Day of Deliverance Read Online Free PDF Page B

sense. Clearly, you would need a lot of different skills to create and maintain a working time machine – especially if you ever happened to need to use it. Each member of VIGIL had their everyday persona: teacher, shopkeeper, janitor and so on. Then they had their other, secret, role in the VIGIL organisation – scientist, analyst, technician or security guard. For example, Jack had learned that Miss Beattie was not only anexpert on Shakespeare, but also had a first class degree from Cambridge and had done stints at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the European Organisation for Nuclear Research – CERN. Gino – actually Professor Turinelli – was a computer expert, and Jim De Raillar and Jack’s mother were analysts.
    *
    Just then, the Rector and Inchquin came into the room through a separate entrance. Soon a tense discussion was under way, facilitated by Inchquin who sat gravely at the head of the table.
    “Jim, can you give us an update on the analysis of the message Tom Christie sent to us a couple of hours ago, please?”
    “Certainly. To recap, the message confirms that Christie and Dr Pendelshape have fallen out. It also explains that following their failure to stop the First World War they started to work on a new timeline simulation some months ago…”
    “What period does the simulation focus on?”
    “Late Elizabethan.”
    “Interesting…” Theo Joplin, the historical analyst, interjected, and the Rector flashed him an angry glance for interrupting.
    Jim De Raillar ignored the comment and continued. “Anyway, it appears that the Revisionist team have refined the computer simulation software so they can make much more precise recreations of the interventions they plan to make in history, and the potential consequences of the action. Christie’s message referred to it as ‘surgical’ historical modelling. It seems that the Revisionist team were very excited about these advances… but then Christie got nervous when Pendelshape started to talk in terms of progressing the simulation to the implementation phase – an actual intervention in history. Pendelshape wanted to target the late sixteenth century using their replica Taurus. Of course, it was clear from the message that Christie’s greatest concern is for Jack’s safety. He does not want the Revisionists to dothis…” De Raillar looked at Inchquin and then at Carole and Jack uneasily. There was an edgy silence in the room.
    “Carry on.”
    “Well, it appears that Pendelshape and the rest of the Revisionists do not share these concerns and it looks like they have decided to go it alone. Christie felt that the Revisionists had moved against him and he decided to leave them some weeks ago. Concerned that they would quickly refine the simulation and we might think him responsible, he took the unprecedented step of sending us a warning message today – and then contacting Jack directly by phone. It was a big step to take. Christie knows he is risking his life – betraying his own team in such a way. He is now isolated from both VIGIL and the Revisionists.”
    Inchquin arched his fingers in front of him, deep in thought. “So – Pendelshape has usurped Tom Christie as the leader of the Revisionists. He has a plan to make some intervention in history – in the sixteenth century. Okay, two things to check. First, Carole, what is the latest forecast on time signal availability?”
    Carole looked up from her terminal. “We have had no time signal availability for a number of weeks now, but as you are aware, we are forecasting the availability of carrier strength time travel signals over the next forty-eight hours. Of course, forecasts are not accurate – in terms of timing, duration or strength.”
    “Time signal forecasting – it’s worse than the weather forecast…” Joplin moaned.
    “Shut up, Theo, you’re not helping,” the Rector said. “This is why Christie has chosen to contact us now. The Revisionists will also