Time Traveler's Assignment

The passing of time was marked by the ticks of the grandfather clock, or "longcase clock" as they are known in this era. It was the year 1778 in the month of April, spring time in Britain.

A near middle-aged figure, wearing the attire and paraphanelia of a clockmaker, sat at a bench, working on the components for another such "longcase" clock. The man looked up as the face of the clock started to glow green, indicating an imminent arrival and the start of his next assignment.

He stood up as there was an audible thump of displaced air from within the clock. He approached the clock and opened the panel, revealing another man wearing the uniform of the British army from this era.

The uniformed man looked somewhat dazed and disorientated, so the other man took him to a nearby chair and sat him down.

"Sit here for a moment, my name is Philbert Walton of Temporal Amenders, Restorers, Protectors. Do you remember who you are?" asked the clockmaker, who had made his way to the nearby pitcher of water and filled a glass.

The other man's head lolled around for a moment before focussing on Philbert. "Yes....yes. I am John Goldsmith, formerly of his majesty's army in the American colonies."

Philbert came back and placed the glass of water in John's hand. "Drink this, it'll be a few minutes while your body fully overcomes the effect of temporal narcosis.... sorry I mean time travel."

John just nodded as he sat back against the chair.

Philbert walked over the grandfather clock and touched his hand at the side to bring up the holographic touchscreen, which brought up the relevant information regarding this new assignment.

He was tasked to return Mr Goldsmith back to his home to the west of York, where chronogenealogical tracing placed Mr Goldsmith from his descendants in the future. Philbert was to travel there with John via current conventional means in the hope that it will allow him to reacclimatise to his time and jog his memory. The only other clue was to look for a house by a pear tree.

As Philbert finished reading, the clock face once again glowed and he heard a muffled sound within. Opening the clock panel revealed a bag containing what he would likely need to facilitate the journey.

After itemising the contents, he turned to John and stated. "Well Mr Goldsmith, I believe I need to get you home."

It was spring time, so procuring stage coaches was no difficulty. Fortunately, they were the only two in any particular coach making the trip which made keeping secrecy easier, although Philbert could have used a device to ensure they were not overheard accidentally as they passed the time in conversation during travel or stopovers.

John made for an affable companion. He told Philbert that he had been a soldier in his majesty's army in the American colonies, where his role was mostly in observation and reconnaissance. During the journey, John kept pointing things out along the way.

Noting John’s proclivity of annotating everything he saw, Philbert lent him a notebook and a special quill that did not run out of ink. The novelty of the quill delighted John, who proceeded to use it with enthusiasm, admitting that he learnt to observe and note everything thing as part of his role in the army.

John enquired about the organisation of which Philbert was part of. Philbery again cited the name but shortened it to TARP for discussion purposes. John laughed at the story that it was the organisation’s second name as its original name of Chronological Repairers Aiders Protectors, shortened to CRAP, which resulted in some unfortunate mockery of the agents operating in the twentieth century.

Philbert enjoyed the company, imparting the reason for choosing to work in Britain lay in the fact that the British individuals he had an opportunity or reason for telling of his vocation were quite accepting to the idea of individuals travelling through time, although John did exclaim when Philbert said his age was closer to two centuries rather than the forty he cultivated.

On the dawn of the third day, they left the large town that John had a vague recollection of mustering at with other soldiers. After a few hours, they neared a T junction before York itself, when John pointed to the road leading away looking familiar. Philbert banged on the coach to stop and soon he and John were walking on that side road.

Soon they approached a forested area, the trees coming up on either side of the lane, hiding a manor beyond in the distance. John felt a sense of familiarity and both continued on and were soon treated to an unusual sight.

They saw twelve drummers entering the forest, while eleven men playing woodwind instruments piping away at the edge of the forest heading in the direction of the manor.

The noise cut through the din but its purpose was soon realised when ten lordly men on horseback leaped out of the trees in pursuit of a fox stirred up by the drummers.

The fox started towards the two men but upon seeing them dove back in towards the nearest underbrush a short distance away. The men on horseback gave chase cautiously, except for one who slowed and neared the two men.

"Gentlemen, you seem a little out of your way. May I be service?" asked the gray haired horse rider.

Philbert looked up and introduced himself and his companion. "My lord, I am Philbert Walton, a humble clockmaker, and I am but accompanying this man here to his home before heading back to London."

The horse rider turned to John, who spoke up as he rummaged through his rucksack. "My name is John Goldsmith formerly of his majesty's colonial armies."

"Well good day to you both, I am Lord James Torvington." replied the horse rider, who then focused on John. "Formerly a soldier you say? I am a retired general myself."

"Yes, my lord." He held up an envelope he had produced from the rucksack.

Lord Torvington bent down to take the envelope and then opened it to read the contents. After a few moments reading, he returned the contents and envelope. "Honourably discharged due to wounds sustained in battle but not before exhibiting valor."

"As you say, my lord." replied John. "I gave the colonists a good fight before my injuries put me out of the action."

"Good man...... You must be the son of the owners of Goldsmith Pear Farm not too far from here." said Lord Torvington. "If you make your way through the estate, past the manor, instead of cutting around the estate, you'll make good time and get there by the afternoon, I dare say."

Both men turned to each other at the mention of “pear”, the clue Philbert had mentioned in passing, before turning back to Lord Torvington, both saying. "Thank you, my lord."

There was a ruffling a little further away when the fox burst out and headed back in the other direction, followed by the sound of the other horse riders in pursuit.

Lord Torvington looked over before turning back to the men. "Oh yes, there is still a hunt. Say my name if anyone challenges you. I'll bid you a good day, although Mister Walton, I believe our newly installed longcase clock is having a problem that may need your ministrations..... I could pay you and have my coach can take you to London."

"Well, I could make my way back through here after I take my leave of Mister Goldsmith." replied Philbert.

"As you may..... good luck to you both." Lord Torvington turned as one of the other men on horseback called out to him.

Both men again bowed as they watched Lord Torvington ride off. With smiles on both of their faces, they felt hopeful enthusiasm and conferred about their fortune while John conscientiously noted all that they saw.

At the manor, they observed nine ladies practicing choreography to a dance on a raise courtyard balcony to the music of the woodwind instruments, while away from the manor, they pass eight maids milking cows in an open shed.

After leaving the women behind, both men crossed the estate and walked into the countryside and laneways beyond, during which they got to observe all manner of bird life along the way, all of which John enthusiastically noted in the book.

In a nearby lake, seven swans were serenely swimming while along the edge of the lake, away from the swans, six geese were on their nests, laying eggs.

They passed a tree in which four collie birds were calling out in song, while three French hens picked their moment to race across in front of them, looking like possible escapees from a coop.

As they neared the top of the hill, they both saw two turtledoves together in the nearby tree branch but were put to pause as they both crested the hill.

They now looked down upon what they had been searching for. A pear tree stood adjacent to a sizeable abode, fenced off along the road, the length of the fence disappearing from view. Philbert watched John look around as if in remembrance.

They drew closer to the cottage slowly but were interrupted as they heard a birdcall from within the pear tree. Sure enough, there was a bird, a partridge within the trunk. John noted this down. As they approached the gate, a handsome woman came out of the main door, holding a toddler. The toddler kept her distracted so they did not notice them.

John stood at the gate but Philbert saw a smile dawn on his face. John said. "I remember.... I remember now. That's my wife and this is my parent's farm." He held the notebook and quill under his arms while he went through his uniform's pockets until he produced what looked like an old flintbox.

It was Philbert’s turn to be surprised as John slid back a concealed panel and tipped out five gold rings. Passing one to Philbert, John explained. "Hid them in plain sight….I had one made for every year of the five years I was away from my true love. She is a school teacher but stayed with my parents while I was away. I intended to give these to her upon my return and now I can."

John looked towards the woman and then back at Philbert. "Thank you so much." In his excited state, he opened the gate only to drop the notebook and quill.

The notebook fell open at the most recently used page, the quill nearby. John picked up both and read through the list of twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping..... It was then Philbert realised what he had become party to. The era was right enough. He called out to John to come back.

Philbert pointed to a spot on the page with the quill and then handed it to John. "I think your rings could fit here."

John quickly scanned the page. "You know.... you're right." He smiled as he filled in the missing entry. He returned the quill to Philbert. On his part, Philbert neatly took the page out of the book, folded it and held it out to John. "A memento."

John took the page and offered out his hand, which Philbert promptly shook.

"Thank you for accompanying me home." said John.

Philbert replied. "You are most welcome. Keep hold of that page, I have a feeling it could be of use this coming Christmas."

John looked at Philbert quizzically, but nodded acceptance, turned and walked towards the now approaching woman who, upon recognising John, rushed into an embrace.

Philbert watched for a moment with a smile, before turning away to leave them their privacy. He started to walk back the way they came, deciding to take up Lord Torvington's offer of work and passage.