Chapter Two
Fun on the Beach:
Today was an eventful day in America. Today, history was being made by three men, who were about to embark on a great journey. The Moon mission became the focal point for every news agency around the world. It was the summer of nineteen sixty nine. Clyde, Rani, Luke and Sky were recording events. Their first trip back in time, without adult supervision. The location, just outside the Cape in the state of Florida, on a beach overlooking the launch site.
The kids were all in swim wear, enjoying them self's, although Clyde and Rani were getting some stares from other people. Together they understanding the era they were in and stayed together, walking along the beach, posing as student's journalist. Most of the public were happy to answer the kid's questions. The kids were excited to receive answers.
On a small section of beach, an elderly women with her family sat in lawn chairs, having a picnic. The family had a small gas driven generator running and a large black and white television with rabbit ear antenna. Rani approached the elderly women. Introducing herself, she asked if she could conduct an interview. The elderly women nodded to her. Then Rani asked "So mam. What is your opinion about going to the moon?"
The elderly women answered, "Young lady we have to beat the Commies to the moon. There spreading across this world like a plague. If they get there first, they'll have bases up there, ready to destroy us at a moment's notice." Rani with a look of surprise, was nodding her head. She wasn't expecting such a political answer from a sweet looking little old lady." Then she asked, "Well mam, I'm sure our leaders are one step ahead of them. May I ask you your name and how old you are, and what are your personal feelings about these three men, about to make such an historic trip?"
The elderly women smiled at her and asked, "Child, where are you from?" Rani answered, "I am from England. I'm a student in journalism. I wish I was on vacation right now, watching all this, enjoying the day as you and your family are. But I have to work in order to pass." The little old lady yelled at her great-grandson sitting next to her, causing Rani to jump. "Bo! Get your ass out of that chair now and let this young girl sit next to me!" The young chubby man holding a beer in his hand got up, allowing Rani to sit next to his great-grandmother. The elderly women placed her hand on Rani's, patting it. She said, "Young lady, my name is Mrs. Roth, Mrs. Ester Roth, and I'm eighty-eight years old child. I have seen much, I remember when those two Yankee brothers from Ohio made the paper, we all thought it was a hoax.
When I seen my first aero-plane at the county-fair with my husband, God rest his soul. I thought it was a silly looking contraption, just a novelty. Thought it never amount to much. Now we can go anywhere in the world, in just hours. You'll never see me in an aero-plane, nothing wrong with taking trains."
Rani smiling, sat in amazement listening to the women continue to talk about her history, about Mr. Edison and his gadgets and light bulb, two world wars she remembers profoundly. The loss of family in both."
Then Rani asked. "So Mrs. Roth, do you think they will find anything interesting up there?" Mrs. Roth turned in anguish, shaking her head. Rani thought she had said something wrong and was about to ask another question. Mrs. Roth then turned her head and said while patting Rani's hand again, "You mean like little green men? Ha child. I remember back in thirty nine, Mr. Wells on the radio, scarring the whole world on Halloween. Everyone thought the Martians had laded, including us. Why my sons were out patrolling the farm, while my daughters and grand-daughters stocked the cellar. Oh that was such a tragic night for a lot of people. That Yankee should a been shot, or best, put in jail for causing such a fuss. It's my understanding some families committed suicide that night. We neva listened to that Mercury Theater again."
Rani looking at the elderly women in amazement continued. "Well I'm sure there not going to find a Martian up there, living on the moon. So I wonder if they will find precious stones, Gold, others minerals we can use back here on Earth." Mrs. Roth smiled at her again and said, "I was one years old child when the California gold rush began. My uncle died out there from claim jumpers. Nothing good comes from such things, just misery." Mrs. Roth started to slap her hand three times on the arm rest of her lawn chair and said, "Nope, nope, nope. If you make an honest living in life, support your family, go to Church and don't drink. Then you'll make it in this world. Like the good book says child, God helps those who help themselves."
Rani continued smiling at the comment the women gave her. Mrs. Roth now turned her attention from Rani towards the television. She yelled, "The countdown started, oh look at him. That Walter Cronkite, he's so handsome with that mustache, like Clark Gable." Rani just smiled at the elderly women's crush on the news anchor. Then she placed her hand on the tablet she was holding, ending the recording. On the Television everyone gathered to see an image of NASA personal at their computer screens, yelling, "Go!" One at a time, as the countdown continued.
When the countdown reach the number zero, across the waters of the Cape, a plum of white smoke is seen by all on the beach. The crowd of people were clapping cheering. Rani's hand was being squeezed by the elderly women, full of excitement. Then she said something that made Rani truly laugh. "That Rocket reminds me of my husband's still blowing up, back during prohibition. Land sakes was he in trouble after that. Everyone in the three counties heard it that day."
Rani placed the tablet she was holding into a large purse and stood up, thanking the elderly women. Mrs. Roth, still holding the young girls hand said, "You come back and see us again child, were always here." Rani nodded with a smile and said, "Thank you Mrs. Roth, and thank you for the interview."
The elderly women said, "Not at all young lady, I know it's going to be difficult for you in the future being a reporter. It's a man's world out there, even for colored folk, but you stick to your guns, understand young lady." Rani still smiling, nodded her head and said, "I will mam." Mrs. Roth smiling back at her said, "Good child see that you do." Then she turned and yelled at her great grandson again, "Bo!" The young man answered, "Yeah Granny." The elderly women yelled, "Boy where's my beer!" Rani turned and walked away laughing as she approached Luke, Clyde and Sky. Together they were standing on the beach watching a Saturn Five rocket getting smaller and smaller as it flew upwards.
As Rani now stood next to Clyde, she could see that he was smiling at the sight. Turning to her, he yelled over the thundering noise of the rocket engines, "That is so awesome Rani, look at them go!"
Sky turned to Rani and said, "I got six interviews and one go away kid, how did you do." Rani smiling at her said, "I did pretty good, I think Sarah the Doctor and Mr. Wilds are going to be pleased with our report for the archives. Clyde looked at his watch and said, "Oh man, look at the time. We have to get back soon, mom is going out to dinner with my Aunt and Uncle, guess who has to baby sit his cousins?"
Luke slapped his best friend on the back still watching the rocket and said, "What did you bring a watch for, you know we can be back one second after we left." Clyde feeling silly, started to laugh at what he said. Luke laughing along with him said, "Don't worry mate, will be home in an instant." As the four turned around, they started heading back to a large pavilion with a Hamburger stand, with showers and picnic tables. On the side of the pavilion were three dispensing machines one for candy, two for cold beverages. Right next to the candy machine was a telephone booth with a man inside talking. He was turning occasionally to look at the kids out the windows and quickly turning away again, so as not to be noticed. Clyde approached the beverage dispenser, showing a Coca Cola symbol on it, with a door on the right side, showing bottles stacked one on top another.
Looking at the price he yelled, "Are you kidding me! Ten cents for a bottle of Coke, I'm getting ten!" Rani laughed and said, "Yeap, Inflation Clyde. Years ago it was only a couple a cents a bottle Clyde. Before that it was cough syrup." Clyde pulled out a One Dollar Bill, asking everyone, "Who's thirsty?" Luke seeing the note in his friend's hand, grabbed it immediately and looked at it. Passing it to Rani, she quickly looked at it and then gave it back to Clyde.
Rani asked, "First of all were did you get this money?" Clyde said, "It's mine. I do get paid to watch my cousins you know. Mom made me save over ten years. I went to the bank yesterday, took out a hundred Pounds and had the bank exchange it for Dollars." Rani looking at him said, "Clyde look at the date on the money." Clyde holding the Dollar, looked at it and said, "I don't see a date Rani." Rani pointed to a series number on the dollar bill and said, "That's the date Clyde, this money is cataloged in America, by the Treasury Department. It hasn't been made yet. So put it back in your pocket." Clyde stuffed the dollar in his pocket and said, "Ok now what." Luke said to his best friend, "Now we travel a couple of days into the future, watch the moon landing, get more responses, and go to Disney World." Rani took the key from her pocket and opened the door to the candy machine and everyone entered the Tardis. When the doors shut, the engines started to grind and the candy machine disappeared in front of the man in the phone booth.
Moments later the Tardis lands outside of Coco Beach, a few miles from the place it landed previously. Instead of being a Coca Cola machine, the Tardis was now a camper parked in a large parking lot, overlooking the beach. When the doors opened, Luke and Sky exited first, followed by Clyde and Rani. Together they traveled around the area looking for people to conduct an interview on their subject. Clyde was one up on everyone else, he placed his tablet on record and with it he was eavesdropping. Everyone at the beach or in the parking lot, had a TV or radio, listening to the announcements. The Eagle was on direct approach for the Sea of Tranquility.
As the four made their way past the tailgaters in the parking lot. Rani noticed she was being followed by two men, wearing slacks a white short sleeved shirts, with ties. She turns around quickly tapping Clyde on the shoulder, making him stop to turn. Rani seeing she had his attention points her thumb behind her and Clyde notices the men as well. As all four stopped together they turn around and see the men approaching. Rani and Clyde could read their minds. She turned around quickly to the three and said, "Their Secret Service Agents"
Not wanting to cause a seen, Clyde looked around and then at the two men approaching them, he then projected, "Sleep." Instantly the two agents feel to the ground unconscious.
Rani turned and could see another agent approaching from the other direction. Rani projected her thoughts, "Sleep." The agent was out like a light. The reaction from the crowd was disturbing for some, many were approaching the fallen men asking, "Hey buddy are you all right?" Others were gently slapping the men on the cheek trying to wake them. Luke yelled, "All right, let's get back to the Tardis!"
The kids started to run back to the parked camper. When they arrived, there were four armed men in suits, along with the Florida State Police off towards the entrance of the parking lot.
As the kids ducked down behind a car. Clyde started to peek around the bumper, he then looked back at his friends and said, "What did we do wrong why are they after us?" Luke crouching behind him didn't say a word. He just looked at the men positioned around the Tardis. Then a man in a suit snuck up behind them laughing a little and said, "That was a cool trick kids. Would you mind waking them up now, we have to get going." The four all screamed at the same time. The agent still smiling said, "Hey, no one is going to hurt you, besides you brought me here. Been a whole lot of funny business going on today. Three days ago they arrested the Doctor for tampering with the rocket. The President had to get him out of that one. And myself, ho, ho, being in two different places at the same time, is just weird. So come on."
The four kids nervously got up and proceeded with the agent to a picnic table. They were surrounded immediately by Secret Service agents, all looking in the other direction, watching the public. When everyone was seated the agent asked, "Is anyone hungry or thirsty, I know I am?" Clyde answered, "I'm starving." While the others stared at him with an angry look. The agent looked at one of the men and said, "Peterson, can you get five hotdogs and five cokes for our guests."
The agent answered, "Five there's four of them." The Agent sitting with the kids looked at Peterson and said, "Yeah, I said I was hungry." Agent Peterson shook his head in disbelief and proceeded to the pavilions hotdog stand.
The agent sitting with the kids said, "Well kids, allow me to introduce myself, again. I'm Special agent Canton Everett, Delaware the III, with the F.B.I. I'm a friend of the Doctors." Rani had her eyes shut for a moment, she was looking in to time. Quickly she could see his history with the Doctor. Opening her eyes again she said, "We know who you are sir, but we don't understand why you have detained us. This was supposed to be a just field trip in to the past, recording events for the archive." The F.B.I. agent nodded his head in understanding and said, "Kids when this is over and you turn in your assignments, I'm sure the Doctor and the rest of your teachers are going to give you an A+. Right now Rani, the whole world needs the four of you." Rani looking confused said, "How do you know my name sir?" Agent Delaware started pointing his finger at each of the kids. "Your Rani Chandra, your Clyde Langer, and you two are brother and sister, Luke and Sky Smith. The Doctors Kids." The four all looked at one another not knowing what to say next. Then Agent Delaware said, "Kids it was you who phoned me, then you picked me up two weeks from now, right before the war started." Clyde mouth dropped wide open. The Agent seeing this said, "That's impolite son, close your mouth."
Then Clyde asked, "War, what war, the Vietnam war, that's been going on for some time now?" Agent Delaware just shook his head and said. "No Clyde, World War Three starts in two weeks." All four kids were in shock when they heard those words.
Agent Peterson arrived with food and drinks for the kids. Each saying thank you. As Agent Delaware watched the kids begin to eat he said, "Kids I have to stay here in this period, avoiding myself and trying to figure out what went wrong. You four are going to take your Tardis parked over there, with your bogus Georgia license plates and go to the moon. Your mission is to stop the Lunar Lander from exploding tomorrow, when it takes off." Sky looking at the agent was shaking her head in disbelief. She said, "We all learned about this in school, there was no explosion. Everyone made it home safe."
Special Agent Delaware smiled at the young girl and said, "See, your mission was a success. Now all you have to do is carry it out, and time, which is giving me a headache right now, will continue normally." Then Agent Delaware looked at all four kids together and asked, "So how about it kids, you in?"
The four all looked at one another for only a moment. They were still in shock as to what was about to happen. Then together they all turned and looked at the agent, nodding their heads together, showing him they were all in agreement. Then Agent Delaware said, "Ok kids, tablets on the table." The kids looking surprised as to how he knew about their tablets, now had a worried look on their faces. As they each took out there tablets one at a time, they begin placing them in front of him on the picnic table. Agent Delaware looking at the devices asked, "Would you turn them on please." While the kids turned on their devices. Agent Delaware said, "According to the Doctor, all four of you need permission from a Time Lord and a signature from a residence from this planet. So the Doctor told me what to say and do."
Agent Delaware places his right thumb on Rani's Tablet and said, "I, Special Agent Canton Everett, Delaware the III. Having a limited power of attorney, signed by the Time Lord known as the Doctor. Here by state, the events which are about to take place here on earth, is a paradox and on her satellite the moon. As a residence of this world, having full knowledge of both time streams yet to come, The Doctor and I, hereby, give permission to these four student. To correct events which are about to take place." With his thumb still on Rani's tablet the agent said, "Download." In an instant a thumb print was seen on all four tablets.
Seeing success with Alien technology, Agent Delaware asked, "Ok is everyone ready?" Then he said to the kids, "You can take your food and drinks with." Sky turned and looked at the camper and then looked at Agent Delaware, shaking her head at him. Then she said, "Mom told us were not allowed to eat in her Tardis." The kids all stopped eating for a moment and started to look at the hotdogs in their hands. Clyde looking for only a second continued to eat his hot dog, really fast, as did Luke. Special Agent Delaware now laughing as he watched Clyde and Luke inhale their food looked back at Sky and said, "Ok, I understand mothers, finish your meal and then get going ok." While Rani and Sky continued eating, Clyde pulled out a One Dollar bill again and asked, "Agent Delaware, since you're a friend of the Doctors can you help me for a second?"
Agent Delaware looked at Clyde for a moment and said, "Sure son what is it." Clyde holding the Dollar in his hand said, "I made a mistake before I traveled to 1969, the series number on this dollar bill will show up as a mystery. Can I have one of yours in exchange?"
Agent Delaware reached behind and removed his wallet from his back pocket. Opening it, he pulls out a one dollar bill, handing it to Clyde. After Clyde passed his note to the agent, he got up from the table and started heading away from them. Agent Delaware seeing Clyde leaving asked, "Ah, where you going son?" As Clyde turned to him while walking backwards, he said, "To get seven bottles of coke for the trip. One for each of us and three for the astronauts."
Agent Delaware was now laughing, along with the secret service. Agent Peterson begins to follow him to the window of hot dog stand, offering assistance. He said to Clyde, "I'm sure they would prefer beer son, but a Coke is a nice gesture." When Rani was finished eating she looked at the agent Delaware again and asked, "Sir, when we arrive, do you know what were supposed to do?"
Agent Delaware just shook his head at her and said, "Rani, from what you told me, everything will fall into place, now that you're going. Once you're finished, you drop me off at my house, a few seconds after you picked me up." Rani nodded and Agent Delaware said, "Please don't forget to pick me up, two Delaware's in one point in time is just too creepy. The President almost had a heart attack seeing me leaving the room as I walked in the other door at the same time to brief him." Luke and Sky were just smiling while Rani was laughing.
A few minute later, Clyde returned holding four bottles and Agent Peterson was hold the other three. Agent Delaware looking at the two said, "That guy wouldn't even give you a bag." Agent Peterson, still holding three coke bottles said sarcastically, "Yessa, on accounta weeesa colored folk." Agent Delaware slammed his fist down hard on the surface of the picnic table and slowly stood up. With a very angry look on his face he said, "Kids, would you excuse me for just a moment, don't go anywhere."
In unison the four kids all nodded and Agent Delaware walked away from the picnic table, heading for the side door of the Pavilion. As he stood in front of the door, Agent Delaware lifted his right foot and kicked it open. When he entered he had his gun drawn and badge out. The event startled the girls a little with a lot of blinking. Clyde and Luke were looking at one another laughing, so was Agent Peterson. A lot of profanity was heard inside the hotdog stand, coming from Agent Delaware. Followed by a loud crash of metal pans and utensils.
Holding a brown paper bag in his hand at the door entrance, Agent Delaware yelled back into the hotdog stand, "If you want to keep your license, I suggest you stop being a bigot, or Ill shut this place down forever." When he left the hot dog stand of the Pavilion, Agent Delaware came up to the kids, with a big smile and said, "God that felt good."
Turning to Clyde he passes the paper bag to him and said, "Here Clyde, be careful, there glass." Clyde grabbing the paper bag from him opened it and begins to place each bottle gently in side. He then folded the top over and carried the paper bag under his arm. Agent Delaware then said, "Kids will walk you to your Tardis." Together everyone started to leave the picnic area. When everyone arrived at the camper, Rani pulls out a key. Opening the door she steps in, followed by Sky and Luke.
Clyde turns around and starts to shake the hand of the F.B.I. agent. He said, "Thank you sir, I really wanted to punch that guy in there." Agent Delaware still shaking Clyde's hand said, "I understand son. You know, I think when this is all over, my men and I are going to come back and pay Mr. Redneck a visit. If he hasn't' changed his way's, then were going to throw him a little party, with the health inspectors." Clyde's smile now turned to laughter and asked, "Oh I wish I could be there?"
Agent Delaware smiling at Clyde, put his hands on his shoulders and said, "I know son, you be careful up there ok." Clyde's smile turned into a straight face. He said, "I will sir, will get to the bottom of this." Agent Delaware smiled at the young man and said, "Oh, I almost forgot." The agent took out a folded piece of paper from his front pocket and opened it.
As he held the note in his hand he started to read it out loud, "Clyde, before you go to the moon, you're to take the Tardis two weeks and two days into the future, land at this address, extend her shields and read." Clyde now took the letter from Agent Delaware and looked at it. He then asked, "Read?" Agent Delaware just nodded his head and said, "That's right son, read. I'll get back with you on that one later ok. For now do as the letter says. After all you told me to write it down and give it to you."
Clyde nodded his head and placed the letter in his pocket and shook the Agents hand again, "Good bye sir and thank you." Agent Delaware said, "Good luck son and Godspeed." Clyde entered the Tardis and closed the door behind him. The camper started to make a loud grinding noise, then it slowly disappeared in front of Agent Delaware and Agent Peterson. A moment later another Secret Service Agent came rushing up to Agent Delaware, holding a very large military Walkie Talkie. The newly arrived agent yelled, "Sir! It's the President! He said the Astronauts just bumped into a girl on the Moon!" Delaware just smiled in the direction of were the Tardis use to be. With both hands in his pockets, he turns to the agent and said calmly, "Is that so. Hmmmm, well that was quick."