Chapter 17 - The Time Machine's World
The light flashed and sparks flew before all of a sudden, a strange machine appeared in the place of the disappearing light! At that moment, Becca and her friends ran to a nearby bush and hid behind it. The friends saw a young man step out of the machine. He had fair skin, golden brown hair, and hazel eyes; he also wore a white shirt, a dark green vest with a matching tie, a brown jacket and slacks, and black shoes. "Where am I?" the man asked himself as he looked around. Everywhere he looked, there were trees that looked as if they were made from stone or metal instead of wood; the sky above was also a pale purple color with streams of white clouds.
Meanwhile, Becca and the animals tried to stay absolutely quiet. "It must be another mad scientist," whispered Horror nervously, "Oh, I hope he doesn't have any more experiments or monsters! Sanctuary, sanctuary!"
Sci Fi softly shushed him and whispered, "This guy's a scientist, alright. But I don't think it's what he's brought with him that we have to worry about – it's what's in this time period that I'm concerned about!"
"What do you mean?" Becca asked.
"No time to explain!" whispered Sci Fi, "They're coming!" She motioned for everyone to stay low and keep silent. Becca had many questions to ask Sci Fi, but she knew better to keep her mouth shut.
In the meantime, the Time Traveler heard strange and scary noises, so he decided to hide behind a marble statue and study the sound source in secrecy as it came near! Out of nowhere came little people with pale skin, white hair, and blue eyes. They also wore cream-colored tunics and gold sandals as they walked along, looking for any nearby danger. Then they spoke in a strange language, unlike any Becca had ever heard; the little people then moved on their way, but one of them stayed behind. That one looked like a young woman, and she wandered down the hill and disappeared; the Time Traveler decided to follow her while Becca and the animals kept watching silently.
When the coast was clear, Becca asked Sci Fi, "Who are those people? Do you know?"
"Those are the Eloi people from the year 802,701, A.D," answered the marten, "They are gentle descendants of humans who live in fancy, futuristic structures, and they only eat fruit."
"So they're kind of like monkeys or chimps?" Becca wondered.
"Almost. They usually avoid conflict, and they don't eat insects."
Becca giggled at the last part, but then she heard a squeal from the hill! "Someone's in trouble!" she said, "I should go check it out!"
So the girl got on her feet and ran out from the behind the bush. However, Sci Fi tried to stop her by saying, "Wait! Becca, I forgot to warn you…" But Becca had already disappeared to the nearby hill.
"What were you going to warn her about?" asked Mystery.
"The morlocks," answered Sci Fi, "They're kind of like ancient troglodytes – the polar opposite of the Eloi. They are vicious and aggressive like wolves or lions!"
"I think we should help her!" suggested Horror worriedly, "Oh, sanctuary! Sanctuary!"
"Great idea!" said Sci Fi, "I'm going after her!"
"NO!" cried Mystery, grabbing Sci Fi by the tail.
"Why not?" the marten asked with a frown.
"Because I don't want you to become venison stew with those creatures – if they're out there," replied the fisher, "I care about you very much."
Sci Fi could see a look of love in his eyes, but she ignored them and ran off to find Becca. "Be careful, Sci Fi!" called Fantasy. Little did anyone know that certain scary creatures were hiding not too far away…
Meanwhile, on the other side of the hill, Becca saw what was happening. The Eloi woman had fallen into a raging river, and the Time Traveler was swimming to her aid. I guess she doesn't need my help, after all, thought Becca. Her thoughts were interrupted when the Time Traveler cried, "Excuse me, Miss! I need help here!"
Becca looked around, thinking of what to do, and then she took off her glasses, put them in her skirt pocket, and dove into the river! She grabbed the Time Traveler's arm with her right hand, and then helped him and the Eloi girl to shore. Sci Fi arrived just in time to see what was going on. "Becca, did you save their lives?" she asked with astonishment.
The girl was about to speak up when the Time Traveler said, "Of course she did! I thought this poor creature and I were to be swept away, when I saw this other time traveler looking around, and I called for her aid. And sure enough, she saved us!"
Poor Becca was dumbfounded. She was at the wrong place, but at the right time. "Um, I'm not really a time traveler," she explained, "It's a pretty long story, but I got transported to Libralia, and I'm trying to help save this kingdom from a curse until a lost princess comes."
The Time Traveler looked at Becca like he didn't believe her, but then his expression softened. "So you must have been transported here as well, haven't you?" he asked.
"In a way, kind of," replied the girl. Then she looked at the Eloi girl and asked, "Is she going to be okay?"
"Of course," replied Sci Fi, "Look. She's breathing." It wasn't long before the Eloi girl opened her eyes and looked at the strange visitors in her land.
"Weeee-naaaahh," the Eloi woman said, groggily.
"I wonder if that's her name," said the Time Traveler, "Weena. That's an interesting name." Then he looked at "Weena" and made movements with his hands to communicate with her.
"What are they saying?" Becca asked Sci Fi.
The marten studied the man and woman and replied, "I think he's trying to ask her what happened, and why she ran away to the river." She paused with a suspicious look on her face, and then said, "I think I know why. Morlocks!"
When Weena heard that word, she shuddered. "What are morlocks?" Becca asked. Suddenly, there came a menacing growl, followed by several more growls. Everyone turned around and saw large, green ape-like creatures with white fur and sharp teeth!
"Those are morlocks!" said Sci Fi.
