CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
The return flight to Vietnam was thankfully late-morning and everyone used the extra time enjoying a long sleep in. They were exhausted after four days travelling back and forth to the past. At the airport over an expensive and poorly made coffee, Kym, Albert and Thi exchanged email and phone numbers promising to keep in touch. How couldn’t they after such an eventful few days?
“I’ll ensure to get my international call charges adjusted with the telephone company immediately. I feel we’ll be talking a lot over the coming months,” Albert said confidently.
The comment seemed strange to Mitch implying more than actually said. He knew Albert would stay in contact with Kym, but emails would be easier and cheaper.
Once the luggage was checked, the four made their way to the priority immigration to say their final goodbyes. It wasn’t a long and sombre farewell, rather a cheery one promising more to follow.
“Mitchell you must come and visit us all on the plantation, we can show you around Ho Chi Min City. It is very different now. I’m sure you would enjoy it there,” Kym Ho said energetically.
“I would like that very much Kym, as I’m sure would Albert. After all, he might need my help in making the journey.” A brief and suspicious look exchanged between Kym and Albert. A cheeky look suggesting something in her comment Mitchell didn’t pick up on. He bent down to hug Kym Ho and thanked her for making the unquestioning journey to see Albert.
“No Mitchell, I must thank you. I never thought this day would come and am so glad it did. For without you it would never have happened and we cannot thankyou enough. You are a very special young man.”
Mitch was humbled. What he’d done seemed only natural and something any friend would do for another. He wasn’t at all comfortable with the praise. As Mitch looked at Kym one last time he noticed the thin braids of a shiny new silver necklace hanging round her neck.
≈
On the car trip home Albert was extremely animated and eager to tell Mitchell something that simply couldn’t wait.
“Kym was right Mitchell. None of this would have been possible without you,” he paused to find the right words, “you have been a true friend, and that makes it harder for me to tell you what I’m about to.” Mitch was perplexed; there was nothing Albert could say that would change their friendship.
“I have decided to go to Vietnam and live with Kym Ho and her family,” he finally said with a sigh of relief. Mitch wasn’t shocked at all. He’d guessed as much given the secrecy Albert and Kym showed at times.
“That is fantastic news Albert! A great decision, I’m honestly very happy for you both.”
Mitchell meant it too. He would miss his friend no doubt, but Albert and Kym being together for the rest of their lives was of far greater importance to him.
“Thank you Mitch, but I am afraid there is more to it than that.”
≈
Like every big discussion over the past two months this one started in Mitchell’s backyard on two lounge chairs with a bottle of scotch.
“Do you think we drink too much Albert?” Mitch asked light heartedly.
“Sometimes I think not enough given the decisions we’ve made,” Albert replied. “Cheers.”
“Cheers my friend. OK, what can be bigger than you moving to Vietnam? Tell me what’s the issue.” Albert sat back in his lounge chair fanning away a fly buzzing around his face. He seemed to be stalling and took his time before speaking.
“Well, you know how I can see when I go back to the past, what do you think would happen if I remained in the past? Do you think my sight would be permanently restored?”
“Shit Albert…I don’t know.” Mitch hadn’t thought of that. “Maybe it would. The plate makes little sense anyway so perhaps it might be possible.” Mitch took a sip and continued,
“But Albert, you know after ninety-nine minutes you come back right; how can you stay in the past?”
“By destroying the coil Mitchell.”
Mitch went silent immediately recognising the implications that would have. If they destroyed the coil there would be nothing he could do about Juliana. He was instantly torn. No, Not yet.
“What about just going back to avoid your accident. Remove yourself from combat like we’d discussed before?” Mitch asked clutching at straws.
“I can’t do that Mitchell. I told you. Too many lives would be affected if I weren’t there.” Mitch was so distressed he didn’t register the confirmation Albert’s heroic deeds on the HMAS Hobart had in fact saved lives.
“And besides, if I did, I wouldn’t remember my life. Not the past four days, not even today. What would be the point in that Mitchell? No. I’m afraid it’s not an option.”
“And if it doesn’t work Albert, you will still be blind but stuck in the past. Not capable of remembering anything that has happened! And probably worse off than you are now.” Mitch said raising his voice a little too loudly; disappointed Albert wouldn’t consider his suggestion.
“Not if I only went back a few days I wouldn’t.” Albert topped off their glasses giving Mitch time to calm down and digest his last comment; he then explained his idea in more detail.
It was demonstrated numerous times that a split in any timeline would generate an alternate reality from that point on. Memories from either reality are lost to anyone not taking part in them, until the two parallel realties re-join. The further back the split occurred; greater was the potential loss of memory.
“If we only split our paths by a day or two Mitchell we can mitigate any confusion.”
“But Albert, you won’t remember our original plan because of the altered timelines. And if things go wrong you might be in real trouble.”
“No, you need to think differently. Go get a pen and paper to jot it down, make a diagram. It might be easier to understand.” Mitch reluctantly did as he asked. Albert explained his plan to destroy the coil and Mitchell’s diagram started taking shape.
Albert theorised that if the coil were destroyed during the ninety-nine minutes he was in the past, he would remain there by virtue of not having a porthole to return through and only be one day behind Mitch.
They would meet again at a point after Albert travelled to the past and he would only lose the existence of one day; the day he chose a memory point to return to in the first instance. Albert would still have the memory of that day of course because he lived it.
“I can deal with that Mitchell.”
Mitch followed the logic and agreed it was the safest way to minimise any potential issues recalling timelines.
“That still doesn’t guarantee your eyesight will remain,” he added sceptically.
“No, it doesn’t Mitchell,” Albert said before taking a drink, “but, if it does work and I can see, I think that’s worth the risk. And if it fails,” he paused for another sip of whiskey, “then I’ll have lost nothing. Everything will remain as it already is.”
Except the bloody coil is destroyed and I’ll never be with Juliana.
“Do you really want to do this Albert?”
“Yes. I want to. But it doesn’t mean I’m dependent on the outcome. I’m still planning on returning to Kym, and if I can’t see her I am no worse off than I am right now. We decided on that together, but if I can return with my eyesight, then it would be a huge surprise for her making our decision even more meaningful.”
Mitchell listened to Albert respectfully and what he said about returning to Kym. Albert had already made his decision, he needed Mitch not just for help, but for his approval.
“Mitchell, it’s fool proof, it really is...I don’t know if it will work…but I am willing to give it a go. That is of course if you are too?”
Mitch looked at Albert for half a minute. He didn’t move, lift his head, or anything else. He just sat there waiting as he’d done for most of his life. Waiting for something he truly believed in.
“OK Albert. I’m in…I am happy to do this for you….but I need to do something with the plate first.”