Free Hexad: The Ward by Al K. Line Page A

those mind-numbing conferences and—"
    "I thought you loved the conferences?" interrupted Amanda.
    Peter stared at her like she was insane. "What? No, I hate them, full of a bunch of crack-pots. But I knew, I knew that one day something like this would happen. Now it's paid off. Come on, guys, you have to let me go with you at least. You have to do the tin thing, right?"
    Amanda and Dale looked at each other; they both shrugged. Dale stood then picked up the Hexad. "Okay, let's do it then."
    "What, now? Seriously?"
    "Don't see why not. Now is as good a time as any. And besides, we have to do this, right, Amanda?"
    "I suppose so, but I wish there was another way. Look, if we do this then we have to be sure that nobody does anything stupid or messes anything up for the future. We know what can happen if the world gets hold of Hexads. Do you understand, Peter?"
    "Of course, of course, I understand. I'll be good, just come along for the ride. I can't believe we are about to do this. Man, I am so excited. I'll go get our shoes." Peter practically ran out of the living room.
    "Are you sure about this, Dale?" whispered Amanda. "Are you sure we should do this at all?"
    "You're the one that convinced me we had to send the tin, now you are having second thoughts?"
    "I'm just scared. All those things we saw months ago, it was terrifying. I don't want to go through any of that again. I don't think I could stand getting caught up in what we did but can't remember. How did we cope?"
    Dale hugged Amanda tight, and made a show of taking in her scent, breathing deeply and burying his head in her hair. "Because we are a team, honey, and if we stick together we can make it through anything. Not even time can tear us apart."
    "Oh, Dale, that is the sweetest thing you have ever said to me. I love you." Amanda wiped away a tear. She knew now wasn't the time, but Dale's words brought home quite how much she loved him. She couldn't help but wonder what the other him was doing, if he was doing anything at all.
    Ugh, don't start thinking about that.
    "You ready, guys? I've got the shoes." Peter smiled like a little kid given a huge lollipop, his paisley shirt dirty because he was cradling three pairs of footwear like his life depended on it.
    "Ha, I suppose so. Come on, let's go jump back in time." Amanda smiled. All she felt like doing was crying.
    "Yes!" Peter punched the air; he dropped the muddy shoes on the carpet.
    "Peter! Look at the mess."
    "Oops, sorry."
    "Oh, never mind. Come on, let's get ready."
    They sat at the kitchen table and put their shoes on. Amanda knew she was out of sorts as now there was mud not only in the living room but in the kitchen too — she couldn't bring herself to care, not really. While they got ready they discussed the best time to jump to, agreeing that to be safe jumping before they bought the house would be best, and to do it at night so nobody saw them. They knew the house had been unoccupied before they bought it, the owners having emigrated and left it in the hands of the estate agent.
    Peter watched in fascination as Amanda adjusted the dials on the Hexad, then took hold of Dale's hand.
    Dale held out his other hand for Peter; he took it eagerly.
    "Ready?" asked Amanda, the familiar excitement building, along with the fear. Dale nodded and Peter saluted.
    "Whooooooooooooooooooosh," went Dale.
    Peter looked at him and said, "Dale, what the hell are—"
    Amanda pushed the dome against Dale's shoulder, shaking her head at his daft noise.
    They jumped.
     
    ~~~
     
    1 Year 3 Months Past
     
    "Damn, that's us," said Dale. He pointed at a Dale and Amanda as they dug underneath the apple tree.
    "Oh my god, how are we there doing that? What's going on?" Amanda felt strange, like she wasn't herself, almost like she was drifting, fading into some kind of nothingness where she could at least forget the madness going on all around her.
    "No freaking way. You guys, this is nuts. We just traveled through time and now there