thread. A few tweaks and the garment was ready. I
tried it on and stood before my mirror. Yes, with my hair up and the adornments
of the belt and hair accessories it’d be perfect. I’d opted to dress as a
highborn Roman lady instead of a slave, figuring it’d be easier to maneuver
around that way. Not to mention gain access to the gladiators. Once my hair was
styled and dressed up and I’d slipped on the sandals and belt, I reached for
the Pocket Jumper.
If my company only knew I was using their precious device to
jump around time screwing warrior-type men, I’d probably be fired. I’m pretty
sure it’s not what they had in mind when they handed out the Pocket Jumper to a
select few of us to try out for the week. We were expected to travel around
time and then return to work the following Monday with a written report on our
experiences and any suggestions or comments. They planned to mass-produce the
device for public use, but I’d seen a government official sniffing around the
office and I got the feeling they were going to confiscate it before that
happened. If I wanted to have fun with this thing, it had to be now.
Images began swirling on the small screen of the Pocket
Jumper as I spun the date timer to Ancient Rome. I slowed it down to scan a
wide view of the area and then zeroed in on a large amphitheater for the
location. I paused, seeing a fight ensue between two gladiators. This was when I wanted, now I just needed to find the exact where I wanted.
I flipped the Set switch on and laid the device down on the
bedside table. It directed a beam of thin light out of its side, which
stretched and widened into a hazy blue bubble projecting a larger version of
the picture window scene. Now I had a good view of the event taking place. I
couldn’t appear in the ring and risk getting caught in the fight, not to
mention freaking out the people in the stands, so I moved about the
amphitheater using my hands in a swimming motion to steer the picture bubble. I
was looking for a place close to where the gladiators would be kept. Time was
of the essence, so I needed to be near, but safe as well. I found an alcove
below the stands, inconspicuous enough for my purpose. I took another sweep of
the area, making sure it was secure. Then I took a deep breath and stepped into
the bubble and back through time.
The Pocket Jumper remained in the future. No matter where I
moved back in time, it would track me and bring me home in exactly fifteen
minutes. It was practically foolproof. There was the risk of trouble though.
Once transported, I was as vulnerable as anyone else in that time. If I got
hurt, or even killed, I would still be brought back in fifteen minutes. No matter
what I was doing. Even if I was still in the throes of passion. Luckily the
device would only bring me back, and nothing or no one else. It also
wouldn’t bring back any DNA from another time, so worrying about pregnancy and
STDs wasn’t a problem. If I’d hoped to come back pregnant with a king’s
offspring and lay claim to a fortune in this time, it wouldn’t happen. If I
thought to steal, it wouldn’t work. Only what I brought through with me would
return.
My feet landed firmly on the wooden platform in one of the
many passageways built beneath the amphitheater. The jump itself was painless,
while somewhat jarring. I felt slightly dizzy and short of breath for a moment
or two. The smell was usually the first thing that hit me. Strange scents would
assault my nose, sometimes overwhelmingly. Right now I could smell a
combination of sweat and blood. Overhead, the crowd thumped their feet and
shouted their pleasure or displeasure at those in the ring—it was hard to tell
the difference. A fine layer of dust floated down from above and swirled around
the air. The fighting continued, providing a distraction for me to continue on
my quest.
After a quick peek to make sure the coast was clear, I
stepped out into the main underground corridor, which was wide
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