"Do we stay or do we go?" Doc intoned. "Or do I go and you stay?"
"Or more importantly," said Rayne, "are we able to go? Look, Eileen,
let me show you all the power sources we utilized. It's solar at its
best, 1955, a far cry from Aubrey Eneas and the others in 1892.
Eileen put her hand on Rayne's arm to steady herself, saying softly,
"1955." Then, loudly in disbelief, "19-55! 19-55! 19-WHAT? But ...but,
right at this minute, it's still 1876, is it not?"
"If we are not all dreaming it is, but 1955 is a good year," said Rayne
reassuringly. "You'll like it there. You can shop!"
A piercing glance from Eileen let Rayne know that was not a good
argument. "You can vote!" he exclaimed. Frowning, he said, "Well,
when we get you updated papers ! Whadya say, Partner?"
Eileen stood, dumbfounded, for the first time unable to speak.
"Do we stay or do we go?" Doc repeated. "Or do I go and you stay?"
"Eileen, I can't go without you! I'll...I'll...I'll stay here, if that is what
you would choose." said Rayne frantically. He got down on one knee,
on the dirt floor of the livery stable. "Your future is bright, Eileen. I can
see you by my side. It was the experiment, proving doc's theory,
the love of Roxie that got me here, but finding you....that is the real miracle."
Composure regained, Eileen grabbed hold of Rayne's vest, pulling him to
his feet. "Alright. Let us assess. Are we all under the spell of Roxie? Do
we need another miracle, or is there a way to power your invention....to..
to...?"
Rayne threw his arms around her. "To 1955!" he exclaimed. "Together."
Doc reflected, "Under the spell of Roxie....hmmmmmm......"
‘Not so fast, " warned Eileen, walking around the vehicle. "By the love of
Roxie, may we figure this out. But I need to talk to Mama...about 1955."
Looking into the vehicle, Eileen exclaimed, "Start explaining, start with this,"
she said, pointing to the small box mounted on the dashboard.
Rayne shouted, "Doc, you proved it! The lateral-flux capacitor! And the Roxie
catalyst, it worked!!
Doc patted the Chevy, "A true Roxiemobile! It has that Roxie glow."
"Lateral-flux capacitor?" questioned Eileen. "Your power source? The sun could
do all that?"
Doc explained, "The problem is generating enough return power." Turning
to Rayne, he continued, "That was the problem in getting you back, on your
own. The mental-transference worked from the shop, because of our
Power Surge, but I couldn't predict what might be here to use as a catalyst
for your return."
"I have another question," Eileen interrupted, "Would steam generated power
work to boost the solar and the...the lateral....the lateral-flux capacitor for
the return? And...wait a minute...it's gotten dark outside. Do you have to
wait for the sun?"
Rayne said in distress, "What a commotion we'd cause again. I think we
need to act quickly, in the dark of night, before morning breaks."
Doc spoke up, "Eileen, you have an idea stirring in that pretty head, don't
you.?"
"If it's as simple as a boost from a steam engine to activate your systems,
then, I do have an answer!" replied Eileen confidently.
"Rayne, where did you find her, at the University?" said Doc, admiring
Eileen's initiative.
"Actually," Rayne said teasingly, "she tripped over my feet."
"Your big feet." countered Eileen.
"And when I caught her....well, I knew I always wanted to hold her,"
sighed Rayne.
Eileen turned pensive, "There are a lot of things I don't know right now,
especially the "stay or go" dilemma. But I do know we could get a team
of horses to hook up to the Roxiemobile, haul it to the railway crossing,
get it on the tracks, hook it up to the car waiting to leave on the midnight
express run. No stops, greater speed.
Rayne interjected, "That would give us about almost six hours..."
Eileen insisted, "But I must talk with Mama!!!"
Rayne sought out the stable owner to obtain his promise to guard the
vehicle, now covered in tarps again, until they returned. The promise
of a very generous fee assured even more cover, as the stableman
began moving bales of hay to block any view of the "contraption"
from the door.
The three walked briskly down the street, Doc gawking at all the buildings,
watching for any familiar to him, that would have survived to 1955.
"Look, down that side street, Rayne. That's the Cambridge house,"
Doc pointed out excitedly!
"Keep focused Doc," said Rayne as they picked up the pace to a very
brisk walk. "Hey, Doc, I feel just like we're off to see the Wizard,
except YOU ARE the wizard."
"And this isn't a yellow brick road," countered Doc, "but we do need
a really big answer when we get to Eileen's house."
Eileen scolded, "You two are talking nonsense! Now, be on your best behavior,
for here we are."
All three attempted a cheerful, "normal" attitude and demeanor as Eileen
opened the door.
"We're back," she called cheerily, as Mama and Doc rushed to the door from
the kitchen.
Rayne gave Mama a big hug and shook Doc's hand.
"I'd like you both to meet my mentor, MY Doc," said Rayne as he presented
the inventor.
"Wonderful daughter, you have. Smart and clever! You've brought up a fine
young woman," Doc said earnestly.
"Thank you, sir. You are very observant," said Eileen's father approvingly.
"Come into the kitchen," invited Mama. "There's brew on the counter, a big
kettle of stew still simmering on the stove, and fresh baked bread from this
morning. But first, go freshen up. Eileen, show them the way."
When they were all settled at the table, after enjoying Mama's fine meal,
Rayne looked over at Eileen's father. "Eileen is, well, she....she's just
perfection. I can't imagine life without her..."
Eileen's father spoke up, "Are you asking for her hand, young man?"
Eileen interrupted, "We just may be going on an adventure. But it's far
away, very far away, to where their business is located."
Mama asked, "But it seems right for you, doesn't it?"
"Oh, Mama, it could mean I may never see you again. Eileen's eyes welled
with tears, as she was overcome with emotion. Looking at Rayne,
she said, "Oh, I am so sorry, but I just don't know if I can do this."
Doc, Rayne's mentor, finally spoke up, addressing the parents,
"Eileen has a remarkable gift. She is very perceptive, makes good decisions,
from what I have observed."
Doc continued, pulling out a paper from the document compartment of
his travel gear, "Rayne, this cablegram came this morning. I need to explain
it now. Seem's there is a group of independent investors travelling in
Europe, looking for opportunities. InvestTen, they're called."
Passing the cablegram to Rayne, "Doc continued. The CEO and CFO are
arriving at the shop next week, for I cabled them back. They want to invest
in Arden Concepts, form a partnership, help us develop our inventions."
Eileen perked up, forgetting her tears and her own dilemma. "But you
will keep controlling interest, have creative control, right?"
"Well, you have a better head for that than Rayne and I do. Rayne,
all the procedes from our last patent sales went into our current
project. We do need investors."
Mama had gotten up and was standing behind Eileen's chair, comforting her.
Rayne's head was filling with questions, " But how did they get interested
in Arden Concepts?"
Mama thought, well, that's a nice name. Rayne Arden, Eileen Arden,
that had a nice sound.
Doc continued his explanation, "Someone travelling in Europe had
several contacts with the group and convinced them we were the best
investment they could make. It was, well, it was Sarah.
Eileen sat up straight. Sarah!
"Mama," come with me upstairs, We're packing my bag. I won't need that
many clothers, for I feel mine will be quite out of style."
As they hurried upstairs, Eileen's father called out, "Mama, better bring
Rayne's bag back down with you. Seems he won't be staying!"
Rayne leaned back in his chair, "What just happened?" he said cluelessly.
Doc, smugly happy he had been the instigator, said to his counterpart Doc,
"Doc, alright with you?"
Getting up and going to his special cupboard, Doc took out a canvas sack
and presented it to Rayne, "I managed to trade wtih my neighbor who had
been up to Lowell last month and bought a dozen bottles of Dr. Thompson's
concentrated Roxie elixir. It's for you, Rayne."
Inventor Doc's eyes popped. "That's it. Just what we need for back-up
to re-power the generator if all else fails! And it's concentrated! Now all
we need is a carriage and a strong team of horses."
Eileen's father gestured them to follow him, "Bring your gear and we'll get
the team and buggy ready out back."
First, Rayne ran up the stairs, gave Mama a big hug, and right in front of
Mama, embraced Eileen and kissed her tenderly on her forehead. Mama
showed him where his bag had been stowed, as Rayne gave a quick
backward glance to Eileen's room and to the vision of Eileen packing,
and carried his bag downstairs hurredly to join Doc and Doc out back.
Hours later, with all the inventiveness of Rayne, both Doc and Doc,
the equipment and engineering help of the stable owner, Eileen's
plan was in place. The bright yellow Chevy, disguised with tarps, had
been pulled by the horses, pushed and maneuvered until harnessed to
the back of the train.
Mama and her Doc stood in the darkness on the platform, praying
that all would go well for the adventurers, Doc clutching the custom
bottle that Rayne had presented to him, reflecting the images of
Rayne and Eileen.
Convincing the conductor and the engineer that this was the only way
they could transport their "Challenge" entry to Framingham, Eileen, Rayne
and Doc were strapped in the Roxiemobile, Doc making the last adjustments,
checking time, date and destination.
Eileen held tightly her bag with her poems and the drawing she had
made of her home, knowing her place was to be with Rayne, but srill
clinging to her memories of her own world.
Rayne protectively placed his arm around Eileen, holding her close.
"I pray this is right for all of us, that we be protected on our journey by our
own faith in each other. I hope the future is ready for me," Eileen smiled.
As the train fired up, steam escaping, Doc activated the system.
"To the Future!" they exclaimed in unison!
Mama and Doc watched as the steam arose in a giant cloud. As the mist
slowly lifted, they strained to see down the track, guided by brilliant
moonlight, seeing only the rear of the railway car, the bright yellow
Chevy vanished in time.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Headline, Boston, August, 1955: Arden Concepts Revitalized.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
THE CONCLUSION, QUEST, PARTS ONE THROUGH TEN
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(Quest script graphic courtesy of Moony. Others by Aesthete2000.)
Adding your comment:
y
continued existence is far bigger than any sentimental feelings between two moonstruck heros...Roxie HAD to be saved! ! 
