CHAPTER 1: IT'S NOT WHERE YOU WANT TO GO, IT'S WHEN
"Are you tired of the same old holiday?"
On a hotel beach, hundreds of tourists sweat in the sun. Among them is a young couple. The man tries to squeeze sunscreen out of a bottle, but he can't open the cap. The woman reads a worn old paperback. She puts it to one side and yawns.
Two boys run past playing football. One tries to dribble past the other and falls over, kicking sand all over the man. The man gets up, but before he starts shouting at the boys he spots something off in the distance.
Way down the beach, anchored off the shore, is a Spanish galleon. The waves rock the hull and the sails flutter in the wind. The man shakes his wife and points for her to look.
"Why not try something different?"
Departing the galleon, clad in armor and cloaked in red, is a group of conquistadors. As the others unload supplies and equipment, one particularly dashing conquistador sees the couple. He smiles and waves to them to come join him.
The couple hesitates for a moment and look at each other. The woman smiles. The man grins back, takes her by the hand and they run down the beach to join the dashing conquistador.
"Why not try Quantum Holidays? The world's first and only time travel tourism service."
The couple arrives at the galleon where they are met by the conquistador and his comrades. They invite the couple to join them on their journey from the beach into the jungle.
"Explore exotic lands."
They make their way through the trees. The conquistadors hack through the thick jungle with their swords while the couple pushes the remaining branches out of the way. They stumble upon a waterfall gushing down into a clear plunge pool. They stop to swim and play in the water.
"See breathtaking wonders."
Out of the water and back in their clothes, they find a way out of the jungle. Before them lies the golden steps of a temple rising up into the sky. The couple looks up in awe.
"Meet fascinating people."
The Aztecs emerge from the temple to meet the couple and the conquistadors. Their bodies are covered in nothing but amulets and their faces are hidden by masks.
They stand opposite one another. The Aztecs raise their spears. The conquistadors reach for their muskets. The couple grip each other's hands.
The leader of the Aztecs steps forward and removes his scary mask to reveal a big, smiling face. He opens his arms wide and hugs the couple.
"Experience unique ways of life."
Night has fallen and everyone has gathered around a bonfire. The leader of the Aztecs raises a bowl, blesses it, and passes it around the circle. From the Aztecs to the conquistadors to the couple, they all take a drink from the bowl. Afterwards, the Aztecs play the drum as the couple dance with the others.
"And have the holiday of a lifetime."
As the sun rises over the jungle, the couple sits on top of the temple. The woman lies in the man's arms and turns to him. She kisses him lightly on the lips.
"Quantum Holidays. It's not where you want to go, it's when."
