CHAPTER SEVEN

“What do you mean you lost her?” Even if she is one of those that we suspect she might be, you have our finest equipment at your disposal. She had to have used something within their guidelines…start with their known screens!” The Clown Prince demanded.

“I should have known better; I may have to go a little beyond what old Jolly Joke would allow one of us to do in order to figure out what happened.” The Jester mumbled to himself.

The Clown Prince passed back and forth at a hurried pace.

“This was supposed to be the fun part! I worked long and hard to set these people up. We know how they operate… Okay, okay, this is a minor glitch.”

He stopped his pacing and giggled to himself.

“We will still get our laughs, because those book prunes, will be wiping mud off their faces for a long time.” He then let out a long cackle of laughter.

“Let us see now, which farm is next on the list? Oh yes, the Lancaster farm. You know, this maybe just what I was looking for.”

“My friends, it appears that one of those party pooping TimeLine agents has alluded our detection net. However, the next farm on our list involves a stubborn old bird. One that will not only provide us with a few more laughs, but also will flush our main target for gleeful foolishness.” He said with a wide grin.

“Therefore, my friends, I think it is time to raise the stakes!” He added then began to giggle uncontrollably.

The Jesters of time in general, and their leader The Clown Prince of Time, could care less about the Tobacco Association, small farms, or anything else for that matter, they targeted time periods in history that made an impact on the time line. Their interest was first to mess things up in a practical joke kind of way, and of course in the process, make the TimeLine agency look foolish. This point in history was just the first in a long line that The Clown Prince had plotted out in taking their fun to a whole new level.

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“What in tarnation just happened?” Mr. Lancaster moaned as he and Wayne slowly picked themselves up from a nearby haystack. The first thing they saw was not pleasant for them, or for Lilly. She was getting ill and throwing up off the side of the horse and buggy.

“How did you get in here…and what is wrong with her?” Mr. Lancaster asked in his usual gruff tone.

“I have don’t have the time right now to fully explain. Just that the Tobacco Association is behind the attacks on small farms, and they have a group that plans on taking over the farms one way or another.”

“If I had a year, I still could not explain in a way that I think you could understand. What you need to know is that there is a powerful group that will be coming here soon to get your farm. Can you get some of your fellow small farm friends to help us defend your farm?”

“Why would some fancy women reporter from New York want to get involved in a gun fight?” Mr. Lancaster asked.

“There is more to me than just a reporter, but I am on your side, and I have a plan that might avoid this thing coming down to a gun fight. When they show up, tell them that you already sold the farm, and you are waiting on the new owners to come with the cash from California.

“What good will that do?” Mr. Lancaster barked.

“The only thing I am hoping for is enough time for me to put together a few surprises,” Candy said with a wink.

Mr. Lancaster sent Wayne to the neighboring farm owners, including some that sold their farms to ask for their help. They all were surprised at the number of ones that showed up.

Candy was right in the fact that the first group of Jesters to show up was small. 

“You will be sorry Mr. Lancaster, all of you will. When we come back, we will take this farm, and there will be nothing you can do to stop us!”

The Two Jesters turned their horses around and galloped off.

“Now what?” Wayne asked.

“That will buy us the time to finish what we started. We need these others to go on back to their own farms, we can handle it from here.”

By now all groups knew that Candy’s team had encountered the Jesters, what plan she had put together, and what support that was needed from them.

She went over specific instructions for her team, the got with Lilly, Wayne, and Mr. Lancaster, what their roles needed to be,

They had just finished up everything when they could see a huge cloud of dust rising from the dirt road that ran in front of the farm. Candy stepped off to the side and took a quick look through a filtered scope.

“It appears that we have the king and all his court right where we need them,” she mumbled to herself.

Most were on horseback, with a few in a wagon that had something in the back of it that was the size and shape of a wood stove.

“Have that thing ready to go when we signal you to bring it in.” the Clown Prince ordered.

“Why have they stopped?” Lilly asked.

“Putting the final touches on their next move, would be my guess” Candy responded, then glanced down to see a message from the Professor and Agent Turnbuckle that read,

“We have everything ready on our end. All in our time zone have transferred to yours, are you in need of assistance?”

“Not at this moment, but stand by,” was her response.

“If you boys know what is good for you, you will turn around and leave now,” Mr. Lancaster warned as he cocked his gun.

Mr. Lancaster fired a shot several feet in front of the still approaching riders. The horses they were on reared up.

“Easy their old man, keep that up and your new owners will find a fresh grave on their property.”

“Keep moving forward and they will find three by my count.” He replied.

“You are funny old man. I don’t care how many of your neighbors, or how many so-called lady reporters hidden around, you are no match for us, so I suggest you gather your things and be on your way.”

The Jester doing the talking now waved his hat in the air, and all the others started riding forward. Mr. Lancaster hobbled back into the house.

“Well, they are on their way; I hope your plan works.” He said as he, Lilly,

Wayne and Candy all came on to the porch all carrying firearms.

“Now is not this a sight to behold; an old farmer, a young blacksmiths’ daughter, a kid, and a reporter, or should I say TimeLine age?"

“I may be old, and not able to walk well, but there is nothing wrong with my aim. Right now, there can be enough buck shot between your eyes, that you will not be able to see another farm for the rest of your life, that is if you live at all.”

“What about the rest of you? Young Lilly, now what would your Pa say if saw you right now? You their young fellow, do you know what it feels like to be shot. How much pain you suffer? Then we have Ms. Smith, oh I do hope I have blown your cover completely by now. I want to keep your fellow agent game fully employed so they have plenty of fixing to do in this timeline.”

“None of theirs does.” He whispered back.

“Look old man…”

“ONE”

“You do not know what we are capable of, ask your reporter friend…”

“TWO”

“Ready the evaporator,” The Clown Prince ordered.

“Now Mr. Lancaster!” Candy yelled.

“THREE!”

He fired his gun that Candy had modified, and nothing happened.

The Clown Prince rolled with laughter.

“Looks like you forgot to reload old man. Now let me show you what a real weapon does.”

Candy rushed over grabbed Mr. Lancaster’s rifle, made a quick adjustment, and fired it again. This time it fired a pulse that opened a shielded vat. Inside was a mixture of super sticky glue, and at Wayne’s suggestion, fresh horse manure. The weapon did have a limited range and only managed to cover the Clown Prince and four of his Jesters. However, when all the others tried to transfer out, the TimeLine agent teams were ready and diverted their signal to holding tubes back at the Agency.  Once the victims were coated, Candy locked them in a status field.

Candy now signaled her team in the barn to come wrap up the sticky, stinky, loose ends. It was hard to say what made the Clown Prince of Time madder. The fact that his great spree of jokes was coming to an end, that he was out smarted by a rooky Timeline agent and a bunch of dumb simple 19^th century farm folks, or that his sworn enemies were having the last laugh.

Of course, Mr. Lancaster could not resist going as close to the captured group.

“My, my, I am sure glad this shield thingy, blocks the smell that I hope never washes off you!”

After the Jesters had been taken away, Candy sat down on the front porch with the other three.

“So, you travel back in time to fix things that others try to mess up?” Lilly asked.

“Well, it is a little more complicated than that, but I guess that is pretty close. I am going to have to ask that none of you say a word to anyone about what went on today.” Candy stated.

“Don’t worry young lady, I doubt any of my neighbors would believe me even if I was able to explain what happened.” Mr. Lancaster said as he scratched his head.

“Gosh Ms. Jones, all my friends already think I make up all my stories I tell them anyway.” Wayne added.

“I won’t say anything either,” Lilly stated.

Candy pulled Lilly off to one side.

“Now in your case Lilly, I do expect you to tell the true story of what the Tobacco Association tried to pull. Start with your local paper and go from there. History states that there plot to take over all small farms was halted and that a lot of the small farms were able to convert over to a more profitable crop.

“I…I can’t. I mean I know nothing about being a reporter,” Lilly said sadly.

Candy smiled at her and took her hand.

“Lilly, you are a bright young lady, and your Pa is not going to be able to pound iron forever. What you accomplish will not only help him, but it will also benefit the whole community.”

Candy paused and made Lilly look her in the eyes.

“Not all too many years ago, two agents came into my life and showed this little ole cigar roller, that she could be anything she wanted to be. Don’t worry sweety, I will give you all you need to know before I leave,” Candy said with a wink.

“Well, I guess all my adventures are over.” Lilly said softly.

“Oh no, your adventures are just about to begin.” Candy said as she and Lilly walked Lilly back over to the others.

After a few other loose ends were wrapped up, Candy took Lily back to town.

I don’t imagine you could do that magic trick again and get us back to town in a blink of an eye?” Lilly asked hopefully.

“Um no. I am sure I will have more forms to fill out as it is for my first um, magic trick, Candy said shaking her head,

Candy got permission to stick around town a few more days to help Lily get started in her new reporter role, then came back two more times to check on her new understudy. History never recorded which farms were full saved from the attempts of the Tobacco Association to gobble them up, but Lilly and Candy knew all the farms she helps spare.

Candy of course was highly praised and rewarded for her capture of the Clown Prince and the Jesters of time, however she felt the most satisfaction in helping young Lilly start on a career that never would have happened without her help.

Candy also now understood fully what it meant to bend the rules in the field. She spent several weeks making amends for her “error in judgment”. When she had completed all the requirements, she was called into the Directors office. Sitting in the office was Professor Kingsley, along with the Director.

“Before I proceed with the reason, I called you, I want to know if you have any questions or comments dealing with your last assignment?” The Director asked.

“Only one sir, why wasn’t I told that it had been quickly decerned that it was my team that had been Transported into the area of the Jesters operation, and had already begun a systematic way of shielding all their detection equipment?”

The Director looked at the Professor. He let out a sigh.

“Agent Smith, there is no possible way of simulating all possible situations an agent under consideration for a promotion, may run into. It is rare that we come across a situation that would test the agents leadership and decision-making processes, with minimum risks. If the agent passes, we have gained an asset for future leadership assignments.”

“And if they fail, Professor?” Candy asked.

“We still have a good agent, just not one that is leadership material at this time.” The Director answered.

“Agent Smith, in this agency, a grade one agent has to be many things to many people. They must balance between following all agency guidelines, being a constant positive influence on their team, and being to think outside the box.  However, there is one requirement that is above all these.”

The Professor paused.

Candy’s puzzled look, slowly transformed into a smile.

“The trueness of the time line and those whose lives are effected by it.”

“Good answer Agent!” The Professor said with a smile.

“Unofficially, because of the extreme conditions you found yourself in, and the diligence that you spent on filling out all the appropriate forms, dealing with an unauthorized transport, I am not going to dock your pay the amount stated for this violation.” The Director told her.

“Thank you, sir.”

“Believe me young lady, the Professor and I wished we had worked under Directors that were forgiving on such matters.

“Seriously? Well, I knew the Professor had paperwork to fill out when he brought here, but I didn’t know it cost him pay.”

“More than pay…you were my fifth offence.” The Professor mumbled.

“Wow, and you too Director?”

“Four times for me. Let me warn you Agent, word of that gets out and I will have you permanently assigned to detailing agents shoes!”

“Yes sir,” Candy said with a slight smile.

“Anyway, after careful review of your file, and of this case, it is the decision of this director that you should be re-classified as a #1A agent, with all the responsibilities that go along with that classification. Congratulations!

Candy was beside herself with excitement. She however kept herself composed and thanked both the Director and the Professor. It was not until she was in the elevator that she let those emotions out. The Director and the Professor watched her via the security cameras. They were not sure what kind of dance she was doing, but they could not help but laugh.

“Keep a close watch on this one Professor, at her rate of growth and development, she may have our jobs, before we are ready to retire.”

“Honestly, Director I cannot think of anyone better to do just that. Good night Sir."

The End