Evelyn exited the café with her mind in much the same condition as it had been for the past couple of days – a whirlwind of thoughts and considerations whipping through her consciousness in a relentless storm.
Ideas surged and receded like tidal waves, overlapping and folding in on themselves in a churning sea of contemplation. Images, scenarios, strategies – they all flickered in and out of focus, recurring in a rhythmic ebb and flow of potential futures and hidden pitfalls.
She knew this was a game of cosmic consequence, where overlooking even the smallest detail could ripple out into a cataclysm of unforeseen effects. Every moment held an urgency, a palpable tension underlined by the gravity of Evelyn’s task. Each thought carried the weight of history, the threads of cause and effect woven tightly in her grasp.
Through the seemingly endless ambiguity, Evelyn was sure of one thing: History was her life’s work, and any historian worth their salt would jump at the chance to confirm whether all the books, records, findings and artifacts humans have relied upon for years are telling the historical story correctly.
That thought was her tipping point between the good that time travel might do for her family, past and present, and the utter unpredictability of traveling an uncharted, infinite timescape.
As she headed home toward Silver Spring along Piney Branch Road, she realized that despite her instinct to get the journey started quickly, her chances for any degree of success without a plan were infinitesimal. The thoughts ricocheting around her mind like pinballs had hit on some very important considerations that must be addressed.
She knew she couldn’t just drop in to 1914 Austria looking like she looked now – wearing a pair of high-quality dark wash fitted denim jeans, a button-down ivory blouse, a knit blazer, leather ankle boots and a pair of small hoop earrings.
Her medium-sized Michael Kors leather handbag was something she needed in 2023, but its clean lines and sleek silhouette would appear quite distinct against the popular use of silk, velvet and beading of the bygone era. Its presence would introduce a splash of 21st-century style onto the antiquated frame of 1914, raising eyebrows, causing whispers and very likely even more overt expressions. Unneeded attention from others would very likely cause disruption at a time when a well-choreographed plan was vital.
Evelyn’s thoughts raced to what she had learned from documents at the Cambridge University Library in the UK. Her online research indicated that Sarajevo was not considered to be territory hostile to Austria, so security was not tight for the visit of Archduke Ferdinand and Sophie to inspect the Austro-Hungarian army on June 28, 1914.
But, according to Cambridge, six assassins from the Serbian nationalist Black Hand organization were waiting along the Ferdinands’ motorcade route, including the eventual assassin, Gavrilo Princip. The first conspirator failed to throw his bomb; the second failed to draw his pistol; and the third threw his bomb but missed. The Archduke’s car sped away to the Sarajevo Town Hall and the remaining conspirators all failed to act as the motorcade passed them at high speed.
After speeches at the town hall, the Archduke changed his schedule in order to stop at a hospital to visit people wounded from the earlier bombing that had targeted him (unbeknownst to him at the time). However, his chauffeur took a wrong turn, stopped the car and reversed. Princip was sitting at a café across the street. He seized his opportunity, walked across the street and shot both Franz Ferdinand and his wife at point blank range. They died shortly afterwards.
Evelyn knew the possibility of her traveling through time to enter that scenario certainly had the possibility of changing history, but not in the way she hoped. With at least six assassins in Sarajevo with the objective of killing her great-great-great-grandfather, even the slightest change in anyone’s movements or location that day could conceivably give any of the would-be assassins before Princip the chance for success that was missed.
Evelyn knew she couldn’t suddenly appear in 1914 Bosnia-Herzegovina dressed and behaving as a 2023 English-speaking American professional woman without becoming the talk of the town. She would need to blend in, and as she turned from Piney Branch Road onto Sligo Avenue, she realized she was not prepared to do that.
She needed to brush up on her Austrian-dialect German to be able to communicate without arousing suspicion. It had been decades since she spoke it around the house with her parents. She’d need money, but she knew 21st century U.S. currency wouldn’t be an option in Sarajevo in 1914. That is, if she could even get to 1914.
Evelyn remembered the image she saw when she touched the time-travel device for the first time at the museum. She was standing on a cobblestone street, surrounded by the period style of Austria-Hungary-Yugoslavia architecture. Just like the women passing by, Evelyn was adorned in the styles of the time: skirts that skimmed the ground, blouses buttoned to the chin, and hats decorated with ribbons and feathery flourishes.
She surmised that somewhere along the time spectrum she would find herself there. But how could she ensure that the time travel journey she would begin sometime soon would have her preferred destination? And most importantly, the precise time?
Evelyn remembered how in the “Back to the Future” movie, Doc Brown used a dashboard panel to set the time-traveling DeLorean’s destination. But she had seen no indication of any timeline-targeting settings on the cylindrical device she discovered. How would she activate it, and how would she prompt it to deliver her to the correct place and time?
Evelyn stole a quick peek at her iPhone. Its display read 1:23 p.m., June 29, 2023. She wondered, “How could it have been less than 24 hours since I entered room B6 at the museum and my life changed forever?” It seemed more like 24 days or 24 weeks, but even so, there was no time to lose and no point in wasting any. Job number one, now at 1:24 p.m., was to retrieve the time-travel device from Falcon Bank so she could have access to it when needed.
Evelyn pulled into the Falcon Bank parking lot at 10 minutes until two. The branch was far from bustling at this hour. She walked in, her stride purposeful and her face set in a stern expression that was meant to ward off unnecessary interaction.
She approached the teller’s station and recognized the familiar face of the young woman with auburn hair. She hoped the teller would remember her and facilitate a swift transaction.
“Good afternoon,” Evelyn greeted the teller curtly, noting for the first time her badge identifying her as Robin.
“Well, hello again, Miss Roth! What a lovely surprise to see you twice in a day,” Robin cheerily greeted her. “How can Falcon Bank propel your financial journey further today?”
Evelyn offered a curt smile. “I need to access my safe-deposit box again.”
“Oh, that’s perfect! Let’s go— Oh,” Robin’s face fell, causing Evelyn’s heart to momentarily stop. “I’m not sure if Mr. Harvey, our vault manager, is currently available. He’s the only one who can open the vault for us.”
“Why? What happened?” Evelyn asked, her voice edging towards panic.
Robin looked apologetic. “I haven’t seen him in a while. I hope he’s still around.”
Just then, a man in a bank uniform walked out of a nearby restroom, adjusting his tie.
“Speak of the devil, there he is!” Robin said, a wave of relief washing over her. “Mr. Harvey, Ms. Roth here needs to access her safe-deposit box.”
Mr. Harvey nodded at the teller and turned to Evelyn. “Of course, ma’am. Please follow me.”
Evelyn exhaled, tension leaving her shoulders. Moments later, she was standing in front of her safe-deposit box, the time-travel device back in her possession. As Evelyn left the bank, Robin chirped, “Do come back anytime! Your valuables are always safe and sound under the wings of Falcon Bank!”
Evelyn nodded without looking back, relief washing over her as she stepped out of the bank, the all-important device safely in her possession.
A quick 10-minute drive returned her home and back to her to-do list. First things first, Evelyn put the time-travel device, still in the canvas bag, in her bedroom dresser – making it out of sight, out of mind for anyone who would happen to drop by. That didn’t happen very often, but better safe than sorry.
“What can I use as a crash course for brushing up on my Austrian German?” Evelyn wondered to herself. She knew there were many products that helped people learn languages, but she needed something specialized: A quick yet effective review process that would spark her memory in as little time as possible.
Evelyn turned on her Apple MacBook Pro and opened Google, where she searched for “Apps providing quick learning for people who need to refresh their Austrian German language skills.”
First on Google’s list was “German Reboot: Refresh, Recharge, Reignite your German Skills.” This sounds interesting, she thought. Clicking on the hyperlink, it took her to a web page with this product description:
“Kickstart your German proficiency with German Reboot, our uniquely tailored app developed to enhance your language skills with rapid efficiency. Harnessing the power of AI, the platform intelligently detects your level of understanding, homing in on areas where your vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation need the most attention. Our Language Capsules offer compact lessons, making learning manageable and enjoyable. So, don’t wait, dive into German Reboot and you’ll be saying ‘schnell’ before you know it, as you watch your German language skills spring back to life.” (She knew that word meant “fast.”)
Evelyn liked the sound of that, but she always did in cases like this, she decided to check more options. Next on the search results list was “SprachSprint: German – Speed through your Language Revival,” which she also clicked:
“If German language fluency seems like a distant memory, SprachSprint: German is here to catapult your skills to a proficient level. Our signature Blend Learning Method offers interactive exercises for a dynamic, thorough, and quick learning experience. Our AI-powered lessons adapt to your proficiency level, presenting personalized word lists curated from your knowledge base and the German frequency dictionary. This ensures you’re prioritizing the most relevant vocabulary from the get-go. Prepare for full-fledged dialogues with SprachSprint: German.”
That also looked like a promising choice, but she had to find out what Sprach meant, because she had no idea. A quick search showed that it means, appropriately enough, “language.”
Evelyn thought she should check one more, even though the first two sounded very promising. Third on the Google list was “DeutschDelight: Austrian Edition – Sprint back to Austrian German Fluency.” Excited to see one focused on her specific language needs, she clicked through:
“Rusty with your Austrian German? Allow DeutschDelight: Austrian Edition to propel you back to language mastery at a sprint! Focusing on the delightful nuances of Austrian dialect, our Blend Learning Method combines AI-guided lessons with immersive exercises. Learn regional vocabulary first with our priority word lists, put your grammar skills to the test with fun, challenging drills, and perfect your pronunciation using our state-of-the-art speech recognition technology. With DeutschDelight: Austrian Edition, you’ll be speaking like a local quicker than you can say “Marillenknödel!”
Even though she had no idea what that last word meant, she was sold. She scrolled down to find a price, and it was listed at $13.97 per month. She clicked, entered her email address and credit card number, then clicked the PAY NOW button. Then this message appeared:
“Thank you very much for your purchase of DeutschDelight: Austrian Edition. Check your email for a code you will need to enter when you visit your app store to download the app. This code will verify you as a paid customer and allow you to begin brushing up on your Österreichisches Deutsch immediately.”
The contemplative Evelyn told herself she would come back to that later. Next, she had to figure out a way to get access to women’s clothing commonly worn in Austria in the 1910s decade. She had a photographic memory of the image the time-travel device showed her – what appeared to be her wearing a long skirt, a high-collared blouse, and an elaborate hat adorned with feathers and ribbons.
Again, she turned to her MacBook and typed in the search “where to find women’s clothing worn in the early 1910s period in Austria and that region.” The search results included a few museums, but the last thing she wanted to do was steal from or deceive a museum.
Other options listed included vintage clothing stores (specialized stores that stock clothing from different eras); websites such as eBay, Etsy, and even Amazon; antique shops; auctions; costume rentals; vintage clothing fairs and festivals; garage sales and estate sales; and tailors and-or seamstresses who specialize in creating vintage clothing.
Most of those options would be hit-and-miss in terms of the chances of finding just what she was looking for, Evelyn thought. She checked Amazon, and there were many options listed for 1910 women’s clothing. But none matched the specific style that was now etched into her memory. Plus, she had no way to guarantee the quality of the items.
Then she realized she’d need more than one clothing ensemble. She couldn’t wear the same thing every day, and what about pajamas? It might not be a good idea to take her t-shirt that read, “I woke up like this,” to wear while sleeping. People of both genders in that era could be taken aback by the wording (if they understood English) and the snug fit. She thought she might sleep on all these clothing considerations before deciding.
How would Evelyn find a place to stay and food to eat? She would have no money – specifically, no Kronen (the Austro-Hungarian equivalent to the dollar at the time). She knew she’d have to work for Kronen or barter for a place to stay and food to eat. But she had no idea what the rate of pay was at that time or how much bang for her buck she would derive from her labor.
Evelyn did a Google search for what sort of services would Austrian women in 1914 provide as a barter for housing and food. The results included domestic work (such as a live-in maid or governess); nursing or caregiving; teaching or tutoring; seamstress services; and gardening or farm work. She didn’t consider herself particularly skilled at any of those opportunities but would have to make the best of it.
Evelyn then sat back in her living room loveseat – a statement piece, with the geometric patterned fabric reflecting her eclectic taste. She slumped down slightly, knowing she now faced the most important and perhaps the most daunting task of her life: figuring out how to navigate the time-travel device to a specific date and location, and then how activate it. She had to discover its temporal GPS controls and then find the gas pedal that would initiate the actual time travel. Doing that without a manual or anything closely resembling English (or any other Earthly language) on the exterior of the device would be like trying to read Braille with gloves on.
As she opened the closet where she had stashed the device inside the canvas tote bag, Evelyn’s heart pounded in her chest like a drum, reverberating with anticipation. She opened the bag and allowed the device to roll out onto her bed. The glow of the cylinder cast ethereal shadows that danced upon her face, reflecting in her wide, expectant eyes. She left her hands unshielded, because based on her previous experience, the touch of her skin to the device’s metallic surface prompted it to whisper its secrets through a language of light and sound.
Her fingertips brushed over the revolving rings, tracing the arcane configurations like a curious cartographer charting an unknown land. There was a subtle shift in the air as she manipulated the rings, a sense of anticipation building. A shiver ran down her spine, not of cold, but of sheer exhilaration.
With each rotation, each shift of the symbols beneath her fingertips, the scenes projected onto the surrounding walls changed. The rapid succession of images, from grand palaces to humble homes, from fields of battle to serene landscapes, was both disorienting and awe-inspiring.
However, Evelyn couldn’t discern any apparent pattern or correlation between her actions and the scenes displayed. Frustration gnawed at the edges of her exhilaration. The tantalizing promise of the device remained just out of her grasp. The inscrutable device seemed to mock her attempts to control it, remaining steadfastly enigmatic.
A sense of desperation was starting to claw at her. The device was an enigma wrapped in a riddle, a tantalizing promise of infinite possibilities, yet stubbornly silent on how to unlock them. But Evelyn wasn’t about to give up. She steeled herself, determination welling up within her. She had ventured into the uncharted sea of time and there was no turning back.
Evelyn continued to brush, grab and swipe at various symbols on the surface when she noticed for the first time a small indentation. As her hand closed in on the notch, she realized it was perfectly shaped to fit her thumb.
As she lowered her left thumb into the recess, her room suddenly plunged into darkness, and a holographic image of the Earth flickered into existence, hovering above the device. Evelyn gasped as continents, oceans, and the outlines of countries shimmered in translucent, spectral hues. The spinning globe was surrounded by a ribbon of light that formed a circle around it, filled with alien symbols that pulsed with a gentle luminescence.
Experimentally, Evelyn extended her right hand towards the holographic globe. As her fingers contacted the ethereal projection, ripples spread across the surface, distorting the continents and oceans in their wake. The symbols on the light ribbon shifted, and a date materialized in front of her, but in a numeral system that seemed otherworldly yet strangely comprehensible.
The touch was all it took for Evelyn’s intellect to kick into high gear. She began to see a pattern in the symbols on the ribbon, associating them with specific periods in Earth’s history. Different points on the globe, when touched, would also cause the symbols to morph into new configurations, each representing a different location.
After some time, she understood the holographic globe was a map, and the symbols on the ribbon were coordinates, perhaps a means to specify time and place. With an almost reverent touch, she adjusted the symbols. The globe responded immediately, zooming in on the desired location. But without understanding the meaning of the symbols, her resetting of the presumed destination was a guessing game open to an incalculable degree of error. She could experiment and manipulate the symbols indefinitely to home in on the Sarajevo area, but none of it would matter if she ended up there in the fifteenth or thirty-fifth century.
Refusing to be deterred, she turned her attention to the pulsating crystals embedded at either end of the cylinder. The deep blue and intense red crystals beckoned her with their soft, rhythmic light. Gently, almost reverently, she touched the fiery red crystal. The room pulsed in tandem, bathing her in its vibrant light.
And at precisely that moment, a torrent of knowledge washed over her. She experienced an immediate bond, a symbiotic relationship forming with the device. It was as though her thoughts were synchronized with the machine, without the barriers of language limitations. Evelyn somehow knew that she would have complete control over the precise navigation of the device when she touched the red crystal, giving her the power to pinpoint a desired time and place at her will – merely by the power of thought.
She also somehow knew that the indentation the size of her thumb was no accident. She was meant to discover it. It was a way – without verbal or tactile communication – to let her know she was welcome.
It became known to her that the Chartreuse-colored gem was the equivalent of the device’s ignition switch to engage the actual traveling through time. She didn’t even know what Chartreuse meant, but the word flowed into her mind, as if some translator was at work. From the corner of her eye, she noticed that a gem that appeared to be a distinct color between yellow and green began to glow slightly.
Now she knew where to find the ignition switch, so to speak. It also entered her mind not to touch it unless she is ready to go to wherever and whenever she is thinking about at that exact moment.
She pulled her hand away from the fiery red crystal, and the cognitive confluence between device and human stopped, as if a spigot had been turned off. Even so, Evelyn was now self-assured that she knew the secrets of how to make the device work as she desired. She knew from her mental convergence that she would be able to reactivate the necessary functionality at will and not end up trying to outrun a T-rex by mistake.
As night fell, Evelyn sat quietly – her mind still a whirlwind of gusting revelations, swirling as if in the eye of a hurricane of discovery. But simultaneously, she felt reassured and confident that her quest could now happen.
Navigating the stormy seas of preparation, with each of her list of tasks a wave she had to crest before she could sail into the uncharted waters of time travel, Evelyn knew the only unknown was when the waves would abate, clearing a route for clear sailing.