JOURNAL #2
SECOND EARTH
I've often wondered what it would be like to travel back in time, to see what the world was like thousands of years ago. I've spent much time at the library searching up information from centuries ago, always wanting to see and learn more. While I enjoy educating myself on what the computers have to offer, what I wouldn't give to see firsthand what life on Earth was like back in the twenty-first century! As a historian, it would truly be the icing on the cake to turn back the hands of time, if only for a single day. But as there was no possible way of traveling back in time, it seemed as though I'd have to content myself with the holographic images.
Or so that's what I'd thought. Truth was, I couldn't have been more mistaken.
As it turned out, there was indeed a way that would allow me to step back into the past of my own home. How do I know? Because I can now say that I have ventured into the past itself and seen what Earth was like centuries ago. To say it was the most exciting trip I'd ever embarked on was an understatement. As a historian, there was nothing more amazing than seeing with my own eyes what Earth was like a few lifetimes ago. What amazed me was how different it all was– the smells, sights, sounds and just about everything else imaginable. It truly was a world unlike the one I'd grown up in.
As for having traveled through time itself, at one point I would have dismissed the idea as being simply impossible. Yes, there were always theories regarding the possibility of time travel, but nothing solid had ever yet come to the surface. It was an idea that had been pondered about for the longest time, but to no avail had any groundbreaking discoveries been made.
The funny thing was that amongst all the constant speculations and doubts and rejections, I had been proven that the impossible…was possible. Using the strange power of portals called flumes, I'd been transported back to a time I had only seen through holographic screens of the library computers. But unlike at the library, the past had no longer been staring back at me from three-dimensional screens.
There's no question about it. Jumping back through time was undoubtedly the most incredible experience of my life. I can't think of a single thing that can even come close to the excitement I felt during that trip. While it doesn't change the fact that I'm still frightened as anything about my own future, that one trip was one that I'll absolutely, always, remember.
The day before my trip into the past, I spent much time pondering over a hundred questions. After meeting a man named Press Tilton, I'd then begun reflecting on so many things I never had till now. What with all the anxious wondering and fearing what life as a Traveler would have in store for me, it made sense that I didn't sleep a wink.
When morning finally arrived, the first thought that popped to mind was: I wonder when Press will be here?
Ding-dong!
Almost instantly, I heard the familiar chime-like sound of the doorbell. I didn't have to open the door to already know who'd be standing there. He wasn't kidding around when he mentioned stopping by bright and early. A quick glance at my bedside clock showed it was only 6am! Talk about starting the day early. Normally, I wasn't up and about till closer to seven, but I suppose when you're a Traveler, there's no sleeping in.
"Coming!" I yawned. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, stretched, and left the bedroom.
When I opened the door, I saw right away that my prediction was right. Standing there wearing the same long coat that fell to his knees and smile on his face was Press. Here was a guy who was already dressed and ready to go and looking as wide awake as if he'd gotten ten hours sleep. It was like adventure was his middle name.
"Morning," he announced, sounding far more awake than I felt. "All set?"
"I suppose so," I said, another yawn escaping me. Then again, I wouldn't really be ready till I was properly dressed and out of my pajamas. "Where exactly are we heading to, anyway?"
"You'll see," said Press, as if wanting to keep it a secret. "I'll say this much though. Where we're going, history comes alive. Literally."
Despite the dancing butterflies in my stomach, I couldn't help feeling excited at that remark. Though I felt a rush of fear and doubt spreading through me at where this might lead to, I wasn't one to pass down the opportunity to take a trip through history. After all, I was a historian!
"Should I bring anything with me?"
"Nope, just yourself," was the answer.
I then saw Press glance down briefly at his feet. I followed his gaze, and noticed Earnest introducing herself to him. She wasn't one to fear strangers, and Press was no exception. She stopped at his feet, nuzzled up against his leg and let out a welcoming chirp.
"Guess she wants to tag along," Press remarked, chuckling.
"Come on," I said, scooping the cat up in my arms. "Let's get you fed." I turned back to Press and asked, "We're not in a hurry, are we?"
"Got to have a coffee, first?" asked Press with a small laugh.
"I'm more of a tea guy," I said to him, shrugging. "I was never all that fond of coffee."
"Well then," said Press, taking a seat at the kitchen table. "Mind whipping up an extra one?"
It wasn't long till Press and I were leaving the apartment and heading to…well, I wasn't entirely sure where. Wherever it was, he felt pretty strongly that I'd enjoy this trip. I loved anything to do with history, so I certainly didn't mind an unexpected outing. For the time being, I wasn't even thinking about Travelers or Saint Dane or Halla. My thoughts were now focused only on taking an incredible trip through history, despite the fact that I was still as baffled as ever as to what all of this had to do with me.
Once we'd taken the elevator up to the surface, Press led me straight to the subway tunnel. As usual, it wasn't overly busy; only a few people stood around waiting to catch the next train to wherever they were headed. White light shone down from tubes lining the ceiling above, and the tunnel itself stretched off far in each direction. I'd seen many images of more ancient subway stations, back when they were far more crowded, noisier and filled with constant hustle bustle activity.
"We catching a train?" I asked. Already I could hear the familiar sound of an incoming subway train heading our way.
"Nope," said Press, not slowing his pace. I'd known this guy for less than two days, but never had I encountered someone who traveled with such purpose.
I raised a brow in growing confusion, but followed him without question. "So where are we headed then?"
"This is where the gate is," he answered.
"Gate?" I said, walking quickly to keep up with his long, purposeful strides.
Before I could ask any further questions, we arrived at our destination. I didn't know what to expect to see, but it certainly wasn't this. Situated before us appeared to be some sort of rocky cavern. Its mouth was dark, vast and staring into it, I immediately got the sense that whatever was to happen next, we were in the right place. Yet again it was another strange example of some part of me knowing I was where I needed to be, but not exactly being happy about it.
"This is it," Press declared, walking up towards the cavernous structure.
"What…what is it?" I asked. I was feeling more than a little overwhelmed.
"The flume," he said casually. "It'll take us where we need to be."
"And where's that?"
Press then turned to me, gave me a smile and said, "The past."
I blinked in surprise, and went on staring at him with a dumbfounded expression. What on earth did he mean by that?
"I…I don't understand," was all I could say. "I thought we were taking a trip through history. Am I missing something here?"
"We are," said Press, the smile still on his face. "We're going to take a trip to Second Earth, back in the 21st century. Where we're at right now is Third Earth."
"Second Earth?" I asked, stunned. I paused for a moment, replaying those words in my head. "Are…are you serious?"
"Absolutely!" In a loud, clear voice, he faced the flume and called out, "Second Earth!"
What happened next caught me so off guard, I actually took a few steps back in surprise. The flume – as Press called it – was coming to life! I kid you not! It was a spectacle that was both mesmerizing and startling. The opening to the flume lit up in a bright shower of light and music that seemed downright impossible, yet it was real as could be. Though my mind tried convincing me it was a trick of the eye, or an optical illusion, I knew the truth – this was no illusion and no trick of the eye.
It was like the rocky walls of the flume were transforming into brilliant, radiant crystals. As for the music, it sounded like a mixture of odd, random notes that were all bouncing off one another in a chaotic dance. To say I wasn't expecting this was a vast understatement. When Press mentioned taking a trip through history, I hadn't expected this. I'd assumed he'd planned for us to explore some historical site; it hadn't occurred to me that he meant leaving this century and entering another. That was something you'd see in a science-fiction show!
"Ready?" Press asked me.
"For what?" I asked, wide-eyed. I didn't have to see my own face to know that my eyes had grown to the size of golf balls. Now I was beginning to feel the weight of this unexplainable journey pressing down on me.
"It's time to go."
"Whoa, wait…are you really suggesting we—"
"Yup, this is our ticket to the past. All aboard the flume express."
"You mean to say we're going to…to travel…through that?" The look on my face must have said it all, because Press's only response was to chuckle.
"Come on!" he cajoled, moving closer to the flume. "Time to go."
"Is…is it safe?" I asked timidly. Sure, I trusted Press but all the same, the brilliant light and music was starting to make me wonder what might happen should I get swept up in its path. I felt perfectly safe here on solid ground; I wasn't too sure jumping into the flume would leave me feeling just as safe.
"Nothing to fear," he said reassuringly, looking back to me. "Besides, I thought you liked history?"
"I do, it's just…I just wish there were an easier way at getting there. This seems a little, I don't know…overwhelming."
"It's cake. You'll feel a little tug, and off you'll go. It'll be just like flying."
I looked back and forth between Press and the flume, my mind racing. In just a few seconds, I'd already come up with about a dozen scenarios of what could happen if I got sucked into this swirling mouth. None of them were good, of course. Most of them involved me becoming forever trapped in an endless pit of blackness, never able to see the light of day again. I don't know if that's what would happen, but regardless, I couldn't help think it.
"But how can it just…pull us in?" I asked. I was seriously having second thoughts about going through with this. And I wouldn't be fooling anyone if I said I wasn't scared. "How does it know to do that? What's controlling it? How does it know where to send us? What if we die in there? Can you promise me that I'll make it through that safely?"
"Relax, Patrick," said Press, sounding perfectly calm. He was the complete opposite of myself. While I was creeping closer to the hairy edge of panic, he couldn't have been any calmer. "Don't overthink it. Just kick back and enjoy the ride."
"I was never really into roller coasters," I uttered, thinking this was bound to be similar. "They make me nauseous. I'm not so great with heights, either."
"Then no need to worry," said Press with a wink. "This'll be more like a water slide."
I shot him a quick, uncertain look. Water slide? I wasn't entirely convinced that would be any better. Already I could picture myself bumping into walls, or plunging down headfirst into a pool of rushing water, or speeding down a drop that would send my stomach flying into my throat.
Was I a worrywart? Yes, in every sense of the word.
"Don't worry," said Press, clapping me good-naturedly on the shoulder. "It'll be fine. We'll go together."
"Won't that be kind of, I don't know…claustrophobic?" I asked. "Because if it is, I'm sort of claustrophobic too."
"Nope," he answered. "Space isn't an issue."
I scratched my head, sighed lightly, and took a few steps closer to the flume. With each step I took, I had to will my feet to keep moving. As I stood there next to Press, I could see out of the corner of my eye that the guy was still smiling, as if actually enjoying this. Me? Well, considering that my heart felt like it might pound out of my chest at any second, you could say I was feeling pretty anxious. No, terrified was more like it. I just kept hoping we'd make it to the other side in one piece, wherever we were headed. All I could do was place my faith in Press, and the rocky mouth in front of us.
"All set?" I heard him say.
I nodded slowly, working hard to keep my countless emotions from exploding. "Sure," I told him, though I'm positive he noticed the hint of fear in my voice. I figured there was no point in trying to sound calm, since I was feeling anything but. Besides, I'd never been very good at masking my fears.
Before the entire world vanished before us in a flash of light, sound and color, he called out to me, "Then let's see history come to life!"
Did I want to see history come to life? Definitely. Did I want to step through this portal called a flume? Let's just say I'd much rather be on a roller coaster right about now.
The next thing I knew, the colors and music seemed to swallow us up. I wanted so badly to fight the urge to turn and run off, but I had to trust in Press. If he assured me the flume wasn't something to fear, then I had to believe him. So rather than give in to the growing knot in my stomach, I did my best to remain calm, and let the flume sweep my away.
And that was exactly what happened. I quickly found myself growing closer and closer to the dazzling lights that swam around me. The next thing I knew, my feet were no longer touching ground. I was now inside the flume, on my way to visit Earth in the 21st century.
The trip itself was like nothing I'd ever experienced. It was the strangest, most mind-boggling sensation to be sailing along on a seemingly invisible carpet of air. A million thoughts raced through my head. How was this possible? What was the flume made of? How could we travel back in time? Why was I a Traveler? Would I ever find the answers to any of my questions? Was there a chance this might all still be a dream and I was still sound asleep in my bed?
"You alright there?" I heard Press say.
I glanced over at him with wide eyes, swallowed hard and stammered, "I…I think so."
"You're doing fine," he said encouragingly.
"My heart wants to burst out of my chest though," I admitted, chuckling nervously. "But aside from that, I guess I'm okay, considering the circumstances."
"Nice view, isn't it?" he commented, gazing upward.
Up till then, I'd been so focused on the shock of what was now unfolding, that I didn't notice anything else. But when I turned my attention to what lay beyond and all around me, I swear it looked like I'd just landed in outer space. Spreading around us as far as I could see were thousands upon thousands of stars. Like tiny, gleaming dots you'd see in the night sky, they seemed to form countless constellations, but none looked familiar.
I was so mesmerized by the display of stars that it hadn't struck me that I was gradually starting to relax. I wasn't completely comfortable, but there was no ignoring the breathtaking sight. No roller coaster in the world could offer a view like this.
Not much time had passed till I heard Press call out, "Almost there. There's the light up ahead."
Suddenly, I saw the light growing so brightly, I thought I'd have to shield my eyes but oddly enough, I didn't need to. It was like my eyes grew accustomed to the white shower of light that flooded around us. The music grew in intensity, as if reaching a crescendo. As before entering the flume, I wasn't sure of what to expect. Would the flume shoot me out like a speeding rocket? Would I trip over my feet? Would I fall flat on my face on the way out? Would there be something nasty waiting for us at the exit?
What happened was none of the above. With surprising grace, the flume deposited me back on solid ground. Amazingly, when I refocused back on the flume, I saw it had returned to its original state. Gone was the shower of dancing light and musical notes. It was dark once more, and the silence that now filled the room was unmistakable.
"Welcome, Patrick," declared Press while walking ahead of me. "To Second Earth."
"Second Earth," I said, more to myself. "So we're in the twenty-first century?"
"That's right."
"We just traveled back in time?" I asked, numb at the realization.
"A few thousand years, give or take a year," said Press, who seemed to be enjoying my reaction.
"But…but how?" I asked. I quickly followed him, wondering how I was ever going to keep my head from overflowing with question after question. "You mean to tell me that we really just traveled back in time to the twenty-first century?"
"That's exactly it," said Press with confidence. "You're now looking at your home…three thousand years in the past. Neat, eh?"
I stared at him for the longest time. Finally, I shook myself together, laughed softly and uttered in a daze, "Yeah…that's one way of putting it."
"Not too rattled by the trip?"
"No, I'm…alright," I said slowly, still trying to wrap my head around where we now were. "Or as alright as you can be after having gone back in time a few dozen centuries. So we're really in the twenty-first century?"
"That we are," was the reply. Glancing back to me, he asked, "Want to look around?"
"I…uh…sure," I managed to say. I shook myself together and in a dazed voice, added, "I can't believe this. This…this kind of stuff is impossible. But it's not. That flume thing was real, wasn't it? Wow, this is a lot."
"You okay there, son?" asked Press, watching me. I saw a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
I nodded quickly and willed my feet to start moving. "Sorry, I…I guess I'm still trying to make sense of all this."
"One step at a time," Press said, leading the way. "For now, just let history come alive. First thing's first though, we gotta change out of these clothes."
"Why?" I asked.
"We have to blend in," was the answer. "When arriving at a new territory, you'll find clothes left at the flume. Put them on, and away you go."
Instead of asking more questions, I went along with the program and proceeded to change out of my Third Earth clothes. There really wasn't a huge difference in the clothes. I swapped out my short-sleeved shirt and jeans for a blue turtleneck sweater and khakis. Luckily, the shoes fit, seeing as there was no footwear that molded to the form of your feet. That hadn't been invented yet.
Once I was dressed, I asked curiously, "So where are we going?"
"Wherever you'd like," he answered casually. "This trip's all about letting you get your first glimpse at the Earth territories. Anywhere special you've always wanted to see?"
It didn't take me long to immediately come up with an answer to that question.
"The library," I uttered softly.
"I figured that's where you'd take us," Press laughed. "The library it is then."
"So let me get this straight," I said, looking directly at Press. "We can actually go to the New York Public Library as it was thousands of years ago?"
"That's right."
"I'll get to see books!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my giddy excitement. The librarian in me was all but ecstatic. "Real, physical books that I can hold! Hundreds, no thousands of books. I…I've never held a real book before. Computers are great but I've always wanted to see an old, traditional library. I've read all about them and seen pictures but I never thought I'd get to experience one for myself. We can really go there?"
"Told you you'd like this trip," was all Press said, and started leading the way.
As we made our way to the library, I let my wandering eyes take in the sights and smells and sounds around me. This really was recognizably Earth – no doubt about it – but yet it felt so alien and strange. On Third Earth, I'd grown up in a world that had resolved problems like overpopulation and allowed nature to once more take over. What I now saw was completely different. For one, it was far more crowded. As we walked along the congested sidewalks, I kept having to avoid bumping into people, that's how busy it was. Then there was the traffic. We passed several streets and intersections and I saw with my own eyes what Earth was like back in its busier days. An endless number of cars drove by, filling up the streets and more than once I heard the honking of someone's car.
Yes, in so many ways, this was a world unlike the one I'd been grown up in. But then again, this was back when people hadn't started living off-planet, or underground, or in underwater habitats, eliminating the issue of overpopulation.
"It's…so busy," I remarked. I couldn't take my eyes off the never-ending supply of people and cars.
"That's the twenty-first century for ya," Press said, also surveying the view. "A lot different from back home, eh?"
"Yeah, you could say that," I agreed. I then added, "Home sweet home."
"Indeed."
"So how much farther is it to the library?"
Press turned, pointed behind us and stated, "We're here now. Look."
When I turned and got my first, real look at an old-fashioned library, I felt an immediate sense of awe. What I now stared up at wide-eyed was a large, imposing structure that was the New York Public Library…three thousand years ago. Compared to the library of Third Earth, this building was enormous! Still situated on either side of the wide cement stairs were the two stone lions; they looked no different to how they did three thousand years in the future. Rather than the much smaller, modern building that was the library in 5010, this building consisted of arches and columns that gave the place an ancient Rome kind of feel.
"What do you think?" Press asked. He was already starting up the stairs toward the entrance doors.
"It's huge," I proclaimed. "There must be thousands of books in here!"
"Enough to last you a lifetime," Press added. He then stopped at the doors and looked to me with a smile, "Ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be," I said, unable to keep from smiling in utter excitement.
The two of us then left the outside world, stepped through the doorway…and it was like I was entering yet another world. None of the holographic images – not even one of them – can even begin to compare to what I was now seeing with my own eyes. Spread out before me was a traditional library with old, wooden shelves that were stacked with innumerable volumes. No matter where I looked, all I saw were books, books, and more books! Scattered about were wooden tables where people sat reading, or listening to music or talking quietly amongst themselves.
"This is amazing!" I exclaimed, maybe a little too loudly.
"Shhhh!"
I turned and saw an old woman staring over at me from her desk with a disapproving expression. I didn't have to ask to know that she was the librarian. I also felt the eyes of a few others watching me with puzzled looks.
"Uh, sorry ma'am, " I apologized awkwardly.
Press chuckled quietly and reminded me, "We're in a library, remember? Gotta keep it down in here."
"I couldn't help it," I admitted with a shrug. "This is just so fantastic!"
Without another word, I made my way over to a shelf of books to get a closer inspection. I took my time examining each precious book, holding it in my hands reverently and flipping through the pages, reading the words of so many authors. I can't recall how many books I took down from the shelf to explore, but I'd look through each and every book if I could. Having never experienced real, physical books before, this was an experience a librarian from my time could only dream about.
When I left one shelf and moved to another, my eyes fell on one particular book. It was a book I instantly recognized. It was the one physical book that remained in my library back home as a reminder of the past.
"Green Eggs and Ham!" Just like before, I spoke a little too loudly and with enough excitement to attract the attention of dozens of people. No doubt they were all wondering why I was expressing so much enthusiasm over a children's book.
"Please, lower your voice, sir!" the librarian scolded.
I felt a rush of embarrassment at having yet again let my geeky excitement take over.
"Uh, sorry. Really, it won't happen again, ma'am. Honest."
The woman kept her eyes on me for a moment, as if debating about whether or not to send me on my way. Instead, she shook her head, adjusted her glasses, and returned her focus to the mountain-like stack of papers in front of her.
I saw an amused smile break out on Press's face. "Might want to keep that excitement to yourself," he suggested.
I picked up the classic Dr. Seuss book, and whispered, "Sorry, I just can't help it. This is hands down the coolest thing I've ever seen."
After a little more browsing, Press then asked me, "How about we grab a bite to eat?"
"Sure," I said, suddenly feeling pretty hungry. "Any recommendations?"
"Oh, I know a place," he said with a gleam in his eyes.
Not long after, the two of us were sitting on a park bench, enjoying ourselves to a helping of French fries. We'd gotten them from a place called Garden Poultry, and I have to admit, they were the tastiest fries I'd ever eaten. They were piping hot, cooked to golden perfection and flavored with just the right amount of salt.
As I finished the last crispy fry, I told Press, "What a day. Who knew I'd wake up in 5010, only to then jump back a few thousand years in time, and see the library, and explore the city, and…and I don't really know what else to say."
"So where's your head now?" he asked me.
"I don't know," I shrugged. "I guess I wouldn't mind a nap. All that walking around has made me kind of tired."
Rather than answer, Press rose to his feet and walked off, his long coat flapping behind him.
"Where are you going?" I called after him.
"We're not done yet!" he called back.
"Huh?" I jumped up from the park bench and hurried after him. "What do you mean? Is there somewhere else you wanted to take me?"
"Yup."
"Where?" was all I could say.
After all I'd witnessed in that one spectacular day, I thought my brain couldn't possibly be taken for another spin. I couldn't have been more wrong. What Press was about to reveal to me would yet again throw me for a loop, and not the kind you experience on a roller coaster.
"1937."
I stood there dumbfounded, the shock written all over my face. At first, it was like I hadn't even registered what he'd said. I simply stood there looking like I'd just seen a UFO plummeting from the sky.
"Excuse me?" I called out, flabbergasted.
But all Press replied back with was, "Time to go!"
I'll finish up this journal here, Jay. It's incredible to think that the next time I write you, I will have jumped back even farther in time, as far back as 1937. With all this flume riding, dimension-hopping voyaging, I really feel like a nice Third Earth-style cup of tea would do me good right now. As thrilled as I am to see the ancient past of my own territory, already I'm kind of missing Earnest. But I'm not too sure she'd be happy about traveling through the flume, so I think it's best she stay home at the apartment.
I'll wrap things up by saying that as a historian, I can't wait to dive into my own home as it was back in 1937.
END OF JOURNAL #2