UNQUILL PAUSED FOR a moment.
To Kenneth, it appeared the tall man collected his thoughts. When Unquill spoke, the tone of his voice dropped. He sounded like a completely different person to Kenneth.
"We call this the Golden Century, for in all of our studies of the time stream, we have yet to discover a society more prosperous than ours. We live in the 73rd century. I told you that, yes? In the middle of the 75th century, there will occur a spiritual re-awakening which will lead individuals to question the wisdom of their current way of life. We have seen this. Afterward, people will have great faith. In exchange, they will begin consuming nutrients again. With our population of one hundred and twelve trillion-"
"Trillion?"
Kenneth was incredulous. He'd heard the word used when people on the news spoke about debt, but he hadn't ever really understood the significance of the word. How many fingers would he have to count on before he reached a trillion? A trillion, of course, he suddenly thought, answering his own question. That didn't bring him any closer to conceptualizing the number in concrete terms.
"Yes, with one hundred and twelve trillion people, there just won't be enough nutrients to go around for all. It will be a time of great upheaval. The prosperity we have enjoyed thus far will come to an end, as we are told all things must come to an end. The spiritual re-awakening occurs because of a single man. He is designated Hinjo Junta. We-that is, myself together with the other members of the Temporal Constabulary-don't have a lot of information on him. We know he was born on a Saturday sometime during April 7201. We know he will die in the year 7454, during the re-awakening. His cause of death will come as a result of his refusal to continue utilizing his body's own natural processes to stay alive. A foolish man, perhaps, yet one many will come to see as a martyr. We have grown too much, we are too many, they will say.
"So it will happen-or, from the perspective of one who can see the time stream, it has already happened-that many citizens of this world will follow Hinjo's path. Death upon death upon death until the world becomes paralyzed from the loss of so many of its citizens. By the year 7500, it is estimated that a total of one hundred thousand people will remain on this planet."
Kenneth involuntarily startled. Though he didn't know exactly what a trillion was, he had a sense that the number was far greater than one hundred thousand, a number more easily imagined. One hundred thousand had always been the number his father wanted to pass in yearly salary from his job working at a pharmaceutical company.
"Ah yes, I see you realize. It is the end of our history as we know it. One hundred thousand people will remain, many of whom have lost the ability to procreate. The human race, all of its successes and failures, all of it will be destroyed by a single man. Kenneth Yardrow, I wish for you and your companion to speak with this man. To do so, you will first have to find him. We've not been able to do so. We, the Temporal Constabulary, hope that you will succeed where we have failed."
"You said, 'significant citizen' a few times," Kenneth said. "What does that mean?"
Unquill cocked his head to one side, as though he did not understand why anyone should ask such a question. He cleared his throat, then said, "Why, you are significant. It has been determined by an evaluation of the lives of every person throughout history. I won't bore you with the details. It would take eons to explain. We only have, well, half an eon. Suffice it to say that you will do great things when you grow up. Great things. Greater than any other human being who has ever lived. Your companion is of no less significance than yourself. Both of you make a couple which continues to fascinate historians even unto this day."
"Couple?" Kenneth grimaced at the word. "But I don't like her. She said my belly button smells."
"How could it do that? You don't have a nose over your stomach."
Kenneth laughed. "It's a, whatchamacallit, an expression."
"Regardless of how you may feel, it's already happened." The corners of Unquill's mouth perked up as he smiled. "We suspect that-well, I won't tell you now. It would spoil the surprise. It's such a terribly difficult thing, to know all of history. Of course, one's own history is forbidden to be known. History, especially future history, is too rigid. To know the course one's life takes, oh dear, that would be too much."
"Why did you say I have two weeks?"
"That's the allotted time we have based on your temporal alignment device. You may have noticed it attached to your hip?"
In fact, Kenneth had not noticed the device. He lifted his shirt up, looking down at himself. He found a small bulge on the right side of his hip underneath his skin. He pressed his fingers there. The device had been implanted without his permission. When he applied pressure to it, the device gave way. When he released the pressure, the device bulged forth from underneath his skin once again.
"This is a temporal thing-a-ma-jig?"
Unquill nodded, pleased. "It's a temporal alignment device, but you may call it a thing-a-ma-jig if you find the name easier to remember. While it has been placed under your skin, you needn't worry about any ill effects. By the fourteenth day, it will have dissolved into your blood stream. It is a piece of organic technology that maintains your temporal charge so that you don't-well, explode."
Kenneth asked his next question carefully. "Explode?"
"Yes, yes, yes, don't worry. It won't happen as long as the device is in place. Were it not place, your presence here in this time would cause too many problems with your biology. We have studied the phenomenon in close detail. Our first time travelers, whom we sent a day forward into the future, bridged the void easily enough. Yet, I fear to report that a prolonged stay caused rather, um, unfortunate results. We know such things have happened to travelers in the past, for our historical records tell us so. The human body synchronizes with the time period in which it exists. Here in the 74th century, we've learned how to prevent that occurrence. So while you are here to complete a task, you only have fourteen days to do so. After that, if you have not completed your task, you will die."
"I don't understand what you mean about all that stuff," Kenneth interlocked his fingers behind his head, leaning against a wall. He looked away from Unquill. "I'm just a kid, remember? Sheesh, stop talking to me in all that complicated language. The only part I understand is that I have to find this guy, convince him not to be a prick, and I can go home, right? Is that all there is to it?"
"Well, not exactly, but-"
"Okay, then let's get started," Kenneth said. He jumped off the bed. Standing before Unquill, he remembered that he was short for his age. Unquill, at least eight feet tall, towered over him. Kenneth looked up. "If it's a mystery, Kenny Yardrow, Private Eye is on the case! There's no kickball too far for me to find, no lost hanky that I can't locate. One person should be easy."
"Yes? I certainly hope so," Unquill said.
Sweat trickled down his forehead.
WHEN KENNETH ENTERED Savannah's room, he found her still sleeping.
The door, made of green energy, hadn't made any noise when it turned off to let him through. Nor did it make any noise once it came back on. With both himself and Unquill in the room with Savannah, Kenneth had the distinct impression that the room was a holding cell, rather than a guest suite.
He turned to Unquill, who raised his shoulders in a shrug. Unquill then clapped his hands. So big were his hands that the clap resounded through the room.
Savannah started awake. She rubbed at her eyes. Both her pigtails had come undone. Her brown hair lay about her shoulders in a tangled, knotted mass. Circles had developed under her eyes. Someone had replaced her buttoned shirt with a plain, loose white t-shirt. A yellow and pink friendship bracelet lay around her left wrist.
Kenneth hadn't noticed that before.
She blinked a few times before recognizing him.
"Good morning," she said, yawning. "What's for breakfast?"
Kenneth had a moment to wonder whether she really was awake, or if her brain had stopped somewhere along the way to unconsciousness. He had expected her first question to be about where she was, who the giant standing before her might be.
Instead, she had thought with her stomach.
Kenneth found that idea amusing.
Unquill seemed ready to burst with anticipation. "Once again? May I?"
"Wha...?" Savannah rubbed the back of her neck.
Kenneth said, "Old man, get some food, will you?"
"I'm not old," Unquill said. "I'll have you know I'm a stately three hundred twenty-seven this year. But I will comply with your request nonetheless. Such a joy it is to see antiquated rituals in person."
Once Unquill left, Savannah sat up in her bed. She looked at Kenneth for answers.
Kenneth shook his head, smiling. "I don't understand half of what he told me. You can ask him to explain, I guess. You might have better luck than I did. Basically, we've got to find this dude called Hinjo."
"Hinjo," Savannah repeated.
She stretched her arms out in front of her.
One of her elbows cracked.
They waited in silence until Unquill returned. Once he did, they both felt relieved at having someone else in the room. He brought with him a bowl full of cauliflower. Savannah made a face at the bowl. She took a tentative bite, then, just as Kenneth had, ate as though she hadn't eaten anything in years. She handed an empty bowl back to Unquill.
She said, "Why can't they make vegetables like that at home?"
"I am told they use a process called-"
"Hey, old man, come on, we're short on time or whatever. Let's get started," Kenneth said, poking Unquill in the wrist with one finger.
Savannah furrowed her eyebrows. She licked her fingers clean, then said, "What am I doing here?"
"Ah yes, let me explain," Unquill said. Then, he said to Kenneth, "Please do not interrupt me, significant citizen. I will accord her the same courtesy I have accorded you. Now then, to answer your question..."
AFTER UNQUILL FINISHED explaining, an explanation during which Kenneth interrupted anyway, Savannah sat on the edge of the bed she'd slept in, her eyes wide. No one spoke.
Kenneth leaned against a wall, fatigue coming over him. He didn't know why he felt tired after he had just finished sleeping.
Savannah said, "The 73rd century? You haven't gone, I don't know, crazy or something? This isn't a dream, right? If it is, it's not a very good one. I'm very sore, and I don't want to be here with this smelly head."
Kenneth waved a hand in the air, dismissively.. "It's not my fault if your sense of smell doesn't appreciate me. I can't do anything about that."
Savannah put her hands on her hips. She said, "Well of course I can't appreciate anyone who smells as much as you do. Smelly head."
"Now, now, please don't argue," Unquill said. "You two have to work together on this. One of you alone won't suffice. Both your minds are needed for this task."
Savannah turned away from Kenneth. "How hard can it be to find one man when you can see through all of space and time? I'll do it myself."
Kenneth turned from Savannah and said, "If you apologize for calling me smelly, I'll work with you, Savannah. Not before."
"Why should I apologize for something that's true?"
Unquill wrung his hands together. "But, but, but, this isn't the way married couples behave. At least, not in-"
Savannah suddenly whirled to face Unquill. "Married? Are you kidding? You really are crazy! This really is a dream!" Her face clouded and her words tumbled forth in a staccato burst of annoyance mixed with anger. "I'm a kid. I mean, he and I are kids. Married? There's no way. Absolutely not. Forget it. I mean, it's out of the question-totally out of the question! Never in a million years!"
"Then I shall take you both to the year 1,000,001 and you can be married."
"I'm thirteen years old! Thirteen-year-olds don't get married! And what makes you think I'd want to even be with old Smelly Belly here, anyway?" She paused long enough to cast a baleful stare at Kenneth.
Kenneth rolled his eyes. He snorted derisively. "Uh-uh. You gotta be kidding me. No way in hell am I marrying her." He paused, letting his annoyance at the situation subside. Then he suddenly spoke again, his voice tinged with resignation. "Look, I can't say I like the idea much either. I don't want to be around her any more than I need to. Even I know there's not much of a choice. But we might as we look for this dude or whatever. We've got nothing better to do." He paused again before changing the subject.
Anything to stop talking about marriage.
"Hey, you don't have video games here, do you?"
"Ah, no, I'm afraid we don't."
Savannah fumed, "And I bet you don't have horses either. You know, the ones you can ride?"
"Horses? I, um-"
"Never mind," Kenneth said. Then, turning to Savannah, he spoke in a softer, more conciliatory tone. "Look, can you stop insulting me? We don't like each other. I get that. That won't change. At least for now let's do this as fast as we can so we can back to our old lives. Okay?"
Savannah didn't answer. She turned to Unquill. "Can you take us back if we finish the job before the time expires?"
"Not I-but the Temporal Constabulary can. The answer to your question is yes. You can be returned to your own time whenever it is convenient to do so. All that is required is to make a request with the agency, which they will grant. Then, everything takes care of itself."
"Hmph, fine. Whatever," Savannah said. "Let's just do it then. I'm tired of arguing. Where do we begin?"
"With sleep," Unquill touched each of them at the nape of the neck. Kenneth felt his consciousness suddenly deserting him. "I'm afraid that I can't let you stay awake too long on the first day. The strain of-"