Time and Again

he could find his ship and employ his own computer. Though impatience pushed at him, he hesitated for another moment, listening at the doorway. She was definitely in the kitchen, and, judging by the banging going on, she was still in a temper.
    The computer, with its awkward box screen and its quaint keyboard, sat on the desk, surrounded by books and papers. Cal sat in Libby's chair and grinned at it "Engage."
    The screen remained blank.
    "Computer, engage." Impatient with himself, Cal remembered the keyboard. He tapped in a command and waited. Nothing.
    Sitting back, he drummed his fingers on the desk and considered. Libby, for reasons Cal couldn't fathom, had shut the machine down. That was easily remedied. He pushed through a few papers and picked up a letter opener. He turned the keyboard over, preparing to pry off the face. Then he saw the switch.
    Idiot, he said to himself. They had switches for everything here. Calling on his remaining patience, he turned on the keyboard, then searched for more switches on the unit. When it began to hum, he had to muffle a cry of triumph.
    "Now we're getting somewhere. Computer-" He caught himself with a shake of the head and began to type.
    Computer, evaluate and conclude time warp factor-
    He stopped himself again, swore, then pried off the plastic cover to reveal the memory board. His impatience was making him sloppy. And-worse-stupid. You couldn't get anything out of a machine that hadn't been put in. It was delicate, time-consuming work, but he forced himself not to rush. When he was finished, it was jury-rigged at best, but his wrist unit was interfaced with Libby's computer.
    He took a deep breath and crossed the fingers on both hands. "Hello, computer."
    Hello, Cal. The tinny words beeped from his wrist unit as the letters flashed across Libby's screen.
    "Oh, baby, it's good to hear from you."
    Affirmative.
    "Computer, relay known data on theory of time travel through force of gravity and acceleration."
    Untested theory, first proposed by Dr. Linward Bowers, 2110. Bowers hypothesized-
    "No." Cal dragged a hand through his hair. In his hurry, he was getting ahead of himself. "I don't have time for all of that now. Evaluate and conclude. Time travel and survival probability on encounter with black hole."
    Working- Insufficient data. "Damn it, it happened. Analyze necessary acceleration and trajectory. Stop."
    He heard Libby coming up the stairs and had time only to shut down the unit before she stepped inside.
    "What are you doing?"
    Trying for a look of innocence, Cal smiled and swung out of the chair. "I was looking for you."
    "If you've messed with my machine-"
    "I couldn't help glancing at your papers. Fascinating stuff."
    "I think so." She frowned at her desk. Everything seemed in order. "I could have sworn I heard you talking to someone."
    "No one here but you and me." He smiled again. If he could distract her for a few minutes, he could disengage his unit and wait for a safer time. "I was probably mumbling to myself. Libby-" He took a step toward her, but she thrust a tray at him. "I made you a sandwich." He took the tray and set it on the bed.
    Her simple kindness left him feeling as guilty as sin. "You're a very nice woman."
    "Just because you annoy me doesn't mean I'd starve you."
    "I don't want to annoy you." He stepped over quickly when she wandered toward the computer. "I don't seem to be able to avoid it. I'm sorry you didn't like what happened before."
    She cast him a quick, uneasy glance. "That's better forgotten."
    "No, it's not." Needing the contact, he closed a hand over hers. "Whatever happens, it's something I won't forget. You touched something in me, Libby, something that hasn't been touched before."
    She knew what he meant, exactly, precisely. And it frightened her. "I have to get back to work."
    "Do all women find it difficult to be honest?"
    "I'm not used to this," she blurted out. "I don't know how to deal with it. I'm not comfortable around men. I'm just not passionate."
    When he laughed, she spun away, furious and embarrassed.
    "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. You're overloaded with passion."
    She felt something shift inside her, strain for freedom. "For my work," she said, spacing her words carefully. "For my family. But not in the way you mean."
    She believed it, Cal decided as he studied her. Or she had made herself believe it. In the past two days he'd learned what it was like to doubt yourself. If he could repay her in