From the “Voyager” series

Copyrighted 2008 by T. L. Miller

(excerpt from an historical fiction series for middle grade readers)

Part I

          Collingwood LaCroix held the letter from his grandfather in his fist as he jumped off the bus at Gate 12 in West Redding, Connecticut.  Ellie had arrived earlier and was waiting for him on the station platform.  But where was Jimmy?

          “What’s the mystery, Collie?”  Ellie had that special twinkle in her eye when something really neat was going to happen.

          “It’s this letter I got from grandfather.  That’s all I know right now.”  Collingwood looked around the platform, but did not see his other friend from school.

          “He is on the 7:30 bus.  The tickets from my bus and your bus were all sold by the time he got his stuff to the station.  You know Jimmy will not travel without all his techy junk.”  Ellie was telling Collie something he already knew to be true about Jimmy.

          “Look at this letter, Ellie.  It’s intriguing, even for my grandfather.”  Collingwood unfolded the letter and began to read it to Ellie.

          “My Dear Collingwood,

           You are to return home on Saturday, January 26^th, the evening before your birthday.  On Sunday, the 27^th day of January, your birthday, enjoy celebrating the day with your friends, but it is imperative that you come to my study in the evening no later than a quarter to nine.  I must insist that you not be late. 

                                                                          Warmest Regards,

                                                                          Your Grandfather,

                                                                           Hamilton James LaCroix.” 

Collingwood stared at the letter for a moment, then folded it and placed it back in the envelope, then he stuffed it in his pocket.

          “Well finally,” said Ellie, “Jimmy has finally made it.  I was right, he’s brought all his techy stuff.  You know, I bet he even sleeps with those things.”

          Ellie and Collingwood watched as Jimmy gathered all his bags and boxes into one astonishing pile on the platform.  Both looked at the one bag each of them had brought and they burst out in laughter.

          “We better find a cab and get to grandfather’s house,” Collingwood said as he looked up and down the street for a familiar yellow taxi.

Part II

          The warmth of the fireplace made Collingwood LaCroix drowsy.  His grandfather had asked him to join him in his library at precisely a quarter to nine.  He was more than curious about why his grandfather had to see him at this particular time in the evening.  It had been a very long day.  After all, he had started the day, Sunday, the 27^th of January, at the Cathedral and then at home enjoying his birthday with friends, Ellie McGuire and Jimmy Beaker.  Just knowing that he officially was now thirteen years old was almost too exciting for him.

          A precisely 8:50 P.m., Hamilton James LaCroix opened the heavy oak door, walked over to the fireplace, looked at his gold watch, turned and peered intently at the gangly young man who looked more like he was wearing the chair that sitting in a chair.  The studious man that everyone in the village, including Collingwood, knew as Hamilton James LaCoix, was a professor of histoy at the Connecticut Institute of Antiquities.  After a brief greeting and a birthday congratulations, his grandfather once again became quite somber.

          “Collingwood,” his grandfather began, “at precisely nine p.m., you officially will be thirteen years old.  As such, and being my grandson and heir, you will be going on a great adventure.”

          Turning to face the fireplace, the elder LaCroix returned his gold watch to his vest pocket and continued by telling Collingwood that, in fact, he would be going on many adventures.  Just before the clock struck nine p.m., Professor LaCroix took a small silver box from the mantle and stepped toward his grandson.

          “In this box, you will find the key to all your adventures.  But before I give this box to you I must require you to promise three things.”

          “Promise what three things?  Sure grandfather, I promise,” said as he respectfully reached for the silver box.

          “Wait Collingwood.  You first must hear what you must promise and you must promise these three requirements upon your life.  Do you grasp the serious nature of what I am about to tell you?”

          Collingwood stared at his grandfather.  Suddenly, no longer drowsy, he was excited and frightened at the same time by what his grandfather was saying to him.

          “You must swear upon your very life these three things.  First, as much as you may want to, you will do nothing to change the forces that shape the events you will witness.  Do you swear to this requirement upon your life Collingwood LaCroix?”

          “Sure grandfather, I promise, I really do.”

          “Collingwood, you must say the words, do you swear upon your life?” He sat bolt upright as he heard the frightening severity in his grandfather’s voice.

          “Yes, Grandfather, I swear upon my life to do nothing that will change the forces that shape the events I will witness?”

          “Second, do you swear upon your life to never divulge to the people you will meet the time or place from which you come in which you now live?”

          “But Grandfather, what does it mean?  I cannot make a promise to something  I do not understand.”

          His Grandfather softened the sound of his voice and explained that it meant that in whatever place he may find himself, he may not tell the people there that he is a time voyager.”

          “A time voyager, me?”

          “The need for this will become clear to you during your adventure.  Do you swear upon your life to never divulge to the people you meet the time or place in which you live…..the place you have come from?”

          “Yes, Grandfather, I swear upon my life.”

          “And Collingwood, the third and most important promise.  Do you swear upon your life to give to your son or daughter the gift I am about to present to you?”  

          “I swear that what you give to me I will give to my child,” quietly replied Collingwood.

 

          “Grandfather,” said Collingwood, “what are you giving me?”

          Professor LaCroix took the silver box, opened it, and carefully lifted out a beautiful amulet of carnelian encircled by a slender gold band.  He handed it to Collingwood, who held it in the palm of his hand and felt its warmth and mysterious energy.  He followed the gold lines that formed two wonderful birds flying high above mountains and water. He quietly turned over the amulet and softly, almost whispering, the golden inscription.

                “Grandfather?”  Collingwood looked up at his grandfather searching his face for an answer to the thousands of questions exploding in his brain.

            “In time, Collingwood.  In time, and happy birthday,” Professor LaCroix said as he opened the door to retire for the evening.  He turned for a moment and smiled at Collingwood.

            “My dear grandson, you will have such wonderful adventures.  Enjoy and believe.”

            His head still swimming with confusion, alone in the study, Collingwood barely heard the heavy oak door close.  The events of the day were wearing on him and the warmth of the fireplace brought back the drowsiness he experienced earlier.  He looked at the amulet in his hand, rested his head on the back of the chair, looked at the many books in his Grandfather’s library, and just before closing his eyes, he read the title of one of the books, “Genghis Khan,”

            Suddenly, he was in a dessert, with noise, and tents, and camels.  A boy his own age approached him with much confidence.

            “Who are you in our land?” Asked the young boy.

            “What? Who am I?  Well, my name is Collingwood LaCroix and who are you I might ask?”

            “Who am I?  Why, I am Genghis Kahn, son of the great Yesukhei.”