Introduction

 

This is a science fiction novel I know you will all enjoy. Edward Spencer goes through the past until he arrives into the future as the commander of the first human Martian base. He starts his pilgrimage in an empty cemetery and ends up beyond the cold sands of Mars. For hundreds of years he lives many lives and loves many loves as he heads inexorably towards his strange destiny.

 

Chapter 1

 

Dusk gradually settled into starlit darkness. It was very quiet in the somber churchyard. The solitary figure of a man stood alone midst the monuments of the departed. Edward Spencer gazed as if his very soul was transfixed by the headstone of his departed Alice. It was practically invisible by now. Yet he knew the simple words by heart. Here lies Alice Bentley Spencer wife of Edward Spencer and beloved of him and the town of Lincoln. Departed this life August the twelfth 1587 in the eighteenth year of her age.

So much had happened in the one year since her death. The Spanish Armada had been humbled and England saved by the grace of a merciful God. History was being made by Queen Bess and her intrepid navy, even as he blinked away the tears from his eyes.

To think his beloved wife Alice had perished so needlessly in childbed. Both mother and son had left him to the miserable vagaries of an unfeeling and uncertain world. His mind recalled the image of flashing golden hair and the sky blue eyes that once winked at him. Her smile was tinted with the whiteness of gleaming teeth and her kisses were honey and tenderness. Alice was fairy/spirit, earthy woman, child and lady, laughter and wantonness. But now she was food for worms beneath his booted feet.

Their marriage night had been an interchange of riotous lust. In his mind he could still hear her shrieks of passion as he drove himself so deep and so hard into her responding, craving, fleshy sheath . He'd broken his new bride's maiden head with a sharp thrust that left her panting in momentary pain and then she'd let loose a torrent of carnal heat that eventually left him gasping and crying out on her ample breasts. She'd loved him like that for weeks, even months with all her heart. God bless that lovely girl!

Alice was gone now, saving some fading memories of a phantom's love, beauty, desire and goodness.

At first he noticed nothing as his thoughts were far afield in reverie. The surrounding area seemed to be suffused in a soft, fog like light. The wispy presence was so very faint and tentative as if exploring a new and undiscovered place. For a fleeting moment Edward wondered that a foggy night could intrude in such a warm August evening. He thought it was passing strange that he could see the chiseled letters on the stone so easily. Now he was surrounded by the brightness and he started to fear. Was this magic? Had his own time come to meet the terrible justice of God on his eternal throne? A strange silence drowned out the whisper of wind in the nearby trees and the twittering of magpies. It was as if the light was gradually invading his mind his very soul. He was filled with contentment. Somehow he knew this was something natural and welcome. The silence ended suddenly as a voice quiet and assuring communicated with his mind.

"I am monitor. I've been sent to observe your kind from afar. I've come from those distant stars that you wonder at. My observation will be done through your eyes, your mind and your heart. You will live long Edward Spencer, very long indeed. I expect you'll see wonders that men of your time can only dream of. I've anesthetized your fear so you won't be afraid. You're still the town clerk and a proud subject of England. As I learn through your observations I will become one with your thoughts. You may even come close to forgetting that I exist within you. The only times in the future that I will communicate with you is in situations of extreme importance or danger. I am your newfound friend. You'll age about one year per century until my mission is completed and that won't be for a very long time."

His mind asked, "Are you an angel?"

A sound that might have passed for laughter tinkled in his brain. "I'm certainly not an angel but I suppose you could say I'm a heavenly host at least from your perspective. I am a sentient essence sent by the intergalactic council to see how your race develops. Once your men of science discovered gunpowder it was determined that your kind would someday reach the other planets of your solar system and perhaps even the eternal stars. Sometime in the distant future I will be returned to corporeal form but for now, I think you'll do quite nicely."

He asked again, "Why me?"

"You're young, and of an intelligent, honest mind. You can read and write and that will be useful. The most important factor is that you are definitely not famous. In the fullness of time you'll have to change identities as your life span will be too long for others of your race to accept. However I will assist you with that process."

Edward ended the mental conversation, "You are a stranger far from wherever your home is or was. The grief of losing my wife is probably causing me to lose my mind. You, who call yourself monitor probably don't even exist but if I'm still a young man in 1688 then I suppose I'll have to believe in your existence."

He shook his head as the darkness returned and his eyes adjusted to the deep night once again. He felt the new presence as if it were the faintest whisper of air in his mind or the lightest, feathery touch somewhere in his heart of hearts. He was alone and yet he wasn't any more. He whispered to the grave, "Am I going mad Alice my love or have you sent a divine messenger to me by the power and goodness of your prayers? I'll always remember you my beloved, the other half of my soul. My sweet Alice! I'll always love you till we meet again at the throne of grace."

At last, he left the churchyard in the quiet summer evening and returned to his comfortable, well appointed home.

Although he felt the welcome of familiarity when he entered the old wood frame house, it was empty so very empty. He locked the door behind him and went to his bed. Even when he lay down after undressing he could still just sense the essence within. Somehow he was comforted. It was alien but also amiable. He dreamed of Alice and the warmth of her, the love of her mouth, her streaming orifice and the joy of her throbbing passions. He sighed for what was forever gone. Surprisingly, Monitor felt his loss and pain. Her quiet voice would try to protect and comfort him because his emptiness was becoming hers.

 

***

 

It was a week after the New Year 1610. Edward Spencer was examining his image in the looking glass with his intense gray eyes. His beard was still as brown and his flesh as firm as that strange evening back in 1588. He was forty-five years old but he looked like a man in his early twenties. His son now twenty had commented about it and Mary who was practically forty had some gray in her hair and wrinkles about her eyes. She also had good naturedly exclaimed about his youthful appearance. "Why Edward you look the same now as when we first wed. It's passing strange but you look so young. My sister teases me asking me if I'm now your mother." She'd instantly been repentant, as she'd seen the pain in his eyes. Now those same gray eyes were staring into the heartless mirror and Edward knew what he had to do.

He knew Mary would be fine. Son Tom would take care of her and maintain the house. He'd been saving some money for just such an eventuality anyway. The last evening had been glorious, as he and Mary had made love rivaling the first months they'd been together. Her body was an open book to him as he wrote and rewrote is passions, driving his manhood into her welcoming carnal cavity. Her sex cries were loud, exciting and expressive as she gasped, groaned or used profane language with almost every thrust. Her legs were short so she couldn't get them around his back. But she put them on his shoulders so he could lick, kiss or fondle them while he made glorious beast in her eager cunt.

When Mary reached her first climax, she thrilled him with her vulgar expressions. "Oooo Edward! You wily scoundrel! Fuck me you randy rascal! Oooooo yes, yes! Oh Sweet Jesu yes!"

She knew from years of loving that he was far from done. She expected him to drag out her joys while he churned his cock deep inside her in such fiery ways. She whispered nasty things in his ear as he did her and did her and did her. What she did not know and would never know, was that Edward still loved ghostly Alice more than her. Her next climax coincided with his spasm of squirting creamy release. Mary held her lusty husband close until their breathing got back to normal. She could tell he was still hungry for her when he stiffened but a few minutes later. Her sultry whisper both commanded and promised more joys to come. "Again!"

It turned out it was his way of saying fare well to her, although Mary hadn't realized that of course until he was long gone.

He left the letter for her on the kitchen table that morning as he packed two sets of clothes along with the one he was wearing. He took thirty pounds with him, a tidy sum in those illustrious days. He'd drafted his own letter of recommendation. He would go by the new name of Edward Bellamy.

Mary watched him with concern. She asked with growing apprehension, "Why are you packing love?"

Edward looked at his second wife with fondness and yet the cool gray eyes were somehow calculating. "I've business in London Mary. I have some letters patent to deliver on behalf of the town and I probably will have some parliament business to boot. I'm afraid your husband is too important these days. Please take care of yourself and tom while I'm gone. I'll miss you sore. Unfortunately that's the humor of it."

She moved to him and embraced him, "My darling can't I come with you?"

"I'm sorry, no. My sweet love. The roads aren't exactly safe these days and London, well I'm sure you've heard of it's great sights and even greater depravity. My thought will always be of you and of course my first love Alice. You know that don't you?"

Mary Asked with the beginning of tears in her eyes, "When will you return?"

"If God be kind in about three weeks. I've left certain documents with our attorney John Masters just in case anything does happen to me. You know I'd never leave you in distress. Now give me a good kiss Mary and wish me well."

Mary watched him leave. She had a strange, lingering feeling that she would never see him again. She knew that was a stupid, wicked thought. She didn't dare utter it lest it bring bad luck for she was of a superstitious frame of mind. She was always searching for omens and signs to find knowledge of the future. If a crow showed up at her gable she knew it would be a bad day for some reason. If she found a farthing in the street she knew the rest of that month would be excellent and so on. Edward smiled and waved at her and Tom as he mounted his white and black speckled mare. He had a pack mule besides. Tom ran up for a moment and clasped his hand. "Can I go with you the next time sir?"

"Certainly my good lad and that's a promise. Now see to it you don't get Sally in a family way before the bands mind."

Tom blushed at that, "Never fear father, I'll keep her an honest woman. Ye must be back for the wedding. It's bad luck without the father."

Edward smiled just a bit to sadly for Tom's liking, but the young man didn't say anything. "Now don't you worry about that! You're my immortality Tom. It's through you that I'll live through your children and their children. Now be sure to protect your mother while I'm gone and take good care of your lovely Sally also. I should be back in about three weeks. I love you right well Tom. Methinks ye be a better man than I. Now give me your hand."

Edward started his horse forward as Tom replied, "Fare thee well father! Good luck in London and my love go with ye."

Edward did not look back and he never saw the hot tears that fell from his son's eyes.

 

***

 

William Smith was a law partner in the firm of Copperwaite, Weston and Smith, Baker Street London. He was examining the young man in front of him. It was the cool gray eyes that instantly got his attention. Although the man couldn't have been a day over twenty-five he was clearly no novice. "So you say your name is Edward Bellamy and you're from Lincoln. That's a long way to travel don't you know? Especially just to fill a law clerk's job."

Edward sat back in the hard, wood chair with confidence. "I know that sir. I happen to be very ambitious and I'm not afraid of hard work. I can read and write soundly and I've an excellent letter of recommendation from Edward Spencer the town clerk and receiver. I intend to study for the law when time and opportunity permit. London is the place for such a man as myself."

"How old are you Mister Bellamy?"

"I'm nineteen sir soon to be twenty." He carefully lied.

"What you desire could take five or six years of hard work and low pay. Are you prepared for such a situation?"

"I am sir. It is an exceptional opportunity."

William Smith was about forty years of age with graying temples and a thin aspect. His dress was dark and somber as well as well cut and rich. He asked Edward, "What be your bent at religion?"

Edward replied bluntly, "I be church of England sir although I lean more toward the puritan party then the damned papists. I'll take a blunt puritan over a silky catholic any day and anywhere. However it's England I love most of all and it's only her laws that keep her free from tyranny."

Smith nodded, "An apt answer. I'm proud to be of the puritan persuasion myself but a sympathetic man of Church of England is palatable. I believe you'll find mister Copperwaite of your persuasion as well. Be ye an honest man sir?"

"Aye sir and I pray God keep me so."

"Well then Mister Bellamy be ye here at eight of the clock in the morning and we'll discuss your duties. Can ye use numbers as well?"

Edward smiled, "I can multiply and divide with the best of them. I kept the books for Mister Spencer for over one year and I kept them close. I've a strong grasp of Latin as well so I'll only need to be made familiar with legal terms to do them correctly. Will you be so kind as to permit me to read your books when I have time?"

Smith finally smiled a little although it appeared to pain him. "Well, Mister Bellamy, me thinks that can be arranged but let's see how you work out for awhile first shall we?"

Not only did he work out well but within six years he was a junior partner. A few months after that he married the daughter of the senior partner Katherine Smith. The older man finally accepted Edward. Even though the junior partner was Church of England he attended the puritan services regularly and read his bible on the Sabbath with the others. The way Edward explained it, "I prefer the puritan way for its soberness and honesty. But I feel I must be loyal to my country's church as well. So permit me to have a foot in each camp as it were. Let my beliefs be sufficient for you and Katherine."

Edward was a merciless lawyer in the courtroom as he used precedent and extensive briefs to carry every point. He became a master of using the opponent's arguments against him and he of course possessed wisdom beyond his apparent years. He treated every judge with the utmost respect and was even a gracious looser on those rare occasions when he lost a case or had one compromised.

Katherine found him affectionate but somewhat distant and guarded. He wouldn't talk about his childhood nor his early years in Lincoln. His lovemaking was like his legal work, short and to the point. Nevertheless, Katherine wisely kept any misgivings to herself. After all, he was a good provider. He was close to the Puritan faith and honest above reproach. Even her own father respected him and that was no light thing. Yet something inside her was telling her there was something amiss. She always had a vague unease when she was with him either in the kitchen with guests or in the privacy of their bed chamber. It was something in those cool, gray eyes that seemed to see through everything. They seemed to penetrate the thoughts and motives of herself and everyone else they were acquainted with.

Things went a little better for awhile when young William and little Abigail became welcome additions to the family. But once the two children were attending the church sponsored school full time, the old unease came back. Kate had been married to Edward for almost ten years and she would have sworn under oath that she didn't know him any better now then after the first few months of marriage. He never discussed his cases at home; he never talked about the past. He never gossiped about anyone. Occasionally he would comment upon important news events or remark on a birth or death but he kept most of his thoughts to himself.

Unknown to her, Edward was counting the years and checking his face in the looking glass. It was 1626 and he'd been born in 1568. There wasn't one blessed wrinkle in his face! His beard was dark brown and glossy as his hair was. Even to these new people in London he was supposed to be 36. When would they become suspicious? Who was this damned monitor anyway? Why had it or he or she come to plague him? He'd been turned into a vagabond among his own people and in his own country. Even now he'd been saving money in a secret bank account against the day he'd have to leave the excellent life he'd made for himself. If he was extraordinarily lucky he might be able to stay another eighteen years but he doubted it.

Finally in August 1627 he decided to make a quick visit to Lincoln. He went dressed in puritan garb and sported a mustache only as he'd begun to try the art of shaving. He wore his hair quite short and wore a cone shaped hat.

When he reached the town he stopped at a tavern at the outskirts and made sure his face was dirty from the travel. It was the Griffon's head tavern and he hadn't been inside of it since 1609. He noted a new bar tender was behind the counter so he purchased a pint of mead and asked, "Good sir, I happen to be visiting from London. I work for a barrister there and he told me to inquire about a few people he once knew in Lincoln. Could you tell me if you know them?"

The bar keep was a friendly enough chap and he answered, "Certainly if you'd tell me their names. If I know of them I'd be right glad to tell ye."

Edward drank slowly from the fruity brew, appearing to be thoughtful. "Well he claims to have once worked for a gentlemen by the name of Edward Spencer. Could you tell me of him?"

The bartender's face became pensive, "Aye that's a strange one and no mistake. Back in ten he leaves for London on a trip that he claimed was authorized by the town but it never was. Just like that he disappeared into thin bloody air. He went riding off on his horse and pack mule and it was like he'd never been. He was an odd one. My father told me the man was almost fifty and he looked like a youth of twenty still. "

Edward asked, "Did he have any relatives?"

The keeper's face grew sad, "Aye, his poor wife Mary. The poor soul pined away she did. She passed on back in nineteen, poor soul. I had the honor of being one of the bearer's at her funeral. She was as kind as the day is long. She was generous to a fault. There's many a poor sod who wept at her passing."

Edward looked down at the floor for very shame at the news. "It's sad indeed, my friend will be sorry to hear it. Was there anyone else or is that the end of the miserable story."

"Well they had a son by name of Tom. He turned out right proper he did. He's a constable in the town and he keeps the king's justice so he does. He's married to Sally Parker and they've got five children now. Sally kept him from despair she did. That girl is an angel of mercy she is.

Tom went crazy when he became certain his father would never return. Tom delayed the wedding six months he did. He went to London and searched for weeks to find the mysterious Edward Spencer but never a trace. Oh well God works in mysterious ways he does. Maybe old Edward was killed by highwaymen or perished from some malady. I'm sure we'll never know."

Edward thanked the bar keep by giving him a shilling for his trouble. "Thank you Goodman of this house. My friend in London will be gratified to here this news. As I said he knew of the family in his youth."

It was later on that he obtained some paper and a pen and wrote a letter to Tom.

 

To Tom Spencer,

 

I know you will recognize this hand even as you read it. It was with the deepest regret that I had to withdraw from you so many years ago. I know you will not understand this but it was of the utmost necessity that I left you and Mary. It was done not just for my safety but for yours as well. It was and still is grievously painful that I must endure this separation from you. I've recently heard of your happy condition and my prayers are ever with you. I have and will always love you.

E.S."

 

The next morning he had the stable boy deliver the letter to Tom Spencer for two shillings. "Make sure you deliver it to him personally and do not wait for a reply."

He was riding a black horse with dappled white blotches on the two fore legs and hind quarters. It was on this animal that he went to the churchyard and looked down at the headstone of his once beloved Alice. The weeds and grass were growing thick around the forlorn little grave. With trembling fingers, he placed the small bouquet of flowers he'd picked on the way, in front of the stone marker. Edward whispered, "You see my love I've not forgotten you. I must go now before I'm discovered. Say a prayer in heaven for me my once beloved wife."

When Tom got the letter it was as if he'd been hit by a thunderclap. He ran to the tavern and Harry the bar man described the stranger. "Aye he had the most bright gray eyes I've ever seen and he had brown hair and a brown mustache. He was dressed in the puritan fashion but he spoke like a Lincoln man if you know what I mean. He didn't sound like a Londoner."

Tom knew that the stranger had to be his father. But by the time he'd gotten a horse and searched the local areas, Edward was well on his way to London. When tom saw the bouquet of simple flowers at the grave of Alice all doubt was removed. Tom didn't know hwy he'd gone to the churchyard really except in the hope that his father would be there. He knew in his heart it would be the last time tom would ever hear from Edward again. With desperation he galloped down the high road towards London. He knew that the man would be riding a black horse and be wearing the puritan garb. He passed farms and other travelers or workman as the miles went by. Then about an hour before sunset he found the man. Tom yelled, "Hold there, I'm a constable and I order you to hold!"

Edward turned around slowly and saw his son approach. Tom was middle aged now, filled out with muscles and some middle aged flab as well. The brown stallion was lathered and breathing hard as he walked the horse to Edward. The two men stared at each other for along time. Tom asked, "Is it really you father?"

Edward's voice was cool and stern, "You can clearly see that I am far too young to be your father. Take a good look at me and tell me I look like a man who must be approaching seventy. If I'm correct in assuming your own age to be approaching forty?"

"I got your letter and your own hand betrays you. Besides I would always know you from those eyes. Why did you leave us?"

"Surely you see why. There's a reason why I still look twenty. I scarcely believe it myself but the years pass and I don't age. You're an older man than I am now. Your friend would have accused me of witchcraft or worse and they might have condemned you and Mary along with me. Even now I foresee the day when I must change my identity yet again. You must tell your wife and your friends that when you caught up with me I was just a stranger who'd heard of your father from years ago. Tell them that Edward Spencer died of the small pocks in London about 1611. I was placed in a pauper's grave, erased from the memory of men except for you of course. There's an inn up ahead. Perhaps you can rest your horse there and we can talk a little longer. I'm proud to see that you became a credit to the town and your family."

Tom gazed at this strange yet familiar man. Tom shook his head, No father, I must get back or they'll have the county looking for me for sure. I left town today like a crazy man. Do you have any idea why you have such a gift of youth?"

Edward got down from his horse and approached Tom. "It must have happened shortly after the death of Alice because of the age you see me in. If you must go back now let me bid you a proper farewell. I fear this is the last time we dare meet."

Tom dismounted and the two men embraced for a long time. Finally Tom smiled, "It isn't witch craft is it?"

Edward chuckled, "No, I don't think so. I didn't make any pact with the devil or anything like that. Perhaps it's a gift from God but it's a cruel gift. I loved you more than anything else on this earth and I had to leave you. When you are dust in the ground I'll be still wandering this world with yet a new identity. You don't know how I yearn for rest sometimes. I begin to see that long life can be a curse and not the blessing that most think it is. Fare thee well my son and may God guard your steps and place his blessing upon you."

Tom replied, "It was good to see you once again. I still wished you had stayed. We could have moved as a family somewhere else. I would have endured much to keep you at my side."

Edward moved back to his horse, "I know that son. Perhaps I could have stayed another few years but I had to make the break. Please don't come to London to look for me. You'll only cause both of us undo pain. You've made a fine life for yourself so live it to the full and remember me with gladness."

Tom replied and there was bleakness in his voice. "Fare well father. I don't know if you've been cursed by the devil or blessed by the Christ himself but I begin to understand why you left us. How it hurts to still love you after all these years."

Tom watched in consternation as his father gave him a brief wave and then slowly blended into the rapidly darkening surroundings. It was a little after dawn when Tom finally got back to Lincoln exhausted but somehow at peace.

Edward returned to his plain, compliant wife, Katherine in due course and all she noticed was that he was even more reserved than usual. All he said was, "It's client business and I really can't discuss it."

Kate would never know how that bland exterior covered an intense turmoil of grief and guilt that churned deep inside her enigmatic husband.