Travelers

By Mark Akita

 

The soft light of the Orb illuminated Anders Karlson.  His wizened features took on an earthy glow as he leaned over the rugged instrumentality of temporal displacement.  The machine drew copious amounts of electricity to project his consciousness anywhere along the path of his genetic ancestry.  Pure Swede on his father's side and mixed European in his mother's gave Anders a unique profile that allowed him passage to times and places few modern Americans could boast.  Something in that family tree enabled Anders to survive the rigors of time-shifting and emerge alive and sane after multiple trips.

Those trials had left their marks on his memories.  He glanced at his reflection and his now gray beard put him in mind of a wizard.  The true wizards were the technicians who ran and monitored Orb's inner workings.  Anders marveled at their youth and vigor.  He always said his students kept him young in spirit.  Now he was going on one last critical mission.  He was needed!

Dr. Kusuhara was there to give him a last-minute briefing.

"Orb startup in 7 minutes, Anders."

"Ready to reconnoiter, Dr.!"

"The subject is your maternal great grandfather.  You'll have access to his senses for 1 hour.   Good Luck and Godspeed!"

 The techs were ready and ushered Anders to the chair, placing the blue Sensory Deprivation helmet on his head last.  The hypnotics kicked in and Anders was in the void.  This was the dangerous part.  Orb had to connect with the ancestor within milliseconds or Anders would wind up dead or psychotic.  Gradually the world came into focus.  There were voices as well.

 "Orb, are you there?"

 "Yes! Audio and Visual recording nominal."

 Smells, touch and taste senses slowly returned.  The scene filled in.  He was in the midst of a mixed throng of people.  There was the smell of salt air and the gradual pitch placed him on the deck of a ship at sea. 

"Can you see her, Tommaso?"

  The voice belonged to a teenage girl with dark curly hair.  

 "Orb, identify.”

 "Marie Martelli, the subject's sister."

 The view shifted.  Tommaso and Marie were close together near the railing, pressed by a crowd of passengers.  Looking out over the water, land with buildings appeared and there were other vessels. Tommaso's voice was bold and clear.

 "I see her, Marie!  Look!  The Lady of the Harbor!"

Anders had seen her thousands of times in his life.  The Lady of the Harbor held aloft a torch in one hand and carried a book in the other.  The ship carrying his ancestor has reached Ellis Island.

 "Orb, screen shot.  Label "Liberty 1."

 "Confirmed.  Photo 1 of 32."

 Anders was awed for the moment at viewing the scene through Tommaso.  He felt Marie touch his arm.

 "We need to go back and tell Mama and Papa.  We made it!"

 "Yes!  Stay close."

 The twelve day voyage from ⁰Naples has been dull but to an 18 year old and his 16 year old sister this was the prelude to adventure.   Marie and Tommaso made their way back to the bunks in Steerage where their parents were waiting.  

 "Orb, identify.”

"Carlo and Sophia Martelli."

"Orb, screen shot.  Label "Mama and Papa 1."

"Confirmed.  Photo 2 of 32."

Marie gave her parents a big hug.

 "Mama, I can't believe we're almost in New York!  May I go to Josaphina's bunk to say goodbye?"

 "Of course dear.  Tell Mr. and Mrs. Russo farewell for us."

 Anders did an inner chuckle.  Orb had flawlessly translated "arivederci", but the lips didn't sync up.  It was like watching an old, dubbed movie.

 "Thanks Mama!  Love you Papa!  See you soon big brother!"

 Marie paused to look quickly in the mirror and then gave him a smile. 

 "Orb, screen shot.  Label "Marie 1."

 "Confirmed.  Photo 3 of 32"

 Marie was an average looking girl but her smile made her beautiful.

 Tommaso glanced at himself in the mirror.  The reflection showed a skinny, swarthy young man with jet-black hair and angular features.

 "Orb screen shot.  Label Tommaso 1."

 "Confirmed.  Photo 4 of 32."

 Papa Martelli was short and burly and had black hair like Tommaso but with gray strands.   Mama Martelli was short and plump and had curly chestnut hair like her daughter.

"May we have a word with you, son?" Papa asked. 

"Sure, Papa!

"Your mother and I just wanted to tell you how proud we are of you!   We'll be leaving the ship soon and we know you'll take care of your sister if we get separated.  We're starting a new life in America and you're going to do well.   You're a horseman and you'll never want for work."

  Tommaso embraced his parents.

  Mama exclaimed "I can't wait to see your Aunt Helena and Uncle Giorgio again."

  "Ahem!  Are we interrupting?"

  "Mr Pesci!  Giovanni!  Did you come to see us off?”

 “Orb, identify.”

 "Giovanni and Dante Pesi.   Subject's friend and his father Processing.  Congratulations.  You've found the contact."

 Anders exhaled!  One of Giovanni's descendents would be a person of great magnitude."

Tommaso shook hands with Giovanni and said " Papa, would you give Mr. Dante Uncle Giorgio's address so he can write us?

"Yes, son.  You're a good man Dante."

"Orb, extraction.  Let's not waste a minute more here."

"Complying.  Extraction in 2 minutes. Mr. Anders?"

"Yes, Orb?"

"The contact's notable descendent is named Sarah Howard.  She won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry."

"Thank you, Orb.  Mission accomplished!  Let's go home!"