Yankton

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 Cowboy Up!

I spent the next few days helping my mother through her grief, and debating what to do about this time machine thing. I read everything that was in the envelope, asked my mother a few non-specific questions dealing with physics and the theory of time travel. Dr. Wainwright had obviously taught my mother quite a bit plus the fact that her major in college was math she was able to convince me that the professor probably did have a working time machine. Through the professor's connections, my mother was able to land a job in administration as an office manager overseeing admissions, a position that paid a little better and with a little more prestige.

Near the end of July, I finally made my mind up to go check out this house I had inherited in Deadwood, bike week in Sturgis was coming up, one of the things my dad left me was his 2000 Harley Road King Classic. It was a beautiful bike, tricked out in red, mom's favorite color, the two of them used to take trips all over Wyoming, mostly to places where dad could fish, but my sister and I were able to get plenty of riding time as well. I was only fifteen when my dad died so I never rode his bike until just before I went into the marines, but there are just some things you never forget.

Once I had decided to go, I loaded the bike into the bike trailer, along with a few "extra's." Along with a bunch of MRE's, packages of freeze-dried food, and medical supplies, I packed my "arsenal." I had decided early on that if I was going back into the Wild West I would be packing modern "heat." I had recently purchased a Springfield M1A which was basically an M14 rifle firing .308 Winchester, or 7.62x51 NATO. The rifle was equipped with a Trijicon 3.5x35 ACOG scope offering pinpoint accuracy out to 800 yards. Next was my dad's Colt .45acp and finally another Afghanistan favorite, the Benelli M4 tactical shotgun chambered for 3 in shells. I bought ought, and double ought buckshot. If old Deadwood was as dangerous as I had read, I was bound and determined to up the ante. I had sixteen confirmed kills and an unknown number of bad guys from other engagements so the thought of killing someone didn't bother me all that much.

Before I left I "stoked up" on HBO's Deadwood, Kevin Costner's "Tombstone" "Dancing with Wolves, John Ford's "My Darling Clementine" and finally, my all time favorite, "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly." Telling my mother I was going to bike week in Sturgis I hit the road. 34 up to Wheatland, US 26 over to Fort Laramie, where I stopped and took pictures, as well as a good look around, the chances were pretty good I would be seeing this place again, but in it's heyday. Then it was US 85 all the way to Deadwood. I found the professors house, but at the end of a street that would put San Francisco to shame, I couldn't even imagine trying to get up it in the winter. The house was actually a log structure, with a metal roof, and a balcony off the side. It had a overhang type entranceway, as well as a wood deck in front. The place had a beautiful fireplace located in a spacious living room decorated naturally in a western motif. The place also had three downstairs bedrooms as well as a sort of loft, which connected to the balcony outside. Topping things off I noticed the cooling unit outside that told me the place had "air." Even though I had the professor's instructions, it still took me a few minutes to locate the secret door leading to the mine tunnel.

The professor must have had the place renovated not that long ago, as the house didn't look like it had been built during the war.

The large metal security door was of modern manufacture and contained a high security lock, for which I had the key As I stepped into the tunnel, I could feel the rush of cool air. Flipping the light switch, I took my first look at a tunnel hacked out more than a hundred and thirty-seven years ago. Proceeding a few feet down the tunnel, I turned to get my first look at the professor's time machine. It was as he said, built into a room carved out of the tunnel wall. The part of the machine I could see appeared to be stainless steel with a single door. Next to the door was a panel, which I knew to be the shutdown and reset controls, the controls were behind a clear panel, which sealed out the moisture from the tunnel. The door was steel and of extra width, or in other words a "handicapped accessible door more than likely to be able to get gear and equipment in and out rather than for anyone's disabilities

Inside the large chamber was what appeared to be a computer screen and keyboard, as well as some instrumentation next to it. The floor appeared to be plastic of some kind. Stepping into the chamber reminded me of entering a walk-in cooler; the walls were about six inches thick, and a bit claustrophobic inside. On a stool, I found the rest of the instructions as well as a couple of CD's the professor told me were the rest of the instructions for the machine's operation. One thing was certain; I would read the instructions thoroughly before screwing around with this thing. Investigating the rest of the tunnel, I discovered another chamber containing one of those fancy composting toilets, a small deep freeze and a small refrigerator. There was also a large chest containing antique clothing as well as what looked to be a Henery rifle, and a Colt Navy revolver, along with reloading supplies and a box of ammunition for the rifle. The refrigerator held several bottles of beer, two six packs of Coca Cola in the old six ounce bottles no doubt from 1944, as well as dosages of morphine, and plasma. "Man! You thought of everything professor," I thought.

Looking through the cupboards of the house, I found a veritable horde of freeze-dried foodstuffs as well as over-the -counter drugs, aspirin, Midol, Tylenol, cough syrup, a ton of first aid supplies and equipment to stock an aid station. In a wall safe, I found an Apple laptop as well as a k****e no doubt downloaded with reference books. I also found close to three hundred dollars in old gold coins in five ten and fifty-dollar denominations, Christ! This guy had his s**t together. I spent the rest of the day putting my stuff away and unloading the bike. That evening I rode into town to party and see what I could find. Being the second day of bike week up in Sturgis, the festivities flowed over every town in the Black Hills. For one week and then some, this whole area was awash in bikers, bikers with money, and every little burg wanted their share, Deadwood was no exception. I parked my bike on the crowded street and by ten had myself a hot little biker chick ready to get laid. We rode up to Sturgis for a drink at the Easyriders saloon, then back to my place for "playtime." Kathy was her name, and she told me she had never been to Devils tower, so the next day we rode Spearfish Canyon, then I-90 out to Sundance for tee-shirts at the local Harley dealer, and a quick beer, then on to the tower. Things were kind of a bummer out there, as there were so many bikes jockeying for a place on two lane roads, and a back-up waiting to park. After taking a few pictures, it was back on the road up to Hulett and the Ponderosa café and bar for burgers and beer, then over one of the most twisty and winding roads, I've ever been on.

Back in Sturgis, it was out to the Buffalo Chip for more partying where we linked up with a friend of hers, who as it turned out had her own bike, a 2008 soft tail and was camping at the Chip. Kelly was her name, and she was truly "wicked." She liked to mix Jonnie Walker Red with weed. And before I knew it we had one crazy threesome going, man-o-man did these chicks know how to party. And so it went for the rest of the week.

I was to discover that both chicks were from Rapid City walking the "wild" side for a week, they were looking for "strange" just as I was but stopped short of hooking up with some of the wilder examples of single bikers parading around the "Hills." Kathy was a nurse, and Kelly was a real estate agent who gave me her business card when I told her I might need to purchase some property here in the "hills." Both seemed to prefer the safety of my company rather than take a chance elsewhere, so I didn't disappoint. Together we rode the "hills" partied, got drunk and screwed like mink. We spent the last Saturday pub crawling in Sturgis and finishing up in Kelly's tent at the Buffalo Chip campground. On Sunday morning before I departed, I said to them, Kelly, I'm serious about buying a piece of property up around Deadwood someplace that's never had any structures on it before even going back to 1876. I can't tell you all the particulars at this time but you could very well get a call from me. Kathy, don't be surprised if you get a call from me as well, and again I can't tell you why, but know that it will be legit, can I count on you two?" I'm sure both thought I was putting them on, but they agreed to my requests, and so we parted with kisses.

Back in Deadwood, I spent the next two days carefully reading and going over the controls of the time machine. I also spent some time at city hall transferring the house into my name, and paying the taxes. When I was sure, I had everything nailed down and secure it was time to take that step beyond. I had visited a couple western stores in the area and purchased a couple pair of black denims a pair of Tony Lama's nothing fancy mind you and even though I was sticking with my old marine TAC boots, a decent pair of cowboy boots couldn't hurt. I went for a Clint Eastwood look even finding a sheepskin vest and hat like he wore. I found a couple pairs of Steampunk Cyber Goggles in a box the professor had obviously intended to wear, so I pocketed them as well. Along with my arsenal, I was bringing my guitar, assorted medical supplies, soap, several MRE's, extra ammo, the k****e and the laptop I had downloaded my pictures on along with my camera. When I finally stepped into that chamber, I was sweating, the professor kept reassuring me everything was safe, but who could really say? I went through the pre-check, double-checking every reading, the computer did all the calculations, set the date (The professor told me to begin with the second week of August, after he had left. "I don't know what would happen were you to pop up in 1876 while I'm there, but let's not tempt fate, start in the second week of August son." And so it began, I initiated the machines controls, as the room grew to almost a white light I felt no movement, only a slight sickness in my gut, "1876, here I come."