As Evelyn bustled around her apartment to prepare for work on an otherwise typical Wednesday morning, she knew the day could be special and full of surprises.
While in the kitchen whipping up a delicious and healthy Greek yogurt parfait – consisting of Greek yogurt with her favorite granola and diced peaches in a plastic container from which she could eat as she drove to work – a familiar voice emanated from over her shoulder.
“Happy 32nd birthday, Evelyn,” said Alexa, displaying an image of balloons and a birthday cake on the Amazon Echo Show positioned on the kitchen countertop near the toaster and bread box. Evelyn turned around and saw the smart home device show the time, 7:03 a.m., the temperature, 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and then the date, June 28.
Aware of Evelyn’s intense interest in history, Alexa then flashed this text: “People have been burying time capsules for centuries to preserve a snapshot of their era for future generations. What would you include in your own time capsule?” Evelyn stopped her hurried pace for just a moment to quickly ponder that question. However, the knowledge that her desired departure window of 7:15 to 7:20 was swiftly approaching preyed upon her mind, redirecting her focus towards the completion of her morning rituals.
About seven minutes into her morning commute, her iPhone rang. The custom ringtone – a snippet from the “My Favorite Things” song from “The Sound of Music” soundtrack – instantly told Evelyn it was her sister calling.
“Hey Clara! How’s it going?” Evelyn said as she answered the phone.
“Hey sis! Happy birthday!” Clara replied. “Congrats on reaching the big three-two!”
“Thanks so much, it means a lot to me,” Evelyn said, feeling grateful for her sister’s call. “How are things with you? How’s the art world treating you in New York?”
Clara’s voice took on a note of excitement as she spoke about her work. “It’s been amazing, Evelyn. I actually just had my first solo exhibition at a prominent gallery in the city a few weeks ago. It was a huge success!”
Evelyn’s eyes widened in excitement. “Wow, that’s incredible! Congratulations, Clara. You must be so proud.”
“I am,” Clara replied, her voice filled with pride. “It was a lot of hard work, but it paid off. I’m getting more requests for commissions, too. It’s all been so exciting.”
Evelyn beamed with pride for her sister. “That’s fantastic, Clara. I’m so happy for you. You’re living the dream!”
Clara chuckled. “Thanks, sis. It’s definitely been a dream come true. And how about you? How’s the museum life treating you?”
Evelyn laughed. “Oh, you know, always something interesting going on. I’m constantly discovering new things and learning more about the past. It keeps me on my toes.”
Clara smiled, imagining her sister at the museum, surrounded by history and artifacts. “That sounds so cool. I can’t wait to come visit and see it all for myself.”
Evelyn’s face lit up at the thought. “Yes, please do! I’d love to show you around and introduce you to all my colleagues. And maybe we can check out some art galleries while you’re here.”
“That sounds amazing, Evelyn,” Clara said, her tone of voice clearly conveying her excitement. “I’m already looking forward to it. And speaking of art, I have some new pieces I’d love to show you.”
Evelyn couldn’t wait. It had been too long since she had seen her sister in person. “I can’t wait to see them. We have so much to catch up on!”
As Evelyn hung up the phone, she felt grateful for the connection she shared with her sister, even across the miles.
Upon arriving at work, Evelyn crossed paths with well-wisher after well-wisher. She confirmed with her colleagues that an after-work get-together was planned at Old Ebbitt Grill, a D.C. mainstay just a few blocks from the museum. Most of the people she considered her good friends were her co-workers who shared her affection for historical discovery.
As she made her way to her office, Evelyn head a familiar voice calling out from behind.
“Hey, Evelyn! I could use a little help with our upcoming exhibit on historic New England homes. Would you mind lending me a hand?”
Evelyn smiled, recognizing the voice of her colleague, Tammie Lykon.
“Of course! How can I help?” she replied.
“Well, I twisted my ankle yesterday, and I’m having a bit of trouble getting around,” Tammie replied. “I need to retrieve a couple of items from one of the artifact storage rooms for the exhibit. Would you be able to get them for me?” her colleague explained.
“Absolutely. What items are you looking for?” Evelyn asked.
“We’re showcasing items from the Gilded Age and the United States colonial epoch,” Tammie said. “I need you to find an ornate sterling silver tea set from the late 19th century, and a hand-blown glass candlestick holder from the 18th century. They should both be in storage room B6.”
“I see. A sterling silver tea set and a glass candlestick holder. I’ll head down there right away and bring them back as soon as I can,” Evelyn replied.
“Thanks so much, Evelyn! I really appreciate your help. Let me know if you have any trouble finding them,” Tammie said gratefully.
“No problem at all. I’ll be back with the items shortly,” Evelyn replied. “Keep your weight off that ankle!”
Evelyn roamed the hallowed halls, making her way to the second floor, which is where a room labeled with a “B” designation would be – B, the second letter in the alphabet, signifying the second floor.
As she rounded a corner, Evelyn realized she was in an area of the vast museum structure she hadn’t seen before. Her keen eyes caught sight of a door slightly ajar. It was a door she had never noticed before, located in a shadowy, unassuming corner of the museum. Intrigued by this sudden discovery, her curiosity was piqued, and she felt compelled to explore further. As she approached the cracked-open door, she saw a time-worn copper label which was engraved with “B6.”
The corridor was dimly lit, with at least a couple of light fixtures not functioning. It’s been a while since maintenance has been in this area, she thought. As she reached out and pushed the door open, a musty smell greeted her, indicative of a room long undisturbed.
Stepping into the dimly lit chamber, her eyes struggled to adjust to the darkness. The room was filled with an eerie silence, a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere that permeated the museum’s more frequented areas. Gradually, the contours of the room began to reveal themselves, and she noticed that it was lined with rows of dusty shelves, laden with ancient tomes and artifacts.
The air was heavy with the weight of the past, and as she moved further into the room, she felt an inexplicable connection to the forgotten memories that surrounded her. Her footsteps echoed softly as she wandered between the shelves, running her fingers delicately across the spines of the books, some of which bore the marks of centuries gone by.
Evelyn’s attention was suddenly drawn to an object that seemed out of place among the antiquated relics. It was a peculiar device, resting on the floor at the far end of room B6. Its surface appeared to be made of a material that she could not quite identify, shimmering as though it were crafted from a thousand iridescent gems. Intricate patterns adorned its exterior, weaving together like threads of an ancient tapestry.
As she drew closer, she noticed that the device appeared to be a form of celestial navigation instrument, with a central sphere surrounded by multiple revolving rings. Each ring bore a myriad of symbols and inscriptions, some of which resembled familiar constellations, while others seemed to represent more abstract concepts.
Evelyn stood before the enigmatic device, a sense of awe washing over her as she pondered its origins and purpose. The room’s atmosphere seemed to hum with an energy that grew stronger the longer she remained in its presence. Though she could not yet fathom the true nature of the object, she couldn’t shake the feeling that it was of great significance.
The object’s curious appearance instantly captivated Evelyn’s attention. It was a roughly cylindrical shape, measuring approximately two feet in length and six inches in diameter. The surface was adorned with intricate engravings, depicting scenes from various historical events and what appeared to be detailed maps of unknown territories. The object was made of an unfamiliar metal that shimmered with a dull, silvery hue, seemingly absorbing the surrounding light rather than reflecting it.
At either end of the cylinder, a crystalline structure was embedded into the metal. Each crystal was of a different color, one a deep, mesmerizing blue and the other a fiery, intense red. The crystals appeared to pulse with a soft, inner light that seemed to resonate in sync with the humming energy in the room.
Upon closer inspection, Evelyn noticed that the engraved scenes depicted on the object’s surface were not just of familiar historical events, but also of events that she could not quite place in her vast mental repository of knowledge. This observation piqued her curiosity even more, prompting her to wonder whether the object was an undiscovered relic from a forgotten past or perhaps a harbinger of the future.
Upon scrutinizing the object, Evelyn’s attention was captured by a nearby worn, gaping crate enveloped by sundry items such as epistles, chronicles, illustrious paintings and portraits, vestments and accoutrements redolent of the Gilded Age and the United States colonial epoch, along with historical manuscripts, cartographic renderings and land indentures. This must be where the items Tammie needs are, Evelyn thought. An expansive footstool too caught her eye, seemingly torn or sliced open with its plush stuffing dispersed upon the floor.
A shipping label affixed to the crate disclosed its origin as Newport, Rhode Island. Evelyn lifted a crumpled and timeworn handwritten memorandum adjacent to the crate which stated: “From Fairwind Manor: Artifacts generously bequeathed by proprietors Cecilia and Archibald Worthington.”
It dawned upon Evelyn that perhaps the crate had been unsealed by museum custodians in a bygone time, but perhaps the exhibition intended to showcase these relics was either cancelled or indefinitely postponed.
Evelyn’s eyes again quickly returned to the glowing cylindrical device. A peculiar sensation stirred within her, as though the very air surrounding the artifact pulsated with an ancient and powerful energy. The shadows cast by its glowing light seemed to dance and shift, as if beckoning her.
As Evelyn’s gaze penetrated the device’s surface, she began to perceive faint images projected onto the walls of the chamber. At first, these apparitions appeared as mere phantasms, elusive and ephemeral, but as she continued to fix her attention upon the device, the images grew more vivid and tangible. The scenes that materialized before her seemed to be plucked from the annals of history, each portraying a distinct and unmistakable time period.
Evelyn beheld a panorama of human endeavor unfolding before her eyes: great cities rising from the dust, the birth and fall of empires, the clash of steel as armies met upon the field of battle. Each image bore the hallmarks of its era, be it the lofty spires of Gothic cathedrals or the gleaming steel and glass of modern skyscrapers. Each scene transitioned seamlessly to the next, as though the device were guiding her on a journey through the ages.
Consumed by curiosity, Evelyn moved closer to the cylinder. She stumbled slightly on one of the many uncatalogued and unsorted objects laying on the floor. As she tried to recapture her balance, her right hand inadvertently came to rest on the cylinder. Immediately, the scene sent to the nearby wall changed to one with an intensity that left her breathless. There, amid the sepia-toned backdrop of the early 20th century, Evelyn beheld herself standing on a cobblestone street, the graceful architecture of the Austria-Hungary-Yugoslavia region enveloping her. Her attire matched that of the passersby: long skirts, high-collared blouses, and elaborate hats adorned with feathers and ribbons. The image was so vivid, so undeniably real, that Evelyn could not doubt its veracity.
The revelation was staggering, for the woman depicted in the scene was unmistakably her, despite the impossibility of her having ever visited such a place or time. In that instant, the truth became inescapable: the device before her was no mere artifact, but a portal to other eras, a gateway through which the sands of time could be traversed.
Evelyn’s heart pounded within her chest as the implications of this discovery unfurled within her mind. The device seemed to be communicating with her, showing her glimpses of the past and future, and hinting at the potential that lay within her grasp. She stood on the precipice of an extraordinary opportunity, one that could reshape her understanding of history and perhaps even help her unravel mysteries that had long plagued her family.
In a room seemingly forgotten by staff at one of the world’s leading history museums, Evelyn stood at the precipice of the unknown, her fate forever altered by the astonishing instrument before her. She could not deny the magnetic allure of the possibilities that lay before her. With her heart pounding and her spirit emboldened, she resolved to embrace the extraordinary gift that fate had bestowed upon her.
As she considered her options, her thoughts returned to her family and the trials they had endured. The stories of her ancestors, their triumphs and their sorrows, had been etched into her heart, and she could not bear the thought of their struggles remaining unresolved.
Evelyn couldn’t remember how much time she had spent in room B6, but she was shaken back into alertness by one image in the sequence being apparently projected by the cylinder: It looked like a grand, yet somewhat modern European palace. The asphalt-paved roads near the palace were a clue that it wasn’t from, say, the time of King Arthur. What did it mean? It made her very curious.
Even though it would have been understandable if she had forgotten to retrieve and deliver the silver tea set and glass candlestick holder to Tammie in the wake of what she had just experienced, Evelyn found them nearby the open crate, picked them up and headed back to her colleague. Her pace was slower than usual, as innumerable thoughts and possibilities raced through her mind. She made sure to close the door to room B6 tightly, so as not to let any light or secrets escape.
Evelyn was troubled by the conflicting interests she had to weigh. Her employer unknowingly had possession of one of the most amazing finds in recorded human history. But once the cylinder got into public possession (and hands!), who knows what could happen? She knew she had the level of both professional ethics and personal motivation to take better care of the cylinder than any person she knew of, or any other person on Earth, period.
She returned to room B6, temporarily put down the tea set and candlestick holder, picked up the cylinder using a piece of paper on the floor as a barrier between her skin and the device’s metallic surface so as not to trigger additional mind-blowing, revealing images, and slipped the two-foot-long life-changing device into the tear in the ottoman seat upholstery. That, she thought, will keep it sufficiently hidden until she could think of a way to get it out of the apparently forgotten room undetected.
Evelyn walked by Tammie’s office, but she wasn’t at her desk. Evelyn put the items on Tammie’s desk, then quickly moved toward the door in hopes of avoiding any unnecessary conversation. She could hardly focus on her work, but she knew she had to maintain her composure and act as if it were just another day.
As the afternoon went on, her colleagues began to chatter excitedly about the after-work birthday celebration they had planned for her, eager to share good food, drinks and laughter in Evelyn’s honor.
Evelyn appreciated their thoughtfulness and knew she would disappoint them if she didn’t attend. But with the time-travel device weighing heavily on her mind, she couldn’t imagine being able to keep her attention on the get-together.
As the end of the workday approached, Evelyn pulled her closest colleague, Susan, aside and made up a fib.
“I’m really sorry, Susan, but I’m not feeling well,” Evelyn fabricated. “I think I might have caught a bug or something. I don’t want to risk getting anyone else sick at the party tonight,” she said, doing her best to sound convincing. After all, in the post-COVID era, considerations like not getting other people sick had become more a part of everyday life.
Susan’s face fell, clearly disappointed, but she nodded in understanding.
“Alright, Evelyn. I hope you feel better soon,” she said. “We’ll miss you tonight, but your health is more important. Just rest up and take care of yourself, okay?”
Evelyn thanked her and promised to make it up to everyone later. With the after-work event taken care of, she now needed to figure out how to retrieve the time-travel device without arousing suspicion.
She went back to her office and rummaged through her belongings, looking for something that could serve as a discreet carrying case for the device. In the back of her bottom drawer, she found a large, reusable canvas tote bag that she’d brought in weeks ago and had forgotten about. It was perfect.
Evelyn casually walked back to room B6, her tote bag slung over her shoulder, making sure that no one was watching her. She opened the door and slipped inside, her heart pounding in her chest. With her breath held, she removed the time-travel device from its hiding place in the torn ottoman, using the same piece of paper as before as a barrier between her skin and the metallic surface.
She carefully wrapped the device in a cloth she had brought from her office, ensuring that it was well cushioned and concealed within the bag. With one last glance around the room, she closed the door behind her and made her way to the exit.
Headed home along northbound 16th Street NW, Evelyn’s YouTube playlist of pop music hits from the 90s played on her iPhone. But it was just serving as background noise as her mind raced. Then the music faded out, replaced by a classic piano piece by Mozart, “Piano Sonata No. 11.” That custom ring tone told Evelyn that her father was calling.
“Hello, Vater!” she answered.
“Hallo, meine liebe Tochter! Alles Gute zum Geburtstag! (Hello, my dear daughter! Happy birthday!),” her father Karl replied. “Your mother and I wanted to call and wish you a very happy birthday.”
“Danke, Vater! (Thank you, father!) I appreciate it,” Evelyn responded.
“So, how are you celebrating your special day?” her father asked.
“Um, actually, I’m not feeling very well,” Evelyn again fibbed. She knew she needed to think more about her situation before telling even someone as close to her as her father. “I think I caught a cold or something, so I’ll probably just stay in tonight and rest.”
“Oh, Schade! (Too bad!) That’s a pity,” her father said sympathetically. “But it’s important to take care of yourself. I’m sure you’ll have another opportunity to celebrate soon.”
“Yeah, I hope so. Thank you for calling. Give Mutter (mother) a kiss for me,” Evelyn said.
“Of course, mein Schatz (my darling),” her father replied. “You know, it always strikes me as ironic this date every year is such a joy because of your birthday, but also a sad memory because it’s the anniversary of your great-great-great-grandfather‘s murder.”
“Me too, Vader,” Evelyn replied. “Me too.”