Across Time Part 32

As she paced, Ceara returned bearing file folders filled with computer printouts.

"Ceara, what if Cate dies at Mona?"

"What?"

Pulling Ceara into the shop, Jessie took the files from her and set them on the table. "I've never even considered that she could die at the hands of Paulinus's men."

Ceara sat in her chair and motioned for Jessie to sit in the chair next to her. "First of all, Cate is already dead. Secondly, death is always a possibility and something you can always count on. I thought you understood that."

212 *213.

"I always thought that Cate would live a long time. It never dawned on me that she might not make it-that we might be too late."

Ceara looked out over the top of her gla.s.ses. "The odds are not in her favor, my dear. You heard Dr. Rosenbaum."

"But if Cate dies-"

"Then you will never know what happens to Maeve and Lachlan.

That's what's really bothering you, isn't it. The possible disconnect from the one being you know is your soul mate." Ceara tapped her chin as she thought. "Unless-"

"Unless what?"

"Unless your souls meet in another life beyond that one and the soul you tap into remembers what happened to Maeve. Remember, you have Cate's soul inside you. It is always within your grasp to retrieve memories; and not just hers, either, but all of them. Those before Maeve and after. You just don't know how quite yet. But don't you worry. That's what I'm here for. There is so much for you to learn about the portal, the soul, your lives. You have been handed a great privilege and an even greater responsibility; you must learn as much as you can in your life about how it works and what it all means."

"And you're going to help me do that?"

"Indeed. There is much to know, but you must be patient."

"I'm trying, but all I can think about is saving Maeve."

Ceara sighed and shook her head. "No, all Cate wants to do is save Maeve, but you, you have a far greater purpose. You, my friend, must save the Druids. Do not forget that."

Jessie held her head in her hands. "But we already know the outcome, don't we? The professor has it all right there on his desk. I can't change the past."

Ceara waved the words away like she was swatting a fly. "Oh Jessie, there is so much about time you still do not understand. Their future has not happened yet. This is what you must understand. In our past, we know the Romans drove the Druids into the hills, but do we know why? Why did they go to Mona? Do we have any account about how they escaped their attackers on Mona?"

"I don't know. It didn't sound like it."

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Ceara nodded. "All the records we have of the historical events, and we still do not know how they managed to escape the well-trained Roman army? Don't you find that odd?"

Jessie tilted her head in question. "I hadn't thought about it."

"Well, think about it. The Druids escaped. We know that. They managed to flee and stay hidden for the next eight hundred years. We know that as well. How do you think they knew where to go, where to hide, where to run to escape an army that nearly owned the world at one point? How did they know?"

Jessie stared hard into those light-blue eyes, feeling not only illumination at last, but a familiarity as well. "Because of me."

A smile lit up Ceara's face. "Yes. Because of you. There was no one to write about it because who knew about it then? Who would believe it? To explain you would be to uncover information about a portal that had been hidden all those years. To uncover you as their source of information would be opening themselves up to disaster. The portal and all its knowledge is not for the common man, my dear. It is for the likes of you."

Jessie sat back and shook her head. "Wait a minute. I play a role in the turn of events of an entire culture?"

"I know it's difficult to comprehend, especially when we live in a time when most don't believe one person can make a difference. You save them from complete annihilation, allowing them to live in relative peace for nearly a millennium. Maybe they were regrouping, maybe something else happened in history, but we know one thing for certain: something saved the Druids on that island, and that something could very well be you."

Jessie's head started pounding. "But what if I did nothing? What if I just sat here for the next week and let them die. How could history explain that?"

Ceara grinned. "Because you are not the only time traveler in existence, are you?"

Jessie's face fell. She remembered strange names mentioned before . . . was it Angus and . . . Quinn? "Quinn has yet to return to the portal.

They think he's dead."

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"But he could be alive. Anything is possible when you're dealing with time. You ought to know that by now."

Jessie nodded, a tiny ray of light shining into her numbed mind.

"So, I tell them about Mona, and they . . ."

"They fight the good fight. You will not change the past, Jessie. You will become part of it. Do you understand now?"

Before Jessie could respond, Tanner burst through the door. "Her parents have left and were last seen on one twenty-eight. The coast is clear to get her back to the Pit."

Jessie looked at Tanner as if he were nuts. He, in turn, winked at her and reached to help Ceara up. "I'd say you have a good three hours before they return."

Jessie rose and helped Ceara gather all the files. "Do you have spies watching the house?"

Tanner laughed. "Nothing as mundane as that. One of my hobbies is fiddling with electronic surveillance gadgets. Once they left the house, it triggered one of my ladybug devices and I hopped in the car and followed them until they got to the freeway. Now, you gonna stand here yakking or are you going to the Pit to finish whatever it is you started?"

Jessie looked at Ceara, who smiled. "Well, my dear? Is it time to be off to see the wizard?"

Jessie nodded. "Absolutely."

As Jessie and Ceara approached the wall where the numberless door materialized, Jessie took the keys out of her pocket and looked at Ceara as the door slowly materialized.

"Oh-my," Ceara uttered. "It's been-it's so-how very odd."

Jessie turned to Ceara. "Why don't you come with me?"

Ceara shook her head. "No, Jessie. This is a journey for the young."

"But Ceara-"

"No."

Jessie's forehead furrowed as she gazed at the old woman. Never *

216 *217.

before had she heard her sound so harsh. "Ceara? What is it? Are you afraid of the seam?"

"It is nothing. Now stop all this nonsense and get going. You are wasting valuable time. Remember everything the professor told you, and do not leave until Cate has picked your brains clean. If you do not know, say so. Don't guess. Don't make anything up."

Jessie nodded. "I could really use you in there."

Ceara waved her off. "Go now."

Jessie hesitated a moment before hugging her. It felt like she might not ever return. "Thank you, Ceara, for all you've done." Jessie opened the door, stepped in, and closed it. Once again she found herself in Cate's world, where mist hung in the air and clung to the trees, and where she knew, if she walked just past this clearing, Cate would be waiting.

And she was.

"Jessie!" Cate cried, jumping to her feet and running over to her.

Emotions overwhelming them both, they drew each other into a tight embrace. "I am so very happy to see you!"

Jessie pulled away, nodding. "Me, too. Did you save Maeve from the soldiers?"

"Just barely. She sends you her grat.i.tude and appreciation from the bottom of her heart, as do I."

"And Lachlan?"

"He is well, also, though I believe the very nature of what the Romans were wanting him to do has upset him quite a bit. He does so respect Maeve."

"Where are they now?"

"He and Maeve are watching me as we speak."

"This is your dream then." It was a statement of fact. The feelings of a dream state were far different from those of actually being inside Cate. Jessie was becoming more familiar with the tastes and textures of a true quester.

Cate nodded. "I am too far from the portal so they induced me into a very deep slumber to enable you to reach me. I take it this means you have extricated yourself from that dark place you were in?"

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"h.e.l.l, yes. I'm fine now. I've retrieved the information you need, but I'm afraid it doesn't look good."

Cate motioned for Jessie to sit down on the stone next to her, which she did. "We are prepared for the inevitable, Jessie, so please, go ahead.

I am not afraid."

Jessie ran her hands through her hair, and inhaled a deep, painful breath. "Paulinus has ama.s.sed troops in excess of sixty thousand. He is turning his attention to the Silures and plans to push you off the coast toward the Isle of Mona, where there will be little place to run."

Cate stared down at her folded hands. "What-what happens on the Isle of Mona?"

Jessie felt older than her years and younger than her soul. It was the question she knew was coming but didn't want to answer. Taking a deep breath, she very quietly said, "The Druids . . . are defeated."

Cate did not look at her, but stared into the fire before them.

"Defeated or destroyed?"

"Nearly destroyed. Some of you survive, but not many. Those who do, end up in Ireland and the Scottish Highland." Jessie paused as Cate looked confused. "It's the island west of Britain and . . . what do you call the area up north?"

"Alba. We escape to Alba?"

Jessie nodded. "Apparently, the Romans never got that far north nor to the islands in the west."

Cate inhaled a long, sharp breath. "Eire. The island is called Eire."

"Well, those of you who make it there remain in hiding for over a thousand years. But it's Mona that's going to be the Druid burial ground. If you can stay away from there, you three could live through this."

"The Chieftain has already sent word that the Isle was the safest haven for our people. He has sent most of his strongest Druids there believing the Romans would not attempt an a.s.sault upon the water.

They do not like the water very much. Are you certain the Romans attack Mona?"

Jessie ran her hands through her hair once more. "Paulinus has flat- bottomed boats built to be able to hold his horses. Your Chieftain was *

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given faulty information, most likely from someone who is supplying Paulinus with information."

"Flat . . . bottomed . . . boats . . ."

"Yes. He didn't want your people to be able to run into the woods, so he made sure they have horses to run you down. If your people are moving from the coast to Mona, they'll be killed there."

"But most are Druids."

"Exactly. Paulinus isn't out to destroy the Silures. He's out to destroy the Druids because your people rely on them so much for leadership.

Destroy you and your people will fall in line."

"And our Chieftain has stranded them now upon that very isle."

Cate held her head in her hands. "This cannot be. In trying to preserve us, he has sent us to our doom."

Jessie looked at Cate's profile. She appeared so small and fragile that she made Jessie's heart hurt. "The Silurian leaders had no idea how deep Paulinus's campaign against you was. It is not your Chieftain's fault."

"Is there anything that can be done?"

"Other than keeping Maeve away from Mona?"