would be furious with you when she found out you were using the time travel computer.”
“I wasn’t even supposed to know it existed ,” Conroe said.
“Wally knew you had it, though, and he didn’t try to take it away from you. But then you’ve always had your dad wrapped around your little finger.”
“He knew I wasn’t in love with any of the suitors my mother chose for me. I should have gone after Crane weeks ago.”
“I understand why you didn’t,” Geneva consoled. “Time travel is dangerous at best, and we didn’t know if the time travel computer even worked. It’s a wonder you didn’t die.”
“Maybe I’ve just been kidding myself all along, thinking that Crane and I could be together.”
“Look what time it is,” Geneva said. “Did you forget about the party? It starts in just over an hour. Your father has already dropped by twice to check on you. He says the queen will die of embarrassment if you’re late. She invited hundreds of guests.”
“I do not want to marry Will Wincraft. He’s a nice enough guy, and I could probably learn to love him…eventually…to some degree, but I want Crane.”
“I know you do,” Geneva replied, “but if he doesn’t want you …”
“Maybe Mother is right,” Conroe said. “At any rate, I cannot let her down. I will become queen.”
24
T he Royal Banquet Hall served as the venue for all parties hosted by the
Similar Books
