Chapter 2: Saturday
In the time tunnel the scientists were trying to find out where and when Doug and Tony had landed
In the time tunnel the scientists were trying to find out where and when Doug and Tony had landed. Everyone was busy and the mood wasn't too good.
"No, not again!" Ray said angrily.
All looked in his direction.
Ray pointed at the screen which had gone blank. Again. "I don't know what's wrong with the damn thing, but the power's dropped again. There's no way we're going to get an accurate fix this way."
The general turned his attention to Ann. "what is causing these power drops?"
Ann shrugged. "Unknown, general. There is no apparent reason."
"That is not good enough. I want to know where and when Tony and Doug are so we can bring them back and I want it soon."
Ray shook his head. "that won't happen." he muttered and louder he said. "I see only one solution. We must shut down and restart."
"No. we can't! We might loose Doug and Tony for ever if we shut the time tunnel down."
But Ann, we can't do anything now either and we've tried everything else." Ray tried to reason with her.
Ann shook her head. "No. it is too dangerous."
General Kirk looked thoughtfully at Ray. "Perhaps we don't have to shut down everything. The problems seem to occur in these consoles. What if we restart these?"
Ray nodded. "That might work."
Reluctantly Ann agreed. She didn't like it, but she couldn't think of anything else either.
She looked at Ray. "All right. Let's get to work."
Mieke had made improvised, but very comfortable beds in the attic.
"I will sleep like a baby tonight." Tony said.
Doug smiled, but didn't answer.
They where silent for a while.
1953. Close, but not good enough. Tony suddenly said. He sighed before adding "well, at least, we didn't land in the middle of a war or something."
"Yeah,it is a welcome change." Doug grinned. "I do hope how ever, that the General brings us home this time."
Tony nodded. "Sure, but in the meantime we will relax a bit. I don't know about you, but I am in desperate need of a relaxed holiday."
"I agree." Doug smiled. "Good night Tony."
"Good night Doug."
The entire night everyone had worked hard to check everything before they could bring the power back on. Nobody wanted an other failure.
Finally the general gave the order to switch on the power and restart the shut down consoles.
Please let it work. Ann thought. She took in a deep breath of air to compose herself.
Power came back on. Lights started flashing. They knew it would take a little while for the consoles to restart and every one watched impatiently.
"Everything seems to be working properly. I'm getting a fix. Doug and Tony are in Europe, some time in this century." Ann stated excitedly.
Ray added "they are in the Netherlands on the Island named Tholen. The date is….oh no."
"What is it?" General Kirk asked alarmed.
"The date is January 31st 1953."
Ann looked puzzled. "What's so bad about that? After all, it is only a ten year gap. If anything it makes it easier for us to bring them home safely."
"not unless we manage to do so with in the next 12 hours."
"Why?"
"The night of January 31st and February 1st 1953 a north sea storm flooded large parts of west Netherlands. I don't know about the island Tony and Doug are on, but since they are in the south west, I fear…" Ray didn't finish his sentence.
"Ann we need all the information on this storm and the areas flooded."
"Yes sir."
"Ray, I don't care how you do it, but I want enough power to get those two out of there before the storm begins."
It was young Gert who came to wake the time travellers up. He brought a jug filled with fresh water, a wash hand basin and towels.
After they freshened up, Doug and Tony joined the family for breakfast.
"What are your plans for today?" Jelle asked.
It was Gert who answered. "Daddy says I can feed the chicken. I can show you how to do it and we must also collect the eggs. You can watch and I will teach you. It will be fun! Please?" Gert looked expectantly from Doug to Tony.
Tony laughed. "Sure, I'd love to help you."
"All right!" Gert cheered.
"Come! The chicken shed is over there." Gert pointed. He was very exited that the visitors would come and help him today. Tony and Doug shared an amused look. The liked the boy's enthusiasm. Gert put on his dungaree and wooden shoes before stepping outside.
Doug looked around. Even though it was somewhat clouded, it was nice outside. Clearly he could see a church tower rise above the village in the polder. Doug pointed towards it. Tony laughed. "Playing tourist, are you?" he teased.
Jelle joined them. "That's the tower of the village's 14th century Dutch reformed church." he said. "You should take a look in the village. The historical town hall is worth a visit too."
"Look." Gert said after he had let the chickens out of their night shed into the coop. "you must give this poultry food like this." He made noises and scattered the food. "You try it." Tony smiled and copied what Gert had shown him. Get laughed. "let me show you again."
After he fed the chickens, Gert refreshed the water.
"Now we must collect the eggs." Gert gave Tony a basket.
"You must be careful not to break the eggs and put them in the basket."
Tony smiled and helped Gert collect the eggs. He smiled even wider when Gert made him a compliment.
"That boy will be an excellent farmer." Doug observed.
Jelle laughed. "I am afraid that the sea got his attention more than the animals on the farm. Gert likes helping me, but he loves getting on the yawl and sail away. Maybe he'll grow up being a mussel fisher."
"Look daddy, we've collected all the eggs." Gert said when he and Tony joined them.
"Well done, Gert." Jelle smiled at his son.
"And I have showed Tony the proper way to feed the chickens." Gert added proudly. Jelle and Doug laughed when Tony seriously nodded.
Jelle was bringing the horses to the meadow, with Gert's help and Tony and Doug walked along the dike towards the little harbour.
A soft breeze blew in from the sea moving the branches of the many elm-trees that grew here. Tony stood still and watched over the water. The sky seemed to touch the water at the horizon, merging their colours to one endless stretch of grey and blue.
They descended and followed a rural road with poplar trees on either side towards the village.
"There are many farms and meadows here." Tony observed. Doug nodded. "Jelle tolled me that farming; North Sea fishing and mussel fishing are the main activities here."
Doug and Tony walked to the wooden mill they had seen from far. It was built on the rampart. The vanes turning in the wind. The miller greeted them. He explained that this was a rampart corn mill. He offered to give them a small tour of the mill which Tony and Doug accepted.
After that, they followed their way into the village. They walked along the small alleyways admiring the houses. Some of them seemed to be build long ago.
The church they had seen from Jelle's farm was simply huge. The white bell tower seemed to scrape the sky, clouds where bumping into the tower, so hiding the top for a few seconds at the time.
When Doug and Tony walked towards the harbour, the wind started to pick up.
"I do hope this is not going to be a real storm." Tony said
"These people lived by the sea a long time. It will be all right." Doug answered.
Tony looked around. The people they met underway did not seem to worry. Well he wasn't used to the sea; he was probably worrying over nothing.
It got colder and grey so they decided to go back to the farm. The wind kept blowing and made walking over the dike less fun than it had been earlier.
Jelle and Mieke saw them come back. They laughed. "it is just a little wind, gentlemen. Not even a real storm." Jelle teased.
Ann's face was grim when she read the information she had gathered. She turned her attention to general Kirk.
"Sir, we must get Doug and Tony out of there. The Island they're on is going to be one of the heaviest flooded parts."
"Ray?"
a negative headshake. "I'm sorry sir, there just isn't enough power to try a transfer. All we can do now is watch and wait until we have enough energy and pray that it won't take too long."