44 BCE

His chest felt like a boulder had landed on him, shoving thousands of shards of glass into his body. Groaning, Ricardus tried to sit up but then decided that remaining on his back was probably a better idea.

"Welcome back to the land of the living."

Jacob's voice made his head hurt and he squeezed his eyes shut. "What happened?"

"What's the last thing you remember?"

"I was home...only I couldn't have been home..." He put his hand over his eyes to block out the light that was making his head ache. "I guess the last thing I remember is checking the traps for fish. Jacob, please, what happened?"

"You need to rest for a while. Then I'll tell you what happened."

Feeling the wetness of his shirt, he reached down with his hand to feel the fabric. "Is this...Jacob, why is there blood on my shirt? Tell me what happened!"

"I will, but please just lie still and rest a bit. You didn't hurt anyone."

"But the blood--"

"Is your own." Jacob walked a little ways and came back with a coconut shell filled with cool water. "Here, drink this." He helped Ricardus sit up a little bit so he could drink and then urged him to lie back down again.

"Why don't I remember what happened?"

"Because Samuel took you to the temple and exposed you to the time matrix. When I got the residual energy of it out of you, your memories were wiped."

"Why would Samuel do that?"

"I don't know, but I know why you went along with it."

"Why?"

"He tempted you with seeing your family again, with being able to change things." Jacob smiled softly. "I've known Samuel for a very long time and I know how he operates. What I don't know is what he hoped to accomplish by doing it."

Ricardus spotted the knife on the ground and thought that he remembered it, though he had no clear memories of it. "That's not the knife you use to on the fish."

"No, that is the knife that you had when you tried to kill me."

"What? I would...I...Jacob?"

"It wasn't your fault. The time vortex was influencing you and I would guess that Samuel influenced you as well."

"I'm sorry. I don't even remember seeing him today."

"Humans weren't meant to see the vortex. That's why what happened isn't your fault. Now don't give it another thought; There's a tub of water heating on the fire so you can get yourself cleaned up and changed. I got a clean pair of trousers and a shirt for you. Then we need to discuss things."

"Of course."

"I'm sorry, I tend to sometimes say things wrong. If that sounded harsh I'm sorry." He knelt down and put his hand on Ricardus' shoulder. "I'll explain later but for now you need to rest while the water heats. How are you feeling?"

"Like something heavy landed on me." He began rubbing his hand over where Jacob had stabbed him and his fingers found the tear in his shirt. "Jacob, please, just tell me what happened."

"The knife you had is one specifically made to kill one of my kind. I knew that you wouldn't die from it so I stabbed you in the heart to stop you. The small part of the vortex that was inside you left and your body healed. You're hurting because the vortex sort of short circuited the nerve endings. You're still feeling the pain of the injury even though the injury is completely healed. It should go away soon but until it does just lie still and rest."

"Whatever happened to me, I remember being with my family. My wife and son, they were alive and..." He winced and put his hand back over his eyes. "I could reach out and touch them, talk to them. They were right there." He moved his hand and looked at Jacob. "It wasn't just some weird dream, was it? I actually went back there somehow."

"For now please let it go and don't try to remember."

"The memories are all I have left."

"I know, and I don't know how to explain it but...those memories were created by the vortex, something that you're mind was never meant to see. You'll burn if you don't let them go."

"I don't know how."

"Think about something that happened here. Remember the first time I tried to teach you how to fish, and you fell off the rock trying to reach the trap?"

"You pushed me," Ricardus answered, smiling slightly at the memory. The pain in his head did seem to ease a bit.

"I can't believe you would even suggest such a thing. That was a good day though. We almost caught a fish."

"It wasn't my fault your trap came open."

"Right. Had nothing to do with you getting scared by the poor little fish jumping and making you drop the trap back in the water."

He took a deep breath and finally felt his body relax. "Thank you."

"How are you feeling?"

"Better. At least my head doesn't feel like it's going to split open."

"Maybe you should sleep."

"No, I want to get out of these clothes and clean up first."

Jacob nodded and helped his friend up. "The water should be hot enough. I'll see about finding something to eat."

Before he could leave, Ricardus grabbed his arm and stopped him. "Jacob, thank you."

"You are this way because of me. The least I can do is spare your suffering." He gave a warm smile to reassure the other man. "You'll find soap and towels over there," pointing towards and alcove, "help yourself to whatever you need."

Ricardus just nodded; for some reason he felt like he had said some terribly hurtful things while he was under the influence of the vortex but he had no idea what it was.

***

Getting out of the blood-soaked clothes made him feel better and the hot water soothed his sore body. He just wished he could remember how he got so sore. When he was done washing he dried off and got dressed, grateful to Jacob for giving him clean clothes.

"Feeling better?" Jacob asked, walking up as Ricardus was pulling the shirt over his head.

"Yes, much better. Jacob, whatever I said..."

"Let it go. Please, just...let it go."

"I am sorry for whatever hurt I caused you."

"There's nothing to be sorry for. There were plenty of fish in the traps and I found some ripe starfruit if you feel up to joining me for something to eat."

"Have you ever known me to turn down a meal?"

"No, but I can keep hoping there will be a first time." He ended the tease with a grin and was rewarded by a laugh from his friend.

"You just keep hoping, Jacob. Keep hoping."

They maintained an easy silence as Ricardus cleaned the fish and Jacob started a fire on the beach with a rock in the midst of the fire to act as a cooking surface. "I think I'd like to eat out here, feel the wind and the sun on my face, wouldn't you?" Jacob offered as explanation for this.

It wasn't until after the food was eaten that Jacob brought up the topic that he wanted to discuss. "There will be more people arriving shortly."

"What? More people? How--"

"I brought them here. That's what I wanted to discuss with you."

"You...brought them here?"

"I left the island, Ricardus. I found a ship of people and I made sure their course would bring them here."

"Why would you do this? I thought there was no way to leave the island?"

"The vortex is still too unstable for you but I can use it to leave."

"And you didn't tell me?"

"That was a mistake and I am sorry for it. I thought knowing that I was leaving when you couldn't would seem unfair."

"So, why are you bringing these people to the island? What is it you need from them?"

Jacob sighed, knowing that their friendship had taken another hit. "There is an equation that predicts when mankind will extinguish itself. If that equation can be solved then mankind will survive."

"And you need the people to solve the equation?"

"Yes. The vortex knows the answer to the equation but it won't tell us. It will only tell people who learn to listen to it and believe in it." He noticed that Ricardus was silent, his eyes cast downward. "This bothers you."

"Why am I here, Jacob? There's some equation to be solved and you, you can leave the island and get these people to come here, and the vortex will speak to them so they can solve it and save humanity, but why am I here? What is my purpose? Or do I not have one anymore?"

"Of course you have a purpose, Ricardus. Be patient and it will be revealed."

***

2007, The Island

Richard opened his eyes and saw Jacob sitting a few feet away.

"It's been too long, my friend."

"Jacob, is something wrong?" Richard could see the sadness in the other man's eyes and it was nearly unbearable. After having spent so much time there on the island, watching everything that had happened, it was hard to see his friend looking so hopeless.

"I should have found you a girlfriend so you wouldn't be so alone."

"Jacob..."

"I know how you felt about Eloise. I also know how much it hurt when she was gone. I should have found someone else to at least provide you with some companionship."

"You have always been here when I needed a friend."

"Have I? Sometimes I wonder if I didn't grab you back in Carthage just to spare myself from being alone."

"Please, tell me what is wrong."

"They're coming, Richard."

"Who? Who is coming?"

"Be careful and watch your back, Richard. And don't forget to say hello the next time you're in the area."

"Jacob, who? Who is coming?" The fire died and he was thrown into darkness.

"Richard? Richard, are you alright?"

The feminine voice startled him and he sat up and looked around to find that he was in his tent and the sun was up.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you." It was Carol, one of the older woman among their group.

"You didn't frighten me," he replied though he knew she was teasing. Carol was like a grandmother to most of their people being that she was just a year younger than Eloise Hawking. She also seemed to be one of the few people that believed he had a sense of humor.

"Of course I didn't." She smiled and sat in the chair Richard kept beside the small makeshift desk. "Sorry I woke you up but everyone was getting worried. You never sleep in this late." Then a momentary frown. "Seems like you don't sleep much at all."

"Goes with the job." He gave her a smile and ran a hand through his hair while she stood and moved towards the flap of the tent.

"I'll tell the others that you're just sleeping in."

"Carol, I--"

"You are entitled to spend a day doing nothing. The world won't end, I promise."

With that she left and Richard laid back down. His dream had been much to vivid to be just a dream, and he never slept like that unless... Jacob, I know something's wrong. I just wish you would have told me what it is.

He did finally get up and pull back the flap of his tent slightly. Judging by the sun's position in the sky it was late afternoon so he decided to get dressed and see what he could find to eat.