Criminals -- Fiction; Science fiction; Short stories; Time travel -- Fiction
Darell and Karson and Dr. Lorence were waiting for him in the
councilroom of the Government Building when he got back.
"Great work," Karson said. He looked pale and shaken. "We watched the
whole thing over the transmitter Lorence built into you. Every step.
It--it was well done."
"Thanks," Jack said. "Is the gold ready?"
Lorence handed him a heavy satchel. "It's here. Twenty-five pounds.
Plus five pounds extra for your cooperation."
"Thanks again," Jack said. "Glad to be of help." He didn't mention
the moments when he wavered, when he had nearly gone over to Lugert's
side--probably would have if it hadn't been for the generator planted
in his arm.
He wondered briefly how it would have been, living here with all these
quiet philosophical types.
He said, "I suppose you're going to send me back to my own time now."
Lorence nodded.
The four of them went to Lorence's office and Jack climbed back into
the elaborate harness.
Lorence bustled around him, making adjustments carefully. "We want to
gauge this thing to the minute, you know," he explained. "No mistakes."
"I appreciate the care," Jack said. He held tightly to his satchel.
"We owe you a tremendous debt of gratitude," Karson said. "A debt that
no satchel of gold could ever repay. You've done us a great service.
You're a hero, Jack. A savior of humanity. We'd never have beaten
Lugert without you."
"Ready to go," Lorence said. He threw the switch.
Time began to swirl around the killer from the past. As 2531 started
to fade away from him he grinned for the last time and said, "Imagine
that. Me, a hero! I like that, Me, John Dillinger--a savior of
humanity!"
And then he was gone.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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