event. As you know, the march is historically known as one of the great moments in the quest for equal rights.”
“I’m very well-versed on the March on Washington, Mr. Chase. What I’m less sure of is why you seem to think we’re fifty years in the past here.”
“There has been a disturbance in the fabric of history, Mr. Walker. You are not here at this time and place by accident. You possess a unique ability to interact with the people of this time to see that history is preserved. For reasons we don’t understand, there are, from time to time, disturbances or “tears” in the fabric of our history. Across the centuries there have been people like you who have been tasked with extraordinary opportunities to travel back to these places in time and see things with your own eyes that most people will only ever read about. At the same time, you have a responsibility to every person who comes after you to make certain that things happen as they are recorded in history.” Calvin sat down and invited Chase to join him as the concierge continued his story.
“You may notice I didn’t say ‘as they should happen’ and there’s a very good reason for that. History is made up of both the sublime and the tragic, the glorious and the horrendous, the good and the bad. With benefit of hindsight we can look back and say ‘Why didn’t someone put a bullet in Adolf Hitler before he could take power?’ or ‘Why don’t we tell Bobby Kennedy’s security detail not to go through the kitchen?’ And we want to do those things, to right the wrongs when we have this chance. But we cannot. History must play itself out in the way that it happened, no matter how much we wish it could be different. Good or bad, it’s up to you to make sure it doesn’t change from the original.”
Calvin vacillated between thinking Chase was out of his mind and thinking he was playing a practical joke on him. Either way, he didn’t have the time or the patience for it. “I think you’d better leave if you don’t mind, Mr. Chase. I’m not sure what kind of game this is but I’ve had enough of it. This isn’t funny and I have places I need to be,” Calvin said as he urged Chase toward the door.
“With all due respect sir, where you need to be is up for debate right now, but I have a couple of leads for you.”
“Seriously man, you need to go.”
“Mr. Walker, I realize this is very hard for you to believe so I’ll cut to the heart of the matter. In twenty-four hours, without your intervention, the peaceful March on Washington that is best known for the eloquent ‘I Have A Dream’ speech Dr. King is currently working on in this very hotel will be known for something much different and it will likely set the course of civil rights back a hundred years.” He could tell he had Calvin’s attention now.
“Everyone in America knows about that speech. It was a brilliant moment in American history. What could possibly overshadow what happened that day?” Calvin asked.
“Bloodshed, Mr. Walker. Tremendous bloodshed.”
C HAPTER 9
EDWARD CHASE
It wasn’t surprising that Calvin Walker was having trouble believing what he was hearing. Chase remembered so clearly how he had felt when he sat in Walker’s shoes all those years ago. As a twenty-two-year-old student at Cambridge University, he’d been burning the midnight oil in the library preparing a presentation for a notoriously difficult professor of philosophy. He had read and read until his eyes burned and his brain threatened to overflow with complicated theories when he decided to just close his eyes for a few minutes. He had a short, but deep nap and awoke to find himself in a most undignified state of drooling on his journal. Straightening up, he noticed a change around him. He still felt groggy and decided a quick walk in the brisk night air might revive him. When he exited the library that’s when his odyssey really began. His whole world had changed. When he had closed
“I’m very well-versed on the March on Washington, Mr. Chase. What I’m less sure of is why you seem to think we’re fifty years in the past here.”
“There has been a disturbance in the fabric of history, Mr. Walker. You are not here at this time and place by accident. You possess a unique ability to interact with the people of this time to see that history is preserved. For reasons we don’t understand, there are, from time to time, disturbances or “tears” in the fabric of our history. Across the centuries there have been people like you who have been tasked with extraordinary opportunities to travel back to these places in time and see things with your own eyes that most people will only ever read about. At the same time, you have a responsibility to every person who comes after you to make certain that things happen as they are recorded in history.” Calvin sat down and invited Chase to join him as the concierge continued his story.
“You may notice I didn’t say ‘as they should happen’ and there’s a very good reason for that. History is made up of both the sublime and the tragic, the glorious and the horrendous, the good and the bad. With benefit of hindsight we can look back and say ‘Why didn’t someone put a bullet in Adolf Hitler before he could take power?’ or ‘Why don’t we tell Bobby Kennedy’s security detail not to go through the kitchen?’ And we want to do those things, to right the wrongs when we have this chance. But we cannot. History must play itself out in the way that it happened, no matter how much we wish it could be different. Good or bad, it’s up to you to make sure it doesn’t change from the original.”
Calvin vacillated between thinking Chase was out of his mind and thinking he was playing a practical joke on him. Either way, he didn’t have the time or the patience for it. “I think you’d better leave if you don’t mind, Mr. Chase. I’m not sure what kind of game this is but I’ve had enough of it. This isn’t funny and I have places I need to be,” Calvin said as he urged Chase toward the door.
“With all due respect sir, where you need to be is up for debate right now, but I have a couple of leads for you.”
“Seriously man, you need to go.”
“Mr. Walker, I realize this is very hard for you to believe so I’ll cut to the heart of the matter. In twenty-four hours, without your intervention, the peaceful March on Washington that is best known for the eloquent ‘I Have A Dream’ speech Dr. King is currently working on in this very hotel will be known for something much different and it will likely set the course of civil rights back a hundred years.” He could tell he had Calvin’s attention now.
“Everyone in America knows about that speech. It was a brilliant moment in American history. What could possibly overshadow what happened that day?” Calvin asked.
“Bloodshed, Mr. Walker. Tremendous bloodshed.”
C HAPTER 9
EDWARD CHASE
It wasn’t surprising that Calvin Walker was having trouble believing what he was hearing. Chase remembered so clearly how he had felt when he sat in Walker’s shoes all those years ago. As a twenty-two-year-old student at Cambridge University, he’d been burning the midnight oil in the library preparing a presentation for a notoriously difficult professor of philosophy. He had read and read until his eyes burned and his brain threatened to overflow with complicated theories when he decided to just close his eyes for a few minutes. He had a short, but deep nap and awoke to find himself in a most undignified state of drooling on his journal. Straightening up, he noticed a change around him. He still felt groggy and decided a quick walk in the brisk night air might revive him. When he exited the library that’s when his odyssey really began. His whole world had changed. When he had closed
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