CHAPTER TWO: THE HOUSE OF DICKENS

Caroline and Heather had just unloaded the car’s boot. Both of them carried their own rucksack on their back and a piece of handbag for each of them. A snakeskin purse for Caroline and a green suede purse for Heather. They walked through the driveway that headed to the main door of the manor. They were welcomed by the house’ beautiful borders of flower collection. To name some, there were hyacinth, geranium, buttercup, carnation, sunflower, hibiscus and more. A hedgerows of blackberries and rosemary. While on the right side of the drive, a gorgeous fountain was placed in the middle of the perfectly mown lawn where lotus and lily pads were floated on it peacefully, small gold fishes swam around lively as jets of water pumped out of it gracefully. Heather pressed the doorbell on the right side of the wall and just in time, the girl with tawny hair, royal blue oriental eyes opened the door and greeted them with a warm pleasant smile.

“Will you look at my honey-bees!” purred Ruth sweetly.

Caroline gave her a French kiss as well as Heather and she led them to the handsome hall where a big golden 18th century rococo chandelier was hanging and shining proudly on the ceiling. There were old paintings as well hanging on the walls of the hall. A replica of the most famous fire in London, Madonna and the Child and a painting of a Black Widow. They took off their rucksacks propped and left them on a wall at the hall near the coat hanger. At the end of the hall was a spacious room though occupied by a numerous of handsome and beautiful ornaments and furniture. It was the sitting room where a black grand piano was located on the left side and facing it was a well-varnished china ware wooden shelves made of rosewood with a double cover made of glass mixed with diamond cuts. The sofa set were lavishly hued by gold and brown. Velvet curtains were tied on each side of the bay window by a velvet rope. A grandfather clock stood ageless near the fireplace where a carpet that seemed more of a tapestry laid lifeless on the marbled floor.

“Where’s Paul, Ruthie?” asked Caroline as she helped herself sat down on the nearest chair by the fireplace, though there was no fire set on it. While Heather was examining a set of decanter placed on a small table near the biggest couch.

“He went out to buy some bread. I have forgotten to buy yesterday when I was down at the market after classes. You did not have your breakfast yet, right?”

Caroline half nodded and half shook her head. “We just had some tea and a piece of toast since my uncle was there to be with us at breakfast, though early in the morning tomorrow he will be flying to Egypt for an excavation with a Frenchman and some of his lot.” Said Caroline cosily.

“Wow! That’s lovely Carol. Do you –
Ruth was interrupted by Heather who appeared to be surprised from what she found out from the decanters she was examining.

“Hey Ruth! Is this a myrrh?” asked Heather unbelievably as she held up the bottle to show it to her.

“I believe so..since those bottles have different perfume and incense inside. There’s jasmine, lavender, ylang-ylang, chamomile...” cited Ruth sweetly.

“Can I have some drops of this myrrh? I would love to have it in my room.” Requested Heather.

“Help yourself. My mother’s family has a real knack of making perfumes you know. They just give it every year as present for us during thanks-giving. Oh I think its Paul!” Ruth stood up and strode to the hall to check if it was really Paul opening the door. “Then we can have our breakfast and get ready to use the machine..” she added while walking out of the sitting room.
It was Paul. A six foot tall handsome young man. His jet-black hair that was untidy though looked good on him and his eyes that resembled his sister’s eyes perfectly matching his small cute nose and cherry lips. He appeared to be a guy with charisma and intelligence but of course, he really was.

“Hi Heath..Carol.” Greeted Paul gesturing a salute to the both of them.

“Mon cheri.” Greeted back Caroline with a flying kiss. Ruth took the paper-bag of bread from Paul and went to the kitchen to prepare the last piece of their breakfast. Paul, who was ever so gentleman, kissed Caroline and Heather’s hand on the back skin.

“Are you ready to use my invention?” asked Paul in a relax manner. As he sat on the other side of the couch, stretched his right arm on the couch where Heather was sitting.
Caroline smiled as Heather answered him “Yeah, but that’s not the question I think.” Paul looked and gave her a facial expression of ‘What is it then?’

“The question is, are you sure that this thing will work and will not fail? I mean it has not even yet been tried for testing, is it?” asked Heather with concern.
Paul licked his upper lip and seemed to be thinking of what to say to her for a fleeting moment. Til he spoken.

“I had actually tested it before..but not to me or to any human. I had tested it to a street cat.” Admitted Paul.

Caroline and Heather both looked at Paul interestingly. Not because he was handsome or by other means of his physical features but by what he just confessed to them.

“So what happened to the cat after you tested it?” asked Caroline eagerly.

“Gone.” Answered Paul plainly.

“Gone? As in, it never came back? Or dead?” asked Heather a little hysterically.

“Actually, It said on the screen where the machine can tell me what is happening to a human or a creature I send off to where I want to send them or where they prefer..the cat is still alive and it is roaming around in Athens in Solon’s time when he was the reformist of Greece.” Said Paul.
The girls were staring at Paul as if they had never seen a person like him. What had gone to this person’s mind and had able to procure a machine that could take a human or a creature to the past. A past that could only be recalled or imagined through the use of books, ancient artefacts and re-enactments on films.

“Paul, how are we gonna use that time machine when it is being used by a cat?” asked Caroline. Now tying up her black hair on a pony-tail for a clearer view of him.

“The cat is not using it anymore..I mean, I do not want to sound too harsh but I stopped looking after the cat last week since my sister found out about my invention and requested to me if you can use it. Though I believe it is still alive, the cat.”

Dumb founded once more but Caroline made haste to relax and think normally as she managed to ask another question to him.

“You mean to say, that cat could have still go back to our times if you didn’t stop looking after it?” Caroline and Heather’s eyes had got wider when Paul opened his mouth to speak.

“Yes and no. What I am trying to say is that, cat do not have the mind of a human. It could never be taught of using a thing that will serve as a connection between the machine and the traveller. Because there is one way to go back and it is by the means of this!” Paul was showing them now a piece of metal that resembled more like a key. It was silver and there were three tiny buttons on rod with different colours, there was also a hole on its head, bigger than the usual hole but the hole had something in between, some sort of a thick transparent plastic that could not be broken easily.

“What is that???” asked the girls in chorus.

Now Paul bent his back and rest his arms on his thighs while holding the key on his right hand showing them as he explained its important use and value.

“This small thing is the key for you to get back in our times! If you lose this, I cannot do anything for you to get back. That is why, as soon as I give it to your safety, it will be your responsibility already. I will be no longer concerned about that thing. For me, this is the best way to use for time machines. There were other time machines invented before but not like this one. Other time machines’ way of getting back are through signs. The very common is the swirling circle thing. But to my opinion it is not very useful. What if I have not done yet what I wanted to do on a certain past and place. It is very limited. If it shows out of nowhere, you just suddenly have to jump and go back with it. But this one...” Paul’s face somehow was fierce and proud of his knowledge of his own invention. The girls looked at him with admiration and a small speck of uncertainty.

“Wait a second! Before everything goes outta hand!..so how do we use that key then? There are features of it that we should know, right?” cried Heather.

“Yes..” answered Paul. But before he could said more, Ruth came out of the kitchen and said, “Hey, enough of it for now...don’t get carried away, we still have breakfast to eat!” Sure enough, the smell of delicious breakfast was swarming around the kitchen. Ruth prepared the table and the breakfast wonderfully. Hot rolls with melted butter on top of it, Waffles, Different types of cheese: Camembert, Feta, Edam, Cream cheese, Bacon strips, hotdogs, chicken omelette, boiled eggs, small sweet tomatoes, and a teapot set on small fire on the stove while the coffee-maker was brewing. They ate without haste. They tried to feel the goodness of morning breakfast. As if Caroline and Heather had forgotten what they were just discussing with Paul.

“Chef-d’oeuvre!” cooed Caroline to Ruth. Then she patted Caroline’s cheek lightly.
As they finished their lovely breakfast altogether, everybody settled down to the sitting room to finalize the plan.

“Where are your things Heather?” asked Paul when he was about to sit on a stool near the window.

“We left it at the hall near the coat hanger..” answered Heather as she straightened down her white plain fitted top.

“I’ll get it.” Said Paul plainly. Without further waiting, Paul came and placed the rucksacks on the floor, propped on the couch’s right arm.

“So, As I continue..for the benefit of you two..” He pointed and gave Caroline and Heather a nod that looked like a gaze. “The proper usage of this key.” Paul did not sit this time, he just stood up, the fireplace behind him and he started talking like a professor in class. “As you can see there are three tiny buttons here on the rod. The first one, near the hole, this yellow button, it means VISIBLE. If you are to press this whence you reached the past and the place you are meant to go to, simply, you will be visible to the people around you. That is, if you wanted to be seen. Take heed, it can only work twice. The second button, here in the middle, this blue one, it means INVISIBLE and this can only work twice as well. If you would like to be invisible to the people around you, or if you want to make an escape, just press this! But be sure! if one of you will press, you should hold each others’ hand to make a group escape and if one didn’t get to hold on to..that would cause a problem..right? The one who may not make it, can be in trouble. This last red button..I will not make a statement about it. I will just say, its a useless option though, it means, STAY FOREVER.”

“No one wants to stay there forever! What will we do there?! Even if we stay there forever, we will never have the chance to be carved in the walls of history!” said Heather, trying to sound funny. Caroline and Ruth laughed.

“Alright, let me continue to the last piece of this thing’s usage. The last and the most important of all.”

Everyone straightened up, eager to feed their curiosity which Paul had planted very well in their minds. All ears were now on him.

“This hole on the key..I planted a microscopic thing inside the plastic in between the hole. It can realize and remember a human touch. If you press this, it means GO BACK. One of you shall press this before leaving, with the thumb, to make it know and remember your touch. The one who will press this, shall be the keeper. Whence it is done, I will place the key into the keyhole on the time machine to record the human touch it gathered. Again, when you wanted to go back and everything is done or you simply wanted to abandon the activity, hold on to each other and press this..and it will take you back to the present time. Lastly, for the frail part of it, the keeper can only press and use it once. So, I advise to the three of you, to always stick together, never lose of ones’ sight, so the assurance of no one would be left behind is guaranteed. ” Finalized Paul.

“Oh my God...” sighed Ruth as she rested her back on the soft back of the couch.

“Do you still want to continue?” asked Paul seriously. Heather’s eyes rolling, left and right, trying to avoid giving the conclusion. While Ruth was staring at Caroline who was biting the back of her right thumb.

“Well, Caroline what do you think?” asked Paul, turning to her direction near the fireplace.
Caroline sighed. Stopped. “I want to go.” She decided.

“Second the notion.” Said Ruth.

“Heather?” asked Ruth. Turning to face her as they shared the big couch. Heather could not say anything at first. She was hampering hard not say something opposite to their answers but she could not keep it any longer in herself.

“I’m afraid of everything!” shrieked Heather. Grabbing her red curly hair as if she was mental.

“Do we really have to do this? I mean risking our lives just for our thesis.” She added defiantly.

“Didn’t you hear what Paul said about the cat and the key thing? We are gonna be safe Heather...come on! Don’t mess up now.” Argued Caroline though trying to sound calmly.

“We will be safe, don’t worry..oneness, we are altogether with this thing. All we need is to believe and trust each other and work as a team.” Added Ruth profoundly.

“We are not afraid Heather! Come on! Don’t be such a girl! Where’s the toughness I always envy from you?!” motivated Caroline.

Heather sighed deeply and put herself into normal, stood up and walked to Paul and spoken.

“Ok. I will do it then as well. So, who will be the Keeper?” They all looked from each other, as if trying to guess who had the power to lead. Ruth stood up as well and said in a loud though small and sweet voice, “I have my vote set on Caroline.”

“Me?” Caroline cried. She was surprised to hear her voice being voted for as the keeper of the key.

“Yeah Carol..my vote goes to you too. So be it! Caroline Adams is the Keeper of the key.” Heather concluded. She couldn’t argue anymore. It was her that they chosen. It would be all down to her security. The safety of the key was within her hand. It wasn’t after all her safety and the key, but her friends too. She had to be very careful keeping the key for if one moment she lost its sight, it would cause chaos to the whole plan.

“Alright. There will be no second thoughts about it from me. I accept the task as the Keeper.” Caroline agreed. She stood up and faced Paul, nose to nose, as if they were about to kiss. But Paul whispered to her, “It will be your task to look for the others. This is a burden which is strongly unavoidable.” And she just nodded firmly as he handed him the key to Caroline.

“We still have an hour to go before launching ourselves to the past!” giggled Ruth.

“Rocket ships? Are we eh?” Caroline seconded.

“Yeah..rockets..I’m gonna rock one of the prince’s world!” laughed Heather.

“You were like an afraid-cat awhile ago and now you are talking about rocking a prince’s world?” teased Ruth sweetly. Caroline and Heather laughed. “Why don’t you come with me to my room, there are some things that I need sorting out there..let’s have a look if there’s something we could take.” Ruth added suggestively.

“What about food? We should –

“Food is packed.” Ruth assured.

At that time, Paul submerged out of the sitting room and went down to the basement of the manor where the time machine was located. The girls went to Ruth’s bedroom. They went back to the hall to find a wide marble staircase with cherubim carved on the balusters. They entered a hall with a series of rooms. The walls were varnished and old paintings and portraits of some of the Dickens relatives were hanging proudly and gallantly on the varnished wall which were only lit by a dozen of small Japanese style lamps cohered on the wall which has give the effect of solemn and sensuality.

“Here we are..” as Ruth opened the third door on the hall of rooms they had just entered. The door ajar as Ruth unlocked it and as she pushed, a beautiful room of red and white welcomed Caroline and Heather.

“Princess Ruth?” teased Heather. Ruth merely giggled as if she was being wooed by a handsome guy. Ruth’s bed was as huge as a master’s bed. Fluffy pillows, soft beanbags and ruffled blankets rested on it cutely. Furniture was of red painted rosewood, the drawer, wardrobe, and her bed. The curtains were of white velvet fabric. The smell of lavender incensed the room which made Caroline and Heather sniffed like their grandmother had just cooked something appetizing. Ruth opened another door on the left wall of her room, only to find out that it was a small room of clothes, shoes and beauty products.

“I have something to show to the both of you.” Ruth was rummaging on a red drawer at the centre of the small room. It was all packed of perfumes, different brands and scents. Until, she took a crystal-blue decanter and opened it for Caroline and Heather. “Smell it.” As the girls inhaled some of it, its smell was irresistible! It was different from myrrh or other perfumes Heather examined and smelled down at the sitting room.

“What scent is this?” asked Caroline curiously. Ruth stopped for a moment as she thought of what it was. Her temple creased, as she said the mixture of it. “I do not really know what it is called, but my father told me that before my mother died, it was the last scent she was wearing and it was of rare combination of desert flower, lily, rosewood and myrrh.”

“It sounds a little creepy to me Ruthie.” Caroline confessed as she pouted her mouth while the other two laughed at her.

“Well, I plan to take this with me. It would serve as a good gift to the Pharaoh, I mean, that is, if we would be able to meet him.” Ruth thought.

“Alright. We bring some of our things too, its all in our rucksacks. We have a tent and sleeping bags.”

“Very good. Food is my share, I have packed as much food as we can bring.” Winked Ruth. After some minutes passed, as Caroline and Heather kept throwing questions on Ruth about perfumes, the manor, her family, the telephone rang and Ruth made haste to answer it.

“Hello. House of –

Ruth stopped, she was merely listening to what the caller was saying to her and excitement was painted instantly on her face, like blood rushing throughout her body vigorously. As soon as she hanged the phone, she told the girls that, “The time machine is ready, Paul says, its better we go to the basement now.”