JENNIFER surveyed to courtyard of the castle and found a place to hide the DeLorean. It was a shed similar to the one that was behind the pool in the courtyard of the house of Julius Caesar where she and Clara hid the time machine when they were there in 44 B.C. The game plan was to wait until dark when everyone is asleep so that she could sneak out of town and go get the car and return with it before dawn.
Dinner was the main course of the day during the Dark Ages and usually took place before sundown and it was unlike any dinner Jennifer had at the Parker household or anywhere else. It comprised of savory porridge, fruit, nuts and cheese.
“No appetizer?” she asked.
“Appetizer?” asked Leofric and Godiva.
“Never mind.” said Jennifer as the married couple had their flagons filled. Jennifer had hers filled. Jennifer looked at it. “Wine.” she said.
“Is something wrong?” asked Godiva.
“Well you see,” said Jennifer, “I had wine before.” Over four hundred years from now. she said to herself. Then she said aloud “And just say that I didn’t know when to stop.” Then, once again to herself And besides, I’ve gotta go get that DeLorean tonight and that means driving so I’ve can’t be drinking anyway.
“Come on.” said Leofric, “Just have a little sip.”
“Do not fear.” said Godiva, “It is not drugged.”
Jennifer paused. Then Leofric called one of the stewards over.
“Taste her wine.” said the earl, “Prove to her that it’s neither poisoned or drugged.”
“Yes, my liege.” said the steward.
He went over to pick up Jennifer’s cup and tasted it. Then, he passed out.
Jennifer looked at him and said “I’ll pass.”
Leofric turned to his other servants and said “Take him out of here.”
The servants obeyed.
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The servants took the steward into the other room.
“How many times did I tell this man not to drink too much before dinnertime?” asked one of them.
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Before going to bed, Jennifer encountered one of the servants.
“Excuse me.” she said, “But I’m the one who impersonated your lady
this morning.”
“So you are.” said the servant.
“Well I came in wearing different clothes. Now someone said that it was taken out to be washed. Do you know where?”
“Of course. If you will follow me.”
So Jennifer was led down a hallway until she reached a chute.
“Down there is we slide the clothes.” said the servant.
“Is there a way I could get down there?” asked Jennifer?
“There’s a stairwell further down.” said the servant.
Jennifer was brought there and went down.
“Thank you.” she said and the servant left.
Jennifer went through the laundry and found the dress she was wearing when she came to 1057. With luck she found the sleep inducer and left.
++++++
Unbeknownst to Jennifer, the servant to led her to the laundry room was watching what she was extracting from clothes she was wearing. After she left, the servant took another path to report to the earl what he saw.
++++++
Hours passed since the earl, his lady and the house servants went to sleep. But Jennifer stayed awake long enough for the last of the potential sleepers to knock off. Then, she saw her opportunity. Taking the sleep inducer along with her, she went to the front door. As she did, she encountered one of the guards.
“Who goes there?” he demanded.
“Oh, it’s just me.” said Jennifer.
“My lady?” asked the guard.
Jennifer didn’t answer. Instead, she pulled out the sleep inducer and rendered the man unconscious with it. Then, she disrobed the him and put on his clothing. After that, she bound and gagged her victim with rope and duct tape and put him in a closet. Taking the key from him, she opened the door and left the house.
It was a long walk from the castle to the gates of the city knowing that her trip to the earl’s castle was via horse and carriage. When she arrived at the gate there was a guard there
“Halt.” he said, “Who goes there.”
Jennifer approached the man and rendered him unconscious.
“You need sleep my friend.” she said.
After that, she removed the two-by-four from the latch of the gate, took the man’s sword and left.
The game plan was that once Jennifer got into the DeLorean, she would set the time circuits back to the first few minutes after she left. That way, she would land the time machine inside the city, close the gate, give the sword back to the guard and revive him as to prevent any robbers from entering the city. To that end in order for “her” not to witness her other “self”, she forbade herself from looking back like Lot’s wife did centuries before. Also, once she was back in the city she would once again set the time circuits to go back moments before she left. That way, she would have time to put the car in the shed, sneak back into the house and locked the door moments after her first “self” left and give the clothes back to the guard she rendered unconscious and revive him.
The road back to the DeLorean was dark and forbidding. At one time, she did come across some muggers who were called robbers or highwayman.
“Freeze!” said one of them, “Hand over your purse.”
But Jennifer was smart. She pulled a “Marty”.
“What’s that?” she said pointing to a spot.
The highwaymen turned to see where she was pointing. Seeing their guard down, Jennifer set the inducer to wide field range and started an assault drawing the sword she took from the guard. Swinging it at the men the men turned back and defended themselves. That gave Jennifer her chance. Aiming it at the eyes of the robbers, she opened fire. The men dropped to the ground like flies.
There were no more encounters after that. Finally, she reached the barn where the DeLorean was hidden and opened the door. There it was still surrounded by the rat-chasing devices that kept the building free of rodents. Entering the car, she took out a flashlight and propped it on the hood of the car while she put the devices back into the trunk. After that, she took her flashlight, took off the break and wheeled the car out of the barn. After closing the barn, she got in, started the ignition, activated the time circuits and looked at the “Present Time” indicator.
It read:
MAY 25, 1057 12:27 a.m.
Estimating that she had left the city a half hour ago, she set the circuits for twelve midnight on the dot.
After putting some manure into the fusion generator, she turned the ignition, activated the cloaking device and hover circuits and flew off crossing the time barrier.
Sunday, May 25, 1057
12:00 a.m.
Coventry, England.
The DeLorean emerged over the city. Spotting the city gate she left, Jennifer lowered the car close enough and got out. Then, she went over and closed the gate putting the four-by-four back on it’s latch. After putting the sword back in it’s sheath, she slapped the guard as to revive him. Then, she quickly went back to the car and closed the door. Once inside, she set the time circuits for fifteen minutes earlier estimating the time she left the house. Setting the map locator to have it appear over the earl’s castle, Jennifer felt like she was ready. Reactivating the time and hover circuits, she lifted the car off the ground and through the time barrier again.
Saturday, May 24, 1057
11:45 p.m.
Coventry, England
The DeLorean appeared over the earl’s castle. However, when Jennifer steered the car over the courtyard, she stuck out her head and looked down. She saw something creepy down there in the dark causing her unconscious instincts to take over. She absent mindedly turned on the headlights. Frantically, she reached for the headlight switch again and caused them to become flood lights illuminating the courtyard and showing the driver that the creepy objects down below were soldiers who were now looking up.
So she said with a grin “Sorry boys. I’ll turn it off now.” and she did.
Meanwhile the soldiers, believing the headlights to be vision from heaven knelt down and prayed. But by then, the headlights were turned off. Jennifer was tempted to sleep induce them so that they couldn’t see what she was doing but since they were praying, she didn’t think it was necessary. Landing the car, she turned off the motor and threw on the brakes. Then, she went over to open the door of the barn she was to wheel the car into. Then she went back to the DeLorean and wheeled it in. Before closing the car door, Jennifer took some things necessary to her search out: A pencil, notepad and a pocket recorder. She also took out the hair tonic from the car. Afterwards, she closed the door and then closed the barn door. Then, she went back in walking past the guards who were still praying. Once inside, she went back to the front door took off the clothes the guard at the door was wearing and dressed the guard with it. Then, she put back on her own nightgown and went to bed.
Sunday, May 25, 1057
7:00 p.m.
Coventry, England.
Jennifer was awaken by the cock crow outside.
Boy did I sleep. she said to herself.
Just then some maids came in to help her out of bed.
“Thank you.” she said, “But I could do this myself.”
“We’re here to bathe you.” said one of the maids as a tub was brought in.
“What are you, nurses?” asked Jennifer.
“I beg your pardon?” asked the maid.
“Never mind.” said Jennifer as she was helped out of her nightgown and into the bath.
While she was soaking, a knock was heard on the door. One of the maids went to the door and peered out.
Then, she peered back in and said “It’s our lady.”
“Let her in.” said the other maid and the maid at the door did.
It was Lady Godiva.
“My lady.” said the maids bowing to her.
“And how’s our guest this morning?” asked Godiva.
“I’m doing fine” said Jennifer.
“That’s good.” said Godiva, “At noon, me and my husband are going to mass at the cathedral. Care to join us?”
Jennifer paused for a minute. Then, she said “Yes.”
“That’s good.” said Godiva, “Now…”
“My lady.” said Jennifer, “Your husband. Tell me about him.”
“Well he was the son of Leofwine who was the earl of Mercia before my husband succeeded him.” said Godiva, “I married him when I was very young.”
“Wait a minute.” said Jennifer, “Uh ladies, I think I’ve been in this tub long enough. I want to get out.”
“But…” protested one of the maids but Godiva intervened.
“I think she’s right.” she said, “Towel her off.” The maids complied. After Jennifer was dried off, Godiva said to the maids “You may go now.”
The maids left. While Godiva was busy shooing them out of the room, Jennifer, wrapped in a towel went over and pick up her tape recorder and turned it on. Then, she tucked it under the towel so Godiva couldn’t see it.
When Godiva turned to face Jennifer again, Jennifer said “Alright, as you were saying…”
“Anyway, I married him when I was very young.” said Godiva, “When I first saw him, he was a very religious man. After we married, we moved here to Coventry from Shrewsbury and he was shocked by the lack of facilities for the training and housing the men of the cloth here in the city. We were wondering how were the spiritual needs of those simple souls to be cared for. Since we were rich and wanted to make a mark on society, we decided to apply some of our ready cash to a worthy public cause.”
“Like what?” asked Jennifer.
“Do you know the cathedral where we’re going to mass today?” asked Godiva.
“Yes, you told me.” said Jennifer.
“There’s an abbey nearby that we founded and funded. It’s call Saint Eunice of Saxmundham’s Abbey.”
“Saint Eunice of Saxmundham?” asked Jennifer.
“One of England’s early saints and martyr.” said Godiva, “Saint Eunice was murdered by the Romans by the flaying of at the hands.”
“Ouch!” said Jennifer.
“Jennifer.” said Godiva, “Saints and martyrs don’t say ‘ouch’, they pray for those who persecute them for their religious beliefs. Anyway, he had the abbey designed so it could face rising sun. Of course he was in a romantic inspiration when he thought of it that way.”
“I can’t wait to see this abbey.” said Jennifer.
“Well, you won’t have any problems seeing it.” said Godiva, “It’s one of the biggest structures in the entire region. And it’s been used for education and housing for those who want to be priests. It’s also been used for popular events and festivals. It’s one of my husband’s crowning achievements and it helped win the respect from the peasants as well as our peers.”
“You make it sound like you and your husband have a fairytale marriage.” said Jennifer.
“And then a year ago things started to turn sour.” said Godiva, “He started to raise taxes on the peasants, the homes that made Coventry what it is today fell into disrepair because the owners couldn’t afford to have it fixed. And he began to rarely pay the workers. In fact in one point, he let them go and used serfs to take care of his own castle. And then, he deprived the peasants of the water works.”
“When you noticed this kind of sudden behavior in him, what did you do?” asked Jennifer.
“I had a pointed talk with him.” said Godiva, “But he laughed after what I said. I had hoped that he would reduce the taxes but instead he raised them more.”
“A rich man like that taxing people of their money.” said Jennifer, “And not paying the workers. It doesn’t make sense.”
“I know it doesn’t.” said Godiva, “Listen, I’ve got to get ready. We’ve got a big day ahead for us and you need to get dressed.”
“Aright, my lady.” said Jennifer, “I guess we could have this talk later.”
After that, Godiva left. Jennifer stuck the tape recorder under the pillow of the bed as the maids came back in to dress her.