Impaling Time

Impaling Time

by Sarah Wylde

A jolt and a clickety clack of a train awakens a man from what seems to be a deep sleep, but that isn’t the case. Everything around him is unfamiliar including the clothing the people wear and yet; he is wearing the same kind of haberdashery as the men in the club car.

“Is this what a hangover feels like?” he asks himself. “Where am I?”

He glances over and sees the Abilene Weekly Reflector with the date on the paper of July 6th, 1916. The headline reads, Allies Commence Big Drive on Germans, Hughes and T.R. In Full Accord, U.S. Marine Killed By Santo Domingo Rebel, and Mexican Situation Looks Like No War, filling the front page.

It is a lot to take in. He wants to read it but there isn’t time. Why? Why isn’t there any time? He wonders. The date, he needs to know the date. So, he leans across the aisle and asks “Sir, how old is that newspaper?”

“It’s a couple days old. Why do you ask?”

“Just curious. So, today’s date is July 8th, 1916?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Where are we headed?”

Chuckling and folding the paper he places it beside him. “Son, are you lost? How did you get on the train? Better yet, what’s your name?”

The younger man about age 30 could not answer any of the questions except to say, “I guess I am lost.”

Reaching his hand out towards the confused man he says, “My name is Herbert Shaw and we’re headed for San Antonio. I got on in Abilene, Kansas. I am assuming you did too.”

As they being to shake hands, Herbert notices a word written on the other man’s hand. “Duckpin.” “Duckpin? What does that mean?”

Sheepishly, the younger man answers, “I don’t remember.”

“Hmmm, you don’t remember very much. I still didn’t get your name.”

“Honestly, I don’t remember anything. Not my name, where I am from, why I am here, and why this word is written on my right hand. All I do remember is waking up over there in that corner.”

“Concern washes over the older man’s face. “Did you hit your head? Get into a fight?”

“No, everything seems to be fine. All I do know is I am here for a reason and there isn’t much time.”

“Time is all we got on this train.” Says Herbert

Not to be deterred, the young man answers, “No, there is more to it than that.”

Looking up the older man sees the porter coming by to check tickets. “Tell me son, do you have a ticket?”

Quickly the younger man checks his pockets, finds no ticket and shakes his head no.

“That could be a problem. Do you have any money?”

Panic began to set in as he turned his pockets inside out, revealed no cash or coin of any kind.

“Son, I am going to do you a favor. Just go with me on this.”

A sharp loud voice lowered it’s attention on the men in the middle of their conversation. “Tickets please!”

Without any fanfare, the older man pulls out his ticket and the porter checks it. Then he turns to the man who plainly does not have a ticket. “Ticket, please.”

The older man intervenes, Percival, show the man your ticket.”

Staring hard at man who sat across from him with eyes pleading with him says nothing.

“Don’t tell me you lost it?” says Herbert. “Double check the inside of your vest boy.”

Obediently he unbuttons his vest and there is nothing there.

Taking over the conversation Herbert says, “You’ll have to forgive him Porter. This is my sister’s kid brother. He is a simpleton. If we don’t pin everything to the inside of his vest, he loses it. I am sorry for the inconvenience. May I pay for his ticket again?”

The porter shakes his head and says, “No, it won’t be necessary. I understand. I have a cousin in my family the same as he. I am glad you can at least vouch for him. Just do everyone a favor and keep an eye on him. Because if he is a lot like my cousin, things may also disappear, and I would hate to have to throw you both off the train before we reach San Antonio.”

Smiling wide, Herbert answers by shaking the man’s hand and says, “Thank you.”

Percival waves and the porter sees the writing on his hand, shakes his head and says, “Just like Albert.”

They didn’t speak until the porter left the car. Somehow the older man saved his hide and Percival ask, “Why did you lie for me?”

“Because there is something about your face. It’s honest and as you said, you’re on this train for a reason. Even if you can’t remember why?”

“How did you come up with that story so fast?”

“Son, the best kind of lie is closest to the truth. Stick with what you know. My wife does have a brother named Percival and he fell on his head as a child and went from a vibrant boy to a simpleton. My wife and his family take turns taking care of him and yes, if we don’t pin things on the inside of his vest; he loses it.”

“Now, I realize you are not a simple-minded person, however, whenever the porter comes through it would be best you just put on a smile or stare straight ahead.”

“Thank you, Herbert. I really appreciate it.”

Checking his watch, Herbert asks, “It is nigh to lunch time and I don’t know about you, but I am hungry. I don’t have much, but you are welcome to some of the food my wife packed for me. Would you like some?”

“That would be most kind. Thank you again. I am grateful for your generosity.”

Waving his hand and shaking his head no, Herbert says, “It isn’t as altruistic as it seems. I love a good mystery, don’t you? Have you read anything besides Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? What about Melville Davisson Post or Jacques Futrelle?” Looking at Percival, he can see nothing is registering. “No? Well, no matter, this will be one mystery I will be happy to help you remember and find out the answers which currently elude you.”

As they ate, Percival looks up and says, “I like Edgar Rice Burroughs.” And then wonders where that thought came from.

Smiling at his newfound companion Herbert replies, “See, there is more in there. We’ll dig it out yet.”

Just as they finish their meal, Percival feels alarm bells going off inside him. Then he has a faint memory. The room appears to be bare, and the room is bright. He sees the shape of a man and hears, “Time is of the essence. You must find him and protect him.” But who do I need to protect?

Suddenly, the train lurches and the wheels seem to scream, panicked passengers and luggage are flung throughout the car. Trying to get backup into his seat Herbert asks, “What’s happened?”

Grimly Percival replies, “The train is gaining speed.”

Immediately, Percival recalls more of the memory. “The train will gain speed. There is a saboteur aboard and they will either try to run the train off the rails or worse, collide it with another unsuspecting train. You must stop him and at all costs, protect Duckpin!”

Faster and faster, the train plows forward making it almost difficult to stand and walk, but he must do what he can. As he makes his way to the front of the car, he sees a man comforting his wife. “Everything will be alright Mary. Don’t be afraid.”

She sobs quietly into her husband’s shoulder. “What is wrong with me?” she asks herself. Normally she could face anything and decides right there to be strong and face whatever is about to transpire. “I am all right.” She says to her husband. I guess I just got frightened for a moment. You try to plan for everything, sometimes it is the unexpected which upsets you the most.”

Calming his wife with his reassuring voice, he whispers, “I love you. Whatever happens we will face this together. Remember our vows, I will always be by your side.”

Percival couldn’t help but stare at them. There is something about the man’s face. Something familiar and he cannot put his finger on it. Regardless, he needs to get to the front of the train and see what he can do to slow it down.

As Percival reaches for the door, he hears the woman named Mary say to her husband. “Well, you did promise me of life like a whirlwind and full of adventure.”

He laughs and says, “They don’t call me the Kansas Cyclone for nothing.”

Looking back at the couple, Percival asks, “What is it? Who are they?”

The questions continues to nag him while he heads for the engine compartment.

Thankfully the porter is at the back of the train and like most of the people, staying put. The train continues its hellish run and the people in each car have fear written on their faces. Now he sees the coal car is in front of him. He will have to climb over it to get to the engine itself. Suddenly, the door flies open and a man about forty years of age barrels towards Percival. When the train takes another leap forward, the man crashes into Percival who is now flat on his back.

“I know who you are, and you can’t stop this! No one can!” As he attempts to get away from Percival, he finds his one leg is stuck and realizes the man who he toppled has a firm grasp on his left lower limb. With a move like a nimble cat, Percival twists the man’s leg forcing the man to flip over. Without hesitation, Percival pounces on this nemesis. This new enemy was not what Percival expected. He wasn’t big and overbearing, but also not a small and weak one either. He smelled of accelerant and his clothes were darkened with the coal’s black dust.

Slamming the man’s head back when he jerked up the man’s collar Percival asks, “What did you do?”

Hate poured from the man’s eyes, spit foamed at the edges of his mouth, “What I had to do!” He sees Percival’s right hand starting to ball up, much to the dismay of the women in the car. To distract Percival, he asks with a growl, “Did you find Duckpin? Because I did and once, I am through with you, Henry. I will take him out!”

Shock registers on Henry’s face. “My name is Henry?”

Laughing cruelly the man says, “They didn’t prep you properly before sending you into the drift. They must be desperate. How many more like you did they send I wonder? No matter, we will prevail!”

Just as Henry is ready to pummel the man’s face, he sees a pair of cowboy boots, looking up he sees it is a US Marshall who happens to be on the train. A gruff voice asks, “Got a problem here boys?”

Half smiling, Henry answers, “Just your normal everyday stopping a mad man sir.”

“Not true!” shouts out the other man. “He just attacked me!”

However, a couple of men within the car says, “No sir! That young man was the one who was attacked by this other fella.”

“Is that right?” asks the Marshall.

Speaking up Henry says, “Sir, I came to find out why the train is moving too fast. And this man is responsible for it.”

Nodding, the Marshall picks the man up off the floor and throws him down into a seat getting a good whiff of the man’s clothes. “Whew, boy, you stink!”

“That’s accelerant sir.”

“That’s what?” the Marshall asks.

“It’s a chemical which allows things to burn faster and hotter. It is very dangerous.” Says Henry.

“Well now, that does explain a couple of things.” Turning towards Henry the Marshall asks, “How do we slow this rig down?”

Starring hard at the adversary, Henry answers, “I don’t know. We must figure something out.”

As the Marshall stands watch over the wretched prisoner, the man calls out after Henry. “It won’t matter if you do manage to stop this train. We’ll still have Duckpin and that is all that matters.”

“Duckpin?” asks the US Marshall. Looking over he sees the word “Duckpin” written on Henry’s hand. “What does that mean? He asks.

“It is the name of someone here on this train that I am meant to protect.”

“And do you know who it is?” asks the Marshall.

“I am not sure. I might know, but I don’t remember who it is exactly.”

“Well son, that is a problem. You can’t protect what you don’t know. Better figure it out pronto.”

Without hesitation, the door to the car opens. A young man assesses the situation and asks if he can be of help. Henry recognizes him as the man comforting his wife a couple of cars back. “Excuse me, I know this train is going too fast. Is there anything I can do?”

“What is it about him?” Henry asks himself. “Why does he look familiar?” It really didn’t matter at the moment. The more pressing issue is the train. How can they slow it down? Henry responds, “I need to get over the coal car and talk with the engineer.”

“Can you use an extra set of hands?” he asks.

“It couldn’t hurt.” Turning to the U.S. Marshall, he asks him to keep an eye on the prisoner.

“Son, you don’t even have to ask. He isn’t going anywhere. Do you think you can stop this train?”

“We’ll give it our best shot.” Quickly he and the young man move towards the next car. Climbing the ladder which allows them access to the coal car they move with a crawl on their bellies due to the treacherous coal giving way beneath their feet and low hanging branches of trees from the hill which hugs the tracks.

Jumping down they meet the engineer and his cohort all injured. They have had the worst of it, between head wounds and being slammed about the small space due to blast from the engine. The heat still is quite intense and there is nothing that these men can tell them in their current state.

“We need to get them to safety, but how?” asks Henry

Shouting back to answer Henry over the din of the furnace. “I noticed when we crossed from car to car that the cars are coupled by a link and pin. If we remove the pin from the coal car to the engine, we can release the at least bring the other cars to a stop by using the handbrakes.”

“Sounds really risky?” says Henry.

“True, but do you have another option? Because I know this line. I have traveled it multiple times and if we don’t do something soon, we’ll be barreling through a small town then onto Muskogee before we cross into Texas.”

“First things first, we need to get these three men over the coal to the first passenger car. Can you go back and get a couple of men to help?”

With a nod, the young man disappears. Henry desperately works on the men to see which one can stand on his own. Two of them have severe burns since they were the closer to the white flamed furnace when the accelerator was added to the mix.

Since there really wasn’t anything, Henry could do with the injured men, he looked to see what lies ahead. The view was clear, and he could see for a few miles and there before them a small railway station. He starts blaring the horn. They needed to make sure everyone knew they were coming through and in no way could he stop. He hoped their rapid entrance to the town would be noticed and someone would pass on the information via the telegraph. “If only there was a way.” He thought. Whispering a small prayer for divine intervention to a God he is not sure exists, finishes just as the man comes back. The young man brought back five men. None of whom were big in size or stature, but their heart and determination more than compensated for their lack of muscle.

“Why are we blowing the horn?” asks the young man.

“Town coming up shortly. Need to warn people to get out of the way.”

“Smart. Best to warn the people if we can.”

“We’ve got to get these men out of here. Please tell the men to handle the injured with care.”

“On it!” Three of the five men were stationed on the coal. With as much strength as they can muster, they moved the injured onto the coal car and then worked with other passengers to get them to the first car.

Henry and the young man reassessed their situation. “Are there any more towns before Muskogee?”

“Not that I am aware of. “

“What about after Muskogee?” Henry asks

“Not right away. There will be a stretch between there and the next station.”

“How far is Muskogee from here?” asks Henry as he blows the horn again, more frantically than before. Under his breath he prays, “Please God, if you’re really there, don’t let anyone get hurt or die. I don’t know what else we can do.”

“I’d say we’ll reach Muskogee at our current rate within forty-five minutes at the most.”

Hearing the horn of the train, the people of the small town usually welcomed it, but the horn blast came at such a frightful rate.

An idea pops into the younger man’s head, “Wait! We need to use Morse code. The train station will hear it and relay message.”

“I don’t know Morse code.” Says Henry.

“Don’t worry. I do.” Taking over the horn, the young man blasts. “Train sabotaged. Cannot stop!”

As they blinked, the small town disappeared behind them, and the young man blew the horn for five minutes past the last station. With a wry smile, the man stops blowing the horn and says, “Someone should have understood that message.”

Stretching out his hand, the man says, “I believe we have not been properly introduced. Or maybe we have…” as he sees Henry’s right hand with the word Duckpin on it.

“Excuse me?” asks Henry

“Duckpin. That’s one of my nicknames. Have we met before?”

Staring at the man, Henry says, “Not that I remember. You’re Duckpin?”

Duckpin answers skeptically, “Yes. Do you know why that word is written on your hand?”

Shaking his head, no, Henry answers, “I was sent here to help and protect someone named Duckpin. If you’re him. I can see you’re in one piece, but we still have an issue on our hands.”

“The runaway train.” Duckpin gloomily answers.

Nodding, Henry continues, “We’ve got to get through Muskogee and then somehow disengage the engine and the coal car before we can begin to stop the passenger and freight cars.”

“Well, the good news is once we have pulled out the pin, the cars will start to slow down on their own without us buckling or derailing the cars before we apply the hand brake.”

“Is it possible for us to disengage the engine before we get to Muskogee and then coast our way into the station?” asks Henry.

“I am a military man and I excelled in engineering while at school. If we time it just right, we might be able to, but it will be close no matter what we do.”

And to confirm their story. The train seem to lurch again. It is a good thing the men had already moved the train engineer and his team into the passenger car.

After gaining their balance, Duckpin says, “We have to move fast. We don’t have forty-five minutes. We now have less than that.”

“Understood.” Says Henry. “But we still have to warn Muskogee.”

“No, we’ve got to move back as quickly as we can. As much as military men love to advance, there are times we must retreat.”

As they leave the compartment, Henry notices a rod with a hook on the end and grabs it.

“What’s that for?” asks Duckpin.

“I think it’s for us to remove the pin from the coupling without injury.”

Giving it the once over, Duckpin answers, “I believe you’re right. Come on! We’ve got to move!”

Thankfully the train hadn’t needed to have any sharp turns allowing the locomotive to stay on the tracks. Their clothes were covered in soot and grime, but the men didn’t care. Muskogee is just a few miles away and they are short on time to get the job done.

Henry waits for Duckpin to cross over to the car before he tries to unhook the pin from the coupling. The jostling between the cars makes it difficult for Henry to complete his work. Which got him to thinking, “I guess there are no atheists in foxholes and dare I say, dangerous situations. Because right now, I need help and again, if you’re real God. Please help me.”

Like putting thread into the eye of a needle, Henry manages to hook the pin, but cannot pull it directly out since the train is rocking. “Wait!” says Duckpin.

“Wait?” There isn’t time!”

But Duckpin disappears and Henry continues to work releasing the pin. As quickly as the young man vanished, he re-appears and stretches himself out with a couple of men holding onto him. He extends a rope and tells Henry to wrap it around him and yells, “Once you’ve pulled the pin, we’re going to make sure you don’t fall as the engine and coal car pulls away from us.”

Grateful they are concerned with his safety, Henry swiftly and deftly removes the pin, and the men hold the rope taunt making sure Henry doesn’t fall under the train. As they take him inside the car, adrenaline starts to dissipate, and Henry feels as if he wants to collapse, but there is more to be done.

Duckpin grabs Henry’s hand and pulls him towards himself and holds him tight as he gains his balance. When he does, Henry’s mind flashes, he remembers who this man is and what he will become.

“We did it!” Duckpin shouts. They watch as the engine moves even faster now that the weight of the train isn’t slowing it down. However, the outskirts of Muskogee can be seen. Making everyone nervous about what could happen.

“We’ve got to employ the hand brakes.” Says Henry.

“Not yet. We’re still going too fast. Don’t worry. I’ve got faith we’ll be all right.”

As they begin to become slower, Henry and Duckpin watch and the bend before the station, the engine and the coal jackknife and plummet off the tracks. An eruption of the engine and the coal burned hot just outside of the town.

“Now, we need to slow these cars down.” Says Duckpin.

Several men took station above the trains. They were told to work together by counting slowly with each turn. “If it helps, think of it like a thunderstorm. When counting the distance between thunder and lightning. Such as, one Mississippi, two Mississippi, and etc. It will help us stay in sync.” Says Duckpin.

It worked. They were able to slow the train down to a stop about a mile before the crash of the engine. Thankfully, there were no homes or businesses that close to the track where the accident occurred. Everyone celebrated until a woman’s scream was heard.

Duckpin’s blood ran cold. Running across the tops of the train, he shouts, “Mary!” and like a wild man throws open the door to find his wife being held against her will.

Henry following close behind arrive to see Herbert has grabbed Duckpin’s wife. “Herbert, what are you doing?”

Holding a knife to her throat, Herbert responds, “Remember our earlier conversation? Remember how I told you I like a good mystery. You see, just like you I was sent here. I wasn’t sure you were the one to stop us. I didn’t know until you opened up your vest. Inside your vest is a button. That’s when I knew you were here to stop what had been planned.”

Turning, Duckpin asks, “You know this man? What does he want? Why does he have my Mary?”

Answering, Henry steadily tries to put himself between Duckpin and his now nemesis. “I was sent here to help you sir. To keep you safe. When I arrived, I couldn’t remember why I was aboard except it was urgent. Your nickname was inscribed on my hand because if your name was spoken you would have been identified right away.”

Raising up his hands, Henry says, “Herbert, let her go.”

Shaking with fear and fury Herbert replies, “No! I must finish what I was sent here to do!”

“Herbert, I thought you were my friend. What are you doing?”

“I would have liked to be your friend, but other things take precedence!" Pulling the knife away from Mary’s throat, he points it at Duckpin, “He has to die! He mustn’t be allowed to be!”

As the knife was pointed at Duckpin, Mary used a form of jujitsu to knock the knife out if his hand before extricating herself from her attacker and throwing Herbert back into a seat.

Within seconds, Herbert is subdued and Mary flies into her husband’s arms. “Oh Dwight!”

Still quite angry at her assailant, Dwight holds onto his wife and whispers “Mamie, I’ve got you. You are really wonderful, you know that?”

Henry asks one of the passengers to go and get the U.S. Marshall and bring the other prisoner with him. “Please let him know we’ve got another one, which needs his attention.”

Continuing with his questions, Henry asks Herbert, “What did you mean by the button on the inside of my vest?”

“Did they tell you nothing? You have a brown vest on. There is a blue button on the inside of the right side of the vest. That button when pushed will take you back.”

“Back? Back where?”

“Back to your own time. To our time.” says Herbert as he whispers in a hiss.

The U.S. Marshall and his deputies makes his way to the back of the passenger car. “I’m sorry, the other fugitive got away.”

Curiously, Henry and Dwight look at him and ask, “What do you mean, got away?”

“I mean, he disappeared into thin air. Once you two stopped the engine and began working on slowing down the rest of the cars, he just vanished. We’ve been searching for him but cannot find him anywhere.”

Herbert pipes up, “If you hadn’t have bound my hands behind my back, I would have been gone too.”

Henry sees Mamie and Dwight holding each other like a newly wed couple would. He asks, “Ma’am how did you know jujitsu?”

She laughs a little, “Dwight made me take self defense classes. He wanted me to be able to do more than just use my hat pin.”

“I am so thankful you remembered your training my dove. When I heard you scream, I wasn’t sure what to expect.”

Smiling up at her husband, she answers, “I didn’t scream. That was someone else. I just waited for an opportunity to remove myself from him.”

“That’s my girl!” Hugging Mamie tighter, Dwight says, “Isn’t she amazing! I got myself a real keeper!”

Grabbing Dwight’s hand, Henry says, “Sir, it was a pleasure to serve with you. Take care, trust your instincts, and be the man I know you are and will be.

Muskogee’s towns people start running towards those who had endured such a fright. Henry uses this melee to make their escape. Instead of leaving him behind Henry decides to take Herbert back to their own time. Thinking there must be some kind of justice system in place to deal with what crimes were committed. As they walk away from the back of the train, Dwight, Mamie, and the U.S. Marshall notices them vanish into mid-air leaving them puzzled as to who those men are.

The mere second Henry pushes the button on the inside of his vest he arrives back in his own time with his old and new memories now intact.

“Welcome back!” says the gray-headed scientist. “I see your assignment was successful.” There were several screens showing Dwight D. Eisenhower’s life including him being President of the United States.

“I see you picked up a hitchhiker?” says the scientist. His staff scan the two men before security takes Herbert away to await trial.

“Yes, unfortunately, his partner got away.”

“No matter, we will track him and bring him back before any more damage is done to the timeline. Come, come, you must make your report and give us a description of the other man. Then you must rest. For there is much more for us to do.”

“I was ill-prepared. Before I go back out, I need to be better equipped.”

“Of course, you’re right, you were not at capacity, but the next time we send you into the drift, you will be ready and be able to retain the information to complete your mission. We cannot allow the past to be altered. Regardless of how we feel or what we want. Yes?”

“Why did they want to stop him?” asks Henry

“That is a good question. One, which I cannot answer, but that is why we are here, no?”

“Yes. That is why we are here.” Says Henry. “I just wish I knew what the Purity Syndicate’s true intentions are. I guess there is only one way to find out. The next opportunity I have to impale time.