Pirates of the Storm (Stranded In Time Book 1) (30 page)

“
No, I think I’ve got it, thanks,”
Jeff replied.

“
In that case, I will leave you to
your… What did you call it? B? D?”

“
Pee,” Jeff said with a
smile.

“
Yes, well in any event, I will
leave you to it.”

“
Thanks Manuel.”

Manuel departed and closed the door behind him
and Jeff turned to use the commode. As he loosened his rope belt,
the gold coins in his pocket quickly pulled his pants to his ankles
with a muffled jingly thud. He was going to have to figure out
someplace to stash those as soon as possible. Jeff finished
relieving himself and secured his pants before pushing the
commode’s activation button. Instantly it slid into the wall and
began making a low whooshing noise. Out of curiosity, he pushed the
button again and after a momentary pause, the sound stopped and the
commode slid out from the wall. Not only was it ready for use
again, it was perfectly dry and there was no indication at all that
it had ever been used, let alone used less than a minute before.
“Hmph, that’s pretty cool,” Jeff said to himself.

He was now anxious to try out the hand
cleaning unit, so he pushed the activation button and out slid a
drawer with two side-by side openings. Jeff slid his hands through
the openings and immediately felt them being sprayed with warm
water – or some liquid – from all sides. A moment later, the spray
stopped and warm air jets came on to dry his hands. After 30
seconds or so, the jets automatically switched off and Jeff pulled
his still somewhat damp hands from the openings. Jeff had to laugh
to himself. Even after more than a hundred years, and despite the
other advancements in restroom technology, they still had not
perfected the hand dryer and he wound up wiping his hands on his
pants!

Jeff pushed the button and the hand cleaning
unit slid back into the wall. He exited the room and Manuel was
waiting for him.

“
Let me show you the rest of the
living arrangements,” he said as he directed Jeff through a door on
the other side of the hallway. Jeff looked around the room. While
it was a pretty large space, it seemed somewhat cramped because of
the number of beds that had been squeezed into it. “This is the
bedroom. I’m sorry that everyone has to share while they are here,
but at least the beds are comfortable. You can take any bed you
like that does not already have sheets on it, and you can find a
selection of sheets, blankets, and pillows in the cabinet over
there. Just use whatever you like. Now, if you’ll come with me,
I’ll acquaint you with the kitchen and entertainment
options.”

Jeff stopped him, “Um, Manuel… Exactly how
long do you expect me to stay here?”

“
Well, it takes about a month for
the majority of your temperons to disperse so you can’t be picked
up on the satellite scans. You will then be able to go topside and
move into the main house. You’ll still need to stay with us for
another month for your temperons to completely dissipate before
it’s safe to leave the compound. Once your temperons are completely
clear, we’ll help you get established with a new life where the ASF
won’t be a problem.”

Jeff sighed, “OK, so what you are saying is
that I’m going to be stuck down here in the bunker for a
month?”

“
I’m afraid so. Outside the
bunker, the ASF can pick you up on their scanners as long as you
are still emitting temperons…”

“
Yeah, what exactly are
temperons?” Jeff asked.

“
When you travel through time, the
body’s interaction with the time rift produces electrically-charged
particles we call temperons. The ASF has satellite temperon
scanners that sweep the area searching for time refugees. When you
stay too long in one spot topside, the temperons collect in the air
and the satellites can detect them. If the scans pick up anything,
they send out a patrol to pick up the refugees and take them to
lockup. Most of the time the temperons are depleted enough within a
month or so that the satellites can’t pick them up anymore. Even
then you still have to avoid going into any public areas with
security checkpoints for another month or so because the checkpoint
scanners are a lot more sensitive than the satellites.

“
One more thing,” Jeff started,
“What’s the deal with the ASF? I thought you said that Cuba was
part of the United States now. How does the ASF have the power to
patrol and incarcerate people in the United States?”

Manuel looked perplexed, “I’m not sure I
understand the question. The ASF is the law enforcement branch of
the United States. Oh, wait! You’re from 2012! You’re
pre-corpornation!”

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