times."
"I guess. It doesn't seem right though," Cameron said.
Bell smiled.
"Do you have any more questions before you go?"
"No," Cameron said. "I think you've covered everything."
"Then let's get the show on the road."
"All right."
The professor handed Cameron the crystals and the key.
"Keep the white crystal and the key in your pocket," Bell said. "Put the blue crystal in the satchel. When you get to Indiana or wherever you travel, keep them all in a safe place."
"OK."
Cameron placed the small objects in the appropriate places and then gathered the papers and currency on the table as the Bells rose from the sofa and started toward the mystery door. He slid the documents into the manila envelope, put the envelope into the satchel, and closed the flap.
A moment later, he stood up, grabbed the satchel and the suitcase, and stepped toward his hosts. As he did, he took one last look at the white room and pondered the trip to come. He was really going to do this. He was going to step back in time.
Cameron felt his stomach turn as he approached the Bells, an open door, and a tunnel that lacked definition. He poked his head through the opening and looked for something interesting in the available light. He found gray brick walls, a gray brick ceiling, and a concrete floor. He did not find bells, whistles, or anything that Hollywood might consider a suitable time machine.
"This is it?" Cameron asked.
"This is it," Bell said. "This plain, dark, narrow space is your portal to the past."
Cameron laughed.
"As long as it's not my portal to the Jurassic period, I'm good with that. I would prefer not to run into a carnivorous dinosaur when I walk through the other door."
"You won't," Bell said. He smiled. "I can promise you that much."
"How does all this work?" Cameron asked. "When does the magic begin?"
"It's already started."
"What do you mean?"
"Take a look at your rock," Bell said.
Cameron pulled the white crystal from his jacket pocket and noticed that it had come alive. It glowed in his hands like a small light bulb with its own power source.
"It's glowing!"
"So is the one in your satchel," Bell said. "They become active when they come into close proximity to the crystals in the chamber."
"What crystals? I don't see—"
Cameron started to say more but stopped when he saw a string of stones, embedded in the ceiling of the tunnel, light up one by one. Within seconds, the dark chamber was no longer dark. It was a kaleidoscope of color, a feast of blue and white flickering lights.
Bell smiled.
"Do you like the pretty lights, Mr. Coelho?"
Cameron chuckled.
"I do."
"I like them too," Bell said. "Why don't you step inside and enjoy them up close?"
"All right."
Cameron carried his satchel and his suitcase halfway into the chamber, turned around, and lowered the bags to the floor. He admired the overhead lights for a moment and then looked at the man who had arranged the show. The professor smiled as he stood in the open doorway.
"Why are you smiling?" Cameron asked.
"I'm just enjoying the moment," Bell said. "I never tire of sending guests through the tunnel. I believe you're number eleven, but I've lost count."
"I see," Cameron replied. He noticed that Jeanette had disappeared. "Where is your wife?"
"She's right here," Jeanette said as she popped into view. She took a moment to catch her breath. "I had to run upstairs to get something."
"What's that?"
"Your hat, of course," Jeanette said. She pulled a dark gray hat from behind her back and entered the chamber. "No twenties man is complete without a fedora."
Cameron chuckled.
"I guess not."
Jeanette walked up to Cameron, placed the hat on his head, and adjusted it a few times. A moment later, she stepped back, folded her arms, and nodded her approval.
"You look very handsome, Mr. Coelho."
"Thank you," Cameron said.
The missus moved forward and gave Cameron a hug.
"Have a safe journey."
"I'll try."
Jeanette whispered in his ear.
"Let your
"I guess. It doesn't seem right though," Cameron said.
Bell smiled.
"Do you have any more questions before you go?"
"No," Cameron said. "I think you've covered everything."
"Then let's get the show on the road."
"All right."
The professor handed Cameron the crystals and the key.
"Keep the white crystal and the key in your pocket," Bell said. "Put the blue crystal in the satchel. When you get to Indiana or wherever you travel, keep them all in a safe place."
"OK."
Cameron placed the small objects in the appropriate places and then gathered the papers and currency on the table as the Bells rose from the sofa and started toward the mystery door. He slid the documents into the manila envelope, put the envelope into the satchel, and closed the flap.
A moment later, he stood up, grabbed the satchel and the suitcase, and stepped toward his hosts. As he did, he took one last look at the white room and pondered the trip to come. He was really going to do this. He was going to step back in time.
Cameron felt his stomach turn as he approached the Bells, an open door, and a tunnel that lacked definition. He poked his head through the opening and looked for something interesting in the available light. He found gray brick walls, a gray brick ceiling, and a concrete floor. He did not find bells, whistles, or anything that Hollywood might consider a suitable time machine.
"This is it?" Cameron asked.
"This is it," Bell said. "This plain, dark, narrow space is your portal to the past."
Cameron laughed.
"As long as it's not my portal to the Jurassic period, I'm good with that. I would prefer not to run into a carnivorous dinosaur when I walk through the other door."
"You won't," Bell said. He smiled. "I can promise you that much."
"How does all this work?" Cameron asked. "When does the magic begin?"
"It's already started."
"What do you mean?"
"Take a look at your rock," Bell said.
Cameron pulled the white crystal from his jacket pocket and noticed that it had come alive. It glowed in his hands like a small light bulb with its own power source.
"It's glowing!"
"So is the one in your satchel," Bell said. "They become active when they come into close proximity to the crystals in the chamber."
"What crystals? I don't see—"
Cameron started to say more but stopped when he saw a string of stones, embedded in the ceiling of the tunnel, light up one by one. Within seconds, the dark chamber was no longer dark. It was a kaleidoscope of color, a feast of blue and white flickering lights.
Bell smiled.
"Do you like the pretty lights, Mr. Coelho?"
Cameron chuckled.
"I do."
"I like them too," Bell said. "Why don't you step inside and enjoy them up close?"
"All right."
Cameron carried his satchel and his suitcase halfway into the chamber, turned around, and lowered the bags to the floor. He admired the overhead lights for a moment and then looked at the man who had arranged the show. The professor smiled as he stood in the open doorway.
"Why are you smiling?" Cameron asked.
"I'm just enjoying the moment," Bell said. "I never tire of sending guests through the tunnel. I believe you're number eleven, but I've lost count."
"I see," Cameron replied. He noticed that Jeanette had disappeared. "Where is your wife?"
"She's right here," Jeanette said as she popped into view. She took a moment to catch her breath. "I had to run upstairs to get something."
"What's that?"
"Your hat, of course," Jeanette said. She pulled a dark gray hat from behind her back and entered the chamber. "No twenties man is complete without a fedora."
Cameron chuckled.
"I guess not."
Jeanette walked up to Cameron, placed the hat on his head, and adjusted it a few times. A moment later, she stepped back, folded her arms, and nodded her approval.
"You look very handsome, Mr. Coelho."
"Thank you," Cameron said.
The missus moved forward and gave Cameron a hug.
"Have a safe journey."
"I'll try."
Jeanette whispered in his ear.
"Let your
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