Read Online Laughing Wolf by Nicholas Maes - Free Book Online

rolled beside them and floated in the air until it reached eye level.
    â€œItaly, 71 BC,” the doctor announced.
    The sphere projected a 3D map, which filled the room. Felix recognized Italy’s boot-shaped outline; but instead of the Common Speak names for its cities, the ancient Latin ones appeared — Roma, Tarentum, Neapolis, and others.
    â€œPanarium,” the doctor spoke, causing the globe to project two maps this time. One showed Rome with its famous seven hills and, farther to the east, a town named Panarium. The second showed a town with the exact same name, only it was a hundred miles south of the first.
    â€œAs you can see,” the doctor said, “There are two Panariums. While Aceticus is precise in most regards, he doesn’t state which Panarium the flower can be found in . We’ll hazard a guess and dispatch you to the one nearest Rome. If we’re wrong, you’ll return to us and we’ll send you to the second one, or the town closest to it. Okay?”
    They nodded.
    â€œThis brings us to the time portals. Temples,” he called out.
    Again the sphere projected a map, only this one showed most of Western Europe. Numerous points were flashing on its surface, in Italy and other countries as well.
    â€œEach flashing point,” the doctor explained, “is a temple that we know about from ancient times. Some were built after 71 BC, but that doesn’t matter. We’re establishing portals in each of these temples — including the one Mr. Taylor discovered. The second Panarium doesn’t contain any temple — that’s why we’re sending you to the one near Rome — but there are temples not too far from it, in Paestum or Pompeii. The point is, once you enter any temple’s inner recess, the portal will deposit you here.”
    â€œBut can’t anyone be transported?” Felix asked. “What will stop some Roman from being whisked to the present?”
    â€œWe have programmed bio-protocols in your DNA. Only you will be able to move through the portals.”
    â€œHow long will the portal stay open?” Carolyn asked. “Will we be working against time?”
    â€œNo. The portal has a half-life of two hundred years. And if it’s covered over, I mean, if it isn’t exposed to the elements, its “charge” could last indefinitely. Now do you see that blip in the Panarium near Rome? That’s your point of entry. It is a temple of Minerva — the goddess of wisdom. Let’s hope her wisdom rubs off on us.”
    Again they nodded. Because the doctor had “unplug-ged” the sphere, they assumed he was done with them and rose from their seats. But he motioned them to sit again, as his face assumed a grim expression.
    â€œHave you heard about the butterfly effect?” he asked.
    â€œI have,” Carolyn volunteered. “It’s the change you can trigger in the present or future by travelling back in time and altering events. So if you killed my great-great-grandfather, say, his descendants would vanish, including me and my father.”
    â€œThat’s right,” the doctor said, nodding. “Now, our calculations tell us that you can change our present only if you harm someone or reveal some hidden aspect of the future — if you teach them about nuclear fission, for example. That is why, no matter what, you will not kill or injure anyone, even as a matter of self-defence. And you must not talk in any way about our future. The survival of our world depends upon your vigilance. Do you understand?”
    The doctor glared at them. Understanding the gravity of his words, they promised to follow his instructions exactly.
    â€œIn that case,” he concluded, “I wish you both the best of luck.”
    The trio stood. Shaking hands with them, the doctor revealed that the professor was in a room across the hall where he would provide them with some “travel” information.