“And again and again,” said Burton. “Through every possible reality. So how do we force them back to their own time preemptively, before they can summon Yog-Sothoth?”
“They must be in close proximity to the device when it is activated,” said El-Yezdi. “Within mere inches.”
“They are not going to go willingly,” said the Captain. “We could hold them down.”
“The device will be secreted away and heavily guarded,” said Burton. “And they now have an army of acolytes who protect them.”
“You’ll never get close enough,” said Ruffian Dick, tapping the fingers of his mechanical arm once more on the table.
Burton looked across the table at his double, his mouth widening into a smile. “Maybe we don’t have to. My friends have the plans for this device. They are very clever. I’m sure they can build another one. A better one.”
“By midnight your time?” said Captain Burton. “Ha!”
Burton arched an eyebrow. “We have to try. Besides, I know a way we might be able to get more time. But I must get back and tell my friends. There is much to do, and we are short on time.”
He looked at the assembly of doppelgangers before saying, “Um, how do I get back?”
“I will help you,” said El-Yezdi, his eyes once more burrowing into Burton’s soul. “You have no doubt noticed the Wold-Newton fragments embedded in my forehead. They help me focus my mental powers. Through them I am able to traverse the different facets of reality, as the Great Race of your facet seek to do.”
“Why haven’t they succeeded?” asked Burton.
“Because they are minds without bodies. It takes both body and mind together, working in concert. They can shift reality only slightly, as well as increase their own ability to tell the future. To pierce the veil between realities, they need Yog-Sothoth.”
Burton nodded. “They have used both talents to great effect. But how else can you help?”
“We can offer guidance, aspects of our being, but we cannot enter your facet. We are nothing but dream stuff. Only Yog-Sothoth could bring us through the Gate to your reality. And then there would be too many iterations of the Wold-Newton stones in a single facet. The resulting psychic resonance would kill the Awakened, as you call them, including your friend Swinburne. They would still exist, but their minds would be trapped in the past, in alien bodies, for the rest of the Great Race’s natural lifespan.”
“I understand. At least I think I understand. I thank you for your assistance. I am ready to return.”
“Very well,” said El-Yezdi. “Clear your mind. Begin the meditation that brought you here.”
Burton closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Soon he felt himself drifting away.
14. The Council of Burtons
“Bismillah!”
Burton opened his eyes and sat bolt upright, knocking the crystals resting on his chest and forehead to the floor. Lady Helena ceased her ministrations and looked down at him, concerned. “Well, Captain Burton?”
“It worked.” He glanced at Herbert and Challenger. “Bloody hell, it worked.”
He then explained, as quickly and clearly as possible, all that he had seen and heard.
“Blimey!” thundered Challenger. “A whole council of Burtons, eh? Those Awakened won’t know what hit them.”
“We need to move quickly,” said Burton. “We don’t have much time.” He glanced in Herbert’s direction. “Or do we?”
The Time Traveler grinned. “There is always time. What we do with that time is the real issue.”
“Bloody hell, Burton?” said Challenger. “What do you have in mind?”
“You still have the plans for that queer device?” Burton asked Herbert.
The Time Traveler patted his coat pocket.
“And your Time Machine is functional?”
“Of course,” said Herbert, sounding offended. “Ready for another jaunt through Time, Professor?”
The big zoologist sighed. “Do I have a choice?”
“We just need a safe place in which to do our work undetected,” said Herbert. “We must avoid meeting anyone who knows us, especially our past selves, if we are to avoid any chance of creating another paradox.”
“I know just the place,” said Burton.
They hired a couple of burly deliverymen with a carriage and a pair of sturdy horses to transport Herbert’s brand-new Time Machine from his home in Kew Gardens to an old building at Covent Garden that belonged to Isabel’s father’s family. The place had been abandoned for years, and Mr. Arundell had given Burton the key for safekeeping. Burton knew that no one had been in the building at least during the last six months. Herbert and Challenger packed enough food and supplies for a week’s worth of almost nonstop work, along with one of his shoggoth-guns just in case and, dragging the Time Machine into the building, they closed the heavy wooden doors and went back to a point one month in the past. After seeing them off, Burton went to find Inspector Abberline.
“Burton!” said Abberline, waving to him from a cordon of police standing outside the theosophic hall. “Where have you been? I’ve been looking all over for you!”
“And I you,” said the explorer. The two men shook hands. “What’s going on?”
“We’re getting ready to move on these Awakened,” said Abberline. “Mr. Holmes is done with their meddling. His man in Yorkshire said that Nash, Whiteside, and Greensmith dug up a large black stone from a field and brought it straight back here. Whatever they are doing in there, it stops tonight. We’re preparing to turn off the gas and take a battering ram to those doors.”
“You are right about that. It ends tonight. But not like this. Frederick, innocent people will be killed, including the men whose bodies the Awakened are inhabiting.”
“I am sorry, Captain. My orders stand. Mr. Holmes believes keeping the city intact is more important than a few lives.”
Burton glowered at Abberline for a long moment, then took a deep, relaxing breath. “I have a plan in place to stop them.” He looked around self-consciously at the uniformed policemen standing around watching their exchange. “Can we speak in private?”
Abberline nodded and stepped away from the cordon. They moved a few feet away. “What are you planning? And perhaps more importantly, what are they up to in there?”
Burton explained things as best he could. “By Jove! I only wish that was the craziest thing I’ve ever heard, but we both know that isn’t so.”
“Burton nodded. “Their ritual will be completed by midnight, when this Yog-Sothoth will emerge into our world.”
“And then they’ll destroy everything.”
“I believe that’s their plan.”
“And Herbert and Professor Challenger are building a device that can send them packing?”
Burton nodded.
“Without bloodshed.”
“That is the idea, yes. If you send your policemen in there, innocent people are going to die, and I don’t think Mycroft Holmes wants to explain to the papers exactly why that had to happen.”
Abberline nodded. “All right. I agree with you. This whole business leaves a bad taste in my mouth. If we can stop this without violence, I’m all for it.”
“Good man,” said Burton, patting Abberline on the shoulder. “Now we just need to stall this ritual of theirs for as long as we can.”
“And how do you intend to do that?”
Burton regarded the building. “I’m sure something will come to me. Let’s go.”