A few weeks later
I was in Boston once more, hoping to make some money out of my hard work. I had spent a month hunting in the deep forest and now it was time for my reward. I still thought about the Native man, from time to time. I thought about his words, of how he knew I was from another time. How could he? But the memory of him was slowly fading and I had more important things to focus on. I made even more money I was hoping to and that made me happy. I gave the trader a smile and walked away, with my bags full of coins.
As I walked, I noticed the winter's deep cold had faded a little and it was slightly more pleasant to be outside. But my calm walk was interrupted by a man who stood in front of me and started whispering if my name was Hannah. He was dressed as any other, not as a soldier or something alike.
-Why do you ask? – I replied, trying to keep my distance.
-Samuel Adams sent me a message for you.
I rolled my eyes. The man needed my help again. What sort of conspiracy was he planning this time?
-What does he want? – I asked.
-He wishes for you to meet him in «the usual place». – The man informed.
-Thank you. Did he say anything else?
-No, that was message.
I gave the man one or two coins so he wouldn't think I was ungrateful or at least think twice if he was thinking about giving this information to anyone else. I headed for the place right away.
…
-…you should be able to discover Franklin's movements… - I heard Samuel say as I walked in the safe house.
The redcoats guarding the door recognized me and let me in. I entered the room and saw Sam and other two men around a wooden table, surrounded my redcoats. Sam and the others, who appeared to be Native, seemed to be looking at a map and planning some sort of strategy.
-What sort of amazing plan to lead the rebels do you have in mind this time, Sam? – I asked.
Of course all the men in the room turned their heads to me and I smiled to Adams, who replied. He headed for me with his arms open.
-Ah! Hannah! – He shouted as we hugged – Here you are! Listen, these are Kanen'tó:kon and Ratonhnhaké:ton.
He led me to the Natives and I smiled, saying I was happy to meet them. The first things I noticed were that the first had braids and the second had a wolf cape. Only after a few seconds I realized I had heard the second name before. I took a look at the man.
-Hannah… - He murmured, taking a look at me as well.
-Hey, wolf man! You're alive! – I shouted. – I didn't recognize you with the… Wolf thing. – I realized the irony after saying it.
He headed in my direction and hugged me as if we hadn't seen each other in months. Déjà vu…
-Oh… - Sam was as surprised as me – I see you have met Ratonhnhaké:ton…
-Yes… - I said as I pushed him away and gave him a mad look – I have… - I then approached Sam – So why do you need me?
-I was hoping you could help us locate Benjamin Franklin. We fear he will ambush our escape of Boston. However, Ratonhnhaké:ton has offered to do such a work. He is quite the hunter…
-Is he now? – I joked.
-Perhaps you could aid him in this mission. I suppose it will be easy since you know each other. – Sam continued.
-If he is 'quite the hunter' than perhaps he does not require my aiding… - I said, looking at Wolf Man.
-I could use your assistance. – Wolf Man said to my surprise.
-Alright then. You lead the way. – I agreed.
-Hannah has great fighting skills, she will provide good help. – Sam told Wolf Man.
-She does? – Wolf Man seemed confused.
…
-Alright then, I am guessing Sam told you where to search. – I said once I and the Native were outside.
-He did…
-We should get going there.
-It would be faster if I flew there.
I seriously had to try my best not to laugh. Now I remembered why I had thought him insane.
-Wow, first wolves help you, if I recall, then you are able to fly… You must be quite the catch. – I joked as we walked.
-This is no lie. I have the eagle power and the wolf power.
-And I have the "sanity" power. You should try it.
He sighted and rolled his eyes.
-You left me in the forest. – He said after a minute of silence.
-You fainted in the moment bluecoats were coming, I had no choice. And you have some explaining to do! What was that about me being from another time?
-Are you not from the twenty-first century?
I stopped walking. That was my secret. No one there knew!
-I am, but how on Earth could you know that?! – I asked.
-Because this is all wrong!
-What is?
-Everything! This is not our world! We are happy in our lives and then I touched the apple and suddenly my mother is alive and…
-Wait… What?!
-It is a long story.
-What are you talking about?
-You would not believe me.
-If you say you have the goat power, I will punch you in the face.
-Listen, this world is not the real one. It is hard to explain, but this is not reality. This is a sort of dream, I suppose.
I just stared at him, having no idea how to respond. He continued:
-I touched the apple Washington showed me and it was as if all my background had changed, as if my old life, my family… Never existed. And my mother never died…
I adopted a serious and suspicious expression. He spoke of Washington and the Apple. No one called it the Apple except for Washington himself.
-How do you know the Mad King? – I asked.
-Apparently I do not… He does not recognize me… No one recognizes me! But I did… Before the change.
I sighted and put a head on my forehead, not only because I was running out of patience of that man, but because I was trying to hide my laughter. I decided to go with it, just for the fun.
-So your family does not recognize you?
-What? – He asked.
-You said your family never existed. Do they walk around without knowing who you are or are they dead? – I asked, walking once more. – Who did you have as a family before… the change?
-I had… My wife and my son. And another child yet to be born. – He said, looking in my eyes in a deeply sad way.
-Awn… - I murmured. – Where are they?
He looked away for a few seconds, as if he did not have the courage to tell me, and then looked at me with the same sad puppy eyes.
-My wife does not recognize me… And Edward, my son, never existed.
The way he looked at the ground after saying that just made me want to hug him, and almost cry. He was so sad, so lost… But it could not be true! His words could not be real! Unless…
-Maybe you had the same experience as me! – I shouted. – Perhaps you also woke up in a different time! Before you met your wife, I suppose.
-No, I am in the same year as when I left. The world is just changed…
-So what was I to you?
-What do you mean?
-You say you know me. What was I to you in your… world? – I asked, almost laughing at my own words.
He looked at my eyes and my lips alternately for long seconds before he answered.
-You were a… friend. A close one.
I nodded and looked at the buildings around us, locating us and trying to realize where we were supposed to go. Wolf Man approached some tavern.
-Come. I will gather information on Franklin's locations. – He said.
He opened the door and held it for me, like a true gentleman. It had been a while since I met one. He did not have to do that. It was not like I was his wife, right? But I entered and kept my thoughts to myself. He came in behind me and nodded to me. I nodded back and went to the counter as he headed for some man who was playing a board game.
I sat by the counter and looked back, not being able to see Wolf Man very clearly from where I was standing. The man behind the counter approached me.
-Hey! Can I get you anything? – He almost yelled.
I turned around and looked at him with the surprise. He smiled.
-Oh, I'm sorry… If only I knew you were a lady… - He said and leaned forward, with his elbows in the wooden counter. – What can I get you, darling?
I smirked at him. After quite a while spent with men, I learned it was always better not to piss them off.
-Surprise me. – I said.
The man laughed and turned around, fixing some fancy drink. I looked back and Wolf Man was still in the same place, away from my sight. After a minute or so, the man attending me gave me the drink.
-There. This one is on the house. – He smirked.
-Oh wow… - I said and lifted the drink with a wink before I took a big sip.
The man walked away with a laugh, attending some other men. I tried my best to listen to the conversations around me, yet none of them was about Franklin or any aiding subject. After a couple of minutes, some man, dressed as a pirate, comes sit by my side. Here we go…
-Hey there, lass. Can I buy you a drink? – He asked.
-I'm good. – I simply said.
-Aye then. But I just spent seven months at sea and did not expect to find such a beauty on the first day on land…
I forged a fake smile and looked away.
-How kind of you… I am still not taking that drink. – I said and took another sip of the one I was already drinking.
-Oh, come on…
I saw Wolf Man looking for me by the door. I smiled at the pirate and started leaving. As I was about to get up, some soldier, obviously drunk, takes a look at Wolf Man and gets up, with a drink in his hands.
-Hey! You there! You savage! Don't you know animals are not allowed? – He yelled.
Two or three men laughed, sitting on their tables and shaking their mugs of beer in the air. If the soldier wasn't drunk he had probably attacked the Native, so I suppose it was a good thing he was. Wolf Man did not move though, just sighted, as if he was used to it. Well I was not. I got up with my already half-empty drink in one hand and headed for the soldier. I stood right in front of him and smiled. He looked at me from top to bottom, with an expression that revealed he was enjoying the view and that was when I slowly put my mug over his head and let the drink fall down his head and shoulders.
Everybody in the tavern, except for Wolf Man, yelled «Oh's» and «No way's», but the soldier just cleaned his eyes and looked at me. I continued to smile.
-You are the one that looks like a pig, not him. – I calmly said, still smiling.
Wolf Man had the most shocked expression on his face and the soldier was just oblivious.