Anna's Ether - Chapter 9 - Return
For the next three months, William and Dr. Bohr worked together to recreate William's time machine. Dr. Bohr provided William with a much greater understanding of how his original machine worked. Their mutual respect for each other grew and they became close friends. Together they had created a vastly superior device than the one William had first invented.
When they were quite sure the device was ready, they called for a meeting. The briefing room was buzzing with excitement over the news. "We believe the time device is complete." Dr. Bohr started. "Now it's merely a matter of details," William said. The group went over every possible hiccup that they could perceive of until they had a solid plan of action. The core of the plan was as follows:
William must travel back in time to Anna, at a date and time when he knows she will be alone.
He will only contact her for the return trip at such a time.
The plan will be executed a few days before the date of her death.
She will be brought immediately to the medical ward to treat her tuberculosis.
William of course was eager to see Anna, and though the consensus was for him to wait until the next week, William pleaded his case successfully convincing them to let him depart the next morning. The entire base packed into the room where the new machine had been readied. Dr. Bohr did the honor of firing up the device and everyone pulled their goggles over their eyes. William stepped into the device and smiled gratefully at his new friends. In a flash of light, he was gone.
He suddenly found himself in his office, a loud commotion ensued as his left foot tipped over a bucket of cleaning supplies. He cringed, stood very still for awhile, then once he was sure no one was alerted, he peered out between the curtains at Fleet St. It was the London he knew and for a moment it made his heart glad. He soon reminded himself that, alas, he could not stay here, at least not in this era.
Back to the task at hand, he told himself. He turned around to check on the time travel device. It's was gone! His heart started racing. How could this be? He paced the floor, hoping he would think of something, anything, that would explain it's disappearance. I only have until tomorrow evening to bring Anna back, he thought. As he paced the floor, he noticed that many of his belongings were packed in crates around the room. Then it came to him... Mr. Pritchett! I have to find Mr. Pritchett! He grabbed a dusty coat of the rack and headed towards his old landlord's place.
Trying to hide his face the best he could with the collar of his jacket, he walked down the street at an urgent pace. When he turned onto Mr. Prichett's street, a businessman tipped his hat at William. It was a man who he met at an investor's club. Did he recognize me? William wondered. He wasn't looking forward to talking to the landlord, after all, he had left with no notice. William just hoped to God that Mr. Prichett was the one who had taken the device and that he and Anna could get access to it in time.
He knocked on Mr. Prichett's door and just as he was about to knock a third time, the door opened. The cleaning mistress who also worked at his office was shocked to see William standing there. "Mr. Sinclair! Hello, so nice to see you again Sir." She said. "Good day, Miss Walsh. May I speak with Master Prichett?" William asked. " "He is away on business, he's expected to return tomorrow afternoon. I shall tell him you called Sir." She said. "Yes, thank you, I will call upon him tomorrow afternoon then." William hid his absolute panic as he departed. The thought of Anna dying while he was so close by, yet unable to comfort her, left him numb. He knew he couldn't stay in London for long and risk running into himself either. Just contacting Mr. Pritchett could result in disaster. Fortunately, Nigel had returned the gold sovereign Ron had given him after they found William in the snow. He would use it to find a room to rent for the night on the edge of town.