Page 131 of After 5
I retold the scene I witnessed between Caiyan and Victory, hitting heavy on the part where Victory left of her own free will, and with only a few minor changes.
I replaced the part where Caiyan recovered the box with me picking up the box after Caiyan had left the area and explained how since the box made it back to headquarters, I assumed there was a key inside.
Everyone shifted closer when I produced the key. No one refuted my story or claimed to have seen this key before. I finished my recollection of the events in Gettysburg,
General Potts, satisfied with the outcome, left the Victory key, which it was now called, in Jake’s care and excused himself from the room.
The interrogation was deemed officially over, and the other teams dispersed. My team remained at the table.
Campy stood. “I’m going to check on Uncle Cai.” He squeezed my shoulder as he passed me on the way out.
“I can’t believe that was you. We rode together across Seminary Ridge,” Brodie said. “I asked ya medical advice.” My team was astonished that I was Dr. Seuss.
Were their lives different than before I had left for Gettysburg? Had an alternate universe now become their reality? Another life, like the one they had lived, but with the good Dr. Seuss present to help General Lee with his germs, had replaced the previous one. The unfortunate result of time travel.
Jake told me technically, it was a loop. I had always been there to save Sam Raney. My brain ached trying to make sense of it.
Gertie had done an amazing job calling the exact orders Lee had given to his corps commanders. I told her so as she finished flipping through a history book on the battle of Gettysburg and reported there were no changes.
“Except this one,” she said and pushed the book toward me. The book was opened to a chapter on the medical doctors in the Civil War.
A paragraph read General Lee suffered from what one doctor labeled as germs. Most likely it was a type of influenza, but the doctor used the word germ almost a decade before Robert Koch and Louis Pasteur contributed to the Germ Theory of Disease. The unnamed surgeon, who most likely died in battle, was ahead of his time.
“Huh, I’m a little upset they didn’t remember my name.”
It went on to read General Lee gave credit to his speedy recovery from the germs to something the unnamed doctor gave him called Mamma Bea’s lemonade.
“At least he didn’t mention the outhouse took him to another time,” Gertie said.
Heads bobbed in agreement.
“Well, mates,” Brodie stood. “I, for one, am glad to be back home. He scooped Gertie up in a long, tongue-filled kiss.
“Get a room,” Gerry catcalled.
“As fast as I can,” Brodie replied.
Marco limped in and stopped short at Brodie’s PDA.
“Whoa, are we celebrating?”
“Some people can’t control their urges.” Gerry threw shade Brodie’s direction.
Tina lifted a dark eyebrow at Gerry, then turned her attention to me.
“I wish I had already joined the team when Gerry and Brodie were younger, but I was still a babe in my homeland.”
“Nah you don’t, because I wasn’t here to make things exciting.” Marco sat down at the table.
“How’s the leg?” Jake asked him.
“Better, after the torture session. Sixteen stitches, but I made a date with one of the nurses, so it’s all good.” He cut a quick glance my way.
“Jen found the Victory key,” Ace told Marco.
“You did?” He raised his eyebrows at me.
“It was in the puzzle box Victory threw away before she left with Toecheese.”
