Living in the Past
Part 2 - Handsome Jack
The concept of the Tomorrow People and the characters created within it are the property of Roger Price.
Chapter 1
"Will I do?" asked John, presenting himself to Elizabeth. He was dressed in a short brown jacket and a collarless shirt, red neckerchief and flat cap.
"You look like an extra from "Oliver!"" said Elizabeth, as she sat with her right foot bound in a protective boot, crutches by her side.
"That's the general idea" said John. "TIM, when did Peter say he was due?"
"He should be here any minute" said TIM. "Is Janice ready yet?"
"I'll be down in just a second once I've got these boots laced" called Janice from above.
"There's your answer" said John. "It's a pity you can't come, Liz. It's going to be great!"
"Maybe some other time" said Elizabeth as Janice began to descend the steps. "I think I'd be a little conspicuous on crutches. Anyway, this is for Carol and Janice, not me."
"Ta da!" Janice announced her arrival with a twirl. She wore an elaborate salmon pink Victorian dress with a plunging neckline and a matching hat. "Does my bum look big in this?"
"I don't think anyone'll be looking at your bum!" said Elizabeth giggling. "It's a bit booby!"
"Oh. You think it's a bit much?" asked Janice.
"It makes you look like Marie Lloyd!" said Elizabeth.
"You have to remember that you will be visiting Victorian times" said TIM. "People were more modest in those days."
"Perhaps Peter will have an idea" said John as Carol appeared on the jaunting pad, dressed in a navy blue formal Victorian dress with a small matching hat. "Carol, have you any ideas what we can do about Janice's dress?"
"Why?" asked Carol approaching the group. "What's wrong with . . . blimey! You can't wear that! It makes you look like Marie Lloyd!"
"That's exactly what I said" said Elizabeth.
"Honestly Jan. Can't take you anywhere!" said Carol. "TIM, do you think you could come up with a cloak to match Janice's dress please?"
"I think I can manage that" said TIM. A salmon pink cloak appeared on the table. Carol picked it up and draped it over Janice's shoulders before tying it securely around her neck.
"That's better" said Carol. "Honestly Janice, I don't know what you were thinking of!"
"A least I don't look like Mary Poppins" said Janice, referring to Carol's costume.
"Mary Poppins was a bit later than Victorian I think" said Carol as Peter materialised in a blaze of light on the jaunting pad.
"Hello everybody" said Peter. "All ready to go?"
"Oliver Twist, Marie Lloyd and Mary Poppins reporting for duty SIR!" said Elizabeth, punctuating her comment with a salute.
"Oliver who?" said Peter, looking round the lab, confused.
"Just Liz's little joke" said John. "Peter, why aren't you in costume?"
"Oh, I'm not coming" said Peter. "Well, I mean I'm taking you all there, but I'm not staying round."
"Oh why's that?" asked Janice.
"One of the Time Guardians lost on the time ship was called Jack. If your great grandfather turns out to be the same Jack, I don't know how he'd react if he saw me" said Peter. "No, it'd be better if Jack didn't meet me, at least not yet." He handed out a black plastic wrist strap, one each to John and Carol. "These are recall devices. When you are ready to return, you can contact me telepathically with these." He turned to Janice. "As you're not a telepath, one of these would be useless to you. Just make sure you don't lose contact with either John or Carol. We wouldn't want you to get stranded." He produced a blue plastic wrist strap and gave it to Janice. "You'll need this so that you can travel in my time capsule. It's designed mainly for telepaths only." The three strapped their wrist straps on. Peter turned to Elizabeth. "Aren't you coming Elizabeth?"
"Elizabeth is recovering from an injury" said TIM.
"I'm sorry to hear that" said Peter, noticing her footwear. "Is that what this is for?"
"Yes" said Elizabeth. "I tore my Achilles tendon."
"Is it painful?" asked Peter.
"It's not so bad now, but it was very painful when it happened" said Elizabeth. I felt like I'd been kicked in the ankle."
"How did you do it?" asked Peter.
"Irish dancing" replied Elizabeth. "One of those stupid party games while we were on holiday. Ed volunteered me."
"Are you Irish, then?" asked Peter.
"Not a bit. That's what makes it so stupid" replied Elizabeth. "Now I have to keep this thing on for another couple of months."
"Well, why don't you cure it psychically?" asked Peter. "It'd be mended in seconds."
"I would, if only it didn't happen in front of hundreds of witnesses" said Elizabeth. "Then a very kindly old gentleman gave us a lift to A and E, where I got diagnosed, treated and fitted with this and given these crutches. It's all on record now. What happened, my name and address and all that. I've got to see the consultant on Wednesday, so it'd raise a few eyebrows if I made an miracle overnight recovery, wouldn't it?"
"Well I hope you're feeling better soon" said Peter.
"Anyway, I think I'd look conspicuous even without a pot on my leg" said Elizabeth.
"Conspicuous?" asked Peter.
"Elizabeth is concerned that she may draw too much attention" said TIM.
"Oh and why's that?" asked Peter.
"Well I imagine people like me would in seem conspicuous in those times" said Elizabeth.
"People like you? I don't understand" said Peter.
"You know" said Elizabeth. "Black."
Peter looked puzzled. "I don't understand. What do you mean black?"
"You know. Black" said Elizabeth. "It's what I am."
"Oh I think I know what you mean" said Peter. "In different time periods, you find a lot of words have different meanings. It becomes a trend to use a word to describe something that isn't related to its original meaning. So in this time black means beautiful?"
"Oh, Peter, you are so kind" said Elizabeth. "No, it doesn't mean that."
"But you are beautiful" said Peter.
"Watch out, Liz, you've got an admirer" joked John.
"Bless you, Peter" said Elizabeth. "No, it's just a way of describing my ethnicity."
"And people can tell this by just looking at you?" asked Peter.
"Of course they can" said Elizabeth with a chuckle.
"They must be very clever, because I can't" said Peter. "Am I black?"
"No, you're white like me" said Carol.
"And what does that mean?" asked Peter.
"Well, I suppose it means that . . ." said Carol.
"I think you're confusing Peter" said John. "It's just a cultural thing. Obviously in Peter's time, people don't look for such things, so they've forgotten what the differences are." The women looked confused. "Look, you remember Chandra and her sister Dagny?"
"The Americans" said Janice.
"Yes, Now did you know they were descended from Vikings?" The women shook their heads. "I can tell that because I know what to look for. To me it's obvious, but to the average man in the street, they don't look any different from anyone else. Now, if you were to take them back in time about a thousand years - and I'm not suggesting you should, Peter - it'd be a whole different situation. It's all a matter of perspective."
"If it's okay, there's something I'd like to bring along" said Janice, going into the equipment room. "I know what you're going to say, Carol, but I promise I'll look after it and I'll take full responsibility if anything happens to it." She emerged carrying a small black leather musical instrument case.
"Is that what I think it is?" asked Carol.
"Yes it is" replied Janice.
"And what do you intend to do with it?" asked Carol.
"Well, seeing as Great Grandfather was in show business, I thought it'd be a good way in to get to know him. You know, a kind of ice-breaker" said Janice. "Besides, I just had this strange feeling that I should bring it along. Don't ask me to explain it. It was just one of those - you know - odd feelings."
"Well I can't pretend I understand" said Carol. "But be careful with it. Grandma Edith treasured it."
John, Peter, Carol and Janice made their way to the jaunting pad.
"Remember, Janice, don't go stepping on any butterflies!" called Elizabeth.
"Don't worry I won't" said Janice. "I saw that episode of Star Trek with the fighter pilot. I know what I shouldn't do." With that, the four were engulfed in a blast of white light before dematerialising.