Magestic 2

Copyright © Geoff Wolak

www.geoffwolak-writing.com

Part 10

Family

Jimmy now had to figure out why his own child, from the future, had drawn him to this world. He was, however, reasonably sure that it was not done out of malice, but a postcard might have been nice. Facing Big Paul, he said, ‘Why would a lad of mine ... give the Germans coal-oil?’

‘Keep the war going, help you smash up the German armour. That’s what you said you wanted.’

Jimmy made a face. ‘OK, maybe I buy that. But why not make contact, why stay out in the cold?’

‘Why does anyone work behind the scenes?’

‘Because they couldn’t do what they need to do if exposed, or caught.’

‘The lad learnt that from you.’

Jimmy nodded. ‘He could send a bloody note in code. And now I have the added worry of him running around 1938, maybe getting shot at. You know, there’s a reason I never had a bloody family, and it’s because of times like this!’

Big Paul laughed, loudly. ‘About time you felt the pain the rest of us have had to go through!’

The big meeting was on, but so far only the Germans and Japanese had committed to it, the White House still awaiting word from the Russians and Chinese. That word came late, around 9pm, the venue fixed for a hotel in central Washington. After all, it would be unseemly for the President of the United States to use the White House play host to Russians, the Chinese, Germans, or Japanese.

The Secret Service went around the hotel all night, the various delegates arriving at 10am the next morning, Kennedy turning up last and flanked by many Secret Service agents. The other delegates had been frisked, their bags checked, but still – US Presidents needed their elaborate security. His team, however, had not been searched for bugs or bombs, that would have been just downright rude.

With Kennedy finally seating himself, his team fully taking up almost a third of the table, Jimmy stood. ‘If I may, Mister President, since I requested this meeting?’ Kennedy nodded. Jimmy extended greetings to all of the nationals in each native tongue, his Japanese practiced overnight with the help of the data-pad. Each foreign delegation came equipped with at least one translator, no less than four translators behind the President, one for each language, just in case there was any duplicity.

Only the German team had offered Jimmy a polite smile and handshake; the others remained guarded, stony-faced, yet curious about today’s meeting.

Jimmy sat. ‘Gentlemen, you are all now aware of just who I am, of what I am, and – for the most part, aware of just how capable I am. For the benefit of all, I will recap on the events of yesterday, since those events were carried out as a ... demonstration of just how capable I am. First, all electrical equipment in the Chinese city of Shanghai was destroyed. Can the Chinese delegation confirm this?’

‘We can, and we protest most strongly this unwarranted act or terrorism on the People’s city!’ They banged the table with fists.

‘Could the Chinese delegation also confirm ... that twelve of its aircraft were shot down as they flew towards Japan?’

They wagged fingers. ‘We are still investigating the causes of the loss of our aircraft.’

‘You lost your aircraft because of the defences I now have in place in the skies above Japan; no aircraft or missile will reach Japan from your shores. If you wish to try – whilst you are investigating – then please do so.’ Jimmy faced the Germans. ‘Could the German delegation please confirm the losses suffered by Russian soldiers east of Moscow?’

‘They were found to be dead, but we still don’t know exactly how they died.’

‘And how many died?’

‘We estimate more than three thousand.’

‘Would the Russians like to comment on their dead?’

‘We believe that only four hundred were killed, and we protest whatever illegal weapon was used to kill our people!’

‘For what it’s worth, I apologise for the deaths of your soldiers.’ He faced the Germans. ‘Could the German delegation confirm what it found when its soldiers landed back in Germany?’

The Germans were hesitant. ‘We ... discovered that all of the Arabs were dead, from a weapon that we could not identify.’

‘And the Arabs fighting your soldiers at the front, east of Paris?’ Jimmy asked.

‘They ... are also all dead.’

‘Would the American delegation like to report what it found out about the drugs supplied?’

Kennedy offered, ‘We injected a group of soldiers that had suffered sixty percent burns in an accident, and ... it cured them completely, hardly a mark left. Incredible.’

‘And the German delegation?’

‘We have also used the drugs on soldiers who were injured, the results ... astounding.’

‘I hereby offer to make those drugs available, in reasonable quantities, to all of the nations represented here. I will also make available to all here the technology to convert coal into oil very cheaply, lowering the need for oil. That cost saving, together with a massive saving in the public health bill, should boost all of your economies.’ He faced the Chinese. ‘You don’t have an economy yet, but someday you will. Still, it’s the thought that counts.’

Jimmy took a moment. ‘In addition to what has already been revealed here today, I can reveal that I expect Germany to be free of Arab fighters within ten days, ahead of schedule, and that Europe will be free of fighters in six weeks. That freedom ... will be provided by my soldiers, although our German friends can make whatever claims they wish in their own newspapers.

‘In addition to the small unit of soldiers I now have in Europe, a larger force has arrived in Africa, and will sweep that continent of The Brotherhood in about two months. Thereafter, they will attack North Africa and the Middle East, eradicating the fighters. None of the nations here will then be under threat from them. It is then my intention to start rebuilding Africa, since it has oil and ore that all nations can benefit from.

‘Gentlemen, before we come to the important part, I will first say this: you argue, you’ve fought wars, and you’re all opposed to each other, but the rise of The Brotherhood was a threat that would have affected you all. May I have a show of hands … for those who disagree with my policy of removing The Brotherhood?’

No one raised a hand.

‘Gentlemen, you just all voted together on an issue. Progress. Please raise your hand if you do not wish to receive advanced medicines to help your people?’

Again no one raised a hand.

‘That’s twice you’ve all voted together, which is probably two times more than you’ve done in the past forty years. Progress. You see, gentlemen, there are a few things that you can all agree upon, and we’re here to see if we can negotiate our way to a few others, since you all live on a small round planet.

‘OK, coming to the important part. As of ... well, little more than two hours ago, I placed in a high orbit almost eighty drone aircraft, each capable of radar tracking, radar jamming, radio jamming, and each has the ability to disable a ballistic missile in flight, or a high-flying and fast aircraft. Those drone aircraft have been positioned above Japan, along the west coast of America, the east coast of America, Canada, and above Europe. As of two hours ago, no ballistic missile fired ... will reach its intended target.’

The delegates checked translations, many conversation breaking out in many languages, as Kennedy queried, ‘That’s a ... total blanket system?’

‘It is, Mister President. Feel free to test fire a missile or two if you like.’ He faced the Japanese, as Kennedy’s team whispered comments. ‘No missile launched by you will reach America, or China.’ He faced the Germans. ‘None of your missiles will reach America or Russia, but you are free to try a test firing or two.’

The Japanese delegation got up and walked out, Jimmy not even lifting his head towards them. The Germans protested the missile shield, but Jimmy simply faced the Americans. ‘They’ll all need time to grasp this new reality. We should retire.’ He stood, the American delegation following him up, and out of the hotel.

Twenty minutes later, Jimmy joined Kennedy in the situation room at the White House.

‘What you said, it wasn’t just some ploy?’ Kennedy began.

‘No, test fire a missile from sea towards America, see what happens.’

‘And who controls the missile shield?’

‘My people do of course, but for the most part it’s completely automated. The drone aircraft are solar powered, and they can fly around for years.’

‘It’ll stop all incoming missiles?’ a General asked.

Jimmy nodded.

‘And if we fired a missile?’ the same General posed.

‘Fire a nuclear missile? At who? Who do you wish to kill?’

‘That’s our call,’ the General said.

‘If you can give me a good reason, I’ll kill them for you. So, who do you want to kill?’ Jimmy pressed.

‘We can’t predict how the others will react,’ the same man said.

‘If they fire their missiles - and you don’t trust my system, then by all means fire your own missiles if you wish to. But trust me when I say that their missiles won’t reach you. Besides, I told you I would supply you with a missile shield, and you were keen. What’s changed?’

‘We figured we’d operate it,’ a General responded.

‘What’s the difference? It’s a blanket system.’

‘How long will those drones up there last?’ a man asked.

‘It’s my intention to leave them there till we supply you with ground units. You can, if you wish, then have the drones removed. But, if you don’t operate the ground units properly, a missile may get through. You may lose a city or two, New York or Washington. That’s your call, and if you’re not happy I can move the drones over America and place them over Japan and Europe.’

‘They’d get the umbrella then, not us,’ Kennedy complained.

‘Then make your mind up. Keep them or not?’

‘We’ll keep them for now, till the ground units arrive,’ Kennedy quickly insisted. ‘When will that be?’

‘We have a decent air bridge to Kenya,’ Jimmy emphasised. ‘We can’t bring in units through Germany, now can we?’

‘You can’t open a portal here, in the States?’ Kennedy asked.

‘No, the physical location in each world must be the same, and we have two; one in Kenya, one in Canada.’

‘Canada is closer,’ Kennedy emphasised.

‘That particular portal is locked open to the world in 1938, so is the German portal. So long as I have soldiers going back and forth I can’t switch it off for long,’ Jimmy lied. He faced an Air Force General. ‘Do you have a heavy transport that can reach Kenya?’

‘Just about, at maximum range.’

‘And by ship from Kenya?’

‘Two weeks sail time at least,’ an Admiral put in.

‘My shield will last fifty years, gentlemen,’ Jimmy pointed out. ‘Two weeks is nothing. And you could sail some av-gas around to Mombasa, create a small base, and link up with our guys.’

Kennedy faced the Admiral. ‘Do so, straight away.’

‘You’ll be involved with Africa a long time,’ Jimmy emphasised. ‘It has a great deal of oil that you can pump, so establish a few bases, and not just temporary bases.’

‘Why did you cut short the meeting?’ Kennedy probed.

‘Because they each need to digest the new reality, and they’ll talk to each other and confirm detail, they’ll even test-fire a few missiles, and then – in a few days – we’ll talk again. It’s one thing to tell someone you have a big stick, it’s another for them to believe it. And by the way, my people are currently tracking twenty-four German missile subs, and sixteen Japanese subs.’

The Admiral sat upright. ‘You can track them underwater?’

‘Of course we can.’

‘Could you destroy them as well?’ Kennedy asked.

‘Of course, and that’s on my list of things to consider. But I’ll need to bring in more drones, and different types.’

‘How do you control them?’ a General asked.

‘Pop over to Africa and have a look. You can try flying one.’

‘How do they receive instructions?’

‘We have communications drones at sixty thousand feet spread around the globe; they relay signals back and forth. All solar powered. They also detect up-drafts and down-drafts and make use of them to save battery power.’

‘Could you ... knock out a satellite?’ a General risked.

‘Sure. What did you have in mind?’

‘If you knocked out their satellites and subs at the same time...’

Jimmy focused on the man. ‘What, you could launch a pre-emptive strike ... and murder tens of millions of Japanese and German women and children?’

The General who has made the suggestion seemed to resent Jimmy’s comments, and turned to Kennedy.

Jimmy finally said, ‘I came here to end the fighting, and to save the planet, gentlemen; perhaps you should keep that in mind. Where I come from there are no wars, and people don’t have ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads. Husbands and wives still argue, the traffic is still terrible, but bombs don’t fall out of the sky.

‘Someday soon, gentlemen, I’ll disarm Germany, and I’ll disarm Japan, Russia, and China. And if, at any point before or after, you make an unnecessary aggressive move, then the people from my world will get very upset about it. They’ll go back in time, and find the President most directly responsible for the decision to attack another nation, and deal with him when he was young – perhaps blinding him.’

‘Blinding him?’ Kennedy repeated.

‘A humane way of making sure that he never takes office,’ Jimmy explained. ‘Gentlemen, you’re dealing with time travellers. If, at any point, you piss them off, they’ll simply wind back the clock – and cut your balls off.’

‘That removes our right to govern,’ a General protested.

‘You’ve been trying to build your own time machine for forty years. Using it would have removed the right to govern for every government on this planet, for your predecessors, and those administrations that may have followed you.’ He waited, his hands wide. ‘Would it not have? Fact is, America did develop a time machine, just not here, and that missile shield you’re now benefitting from – it was mostly designed in America. It’s use here? Sanctioned by the man in the White House, voted in by the American public, with your best interests at heart. And if you’re not happy with any of that, you can fly to Africa, step through and tell the current US President that; he could try and override me. But I don’t think you’ll sell him on the idea of a pre-emptive strike - and the massacre of civilians.’

‘We wouldn’t attack unless we were attacked, or under threat,’ the same man insisted.

‘Now that you have a missile shield - you can’t be attacked, unless by conventional forces. And they won’t get very far with my people here, will they.’

‘Any more surprises?’ Kennedy finally asked.

‘That missile shield was not a surprise; I said I’d do it, and you all agreed to it. I’ll try and be a little more specific in future.’ Jimmy took a breath. ‘Gentlemen, let’s move on. I can remove the threats from Germany and Japan, The Brotherhood and the communists. Peace ... is achievable. But when that peace comes, you must consider the economic position of America, because twenty years from now that will be the battleground.

‘I’m prepared to give you a route-map that will make this country the richest, and with the largest economy by far, an edge over the others. I can’t do that without your kind cooperation, and some tough decisions may need to be taken along the way, especially the changing of attitudes towards old enemies. If you want to be top dog in the decades ahead you’ll need to buy cars from Japan and Germany, ore from Africa, and sell electronics around the world. You’ll make aircraft that I’ll help you design, and you’ll sell them to the other countries, along with computers.

‘You’ll need to secure oil reserves for the future, and expand your manufacturing base so that you export more, much more, by a factor of around two hundred in the first decade alone.’

‘A two hundred fold increase?’ Kennedy repeated.

‘Yes, and it’s achievable,’ Jimmy insisted. ‘I can get you the oil you need, the ore, and nudge you in the right direction. Other nations may not like that - in fact they’ll definitely not like it - but as you do better, so will they. Trade wise, this planet is around forty years behind where it should be, so I’ll be aiming to fill that gap. You’ll even trade with China and Russia. You don’t have to like them, and you don’t have to agree with their principles to sell them things or to buy ore.

‘Gentlemen, your greatest battle is about to begin, and that’s the race to be the biggest and best economy. If you care about your kids and grandchildren, start that race today, the first step being Africa.’

The next day the Japanese fired a test missile towards China, the missile dropping into the sea. A second and third missile met with a similar fate, two jet bomber crews having to eject into the sea.

The Americans fired a small missile from California southwest into the Pacific, telemetry lost. A second missile fared no better. The Germans test fired two missiles towards the Arctic, both lost, a high altitude spy plane losing control, its pilot ejecting. And the poor people of Shanghai were roasting in a late heat wave, no ceiling fans working, or much anything else working save a few old tractors.

Jimmy requested another meeting, and three days after the initial meeting another was scheduled, to be held at the same hotel. Familiar faces gathered, familiar stony facades adopted, the same seats taken. The Germans again sat between the Japanese and the Chinese, since those delegates would not sit next to each other, the Russians next to the Chinese and not the Japanese, since Japan occupied Vladivostok. Jimmy sat between the Japanese and the Americans, and war over the seating plan was averted.

With the overseas delegates looking as if they had been prodded into attending the meeting with a cattle-iron, Jimmy began this time without asking Kennedy. ‘Gentlemen, welcome back, and I hope you all now have a better understanding of just what you’re up against. You’re up against people from the year 2047, armed with weapons that you could only dream about. And even if you captured some of their technology you would not understand it, nor be able to manufacture it.

‘As I explained at the last meeting, we’ve placed a missile defence shield above your countries. No ballistic missile will get through. That was not an aggressive move on our part, nor intended to give anyone an advantage over others; we simply don’t want to see you kill each other. We will, however, try and achieve a peace through negotiation. Sometimes I will offer rewards, sometime I will threaten you. You can each take the easy path, or the hard path.

‘I’ve already made it clear that I’ll supply advanced technology, peaceful advanced technology, to assist the development of your countries to the benefits of your citizens, including medicines, and it would be nice if you saw my interference as a positive thing. I don’t actually believe that for a moment, I believe that I will have to use force, but still ... I’m an optimist.

‘So, gentlemen, let’s get down to specifics, since you can each then see exactly what I’m after. Let’s start with Greater Germany. I offered to give you back certain countries, in return for you holding free and fair elections in smaller European countries inside of a year. I’m removing the threat of The Brotherhood from your lands, something that you would not have achieved by yourselves. Without my assistance you would have all been killed, or overrun. Members of the German delegation, I will offer to help re-build Europe with you, but such a re-building would only be possible if you disclose to to the peoples of Europe who I am.

‘Whilst on Germany, I will prevent the Russian Army from advancing on Moscow for six months, and six months only, after which I would like you to leave Russia to its native people, pulling back to the border of Belorussia. At that border, I will prevent Russian forces from attacking you. I will also prevent you from attacking them. You don’t have to agree to any of that now, simply relay it to your government.

‘Next, Japan. I would like to see you leave the Vladivostok region of Russia inside of six months. Russia, I would expect the Japanese to only do that on condition that you sign a non-aggression pact for ten years. Japan, you have already benefitted from my defensive shield, and will continue to enjoy a defence from the Chinese. You are also now in possession of coal-oil technology and the instructions on how to make electric cars, a massive economic boost. I can also show you ways to convert coal to oil even cheaper, and I will offer to supply you with substantial amounts of oil in the future.

‘China. You desire to build a nation and an economy, and I’m willing to help, but only so long as you halt your conflict with Japan and sign a peace accord. I will also require that you leave the lands you have invaded in Indo-China, and to stop trying to promote communism around the region and the world. If not, I will destroy the electronics in each town until such time as the most sophisticated piece of equipment still working will be a pair of scissors.

‘China, you can live inside your borders, peacefully, and grow your nation with my assistance, or you can live in the Stone Age.’ Jimmy checked his watch. ‘As of ... a few minutes ago, ten of your airbases facing Japan lost the use of all electrical equipment. If that demonstration is not heeded, then I will arrange other demonstrations.’

‘We protest this unwarranted attack!’

‘I’m sure that’s what the people of Japan say each time your aircraft attack,’ Jimmy quipped. ‘Moving on. Russia, I offer you a similar deal, the building of a nation, but within your own borders. I’ll help you and the Chinese with agriculture, modern equipment, medicines, but I will not allow you to export communism beyond your borders. I’ll show you where the oil and ore is across your vast country, which you can then mine and sell to other nations, making Russia a prosperous nation – for its workers of course, who are all equal.’

Jimmy checked his notes. ‘What say Japan?’

The Japanese delegation took a moment. ‘We will discuss the proposals with our government.’

‘You came here to negotiate, gentlemen, so you have some authority to think on your feet.’

‘We are not in a position to agree deals.’

Jimmy nodded slowly to himself. ‘Then we will meet again in a few days, where you can accept or reject my proposals. But, whilst we are here, does anyone have any questions for me?’

The Russians asked, ‘What will happen if the Germans do not leave Russia in six months?’

‘I will put pressure on them to do so.’

‘How much pressure?’

‘I will first offer Germany benefits before threats, a substantial rebuilding programme in Europe and Germany.’

‘And if they do not leave?’ the Russians pressed.

‘Then I’ll remove my soldiers from Southern Europe and Turkey, and The Brotherhood will return. Unfortunately for the German Chancellor, such an ebb and flow of his population and their homeland would probably cause an uprising against him. I think, once his people have safely returned to their ancestral homeland, that they will not wish to be moved out again.’

The Germans made notes, looks exchanged. The lead German delegate then asked, ‘How far south will you push The Brotherhood?’

‘To start with, to the Bosphorus Straits; Europe will be clear of fighters.’

The Russians asked, ‘And will your soldiers fight in the Caucuses?’

‘If you ask us to, and make an agreement, then I don’t see why not,’ Jimmy responded, all the while being curiously observed by Kennedy and his team.

‘What agreement?’ the Russians asked.

‘To cease current operations against the Germans and the Japanese, and then to stay within your agreed borders, agreed at this table by everyone here. Does anyone here wish to deny the Russians the right to the land of the Caucuses, down to and including Georgia but not further, and down to but not including Afghanistan?’

Kennedy had maps brought out, each delegation studying the proposed Russian borders. Most delegates had not even heard of the countries in question, and so did not object.

‘Then we are agreed on Russian borders,’ Jimmy announced. ‘Progress.’ He faced the Russians. ‘Kindly ask your government to cease operations against Germany and Japan. When we have witnessed that ceasefire in place for six months, my forces will attack into the Caucuses with your permission, and coordinated with you. Germany, will you call a ceasefire.’

‘We will,’ they agreed, surprising a few delegates, looks exchanged. Fact was, they were losing, and they knew it.

‘Would China like assistance in defeating The Brotherhood in its western-most provinces?’ Jimmy offered.

The Chinese considered the offer, suddenly a little more reasonable. ‘And after this area was cleared?’

‘It would be your new border, right up to the Russian border.’

‘We will consult with our government,’ they responded, but did so more positively. Their mood had moved up a gear from downright hostile, to just plain hostile. Progress.

‘America,’ Jimmy called. We need to consider the political map of the Middle East after The Brotherhood has been dealt with. I would like America to consider the establishment of oilfields in Arabia - well protected ones of course, but I would like to see an agreement in principle with the other nations that oil from the region – extracted by American companies – will, in the future, be sold to many nations.’ He waited.

‘I see no problem with that,’ Kennedy offered.

‘I would also like to see that a small part of the revenue and benefits accrued from drilling the oil is passed back to those people local to the Middle East. The ... poverty of the people in the region was one of the factors that led to the rise of The Brotherhood.’ He held his gaze on Kennedy.

‘Sounds like a reasonable idea, but there are no functioning governments in the region,’ Kennedy pointed out.

‘There may be in the future,’ Jimmy suggested. ‘Beside, people could fly over and drop supplies, foods and medicines with American flags on. It couldn’t hurt.’

‘Would a future Middle East be dominated by America?’ the Germans asked, the former occupying force of the region.

‘I would hope ... that someday the nations there are peaceful and independent, but that is some way off,’ Jimmy replied. ‘To remove The Brotherhood will take decades, since they are woven into the societies there.’

‘And American interference in South America?’ the Germans asked, getting a look from Kennedy.

‘What interference is that?’ Jimmy toyed.

‘They try to bully South American countries to stop trading with us!’

Jimmy faced the Americans. ‘I would hope that the Americans new policy on global trade would see an end to that, since I hope that our American hosts will themselves start trading with Germany.’

‘There are many options and plans on the table regarding future trade,’ Kennedy agreed, surprising the Germans – who took notes.

‘And trade with Japan?’ Jimmy nudged.

‘We’re prepared to sit down and discuss new trade relations,’ Kennedy offered, now surprising the Japanese.

Figuring that it may be best to end on a high note, Jimmy called for a four-day recess, for governments to be consulted. On the way out, Jimmy said to Kennedy, ‘I could probably get the portal in Canada working if you want to visit 2047 with me? Two day visit. Portal is in Manson, Canada, east of the Rockies. You could make it look like a visit to Canada.’

Kennedy considered that as they walked out of the hotel.

Jimmy added, ‘I could get your Generals a quick lesson on drones and advanced weapons.’

‘I’d ... have to meet with my people to discuss it, the safety issues.’

‘The Vice President could hold the reins for a while, and I have a missile shield in place. War’s not about to break out,’ Jimmy assured Kennedy with a smile.

‘How ... how many people could go?’

‘Thirty, forty.’

‘That many.’

‘Send an advanced unit of soldiers to make a base ready east of Manson, local airstrip is a bit small and about six miles from the portal. Need to chat to the Canadian Government of course.’

At the White House, Jimmy again ate with Big Paul and the guards. Jimmy had not asked to venture out and explore Washington, or to meet anyone, knowing how guarded the administration was about the revelation of actual time travel. They watched dated movies, but movies that they had never seen before, this timeline very different to any other. Seemed that the good war movies had all been made about US troops chasing down Commies in the steaming jungles of South America. A few of the actors were the same, most of the stars unknown to Jimmy and the gang. The TV news reported international tensions, as well as race riots in many cities. Here, it seems that the movement for racial equality started a little later than on other worlds.

The next morning, the Joint Chiefs invited Jimmy to the Pentagon, to “have a look around”. At the Pentagon building, visitor badges displayed, Jimmy was shown a command room that tracked Japanese and German submarines, the real reason for the visit. Jimmy was shown the battle board, US assets listed, as well as red and yellow symbols for German and Japanese surface units and subs.

‘Yellow for the Japs?’ Jimmy teased, an Admiral shrugging. ‘So, what’s happening at Holy Loch in Scotland?’

‘They can’t go near it. Our satellites show radiation hot spots, four subs destroyed.’

‘And do you feel that your symbols are ... accurate, Admiral?’

‘They are as far as we know, but a few of the sub tracks are ... estimated.’

‘Would you like me to ... check a sub track with my people?’

‘Sure,’ the Admiral offered, trying not to seem too keen.

‘Pick a sub.’

The Admiral approached the board with Jimmy. Pointing, he said, ‘How about that lone sub near Guam?’

Jimmy lifted his phone. ‘Might not get a signal down here. Hello, can you hear me? Good. Put me through to whoever is tracking Japanese subs. OK, there’s a Japanese sub east of Guam. See it? Disable it and bring it to the surface, then destroy it. Thanks.’

Jimmy lowered is phone to find ten naval officers in black uniforms, all staring.

‘Disable it?’ the Admiral queried.

‘That is what you wanted, wasn’t it?’ Jimmy waited, facing the board. ‘What you really wanted.’

‘Heat track on the surface,’ came five minutes later. ‘Sub surfacing.’

‘Am I allowed to ask how you did that?’ the Admiral risked.

‘I’m no scientist,’ Jimmy said with a shrug. ‘So, I guess the real reason you brought me here was to update your battle board, yes?’

‘We could compare your positioning data against ours, for ... comparison.’

‘For ... comparison, yes,’ Jimmy mock agreed. He lifted his phone. ‘Update the US Navy’s submarine tracking board. Thanks.’

‘Update ... us?’

The board flickered, a new set of tracks displayed, officers standing and staring at it.

‘You ... you accessed our computer system?’ the Admiral asked, pointing at the board and adopting an incredulous stare.

‘Christ, that computer you’re using is older than I am,’ Jimmy quipped. ‘So, what would you like, Admiral? Updates every day, or ... every hour?’

‘You broke our codes and hacked our computer!’ he complained.

‘How else would we update you? So, every day, or every hour?’

‘God dammit,’ the Admiral let out. He forced a big breath. ‘Why the hell not. Every hour, please.’

A glum looking Admiral led Jimmy out. At the White House, after a bite of lunch, the Joint Chiefs were not happy, another meeting called.

‘You hacked our computers,’ Kennedy flatly stated, awaiting an explanation.

‘There is a question that you should be asking, regarding computers,’ Jimmy enigmatically stated.

‘A question?’ Kennedy repeated.

‘Yes, a question. Do you have a question ... about computers? And hacking.’

A General asked, ‘Can you hack German and Japanese computers?’

‘Of course we can,’ Jimmy responded, sounding disappointed with the question. ‘As well as all of the codes they use. As we speak, Japanese subs are moving north and south, in an attempt to be further away from Japan, and further away from our missile shield.’

‘They’re repositioning?’ an Admiral queried. He was handed a slip of paper from a young office that withdrew straight away. ‘That sub east of Guam, they abandoned it, now said to be on fire.’

‘Expensive things, nuclear subs, very expensive,’ Jimmy idly mentioned. ‘The Germans have now lost four, a devastating financial blow, and the Japanese have lost two.’

‘Two?’ the Admiral queried.

‘We wanted to test our systems, so we sent one to the bottom of a very deep trench. So that’s two subs out of action.’

‘We’d like to go to Canada,’ Kennedy now stated. ‘A delegation to meet the leaders of your world.’

‘Whenever you desire,’ Jimmy calmly offered.

Kennedy explained, ‘We’d fly up tonight, travel across in convoy - it’s not far from the border, an airstrip available on this side of the border. We can be there for dawn just about, and we’re talking with the Canadians now. What ... what would be involved?’

‘I’d send a signal, and a shimmering portal will open, about eight feet wide. You can see people on the other side, and you simply step through. All painless, not so much as a tingle.’

‘We’ll leave at 6pm, if that’s OK?’ Kennedy said.

‘Fine,’ Jimmy confirmed with a smile.

Kennedy took a moment, shuffling files in front of him. ‘Would I be right ... in assuming that your people could disable or destroy all Japanese and German subs and land-based missiles?’

‘Yes, you’d be right. But we might need a few more drones, which are arriving every hour.’

‘Surely such a move would bring peace?’ Kennedy floated.

‘It would bring ... your kind of peace, with just you left with a nuclear arsenal, would it not?’

‘We’re not about to attack anyone,’ Kennedy insisted.

‘Unfortunately, history teaches us otherwise about America.’

‘What, you’re saying that future administrations are aggressive?’

‘We’re time travellers, remember, we know a great deal about future American administrations. But it was always my intention to remove Japanese and German missiles, either by negotiation or ... other means.’

‘Negotiation?’ Kenny nudged.

‘If you’re left with roughly a thousand bombs, and they have none, then I might ask why you need enough bombs to destroy the planet twice over?’

Kennedy carefully studied Jimmy, running his tongue around a cheek. ‘You’d want is to reduce the numbers.’

‘If I disable or destroy all of their missiles, what would you need them for? Peace of mind, perhaps? Let me illustrate how this game works. Step one. If I disable all Japanese and German missile subs, how many of your own missile subs would you wish to keep? You currently have thirty. ’ He waited.

Kennedy faced the Joint Chiefs. ‘Gentlemen?’

‘We’d need no less than six operational and at sea at any time,’ the Admiral insisted. ‘Four in port. And any reduction to be gradual, after we’ve verified that theirs were all gone.’

‘So ... you’d like to operate ten,’ Jimmy stated. ‘And land based missiles? How many would you wish to keep if I removed all of theirs?’

The Generals exchanged looks. ‘I’d say no less than four hundred operational missiles,’ a General stated.

‘I was thinking ... of more like sixty operational silos, plus a reserve of another hundred and fifty missiles,’ Jimmy floated.

‘They have nuclear armed bombers!’ a man protested.

‘Which would all catch fire one evening,’ Jimmy insisted. ‘Besides, if they took off they’d never reach you. And sixty silos would leave you with your long range bombers and tactical nukes, as well as cruise missiles, a massive imbalance.’

‘You can take out their aircraft in one go?’ a man asked.

‘Yes, once I have a few more drones here; it would be dangerous to attempt to disable all of their aircraft without enough drones, some may take off and be moved or hidden. We’d need to be sure first ... would we not? But how would you explain all this to the public, to Congress and the Senate?’

‘We’d ... have to consider wider disclosure,’ Kennedy admitted.

‘You’ll risk alienating the voters by keeping secrets,’ Jimmy cautioned.

‘We’re still trying to decide how to handle it,’ Kennedy admitted.

‘Well, no hurry,’ Jimmy commented.

A man hurriedly brought in a note. ‘Heck,’ Kennedy let out, sighing.

‘Problem?’ Jimmy asked.

‘The Germans have let slip about your soldiers, our press have a few photographs; dead Arabs and images of your soldiers.’

‘Given what’s happening in Europe, keeping a lid on it all will be tricky,’ Jimmy suggested.

At 8pm, two hours late, Jimmy accompanied Kennedy and his team aboard Air Force One, the Vice President holding the fort. Four Generals and six Colonels tagged along, plus a civilian team, as well as the usual compliment of Secret Service agents. They landed six hours later at a military base near the Canadian border, a dozen helicopters waiting.

On the flight, Jimmy had called the Rifles at Mawlini, a message passed on to 2047, and well as 1938 Canada, a separate message for Baldy. Now the line of helicopters crossed the border, soon to a field east of Manson that Jimmy had marked out on a map. Tents had already been set up, generators and lights, a handful of Canadian police officers and soldiers visible.

The helicopters landed in the dark, soon following Jimmy towards an open field, some thirty men in total. Jimmy halted, his outline visible from nearby lights, and took out his phone. He entered a number, pressing the green button. Little more than a minute later the portal opened, the portal to Baldy’s world. The burst of light had startled many, who now stared nervously at technicians in white lab coats the other side of a shimmering circle.

Jimmy strode forwards and jumped through, Big Paul right behind him, both taking a few steps before beckoning the others forwards. Four Secret Service men jumped through, followed by a group of Colonels, finally a nervous President Kennedy trailed by his Generals. Twelve Secret Service agents brought up the rear.

Kennedy found himself in a brightly lit and warm control room, being smiled at by technicians, and marvelling at the futuristic computer displays. He followed the procession, seeing guards salute Jimmy, oriental technicians bowing to Jimmy. After negotiating a long corridor, the procession emerged into a larger room, a reception party waiting.

‘I’m the Canadian Prime Minister, Mister Silo,’ a man said, offering his hand. ‘A great honour, a very great honour.’

Jimmy shook hands with several of the men and women ranged in front of him, before twisting and introducing Kennedy and his staff, all warmly greeted. The Canadian PM led the visitors outside, and into the night, a bank of powerful lights illuminating a large area. A group of US Marines were called to attention, the officer in charge saluting. Jimmy thanked the man, the officer saluting a second time for Kennedy and his Generals, and proceeded towards a bank of cameras.

Before they reached the cameras, Shelly and Helen stepped out, both now appearing to be in their late forties, both now dressed in smart business suits. Jimmy smiled widely, arms extended, and hugged both ladies at the same time. Free of the entanglement, he said, ‘You’ve aged a little, ladies.’

‘I passed eighty without celebrating it,’ Helen responded as Baldy walked into view, a nod given.

Jimmy turned towards Kennedy. ‘President Kennedy, this is Helen Holton, former head of the United Nations, and her daughter Shelly Holton, who has just stepped down as President of Africa.’

They shook.

‘Welcome to 2047, Mister Kennedy,’ Helen offered.

‘You’re really over eighty?’ Kennedy asked.

‘It’s rude to ask a lady her age, even here,’ Helen quipped. ‘Come, we’ll have a bite to eat and a chat on the plane.’

Baldy fell into step, Jimmy waving at the cameras as the gang all headed for a line of buses. ‘These buses are electric,’ Baldy informed Kennedy as they boarded one. ‘This bus will go for six hundred miles before it needs a top-up.’

‘An electric bus,’ Kennedy repeated as he examined it, hardly registering that they were now moving. The journey of two miles was covered quickly, Kennedy soon glimpsing a large and bulbous aircraft on the apron, the area brightly lit. As they neared, the writing on the aircraft became distinct: Africa One.

‘It’s my equivalent of your Air Force One,’ Shelly explained. ‘I borrowed it.’

‘Is Africa now some sort of combined state?’ Kennedy puzzled.

‘It’s a group of nations that operate as a single block, the world’s largest economy. And the richest,’ she proudly stated.

‘Africa ... is the largest economy here?’ Kennedy struggled with.

They stepped down from the bus, soon clambering up steps to the aircraft and inside, no ducking of heads required.

‘My god,’ Kennedy let out. ‘It’s huge inside.’

Shelly led the group past several rows of regular seats, and through a door to a lounge area. ‘For you and your senior staff,’ she informed Kennedy. ‘Toilets and showers are labelled.’

‘Showers? On a plane?’

‘Why not? We have beds for you as well at the rear, made up ready. You … have a private cabin.’

And what a cabin it was, quickly inspected as the aircraft started up and taxied around. Seated in the lounge around a large conference-style table, they all buckled up, the aircraft quickly accelerating, yet almost silently, soon gently rising.

‘My god, that has to be the smoothest take-off I’ve ever had,’ Kennedy let out. ‘And this plane, it’s nicer than my rooms at the White House!’

Helen handed him a menu. ‘Would you like to eat before you sleep?’

‘Sure, I could eat. Thanks.’

The Generals accepted menus, soon finding two waitresses stood ready. Orders were taken.

Baldy turned to Kennedy, now sat across the circular table. ‘This aircraft is mostly composites; plastics and carbon fibre. And we have a near-perfect flying record.’

When the starters arrived, with wine, Jimmy pointed at the wine glasses after they had been filled. ‘How much vibration do you feel?’

Kennedy and the others stared at the wine glasses - that had not spilt. ‘I’d have to be reminded that we’re actually flying!’

‘Take a look out the window,’ Baldy suggested. ‘You’ll see the curvature of the earth.’

Kennedy and and his generals peered out of the small round portals. ‘How high are we?’

‘Almost seventy thousand feet,’ Baldy reported.

‘Seventy thousand?’ Kennedy repeated.

‘Look up and you might glimpse a satellite,’ Baldy suggested. He hit a button on the desk. ‘Computer, patch us through to the Earth Space Station.’

A wall came to life, a huge image displayed, a startled looking astronaut staring back. ‘Secretary General Holton?’ he asked when noticing Helen.

Baldy turned to face him. ‘This is President Kennedy, from the year 1984.’

The astronaut called his colleagues, who all floated into view, the Generals staring wide-eyed at the image.

‘Do they not wear boots in space?’ a General asked. ‘They all seem to be in socks.’

‘No need for boots in here,’ an astronaut stated.

‘What nations are represented there?’ Kennedy asked.

‘Britain, Germany, China, Russian, Africa, Australia, Latvia, and Brazil.’

‘And Portugal!’ came a voice from the back.

‘That’s why it’s called an international space station,’ Baldy informed Kennedy.

‘How’s the space programme on your world?’ the crew asked Kennedy.

‘We have rockets to launch satellites, but nothing more than that.’

‘We’ve been to the moon and mars,’ the astronauts proudly announced.

Jimmy turned his head, just in shot. ‘Mars, gentlemen?’

‘Mister Silo, sir!’ the astronauts said, all trying to be formal, trying to stand to attention whilst weightless. ‘Yes, sir, just completed two months ago, a one year mission with partial hibernation.’

‘How did the crew feel afterwards?’ Jimmy enquired.

‘Fine, sir, just three days and they were back to normal, no muscle wastage.’

‘Give us an outside shot from where you are,’ Jimmy requested. The image changed to one of Earth, the planet’s slow rotation just about discernable. ‘That’s what she looks like, Mister Kennedy; blue, serene, and peaceful.’

‘This plane will take us to Washington?’ Kennedy asked as he ate his starter.

‘No, to New Kinshasa,’ Jimmy informed him. ‘President Mason will meet us there, along with quite a few others.’

‘Africa?’ Kennedy queried. ‘How ... long is the flight?’

‘Four hours,’ Baldy cut in. ‘More if you want a sleep longer, we can slow it down.’

‘Slow it down?’ Kennedy queried.

‘Yep. Some people like to get a sleep en-route, and the fuel consumption is the same.’

‘Well, if it’s no imposition, I’d like to get six hours after we’ve eaten.’

‘You’re the guest of honour,’ Helen said. ‘So whenever you emerge is fine; we’ll be sat on the tarmac. You can have breakfast right here before facing the world.’

‘They know I’m here?’

‘They know that Jimmy is back,’ Helen said. ‘Tomorrow is a national holiday in his honour.’

‘A ... national holiday? Where?’

‘Everywhere,’ Shelly put in.

‘I ... don’t understand,’ Kennedy nudged.

Helen explained, taking a moment, ‘When this time line split, Jimmy was killed, his molecules scrambled. That was almost eight years ago. So, the people have missed his presence.’

Kennedy gazed back. ‘Oh.’ He frowned his lack of understanding, and waited.

‘This is not the world that Jimmy came to you from,’ Baldy explained. ‘It’s a parallel.’

‘Then ... it’s not your people on my world?’

‘No, they’re Kenyan Rifles from our twin world,’ Baldy explained. ‘From this world we sent US Marines to 1938.’

‘Oh. So, what do the authorities here know about my world?’

‘Everything, they get updates,’ Baldy explained. ‘Our two worlds in 2047 are identical, as are the people, and we now have diplomatic ties and regular comms traffic.’

Kennedy nodded. ‘Right. And these Kenyan Rifles, who are they ultimately responsible to?’

‘To Jimmy,’ Helen put in.

‘And the drone aircraft we have in our world?’ Kennedy asked. ‘Supplied and manufactured by ... who?’

‘Manufactured in States, operated by African Armies,’ Shelly explained. ‘It must be odd coming from your era, but here people don’t really see borders. If someone wishes to study in another country they can do, and work there. A Chinese student may study in America for a year, Africa for a year, Britain for a year, before working in Australia. People can go wherever they like. And even students can afford to fly once a month.’

Jimmy said, ‘Mister Kennedy is from a Cold War era, so it will take some time for him to understand our system. That ... is the reason for this visit; for him to better understand our system, and our way of doing things.’

After the meal, Kennedy and his team claimed beds, and settled down. They woke to find themselves on the apron at Goma Hub. After they had emerged from their individual cabins, they ate breakfast as a group in the lounge, everyone from 2047 now gone.

When ready, Kennedy led the group out, and through a walkway, being shown the way by helpful staff, and to an arrivals hall, Shelly appearing and intercepting them.

‘I figured you’d best avoid the press till you’ve been fully briefed on our world, and had some time to consider what you might say. The others are through here.’ She led them on, and to a large side room, many groups either sat or stood around, Jimmy the focus of attention, now chatting to alternate Rudd, alternate Cosy and Anna stood closer, Ngomo and others sat about and chatting.

President Mason strode across to Kennedy. ‘I’m President Mason, States. Welcome to 2047, Mister Kennedy.’ They shook.

‘Thanks, it’s ... all quite overwhelming.’

‘Would you like a look at the city from a helo, we can chat as we go?’

Kenny shrugged. ‘Sure.’

‘Only get four of us in the back. You OK to leave the dreaded posse?’

‘If you’ll leave yours, I’ll leave mine,’ Kennedy quipped, making Mason laugh.

Five minutes later, Kennedy was staring down at New Kinshasa. ‘This ... this is Africa?’ he asked through a headset.

‘On your world this is the heart of the Congo jungle, just swamp.’

‘Jesus, it’s bigger than New York! And it all looks so clean and orderly. Is that a marina?’

‘The city has a dozen marinas. On this world, people apply, and then wait to live and work here, even New Yorkers!’

‘Africa develops this much?’

‘Africa didn’t develop at all, Mister Silo built all this from scratch. When he arrived it was just swamp, and full of warring tribes and gunmen. And this is just one city he built, one city in a continent bigger than America and Canada combined. He tamed Africa, and built it up to what it is. Kinda made him popular with the folks around here.’

‘And the rest of the world? How popular is he there?’

‘Half the people on this world regard him as a prophet; Moses, Jesus, Mohammad, Silo. The rest just love him.’

Kennedy stared at his opposite number.

Mason continued, ‘If he asked them to paint the moon green, they’d launch rockets and get on with it. You see, he didn’t just travel through time and fix this place; what he did was way beyond that. He brought peace, and he showed us a different way, uniting the entire planet. Borders were torn down, races mixed, religions mixed. Here in Africa, if someone is murdered it makes the news, people horrified.’

Mason faced forwards. ‘Pilot, try and land in Central Square.’

‘Yes, sir.’

Over their headsets, they could hear permission being granted, and soon floated smoothly down, a cordon of police officers moving people aside, the people moving quickly away.

‘What’s that?’ Kennedy asked, focussed on an odd statue.

‘Come and have a look.’

They stepped down, waves given to the people, who waved back. Stood under the statue, Kennedy stared up. ‘That’s Silo.’

‘The statue is supposed to be him carrying the weight of the world on his back, which is apt – and accurate. He made six attempts to travel back through time and save mankind from disaster, taking over two hundred years to do it.’

‘Why six attempts?’

‘Because each time there was a hiccup, often a war started by my twitchy predecessors, an economic crisis, or the rise of The Brotherhood; Silo had to learn how to deal with each. He studied Chinese, Russian, and several Africa dialects so that he could better interface with people. The final attempt, which he got all right, took him from 1984 to 2035, fifty years of hard work.

‘But he never wavered, not after two hundred years of trying to save us from ourselves. So this statue, it’s accurate in its depiction. And on this world you’ll find that he’s had a hand in all of our institutions and practices, and he’s quoted widely; required teaching here in Africa. It’s easy to be nice to your neighbour when you belly is full.’

Kennedy considered that. ‘Yes, I suppose we’re all good to others when things are going well for us. And downright mean when we’re hurting.’

Mason faced Kennedy squarely. ‘Here’s another saying: a young man cares for his family, and elder man cares for his tribe, but a great man cares for those he’s not yet met. Who do you care for, Mister Kennedy?’

Kennedy took a moment. ‘I was elected to represent the American people.’

‘Is that as far as your ambition goes? With the drugs we have you could live forever, you could live beyond money, ambition and high office, and keep going, on and on. And if you did go on and on, you’d need a focus, and a goal. Fixing problems is the kinda goal that never lets you get bored; it’s a never ending processing. That’s Mister Silo’s goal, to fix the problems; our world, your world, the next world. And not just people with white skin who speak English. He cares for all humans.

‘He manoeuvred you into coming here, because he gave you the idea that he answered to others, that the US President of the day may have some sympathy for you, and help you fix your world – but your way. Mister Silo is very old, very wise, and very intelligent. And he doesn’t answer to the government here, we answer to him.

‘You’re in a very fortunate position, Mister Kennedy, in that he’s helping you. So take the advice, and the assistance, and give some consideration as to what you’ll do on your hundredth birthday, because you could still be in some sort of office. Question is, how will they regard you, and how will you regard yourself? And will they erect a large statue to you?’

Kennedy again glanced up at the statue before boarding the waiting helicopter. Back at the airport, Kennedy was introduced to five black Presidents in turn, seeming uneasy in the presence of so many blacks, but putting on a brave face. A finance minister, again black, gave Kennedy a run-down of macro economics in Africa in general, and in the Congo in particular.

‘Where did you study?’ Kennedy asked the man, just making conversation.

‘I have three degrees: mathematics from Princeton, economics from LSE London, and politics from here.’

‘Princeton,’ Kennedy noted, and could think of nothing else to add.

After a buffet lunch, Jimmy led the party out, and to a white dirigible balloon, a “Blimp” sixty metres long.

‘A zeppelin?’ Kennedy queried.

Jimmy smiled. ‘It’s slow and steady, good for viewing cities and crowds. And they can project an image of me on the side for the crowds.’

They stepped aboard, and into a large glass cabin slung under the balloon, the number of Secret Service agents limited. The blimp’s mooring ropes were uncoupled, the balloon soon rising, engines engaged for forwards motion, six enclosed propellers that swivelled. The visitors were soon peering down at hotels, Shelly’s Marina in the distance, the sun shimmering off the lake.

Baldy pointed out his lakeside house for Kennedy, and they drifted slowly over Millionaires Row, soon following the main highway south and towards the city, Kennedy getting a second view. Heading east from the government buildings, they approached parkland, soon glimpsing a sea of people, the roads clogged, many local people stood on rooftops and waving up.

‘How many people?’ Kennedy asked Baldy, staring down dispassionately as the masses.

‘Close to a million. We only announced it this morning, otherwise they’d come from all over.’ He held his gaze on Kennedy. ‘How many did do you get for your inauguration?’

Kennedy had not taken his eyes off the crowd. ‘Sixty thousand, and that was a good turnout for a new president,’ he flatly stated.

They drifted slowly and quietly over a sea of people.

Jimmy adjusted an internal camera, his face now on both sides of the blimp, and knocked on a microphone. ‘Don’t you people have any work to do today?’ he asked with a smile, his words booming out through loudspeakers on the ground. ‘Have you finished the city? Have you finished Africa?’

He extended a number of greetings in local dialects, in Chinese and Russian, then switched to English as they drifted across the crowds, little more than thirty metres above the upturned faces. ‘Thank you all for coming out to see me, it’s good to be back here in my beloved Africa. I have been in the year 1938, in Canada, where I found many good people. They are a little backwards, but at heart they are good people. I spent twenty years preparing that world for its Second World War, which was being won before The Brotherhood invaded. And that invasion taught me a valuable lesson, in that we can never take all of this for granted; there are people out there who wish to destroy our way of life.

‘I used to say that it’s a small round planet. Now, I think, we must say that it’s a small universe, and that we are all interconnected. The Brotherhood were dealt with by the Rifles of your twin world, the sons of Africa. They chased the fighters back across time and space, and are destroying them. But the world that they are on is a dangerous place, and a primitive place.’

Baldy shot Kennedy a quick look from under his eyebrows.

Jimmy continued, ‘On that world, the countries face each other with bombs and threats, and on that world Africa is a waste ground under the tyranny of The Brotherhood. But we shall change that, and we shall change that together. President Kennedy, from America on that world, is here with me to view this world ... and to see what we’ve made of it, to see what is possible with a little cooperation. But President Kennedy is from a world like ours used to be, a world where it is easy to see enemies, and not so easy to see the people.

‘The people of that world simply want jobs, families, and safety. That’s what all people ever want, no matter what their skin colour, or their political allegiances. On that world, people are born in communist China, and have few choices in their lives. If they had choices, if their eyes were opened and the boot came off their necks, then they may choose something other than communism. All they need is to be shown the way, a different way.

‘That world, of 1984, is on the brink of a nuclear war, many nations set against each other, and many politicians set in their ways, keen to appease their voters with wartime rhetoric because that would be easier than sticking to their principles – and breaking down a few old barriers. But we shall change that world by showing a better way, by leadership and example, and the people of that world will have a chance to live, whether the current generation of political leaders like it or not.’

Baldy hid a grin, a look exchanged with Shelly from under eyebrows.

‘I shall work tirelessly, but not for the current generation of people on that world - they’re set in their beliefs and prejudice, but for the next generation, the first generation born into freedom. People of Africa, I had requested twenty-five thousand volunteers to help rebuild Africa from your twin world, but we will accept more people from here if suitable people apply. If you have talent, a strong pairs of arms and a big heart, then there are those less fortunate than yourselves who need a little help. And if you’re killed over there, you’ll be buried in the earth of mother Africa, you’re blood fertilising the next generation. Thank you all, my people.’ He waved.

Turning inwards, he took a few steps towards Kennedy. ‘Did you want to ... say a few words, Mister President?’

Kennedy simply stared back. ‘No,’ he said after a moment.

The blimp headed back to the airport, Kennedy quietly peering down at the city. The gang moved to the best hotel, Kennedy’s party afforded an entire floor, a great panoramic view of the city laid on from the thirtieth floor. Kennedy and his aides were informed of a meal upstairs, at 6pm, his Generals offered a tour of Forward Base’s military academy and barracks. That left Kennedy with plenty of time to stare down across the bustling city.

Shelly knocked on his door at 4pm. ‘Busy?’ she asked.

‘No, come in.’

Shelly stepped into Kennedy’s suite, a quick glance out of the window at a view she had seen many times before. Sitting, Kennedy poured fresh coffee.

‘You’re the daughter of Paul Holton, the man with the bald head and beard, yes?’ Shelly smiled and nodded. ‘And Helen, your mother, was his wife. And Paul was right hand man to Jimmy.’

Shelly lifted her coffee cup. ‘Yes, all in the family. My father was President of Africa for quite a while, and I moved to Britain to take-up politics there, going on to serve several terms as Prime Minister.’

‘And then you retired from the corridors of power?’

‘They’re like a bunch of kids, all squabbling. So I treated them like kids.’

Kennedy smiled. ‘Congressmen in the States do have their own ... particular charm.’

‘At least the British smile nicely when they stab you in the back, and they’re very polite about it.’

‘My Congressmen call me an asshole, often to my face.’

‘Must be tough, being in a Cold War political system. When I took office it was mostly after the troubles.’

‘Troubles?’

‘We had a few outbreaks of viruses that killed millions, then a massive earthquake in the Middle East that destroyed the oil. On most worlds, that event was the trigger for the rise of The Brotherhood.’

‘On my world, the Germans enslaving and torturing the Arabs ... was the key.’

Shelly nodded as she sipped her coffee. ‘I hope you don’t take Jimmy’s comments today to heart, you’re from ... a different time.’

Kennedy took in the view. ‘It was a kick in the pants.’ He faced her. ‘You know, coming here we figured we’d check up on Jimmy and talk to the US administration, get things done our way. Jimmy upset the military by installing the missile defence shield -’

‘Because those old war dogs felt threatened, threatened about losing their importance, and their jobs! Old war dogs are very hard to change.’

Kennedy nodded. ‘But if I defied them...’

‘Then I guess you have a few decisions to make, on staff as well as policy – Mister President. And, you have a speech to prepare.’

‘Speech?’

‘The moment you left your old world, the news was leaked about Jimmy, about time machines, and about the missile defence shield.’ Kennedy eased up. ‘Right now it’s probably chaos over there, and your own Vice President is having to try and explain just where you are. News was also leaked in Germany, Japan, China, and Russia; cat is out of the bag a few weeks ahead of time. Still, as Jimmy might say, the easiest of the hard decisions in life to take ... are the one’s taken for you.’

‘I should get back.’

‘Tomorrow, you’re not a prisoner. Besides, you need to work on that speech.’ She handed over a sheet of paper. ‘Some ... ideas to save you time.’

Kennedy scanned the speech. ‘Seems ... well prepared.’

‘I’ve had a little practise,’ Shelly teased. She stood. ‘Dinner, six o’clock, and don’t worry about your world. There’s no point in worrying about what you can’t fix, and if you try and cover it up it’ll probably work against you. You need to think a little more about what you’ll be gaining for the voters, and less on what you may be losing. If you release the drug and start curing cancer, the voters will be ecstatic, because they all have parents they love, they’ll all grow old themselves someday, and they all worry about their health.’ She headed towards the door. ‘Oh, and in Canada, we’re sending through ten tonnes of drugs for you. So play your trump card, and after ... after the benefits hit, the old war dogs will have less power.’

Kennedy took out a pen, clicked the end, and began studying the speech.

At the formal evening meal, Kennedy sat with his aides, the Generals together on another table, several American Generals from this era joining them. Jimmy sat at a large table with many old friends, tales of Canada in the 1920s, and of me - and Susan the spy.

After the meal, everyone gravitated to the rooftop bar, the rain holding off, a fine evening thrown on by Mother Nature. Groups stood around with drinks in hand, the press kept away.

Jimmy eventually joined Kennedy at the wall. ‘So, how do you like the view from the top?’

Kennedy wasn’t quite sure what that meant. ‘Is a President controlling the horse and cart, or being pulled along?’

‘Some are pulled along, yes, especially when the horses are whipped and the passengers are frightened of bandits along the road. Then it takes someone skilled to set direction and speed.’

‘Biggest problem I would have had ... would have been with my own people,’ Kennedy mentioned as he took in the view. ‘But you circumvented that when you leaked the news. Hell, the Generals have been pushing for a time machine all along; they can’t grumble because they got their wish. And what would they have done it they had got it to work? Gone back and given us nukes in 1937 probably, ending the wars and leaving us on top?’

Jimmy nodded. ‘But what if ... another war loomed fifty years later. Would they then go back and fix both, or just the latest one? And if the US economy was flagging, would they go back and alter things, removing the right to govern of your predecessors. Where would it end?’

‘Any sensible government would ban its use,’ Kennedy suggested. ‘But our desire for one was born out of desperation, to alter the war.’

‘Looks like you got your wish.’

Kennedy glanced at Jimmy, before sipping his drink and returning to the view. ‘Our wish ... would have been to nuke the Japs and Germans.’

‘And that may have turned out OK. On most worlds you did nuke the Japanese, in 1945, and then rebuilt their country into the prosperous nation that it is today. You also rebuilt Germany. But if you had your own time machine working, you may have been tempted to use it again, and you could have upset your own timeline. Someone may have gone through and destroyed you all.

‘The people here, they suffered a quake that killed many people a year ago, but they dealt with it without going back in time,’ Jimmy illustrated. ‘They want their right to govern as well.’

‘And if we make mistakes, in the decades ahead, will the people here alter things?’ Kennedy asked.

‘Would you want them to? If a plague broke out and killed half the people on your world, would you wish it dealt with?’

‘For something like that, yes.’

‘Then there are circumstances in which your right to govern is less important, such as saving mankind,’ Jimmy emphasised. ‘And if I hadn’t arrived when I did you would have all been dead within a few years. That includes your wife and daughters.’

Kennedy glanced around, deep in thought. ‘It’ll be a hell of a period of adjustment when I get back. And I don’t dare tell people about how successful the blacks are on this world.’

‘Don’t knock yourselves, the Americans on all worlds treated blacks badly till the 1990s, you’re not unique. And I won’t be pushing hard for that to alter, or beating anyone up about it. I may apply some gentle pressure, but that’s all. The rest will take time, we’re not about to upset your system. Too much. Anyway, 7am flight, so don’t get drunk.’

In the morning, Jimmy said goodbye to many old friends, an interview given to the Press, Africa One soon heading across the jungles. As soon as the seatbelt sign was off, Kennedy held a meeting of all of his people, to discuss how to handle the publicity when they returned, as well as the future development of America.

Over New York, the plane descended and circled slowly, their passengers peering down at the sprawling metropolis. An hour later they descended to have a peek at Chicago, and landed near Manson as the sun set. At the portal, Jimmy said goodbye to technicians and Army officers, Kennedy thanking his hosts, Helen and Shelly along for the ride.

In 1984, two days had passed, the worlds in synch, the helicopters waiting for a reversal of the journey.

‘Jesus,’ Kennedy said as he boarded Air Force One. ‘This seems so damn primitive.’

‘We’ll supply you with aircraft technology,’ Jimmy offered. ‘They’ll advance quickly.’

One of Kennedy’s aides, who had remained with the aircraft, brought the President up to speed on what had been happening as the noisy aircraft climbed away. Touching down in Washington, the sun up, Kennedy was ready, speech in hand. The Press were waiting on the apron - all fifty of them behind a rope, a dozen TV cameras rolling.

Kennedy stepped across alone to the podium and microphones. ‘Members of the Press, my fellow Americans. I can confirm that I have just been to another world, and in another time. I have been ... to the year 2047.’

The Press hacks were stunned.

‘For many decades, our scientists have been experimenting with time travel, trying to build a machine, the hope being that my predecessors might send people back to 1937, the outcome of the war somehow different. That, in itself, was a noble aim. We did not finish our time machine, or get it working, but we attracted the attention of other Americans who did complete their own time machine. They then came looking for us.

‘In order to understand what has happened, you must appreciate that there are many dimensions in the universe, and many worlds just like this one, all very similar. I have just taken a trip to another world, not to this world in the future. There I saw wondrous cities, and great technology and innovations, New York and Chicago thriving – the traffic looked terrible!

‘I have, as a result of that trip, brought back with me medicines from the future, medicines that will cure all diseases, including cancer. We can now even cure people with late stage cancer. Within a few days, hospitals will start to receive the new drugs, and they’ll be used on a priority basis. But take hope everyone who has a loved one dying from cancer, or who has been diagnosed themselves.

‘In addition to the wondrous drugs from the future, we have received offers of help to build advanced aircraft – safe aircraft, as well as help with our military. I can now confirm that we have in place an advanced missile shield in the skies above America, and that no enemy missile should reach us. We are also receiving advice on advanced weapons, defensive weapons, and have been promised information on where to drill for oil and ore, significantly boosting our economy.

‘My fellow Americans, this may all come as a shock, but there are good times ahead, and we are not alone in our struggles; we now have a few new friends. Those friends will tell us when earthquakes may strike, but they will not interfere directly in our politics, they will respect our right to govern; they are there to help, not to tell us what to do. I will be making further statements soon, but for now I have a few meetings to attend to. Thank you all.’

In the limo, Jimmy said, ‘Short and sweet, but not a bad approach. You blame your predecessors, and the military, and played-up the benefits.’

‘Shelly Holton gave me some advice.’

‘Ah.’

At the White House, Jimmy reclaimed his room, but now had his own security detail, his own small office, and an assigned assistant, plus a military liaison. Big Paul also had a security officer assigned to him, a minder to mind Jimmy’s minder.

After a meal with his new team, they sat down with Kennedy, the President now sat opposite with his own team.

‘OK,’ Kennedy began. ‘Let’s try and work through this. First, the drug. What do we need to know?’

‘The vials you’ve been given,’ Jimmy began, ‘can be used for ten or twenty dosages. Large dose or smaller doses don’t make much of a difference because the drug works like a virus.’

‘A virus?’ Kennedy queried.

‘It causes a change to the way the body repairs itself. For a baby, that’s fast, for an adult that’s slower, for a pensioner that’s very slow. It speeds up the repair process, but you need to eat extra protein and to drink more water. And, after injection, the person typically runs a fever and feels a little odd as the process starts. Then, once the process is running, more waste products are produced for a few days as the body replaces damaged cells. For a normal person being injected, they can start to exercise after five days. Within two weeks they could run a marathon.’

‘They get fitter?’ Kennedy puzzled.

‘No, they go back to how they should have been at twenty years old, at their peak of fitness,’ Jimmy explained. ‘So a fifty year old man gains a great deal of extra energy. People also live longer. I’m not sure what strength of dosage they supplied you, but they’ll probably double a life span.’

‘Double it?’ Kennedy repeated. ‘One injection?

Jimmy nodded. ‘There’s a great opportunity for you to sell it, and to take money off those who have it, putting it back into the Treasury.’

‘Your people ... wouldn’t mind that?’

‘No,’ Jimmy said with a smile. ‘And you’ll make a great deal of money from ageing women. A great deal.’

‘And for soldiers?’ Kennedy asked.

‘If they’re injected they’ll be better soldiers, yes, and immune to disease. But you may wish to concentrate on the civilian population first, on the sick and the dying.’

‘We would have,’ Kennedy insisted. ‘OK, Africa. We should be looking to move into Africa in a big way?’

‘Move in – no. Cooperate with my people there – yes. You should invest in Africa and trade with Africa, but my people will run it, and be very protective towards it. Any dollars you spend this year in Africa will come back twenty fold in the years ahead. Start with Angola - I’ll mark a spot on the map, and you can create a port there. You should also create a base in Liberia once the area has been cleared, and in Guinea. Offshore oil-drilling can then start, and should start as soon as possible.

‘But remember that the oil is not yours, it belongs to the countries of Africa, whether they have a functioning government at the moment or not. So part of the profit goes back to them, to a company that I’ll create there to coordinate development.’

Kennedy made notes. ‘Germany and Japan. Do you still want that meeting tomorrow?’

‘Yes, very much so, because they all now have a new reality to deal with. My people made broadcasts on the national airwaves in China, direct to the people, and they all now know about time travellers, but not my specific role yet. The Germans were not too happy with the news leaks, but that’s their problem. Trying to deny it has made their population suspicious of them.’

‘I’d like to see how they sell it to their population, Germany being liberated by African soldiers!’

‘There will be a few raised words in London, yes,’ Jimmy agreed. ‘And, no doubt, a little dissent in the ranks. And whilst we’re on the Germans, I’ve made the drugs available to them in Berlin; they’re being distributed by a group called Rescue Force, some being sent to London.’

‘I heard about this Rescue Force on our trip,’ Kennedy stated. ‘Tough medics that can go anywhere and do anything, a group that you founded. Should we look at a similar group here?’

‘There are many countries that you couldn’t send medics to, not yet,’ Jimmy suggested. ‘Better that the medics be ... neutral. And it’s not something for this year.’

‘You’re happy ... to see Germany re-take its old land?’

‘It’ll be their undoing,’ Jimmy enigmatically stated. ‘Just watch and see. They don’t dare return, and they don’t dare not return.’

‘Those that had been left behind won’t be too happy,’ Kennedy noted.

‘You noticed that aspect as well, did you,’ Jimmy quipped.

‘Should I be looking at arms reductions here?’

‘Not unless you want a war with your own generals. Let Congress do that when peace is a fact.’

‘You mentioned reductions to us before,’ Kennedy puzzled.

‘Only so that your Generals would be opposed to them, and keen to meet my sponsors.’

‘And the Japanese and German arsenals?’ Kennedy nudged.

‘Rendered useless by the shield. And, when the time is right, they’ll be disabled.’

‘That Jap sub off Guam was abandoned before it exploded,’ an aide mentioned.

‘And they may suffer further mishaps,’ Jimmy suggested. ‘I had planned on a negotiated process, but I have something to attend on another world.’

‘You’re leaving?’ Kennedy asked.

‘I’ll be going back and forth. I have ... someone to find, a puzzle to unravel. Besides, you have the right to govern, remember, and it’s a long process.’

‘And this meeting tomorrow?’

Jimmy took a moment. ‘I’ll give them the chance to negotiate first, and then I’ll make my choice. For now the shield is in place, The Brotherhood being dealt with, so we have a little time for them to adjust. Beside, it’ll take six months for any benefits from coal-oil and the drugs to be fully appreciated.’

Kennedy was handed a note. Lifting his head, he informed the group, ‘Both the German Foreign Minister and their Interior Minister will be here in the morning.’

‘That’s a good sign,’ Jimmy suggested. ‘Either that, or they’re desperate – which is still a good sign. For you, Europe is important. You need Europe to be rebuilt quickly, and to be independent of Germany, until such time as Germany is democratic - and an industrial powerhouse in Europe, at which time they’ll try and dominate again, but politely - and using money.’

‘There’s a ceasefire in place around Moscow,’ an aide put in.

‘Neither side has the energy for a fight at the moment,’ Jimmy commented. ‘I just gave them an excuse to down tools and take a breather.’

Later that evening, Jimmy sat with Big Paul and the guards, a beer shared.

‘This world on track?’ Big Paul asked.

‘I still can’t see why I was brought here. I had considered that it was to be set up for a fall, starting a nuclear war. Now that the shield is in place that’s unlikely, but a bomber may still get through.’

‘Nothing special about this place?’

‘Not that I can figure, but it’s early. Maybe the real reason won’t present itself for a year or two.’

‘Your lad is back in 1938,’ Big Paul noted. ‘Why’s he there, and not here then?’

‘Good question, and so far no sign of him. They know not to shoot him, but they haven’t found him.’

‘I spoke to the other Paul on the plane,’ Big Paul noted. ‘The bald version. Germany’s occupied, and Japan surrendered after the Marines landed north of Tokyo.’

‘The Marines landed on the mainland?’ Jimmy puzzled.

Big Paul sipped his beer. ‘Yep, forced a surrender. Well, that was after five or six days of that carrier pounding the crap out of Tokyo’s housewives.’

Jimmy slowly nodded to himself. ‘The only thing here, that I think I may have been nudged here to deal with, was their desire to build time machines. They may have succeeded eventually.’

‘Even without Singh?’

‘They may have got lucky,’ Jimmy suggested. ‘They spent forty years at it, so another forty years may have produced something. And then, then they may have jumped somewhere and screwed up a world. It’s the only thing that makes any sense. Anyway, I’ve got a job for you lot, if you want it.’

‘What’s that, boss?’

‘How would you like to stay here for ten years, to build-up their soldiers and Special Forces?’

Big Paul exchanged looks with the others. ‘Won’t you need us in 1938?’

‘We’ve already trained the various Rifles brigades over there. Besides, I think there’ll be a few minor wars here, Vietnam style; well-trained soldiers will be needed. And they’ll need to know how to fight The Brotherhood. Give it some thought, because there’ll be few wars in 1938 for men of your calibre.’

‘Vietnam, eh?’ Big Paul let out. ‘Well I’ve done the Second World War, so Vietnam will look good in my memoirs.’

‘Paul, do yourself a favour, and put the idea of a biography firmly out of your mind, you’ll make us all look bad.’

‘What?’ Big Paul complained as the others chuckled.

The various delegates turned up on time for the scheduled meeting, all again laboriously checked by security. Jimmy greeted the German Interior Minister, having met him before with the Chancellor, the man oddly polite today. The Japanese and Chinese were just as frosty as the previous meetings, the Russians neutral in their expressions.

Settled about the table, the seating arrangement the same, Jimmy kicked things off. ‘Thank you all for coming here today. As you’re now aware, from having tested my missile defence shield, the shield works, and none of you will be able to fire off your very expensive weapons at others. If you do, they’ll simply drop into the sea, as they have been doing. That move, of unilaterally imposing a shield, was to prevent a global nuclear war, not to remove anyone’s right to govern their own countries. Kindly keep in mind that I will always try and negotiate first.

‘Now, to keep you all up to date, you may have heard through your spies – or caught it on CNN - that President Kennedy visited a world in the future. Your leaders ... are welcome to do so as well. That visit, by President Kennedy, was not favouritism, and it was designed to show him just how peaceful and prosperous your nations are in that version of the future. No deals were struck or signed, and the drugs that the Americans now have are the same as we’ve made available to Germany in quantity.’

‘May we have them as well?’ the Russians asked.

‘At the moment, I have no way of safely delivering large quantities to you,’ Jimmy responded. ‘But hopefully I will have soon. If I can secure suitable aircraft in Africa, I’ll fly supplies to you. And, whilst considering Russia, how’s your ceasefire holding up?’

‘It is holding,’ the Russians flatly responded.

‘Good. OK, we have with us today the German Foreign Minister and his Interior Minister, so I’m hoping that we can achieve something substantial. Would the Germans like to say anything ... in particular?’

The Interior Minister began, ‘We are prepared to move our forces to Belorussia as requested, provided that they are not harassed by advancing Russian units.’

‘Russia?’ Jimmy called.

‘We will hold existing lines for three months.’

‘Do the Germans accept this agreement?’

‘We do,’ the Interior Minister offered.

‘Do the Germans have anything else to add?’ Jimmy nudged.

‘We request ... that your doctors in Berlin pull back.’

‘That’s your right,’ Jimmy acknowledged. ‘I will arrange it. Where are your forces now?’

‘We have secured northern Germany, as well as Denmark and the east of France, Holland and Belgium. We are moving south.’

‘My soldiers are crossing the Alps, others approaching Czechoslovakia as we speak,’ Jimmy reported. ‘But the fighting in Somalia has caused many fighters to withdraw from Europe, their supply lines cut. And no reinforcements are being sent north. My soldiers will cross to Arabia soon, and that will draw the Arab fighters down from many places. And, as we speak, my drone aircraft are killing fighters in Syria and Turkey, hampering supply lines. Would the Russians like us to use such aircraft to harass fighters in their Caucuses?’

‘We would,’ they readily agreed.

‘We will need to co-ordinate the moves, so use the phone I gave you to contact my people,’ Jimmy told them. ‘Let us know which particular areas are a priority for you.’

‘We will,’ they again readily agreed, and why not, this was all a great benefit to them.

‘Does Germany have any further requests?’

‘Do you have any further requests of us?’ the Interior Minister countered with, surprising Kennedy and Jimmy alike, a look exchanged.

‘There are a great many things I would like you to do, but I think that they need time, and you need time to settle into Germany – do you not?’

‘We are willing to look at things, if there is a benefit to us both.’

‘How about wheat shipments from America?’ Jimmy offered, Kennedy now on the spot.

‘That would be most welcome. What would you wish in return?’

‘Well, let’s start simple. How about you close your bases in Iceland, the Faroe Islands, the Canary Islands and the Azores, and pull back?’ Jimmy waited.

‘And how much wheat would that secure?’

Jimmy faced Kennedy. ‘How about ... twelve thousand tonnes, spread over the next year.’

Kennedy wrote down the figure before discussing it with his staff in whispers. Finally, he said, ‘We could do that.’

The Germans were surprised, so too the Japanese, who now seemed a bit put out.

Jimmy began, ‘Our American friends could also assist with beef supplies, and other food products. Perhaps another twenty-five thousand tonnes over a year.’

‘Could we take a ten minute break,’ Kennedy called, standing. He led his delegation and Jimmy to a side room. ‘What you up to?’ he asked, but without sounding unhappy.

Jimmy waved Kennedy’s group closer, like a football coach gathering his team to a confidential distance. ‘The Germans are here because they’re desperate. Their Chancellor knows that this is last chance saloon for him, to get his people back into Germany, and to try and rebuild before the rest of the European countries turn against him. When he’s back inside his own borders he’ll loosen control of the other countries, because he only has enough money to rebuild Germany. So, when your food arrives - with your flag on, the people of Europe will know where it came from, but not why. And, when those people turn away from Germany, they’ll turn towards you. The people you’re feeding this year ... are potentially next year’s consumers buying American products.’

Jimmy led everyone back in after a brief toilet break for some.

Kennedy announced, ‘We will look at twenty-five thousand tonnes of food.’

‘In return for ...?’ the Germans nudged.

‘In return for sixty percent of your air force leaving Britain for Germany,’ Jimmy suggested.

‘We believe that is possible,’ the Germans agreed.

Jimmy faced the Japanese. ‘Will the Japanese consider oil and food in return for concessions?’

‘What concessions?’

‘The removal of your forces from certain islands and lands, yet to be agreed,’ Jimmy suggested.

‘Do you have a list?’ the Japanese asked, Kennedy now clearly surprised.

‘Might I suggest,’ Jimmy began, ‘that the list start with those islands furthest from Japan’s shores and closest to Australia, and that we then work down the list from there. Might I also suggest that Japan reduces the amount of money that it spends on its military, since my shield will prevent any Chinese attack, or any other kind of attack.’

‘We make note,’ they stated.

‘Progress,’ Jimmy commended. ‘Something to make the masses rejoice.’ He faced the Chinese. And Paused. ‘Is there anything you lot wish to negotiate?’

‘We protest your people making broadcasts to our citizens!’

‘Noted. Anything besides that?’

‘We cannot be bought with food and oil!’

‘Can you be threatened?’ Jimmy asked.

‘Threatened?’ they repeated.

‘If I threaten to destroy all of your aircraft, and destroy all the electronics in many towns, would you be willing to negotiate?’

‘We cooperate on western border!’

Kennedy laughed, Jimmy hiding a smile. Jimmy said, ‘That is a benefit to you, not to world peace. Do you have anything to negotiate regarding world peace before I destroy your aircraft?’

They exchanged looks. ‘What do you wish to negotiate?’

Jimmy rolled his eyes towards Kennedy. ‘How about ... you leave Indo-China and return to your borders.’

‘In return for what?’ Arms were folded.

‘In return for me not destroying your aircraft,’ Jimmy teased.

‘We will not be threatened!’

Jimmy lifted his phone and selected a number. ‘Destroy all Chinese military aircraft. Thanks,’ he ordered, being carefully observed by the Germans.

‘This is an act of war!’ the Chinese protested.

‘War is the next step, my friend,’ Jimmy told the Chinese before they walked out.

The Japanese asked, ‘All Chinese aircraft destroyed?’

‘All destroyed,’ Jimmy confirmed. ‘By morning.’

Kennedy faced the Japanese. ‘Pity about that shield being in place, or you could have struck back at them.’

‘We’ll call a halt for a week at least, time to make some progress and to consult with governments,’ Jimmy announced. He faced the Germans. ‘And Minister, may I say how ... well you’re looking.’

Everyone focused on the man.

‘You were injected?’ Kennedy asked, the man nodding affirmatively.

‘How ... how’s it been?’ Kennedy asked, genuinely interested.

‘I feel like I young man, fit and strong,’ the man stated, but with a reserved tone for his enemies. ‘I sleep for three or four hours, then I’m awake and working. And I no longer need glasses.’

After the meeting, Jimmy led Kennedy’s team to a side room. ‘Just because you promise food, doesn’t mean you need to deliver it. Let the fish swallow the hook.’

‘Will that food go to just Germans, not Europeans?’ Kennedy wondered.

‘Possibly,’ Jimmy agreed. ‘They’re desperate, but nuclear armed, so we tread carefully. They could move their people and their seat of government in months, and then the games begin. To destroy Greater Germany, all you need do is leave them to it, whilst being as nice as you can. And you saw the Japanese reaction in there. They’re starving, short of oil and ore, and probably facing a revolt from their own people as much as the Germans. They need to feed the masses, or there’ll be a revolution over there, and we don’t want socialists in Japan.’

‘And China?’

‘Right now, force is the only thing they’ll respect.’

‘And you trust the Russians?’

‘No, not even a little bit. They’ll play the waiting game, get their borders back, catch their breath, and go all out to try and dominate the world.’

‘So why the heck play nice with them now?’ Kennedy complained.

‘Why do you think, oh great leader?’ Jimmy teased.

‘You’re playing for time,’ a General suggested, Jimmy nodding.

As they walked towards the cars, Jimmy said, ‘The drugs, and the news of time travel, will eventually reach the small villages of Siberia; it’ll act like a cancer. Besides, I don’t mind if they sit behind their walls and stew for a decade or two; on our world they took sixty years to come around.’

At the White House, Kennedy was informed of a team of people arriving in Canada at the portal location, where a US military presence was being maintained. Jimmy explained to Kennedy that they were scientists who would give a few US industries a boost, especially in the areas of electronics and computers. It was all good news to the President and his men, not least Big Paul’s planned programme of Special Forces training. That good news was tempered by the news that Jimmy was heading back for a while, back to 1938.

That evening at midnight, Jimmy flew up to the border, but made the odd move of taking his new White House aide with him. That young man was called Hardon Chase, and would get to glimpse 1938 as an “educational experience”. As he flew northwest, a team of scientists from 2047 flew towards Washington.

At 7am, helicopters whisked Jimmy and Chase over the border, the short flight ending in a floodlit field, soon stepping down onto damp grass. Jimmy sent a signal with his phone, a terrified Hardon Chase jumping through to 2047. After little more than five minutes staring at the portal’s computer displays, Hardon Chase stepped back through to Canada, but to 1938, finding a field that was now warn down to compacted dirt, hundreds of people moving around in organised chaos. I met Jimmy with Susan at my side.

‘This young gentleman is my assigned White House aide from 1984,’ Jimmy informed us. ‘His name is Hardon Chase, if I pronounce it correctly.’

I shook Chase’s hand, controlling my surprise. Susan shook his hand and said hello as we turned towards the waiting Huey, bodyguards close.

‘You have helicopters ... in 1938?’ Chase puzzled.

‘We advanced the technological clock forwards twenty years,’ I said as we boarded the Huey, headsets fixed.

Lifting off, Chase peered down at the sprawling tented city as we pulled away into the dark night, three Hueys in a line. At the hotel in Trophy, a tired Chase needed his bed and was shown to a room.

‘Hardon Chase?’ I queried in the diner, Cookie fixing us an early breakfast as the sun threatened to rise.

‘He’s not quite the same person as on your world, but ... you never know,’ Jimmy said with a glint in his eye.

‘You’ll groom him?’ Susan asked.

‘You might think that, I couldn’t possibly comment,’ Jimmy quipped. ‘So, how’re things here?’

We grabbed a table, teas soon placed down.

‘War is over,’ I let out, sounding relived at my own revelation. ‘First regular US soldiers landed in Japan today, or last night I guess. And Germany ... Germany is a mess, no leadership to talk to, so we’re dealing with the individual town mayors.’

‘They rounded up many of Hitler’s team,’ Susan noted. ‘But there’s not much of an appetite for a War Crimes trial.’

‘It was over quickly,’ Jimmy responded. ‘Any word on how they treated those Jews left in the country?’

‘Very little information is surfacing,’ I said. ‘I think we got most of them out in time.’

‘Different circumstances this time around,’ Jimmy said with a sigh. ‘Maybe a faster rebuild as well. What do you know about the casualty rates from our bombing?’

I carefully studied Jimmy. ‘Not as high as I figured, around seven hundred and fifty thousand tallied dead.’

Jimmy slowly nodded to himself. ‘If The Brotherhood hadn’t opened the portal...’

‘We had to end it, and quickly,’ I pointed out. ‘Don’t beat yourself up about it. If the war had dragged on...’ I shrugged. ‘You know the stats.’

‘And the public’s view of time travel?’ Jimmy asked.

‘They think it’s cool,’ I said.

‘They think it won the war,’ Susan added. ‘Some think that they might have lost without us.’

‘They might have,’ Jimmy conceded. ‘You should visit 1984, it’s a living enactment of what could have been, what this place might have turned out like: Cold War, opposing camps, all the usual suspects lined up. Mankind is consistent when it comes to factionalised bad guys.’

‘I heard you took their President on a trip,’ I mentioned.

Jimmy nodded. ‘Took him and his team to 2047 on Baldy’s world, didn’t want him anywhere near Gilchrist on your world. Kennedy went there to try and petition those who controlled me after I unilaterally imposed a defensive shield of drones.’

‘Why would that upset him?’ Susan puzzled.

‘It took away their ability to make a pre-emptive strike, and that was a distinct possibility, the Germans and Japs both suffering economically. On that world, the American economy won out over the Japanese Empire in the long run, and the Europeans lack of international trade kept them poor. When The Brotherhood attacked Europe, America was left as top dog.’

‘So a pre-emptive strike was a real possibility,’ Susan realised.

‘German nukes falling into the hands of The Brotherhood was also a distinct possibility,’ Jimmy pointed out. ‘I’m sure that 1984-world would have fought a nuclear war within a year or two.’

‘Which was probably why you were nudged to that world,’ I suggested.

‘Why?’ Jimmy bluntly countered. ‘There are probably hundreds of worlds just like it. Why that one?’

‘We haven’t found your offspring,’ Susan stated. ‘And we have adverts in the newspapers, not that they’re operating in Germany at the moment.’

‘If he was in Germany during the bombing...’ I broached.

Jimmy took a moment. ‘He’s not stupid, he knew what weapons we had. And he must have studied both timelines before travelling back. And he’s something of a risk-taker. He created a false identify, lived and worked for years in Berlin, then somehow infiltrated their time machine programme, a remarkable feat – even for a traveller. I figure he did that to make sure that it worked, and to influence the timing of when it opened. But from what I know he was simply a junior technician, not in a position to influence the portal’s development.’

I shook my head, mockingly. ‘The son of Silo a risk-taker; who would have believed it?’

Jimmy shot me a look. ‘I was methodical, not a risk-taker.’

Susan and I made faces and gave mocking head-shakes.

‘I still can’t figure out what was special about that world,’ Jimmy said with a sigh. ‘Or why I was supposed to go there, other than the fact that they may have cracked time travel at some point. But many post-apocalyptic worlds were looking at time travel. Why that one?’

‘All he did here was to give the Germans and Poles coal-oil technology,’ Susan noted.

‘Poles?’ Jimmy queried.

‘Baldy said that it was a joint venture, German and Polish coal-oil development,’ Susan explained. ‘We think it was one of the reasons that Germany didn’t invade Poland.’

‘They could have invaded and taken the coal,’ Jimmy pointed out. ‘Besides, Germany has plenty of coal in this time, why involve the Poles?’

‘Sweden was involved as well, and Belgium apparently,’ I added.

‘Belgium has coal,’ Jimmy thought out loud. ‘So why focus on that, why coal-oil? There’ll be no shortage of oil for a long time, a very long time if we open up African oil.’ He stared out of focus.

‘What effect would it have on a post-war Europe?’ I floated.

Jimmy raised a finger. ‘Post-war Europe.’ He faced me. ‘Maybe, he was thinking of post-war Europe. Coal-oil would have little effect till ... the 1970’s, and then ... then it would boost Europe’s economy, less reliant on imported oil.’

‘Less reliant on Russian oil after 2010,’ I put in.

‘Since we’re here, we’d have gone that route anyway,’ Jimmy pointed out. ‘So what difference would it make now?’ He faced me. ‘Do you know what coal-oil process they have in Poland?’

‘Two-part chemical process, very advanced,’ I reported.

‘That could give Europe a post-war boost; it would be cheaper than importing it.’ He smiled. ‘Ah.’

‘What?’

‘Where does European oil come from at the moment?’ he asked with a grin.

‘America in part,’ I said. ‘Some from Eastern Europe.’

‘How would very cheap oil affect Europe’s relationship with America in the 1940s and 1950s?’ Jimmy posed.

‘They’d be less dependent, and would compete more,’ I answered.

‘Maybe that’s it,’ Jimmy said. ‘Maybe that’s what was needed here, an early split from American oil.’

‘He didn’t need to go to 1984 and jump across to achieve that!’ Susan pointed out.

‘No,’ Jimmy agreed, deflated. ‘He didn’t. Seems like an after-thought almost.’

‘Never mind, it’s all a learning experience,’ I quipped.

Jimmy stared at me for a moment. ‘What?’

‘I said: it’s all a learning experience.’

Jimmy stared at the carpet, Susan and I exchanging looks. When he lifted his head, he said, ‘Maybe that was it. What I learnt in 1984.’

‘What did you learn in 1984?’ I asked.

‘No idea,’ he came back with. ‘That world is far from unique; it’s a living cliché of human politics.’

‘Maybe there’s a warning in there somewhere,’ Susan suggested as breakfast was placed down. ‘Not to repeat history.’

‘This world is nothing like that one, apart from the obvious,’ Jimmy said as he cut-up his breakfast. ‘From here on it’s easy enough on this world, like a blank sheet of paper.’

Toby came out, dressed already. I checked my watch. ‘He does get up early these days,’ I noted, none too concerned.

Toby stopped next to Jimmy, eyeing the breakfast. ‘Where’ve you been, Uncle Jimmy?’

‘I went on a trip to Washington. You know where Washington is?’

‘America, it’s the capital.’

‘Good lad.’

I nudged my son away. ‘Toby, go ask Cookie for breakfast. Go on.’ He went and sat on a stool. We heard “Come on, Cookie, get the lead out” followed by a slap, and a complaint from Toby, Jimmy now grinning.

‘He doesn’t take after his mother,’ Jimmy noted.

‘Don’t blame me, I don’t talk like that,’ I complained, getting a look from Susan.

‘What’s Churchill been up to?’ Jimmy asked as he tackled a sausage.

‘I nudged him towards a parade - or ten, for the troops, all of the nations and units involved. That parade was three days ago now, before we flew back, long procession through London, a hundred thousand spectators at least. Same in Paris, we held a parade there the day before, even had US Marines from 2047 marching along. Well, more like ambling along, but they flew the flag. Had the American Brigade there, Canadians, the British and French Brigades.’

‘Africans?’ Jimmy teased.

‘Well ... no, Churchill and the others asked if they could be flown back to Africa. But they had a parade in Nairobi and at Forward Base.’

‘Casualties amongst our people?’ Jimmy asked.

‘I have the exact figures around here somewhere. Canadian Rifles lost about a quarter of their men in Belgium; they saw the brunt of the action. They now occupy a former German Army base south of Hamburg, shared with a British armoured unit. They’ll remain there for a while, none left in Belgium. Right now they’re mostly doing R&R in France.

‘The American Brigade came back here, Churchill kind of insisted on it. We paid them, but then gave them all three months leave. Some have quit, couple of hundred actually. The Canadian Rifles pilots from Britain are back, some staying on with training contracts, a few have quit. We lost forty pilots killed.

‘The French Brigade has been adopted by the provisional French government, its men absolved of previous crimes, and Churchill has sent the British Brigade back to Kenya; he doesn’t want them in Britain. We paid them all off, and sacked most of them. They can re-apply in three months if they want to.’

‘And the Africa Rifles?’ Jimmy asked.

‘Not too many killed, considering, plenty wounded though. And none wanted to quit. They’re all back in training in either Kenya or the Congo, and we’re still recruiting.’

‘Good,’ Jimmy commended as he ate. ‘And how’s Rudd’s empire building?’

‘I hear it’s gone on at a pace around the Congo, but a quarter of the western miners left during the war, some drifting back. More black miners working now.’

‘Money from the Congo?’

‘It’s still rising, but I’ve allocated more money to Rudd to use, because we just don’t need it here. Brits and Americans have paid for the hardware, and they’re still buying everything we can produce; war procurement hasn’t slowed up at all. There’s a bunch of officers downstairs, already thinking of next year’s weapons.’

‘Hal and Hacker?’

‘Training RAF chaps how to fly F15s and the jet bombers. They’re due back here in a month because the RAF will train in San Diego with the Americans in the winter. Oh, I agreed an F15 and a jet bomber to attend an air show a week back.’

‘And?’ Jimmy nudged.

‘Star attractions, pictures of them all over the newspapers,’ I said with a smile. ‘When the bomber took off, everyone had their hands over ears; reminded me off my own youth. President wanted a show in Washington, so we flew the jets down to buzz the capital.’

‘Those jets are better than the aircraft operated by the USAF on 1984 world!’ Jimmy suddenly paused. ‘Have we given them too much too soon?’

‘We had to win the war quickly,’ I said with a shrug. ‘And deliver the nukes if necessary.’

‘But if America has all these weapons now, will it make them over-confident?’ Jimmy posed. ‘Is there a danger here? Is this why a son of mine came back?’

‘What the hell would jets here have to do with the world you just visited?’ I countered with. ‘If he wanted to slow us up, then he would have influenced us here, not in pigging 1984!’

‘That’s true,’ Susan agreed.

Jimmy nodded. ‘Right now I’d like to kick his arse. I just can’t figure why he did it, why he’s trying to help me.’

‘To impress you somehow?’ Susan floated.

‘I would like to think ... that if I have children ... that they would not be raised to feel like that.’

‘There are no guarantees with kids,’ I said. ‘Besides, you may be off-world when the mother raises them. A son of Silo might feel ... inadequate.’

Jimmy placed down his knife and fork. ‘Of course they would,’ he realised. ‘How the hell could they follow in my shoes.’

‘By doing something equally as dangerous, yet saving a world,’ I posed.

Jimmy stared back. ‘This could be more about him, than about me altering things. God dammit. He could be running around out there just to prove something to me.’

‘There’s one flaw in that argument,’ Susan put in. ‘How did he get access to a portal? No one would ever allow a private trip. You and Paul they’d let through, but someone else? Someone with something to prove? Never.’

‘He may have ... somehow convinced them of the merits,’ Jimmy suggested. ‘Especially if it was to save me, or to help me.’

‘Oh,’ I said, raising my knife. ‘That mysterious book - the one that was handed to the Germans - maybe that wasn’t his doing. Maybe ... he went after whoever did it, or somehow to try and counter it.’

‘By getting a job at the German time machine,’ Susan put in. ‘be there when it opened -’

‘And jump through to see where it leads,’ I finished off.

‘So why not make contact?’ Jimmy complained. ‘Besides, we could have handled The Brotherhood with the Rifles, and taken the portal at their end. And he would have known that I could call for backup.’

I heaved a big breath. ‘Yeah, I suppose. But, I’d like to think that he infiltrated the German time machine to try and find out about the book of instructions.’

‘So why push coal-oil here?’ Jimmy asked.

‘To nudge us towards something,’ Susan suggested. ‘As you said: less of a dependency on American oil.’

‘So why not make contact?’ Jimmy said, staring out of focus past me. ‘Unless ... unless he doesn’t want the growth of Europe to be seen to be us – our doing.’

‘A rift with Washington?’ I wondered. ‘They have all the toys they could want!’

‘But on our worlds, after the war, they wanted a tight control of Europe, and the break-up of the British Empire,’ Jimmy illustrated for us. ‘France refused to join NATO, expelled American forces, and was instrumental in creating the European Union, which the Americans never liked.’

‘So how do we join the dots on that theory,’ I complained.

‘The book is handed to the Germans on that world,’ Jimmy began. ‘No other nation, just them, and specifically before they’re overrun by The Brotherhood -’

‘Knowing that The Brotherhood would love to have a time machine, and would send fighters,’ I finished off.

‘Through a pre-set portal, set for the summer of 1938,’ Jimmy added. ‘A key date. Those fighters attack Germans here, weakening them, so ... the war would be won quicker.’ His brow pleated. ‘How would that help the Americans? If anything, it would strengthen Britain’s hand.’

‘What if ... Britain defeated Germany by itself,’ Susan began. ‘Would that alter post-war European politics?’

‘Yes,’ Jimmy agreed, ‘because France would be diminished in its influence.’

‘And Britain refused to join all of Europe’s institutions, and its common currency,’ I said.

‘Meaning that the likelihood of a European Union was lessened,’ Jimmy added. ‘But there’s one fault with all that. We’re here, and we’d nudge Churchill towards a union. Besides, someone from 2047 or beyond would have no interest in a few percentage points taken off US trade in this decade.’

‘Maybe they’re not from 2047 or beyond,’ I suggested. ‘Maybe they’re from somewhere where America is at odds with Europe.’

Jimmy smiled widely for a moment, and shook his head. ‘I figured this was about our time lines. But maybe my son travelled from a world where it’s 2025, where the oil dollar is about to implode, or has done already.’

‘That can’t be this world, can it?’ I puzzled.

‘It could have been -’

‘Before we came here,’ I finished off. ‘Has son of Silo done his homework?’

‘He may not have had the chance,’ Jimmy suggested. ‘And to go back into his own past he needed to jump across to another world first, then back.’ Jimmy eased back in his seat. ‘He must know I’m here, he would have seen it in the papers.’

‘But maybe ... he’d rather kick your arse than give you a big hug,’ I suggested. ‘Any clues as to who the mother may have been?’

‘There were a few,’ Jimmy admitted. ‘One daughter that I knew of. But they were all on worlds that suffered disasters.’ He raised a finger. ‘Including one world where the petrol-dollar was the key. In fact two, maybe three.’

‘I think you have your answer,’ I said. ‘He sees coal-oil as the key. But the brave kid jumped through to a Nazi Germany - and did superbly!’

‘There was a German doctor in Rescue Force,’ Jimmy remembered. ‘She could have been his mother.’

‘And raised him to speak German like a native,’ Susan noted.

I glanced at Susan, before turning back to Jimmy. ‘If he hasn’t made contact, then he’s ... either dead, or ... he hates you.’

Jimmy sipped his tea, staring past me. ‘In some ways that’s good, because it means that a great disaster is not about to happen here or in 1984.’ Jimmy raised his phone and dialled. ‘It’s me. Listen, send word to Doctor Singh that we need to revisit each of the worlds he sent me to. On one of them, we believe that they’ve developed a working portal. Top priority, and target the dates that are at least ten years after I left. Thanks.’

‘Did they ever try and build one?’ I asked. ‘That you know of?’

Jimmy shook his head. ‘They had no reason, but I suspect that the Americans may have tried. Still, without Singh they would have fared no better than the 1984-world I visited.’

‘Did you mention Singh to anyone?’ I asked.

‘I mentioned Singh – to Singh. He knew about his role on at least four worlds.’

‘So he could have volunteered his services. And, if he knew of a son of Silo...’ I posed.

‘Hatched a plan with your son,’ Susan finished off. ‘Possibly even a plan to visit many worlds.’

‘Dr Singh had family in South Africa,’ Jimmy suddenly remembered. ‘And he lived there for a while.’

‘We investigated and found nothing,’ I informed Jimmy. ‘Just a large machine for converting coal to oil. Advanced technology yes, but nothing else.’

‘He only needs to send a signal,’ Jimmy reminded me.

‘Then he might not even be here now,’ I suggested.

Baldy appeared, and walked over.

‘Quick, sit down,’ I told him. He did so with a curious frown. ‘You said that the traveller was in Germany at the start of the war.’

‘As far as I know; we had reports of him working at the plant he helped build, even after the start of the war.’

I glanced at Jimmy, telling Baldy. ‘We think ... that he’s from a world that Jimmy visited, probably post-apocalyptic, and not one of our time lines, not 2047. We think he came here thinking it his own past maybe, coal-oil key to preventing a petrol-dollar crisis, as happened on his world. And working with Singh.’

Baldy eased back. ‘But any check of this time line in advance would show your presence.’

‘Assuming he checked,’ I said. ‘He may have figured Jimmy to be ... you know, dead.’

‘When I left each world, they must have assumed that,’ Jimmy agreed, appearing saddened. ‘Because their own worlds were not saved; they went on.’

‘So why hasn’t he made contact?’ Baldy puzzled.

‘He might not be too happy with his old man.’ I helpfully explained. ‘Jimmy left his world, and here ... well, here the magazines refer to him as the world’s richest man, living the high life.’

‘Would he even know you’re his father?’ Baldy asked.

‘What?’ Jimmy puzzled.

‘Does he know you’re his father?’ Baldy emphasised.

‘Shit,’ I let out. ‘That would explain why he’s not come forward.’

Jimmy shook his head. ‘He’d have to be from a world where I wasn’t known, and Singh knew me on each world.’

‘Which brings us back to the fact that he hates you,’ I mentioned, getting a look from Jimmy, a scowl from Susan.

‘He can’t do any harm here, he’s obviously no scientist,’ Jimmy suggested. ‘And we’ll find him soon enough through Singh.’

‘And create a paradox,’ Baldy pointed out. ‘Don’t forget, the nipper is here and interacting with us lot.’

‘If we disappear suddenly, then the future worlds will unwind it. Hopefully,’ I said.

Part 10B