Clarion, PA 1836

They landed in a wooded area that appeared to be miles from anywhere. It was late afternoon. The ground was wet, it was chilly, and dark clouds were gathering overhead. Jeffrey winced as he moved a fist-sized rock out from under his left shoulder. "Bogg?" he called. "What happened?" He looked around. "Bogg?" About fifteen yards away, he saw Bogg leaning over Rebecca. Jeff jumped to his feet and sprinted over to them. "Is she breathing?"

"No." Bogg's voice sounded strained. "I'm not sure if it's the smoke or if the landing knocked the wind out of her."

Jeff skidded to stop next to them, then knelt down and started mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Performing it on Clara Barton had been an exciting part of his job as a Voyager; with Rebecca it felt more urgent. Finally, she coughed and shifted beneath him. He sighed with relief as he realized she was still alive.

"What happened?" she asked feebly. Smoke leaked from her mouth as she coughed and tried to sit up. Jeff and Bogg looked at each other over her head. "There was a fire," Jeff answered. "Bogg got us out."

"Don't talk right now," Bogg said to her. "Just rest. You got the worst of it." She nodded and leaned against Jeff. Jeff could feel her shaking.

"Bogg," he said to his partner, "we've got to find some shelter. It looks like it's going to storm." He eyed the clouds overhead. "Again. My knees are soaked. Can't we just omni back out?" Jeff watched as Bogg pulled out the omni and opened it. He was frowning slightly. "It's a red light, isn't it?" Jeff asked. When Bogg nodded, he said. "Great. So where are we?"

"Clarion, Pennsylvania," Bogg answered quietly. "November 18, 1836. Ring any bells?" Jeff shook his head. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Rebecca staring at them.

"Jeff, wh-where are we?" Rebecca's voice was shaking and her teeth were starting to chatter. "1836? What's g-going on?" Her shivering grew stronger.

"Bogg," Jeff felt worried, and he knew it came out in his voice. He put an arm around Rebecca's shoulder. The skin on her arm was cold. "We've got to get her warm. With this storm coming, we need shelter."

Bogg nodded. "I'll see what I can find." He looked down at the shivering girl, then back at Jeff. "Keep her talking," he said quietly. "If she starts going into shock, you'll need to elevate her legs and keep her as warm as you can." Jeff watched as Bogg removed his vest and wrapped it around Rebecca's torso. Then Bogg put his hand under her chin and lifted her face so she could see his eyes. "Rebecca, I'm going to find us some shelter. Jeff's going to stay with you while I'm gone. I need you to stay awake and talk to him. Can you do that?" She nodded, but her eyes had a faraway look to them. "I'll be back as fast as I can."

Jeff had never felt time move more slowly. Talking to Rebecca while she nursed Bogg had been easy. Now that he needed to keep her talking and alert, his mind went blank. He could feel Rebecca's shaking grow more pronounced and her skin grow colder. He took his arm from around her shoulders and pulled her onto his lap, cradling her in his arms. As her responses to his questions became fainter and her eyes started losing focus, his fear of failing her increased.

Bogg returned just as the sun was setting and the wind was picking up. "I found a cabin," he said. "It's about a mile away. I didn't get close enough to see if it was occupied." Relief washed over Jeff like a blanket. He had been terrified of what might happen when darkness fell and the temperature dropped even more. Bogg knelt down and held out his arms for Rebecca. Jeff helped Bogg pick her up, then he stood up and stretched. He watched as Bogg gently shifted Rebecca so her knees were above her heart and then looked in her eyes. "Rebecca, what was your grandmother's name?" he asked her.

"What?" Her response was barely audible.

"Your grandmother," Bogg repeated firmly. "What was her name?"

"Esther," she whispered. "Esther Louise."

"Good," said Bogg, encouraging her. "What about your grandfather? What was his name? Did you know him?"

"Henry Elijah." Her voice was still soft but sounded more alert. "He died when I was little. I don't remember him much. Just Gran."

Jeff listened, fascinated, as Bogg asked Rebecca question after question about her grandmother, her life in Lawrence, and her religion. All of his questions required more than a 'yes' or 'no' answer but none needed long explanations. Jeff knew Bogg was keeping Rebecca focused and awake and was again amazed at his partner's field skills. As they approached the log cabin Bogg had found, he suddenly felt exhausted and remembered with a start that both he and Bogg had been sick until very recently. He could tell Bogg was tiring as well, but, Jeff noticed, his steps didn't falter and his arms continued holding Rebecca tightly.

As they got closer to the cabin, Jeff heard Bogg's sharp intake of breath. "Candles," he said. "There's someone there." Two candles burned in the small window at the front of the house.

"Jews," Rebecca whispered. "Sabbath candles in the window. Not on a table inside. So people can see." She let out a breath, her eyes closed, and her head fell back on Bogg's shoulder.

Jeff ran to the door, knocking until someone answered. An older woman opened the door and looked out in surprise. "Ma'am, I'm sorry to bother you on the Sabbath, but please, my... cousin's not well. She needs shelter."

The woman's eyes widened. "You are Jews?" Her voice was soft, and she spoke with a German accent.

"My cousin is," Jeff replied. "Please, ma'am. There was a fire. We need to get her warm." The older woman responded to the urgency in his voice, her eyes softening as they fell on Bogg carrying Rebecca towards the doorway. "Of course," she said. "Bring her close to the fire." The cabin had one main room and a bedroom at the back, much like Rebecca's apartment, Jeff noticed. The woman placed her hand on Rebecca's forehead, her face showing shock at how cold the girl's skin was, then turned to Jeffrey. "Go to the chest in the bedroom and get as many blankets as you can carry. I will make her a bed by the hearth. It will warm her up more quickly."

Jeff was concerned that Rebecca didn't wake up while she was being wrapped up in blankets but assumed exhaustion had caught up with her. Once Rebecca had been seen to, Frau Heller introduced herself and got bowls of stew from a pot over the fire for Jeff and Bogg. As they ate, Bogg told her they were travelers, Jeff being his son and Rebecca his niece.

Frau Heller explained her surprise in finding them at her door. It had stemmed from them not being her son whom she had expected home earlier that day. "He went to Cleveland to trade for goods," she said. "He has been gone for a week. I was hoping he would be home for Shabbos." She refilled their bowls and looked at both of them. "For your sakes, I am glad I did not go with him this time and could be here for you. A fire," she tutted. "How terrible for you, but you are safe now, Baruch Ha-Shem. In the morning, when the storm has passed, you can go see if anything can be saved from your wagon." Jeff exchanged a look with Bogg, and they both nodded.

As they ate, Frau Heller watched them trying not to fall asleep at the table. "You will take the beds and sleep," she told them. "I can see you both have been ill not that long ago." She laughed at the shock on their faces, then shrugged her shoulders. "I am a mother," she said. "I see things such as that. You go. I will watch your niece."

They thanked her and stumbled into the bedroom. As they got settled, Jeffrey could hear the wind rising and heavy rain starting to fall. He lay down on the bed closest to the door, heard Bogg tell him "Good night," and fell asleep as soon as his head reached the pillow.