Voyagers!: Tunnels of despair and tracks of hope

Chapter 7

The Voyagers landed a few feet from the City Hall steps. They were stunned by the fanfare. Ticker tapes and streamers flew through the air like snow, jovial music blasted from a live marching band at the head of the stairway. People danced in the streets. Phineas didn't want to lose Jeffrey in the crowd. He grabbed his hand and they ran up the steps to get a better view of the events.

Every window of the entire building was draped with red, white, and blue cloth banners. Gigantic signs that read New York City welcomes the underground IRT #6! fluttered everywhere. The turnout was enormous, with all the attendees clothed in their Sunday best. Families who didn't want to brave the crowds hung from neighboring apartment windows watching with anticipation.

Jeffrey pulled on Phineas' shirtsleeve. "They look like a sea of penguins with top-hats!" He noted enthusiastically. "What a fantastic day!"

"I was thinking the same thing!" Phineas glanced around and saw a building clock; the time read 2:00pm exactly. "I don't know how we're going to find Francesca in these crowds."

"Maybe she's already waiting inside the tunnel?" Jeffrey suggested.

"No, look at all the police blockading it. The Mayor and his dignitaries are supposed to be the first ones down there. Come on, let's walk around. I doubt there's many women carrying bulky satchels."

"That's true. She's probably biding her time."

They rushed into the midst of the revelers. After ten minutes of searching, they found themselves two blocks away from the City Hall building. Jeffrey leaned against a brick wall and crossed his arms disappointed.

"Are you sure we didn't miss her, Bogg? We don't really know what she looks like."

"I got a good look at her photograph, she's…" Phineas drew a hand over his brow to block the sun from his eyes and he froze. "She's a vision." He whispered softly.

Jeffrey realized why his partner suddenly drooled and grew hot around the collar. A young woman walked cautiously in their direction, wearing a fitted, pale yellow dress with lacy bell sleeves. The color accentuated her natural tan. Her long skirt was draped with white lace and ruffles and brushed the edges of her beige boots. Her thick, dark hair was pinned up in a wide bun decorated with small flowers. She held her head erect, her crystal green eyes resolute, and her mind in a world of its own. She clutched a crimson satchel against her chest.

Jeffrey jumped away from the wall. "There she is! What do we do? Grab her?"

"No! That's not how we handle things. Follow my lead, err…look bewildered and point a lot."

"Okay! You're the boss. Um, when are we gonna get there, uncle Bogg? I'm tired! I'm getting bored." He whined loudly and Phineas wondered if he should just drop the kid off in Hollywood.

Phineas straightened his overcoat and smoothed back his hair. They casually strolled toward Francesca. He put on an air of confusion and his arm knocked her shoulder. In that second he felt as if all her tensions passed through him as she tripped forward with a shriek. The dismay on her face was heartrending. Jeffrey had to look away and squeeze his eyes shut, thinking that any second the satchel would hit the ground and they'd all blow to pieces.

Phineas caught the bag and steadied her. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry, Miss. Forgive my clumsiness. That would have been a terrible spill. My nephew and I are a little lost."

The woman controlled herself and wrung her gloved hands. "Oh, oh, it is alright, I'm not hurt. Please, may I have my bag?" She asked in Italian-accented English.

Phineas kept it at a distance from her and pretended to admire it. He brushed it past his ear and his heart skipped when he heard ominous ticking within. He couldn't hide his panicked expression from Jeffrey.

"Wow, this…this is…is quite a purse. You can fit many things in here I imagine. It sure is sturdy." He went to shake it and she immediately clutched his hand.

"No! Please give it to me, I have personal items in there that I don't want to get lost or broken. Some are Glass! You understand, don't you?"

She was on the verge of tears so he calmly handed the bag over. "Absolutely, here you are."

Jeffrey wanted to get in on the conversation. "Hey lady, we're looking for the underground Subway entrance, with all the people trolling around here, we can't find it, right, Uncle B?"

"Jeffrey, mind your manners. You don't address a woman that way." Phineas smiled brightly at her and despite her trembling, she felt comforted and smiled back.

"I've grown up with much worse." She said. "Boys are boys."

"Still, kids these days, I tell you. My name is Phineas Bogg, and you are?"

The woman kept looking over his shoulder at the City Hall building. "Francesca Cardinelli. Please, I must get past."

"Oh, surely." He looked at Jeffrey wide-eyed, then back at her. "Are you going to the IRT opening? Why don't we all go together? Then afterward, it'd be my pleasure to treat you for lunch with us." He grinned again.

Francesca's face softened and she curtsied. "I appreciate that, but, no thank-you. I have something vital I must do."

"Anything we can help you with, Miss Cardinelli?" Jeffrey offered. "I'll carry your…" He felt a slight kick to his ankle. Phineas wouldn't look at him.

"Can you excuse us for a minute, Miss Cardinelli?" Jeffrey pulled Phineas into a doorway. "Bogg, what are we gonna do? I saw that look on your face, there's a bomb inside, right?"

"Yes, and it's timed. The sweet approach isn't working. I have a plan B, more drastic, but it's the only way to get her from entering the subway. When you see what I do, I want you to copy me and just follow along." He patted Jeffrey's back.

"Got it!"

Francesca didn't wait and was on the move. Phineas slowed his pace beside her and gripped her left arm. Jeffrey did the same with her right. She looked at them nervous.

"What are you doing? Let me go, or else I'll…"

"You'll what? Scream? I highly doubt that, considering what you're carrying in the satchel. I work for an undercover branch of the police department and I've been monitoring the activities of your little anarchist group very carefully. Now you're gonna come with us and tell me all that you know…after you defuse this thing."

Francesca shook violently and tears sprung down her cheeks. "I cannot! I don't know how!"

Phineas rattled her. "I don't believe you!"

"You must! I didn't build this, I'm just supposed to deliver it. It is timed to go off."

"Deliver it? Like a piece of mail? Do you realize what you're about to do? Hundreds of people are going to die, women and children! All because you lost your father, one man who willingly took the job as a subway construction worker and knew the risks when he signed on. All for your own selfish grief!"

Even Jeffrey was frightened by the intensity of Phineas' anger. He tugged his arm.

"Bogg! We only have twelve minutes to 2:30!"

Phineas glared hotly at Francesca. "Well?"

"It's set for 2:45. The Mayor and his dignitaries will be leaving the City Hall building at 2:30, before that he'll just be making a short speech and then start the engine, I suppose." She said quickly.

"You can't be working alone on this. Where are your partners in crime?"

"They are all over, probably by the building. I'm supposed to meet one now and he's to tell me exactly where to plant it."

Jeffrey looked at her in shock. "Don't you understand that you're going to die too? You won't have time to get out of the way when it explodes. Is that what you want?"

"No…No! I don't know what I want! Please don't interfere. Go far away, I don't want you to get hurt." She stroked Jeffrey's curls. "Send him away! You can do what you like with me, but send him away!"

"Why, because I told you his name? Because you have to look into his eyes right now and know that you're about to kill him? It's so easy to harm strangers isn't it? What if I told you that a man named Dominic is coming to find you! That he knows what you're up to and wants to help."

Francesca put a hand to her mouth. "No! Not Dominic! That fool! Why couldn't he just leave me alone? I'm doing this for him too!"

"He's here because he loves you, and for that…" Phineas had to play the sympathy card with her, she was breaking slowly but surely. "For that, he is going to die, they're all going to die."

Phineas yanked her down the street; the area was growing more crowded. "We are going to find this man, and he'll disable it! Point him out to me!"

"Mr. Bogg! He will run if he sees you! There's a tree, twenty feet from the right of the stairs. He'll be there. I must meet him by myself!"

"Fine, but I'll be right behind you."

They rushed ahead and Phineas halted Jeffrey. "Not you. I don't want you anywhere near this building or train. Go back in the direction we came and keep going. Find the first restaurant or something and wait. I'll find you."

Jeffrey vehemently shook his head. "No, Bogg! I'm not leaving you. We're in this mess together!"

"Absolutely not. I'm the senior partner and what I tell you to do, you do! Understand me? Now go, before I lose them in the crowd!"

Jeffrey put up a bold face, but inside he felt the enormous urge to cry and beg him to stay. He hugged Phineas tight.

"Bogg! Be careful! Please, I can't lose you!" He whimpered.

Phineas stroked his head, his temper fading. "Jeffrey, I want you to do this because I love you. I vowed to never leave you, but after my trial I also vowed that I'd never put you in harm's way again. Please go. You have the omni and you know how to use it."

Jeffrey reluctantly loosened his grip and stumbled backwards. "I don't care! I want to be with you!"

"Get out of here now!" Phineas urged him on, swallowing tears.

Jeffrey ran. When he reached the corner, he looked back and saw Phineas making a beeline for the tree.

"I'm sorry. I didn't say it! I love you too, Bogg!" He shouted, though his partner didn't hear him.

With the happy spirit of the crowds and music blasting in his ears, Jeffrey carried on running until he was far from City Hall and in a residential area. The streets were practically empty, with everyone having gone their way to the gala. He collapsed in a chair at an outdoor eatery. Just as he was about to burst into tears he noticed a tall, agitated man scamper across the street. It was Dominic Montanari.

Aww, no! If something goes wrong, he'll be killed and the light will still be red. I gotta stop him! Jeffrey thought feverishly. Maybe I can tell him what's going on with Francesca and he can change history! Maybe…

Jeffrey chased Dominic, ignoring the warning bells of his conscience that told him he'd disobeyed Phineas and could get himself killed. He couldn't let that stop him. As long as he had the omni, he could grab Phineas and get them out regardless of what happened. He was a Voyager too, and he had to do anything possible to help avert this disaster.