Free The Time Travel Chronicles by Robert J. Sawyer, Stefan Bolz, Ann Christy, Samuel Peralta, Rysa Walker, Lucas Bale, Anthony Vicino, Ernie Lindsey, Carol Davis, Tracy Banghart, Michael Holden, Daniel Arthur Smith, Ernie Luis, Erik Wecks Page B

my research questions.”
    She may have a point there. I was by far the oldest occupant at the dinner table.  We ate with the six boys and two girls who still reside in the Potter home, ranging from nineteen-year-old Benedict Arnold Potter (who will decide to drop his troublesome first name in a few months when his namesake is exposed as traitor) to four-year-old Pelham, who doesn’t like dried beef and was therefore given a bowl of something called pop-robin.  Judge Potter isn’t due to return until later this evening.  He dined with us in absentia, however—a dramatic portrait of the judge as a young man hangs above the dining room fireplace, staring down at his progeny and guests as we ate.  Penelope came down briefly to introduce herself to Katherine and make sure we were being taken care of, then returned upstairs with one of her daughters to tend Susannah.  I haven’t seen Jemima since we spoke three hours ago. 
    I nod toward the window, where a full moon hangs in the sky, pinkish-red, but still a far cry from the dark, blood red orb that history recorded tomorrow night. “The girl—the one who’s around your age?  She spent a good ten minutes telling us how the Friend predicted the moon you see there. You couldn’t have gotten any better information than that at the inn. The action takes place tomorrow , Kathy.  Tonight simply gets us into place and staying here avoids a hike back and forth from the village.”
    Our bags are on the bed, fetched from the inn as Jemima promised.  I shove Katherine’s bag in her direction and start digging through my own.  
    “Why didn’t you request separate rooms like we had at the inn? It would have made more sense, given that the entire reason we’re supposedly here is to ask the Friend’s counsel on whether we should be celibate. Did you even mention that to her?”
    “I didn’t really have time, Kathy.  It was a two minute conversation held outside the privy.  The woman was in a rush to get back to Susannah.”
    “Sorry. I guess you’re right.” She’s quiet for a moment, and then adds, “Do you think that’s why Mrs. Potter follows Jemima?  Maybe she wants the judge to embrace celibacy so that she’s not spitting out a kid every few years.”
    It’s equally likely that Penelope Potter realizes her randy old goat will never embrace celibacy, and she’s actively hoping his prayer sessions with Jemima are exactly what the townspeople think they are so that she’s off the hook in that regard.  I’d tell Katherine that, but it would probably send her off on a boring tangent about how the miracle of birth control saved women from a life of drudgery and I’m too tired to pretend that I care.
    When I finally locate the item I’m searching for in my bag, her eyebrows shoot straight up. 
    “Is that a toothbrush? How on earth did you get that approved?”  
    “Special request from the prop department.  The handle is bone, and the bristles look like, but damn well better not be, swine hair.  These were first used around 1780, so yeah, it was approved.  If you’re nice to me, I’ll let you borrow it.”
    She wrinkles her nose. “No, thanks.  I have a cloth in my bag.”
    “Suit yourself.” 
    I walk over to the water jug and dampen the brush, thinking as I scrub how nice it would be if the overlords of CHRONOS would approve toothpaste. Or better yet, a portable sonic scrubber.
    When I’m done, I spit into the side basin and then turn back to face her. “They don’t tell you this during training, Kathy, but everyone goes off plan.  We improvise.  Otherwise, we learn nothing.”
    Her eyes remain wary.  And while I can’t be certain in the dim light, her trademark blush seems to be missing.  Has Katherine Shaw gotten used to my presence over the past few hours?    
    That’s something I need to fix.
    I take a few steps toward her. Tipping her chin upward with my thumb, I give her my best, most reassuring smile, as I trace her