35
Thursday, April 26, 1792 – 5:40 p.m.
Fairhurst Castle, England
“He’s gone, but we only have a few minutes. What should we do?” Ailsa asked Spike as they sat handcuffed in Slick’s lab.
“I don’t know. If we only have a few minutes, that doesn’t leave us much time to get out of here. Before we can do anything, we need to get out of these handcuffs. Is there anything near you that you can reach that I could use to try and pick the lock?”
Ailsa looked around. “I don’t see anything. Slick made sure everything was out of reach.”
“All I need is something small and rigid that I can jimmy around in the lock. Maybe I can get it to release and we can get out of here.”
Looking around him, Spike tried to find something. He had about as much success locating something as he and Ailsa would have in stopping Slick from traveling through time.
Staring at Spike and his strange accessories, Ailsa suddenly burst out, “Your ring.”
“What?”
“Your ring thing in your ear. Could you use that?”
Hanging on Spike’s ear was a metal rod about an inch and a half long that connected through the top of his ear and again at the bottom. Connected behind the ear to this rod was a small chain. The purpose was decorative only. It had no specific function other than to add to his collection of studs, rings and chains.
“You’re right. That might work.” Spike reached up and undid the chain holding the rod in place. It took him a little longer than normal since he was only able to use one hand. After fumbling around for a minute or so, there was an audible “click” and the rod came loose. Removing it, Spike undid the other end of the small chain and laid it aside. Then, using the rod as a pick, he began working it in the lock of his handcuffed hand.
“Is it working?”
“I think so. It’s just going to take some time. These handcuffs are more difficult to pick than I thought they would be. I can feel the lock mechanism inside; it’s just getting the rod in the right place to release the cuffs.”
“We better hurry. Mack will be back any second. Last time he left, he was back almost instantly.”
“I am trying. I can only go so fast though,” Spike said in an irritated voice.
The seconds ticked by in the room. The tension was so thick it was as if Ailsa and Spike were sitting in a pool of molasses. Each “click” of the handcuffs caused a flutter in their hearts and then disappointment when they realized the cuffs were still locked. Suddenly, there was a “click” and the handcuffs popped open.
“I got it!” Spike cried in an excited voice.
At the same time, the sudden illumination of the room in an array of beautiful colors startled both Ailsa and Spike. Jerking his head up to see what it was, Spike inadvertently relocked the cuff he’d just opened. Feeling the sudden squeeze on his wrist again, Spike looked down.
“Dang! It locked again.”
Ailsa looked at Spike and said, “Shhh. Don’t say anything. He’ll hear you.”
Mack’s Bubble Chamber completed it transformation from nothing to a bubble and then disappeared. Mack stepped forward instantly looking at his captives.
“So, have you been waiting long?” Slick laughed as he walked over toward Spike and Ailsa. “I told you I’d be right back.”
“Why don’t you just let us go? We’re not of any benefit to you.” Spike attempted to work Slick’s gentlemanly side, but to no avail.
“Sorry. I can’t do that. You’ll be staying right here.”
“So what’s happened to your gentlemanly demeanor?” Spike asked.
“That’s all just show. I do it because it keeps me in the limelight. I get to rub shoulders with the ladies and I’m respected. People trust me.”
“You are sick, you know that?”
“I know. But, what can I say? I’ve got my money, the time and the means to do what I want now. I picked up my cash in exchange for my secrets. Now, I’m a free man.”
“So now what? You clean out the lab, pack your bags and leave?”
“Almost.”
“Will you at least remove these handcuffs before you go?”
“Well, I’ve been thinking. I’ve decided not to waste my time cleaning out the lab. What does it matter. If they find this stuff, so what. It means nothing to anyone else. They can’t trace me or find me. So, what’s the point. I’ll just leave it for you two lovebirds.”
“Lovebirds?”
“That’s right Ailsa, lovebirds. You do have some interest in each other don’t you?”
“I just met him. Besides, he’s not my type.”
“Well, you better get used to having him as your type because he’s going to be around a long, long, time.”
“You’re a jerk Slick. I hate you,” Spike yelled.
“Sorry to hear that. And I thought we were such good friends.” Laughing, Slick began collecting a few items he wanted to take with him. Ailsa and Spike sat quietly, not sure what to do. Picking up another small device, Slick walked over and opened the door to the tunnel. “I’ll be back in a bit. I have a couple of small jobs I have to do before leaving. Don’t go away.” Laughing, Slick entered the tunnel leading out to the lighthouse.
“Now’s our chance. It will take him at least a half an hour to go there and back. Hurry, try to unlock the handcuffs again.” Ailsa’s voice was tense with excitement and fear. Working feverishly, Spike tried repeatedly to get the handcuffs to unlock. This time, however, they were not cooperating. The minutes ticked by. Ailsa sat quietly not wanting to break Spike’s concentration. Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. Then they heard Slick returning, his footsteps echoing through the tunnel and the tiny bobbing of his flashlight slowly growing larger with each step. Finally, he stepped into the room.
“Well, I’m glad you’re still here.”
“Very funny,” Spike said. “Like we could go anywhere anyway.”
“That’s what I mean. You can’t.” A hearty laugh bellowed forth from Slick. “Okay, one down, one to go.” Walking over to the other door, Slick opened it and prepared to head for the castle’s courtyard drain where he’d caught Ailsa earlier. “I’ll be right back.” Slick disappeared down the other tunnel, his footsteps slowly fading off into the distance.
“Hurry, try again.”
Spike began feverishly trying to unlock the cuffs again. The minutes ticked by. Every so often, the rod would catch the locking mechanism, but then release again before snapping open the handcuffs. About ready to give up, Spike gave it another determined try. Suddenly it clicked and the cuffs fell open.
“I got it!” he cried out. Dropping the cuffs, they slid down the leg of the table and clambered on the floor below. Jumping up, he ran to Ailsa’s side. “Okay, let me see if we can release yours. If we can, then maybe we can jump him when he returns and force him to set things back the way they were.”
Ailsa held up her hand as best as she could. Spike got down on his knees and began to work on the lock. After another ten minutes or so, the sound of Slick returning echoed down the hallway. He was whistling some tune that Spike had heard before. Something about being ‘in the money.’ Spike could almost picture Slick singing, dancing and twirling a cane while dressed in a tuxedo and tails before some large audience in a theater somewhere. Quickly letting go of Ailsa’s arm, Spike ran back to his chair and sat down. Reaching down, he picked up the handcuffs and carefully wrapped them around his wrist to make it look like they were still locked. Just then, Slick walked through the door. Closing this door as he had the other, Slick turned to look at Ailsa and Spike.
“Well, I guess that’s it. I’ve got my money, my possessions I want to take, and freedom. I’m sorry it has to end this way, but I really don’t have a choice.” Preparing to leave, Spike spoke up.
“Hey, what about us? You said you’d release us before you left.”
“Sorry pal. That changed too. I decided it would be best if I left you locked up.”
“Why?” Ailsa cried, tears beginning to run down her face. “What point does that serve? You’ve got what you want. Letting us go isn’t going to change that, so why not release us?”
“I don’t know. I guess pretending to be a gentleman is over now. Sorry.”
“You can’t do this,” Spike screamed. “Have some compassion. We haven’t done anything to you. The least you could do is let us go.”
“You’re probably right. But, I’m not going to.”
Slick walked toward the corner to leave. Stopping, he turned around to speak to Spike and Ailsa.
“Oh, by the way. Two other things you might be interested in.” Looking at Ailsa he said, “You might want to be careful what you eat. Your cook’s been putting some of those mushrooms in the field into various dishes he’s been making. Unfortunately, those mushrooms are the very one’s I’ve been using in my new cocktail. They’re Psilocybin mushrooms, the main ingredient that causes such vivid hallucinations. I know you’ve had a few hallucinogenic episodes yourself and that’s the reason why you were thinking that you were going crazy. So, as a gentleman, I suggest you be careful.” Slick laughed at his own comment. Ailsa sat quietly, not sure how to respond.
“And the other point?” Spike said interrupting Slick’s laugh-fest.
“Oh yes. The second point. This one’s especially for you Spike. I didn’t want to leave you out you know. I embellished your guilt a little more at the hospital.”
“Now what did you do?”
“Well, I’d already framed you for tampering, for tying up Chandini in the lab and for mutilating Benita’s face to get my sample. That was evidence enough. Then, just to be sure my drug was working; I left our other two patients a little gift.”
“What did you do? Did you kill them too?”
“I didn’t, but the drug may have. I don’t know if they died or not since I left before I knew the results. The drug’s effect is working much quicker now. Since I enhanced the hallucinogenic aspects of the drug, now the nightmares should be deadly with just one dose. It also works much quicker.”
“Why? Why are you being so, so heartless. First Benita, and now Hank and Maisie? What’s gone wrong with you?”
“If I had to answer that with one word, I’d say money. Money is what runs the world. It appears to be working for me too. Well, gotta go. You two have fun.”
Turning his back toward Ailsa and Spike, Slick stepped forward to the point where he had piled all his things. As he was doing so, Spike dropped the handcuffs and bolted around the table running for Slick at full speed. Hearing the commotion, Slick turned around just in time to see Spike’s feet leave the ground as he plowed headlong into Slick’s stomach. Knocking him off balance, Slick slammed into the stone wall behind him, his head cracking against the rock. Stunned, he crumpled to the floor. Spike crashed onto the floor next to Slick rolling as he hit. Shaking his head to clear it, Slick clambered to his feet only to be hit again by a right blow to his face. Again he hit the wall, this time face first. Stumbling backwards, Slick fell to the floor, a trickle of blood running down his face from his crushed nose. Spike grabbed him from behind and pulled him to his knees. Circling around him, Spike brought his knee up toward Slicks’ face only to be caught off guard as Slick grabbed his leg and pulled him off his feet. Spike tumbled backwards falling to the floor. Slick stumbled to his feet and walked over to pick up Spike. Spike kicked Slick with both feet in the groin as he yelled out in agony and crashed over the top of some boxes on the floor. The sound of breaking glass echoed through the room.
Ailsa sat stunned watching the commotion in the corner. She didn’t like what she was seeing, but she didn’t want to be trapped here forever either. Although she’d started out her captivity tolerant of Slick, now she hated him for his lying and evil intentions. She just wanted to go home and forget any of this had happened.
Slick stood back up, half bent over from the blow to his groin. Spike was climbing to his knees when he noticed a metal rod lying on the ground next to him. Reaching over to pick it up, he stood, hiding it behind his leg as he walked. Slick stood up fully facing Spike.
“Go ahead, hit me again. You may have caught me off guard, but you’re no match for me face-to-face.” Slick’s muscular body dwarfed Spike’s. Spike knew he was no match for Slick, but he had one chance to take him down. Stepping in close enough to make his blow count, Spike quickly raised the metal rod and swung at Slick’s head. Acting on impulse, Slick reached up to block the blow, but not in time. The metal rod zipped over his outstretched hand and nailed him squarely on the side of his head. Before he could fall to the ground, Spike swung again at his midriff. The loud sound of crunching metal, plastic and bone sounded through the room. A bright red bubble began to form around Slick. Stunned, Spike jumped back away from the edge of the expanding bubble. Spike and Ailsa watched as Slick fell to the ground entombed inside the bubble as it reached its’ full seven-foot diameter. Slick’s eyes looked half-glazed and glowed blood red in the bubble’s light.
While Slick lay unconscious, the bubble began to change color going from one end of the light spectrum to other. Starting out red it then changed to orange, then yellow, moved into green then blue and finally a beautiful violet. This effect, known as the Doppler shift was now carrying Slick somewhere into time at the speed of light. The process, in part, was based upon Einstein’s equation E=MC². Adding to this phenomenon, Slick had also incorporated various space/time elements into the construction of his Bubble Chamber that invariably caused random variations in the Doppler shift. Spike understood the basics of what was happening, but not everything. He’d studied Einstein and science in school, but much of what was happening here was beyond his comprehension. Ailsa, on the other hand, was very confused and had no idea how this was possible. All she could do was stare dumbfounded as the beautiful multi-colored bubble blinked out of existence as easily as if someone had shut off a light. Spike turned his face bloody and his body shaken, and looked at Ailsa.
“He’s gone,” Spike said, “and I don’t think he’s coming back this time.”
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