The Time Traveler's Almanac

As they fell into each others’ arms, Julia caught a glimpse that was gone in an instant. Her son, as in the photo she had studied so often, approached Stoneham Cabin. This time, she saw his grief turn to surprise and a look of stunned betrayal. Timothy didn’t notice. The two hugged and sobbed in private sorrow before they turned toward Joyous Garde and the round of public mourning.

As they did, he said, “You go up there from now on. I never want to go back.”

FINALE

Julia approached the grove and Cabin on that first morning of Fall. She was aware that it lay within her power to destroy this place. Julia had left a sealed letter to be shown to Timothy if she failed to return. Though she knew that was most unlikely to happen.

A young woman, casual in slacks and a blouse, stood on the porch. In one hand she held the silver mask. “I’m Linda Martin,” she said. “Here by the will of the gods.”

Julia recognized Linda as contemporary and smart. “An escaped slave?” she asked.

“In a modern sense, perhaps.” The other woman shrugged and smiled. “A slave of circumstances.”

“I’ve had what seem to be visions.” Julia said as she stepped onto the porch. “About my son and about this property.”

“Those are my daughter’s doing, I’m afraid. Sally is nine,” Linda was apologetic yet proud. “I’ve asked her not to. They aren’t prophecy. More like possibility.”

“They felt like a promise. And a threat.”

“Please forgive her. She has a major crush on your son. Knows everything he has done. Or might ever do. He was very disappointed last month when he was in pain and wanted to talk to the corporal. And found us.”

“Please forgive Tim. One’s first Rex makes a lasting impression.” Julia was surprised at how much she sounded like her grandmother.

The living room of Stoneham Cabin still smelled of pine. The scent reminded Julia of Alcier and her first visit. As before, a door opened where no door had been. She and Linda passed through an invisible veil and the light from the twelve portals mingled and blended in the Still Room.

“Sally, this is Julia Garde Macauley. Timothy’s mother.” The child who sat beyond the flame was beautiful. She wore a blue tunic adorned with a silver boy riding a dolphin. She bowed slightly. “Hello Mrs. Macauley. Please explain to Timothy that the corporal knew what happened was Fate and not me.”

Julia remembered Smalley saying, “It’s a child will be my undoing.” She smiled and nodded. Linda held out the mask which found its way to Sally’s face.

“This is something I dreamed about your son.”

What Julia saw was outdoors and in winter. It was men mostly. White mostly. Solemn. Formally dressed. A funeral? No. A man in judicial robes held a book. He was older, but Julia recognized an ally of her husband’s, a young congressman from Oregon. This was the future.

“A future,” said the voice from behind the mask. Julia froze. The child was uncanny. Another man, seen from behind, had his hand raised as he took the oath of office. An inauguration. Even with his back turned, she knew her son.

“And I’ve seen this. Like a nightmare.” Flames rose. The Cabin and the grove burned.

“I don’t want that. This is our home.” She was a child and afraid.

Later, Linda and Julia sat across a table on the rear porch and sipped wine. The foliage below made Mirror Lake appear to be ringed with fire.

“It seems that the gods stood aside and let my husband die. Now they want Tim.”

“Even the gods can’t escape Destiny,” Linda said. “They struggle to change it by degrees.”

She looked deep into her glass. “I have Sally half the year. At the cusps of the four seasons. The rest of the time she is with the Great Mother. Once her abilities were understood, that was as good an arrangement as I could manage. Each time she’s changed a little more.”

Another mother who must share her child, Julia thought. We have much to talk about. How well the Immortals know how to bind us to their plans. She would always resent that. But she was too deeply involved not to comply. Foreknowledge was an addiction.

A voice sang, clear as mountain air. At first Julia thought the words were in English and that the song came from indoors.

Then she realized the language was ancient Greek and that she heard it inside her head. The song was about Persephone, carried off to the Underworld, about Ganymede abducted by Zeus. The voice had an impossible purity. Hypnotic, heartbreaking, it sang about Time flowing like a stream and children taken by the gods.

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

Nalo Hopkinson