A genre in literature that seems to be really popular at the moment is “Time Travel Romance.” I think everyone has answered the question, “If you could go back and meet one famous person from the past, who would it be?” I think that is the beauty of not only the idea of time travel, but Historical Fiction in general. The chance to imagine what it would have been like to meet the heroes of the past. We cannot travel back in time, so we use our characters as a means to interact with our heroes and idols vicariously. In my current work in progress, a Historical Fiction titled A Drink of Darkness, I do some of this. I detail some of the history and people of the Yukon Gold Rush, having my fictional characters meet with real people from history.
I had the great fortune to beta read Danielle Ancona’s By Immortal Honor Bound, a Historical Romance last March (now available, see link below). Her novel puts a twist on Angels, Gods, Demi-gods, and Alchemy. Danielle and I met via social media, and both have a strong interest in STEM. I promise that my detailed review will be coming soon.
After reading her novel, I asked if it would be okay if I wrote a short piece inspired not only by her work, but one of my heroes from the past. Here is my take on her male protagonist, Malachi meeting a famous character in history outside of Danielle’s novel.
Lae, New Guinea, July 2, 1937
She beamed one last broad smile at Malachi as Fred extended his hand to help her onto the Electra’s silver wing. She mouthed, “Bye!” and climbed up.
“Goodbye Amelia, may Hermes and Nike bless your journey, and see you safely to Howland Island,” he whispered to himself as he smiled and waved his goodbye in return.
The steady 10 knot wind whipped their flight suits in the morning sun as they climbed in the plane. Everyone moved away as the Lockheed’s engines roared to life. The propellers blurred and hummed in the morning wind.
The plane bounced along the rough tarmac, making a brief circle, then picking up speed for its take off. The heavily fueled plane gleamed in the sun like a silver coin as it lifted from the ground, speeding the two brave souls within eastward on their historic journey.
Malachi stood with the assembled group of workers, reporters, airmen, even local New Guinea tribesmen watching as the Electra became nothing more than a dot on the horizon. Malachi’s own back throbbed, as his angel wings ached to span and soar into the sky after her. To be free on the morning wind, gliding over the deep blue Pacific. His heart swelled with pride, watching these brave humans achieve something that made both the Celestials and the Seraph jealous, the techniques and skills of flight. Something in the past reserved only for the birds and immortals.
Though Amelia wasn’t the soul he had been searching for these last four centuries, it had been a true pleasure meeting and getting to know the bold and charming female aviator. He had many reservations about this plan to fly around the world at the equator, especially after her last crash in Hawaii. But he couldn’t dissuade her.
A peal of familiar laughter on the wind raised his hackles. A shiver ran down his spine. He turned to see Gideon standing behind him, silver eyes scanning the skies as he shook his head.
“When will these foolish mortals learn,” Gideon asked, toying with a length of something in his hands. “Flight is only meant for those who can take the fall.” The rage that had been boiling in Malachi’s guts turned to ice when he recognized what Gideon held in his hands. A length of antennae—from Amelia’s plane? No!
Malachi looked back to the sky, heart pounding. The silver Electra was no longer visible against the broad expanse of blue. Malachi sent out silent prayers not only for Amelia’s sake, but to Thot and to Raphael, letting them know of Gideon’s presence on Lae.
“What have you done?” Malachi demanded.
“Me—nothing. It’s not my fault the tarmac here is so rough. Or that you had to just get involved with and bring your curse upon her mission. And it’s not my fault she is so eager—so desperate to be the first that she left behind the CW Transmitter equipment in Miami to save fuel. It’s her own pride that will be her downfall, like so many zealots. Not. Me.” His smile smug as he twirled the antennae like a baton. “Go ahead, Malachi the Fallen. Do it. Draw your sword. Try to strike me down here in front of all these people,” Gideon challenged.
Malachi seethed, hands itching to either draw his sword or materialize flame against the leader of the Seraph. As it was, they were getting sidewise glances not only from some of the remaining airmen on the tarmac, but several of the local tribesmen. They whispered in low voices in their unique dialects, pointing at the two angels as they squared off in the morning sun.
“You won’t win this, Gideon,” Malachi insisted. “When will you see that all of your Seraph plans to stifle human innovation have failed? I’m not the Fallen, you are.”
“Please. Your arrogant Celestial leaders are green with envy over human flight. When DaVinci dreamed up his flying machine in the Renaissance, even they hoped he was just a one-off.”
“They were obviously wrong, as are you,” Malachi said, hands on his hips.
“Well, good luck scouring the Pacific,” Gideon said, tossing the antennae in the air. Malachi caught it as Gideon turned and melted away into the nearby foliage.
Malachi clutched at the piece of wire, heart aching. Amelia, no. He thought to himself as he scanned the skies once more. Head hanging low, he walked toward the ocean, willing Thoth and Raphael to meet him.
Is it my fault? Is she going to die now because I reached out to her, hoping she was the one? Should I have backed away when I realized she wasn’t?
He crouched down near the water’s edge watching the waves wash back and forth.
“It will be alright, old friend,” a voice said, as a hand touched his shoulder. He looked up to see Raphael standing over him. “This is not your fault.”
“I want to go after her, at least help her,” Malachi said, broad muscled hands motioning eastward.
Raphael closed his eyes. Malachi’s heart sunk.
“Her fate was cast long before you met her,” Another voice answered in his stead, “I know it hurts, but you may not intervene.” Malachi’s head swiveled to see Thoth standing to his other side, but not in his usual form, with his hooked Ibis beak-head. He stood before him, as a human Guinea tribesman shaman. Crimson, blue, black and white paints obscuring his face, dark skin gleaming in the bright sun.
Malachi dug his fingers into the wet sand, biting his tongue. He looked skyward once more.
The elaborate bracelets adoring Thot’s wrists rattled as he pointed his hand in the direction Amelia’s plane had disappeared. “Fear not. You answered Gideon correctly. While Amelia will perish, her spirit will not. Her legend will live on. Men and women alike, will be inspired to innovate and take to the skies.” His voice softened. “Nike will smooth her passing, and escort her personally to Hermes who has already built her a throne so she can sit beside him in the heavens.”
“Can I at least—see—” Malachi began to say.
“No,” Thoth, God of Judgment decreed. “You must trust in this.”
Malachi nodded, biting his lip so hard he could taste blood. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked out over the ocean. He and Raphael stood vigil together on the beach until the rest of the world heard the news they already knew. Amelia Earhart’s plane had lost radio contact, and had never reached Howland Island.
Amelia Earhart’s Planned Route
https://tighar.org/Projects/Earhart/Archives/MapsandPhotos/maps/worldflight.html
I have always admired Amelia Earhart. A true pioneer, and a woman far ahead of her time. More than 80 years after her plane disappeared over the Pacific Ocean on the last leg of her attempt to circle the globe at the equator, it is still one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of the 20th centuries.
Inspiration for this particular scene came from a video of her last take-off from Lae, New Guinea on July 2, 1937. This video shows both Amelia and Fred fit and smiling as the board the plane and take-off. Through analysis of the video, there is some thought that she may have lost her belly antennae mast during the take off over the rough runway. There were reports that a length of antennae was found on the runway sometime after. This would have potentially contributed to her inability to receive clear voice radio messages. She also left behind critical CW transmission equipment, as she and her navigator were not proficient in its use, in an attempt to save fuel. These and other factors contributed to their inability to reach Howland that fatal July.
I first read about the analysis of the video here on the Tighar Project website, but the video was difficult to view/download.
https://tighar.org/Projects/Earhart/ameliavideo.html
It is easier to view on Youtube
Earhart’s Takeoff from Lae, New Guinea
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntkOyDanuRw
References on last flight
https://www.biography.com/news/amelia-earhart-last-flight-disappearance
Official Amelia Earhart website
https://www.ameliaearhart.com/
Slaughter, Fly to the Angels
My favorite Amelia Earhart tribute song from when I was a teen. Hey, had to include this as it fits with both Danielle’s book and my article. Enjoy rocking out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukmobha2krY
Thanks for reading everyone. My own flight of imagination, The Dark Land is available on Amazon.
