The other night, from cares exempt, I slept and what do you think I dreamt?

I was sitting with the blueprint of the time – machine on the table in the parlour of Mr. H G Wells.

Mr H G Wells came up to said “Lad, do you known what you are doing” and me He said in a gentle and soft tone, almost that of a father’s to his son. I nodded my head. He said, “You and I are going to test this time machine” He pointed towards the blue print. “If anything goes wrong we will not be able to come back” “I known that, sir”, I replied. “Very well then, you have gone through its working and is time for us to leave”.

We got all the things, which we thought we could need, a compass, a torch, a rope, a map and a few other articles. We got into the machine and put on the safety belts. “Shut your eyes tightly and don’t speak a word” said Mr Wells. I obeyed him and the very next moment I felt myself moving at high seed. After about some time I felt the speed decreased and gradually we came to a stop. Mr. Wells said, “You may open our eyes but open them slowly or lese the light will dazzle you”. I opened my eyes slowly and I was surprised to see a sea ahead of me and the sun shining brightly overhead.

“Where are we Mr. Wells?” I asked in a baffled tone. “That was exactly what I was thinking. But most probably we are somewhere in the past! “In the past” I echoed after him because it was unbelievable that we had traveled in time without even a scratch on our body.

Mr Wells slowly removed the key from its ignition, gave it to me and said, “Keep it safely with you because if you lose it, we will be like survivors of a shipwreck stranded on an island”. I kept it in the jacket pocket and zipped up the opening. We got out of the time machine, eager to explore the place, as we were started off.

We came across many strange plants and animals. At last after a tiring hour, we came upon something, which looked like a cave’s opening. We switched on our torches and went inside. After what seemed like endless twists and turns, we came upon a small stream, which had an old weather – beaten ship in its shallow waters.

“I think”, Mr Wells said “We are on an island. If I am not wrong, this is the Victorian period”. I gulped and repeated after him. “Victorian period?” “Yes” he said “the period during which piracy was at its height and this island might have been a pirate island”. “Are you sure of it, Mr Wells?” I asked “Just a probability, just” he answered.

We waded to the ship in the knee-deep waters and climbed up to the deck in a rope ladder. We inspected all the rooms of the deck and found old swords, pistols, canons and also a few forms of human skeleton. Mr. Wells went out of the last. Soon when I was having a close look at its contents, I turned back; Mr Wells was not there.

Panic – stricken, I ran all round the ship shouting his name. At last, he responded to my shouts. He was in the gallery. “I stepped on a loose board and fell in. Three is something amazing in here. Lower the row and see for yourself.” I tied a secure know of the rope around my waist. I tied the rope to a doorknob and lowered myself gently into the gallery.

“Am I dreaming Mr. Wells?”

 “No”, replied Mr. Wells.

“Would you mind finding me” I requested him.

He did so and let out a small shriek. What I saw was a gallery stuffed with different treasures, gold, rubies, necklaces, silver, pearls, diamonds and articles of gold and what more, there was no one to chain it.

We, of course couldn’t carry the whole treasure. So we decided to take just a little of it and hand it over to the museum. We filled our bags and started towards the cave’s opening.

As we neared the cave’s mouth, we heard muffled sounds and when we reached the mouth of the cave, we saw a band of pirates. They were as surprised as we were. One of them screamed something in guttural English and they all charged towards us.

As we neared the cave’s mouth we heard muffled sounds and when we reached the mouth of the cave, we saw a band of pirates. They were as surprised as we were. One of them screamed something in guttural English and they all charged towards us.

We tried to run but were caught up after a little struggle. They all decided to shoot us down. I started screaming ‘Please don’t shoot me please. I am innocent. I promise”

At that time, I felt someone pressing my shoulder. I opened my eyes and found myself in my bed. I gave a hug to my rescuer, my mother and said, “Mother you don’t know how glad I am that you woke me up.” She did not understand what I meant but for me that dream was exciting though horrifying. I got out of my bed and said good – bye to Mr. Wells.

Never again I hope that I dream of pirates and time machines!

Author – Siddharth Dinesh Mehta, X B