Page 37

LEXI

W e returned to the kitchen table where Jen had apparently just told Torin she was a teacher and his brow was down saying, “Tis twenty bairns, all the same age?”

She nodded. “Eight years old. I teach them reading, writing, and arithmetic.”

We sat down. I asked, “The story she’s telling you about her job, does it make any sense?”

“Aye, she works in the nursery, but nae, there are a great many bairns… twill give me much tae consider. How many people live here in yer village?”

Cooper said, “About six thousand I think, it’s a small town.”

Torin nodded. His eyes went far away as if he were thinking about what that number represented.

I couldn’t imagine how he could possibly understand it. How many people even lived in Scotland in his time? He had never been to a modern football stadium, sat in traffic on a highway, or even been to a mall. Maybe there were crowds in the bigger towns, but how many would you see at once?

Cooper took another sip of a fresh cup of coffee. “But all this conversation is skirting the real issue, you’re trying to get home and you can’t, so far you can’t, and you say that you keep boomeranging back here.”

Torin said, “Boom-raging?”

“It’s a stick that you throw out, it makes a big arc in the sky and comes back. A boomerang flies back. It’s a good word.”

“Aye, tis. I daena want tae keep boom-raging, not knowin’ where I will turn up is terrible. I am at its mercy and I daena understand it. It keeps graspin’ me as soon as I get there. I never hae time tae collect m’self and learn where I am.”

Cooper said, “Except this last time, you claimed that you were in the past for a few days.”

Jen said, “Maybe the vessel doesn’t work in the rain?”

I said, “It causes rain, there is a storm when it gets here, so that can’t possibly be it — the storms are terrifying, it’s like a hurricane and a tornado, centered over my yard.”

Cooper said, “Have you considered that it might not work if it’s underground? You said you were in the cellar of the tavern.”

Torin said, “Aye, I was, that is verra insightful.”

Cooper said, “Have you ever had it activate in a cellar or inside?”

Torin considered. “Nae, it has always been outside under the sky when it animates.”

Cooper said, “There... you have a new theory to test.”

Torin said, “When I get tae the next place, I will bury it. Perhaps twill allow me tae hae some respite while I learn where I am. Twould be good tae stop bein’ pulled without wantin’ tae be.”

I said, “If that’s your plan you need a shovel, no more digging with rocks. I can give you one. But don’t forget where you bury the vessel.”

“I am nae worried, I hae a good memory for places. I will mark it well.”

He took the vessel out of his bag and placed it on the table by his plate.

Cooper said, “So, I’m not saying I believe any of this, but to carry on as if this machine is a time travel machine, how many of the ‘markings’ are you claiming have changed?”

Torin looked down on it and turned it over in his hands. “Three of them.”

Cooper said, “Well, assuming this is true, it sounds like those are the three that sent you to a totally different century — do you remember the earlier markings?”

Torin nodded. “I do.”

Cooper said, “Then, to carry on with this test, I would put the original markings back, at least then when you,” he used air quotes, “‘time jump’ you will end up in the time period you know.”

Torin said, “Aye, I will do that, dost ye hae a basement, Mistress Lexi? I will feel much better twisting and turnin’ the vessel if I am underground.”

I grinned, “Why yes I do, I have the perfect basement, just what we need. I feel like we’re figuring this all out.” I stood from my chair and said, “Follow me.”

I stood to lead him from the room, but first I put my hands on Cooper’s shoulders. “Thanks for being cool.”

“No problem, told you I would, and this is actually kind of fun. I like a good project during breakfast, it’s taking my mind off my week.”

I asked, “Are you guys coming down to the basement?”

Jen stood from her chair. “Yep, I’m going to watch.”

Cooper said, “Yeah, I’ll come.”

We all went to the basement door, I flicked on the dim light, and traipsed down the wooden stair into the musty cellar. Jen and Cooper waited halfway down.

In the cellar I pulled the string, turning on the bare lightbulb in the middle of the ceiling and after blinking from the ‘brightness’, Torin stood in the pool of light, holding the vessel.

“I am goin’ tae turn it, Mistress Lexi, dost ye want tae run back up?”

I said, “Yeah, I do not want to be down here, in case.” I went to the stairs, climbing past Jen and Cooper. “You coming up?”

Jen said, “I’m going to stay here, half up and down, if I have to run I can.”

I told her, “If the wind starts down here the worst place to be will be on these stairs. I’m not doing it.”

She gulped.

Cooper said, “I think it’s highly unlikely for a tin can to start a storm in a basement, doesn’t make sense — but just wondering, have you ever turned it off once it’s started going?”

Torin said, “Nae.”

“Alright, then, do your thing.”

Jen asked, “Does this mean you believe him, Cooper, you’re finally going along with this?”

“Nah, just asking questions, always skeptical, but I do enjoy a science project.”

I went all the way up, watching from the doorway, Cooper and Jen waited on the stairs. I called down, “Okay, Torin, see if you can do it.”

Torin crouched down, so that the vessel was on the ground, I watched through the dim light as he turned and twisted it and then shoved it away. He paused and waited, then he picked it up and held it close to his eyes.

I said, “Fixed?”

“Nae, twas the first.”

He put it back on the ground and ran his hand through his hair. “Two more.”

He made another manipulation, then quickly pushed it to the floor and stood and backed away.

We all waited.

He crept forward and nervously looked.

“Two, now just one more. I daena ken if twill get me boom-raging back home, but twill be better than bein’ without kith nor kin in a time ruled by an English king.

” He scowled again and picked up the vessel, made a quick turn with his wrists, and rolled it back onto the floor.

He nodded, looking down on it. “There tis done.”

I said, cheerfully, “And it didn’t grab you or start a storm.”

“Aye, twas verra civilized in how it behaved.”

He picked it up, tucking it into his sporran as he climbed the stairs.

We all went down the hall to the kitchen. I poured some more coffee for myself and Cooper, we stood around the table, finishing up the conversation.

Torin pulled on his cloak and adjusted his sword belt, readying to go. “Once I am in Scotland, I will dig a hole in the ground and bury this blasted vessel until I can find Max and he can get it under control. I winna return here, and if I do… och nae, I will do m’best tae land elsewhere.”

Jen said, “I’m going to be kind of bummed, I want to hear how it goes. This place is boring without all your comings and goings. I’ve only got a few days left of spring break?—”

I said, “You could go out again with Mr Passable.”

“Maybe...” She turned to Cooper. “Speaking of dates, did you really cancel your big date with Lexi?”

I shook my head, trying to get her to shush.

She continued, frowning, “What happened, Coop, you were going to take her out fancy!”

Cooper said, “I don’t know, not in the mood, we’ll go some other time — why is everyone all up in my grill about it? It was just a dinner reservation at Falls Landing, come on.”

He narrowed his eyes, “Seriously, why so much grief?”

I rolled my eyes. “There’s no grief, we’re all cool. I was looking forward to it, but it’s nothing, right, Jen?”

“Yeah, nothing, and you should treat Lexi really nicely because she’s the nicest person in the world.”

Torin looked back and forth from all our faces.

Cooper said, completely missing the point, “I promise I’ll take her out to eat soon and we’ll invite you, too. You can bring Mr Passable, whoever that is. Is everyone happy?”

I said, “Of course, that sounds good. Let’s get back on topic, Torin is not going to come back.”

Torin chuckled. “Aye, after this day, if ye see me out on Mistress Lexi’s lands, just lock the door and I will leave as soon as I am able. Twill be, as it has ever been, a misadventure.” He smacked his hands on his knees. “Tis time for me tae go.”

“Wait! Stay there, let me get the shovel I mentioned! Sit down, Torin, one more thing.” I shoved my chair out and rushed away.