Chapter 34

Considering that he had only known the Sam in this world for a few months her death was hitting him hard. It had brought his mind back to the Sam and Grace in his old world. There was a place where his real wife was still alive, but he had no idea how to get to it. He had no idea whether he should try to get to it.

His responsibilities had just become much greater. He had two children who he had to bring up. Dan had a daughter and he was determined that she should not become bitter and frustrated like her mother had been. Grace would grow up knowing that she was clever and valued. He would encourage her to learn and have ambitions. All he had to do now was change the world to make that easier.

Then there was Alex. He was only now believing that his son was really alive. Each morning he looked at him with wonder. He felt the need to hold him close all the time, as if Alex would disappear if he didn't pay attention. Watching him grow and learning about his foibles had been like a miracle.

The boy loved his toy cars and the outdoors. Once he was released from the house, he would do a manic lap of the garden out of sheer joy. His tiny legs would move as fast as he could manage with the likelihood of a fall ever present. If he did take tumble, he was up again and on his way. Determined to complete his circuit.

Every time his son said the word daddy Dan fought to control his emotions. Alex said the words "car" and "Phyllis" more than anything else which was a bit sad for Dan. He would have to work on becoming the most important person in his son's life. The boy would search for Sam sometimes and would ask for his mummy. His enquiries were made out of confusion, but seemed to not upset him unduly. He was too young to understand that she had died.

Grace did miss her mother. Their relationship had been a strange one. Dan had seen his daughter watch her glamorous mother and try to emulate her mannerisms. His daughter had admired her mother and sought her attention, but, sadly, Sam had not given her what she needed. He had rarely seen an embrace or stroke of her hair let alone a kiss. He had to also teach Grace that it was alright to show one's emotions.

Dan could see Grace's turmoil as she went through the grief of losing her mother. He worried about the anger that the little girl displayed. As she pouted in the same way that Sam had done, it broke Dan's heart. She needed to be saved from what she might become in a world where women were second class citizens.

As he woke each morning Dan mourned the loss of his wife. He had lost the Sam he loved in his former life and now the Sam he had been married to here. He wasn't entirely sure if it was comforting to know that the other one was still alive. Mostly he felt utter confusion. Which one was he in mourning for and why?

He set foot in the, District 31, hospital and felt a rush of emotions. His strange life in this world had started there and more recently he had watched his wife die on one of its wards. Dan waited outside of Dr Frobisher's office for what was likely to be a somewhat unusual conversation.

He was ushered in by the man with the splendid moustache after he had received the customary handshake and pat on the back. Dr Frobisher opened a brown paper bag and took out the contents. The wallet and the phone were placed on the desk and both men stared at them for a minute.

"I have your clothes here as well." He said pointing to a package on the floor beside him. "The way that you were dressed and these objects suggest that this was not an ordinary accident. I don't know why, but I kept these things from the police when they asked about your injuries."

Dan thanked the doctor for his discretion. He felt that this was the time and the place to speak about what had happened to him.

"When I woke up here, I couldn't work out where I was. There was nothing familiar. In fact, everything was slightly off. The clothes, the décor in the hospital, the way people spoke, the medicine and the lack of technology. I don't know what happened but this is not my world.

I'm not insane. The world I lived in before the accident, had never had the meteor strike. There is no OWG, all the countries still exist. Things have stood still in this world, but the other one, there is technology that would blow your mind.

Man has built rockets and travelled to the moon. We have computers, similar to your ESD's, which allow us to talk to anyone, anywhere in the world. Medicine, you won't believe what they can do. Transplant a heart into someone who needs it. Cure cancer with radiation. They can take a sample of your DNA and read it. They catch criminals using DNA.

Women, they can do anything they want. Work as a doctor, work as a builder. Britain has had female Prime Ministers. They wear trousers, go out on their own. Go jogging. Oh, jogging is where you go for a run for exercise."

He showed him the mobile phone and explained how one could make a call or take a photo or even make a film using it. Trying to tell the doctor about the internet and all the information available if you just typed in a question left Dan laughing as the other man shook his head in disbelief.

Dr Frobisher listened and marvelled and then sat back and considered what he had heard. He was a man of science and he thought about the things that Dan had said. The stories about the people that he recognised from his world and how they had different roles and characters in this one, were fascinating. Dr Frobisher could dismiss it all as the ravings of a madman, but so much of it made a weird sort of sense. And there on the table in front of him were the objects which must surely have come from another time.

Dan took the phone apart and showed the Doctor what was inside. He pointed out the circuit board and the tiny chip which held information. The battery was there and Dan said that it could be recharged using a device which plugged into the electricity supply. Dan wondered what would be on it if he managed to get it working. Dr Frobisher made him promise to come back and show him if he could get it going by some means.

The wallet was opened and they looked at the modern money with a picture of the Queen on it. Dan explained how credit cards worked and Dr Frobisher lamented that he couldn't use them in this world.

"They wouldn't know where to send the bill." He said laughing. The light hearted moment was followed by a frown.

"Has it been difficult for you since, well, since you arrived?"

"The biggest shock has been that I have a son. In my world, he died at birth. I kept crying every time I looked at him. Sam thought I was mad. Sam looked the same as my one, but she was different in character. Women are treated differently here and that had shaped her. Not in a good way.

I don't know how I got here and no idea how I would get back. I've had to make the best of my lot. I like to think that maybe I'm here to help in some way. My old world, we've made a bit of a mess of it. Pollution, using up all the resources, wars, terrorism. Perhaps I can help this place avoid the same mistakes.

Then again, I know about all the things that are possible. Do I help to develop those things here, or let you all stumble on and find these things yourselves?"

The things Dan did not talk about were his activities with the anti OWG group and his recruitment into the MOD. His life was complicated enough already. He wondered if there would come a day when he would return to his world, or how he had arrived in this one. The doctor said that he did not have the answers to Dan's questions. He would however be there should he need to talk. Dan took great comfort from that.

When Dan left the hospital with his clothes and possessions, he felt better than he had done in weeks. The funeral was behind him and he had been able to talk about the swap from one world to another. Dr Frobisher was a kind and liberal man prepared to listen and then, at least partially, believe the odd story.

He was going to work for the MOD and he must face his new role with a positive attitude. Dan had two children relying on him so he had to keep out of trouble and in the good graces of the government. He wanted to get started as soon as possible. He wanted to know what this world's Ryan was like and whether they would be great friends as they had been in the other world.