ZenithRising by Marilyn Campbell Page A

interference, the
guidelines regarding such had to be the strictest of all. The first rule
prohibited any change that would alter fixed historical events affecting a mass
of humanity. The second required valid justification for a revision. Using
humans for entertainment or experimentation was not permitted. The third most
important rule established that a change could only be made by a pair of humans
working together, without excessive assistance from the Abstracts. That was the
rule that had just been bent by Love.
    The fox was serving a sentence of restraint on Crystal
Island due to his unapproved involvement in American politics in the 1970s. It
didn’t matter that his interference turned out to be beneficial. It was against
two of the basic rules. The fox’s desire to be free, even for a short time,
would make a deal with him the quickest solution to Love’s desire to help
Maggie and Noah. Perhaps an official reprimand should be recorded in The Book,
but that would not happen.
    The First always tended to give Love more leeway than the
others.
    * * * * *
    “Bungalow?” Noah asked in an edgy tone. “We have the Diamond
Suite. In the main building. And we also had a private cabana reserved for this
whole night and something…someone—”
    “I assure you I can explain but now you really need to come
with me before one of the other guests notices you in those robes. They have
not yet been added to the guestrooms.” He hurried them back out the door and
over to an open-air, horse-drawn carriage waiting on a wooden boardwalk then
bowed with a flourish.
    Maggie glanced at Noah and asked, “Am I crazy or did I
completely miss seeing this before?”
    As he helped her step up into the backseat, he murmured,
“You’re not crazy. This boardwalk was definitely not here this morning.” His
frown remained in place as he and the bellhop climbed into their respective
places. Reynard lightly flicked the reins and the horse clopped forward.
    It was all so strange but one thing surfaced above the
others. “Reynard, you know I’m not Mrs. Nash.”
    “It will be much easier here if you introduce yourself as
such.”
    Noah leaned forward and tapped Reynard’s shoulder. “What do
you mean, here ?” He didn’t get an answer but the carriage came to a halt
mere seconds later.
    Maggie and Noah shared a bewildered look. They were in front
of a row of bungalows, somewhat similar to the ones they’d seen that morning
but, besides the architecture seeming different, none of them were painted the
same colors as before. The only thing that hadn’t changed was the yellow rocker
on the porch in front of them. They held further questions until Reynard took
them inside then they let them spill in a rush.
    “What’s going on?”
    “Why can’t we go back to our suite?”
    “Exactly where is here?”
    “Why weren’t we advised of any of this in advance?”
    “Why do we need to pretend I’m Mrs. Nash?”
    Reynard smiled and politely waited for them to stop asking
questions. “I only have a few minutes before being discovered so I must give
you the short version. You are still at the Davenport Hotel and Beach Resort.
In fact, you passed by this exact bungalow earlier today. However, when the
full moon reached its zenith the two of you were transported to the year 1927. You
cannot go back to the suite you were in because Mr. and Mrs. Robert Davenport
are in residence there.”
    The bellhop took a quick breath then continued before they
could question such ridiculous statements. “You were unable to bring anything
with you but what you were wearing or holding at the time. Unfortunately that
was not much so I left the robes for you to find. Because someone felt sorry
for you, I was given a rather unusual opportunity in exchange for making
certain arrangements for you, like this bungalow. The closet and drawers have
time-appropriate clothing and you will have no problem signing for meals in the
dining room or through room service. But