Saving Our Progenitors

Saving Our Progenitors: A Time Travel Adventure

By Stephan Preston Schartz

Copyright © 2024 by Stephan Preston Schartz. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, except for brief quotations in reviews, without the written permission of the publisher.

ISBN: 978-0-9991919-2-7

Library of Congress Control Number: 2024904043

Published by Author’s Voice 1315 East Euclid, McPherson, KS 67460 www.authorsvoicepublishing.com

Editing, cover design, interior design, and production by Jan Gilbert Hurst

Printed and bound in the United States of America by Mennonite Press, Inc., Newton, Kansas, 67114

Dedication

The author dedicates this book to his childhood friend, Regan Gayle Wheeler (1996–2010).

“She was the kind of friend everyone wishes they had.”

Acknowledgments

Most writers can point to a time when they realized that writing first stirred their souls and stimulated their imagination. For me that was in high school English classes. So, I would like to thank the talented educators who opened the world of literature and facilitated my exploration in reading and writing.

My interest in time travel stems from reading science fiction. I was inspired to write this book by reading Stephen King’s book 11/22/63 about a man who wants to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy by traveling back in time. My thanks to the prolific author Stephen King.

I thank my mother, Tammy Schartz, for her encouragement and help to make this published book possible.

Prologue

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you could travel back in time? Would you save someone who is innocent from the awful moments in their life and change them? What would happen next?

I’m Dr. Avabelle Miller, a spiritual Catholic, physics professor, and engineer. I am a 20-year-old African-American woman who has an eidetic memory, allowing me to graduate from college as class valedictorian at the age of 16. After earning my master’s and doctorate in theoretical physics, I began teaching at the University of Kansas. I grew up in a small Kansas town, the only child of professionals who traveled a lot. My grandparents tried to take up the slack.

Close friendships escaped me because of my extreme intelligence.

I was always several grades ahead of children my age. I didn’t fit in with them nor with classmates who were five years older than I. So, I was the lonely little girl who became the lonely teen, who became the lonely college student.

Instead of getting involved in social activities, I immersed myself in books and movies. I have always been interested in science and science fiction, particularly time travel.

Some big questions have recently occurred to me: What if Eve and Adam never disobeyed God or ate the forbidden fruit? What if, instead, they ate the fruit of eternal life? Could time travel could answer these questions? Could our progenitors be saved from their sin?

Chapter 1

Avabelle Miller rubbed her damp palms together and flicked a stray black curl out of her face as she stood at the podium, finishing her valedictorian’s address. “So, my fellow graduates, I encourage you to embrace the uncertainty and challenges that lie ahead with open arms. Remember, we have been prepared by one of the finest institutions in the country. As we bid farewell to the University of Kansas, let us continue to dream big, to innovate, and to pursue our passions with unwavering determination. I am confident that the class of 2026 will make extraordinary contributions to the world. Let’s get to it! Thank you, and congratulations!”

Her classmates—more than 5,000 of them—clapped vigorously and cheered. Avabelle took her seat amidst the roar, wishing her parents could have heard her speech. Once again, they were absent because of a business trip to Europe. At least Grandma and Grandpa had come to support her. She gave them a tiny wave. They stood clapping, looking as proud as if she had brought about world peace.

After supper that evening, Avabelle decided, instead of attending a graduation party, to stay home, write in her journal, and read.

- Stephan Preston Schartz

She wrote:

“June 2026. I’m now a 16-year-old graduate of the University of Kansas! Whew! Glad that’s done. Instead of going to the graduation party I was invited to, I’d rather stay in my room tonight, reading. Grandma served a special dinner and made my favorite dessert: profiteroles with chocolate sauce. That’s enough celebration for me. Besides, this isn’t really a milestone. I intend to continue my education with a master’s degree. Too bad Mom and Dad missed my speech. I wish I had a sister or brother to tell about it.”

She put down her pen and chewed a fingernail. The imaginary siblings she had concocted as a young child had long ago stopped helping to fill the void. She sighed.

What would be good to read tonight? she wondered as she went to her tall bookcase. She organized her books alphabetically by author. They were mostly science fiction by classic authors like Asimov, Bradbury, Clarke, Heinlein, Herbert, McCaffrey, Sagan, and Wells. She ran a finger over the titles. Ah, there’s H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine. I haven’t read that for a while. She kicked off her shoes, propped up the pillows on her bed, and settled in. Before long, she was immersed in the story.

A month later, one of Ava’s journal entries for July 2026 read: “Fire! I’ve been accepted into a master’s program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology—MIT! Theoretical Science and Engineering, here I come! ”

August 2026 — “This week Grandpa and Grandma are taking me to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. This is probably one of the last summers they can do that. I’m really looking forward to moving to Cambridge, Massachusetts, and starting graduate classes. It will be fun living off campus in an apartment with two other girls, like sisters! ”

Avabelle brushed the light snow off her shoulders as she walked from campus back to the apartment. The books she carried seemed to get heavier with every step she took. She thought about writing in her journal:

December 2026 — “My apartment mates aren’t as friendly as I’d hoped they would be. I expected by now we’d be doing things together and having talk fests late into the night. Maybe I should do something nice for them, like cooking a special meal — and doing the cleanup! ”

Her next journal entries read:

Palm Sunday, March 2027 — “Mass was different this morning because it’s Palm Sunday. I arrived late, just in time to see the last child parade in waving palm branches. The priest wore a bright red stole. In the recitation of Jesus’ Passion, the priest, other leaders, and the congregation took different roles. Representing the crowd at Jesus’ trial, we had

Stephan Preston Schartz

to shout, ‘Crucify Him!’’ That felt strange, even wrong, but I guess it’s my sin shouting, not my love.”

June 2027 — “I’ll receive my master’s degree from MIT tomorrow and I’m only 17! I start doctoral classes this fall. I love the chance to focus on more advanced, theoretical science.”

May 2028 — “Starting work on my doctoral thesis, “Clock Synchrony, Magnetic Fields, and the Theory of Relativity.”

I hope I can finish it in time for graduation a year from now. Lots of research to do. At Aikido class today, I finished the requirements for the first kyu of brown belt rank. The ceremony to receive belts is next week. I really enjoy the physics of Aikido, applying the concepts of balance and leverage.”

February 2, 2029 — “Today’s my birthday! I’m 19. Mom and Dad were actually here at MIT today and took me to my choice of restaurants to celebrate. I have applied to several universities for a teaching job in the physics department next fall, including the University of Kansas.”