I’LL SEE YOU IN TWENTY YEARS
They arrived in Des Moines early on Sunday, November 26th. They had four days before December 1st. when the packages to the nation’s top brass should be mailed. Before they drove into Des Moines, Frank stopped the truck, opened the back and took out ten 5-gailon plastic gas cans.
“What in hell are you doing now?” asked Phil. “You don’t need any gas!”
“I filled both cars up before I loaded them, but if I’m going to let them test drive them; we have to have enough gas to let them check them out.. They don’t sell unleaded in the 1940s.”
“When do you want to go?” Mike asked.
“It’ll be daylight soon and I’m tired. Let’s get some sleep and I’ll make the trip tonight. I’ll have time to drive the rig to that trucking company, park it and get a cab to a hotel. I’ll buy a car, and come back and pick up what I’ll need.”
He slept all day and was awakened by Phil that night.
“Do you have the money?”
“All $14,273. I placed $1000 in my wallet.”
“Let’s go to the fairgrounds. Mike is setting things up.”
Phil again reminded Frank, how to contact them. “The Atlanta Journal” and “Constitution;” “The Los Angeles Times” personal columns and also the “Wall Street Journal.”
“I’ll go down to the morgue and read those four every day. Put one in as soon as you arrive, and try to do it on Wednesdays if you want something.”
After eating, Phil drove him to the fairgrounds. Both Phil and Mike handed him an envelope.
“We want you to set up a trust for us. here’s our social security numbers and when we will be able to claim it,” Mike said. “Send mine to me in care of Colgate University, Spring Hall, room 201. That’s where I was in 1965. Phil has his directions in his. We figured we’d need some money then.”
“But how in hell are you going to get the message to yourselves?” Frank asked.
“We both went to Colgate in undergrad school. We sent messages back in time to both of us. We got the coordinates and we’ll just send about one a day with three cent stamps for two weeks explaining everything. I’m sure someone will find the envelopes and put them in our rooms. We did that all the time back then. Make them secret trusts, like an old uncle or something is leaving us some money. If we don’t get it, that’s our fault.”
The three men embraced and wished each other luck.
“Damn!”‘ Mike exclaimed. “I almost wish I was going too,”
“Come along, there’s time. By the way. I forgot to bring a heavy jacket. Can one of you guys spare one?” asked Frank,
“I have one in my track.” answered Mike. I’ll get it for you. I’m heading south when you’re on your way.”
“Frank, pour some of this on a handkerchief and take a whiff when you’re in the truck. It will knock you out for a couple of minutes.” Phil said as he handed him a small bottle.
Mike started the generators and Frank climbed in and started the truck. Pouring some of the liquid into his handkerchief he held it to his nose and inhaled. At exactly 3:55 A.M. Mike pulled the switch. The next thing he knew the generator noise was gone and he was sitting in a truck in a large empty parking lot. He looked at his watch and saw it was 3:58 A.M. He had left the year 1999. What date did he arrive?
FIVE
1941-1942
Frank shifted the truck into gear and quickly drove off the coated Mylar film, easing it around in the lightly falling snow starting to blanket the ground. He watched from his rear view mirror as the transporter sheet disappeared in a puff of snow. He had to drive around the lot before he saw7 the entrance. He stopped and put on the 1941 South Carolina plates before driving through the gates.