Gold Rush • A New Plan
A Professor Chalkdust and Miss Lucy Adventure • Part 11
This twelve-part serial follows the unexpected adventures of Oxford professor Emerson Caldwell Chalkdust and new teacher, Victoria Ann Curly, whom he volunteered to mentor. Both get far more than they expected thanks to a magical encyclopedia set. I will post chapters every other day until it is complete.
In the previous chapter, the Professor and Miss Curly visited the Wellingham Estate in Scotland, where they met Professor Jenkins, who has the other encyclopedia set.
Start at the beginning here:
“What are we going to do?” Miss Curly asked the professor.
“We still need to get into the secret room. I can sneak in,” Paul said.
“First, we must acquire lodging for the night. Then we can consider our next steps.”
“I wish the encyclopedias never existed,” Miss Curly said. “Can we go back in time and destroy the encyclopedias so Jenkins can’t get them?”
“If we do that, how will we get back home?” Paul asked.
“Maybe we could keep our set or just the one we need to get back. Or perhaps we can go back and talk to Wellingham. If we explain the consequences, maybe he can break the spell once we return.”
“Both good ideas,” the professor said. “But they bring up even more questions. Such as, why didn’t Wellingham go back in time to save his family? Is there anything in the diary, Paul?”
“Let me look.”
A few minutes later, Paul said, “I think I found something.”
He began to read the diary entry.
I am inconsolable. My beloved wife and children have passed on, leaving me here to suffer the agony of their absence. How I now wish I had gone with them on their journey. I curse the fates that kept me in the present to attend business whilst they undertook a venture without my knowledge or the safety of their father as their companion.
I curse the disease they brought with them on their return. I curse the foolishness of my father, that careless old wizard, for placing the spell on the encyclopedias. All because my sweet Margaret told him she wished she could visit the events she read about in the encyclopedia. I curse his softness for his grandchildren. I curse him for dying a month before their passing. I curse the townsfolk for suspecting me of their demise. I curse life, for it is cruel beyond measure.
“That poor man,” Miss Curly said.
“Indeed. It was both tragic and revealing. As I understand it, Wellingham’s father was the wizard. I was not inclined to believe in wizardry before purchasing the encyclopedias, but I have little doubt now. It seems he placed the spell on the encyclopedias at the request of Wellingham’s daughter. Paul, please read the next entry.”
Paul turned the page and began reading.
My efforts to return to the past and prevent this living nightmare are futile. I am unable to travel to any date that I was alive. Traveling to a date before my birth is of no use either. Upon reaching my birthdate, I find myself immediately back in the present.
My anguish has led to dark thoughts. Thoughts of murdering the publisher to prevent the encyclopedias from being published. Which I am horrified to say I momentarily considered. Yet how could I pass this agony on to another family to ease my own? Then there is the great likelihood that I would simply enlist another publisher.
Seven trips to that cursed entry in an attempt to intercept my loves have proven unsuccessful and disease-free. I cannot even suffer the same fate as those I love. I am without hope, yet I must continue to try. Although I can no longer stay in this place. The walls, the furniture, and the grounds are all constant reminders of those I’ve lost.
“Our options seem limited,” the professor said. “We need to do something before Jenkins starts changing history. I am of the opinion that we should travel back and visit Wellingham himself. Perhaps we can convince him not to commission the encyclopedias, or prevent his father from casting spells on them. First, we need to find an encyclopedia entry as close to 1905 and Edinburgh as possible. I don’t relish the thought of having to spend years in the past or traveling great distances to get to Scotland.”
They pulled into a cafe parking lot and got the encyclopedias out of their carry-on bags in the trunk. Then they began hunting for a suitable entry. After close to an hour, Paul shouted, “I’ve got it. There was a rugby match in Edinburgh on the 18th of November in 1905.”
“Don’t read it out loud!” Miss Curly yelled.
“I’m not that stupid,” Paul replied.
“I’m sorry. I panicked. I didn’t mean to shout.”
“It’s alright.”
“That is perfect,” the professor said. “It had to be the last entry before publishing, and it works perfectly for us. We should be fairly close to Wellingham’s estate, and his father may not have cast a spell on the encyclopedias yet.”
They collected the remaining encyclopedia volumes and placed them back in the trunk. They checked to see that no one was around.
“Is everyone ready?” the professor asked.
“I think so,” Miss Curly said
“Yes!” Paul said.
The professor handed the encyclopedia volume to Paul.
“Will you do the honors, Paul?”
“Sure. On 18 November 1905, the first rugby match between New Zealand and Scotland was played at Murrayfield, a sports stadium located in the west end of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland…”
Concludes in Part 12 on Saturday.
Thanks for reading and responding. You make it fun.
Mark
This chapter touches on one of those irritating time travel tropes. (Tiresome time travel tropes? Terribly tiresome time travel tropes? Terrifically terribly— never mind.) The time machine is also a space machine, so jumping back ten seconds could also put you on the other side of the world.
Not as big a deal here, obviously, because we don't know how the original was made to work, and in any case, it only functions for notable events in the encyclopedia. So basically, I'm just venting.
Sorry.
Continue.