A Thief of Time
WRITTEN IN THE ORDER: KATE, MAYA, SARAH, KATHRYN
AUSTRALIA, 1947
"Get on with it, ya wimp," Chris screamed, swinging his cricket bat menacingly. "I rekon ya couldn't even get that ball to reach me, let alone get me out!"
He took position against the sandstone wall in the hot Australian town of Woomaloo, ready to hit the cricket ball. Some distance away, Maya lowered her eyebrows in concentration and then took a run up, preparing to bowl her older brother out. Her effort was fantastic, but Chris connected the bat with the ball with an almighty wack, and the red ball flew over Maya's head and away. She laughed and chased after it, across the burning main street.
Maya, the daughter of Woomaloo's bar-tender, adored cricket. The only thing that she enjoyed more was taking a long run. Chris, on the other hand, lived only for cricket and delighted in beating her. He knew everything about all the professional players, and had placed bets with Maya about who would be chosen for next year's 1948 team.
As Maya chased after the ball, something lying on the ground to her right caught her attention. She stopped, and wandered over to look at it.
"What ya doing?" Chris called.
"Look at this," Maya yelled back.
Chris ran over and stared at the shiny, black, stone-like object that lay on the dust, reflecting the sky.
"What d'ya rekon it is?" he askd.
They both bent forward and simultaneously picked up the stone. There was a brief flare, and then in the place where Maya and Chris had stood there remained only dust.
***
SAN FRANCISCO, 1960s
On either side of a large table, two figures sat.
"I still don't think it's a good idea," the taller figure stated firmly.
"Why?"
"Because... you can't just steal time. You can't pluck people out of one century and dump them in another. You have no idea of what the consequences could be," the figure spread its hands.
"Don't be silly," the other replied. "The theft of time is a breeze."
***
LONDON, present
In the grey streets of London... 
on the eve of her 18th birthday, Sarah trudged along, wrapping her arms around herself to sheild herself from the bitter cold.
"Why do I have to visit Grandpa?" she muttered to herself, "I wish mother would let me stay at home and plan my party for tomorrow night. there are so many little details I have to finalise."
After walking for 15 minutes, she arrived at Grandpa Matt's apartment. With a sigh, she went up and into his place.
"Hi Grandpa!" Sarah said, and gave him a kiss. Poor old Grandpa Matt was over 90 and his withered old body was confined to a wheelchair.
"Hello dear, I'm so glad to see you," Matt said fondly.
"I wish I could say the same thing," Sarah muttered under her breath.
"What was that dear?" Grandpa said, his had behind his ear.
"Nothing."
Grandpa wheeled himself into his bedroom and asked Sarah to get out an old chest. She did, and was puzzled.
"What is it, Grandpa?"
"Get out that little velvet box, dear. Look inside."
Sarah opened the box, about the same size as a graphics calculator, but deeper. She drew in her breath. In it lay a shiny black thing that looked like a rock. As Sarah reached out to touch it, Grandpa stopped her.
"I was waiting for you to turn 18 until I gave this to you. You are my only grandchild, and I must pass it on. With this, I had so many adventures, to lands of different times and places..." Grandpa trailed off, and stared into space.
"Adventures? With a rock?? Okay, Grandpa, I'd better go," Sarah said skeptically, and left Grandpa, who was in a world of his own, spit dribbling down his chin.
When Sarah got home, she shoved the box under her bed and picked up the phone to call her best friend, Irene, about the party.
***
SAN FRANSICSCO, 1960s
The taller figure slammed down his empty port glass, "Look, Loan, no matter what you say, we can't just change the course of history."
Loan, in her business suit, sighed. "There is no proof whatsoever that the time stones change history. Personally, I think time is only stolen for the individual. Now, I'd better get back to work," she said, grabbed her briefcase and left Lawrence alone in the restaurant. He noticed the radio playing in the background "And now folks, a new release from that great new band, the Beatles."
~
IRELAND, during Potato Famine
Kathryn wiped the sweat from her brow, pulling the pitchfork out of the dirt to lean heavily on it.
Across the field she saw her twin brothers Patrick and Edward playing tip. Turning she could see her mother Catie tilling the soil. They were preparing their small patch of earth for the few seedlings they were lucky enough to own. Kathryn's father, Greg, had died 5 years ago leaving her family to fend for themself in the small, Irish, town where she had been born.
Suddenly, two English officers appeared over the horizon, riding immaculately groomed black horses.
"What can I do for you, sirs?" Asked Catie, when they arrived hatred veiled thinly by the polite smile pasted on her face.
"Your rent is overdue." Said one of the officers bluntly.
"I beg your pardon, sir, but it is not due till next week." Replied Catie.
"We're just following orders and those are to give you warning to pay the rent by noon tomorrow..." He paused "Or you may lose your home and any other valuables." He eyed Kathryn with interest, while the other officer dismounted and picked up the seedlings which Kathryn and her mother had carefully nurtured. He mounted his horse, taking the plants with him.
"I'm afraid these will have to be confiscated." The officers sneered. "Remember, by noon tomorrow."
They rode off gain disappearing as quickly as they had come.
"Damn it." Swore Kathryn.
"Kat, there is no need to use such language." Mumbled her mother weakly.
"Oh well." Catie began. "We shall simply start again."
Kathryn plunged her pitchfork forcefully into the soil. She was just about to move back into the house when she caught sight of a small, black rock shimmering in the light. She reached down and picked it up... and vanished.
~
Saudi Arabia, 1856
The dancer slowly redressed in her loose pants and vest, placed on her veil, and moved out onto the stage. After her dance, she moved backstage and looked through her jewelery.
"Kate?" called a voice, and Rod poked his head around her tent flap. "You were great today. Are you ready?"
"I'll be a minute," Kate replied.
"I'll wait outside," Rod said and moved back out. Kate picked up her favourite necklace. In the bottom of the box was a shiny black stone-like object.
"That's odd," murmured Kate, and picked up the stone...
~
An island, somewhere, sometime
Grogilly, Sarah sat up. She had invited Irene over to help her plan her 18th birthday party details, and their conversation had drifted to the present from her grandfather. Sarah had produced the stone in it's box. They had decided to touch the stone at the same time to see what happened and that was the last thing Sarah remembered.
"I must have fallen asleep," she muttered. "That means it's my birthday!"
Then Sarah actually looked around. She wasn't in her room. She wasn't even in London. The sad she was sitting on was soft, fine and white, and the sun was shining on the blue sparkling water.
"What the -. Where am I?" she said. Just then, Irene sat up. She looked around, rubbing her head.
"Is this some kind of joke?" she demanded of Sarah.
Sarah mutely shook her head. Further down the beach, she could see more people, gathering.
"Let's go down there," Sarah said. Together, Sarah and Irene moved down to the group. There was a boy and a girl in old-fashioned, roughly cut clothes, covered in red dust, another girl in a very rough-cut dress - of sorts, and another girl in very brief clothing that looked vaguely like something from "I dream of Jeannie."
"Hullo," said Sarah in her London accent. "I'm Sarah, who are you?"
"English!" spat the girl in the rough-cut dress, and muttered something in a language Sarah didn't recognise.
"Your name is English?" Sarah asked.
The girl gave her a look. "My name is Kat," she said in a sullen tone of voice, "not that you English types care."
"You're Irish," deduced Irene, from the accent. "Why are you using such funny language?"
"It's your damn language," muttered the girl, and continued in Gaelic, saying something that sounded quite un-complimentary.
"G'day," said the dust covered two.
"I'm Chris, this is my sister, Maya. We're Aussies. Where are yous guys from?"
The Irish girl gave them a look. "So you're both convicts. Why do you still have both your hands?"
"What?" said Maya. "I'm not a damn convict!"
"Wait!" said Sarah. "I am Sarah, this is Irene. I'm from London. The last thing I remember is this black stone my Grandfather gave me."
Kat muttered something under her breath again, in Gaelic.
"Maya and I are Aussies. Australians. Our family immigrated out 2 generations back," said Chris proudly.
"I'm Irish," said Kat. "I found a stone, after those damn English soldiers came and took all our food." She trailed into Gaelic again.
The girl in the genie clothes was looking at them strangely. "I am Kate..." she said softly, with great difficulty. "I do know not your talk."
"Very multicultural," Sarah muttered. She attempted to explain the identities of herself and the others again - very slowly. Irene fished a 'Discman' out of her pocket and shoved in the ear phones.
"What's that?" Chris asked curiously, his attention drawn from Kate and her clothes.
"Huh?" Irene held the sliver object up. "It's my 'Discman'. I've got 'Courtney Crows' in... they're pucker!" She pulled out an earphone and handed it to Chris. He listened and his eyes widened.
"Fantastic!" he crooned. "What is it?"
"A 'Discman'," she replied. "I keep telling you." Irene scrutinised Chris. "You really don't know, do you? Are you sure that you're from Australia?"
"Yeah, fair dinkum. I'm from Woomaloo, down under. Maya and I." He suddenly got excited. "And my dad got us tickets for the first game of '48!"
"'48?" Irene was bewildered. "1948? Um, Chris, I hate to tell you, but it's the year 2000."
"Sweet Mary! You British know nothing! It's 1914!" Kathryn shook her head in dismay.
Sarah looked up.
"I think something very odd is happening. Kate," she said slowly, "what is the year?"
Kate looked puzzled.
"The year? My father have friend from England. He say... say it is... um... eighteen hundred and fifty six years later Jesus Christ birth." Kate looked proud.
"This is some weird, sci-fi, Narnia garbage," Irene muttered.
***
SAN FRANCISCO, 1960s
That evening, at dinner, Lawrence handed Loan a hot glass of sake.
"So, Lawrence. Where do you want to visit? The options are..." She consulted a brightly coloured, hand-held computer. "... London, 2000; Woomaloo, 1947; South Atrim, 1914; or remote Saudi Arabit, 1856."
"I like it right where I am," Lawrence said stubbornly. "In fact, I was happy in 2050 in Vietnam. I am thoroughly sick of this! You cannot just steal people from one time and then take their place. It changes history, Loan!"
"I think Saudi Arabia sounds nice," Loan replied.
***
An island, somewhere, sometime
As Irene and Sarah sat together, discussing their strange prediciment, Maya and Chris had bounced off to play cricket, dragging a reluctant Kathryn with them. There was a sudden cry from Kate.
"What? What?" Sarah leapt up and ran towards the girl. Kate pointed to a tiny white girl and a tall dark man standing some distance away.
"Cheers," Sarah called. The pair turned.
"Civilization!" the girl called, her accent strangely clipped. "Oh! Oh! Save me from this savage!" She haulted suddenly, turning on the man. "You stole my beautiful black stone!" she wailed.
Sarah put out her hand.
"I'm Sarah, from London, England, in the year 2000 AD."
The other girl raised her eyebrow.
"I am Courtney. I am an Afrikaner, from South Africa. It's 1982. And that is a savage who is breaking the apartheid!"
"Hello," Sarah beckoned the man. "Do you speak English?" Sarah asked slowly.
He looked haughty.
"Of course." His accent was British. "Amoung other languages. I am..." all Sarah heard was a series of clicks.
"Oh," she said, calmly.
"How about Darren?" Irene asked, wandering over. "I've always liked that name." The tall black man replied "Alright, I suppose so, since my name is hard to pronounce."
Kathryn, Maya and Chris ran back over, having finished playing, and everyone introduced themselves to the new comers.
"Now, I think we should all sit down and decide what to do about his, and how we can get home," Sarah decided.
"Home? Nah, stuff going home - this is great! It's warm, there's a beach and Chris and I have our cricket gear - what else could you ask for?" Maya said happily. This was met by serious opposition.
"My family are in trouble by the," Kathryn paused to say something rude in Gaelic, "English, and our rent is due at noon tomorrow!"
"And my 18th party is today! Or is it tomorrow?" Sarah said, confused about which day it was.
Irene let out a yell, "Look, my watch has stopped! It still says 5:16pm on the day I was at Sarah's."
"Yeah, same," replied Sarah, Courtney and Darren. The others all crowded around, oohing and aahing at the "little clocks".
"And I must dance!" said Kate urgently.
"You could dance here if you'd like," Chris said, looking at Kate's clothes.
"Look, get me back to South Africa please, I must report him to my father," Courtney said, pointing an accusing finger at Darren.
There was a pause. "Okay, I think the consensus is that we all must get home for some reason or another," said Sarah. Everyone nodded, except the 2 Aussies, who were in heaven on this island."
"Well, why don't some of us take a look around?" suggested Irene, so Sarah, Irene and Courtney volunteered to search the island, leaving Darren, Kate, Kathryn, Chris and Maya on the beach.
"See yous guys later!" Chris yelled, and returned his gaze to Kate, who was getting thoroughly uncomfortable.
~
Saudi Arabia, 1856
With a flash of light, Loan and Lawrence appeared in Kate's dressing room. "Quick, hide," whispered Loan, so they hid behind a thick curtain.
"Kate? Ready yet? Hurry up, people are getting impatient," Rod said, as he stuck his head around the door. "Kate? Where are you?"
Outside, Loan and Lawrence smiled at each other, "See, was that hard?" Loan asked.
"Thank goodness for that back entrance behind the curtain, that's all I can say," Lawrence muttered.
From under her coat, Loan pulled the pocket size, bright green computer, "And it's all thanks to you, Lawrence. If it weren't for you and your computer wizardry, this just wouldn't be possible."
Lawrence groaned, "Why did I do it?"
~
1883, GERMANY
Geordie and Simon entered the German tavern and sidled up to the bar for a drink. They were two English lieutenants (left-tenants) on leave for three days from the army. While Geordie tried to ask the barman for some ale, Simon reached for his moneybag. "Damnation." He muttered. "Geordie, I can't find the money."
"What." Geordie shouted. "After all the time I spent calculating the weight of the coins, their relationship to the vector dimensions of the bag..." he trailed off.
"It might be just outside. Come on."
They got up and went outside to check.
"Hey look." Simon cried.
"Did you find it?" Asked Geordie.
"No but look at that rock..."
***
An island, somewhere, somethime
"Men, men!" Kate shouted.
"What... oh... oh look." Kathryn, Sarah, Irene and Maya ran down to greet the newcomers, who were looking around in amazement.
"Hullo," said Sarah. "What place - and time - are you from?"
The two men looked at each other.
"Are we back home? England? You are English?"
"More English!" exclaimed Kat, throwing her hands in the air in disgust. She muttered in Gaelic. "God damn things are everywhere." Irene gave her a look, and turned back to the men.
"I'm Irene," she said offering her hand.
The two men exchanged looks, then Geordie took her hand and kissed it.
"Fair lady, I am Lieutenant Geordie, in the English army, stationed in Germany. On 2 days leave, my friend, Lieutenant Simon and I went to town, but he lost all our money. Then we were here."
"Oh," said Irene, giggling and taking back her hand. "What year is it?"
"Oh... damn. Oh well. Come and meet the others."
The group re-formed around the newcomers. "Ok," said Sarah, taking charge. "Allow me to introduce Lieutenants Simon and Geordie. Boys, these other people are - actually, they don't really matter..."
"Forward, isn't she?" murmured Simon to Geordie. "So is the other one. Maybe we can get them to -" He stopped as he realised everyone was listening.
"Look," said Chris. "As the only male here who knows what's going on, I will make introductions. I am Chris. That's me sister, Maya. We're from Australia, 1947. That's Kate ~ Saudi Arabia, 1856. The one muttering to herself is Kathryn ~ Ireland, 1914. Those two are Courtney and Darren, from South Africa, 1982. And Irene and Sarah you met. They're from London, 2000."
Simon sat down, rather heavily.
"Some of the girls went for a walk just before. Did you find anything?"
"Yes," said Courtney. "A whole pile of nothing. Ok, not true. There's a huge black rock up there, with a whole lot of bits chipped out of it. It looks like the same stuff as my stone that he,"" she scowled at Darren, "stole." "Wait!" Sarah cried. "You had a black stone? I had one too. That's the last thing I remember before coming here."
"Yeah, Maya found one of them... kinda shiny, right?" Chris asked.
Sarah stared at him.
"You IDIOT!" she cried. "Why didn't you say that when I mentioned the stone before?"
"Did ya?" Chris shrugged, losing interest.
"YES!" Sarah screamed. "Who else had a stone?"
There were various murmers of "me" from everyone else. the murmers sounded scared, possibly due to the look of rage on Sarah's face.
"Let us pay a visit to this rock," Darren decided.
***
Saudi Arabia, 1856
Loan and Lawrence wandered through the streets, Lawrence shuffling some distance behind Loan in deep sulk.
"Stop whinging," Loan called over her shoulder. "Tell you what, let's go into this shop and I'll buy you a present."
They walked in and were greeted by a skinny, dark-haired man in a very fuzzy top of orange-brown hue, which looked like it could be alive. He bustled behind them, trying to be helpful and failing, as he spoke no English and the pair spoke no Saudi Arabian.
"We could have at least gone somewhere where we spoke the language," Lawrence muttered.
"Lawrence, if you do not shut up I shall do something not nice to you. We're on holiday. No one's going to get hurt. People always work out how the stones work, and they love it. History doesn't change and we get to visit... THE WORLD!" Loan paused dramatically, and watch Lawrence's continued sulk. "Here," she continued. "Try on this great black, ankle-length jacket. It's imported from England and would suit you to a tee."
***
An island, somewhere, sometime
Chris hacked at the rock with his pocket knife, given to him by Maya after her visit to to 'AUSSIE DISPOSALS'. He finally broke off a chip, which Kate picked up.
"Well, it doesn't do what the old stuff did," Kate said under her breath.
"Maybe you have to jump into a pool of water," Irene said sneeringly, having read 'The Magician's Nephew' to her brother that week.
Courtney snatched the rock chip and stamped her feet. "I want a big rock! I want my father to make it into a necklace. And I WANT TO GO HOME!"
Courtney promptly disappeared and then reappeared further down the beach.
"Bonza!" cried Maya and Chris together.
"Oh! Oh! I was home, just for a second!" Courtney began to cry.
"Me!" Kate ran forward and took the chip.
"Home, " she said firmly, in several languages. Nothing happened and Kate also began to bawl.
Chris, Darren, Simon and Geordie looked uncomfortable.
***
Saudi Arabia, 1856
"See?" Loan said triumphantly, pointing at the computer. "They've got the stones working."
"Someone's trying to come here," Lawrence replied.
"Well we're here!" Loan retorted. "They'll have to wait."
***
The same island
Having discovered that the stones could take you wherever you want, Courtney, Sarah and Irene all started to fight over the rock.
"Give it to me!"
"No, I want it!"
"It's mine!"
All 3 girls had an equal grasp on the chip, and their arguing got more and more heated. Just as the others were about to say something there was a flash of light, and suddenly the 3 girls were gone.
Darren, Maya, Chris, Kathryn, Geordie, Simon and Kate stoped and their jaws dropped, "Wow, it really worked" someone said.
Maya scratched her head, "But, where would they've gone? They weren't all thinking of the same place."
"No, the only thing they were all thinking of was themselves, and having the stone to themselves," Darren said.
"So what's happened to them?" Geordie asked.
~
Saudi Arabia, 1856
Outside the shop, as the 2 were walking, Lawrence noticed the red WARNING light flashing. "Loan, we have a problem," Lawrence said urgently.
She looked at the screen, and drew in her breath. "This has never happened before. What's going on? That's the whole point of having the centre on that island - so everyone feels peaceful and things like this don't happen," she said, getting more and more anxious.
"Well, where have they been transported to?" Loan demanded.
Lawrence was busy fiddling with buttons, "I don't know, but it's sure not on the map."
~
An island, somewhere, sometime
The time travellers searched the island for the three girls but had no luck finding them.
Just as they were about to give up, they noticed a flash of light some way down the beach.
They ran over to investigate.
"Oh my gosh!" Exclaimed Kathryn as they glanced down at 3 very furry coconuts.
"Well..." Maya began. "I really love coconut milk. Let's have some lunch."
***
Saudi Arabia, 1856
Laurence blanched as the computer told him of the three girl's fate.
"Loan... I told you. We shouldn't have meddled in something so powerful. Now, three innocent girls have died." He slammed his fist down on a nearby table and then stalked off, his long, black, useless coat billowing around him.
***
Kathryn wiped the coconut juice form her chin and smiled at the thought that she was actually eating the English.
"I wonder if Sarah, Irene and Courtney disappearing from time will have any effect on the course of history and all that stuff." Pondered Geordie.
Just then there was a flash, and 2 figures appeared on the beach. They stormed up to the group.
"What have you done?" yelled the boy in the ankle-length black coat.
"They turned into coconuts, so we ate them." Lawrence sighed, and turned to Loan. "This is all your fault," he accused. "And I am ending this now!" Lawrence stormed up to the black rock and removed a large piece.
"Vietnam, 2050!" he cried.
~
Vietnam, 2050
Lawrence woke in his lab. Had all that been a dream, or did it actually happen? He looked down at his computer and the large black stone he had manufactured. He had been right. You couldn't just steal time, and now he had to do something about it. Lawrence picked up the stone and placed it in the matter-evaporiator, and pressed 'on'. In an instant, there was nothing left of the stone. Lawrence returned to his computer and deleted all his notes on the subject. It was far better this way. Lawrence shut his computer and walked out into the street.
~
Saudi Arabia, 1856
Kate shook her head and sat up. Rod stuck his head around the flap of her tent. "Kate? Are you ready? You were great today."
"I'll be a minute."
"I'll wait outside."
As Kate reached for her jewelery box, she felt a strange sense of deja vu, but passed it off as tiredness as she removed her favourite necklace from the box and placed it around her neck. The box was empty now. Kate went out to meet Rod.
~
Germany, 1883
"Geordie, I can't find the money," said Simon.
"What?" shouted Geordie. "After -" he stopped as he saw the bag on the floor. He pointed it out, and turned back to the barman.
"Two ales, thanks."
~
Ireland, 1914
Kathryn paused and leaned against her pitchfork. She felt a sudden sense of dread as she looked at her brothers and Mother.
"Mother," she said urgently. "Hide the seedlings. I have a bad feeling."
Catie looked shocked, but as soon as they returned to the field, 2 English officers appeared on 2 black horses.
"What can I do for you, sirs?" asked Catie.
"They want to tell us our rent is due," said Kat in sudden insight, then looked puzzled at herself. The soldiers looked startled.
"Yes," said one of them. "It's due at noon tomorrow. Don't forget." And they rode away.
~
Australia, 1947
"Howzat!" yelled Maya as the red cricket ball hit the rubbish bin behind her brother.
"What?" yelled Chris. "I don't believe it!"
Reluctantly, he gave Maya the bat and moved to get the ball.
"I'm gonna get you out!" he threatened, and moved into position.
~
South Africa, 1982
Courtney looked around, and moved towards her father's room. The visiting black people were very interesting. They were actually educated. She had promised her father she would meet one man in particular. She didn't know why, but she felt very curious. Courtney glanced at the floor, but there was nothing there. A black man came up next to her.
"Hello," he said. "I am -" He pronounced a series of clicks.
"Oh, hello," she said. "I think I'll call you Darren."
~
London, 2000
Sarah opened the door to her grandfather's room. "Hi Grandpa!" she said and kissed him.
"Hello, dear, I'm so glad to see you," Matt said fondly.
"I'm glad to see you too, Grandpa. It's my birthday tomorrow!"
"I know dear. Will you open that chest for me? Pick up the little velvet box. Look inside."
Sarah opened the box and gazed upon the string of pearls.
"Oh, Grandpa!"
"Happy Birthday, dear." Matt said. "They were your grandmothers. Please put them on, I would love to see you in them."
Sarah put them on.
"Oh, Grandpa! They're beautiful!" Sarah kissed him and after a while, left.
***
Irene and her mother, Mrs Ariel were suitably impressed with Sarah's pearls. Then, they continued to plan Sarah's party, whist eating crab soup.
~
An island somewhere, someplace
The stone on the island shimered, and vanished. The island shook, and slowly sunk back into the ocean, like it had never been.
THE END