Time Restored,
Chapter 9,
The Bid,
Autumn 2021CE That afternoon they called Anna,
To let her know they were interested in bidding,
And she came back within the hour.
The agent from Bath will meet you there tomorrow afternoon,
And I'll drive down from London too.
She's obviously keen to get her hands on a commission,
Said Tim.
Should we invite Graham over to see it?
Good idea,
Said Jenna.
He said we could call him any time.
Graham was most demeanable,
And came up with a ruse for the agent in Bath.
He suggested that he would act as the client to keep up the backstory that Jenna and Tim were acting as his consultants.
Just call your property advisor working with the Lottery in London to let her know not to let on,
He said.
So the next afternoon they had time for a proper look around.
The agent from Bath was a bit slimy,
And couldn't resist telling them that he'd already bagged at least three very interested purchases.
He seemed a little off hand with them,
Possibly feeling bullied into the viewing by Anna.
Tim took lots of videos of the old house,
So they had a record of what would need doing.
Graham wasn't that interested in the main house,
But gushed over the conference centre.
Jenna managed to pry him away from the two agents and Tim,
And walked into the spa facility before the others could get there.
So are these from Stonehenge,
She asked,
Touching the old chapel walls?
How do you feel,
Graham asked,
All tingly again.
Well then,
They must be,
He confirmed.
We must ask to look at the gatehouse on the way out,
He said,
Changing the subject.
By this time Anna had caught up with them.
So Graham said,
I'll tell that slimeball of an agent,
We'll be putting in a sealed bid.
Graham came back with them to the Bradley Hare,
And they had an early supper together.
Now I've read your book,
Said Jenna,
I assume the school isn't to teach people about clock repair?
Well,
We'll teach the history and principles of timepiece design,
Said Graham,
And one of the best ways to do that is to fix what is no longer working.
But that's for a different reason though,
Interjected Tim.
You are both catching on,
Said Graham.
One of our roles has been to help humanity by sending clocks from the future into the past,
Just in time,
You understand.
So in simple words,
Asked a perplexed Tim,
What will a school of temporal alchemy actually teach?
Up to now,
It's been important to stabilise the timelines to prevent tears in the fabric of space-time,
Explained Graham.
For the last 20,
000 years,
He continued,
Humans have mastered manipulation of inorganic matter,
And now have a detailed knowledge and appreciation of the physical sciences.
It was Jenna's turn to interrupt.
From your book,
It appears that the dimension of time is malleable too.
Tim had never heard his wife use language like this.
The book had obviously made a huge impact upon her.
Sounds like I should really read that book now,
He said.
Graham told them more about what students of the school would be taught,
But also how they would operate in secrecy,
Serving and supporting humanity.
They would work in the cracks between the tickings of the clock.
There were already 12 tutors mentored and personally trained by Graham,
And there were never to be more than 36 students.
Sounds like we should make sure our bid wins in the auction,
Said Tim.
On which note,
Graham asked Jenna,
Who was getting way ahead of Tim,
I guess you can tell us what the winning bid will be?
Graham obliged.
There will be lots of corporate bids because of the training facility.
Offer them 18 million and it's yours with some margin.
Three delicious burgers arrived,
Which they all munched ravenously.
It had been a long time since breakfast,
And they'd been skipping lunches.
Can we ask you for some more advice,
Said Tim,
Who finished first.
Please,
Go ahead,
Said Graham.
What do you think we should tell our friends?
Well,
I've had to be economical with the truth for many years,
Said Graham.
What I've found works best is to tell people something outrageous,
Which is somewhat less outrageous than what you are hiding from them.
Tell them you did actually win 8 million on the lottery,
And you're going on a three-month cruise around the Caribbean,
Graham suggested.
And be generous to those around you who could do with a helping hand.
This was made much simpler as Jenna and Tim had no close family,
As they were only children and only recently fully orphaned.
What they didn't know at the time is that is how Graham filtered out his acolytes.
Before they let Graham go,
Jenna also had something she was desperate to ask of him.
So can anyone learn how to heal with time manipulation,
She asked.
With the right teacher,
Anyone can learn anything,
Confirmed Graham.
And what about fixing mechanical devices like cars,
Jim tipped in.
I can start you off on something small,
Like a wristwatch,
Said Graham warmly.
It takes quite a few years to master the heavy stuff.
Graham always knew the right time to bring things to a close.
So tomorrow you should go back home to wrap up a few things and to say some goodbyes,
Said Graham.
Make sure you call that agent Anna to get your bid in first thing.
When shall we meet again,
Jenna asked.
When your bid is successful,
Graham said.
He left Jenna and Tim with a warm and excited feeling in their belly.
They didn't have to sleep on it and were much too tired to lose any sleep over it.
