Yankton

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 Corpsman Up!

After I sat down in Dora's tiny office, she said, "Montana has been telling me some rather unique things about you." I grinned and shrugged, "All of them good I hope." Dora let that one pass, and continued to speak, "She says you have…Shall we say certain uh, medications and such that I might be interested in?" I looked at both of them for a moment, then opened up the leather case, and set each bottle and container out on Dora's desk. "Consider these free samples Dora," I said. "This stuff isn't like all this patent medicine crap I see, none of it is narcotic, it's all tried and true, all of it works, and its real medicine. First up is Bayer aspirin, two tablets every two hours, and no more. It aids in breaking a fever, stops a headache, alleviates a certain amount of pain. Here we have what's called Ibuprofen, another great pain reliever and a fever reducer. With this stuff, only one to two tablets every two hours, and certainly no more than two, very important. Here's the "ladies home companion" Midol. It takes care of menstrual symptoms, headaches, bloating, cramps, that sort of thing, I'm not a woman so I've never used it, but I understand it works. Two tubes of Neosporin, rub this into scratches, and cuts, it relives the pain, and is also an antibiotic, which means it fights infection. And last but least, condoms! From all that I've read, you've got some pretty primitive forms of birth control here in 1876, naturally these won't guarantee that you won't get pregnant, but they're a hundred times better than a sheep's intestine."

Dora sat there for a moment looking at Montana, then at me. "Why are you giving me these things?" I shrugged, "Montana says you're a good woman, and from the things I've read about you, you're good to your "girls." Consider these samples; try them, if they're a hundred times better than this stuff containing half alcohol, and half opium or cocaine you're out nothing. If these things work for you and your girls, I'll charge you for the next delivery, but I won't over-price you, being a "working girl" in 1876 is tough, these things will make life for your girls just a little bit easier." Dora then proceeded to examine various boxes that the medicine came in. "I'm no fool Mr. Yankton, these things didn't come from this country, and I doubt anywhere else in this world." I smiled, "Actually ma'am, they were made in this country just not in 1876, or even this century for that matter. Look, ma'am, consider me a friend, if you need anything, I'm your man." She gave me a curious look, and then said, "Where are you from?" I smiled, and replied, "Born and raised in Laramie Wyoming, but I think the better question would be, when am I from, which I think we'll just leave at that…"

Dora then looked at Montana as if seeking answers, but all she did was say, "I will vouch for him Dora, he's everything he says he is, beyond that, I can say no more." "Very well Mr. Yankton, I'll take your medicine, we'll try them, and please, don't be a stranger here." "One more thing ma'am," I added. "I noticed you had a piano in the other room, I play a pretty mean piano, as we, as sing, and play the guitar, ask Montana." She looked at Montana, who merely nodded, then said, 'Well, Mr. Yankton if you don't mind playing in a w***e house, your more than welcome." As I shook her hand, I replied, "Ma'am, I' don't judge, you and your girls are human beings to me, I enjoy helping those in need, maybe it's a weakness, I don't know, but like I said, call me if you need anything." I shook her hand, and noticed that Montana wasn't following, she noticed me and replied, "I'll be along later Brian." In the parlor, Melonie was chatting with a couple of the women, so it looked as though she had warmed a little to her surroundings, "Time to go Melonie," I announced.

As we walked back home, I remarked, "I see you were talking to the ladies, anything interesting?" This brought on an irritated reaction from Melonie, who said, "Mr. Yankton, why do you automatically assume I look down on those women?" "Well because I read…" "Oh fiddle! Perhaps you read too much, and just perhaps what you're reading is just plain wrong. I'm not saying women in my social class don't look down on women like that, but we're realists as well, "But for the grace of God, go I." "If you hadn't stepped in, I would have been forced into a life like that, Montana and I have talked at length over her path in life, often times many women are faced with the same choices in life as Montana was, a husband runs off, someone in authority takes advantage of an innocent young girl, or in Montana's case, a husband is killed or dies, selling their bodies is the only option available to them, it's not uncommon for a young woman who dances too close to the fire and ends up with a child to be cast out by her father, but as harsh as it sounds, it's just something you live with."

"Well miss Bishop," I replied, "In my time there is absolutely no social stigma concerning that sort of thing anymore, things have shifted entirely the other way, birth control pills, abortion, social acceptance, have all wreaked havoc on our society, but there it is, and like you say, it's just something we live with." Back at home, I checked to make sure the time machine was re-charging all right, then fixed supper for the two of us. After we ate, I sat down and played my guitar for an hour or so, delighting Melonie, as I played a couple of Jim Croce songs as well as others from my time. Before going to bed, I said to Melonie, I'm going back to 2013 tomorrow, if you'd like to come with me I'd enjoy the company, nothing will "get" you if you'd rather stay here, fine. Just make sure you keep the door locked at all times, whatever you decide, just let me know in the morning."

I kept tossing and turning, thinking about what it was I had hoped to accomplish here in 1876, what I was going to "do" with Melonie, if Mark would consent to join me, a million things rolling through my head. I must have eventually drifted off to sleep, as I woke around eight in the morning, practically mid-day by the work standards of the day. I smelled coffee and bacon cooking. After throwing on my jeans, and a shirt, I went to see what Melonie was up to. "It's about time you got up Brian," stated Melonie, "Sorry," I replied, "Didn't sleep too well last night." I sat down to breakfast, then looked at her, "So what's it to be?" She didn't look at me directly, but replied, "You said this was to be an adventure, so I guess I'll come with you, if you can travel here, then I may as well return the favor." "Good girl," I replied, "You won't regret it." After we washed the dishes, and secured all the valuable items in the tunnel. I checked the "wayback" machine, and made sure everything was good to go, according to the professors instructions. Then we stepped inside, Melonie very nervous this time, I initiated the controls, then after the brightness of the chamber dropped to a normal glow, and things settled down, we stepped out.

Melonie could tell things were different, there were electric lights hanging down the tunnel, which she stared at, and the security door was now much different. When I unlocked it and we entered the house proper, she gasped in amazement. Melonie became very quiet, as she cautiously examined everything, I could tell her brain was at "overload" capacity by her reaction to everything new, she was like a cat checking out new surroundings. When it looked as though she was relaxing a bit, I said, "Time for the grand tour, watch and learn."

I started with the simple first, "This is an electric light, push this switch and it turns on, push it again, it turns off."

We worked around the room as I pointed out the various modern devices. It wasn't until we reached the kitchen that I really put the "zap" on her head. "Opening the refrigerator, I pointed out its features, and what it was used for. Melonie simply couldn't believe something like this could even exist. When she stuck her hand in the freezer section, I could tell she was really "spooked." "This stuff isn't magic, or witchcraft Melonie, these are all devices invented a long time ago, but the things you see here are the result of almost one hundred years of refinement." The gas stove wasn't as impressive, since she could comprehend something like gas, which they had back in her day, being used to cook food. The microwave was another invention simply beyond her level of thought. The bathroom amazed her, but again the concept of running water, a device that heated water, and a flush toilet she could grasp. Never the less, she had a hard time dealing with the "shock and awe" of modern life. Once she had calmed down, I brought her into the living room and sat her down.

"There are two more inventions I haven't shown you, but I think it only wise to give you a short history, as well as a scientific lesson, before I demonstrate them to you." So I began talking about people like Edison, Tesla, Marconi, and Philo Farnsworth. I then tried my best to explain radio waves and electronic signals traveling through the air. She seemed to catch on a little, or perhaps she was just being polite, but before I turned the radio on, I warned her, "Just be aware that there's nobody inside this thing, the music and voices are being transmitted over the airwaves, from a transmitter, miles away, this device simply picks up those signals, and turns them back into recognizable sounds." With that, I turned on the radio, causing her to jump. Another lengthy explanation ending with, "You don't have to understand it Melonie, most people today don't either, but they just know that it works."

Television was another challenge, with me going clear back to photographs, the evolution of moving pictures, Edison, and a whole complicated litany of inventors and technology confusing her even more. "Again I'm telling you Melonie, there are no little people inside this device, it works the same as radio however the signals travel through a wire cable much as electricity travels through a telegraph wire, into this machine, which merely translates the signal back into a picture."

Again, she jumped and gasped, when I turned the TV on. I then spent the next two hours explaining, re-explaining, not only the technical details of how television works, but discussions of the clothing people on TV were wearing, the concept of television and movie drama's and comedies. It took awhile, but Melonie slowly came to realize that what she was seeing was nothing more than skilled actors engaged in "plays," the same, as she would see upon a stage. I explained to her the reality of cameras photographing the actors performing on stage sets or out in the open. She also got quite an exposure to modern life and dress, something that totally scandalized her. In the end, I was thoroughly wrung out, and beat. All through this lengthy explanation, I remained calm and very understanding, answering any and all questions, of which there were a million. I ordered out for a pizza, something else that amazed Melonie, the fact that I could speak into a telephone, which I reminded Melonie that Alexander Bell was rolling out in 1876, and have hot food delivered to my home.

She ended up liking it, as well a the Mountain Dew I offered her, going into detail about how alcohol consumption was down, and that people had more choices of things to drink. After we ate, I then caked Mark Sedgwick who lived in Beaver Dam Wisconsin. "Whatcha up to guy?" "Hey Brian, How the hell are you?"

We chatted back and forth, catching up on what we'd been up to, "I was working as an EMT for a local ambulance service," said Mark. "Got laid off 'cause of f*****g cutbacks, so I think I'm going to go back to school, and try for my nursing degree, kinda like to get into something like a physician's assistant program, dad was bugging me to go to med school, but it cost too much, I really don't want to spend the next eight years in med school, and all the crap that goes with it. Then you've got this Obamacare thing coming along, the government will be telling you how much you can make, Hell! Dad's even talking about retiring in another year because of it. Sooo, to make a long story short, I ain't doing "nuttin!"

"Well, I've got a little deal going here in Deadwood, I could use a hand at, it's all legal and all, but I thought of you, I've got a young lady here that wants to be a medic, you'd be just the right person to teach her a few things, this on top of a couple other things but I don't want to discuss them over the phone. If your interested, get your butt out here, if you don't like the deal, I'll cover your travel expenses, no harm done, whattaya say?" Mark thought about it for a moment, then replied, "Oh what the f**k! I don't have anything better going on; I'll be out there in a day or two." "Well if you're coming, bring all your s**t man, and I mean your arsenal as well, or as Custer said, Hurry! Bring packs."