Out of Time 01 - Out of Time

settled in the dust. Simon gently squeezed his grandfather’s arm and when he found his voice, it was roughened with profound emotion. “It’s good to see you.”
    Sebastian patted his cheek. “And you too, my boy,” he said softly before clearing his throat. “Now grab your cuppa and come have it at the table like a civilized person.”
    Obediently, Simon did as he was told, although he never took his eyes off the older man, sure he’d disappear if he did. “There are so many questions. How did you find me? What are you doing here? I—Elizabeth!” Simon said, the fog finally beginning to clear. Nearly spilling all of the tea, he thrust the cup onto the table. His head pounded even louder from the quick movement, and he gripped his forehead.
    “Easy there, lad. You’re in no shape to go running off after her now.”
    That caught him off guard. “You mean you know? About Elizabeth?”
    Sebastian nodded gravely. “I do.”
    “But how?”
    “All in good time. Drink your tea before it goes cold.”
    “I don’t want any bloody tea.”
    “Simon,” he said in stern voice. “Sit down,” he added more gently. “Please?”
    Grudgingly, Simon did as he was asked. “How do you know about Elizabeth? Do you know where she is? How did you even find me?”
    Sebastian put up his hand to halt the stream of questions. “As to the latter, I’ve been following you on and off for some days now. Or rather, following the man that was following you. Queer business, that. Very troubling. As to how I arrived here,” he said and took out a gold pocket watch. “The watch. And if I’m not mistaken, yours will have the same scratch, here below the engraving.”
    Simon took out his watch and, sure enough, the same mark marred his watch. It was, after all, the same watch. But how could it be in two places at once? Simon’s already spinning head couldn’t begin to fathom the complexities of time travel. He cleared his mind as best he could. “But why are you here now? Are you here to help me?”
    “An assignment from the Council. I had assumed you were here for the same reason. I’m ashamed to admit I didn’t recognize you straight away. I saw you at that club, Charlie Blue’s. You’re quite the scrapper,” Sebastian said proudly.
    “You were there? The fight was days ago. Why didn’t you say anything? Come to me?”
    “I didn’t know who you were. I saw you with the watch and assumed you were sent by the Council. But why they would send another member was puzzling. I sniffed around a bit, asked a few questions. When a man told me your name, I was absolutely gobstruck. I shouldn’t have been. I always suspected you might join the Council, follow in my footsteps. You never did care that others thought I wasn’t batting on a full wicket,” Sebastian said with a laugh.
    “But the more questions I asked, the murkier it all became. And your direct involvement in the culture was a clear violation of the prescripts of the Council.”
    “What council?” Simon asked, and rubbed his temple. “I don’t understand. What does this have to do with Elizabeth?”
    “The Council for Temporal Studies. I’m in the anthropological department with emphasis on occult studies. It’s a fine organization, if a bit overzealous on occasion.”
    “There are others like you?”
    “I’d like to think I’m unique,” Sebastian said with a wink. “But, yes. There are several other field operatives. Temporal explorers. What I can’t understand is how you came by the watch if it wasn’t given to you by the Council.”
    “Elizabeth and I...” Simon started, “It was an accident.”
    “Ah. The waitress. Your wife?”
    “Yes. No. Not exactly. It’s a long story.”
    “Why don’t you tell me about it?” Sebastian said in a voice that was nearly impossible to refuse.
    “There isn’t enough time. I have to find her,” Simon said, as he looked out the window. It was still raining. The skies darkening. “What time is it?”
    “Nearly four o’clock.”
    “The eclipse is in five hours,” Simon said, pushing back his chair. “I have to go.”
    “You don’t know where to look. Why not sit down and regain your strength? My back’s killing me. You must weigh fifteen stone now. You should probably have that head looked at. You’ve got quite a lump.”
    “There isn’t time for that.”
    “Rest for a few minutes. Sit down and tell me what’s happened. Together we’ll find a solution.”
    Sebastian’s calm resolve