‘I was blind drunk for a month. I hit anyone and everyone who spoke to me or who even came near me. I nearly tore France apart looking for my ex-wife, but fortunately never found her. I’ve never seen her since. I don’t even know if she knows the boys are dead. I got suspended from my job and was all set to drink myself to death in six months when St Mary’s found me.’
He turned and started looking out of the window again.
‘Edward found me – in a bar, obviously. He picked a fight; we took it outside, and he hammered seven bells out of me. I woke up in St Mary’s. They offered me a special job.’
He came and sat next to me. ‘Forget all that other stuff. This is what’s important. In my time, St Mary’s is in big trouble. There are, or will be, people who think History can be manipulated, made more profitable. There were more of them than anyone knew. They stole a pod, jumped back and – acquired – two more.’ He watched to see if I would make the connection.
‘Four and Seven! You never found the pods. I thought that was strange. How can you lose a pod?’
‘Exactly. There was no malfunction. We think they killed the historians and stole the pods. And now they have three at least.’
He got up and switched on the kettle.
‘We know that now is a vulnerable time for St Mary’s. Expenditure is massive, there’s no financial return, and losses are high.’
‘They want us closed down?’
‘No, we think they want us – diverted. Or subverted is a better word. St Mary’s must continue now so that it exists in the future. There must be at least one pod for them to steal. So our problem is on two fronts. We don’t want to be closed down by the current authorities and these guys are whizzing up and down the timeline causing havoc. It’s dangerous but profitable so they don’t care. The future St Mary’s is weak and vulnerable, so it made sense to send Edward and me back to fight the good fight here, before they become too powerful.’
I considered this for a while. The kettle boiled and he made some tea. When he sat down, I said, ‘You and the Boss – are here to strengthen St Mary’s?’
‘That’s partly the reason, yes.’
‘But it was the Boss who founded St Mary’s.’
‘Yes, he brought a pod back with him, pretended to “discover” time travel, and used it as the foundation for all the others.’
‘So the Boss brings a pod from the future to now. And that pod is the template for all future pods?’
He knew where I was going with this and smiled.
‘So who actually discovers or invents time travel? Who builds the first pod?’
He smiled and shrugged his shoulders. ‘You do not want to go there. Trust me, that way madness lays.’ I could believe it.
‘OK, back to you. You came back with the Boss to sort things out?’
‘No, there are two separate missions here. Edward and I jumped separately. He went back ten years further than me to found St Mary’s and get things going. I only arrived about six years ago.’
I thought of me and Kal. ‘What’s it like to see your friend suddenly ten years older than you?’
‘It was nearly an emotional moment, but we took it like men.’
‘So, St Mary’s is up and running. The Boss has done the grunt work and then you turn up.’
‘Drink your tea. Yes. I’m here to safeguard St Mary’s. Guide us through various technological breakthroughs. And to keep an eye on you.’
‘Am I strategically important?’
‘Actually yes, very important, but also I just like looking at you.’
I ignored this for the time being. ‘So you know the future.’
‘No, absolutely not. We need to be very clear about this. I was recruited and trained by the future St Mary’s. I have a detailed knowledge of you and St Mary’s up until the day I arrived here. After that – nothing, for obvious reasons.’
‘Bloody hell.’
He was sympathetic. ‘I know. It’s a lot to take in. I’ve been looking for an opportunity to talk to you these last two years, but you’re always either drunk, injured, stressed, or not actually in this time at all. It’s not been easy.’
‘So, do you have any instructions for me? Do I have to do anything?’
‘Just stay safe. I know, what am I thinking? But seriously, Max, watch yourself. Just be aware, will you?’
I nodded and sat back to think about all this. I looked at him. He was different. I was different. I’d walked into this room one person and I’d walk out another.
‘How far in the future is this?’
‘I can’t tell you, Max. Please don’t ask.’
‘But surely, one day your assignment will be finished. You’ll be recalled. Your pod is here. One day, you’ll leave.’ I tried to keep my voice level.
‘My pod is here to give me flexibility to track down these people. There are no plans to recall us. Edward and I are here for the duration.’