JENNIFER could not believe her eyes when she saw that the ship hand looked exactly like Marty. Then she realized her duty to the DeLorean. Putting the goggles back on she realized that the DeLorean was still floating over the water.
Clara. she said to herself, Hurry back here. I’ve spotted someone who looks exactly like Marty. Then she thought to herself Why don’t I just set the DeLorean down on the ship. I think it could take on a few more tons. But when she looked around, she couldn’t find a place to put it. There were deck hands everywhere.
To coin a phrase, she went onto say to herself, great! Just great
“So you’re one of the shepherdesses who rescued my mistress from the waters.”
Jennifer looked to see who said that. It was the ship hand that looked like Marty.
“Are you talking to me?” she asked.
“Who else?” said the Marty look-alike, “And after all, you’re one of those who saved Calpurnia, the widow of Julius Caesar.”
“But you said she’s your mistress.”
“And Caesar was my master.”
“You’re no ship hand are you.”
“No I’m not. I am a servant of the house of Caesar. My name is McFlius.”
McFlius said Jennifer to herself, as in McFly. As in Marty McFly. Then she said “McFlius, my name is Jennifer.
She extended her hand out to McFlius who said “It’s nice to know you, Jennifer.” He noticed the smile on her face and said “What?”
“The way you called me Jennifer.” she said, “Was the way…” Then she paused. She remembered that back in 1988 Marty was still in the hospital. So she said “Nothing.” Get a hold of yourself, Jennifer! she said to herself, Remember, you’re here to get your mind off of Marty so enjoy yourself.
“I would like to give you a tour of the vessel.” said McFlius.
“Would you?” asked Jennifer, “Well I would like to but you see…” Come on, Jennifer. she said to herself, What’s wrong. Can’t you see he looks like Marty and he’s making an offer you shouldn’t refuse. Now if only Clara can hurry back up here and relieve me.
++++++
But Clara wasn’t ready to come back to relieve Jennifer. She was busy watching Mark Antony and Octavius talking to the captain.
“My lord.” said the captain, “We’re doing the best we can. These men are getting worn out.”
Noticing the whip marks on the back of the oarsman, Clara said “Well look at the way your pushing these men around.”
“Ma’am.” said Octavius, “You’re here as a courtesy from Calpurnia. Ship’s activities are not your concern.”
“Well then, why don’t I make a suggestion.” said Clara.
Octavius, Antony and the captain listened intently. “We’re open to suggestion.” said Octavius.
“Why don’t you just sing to them?” she asked.
The three laughed. “You want us to sing to the oarsmen?” asked Antony.
“Yes.” said Clara, “Sing to them a rowing song.”
“A rowing song.” said Antony.
“Do you have one in mind?” asked Octavius.
“Well, I know this one.” said Clara, “It’s called ‘Gently Down the Stream’.”
“How does it go?” asked Antony.
“I’ll show you.” said Clara, “But I want the oarsmen’s undivided attention on this.”
“Alright.” said Octavius. He had her follow him to the front of the oarsmen saying “Alright men, loosen up! I’m giving command to this woman.”
Immediately, the oarsmen laughed despite the pains in their back.
So the taskmaster flogged them again saying “Stop laughing.”
“And you stop flogging them.” said Clara, “Alright men. We’re going to sing a song while we’re rowing. It’s called ‘Gently Down the Stream’. And it goes like this:
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream.
“Now I want you all to sing it. I’ll start it. Then the oarsmen in the front row will start it.”
“Start it?” asked one of the oarsmen.
“Yes.” said Clara, “I start off singing ‘row, row, row your boat’ and when I get to singing ‘gently down the stream’ you start singing ‘row, row, row your boat’ and when I get to ‘merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily’ the men in front will start singing ‘gently down the stream’ then the men behind you could start singing ‘row, row, row your boat’ and so on.”
Clara looked at Octavius and Antony who both threw up their arms as Octavius said “Well, it’s your idea.”
“Good.” said Clara, “Let’s get started.” Turning to the men, she sang
“Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream…”
Immediately as Clara got to “gently down the stream” the four oarsmen in front started singing
“Row, row, row your boat…”
And so on.
++++++
The singing good be heard from sickbay to up on deck when Jennifer was conversing with McFlius. Both began to notice that the singing had some effect on the oarsmen as the ship began to pick up speed. It also made McFlius more seasick than before.
Jennifer laughed as she said “I gather you’re not a seaworthy fellow.”
“You’re right.” said McFlius, “I’m not. But I volunteered for the ride.”
“Why?” asked Jennifer.
“Because Julius Caesar was my master.” said McFlius, “And Calpurnia is his widow. I owed it to him to be a part of her rescue. Unfortunately, I was not to take part in any battles against Brutus, Cassius or the conspirators and their cohorts.”
“But you’re glad to see Calpurnia alive again.” said Jennifer.
“No. I only heard about it.” said McFlius.
“Who knows. Maybe they’ll give you a chance to see her before we reach port.” said Jennifer.
“That will be impossible.”
Both Jennifer and McFlius turned to see who said it. It was Octavius. He and Mark Antony had returned to the main deck with Clara.
“Why?” asked McFlius.
“Because the doctor ordered complete rest for her.” said Octavius.
“Actually, it’s not necessary.” said Jennifer, “You see…well the doctor’s always right.”
Clara approached Jennifer whispering “You may go now. I’m taking over for you.”
“Thanks.” whispered Jennifer handing the remote control to Clara.
“Jennifer.” said Octavius, “Would you care to see the barge?”
“Of course.” said Jennifer.
“Sirs.” said McFlius, “Can I show her instead?”
“Why?” asked Octavius.
“Because she seems to have an affection to me.”
Both Antony and Octavius looked at Jennifer and said “Alright.”
Immediately, McFlius took Jennifer in hand and took her around the ship.
++++++
Calpurnia lay there in the sickbay asking “Have we reached port yet, doctor?”
“Not yet.” said the doctor.
In the other room, she could hear the oarsmen sing some cheery songs.
“The oarsmen sound like they’re having a good time rowing.” said Calpurnia.
“One of the two shepherdesses who rescued you introduced them to a song to row too.”
“Oh?” asked Calpurnia, “And what is this song?”
“I don’t know.” said the doctor, “But it sounded like it had to do with rowing the boat.”
All of the sudden, the tune changed. From the sickbay both doctor and patient heard this:
We will, we will rock you!
We will, we will rock you!
“What kind of song is that?” asked Calpurnia.
“I don’t know.” said the doctor, “But it seems like the younger shepherdess is teaching it to the oarsmen.”
“Is she?” asked Calpurnia.
“Yes.” said the doctor, “And McFlius is joining in for the singing.”
“McFlius?” exclaimed Calpurnia, “What is he doing here?”
“He petitioned to Octavius and Mark Antony to come along for the trip.” said the doctor.
“McFlius is a house servant not a soldier.” said Calpurnia as she got out of bed.
“Ma’am.” objected the doctor, “Please stay in bed. You need rest.”
“It’s my body.” said Calpurnia, “And that’s my servant out there…”
“And mistresses push their servants too hard.” said the doctor, “Let alone, themselves.”
“And doctors give their patients too much relaxations.” said Calpurnia, “Now if you could excuse me you Greek I’ve to talk to McFlius.”
“Ma’am.” insisted the doctor, “Your husband had servants come with him on battles, if he were here, he too would’ve let him come for the ride.”
Calpurnia wanted to explain why he should not have come but was force to stop short of it for fear of having to explain that McFlius was Marty’s ancestor.
“We should be reaching port soon.” said the doctor, “Now go to back to bed.”
Looking out the door of the sickbay, Calpurnia turned her head back in and said “You’re right.” She returned to bed.
++++++
It was almost nightfall when the ships docked at Actuum. There was a waiting wagon there to take Calpurnia back to Rome. Mark Antony told the other charioteers about the two shepherdesses that were to be the guests at the house of the late Julius Caesar.
Once all were set, it was time to go. And they were off. The ride was very quick like greased lightning forcing Jennifer and Clara to grab a hold of something. Of course both time travelers still had to take turns using the remote on the DeLorean making the task of both holding onto the chariot and the remote a challenging task.
“Too bad that the airplane won’t be invented for the two thousand years.” said Jennifer.
“Too bad it wouldn’t be invented when I was born.” said Clara.
Both time travelers laughed.
By the time they arrived in Rome, the stars were shining brightly. Upon entering the city, Calpurnia was being greeted by all the citizens as if they were welcoming home an old friend.
For Octavius and Antony, it was a triumphant return even though Brutus and Cassius had escaped and Charlton Heston had lost his life along with those two boys. But the bottom line was that they had brought back Calpurnia safe and alive.
They finally made it to the house as Calpurnia was being helped out of the wagon and was taken by stretcher into the house with the servants, soldiers, Clara and Jennifer following.
Once inside, both Jennifer and Clara got a chance to look around.
“So this is what Caesar’s house looks like.” said Jennifer.
“It’s like standing on history.” said Clara, “It’s too bad we can’t share this story with anyone in our own time.”
“I know.” said Jennifer, “But still I wished I brought my camera. You know take pictures of it.”
Clara chuckled. “You know you can’t share those pictures with anyone.” she said.
“I can share it with Marty.” said Jennifer, “Marty! Darn I forgot. I was talking about Marty and there he is, in a hospital bed hooked up to all those machines and in a coma. Oh Clara, will Marty ever snap out of it?”
“I don’t know.” said Clara, “I’m not a doctor. And, like Emmett always says, only time will tell.”
“You’re probably right.” said Jennifer.
Just then, the physician who was attending to Calpurnia came down and approached the two time travelers and asked “Are you the two shepherdesses that rescued my patient today?”
“Yes.” said Clara, “How is she?”
“She’s fine.” said the doctor, “And she wants to talk to you two.”
“She does.” said Clara, “That’s great. Now if you could excuse us…”
“Only for a few minutes.” said the doctor, “She needs some rest.”
“Alright.” said Clara.
They both went up to Calpurnia’s room where she was laying in bed. She was talking to a woman that was supposed to be a lady-in-waiting or just a servant. Calpurnia saw Clara and Jennifer and told her servant girl “That will be all, Lorrainia. You may leave.”
“Yes, mistress.” said Lorrainia. She bowed and turned to leave.
As she did, Jennifer saw her face and exclaimed “Mrs. McFly?”
“I beg your pardon.” said Lorrainia.
“I’m sorry.” said Jennifer, “You remind me of someone’s mother.”
“I see.” laughed Lorrainia.
“Jennifer.” said Calpurnia, “Clara. Please come in and close the door.” The two time travelers did. And when they did, Calpurnia got out of bed and put on a bathrobe. “It’s good to be back here. Did you bring that time chariot you call a car along with you?”
“We did.” said Clara.
“Alright.” said Calpurnia, “Now there’s a huge barn in the back behind the swimming pool. It’s rarely used for anything. I had Marty park it in there. Now all you have to do is to fly it over the house and land it outside and quietly wheel it in there.”
“Alright.” said Clara, “We’ll have to go out there and get it.”
Immediately, they said their goodnights and left to get the DeLorean.
But on their way out, they ran into McFlius who asked “How is she?”
“She’s doing fine.” said Jennifer.
Clara began to notice the look on Jennifer’s face when she was talking to McFlius. She noticed that McFlius looked just like Marty and that Jennifer has begun to take a liking to this man.
And because this McFlius had resembled her wounded lover, Jennifer began to fall in love all over again.