It was a quarter to midnight and the River Thames was quiet after the day's activities. Soft orange light together with the sound of loud bawdy humour poured out of the taverns that were dotted alongside the riverbank.

Out on the water, three dark-dressed figures sat in a rowing boat as it slinked silently between the coal barges, making its way to the Tower of London.

James Carter had slipped the small craft off its moorings at St Katherines Dock earlier in the evening. He assured Harriet that it would be back before its owner could report it missing.

The dark outline of the iconic fortress loomed into view and along the side of the embankment, James eventually saw the black mouth that was the entrance to 'Traitors Gate.'

All three of them pulled their black hoods over their heads as James rowed through the archway. He berthed the small craft and while he secured the boat, Agatha helped Harriet carry the tripod and the box camera time machine up the slimy stone steps.

Time was pressing, so Harriet hastily erected the tripod placing the box camera on top then she pointed it away from the river towards the huge clearing that was Tower Green.

Harriet fussed around the camera checking that nothing had become dislodged during their river voyage. She then gave a final glance at her watch, four minutes to midnight. Removing the lens cap, there was nothing to do now but wait.

"I hope you get to go back in time to be with your mother?" said Agatha.

"I have been thinking about that, my self-pity at losing my mother is not going to further the cause for woman's rights. So, I'm going to become a writer like you!"

"Crime, how is that going to promote women's rights?"

Harriet made a noise something between a snort and a laugh.

"No! I want to write science that includes some fiction, while making an underlining political statement at the same time. Men and women are like different planets constantly fighting with each other. I'm going to write a story that is about the woman planet conquering a male planet, a sort of 'War of Two Worlds'. I was thinking of calling it, 'The Battle between Two Planets.' What do you think?"

Agatha screwed up her face, "I think the title needs working on, but I'm sure you'll get there."

As the two of them laughed, a beam of purple light shone out from the box camera. Harriet looked at her watch, it was 11.59pm. The anti-matter inside the camera had become a dense mass, increasing its weight by thirty pounds. This sudden increase in weight began to take its toll on the tripod as it started to buckle.

"Quick Agatha, are you ready!"

"Yes," she said, throwing off her black cloak. She stood there dressed in her original clothes watching the purple light rip open a space in time. Soon, a black hole appeared over Tower Green.

The light show had now attracted the attention of the Yeoman who were going about their nightly rounds. Seeing Harriet and Agatha silhouetted against the purple light, one of them shouted, "Halt in the name of the Queen!"

Suddenly, a tiny white light sparkled in the centre of the black hole, Harriet pointed and Agatha could see it getting larger. Soon the black hole was gone leaving a dazzling white light.

Just like the last time, the 1926-time vortex recognised Agatha as part of its fabric. The vortex was pulling at her and Agatha could feel herself starting to levitate, "This is it," she shouted over the accompanying storm. "I'll come and visit you when I get back!"

She went further this time to the light and the vortex had not rejecting her. Harriet jumped for joy, at seeing the light envelope this lady from her future.

Harriet watched as the white light continued to engulf Agatha Christie. Then as quickly as it came the white light began to fade. With the vortex now gone the camera just shut down.

Harriet had no time to be upset about seeing her friend disappearing back to her own time. She could hear several footsteps running towards her and voices shouting 'Halt'.

James helped Harriet dismantle the camera and without much care, threw it into the boat.

By the time the Yeoman had arrived at the spot, the incoming tide of the river had already washed away the two sets of slimy footprints.

For Agatha the white light only lasted moments. The brightest began to fade and soon she could make out that she was standing in the middle of a freshly ploughed field. Quickly, Agatha looked behind her to catch the last glimpses of the time vortex as it melted away into the background.

Pausing for a moment, she wondered if it had been a success. Was she back in her own time or had it dropped her somewhere else, in Tudor times for example?

Just as that thought entered her head, a Ford Model T came chugging along the road. Agatha then took a deep breath of fresh winter air, she was back. She trudged her way out of the field and headed off to her right, where she eventually saw a sign informing her, she was in Harrogate.

The receptionist of the Old Swan Hotel, was surprised to see a single woman standing in his hotel without luggage. He was also a bit upset to see that the woman had brought the countryside in with her, leaving muddy footprints all over his polished floor.

"Can I help you madam?" he asked.

Agatha went over to the receptionist, she had been thinking what to say to the first person she'd meet. But Agatha was tired of making up stories so she simply said, "I've had an accident and I cannot remember who I am could somebody help?"

The receptionist looked at Agatha, close-up there was something familiar about her. He then looked at the missing person poster under the counter. Concerned, he didn't want to scare her away he said. "Please take a seat over by the fire madam and I'll fetch someone to help you."

With Agatha seated by the fire, the receptionist made a phone call. "Hello, police. I think I have found your missing person."



Author note:
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© Alice White