only jump to the past, if you could change the future or not, to speculation on parallel universes, if you created new universes just by jumping, or even saying you would jump — as the future had to be there for you to jump into if you said you might do it, right? There were downright bizarre theories concerning the creation of new versions of yourself each time you jumped, creating multiple timelines in not only your own universe but doing the same in newly born ones too.
Some of it made sense, to a degree, but most of it was simply the ravings of people that should take up other hobbies.
When they moved on to going to conferences, large and small, and even little get-togethers for those interested in such things, well, it just got silly.
This was their last event, and it wasn't one of the better ones.
It had comprised little more than a hired room in a very low-grade hotel, a dodgy looking buffet and a few speakers so full of their own pomp and importance it was laughable. The whole thing was designed to sell some ridiculous device that the main speaker promised would allow them to change the future, in the future, which was quite a clever marketing gimmick, Amanda had to admit. There wouldn't be any returns because it didn't work as it wasn't supposed to work until at least fifteen years in the future, which the speaker promised was when time travel was actually invented.
When they eventually got home they were shattered. They'd driven for hours to get there, and the drive home took even longer — the motorway was closed and they had to take a detour through endless small towns and villages before they finally arrived, the car running on fumes, the fuel gauge showing empty for miles, leaving them panicking about being stuck in the middle of nowhere.
"Well, it's over now. We learned nothing, as usual."
"Maybe we should use the Hexad, jump to when these things were invented, see who did it, how they did it?" said Dale, downing his wine, getting up to pour another.
"I almost agree with you, almost." Amanda finished her drink and handed the glass to Dale on his way out into the kitchen.
They'd discussed it over and over, the debate going on for so long that eventually they both got bored of themselves talking about it. They should wait, was the final conclusion. Wait until it seemed like the right time, and hopefully there never would be one.
It was a terrible responsibility, knowing you had such power, but what overrode everything else was not wanting to get caught up in anything that could risk their life together — they had seen firsthand how terrible the consequences could be for unleashing Hexads into an unsuspecting world. The deaths of countless people, actual versions of herself, not to mention the trillions of people brought into existence then vanishing as realities opened and closed their infinite doors.
It didn't seem real, the numbers nothing more than abstract, but as far as they could tell it was what had happened, and neither of them wanted that kind of responsibility.
"Here you go," said Dale, handing Amanda her glass.
"Thanks."
They sat in silence, a nice end to what had been a long, bad day.
Soon enough, the wine was drunk and Amanda woke Dale up from where he'd fallen asleep on the sofa.
They went to bed.
Tomorrow was just going to be another day.
Caught You!
Present Day
"Dale! What are you doing?"
"Bugger, thought you were going to have a lie-in?" said Dale, looking guilty, trying to hide the trowel behind his back.
"Are you seriously trying to pretend you aren't digging up the lawn? Look at you, you're soaking wet, all muddy, and there's a hole right in front of you."
"Um, would you believe me if I told you he made me do it?" Dale pointed at the robin watching Dale digging, swooping in now and then to nab a worm that tried to make its escape.
"Oh, the robin made you do it, did it? Hold a gun to your head and said, 'Dig mister, or the sparrows get
Some of it made sense, to a degree, but most of it was simply the ravings of people that should take up other hobbies.
When they moved on to going to conferences, large and small, and even little get-togethers for those interested in such things, well, it just got silly.
This was their last event, and it wasn't one of the better ones.
It had comprised little more than a hired room in a very low-grade hotel, a dodgy looking buffet and a few speakers so full of their own pomp and importance it was laughable. The whole thing was designed to sell some ridiculous device that the main speaker promised would allow them to change the future, in the future, which was quite a clever marketing gimmick, Amanda had to admit. There wouldn't be any returns because it didn't work as it wasn't supposed to work until at least fifteen years in the future, which the speaker promised was when time travel was actually invented.
When they eventually got home they were shattered. They'd driven for hours to get there, and the drive home took even longer — the motorway was closed and they had to take a detour through endless small towns and villages before they finally arrived, the car running on fumes, the fuel gauge showing empty for miles, leaving them panicking about being stuck in the middle of nowhere.
"Well, it's over now. We learned nothing, as usual."
"Maybe we should use the Hexad, jump to when these things were invented, see who did it, how they did it?" said Dale, downing his wine, getting up to pour another.
"I almost agree with you, almost." Amanda finished her drink and handed the glass to Dale on his way out into the kitchen.
They'd discussed it over and over, the debate going on for so long that eventually they both got bored of themselves talking about it. They should wait, was the final conclusion. Wait until it seemed like the right time, and hopefully there never would be one.
It was a terrible responsibility, knowing you had such power, but what overrode everything else was not wanting to get caught up in anything that could risk their life together — they had seen firsthand how terrible the consequences could be for unleashing Hexads into an unsuspecting world. The deaths of countless people, actual versions of herself, not to mention the trillions of people brought into existence then vanishing as realities opened and closed their infinite doors.
It didn't seem real, the numbers nothing more than abstract, but as far as they could tell it was what had happened, and neither of them wanted that kind of responsibility.
"Here you go," said Dale, handing Amanda her glass.
"Thanks."
They sat in silence, a nice end to what had been a long, bad day.
Soon enough, the wine was drunk and Amanda woke Dale up from where he'd fallen asleep on the sofa.
They went to bed.
Tomorrow was just going to be another day.
Caught You!
Present Day
"Dale! What are you doing?"
"Bugger, thought you were going to have a lie-in?" said Dale, looking guilty, trying to hide the trowel behind his back.
"Are you seriously trying to pretend you aren't digging up the lawn? Look at you, you're soaking wet, all muddy, and there's a hole right in front of you."
"Um, would you believe me if I told you he made me do it?" Dale pointed at the robin watching Dale digging, swooping in now and then to nab a worm that tried to make its escape.
"Oh, the robin made you do it, did it? Hold a gun to your head and said, 'Dig mister, or the sparrows get
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