Time Salvager (Time Salvager #1)(88)

“And what would you need me for in your future?” she asked. “My mind obviously.”

James nodded. “Among other things.”

Grace smirked. “My beauty? My sharp tongue? My leadership? Out with it, boy.”

“Humanity needs your brilliance and wisdom to save it once again.”

She harrumphed. “Wisdom is something I never had plentiful amounts of. And what would I do in your time?” There was a brief hesitation in his movements, and then she knew he was hers.

“There is an environmental catastrophe in our time,” he said.

She nodded. “Of course there is. There’s one in mine too. What’s your point?”

“We have a scientist who believes she can cure the plague. She needs your help.”

It was Grace’s turn to hesitate. This plague, known as the Terravira back at home, covered half the planet, and was said to be irreversible. Now, someone in the future had a cure? Her eyes wandered to the painting in the corner of the room, and saw the landscape that was her backyard as a child. Her family had left with the rest of the Technology Isolationists shortly after her seventh birthday, but she still remembered the beauty of the ice caps, or what little was left of them by the time she left. The Terravira had advanced so quickly in the years leading up to the mass exodus … Grace shook her head. Up until now, she had always considered leaving her people her legacy, but perhaps she had a higher calling. Could it be done? Was it even possible?

“I have questions,” she said, her voice soft and breaking.

“No time.” In a blur, James covered the distance between them and was hovering close to her. “Are you with me or not?”

There was a banging on her door.

“High Scion?” a voice said outside. “Are you all right?”

“I need to know now,” James pressed.

“Why the rush?” Grace said. “We have all the … we don’t have time, do we?”

James nodded. “The ship is moving fast, hurtling through space, not subject to the time and distance delimiters of time travel.”

“That’s how you’re able to jump back here so soon. Fascinating.” Grace walked past him and grabbed the canvas and tucked it under her arm. “Carry my bag, James,” she ordered as she returned to his side. “Now I’m ready.”

“Cut the door down,” the muffled voice on the other side of the room yelled.

“Brace yourself,” James said. There was a bright yellow flash, and then Grace suddenly felt the urge to throw up her tea. Then everything went black.

When she came to, the two of them were floating in the black of space. Her carryall bag and canvas had disappeared, and looking down, her chest was wet. She had a splitting headache.

“What happened?” she groaned.

“You passed out and then threw up on yourself,” James said.

So much for looking dignified. Grace suddenly had a severe case of vertigo and felt like throwing up again. She had had just enough embarrassment for the day and willed her body to stop acting so undignified. She reminded herself who she was.

“Now what?” she asked. “Where’s your ship? Or did you discover teleportation in the future?”

“Unfortunately, no,” James said. “My ship is on its way now. It will be here in a while. Again, our conversation lasted longer than I anticipated and I miscalculated the path of the High Marker.”

“How did you know the High Marker’s location?”

“Your ship had sent constant distress calls before it was lost. I simply extrapolated its trajectory and jumped into its path.”

“Which is why you slammed into it.” She nodded. There was a long pause between the two of them. “So now what?” she asked again. Grace hated asking. She was usually the one who knew everything.

James linked his arms around her waist and pulled her in close. “We wait, and then we save the world.”





THIRTY-FOUR

MEETING OF THE MINDS

The tension in the air became thick as soup the moment James and Grace Priestly stepped out of the collie. This was the longest he had been away from Elise since she had come to the present and she had come down to the garage to meet him. Her eyes widened when she caught sight of the Mother of Time draped on his arm.

At first, she was friendly to the beautiful and exotic but significantly older woman hanging onto him. She offered Grace a hand and smiled. “Welcome to the Elfreth. Thank you for joining us. I’m—”

Grace must have sensed something between James and Elise, and decided to assert her dominance, or just screw with him. “What a precious child,” she exclaimed to James, touching his shoulder in a more than friendly manner. “You didn’t tell me you had a daughter.”

Elise looked like someone had thrown cold water on her as she shot an incredulous look at Grace, and then a ferocious one at James.

He sighed, and of course Grace decided that this was the opportune time to further flame the situation in. She leaned in toward him and gave him a peck on the cheek, cooing softly. “Pet, I’ve stepped onto your world for about fourteen seconds and you’re already in trouble. I don’t think this time period can handle me. Your woman, at least, certainly can’t. She doesn’t seem very glad to see you. No matter, it’s time she learns who is in charge.”