Read Online Dream Weaver by Shirley Martin - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shirley Martin
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and your purpose in coming to this part of the province when 'tis obvious you're accustomed to a more refined way of life."
She tapped her fingers on the ground, giving herself time to frame a plausible answer. What in the world could she ever say or do to convince him she'd really come from his future? After giving the matter careful thought, she came up with a better idea. Like all men, Christian no doubt loved to talk about himself.
"Christian, let's forget about me for now. I'd rather hear about you. So tell me about your work as a doctor, the sort of things you do."
Christian raised his eyebrows, as if he suspected her ploy. "Sometimes it seems as if the only time I see my neighbors is when one suffers from a physical ailment." He paused, a thoughtful frown on his face. "I can think of so many things I would like to do for the people, starting with smallpox inoculations."
"Preventive medicine!" Christian was way ahead of his time.
"Aye, you could call it that."
She leaned forward, hands pressed to the ground. "Envision a world where smallpox is eliminated, where so many other diseases such as scarlet fever are a thing of the past."
He nodded. "It could happen here in the British colonies, I suppose, but not in my lifetime. Maybe not for one-hundred years. And as for other diseases..." Christian shook his head. "Not for a long, long time, I should say."
She grasped his warm hand but found his touch a distraction she couldn't deal with now. "It has happened...or will happen," she said, confused about the time but determined to make her point.
"You are speaking nonsense. 'Has happened'? 'Will happen'? Which do you mean?"
"I'm trying to explain about my time, the twenty-first century." At his incredulous expression, she went on in a rush of words. "No, let me finish. In my time we don't need to worry about the diseases that used to kill and maim so many people." Her long skirt fluttered in the breeze, and she absently tucked the hem between her ankles while she kept a sure gaze on him. "In the time I come from, diseases such as smallpox and scarlet fever will all have been conquered."
Christian remained silent for so long, she felt sure she'd convinced him. Then: "Tell me, what else do you see in your crystal ball?"
She gave an exasperated sigh. "I don't need a crystal ball. I know these things will happen--correction!--have happened." She paused, collecting her thoughts. "But even after smallpox and so many other diseases are gone, new diseases appear, like the Ebola virus and AIDS."
He set his fork down and pushed the plate aside. "Aides? I do not believe one word of what you are telling me, but only for the sake of argument, please explain."
"A-I-D-S," she replied. "It stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. At present, there's no cure."
"What is the nature of this malady?"
She chose her words with care. "I suppose you'd call it a venereal disease, but we don't use that term anymore. We--"
"'Tis not a fit subject for a lady," Christian said with a reproving look.
She waved her hand airily. "Oh, everyone talks about it, or did, or will. Whatever."
Shaking his head, Christian returned plates and utensils to the basket. "'Tis nonsense you speak of," he said, his fingers poised above a mug.
“I'm just telling you how things are in my time, the twenty-first century." She blew out a long breath.
"So we are back to the twenty-first century."
"Yes! Back to the future! I don't know why you find it so hard to believe me." She would not let his teasing expression rile her. "George Washington," she stated. "Does that name ring a bell?"
"Does it what?"
"Does the name 'George Washington' sound familiar?"
"Aye. He fought with Braddock back in '55 against the French and Indians, then again in '58. Everyone's heard of Washington ."
"He's our first president," Gwen declared.
"President?" Christian spoke clearly and distinctly. "Gwen, we have no president. Our sovereign is King George III."
She wagged her
She tapped her fingers on the ground, giving herself time to frame a plausible answer. What in the world could she ever say or do to convince him she'd really come from his future? After giving the matter careful thought, she came up with a better idea. Like all men, Christian no doubt loved to talk about himself.
"Christian, let's forget about me for now. I'd rather hear about you. So tell me about your work as a doctor, the sort of things you do."
Christian raised his eyebrows, as if he suspected her ploy. "Sometimes it seems as if the only time I see my neighbors is when one suffers from a physical ailment." He paused, a thoughtful frown on his face. "I can think of so many things I would like to do for the people, starting with smallpox inoculations."
"Preventive medicine!" Christian was way ahead of his time.
"Aye, you could call it that."
She leaned forward, hands pressed to the ground. "Envision a world where smallpox is eliminated, where so many other diseases such as scarlet fever are a thing of the past."
He nodded. "It could happen here in the British colonies, I suppose, but not in my lifetime. Maybe not for one-hundred years. And as for other diseases..." Christian shook his head. "Not for a long, long time, I should say."
She grasped his warm hand but found his touch a distraction she couldn't deal with now. "It has happened...or will happen," she said, confused about the time but determined to make her point.
"You are speaking nonsense. 'Has happened'? 'Will happen'? Which do you mean?"
"I'm trying to explain about my time, the twenty-first century." At his incredulous expression, she went on in a rush of words. "No, let me finish. In my time we don't need to worry about the diseases that used to kill and maim so many people." Her long skirt fluttered in the breeze, and she absently tucked the hem between her ankles while she kept a sure gaze on him. "In the time I come from, diseases such as smallpox and scarlet fever will all have been conquered."
Christian remained silent for so long, she felt sure she'd convinced him. Then: "Tell me, what else do you see in your crystal ball?"
She gave an exasperated sigh. "I don't need a crystal ball. I know these things will happen--correction!--have happened." She paused, collecting her thoughts. "But even after smallpox and so many other diseases are gone, new diseases appear, like the Ebola virus and AIDS."
He set his fork down and pushed the plate aside. "Aides? I do not believe one word of what you are telling me, but only for the sake of argument, please explain."
"A-I-D-S," she replied. "It stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. At present, there's no cure."
"What is the nature of this malady?"
She chose her words with care. "I suppose you'd call it a venereal disease, but we don't use that term anymore. We--"
"'Tis not a fit subject for a lady," Christian said with a reproving look.
She waved her hand airily. "Oh, everyone talks about it, or did, or will. Whatever."
Shaking his head, Christian returned plates and utensils to the basket. "'Tis nonsense you speak of," he said, his fingers poised above a mug.
“I'm just telling you how things are in my time, the twenty-first century." She blew out a long breath.
"So we are back to the twenty-first century."
"Yes! Back to the future! I don't know why you find it so hard to believe me." She would not let his teasing expression rile her. "George Washington," she stated. "Does that name ring a bell?"
"Does it what?"
"Does the name 'George Washington' sound familiar?"
"Aye. He fought with Braddock back in '55 against the French and Indians, then again in '58. Everyone's heard of Washington ."
"He's our first president," Gwen declared.
"President?" Christian spoke clearly and distinctly. "Gwen, we have no president. Our sovereign is King George III."
She wagged her
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