Yes, We're Time Travelers

"Sorry for being so abrupt; the Cuban missile crisis has kept us apprehensive. I'm sure you understand," Donna explained as she opened the door. "Certainly, we do," Leon acknowledged. "First of all, I need to bolster your spirits. The missile crisis will end quickly without any disaster. Our President will show his moral fiber to the Soviets. They will back off." Their moods improved. The four of them stepped into the living room and made themselves comfortable. Sonia gave them some donuts and coffee. Again, Mr. Rinkler stood before the coffee table with his back to the fireplace. He wore his black Derby hat, yellow shirt, cowboy boots, light blue and white striped tie, and blue pants. Everyone else resumed the same seating arrangement as the day before. Rex first got the baggage from the van to prove their claims. Mrs. Rinkler said, "Please listen to him; we have all the physical proofs you need. Why do you think we brought these cases? Isn't he believable?" Rex hands Leon the book H.G. Wells, The Time Machine. "Okay, let's see where this leads us," Mr. Windale pondered. "Mr. Windale and staff, by the expressions on your faces, I see you got serious questions, but please wait--" Mr. Rinkler said as if expressing a deep, hushed-up secret. Everyone waited with bated breath as Mr. Rinkler placed the book on the coffee table. He motioned with his left hand and resumed his hushed tone after a short pause. "Get ready for the big announcement. Twenty-three days ago, we left a farmhouse in Cornville, roughly north of Phoenix, Arizona. That part of our journey is not notable," he lowered his voice. "What is notable is that we also traveled through time!" Mr. Rinkler turned his head to his left. Then tossed his hat towards the kitchen with a swing of his right arm and shouted, "Mr. Windale and staff, yes, we're time travelers!" A wild look of amazement came to everyone in the room. Even the cats by the window suddenly gave a wide-eyed look. Mr. Rinkler continued, "Most visitors from the future are either empirical visions or phantoms. We're not! We're a scouting team that left your future on March 18, 2024. We arrived here in 1962 on September 22 in a time machine. The apparatus travels with its container across time and geographic distance--" "Are the four of you the only members of the team?" Mr. Windale inquired. Mr. Rinkler answered, "Yes, that's right; there are no others! We heard sketchy stories about other time travelers and their research. We had no collaboration with them. We believe in doing our own thing and having control over it. We have no desire to share our technology with governments or corporate oligarchs! We are not joiners. Our connection with you is the result of careful deliberation." "Thank you for clarifying that," said Mr. Windale. Mr. Rinkler lectured, "Please let me continue without interruption. Rex and Dr. Henry Spere are both inventors and builders of the machine. Dr. Henry Spere financed the project with money from an unknown heir. We consider ourselves to be sovereign and answer to no one. We were sure glad to do without more crew members. "We improved the H.G. Wells time machine modal by adding the 'Quantum-geometer' to enable it to change its location on the earth's surface and move across time. We would be too limited without that function. "We finished building our time machine on February 20, 2024, three weeks before coming here. During those remaining weeks, we added accessories for our trip. Some of them were part of the machine, some not. We added them for our safety, comfort, and efficiency. "The 'Department of Homeland Security started after the destruction of an international commerce center in New York City during the beginning of the 21st century. That department fought domestic terrorists. The tremendous advancements in the global networks of computers worldwide made its mandates enforceable! We didn't want to stick around to find out if overzealous elements in that department were hot on our trail. Our electronic expenditures could have led to a knock on the door. We were so grateful to finish our time machine before May 31, 2024. "The former Soviet Union ended in 1989. However, its ideological roots became deeply entrenched in our media and universities. The liberal Democrats, secular humanists, and leftist incumbents acted as a shadow regime that corrupted and reorganized the system. John Bircher's charges became vindicated. "You might ask why the people didn't take up arms and revolt earlier. It is a long story related to the Marxist concept of 'political correctness.' It involved some rewriting of history books in public schools. A lengthy process of brainwashing started earlier. The people still had their guns yet did not revolt! Yes, an underground resistance movement began in the earlier 1990s. But the movement faced stalemate through inaction and infighting. Various citizen militias formed that were mostly 'sunshine patriots' with no real guts. Those were some weekend warriors along with hardcore veterans…." Art insisted, "Sorry to interrupt. Please leave future history for later. The first thing we're interested in is your journey here. What happened on your day of escape? Please provide us with details about your improved H.G. Wells machine. Leon, please fill us in!"