Read Online Out of Time 01 - Out of Time by Monique Martin - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Monique Martin
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after the library, what’s next on the hit parade?”
Simon tried the coffee. It was too strong and too bitter, but he forced it down. “That depends on how long we have to stay here. I had considered trying to contact my grandfather.”
She seemed surprised at that.
“He was living in London at this time, I believe. Although, aside from the difficulty of tracking him down, I’m not sure we should. There’s no guarantee he knows anything about the watch at this point in time. We have no idea when it came into his possession, and if I were to tell him something about the future, the consequences could be disastrous.”
He took another sip of coffee. It didn’t taste any better than the first. And his beard was beginning to itch. “We have to do everything we can to ensure the integrity of the timeline.”
“I’ve been thinking about that. Your grandfather seemed to get pretty involved in the times he visited. Brunch with the death eaters and all.”
“No doubt he embellished his adventures for my benefit.” Although at this point, the line between fact and fiction seemed blurred beyond recognition.
“Could be. But then again, maybe not,” she said, her brow furrowing in thought. “The Heisenberg Principle says that we change what we study by the very act of studying it. Maybe he was telling the truth.”
“Perhaps.” Regardless, he thought, the less they were involved in the unknown here the easier it would be to keep an eye on her. There were far too many factors as it was, in a city and a time he was unfamiliar with. Adding in more could only spell disaster. She was far too open and accepting, but she wasn’t a fool. She had a good head on her shoulders, and he decided to appeal to her logic. “But, you must admit, reason dictates, the less we interfere here the better.”
Elizabeth nodded grudgingly. “Well, we’re going to have to do a little interfering. If the eclipse is more than a day or two away, and judging from our luck, my money’s on months, we’re going to have to find a way to earn money. Even at these prices twenty dollars won’t last much more than a week. We’re going to have to get jobs.”
She was right, of course. How did she manage such calm, even enthusiasm in the face of this gaping maw of uncertainty? Didn’t the prospect of spending months, perhaps a lifetime here unsettle her in the least? Simon sighed and forced his mind back to the issue at hand. Money had to be a priority. It was a rather daunting prospect. He had never wanted for money in his life and he sincerely doubted there was a great call here for professors of the occult. “I don’t think it’s quite that simple.”
“Two specials,” the waitress said, putting down plates laden with eggs, hash browns, bacon and toast. “Anything else?”
“Know where we might find some jobs?” Elizabeth asked. “We’re new in town and really don’t have any idea where to start.”
The waitress raked her eyes over Simon and arched a thinly plucked eyebrow, before turning back to Elizabeth. “There’s a chalk board over on Fourth and Broadway. Lists all sorts of jobs, but I don’t think they’re exactly your type.”
Elizabeth grinned. “You never know. Thanks.”
The waitress snapped her gum and ripped their bill off her pad. “Good luck, honey.”
Elizabeth smiled triumphantly. “That wasn’t so hard. Library, job boards. Looks like it’s going to be a busy day,” she said and dug into her food with relish. “Better eat yours before it gets cold.”
Simon poked a fork into his runny eggs. Busy indeed.
* * *
Elizabeth had never ridden a subway before. The cars bumped along, jigging from side to side, as they clattered through the dark tunnels. She felt like a native, bouncing in her seat like the rest of the passengers. If they only knew.
The train’s brakes squealed as it ground to a halt at the 42nd Street station. She and Simon fell in with the press of people hurrying out the doors and
Simon tried the coffee. It was too strong and too bitter, but he forced it down. “That depends on how long we have to stay here. I had considered trying to contact my grandfather.”
She seemed surprised at that.
“He was living in London at this time, I believe. Although, aside from the difficulty of tracking him down, I’m not sure we should. There’s no guarantee he knows anything about the watch at this point in time. We have no idea when it came into his possession, and if I were to tell him something about the future, the consequences could be disastrous.”
He took another sip of coffee. It didn’t taste any better than the first. And his beard was beginning to itch. “We have to do everything we can to ensure the integrity of the timeline.”
“I’ve been thinking about that. Your grandfather seemed to get pretty involved in the times he visited. Brunch with the death eaters and all.”
“No doubt he embellished his adventures for my benefit.” Although at this point, the line between fact and fiction seemed blurred beyond recognition.
“Could be. But then again, maybe not,” she said, her brow furrowing in thought. “The Heisenberg Principle says that we change what we study by the very act of studying it. Maybe he was telling the truth.”
“Perhaps.” Regardless, he thought, the less they were involved in the unknown here the easier it would be to keep an eye on her. There were far too many factors as it was, in a city and a time he was unfamiliar with. Adding in more could only spell disaster. She was far too open and accepting, but she wasn’t a fool. She had a good head on her shoulders, and he decided to appeal to her logic. “But, you must admit, reason dictates, the less we interfere here the better.”
Elizabeth nodded grudgingly. “Well, we’re going to have to do a little interfering. If the eclipse is more than a day or two away, and judging from our luck, my money’s on months, we’re going to have to find a way to earn money. Even at these prices twenty dollars won’t last much more than a week. We’re going to have to get jobs.”
She was right, of course. How did she manage such calm, even enthusiasm in the face of this gaping maw of uncertainty? Didn’t the prospect of spending months, perhaps a lifetime here unsettle her in the least? Simon sighed and forced his mind back to the issue at hand. Money had to be a priority. It was a rather daunting prospect. He had never wanted for money in his life and he sincerely doubted there was a great call here for professors of the occult. “I don’t think it’s quite that simple.”
“Two specials,” the waitress said, putting down plates laden with eggs, hash browns, bacon and toast. “Anything else?”
“Know where we might find some jobs?” Elizabeth asked. “We’re new in town and really don’t have any idea where to start.”
The waitress raked her eyes over Simon and arched a thinly plucked eyebrow, before turning back to Elizabeth. “There’s a chalk board over on Fourth and Broadway. Lists all sorts of jobs, but I don’t think they’re exactly your type.”
Elizabeth grinned. “You never know. Thanks.”
The waitress snapped her gum and ripped their bill off her pad. “Good luck, honey.”
Elizabeth smiled triumphantly. “That wasn’t so hard. Library, job boards. Looks like it’s going to be a busy day,” she said and dug into her food with relish. “Better eat yours before it gets cold.”
Simon poked a fork into his runny eggs. Busy indeed.
* * *
Elizabeth had never ridden a subway before. The cars bumped along, jigging from side to side, as they clattered through the dark tunnels. She felt like a native, bouncing in her seat like the rest of the passengers. If they only knew.
The train’s brakes squealed as it ground to a halt at the 42nd Street station. She and Simon fell in with the press of people hurrying out the doors and
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