Author's note: The inspiration for this story came from a friend named Andy Grow, thanks Andy

"Papa?" asked Andy. "What are you doing every night down in the basement?" "Never mind, Andy" said his mother. "Leave grandpa alone." "That's alright Janie" said her father, "I don't mind." "Now Dad" she said "no wild stories." Well ole grandpa didn't listen to his daughter, he looked around to make sure that no one else could overhear. Then he leaned close to Andy's ear and whispered, "It's a time machine!" "A time machine?" exclaimed Andy "WOW! really?" "Yep" replied grandpa. "Andy" said his mother "eat your dinner, there's Ranger's tonite, and you don't want to be late." "Yes ma'am" replied Andy.

"Andy! Andy!" called commander Jim. Finally getting his attention, he continued his devotion. "Guys, remember Noah? God told him to build an ark and put his family and two of each animal; a male and a female inside and close the door?" Everyone nodded. "What would you tell someone, if you were able to go back to that time and you knew what was about to happen? Don't answer now, I want each of you to go home and think a lot about it, then come back next week and share your thoughts with all of us." He lead a closing prayer and dismissed the group. On his way out Andy was passing the commander, who asked; "Andy, are you alright? You seemed like you were a million miles away?" "Uh, yes sir, I'm ok" said Andy "I was just thinking about something my grandpa said at supper this evening." Now Grandpa was a topic that was discussed all over the church. Everyone knew that he was an eccentric in the way he lived and dressed. "Well, if everything's alright, we'll see you next week" said the commander. "Ok commander" answered Andy, "goodnight."

About midnight, Andy couldn't stand it any longer, he had to get a look at granpa's time machine. He quietly got out of bed and slowly made his way to the basement door. The light was still on when he got there, his grandfather was still working. Just about the time he was about to turn around and go back to bed he saw the light go out and heard the slow heavy footsteps coming up the stairs. Andy hid behind the couch and waited. Although he loved his grandfather deeply, he was afraid for him to be found hiding there.

His grandfather came out of the basement, turned; locked the door and put the key in a cup next to Andy's picture. "Guard it well Andy" said grandpa, looking at the picture. "It's now ready to test, but I'm too tired tonight." Up the stairs to his room went grandpa. Andy waited until he heard the bed creak and finally the steady snoring of the old man.

Andy felt a pang of guilt, as he reached into the cup and retrieved the key. He rationalized it by saying to himself, "I only want to see it" Unlocking the door he started down the steps, being very careful not to step on the third one; it was a creaker. Reaching the bottom of the stairs he turned on the lights. "Wow!" he exclaimed. Before his eyes was a round console type of apparatus on skids. He recognized those skids too. He had helped his grandfather remove them from the old sled in the barn. They slid them through the coal chute into the basement. The rest of the craft was painted a patriotic red, white and blue. Most likely because his grandfather was a veteran of WWII.

Andy climbed into the machine and looked around. Afraid to touch anything, lest he break it. His imagination was running wild with possibilities and ideas. He tried to remember all his history lessons about great times and places throughout history. But the one thing which kept coming to mind was the story that Commander Jim taught about Noah. Hand shaking from excitement, he reached for the "ON" switch, praying that it would not make too much noise. A small vibration, lights lit up and a computer screen lit up. Other than that there were no other audible noises. "Good evening professor" came the voice from the computer. "Please enter data desired" said the voice. "I don't know the data" replied Andy. "Please collate with historical event" came the voice from the speaker. "The great flood with Noah and the ark" responded Andy. "Acceptable, before during or after the event?" was the next question. "Five days before it started raining for forty days" answered Andy. "Acceptable" responded the voice, "please secure safety harness and initiate procedure when ready." Andy quickly slipped into the safety harness and waited. "How to initiate procedure" he thought. Then he noticed a flashing green light on the control panel. He leaned forward and pressed the button below the light. The room became a kaleidescope of colors and sounds, things started spinning slowly at first and then faster and faster until everything was a complete blur. Then there was a blinding flash of light and then darkness and ... quiet, totally quiet.

Andy was afraid to move, the glow of the instruments before him was the only light in an area of total darkness. As his eyes finally adjusted to the darkness all around him, he noticed a shape somewhat circular with white twinkling lights in it off to his left. "Professor?" queried the machine, "Destination achieved I have located this cavern due north of the site where a man called Noah is gathering different species of animals together, I believe there are two of each. Is that satisfactory?" "Yes" said Andy. "What do I do now?" thought Andy, as he unbuckled the safety harness. "Please select your next command" said the computer. On the screen before him were several boxes. They each had the name of an operation highlighted in each one. Selecting the one stating "Standby" the computer responded with a warning that this selection only had a twelve hour duration. Did he want to cancel the operation? Andy pressed the "Cancel" button and typed a question on the keyboard; "How long until the water from the flood rises to the level of this location?" "Elevation is 130ft above sea level, time to submersion is 4 days, 2 hours, 7 minutes." Andy took a wild stab hoping this would work. He typed; "Shutdown, reactivate 4 days, 2 hours, 5 minutes from this moment." "Accepted" responded the computer. A small door opened and a pager type device popped out. This locator will show you the way to return here should you become lost. Also there is a timer already set until reactivation." Andy opened the cover and saw a topographical map of the area showing his present location and a clock counting off the seconds one by one. As Andy started to leave the computer, it issued a warning; "Professor, it is imperative that you return prior to reactivation. This device will return to the future at precisely 00:00:00 on your counter." "Accepted" replied Andy. As he walked to the entrance of the cavern he heard the machine power down.

Andy now stood on a small ledge overlooking a beautiful valley. There was no water in sight, "Man. it's going to take a lot of rain to fill this valley" he said out loud. After a few minutes, Andy found a footpath which led to the valley floor. But instead of heading in the direction of the ark, Andy turned his steps to toward the small town in the distance. It took him about an hour to reach the outskirts. By the time he arrived the sun was just starting its journey over the horizon.

Looking at his clothes, Andy quickly realized that he was really going to stand out, if he didn't do something really quick. He found some clothes drying on a wall that looked like they might fit. Just as he was slipping it on, a voice behind him said, "Thou are stealing my garment boy!" Andy spun around, standing before him was another boy about the same size and age as Andy. "Have you no garment of your own?" asked the boy. Andy was afraid to answer, and he knew that everyone knew what shaking the head meant. So he indicated the answer of no. "Thou shall wait here" replied the boy as he disappeared into the dwelling. He returned in about a minute and handed Andy a simple garment, and a cloth for his head. Then he held out his hand and Andy gave him his stolen, borrowed garment with a meek smile. He watched closely while the other boy put on his garment and then copied his efforts and finally managed to cover himself sufficiently. "From where didst thou come? asked the boy. "Far far away" answered Andy. "Ah, so thou can speak" he replied, "so what is thy name?" he asked. Andy thought and then replied, "Andrew" "Ah", said his new friend "that is a good name. I am Aman" he said pointing to himself. Andy held out his hand and they shook and they both laughed at each other.

"So, Andrew why hast thou come to steal my clothes?" asked Aman "Hast thou not better things to do?" "I came to see Noah" said Andy. "Ha!" exclaimed Aman, "the crazy one! Who says that his God is going to cover the earth with water. Why do you want to see him?" "It's true Aman, trust me, there will be a flood. It will rain for forty days and forty nights and all will be destroyed except those in the ark" replied Andy. Aman could tell that Andy was in earnest and was truly worried about the flood. He told him to wait there and he would be right back. A few minutes later he came out carrying a jug of water and a loaf of bread. "Come we will talk some more."

Aman took Andy to a hill overlooking the site where Noah was busy doing God's work. Animals were lined up left and right, a lion roared and a lamb bleated standing side by side. A mighty eagle soared with a dove. Both boys were amazed at what was going on in the valley below. Andy just smiled, because he already knew what was happening. Aman just stood there with his mouth open, amazed. Andy sat against a tree in the shade and simply waited. Finally after watching two huge elephants trudge aboard the ark followed by two tiny field mice, he turned and begged Andy to tell him more.

Andy talked all day, telling his new friend of all he'd been taught in Sunday School and in the many Bible lessons by his Ranger commander. Right now he wished he'd paid more attention than he did. When the sun reached its peak they drank some water and ate some of the bread and a few olives from a pouch that Aman carried. Later when the stars came out the boys saw that the animals were still entering the ark, as they had been doing all day long. Aman asked many questions and Andy did his best to answer them. They lay their heads on the soft grass to sleep and still Andy talked and talked. Finally exhaustion overcame both young men and they fell into a dream filled slumber. As the cock crowed, both boys were wide awake. They finished the water and the rest of the bread from the day before. Aman asked, if they could go down to the ark? Andy had hoped he would because he wanted to get a closer look also.

As they walked next to the massive vessel, it stood almost 75 feet high, about 50 feet wide. Andy noticed that it was longer than a football field. The physical size did not really impress either of the boys, but the fact that animals were still entering as they had the day before amazed them both. Andy was afraid that he would be recognized as a stranger, so the two joined a group who was watching and listening to a man in work clothes and a long beard. Many jeering comments were made by those in the crowd, but none by either youth.

Afterwards, they walked back to Aman's house, again they talked. When are the doors going to close?" asked Aman. "Tomorrow, when the sun reaches the 10th hour of the day" replied Andy. After taking food and drink, the two boys walked to the shore of a vast sea. "You said the sea will rise up and cover everything? asked Aman. "Not exactly" said Andy, "God said he would make it rain for forty days and forty nights and the waters would gush forth and every living thing on the face of the earth shall perish." Andy checked his timer, which he hidden from sight and realized that he only had 24 hours left. The next morning when he awoke he heard the braying of a donkey, and a lot of other noise. "What's going on?" he asked. But there was no one around to answer him. He went outside and what a sight befell his eyes. Aman had gotten the family donkey and strapped four large olive baskets on its back. Two on either side. These baskets were loaded with all sorts of things. Food, water, tools, clothes and all of Aman's personal belongings. "What are you doing?" asked Andy. "Quick! hurry! we've only got two hours before the doors close, we have to hurry!" said Aman. "You can't take all this stuff Aman" said Andy. "Why not?" asked Aman. "For one thing, there's no room" said Andy. "Yes there is! responded Aman, "let's go!"

As the two trudged over the next ten miles to the site of the ark, Aman kept stopping to pick up things that kept falling off or out of the baskets. Andy kept urging him to hurry. He did not want his friend to perish, even though he knew in the back of his mind that no matter what, the outcome would still be the same. But by golly, he was going to try anyway. Finally after what seemed an eternity, they saw the ark in the distance. No more animals were to be seen. All the windows were already closed. Noah stood at the door and still pleaded with the people to change their minds. No one made a move towards the vessel. Andy and Aman finally reached the edge of the crowd, when all of the sudden the earth trembled and the ramp to the ark fell. Noah stood back, tears fell from his eyes for his neighbors as the giant door slammed shut. The cries from Andy and Aman of "Wait!, Wait!" went unheard. Andy knew what was coming next. The crowd jeered and catcalled Noah. Calling him a fool and his God. Andy quietly and quickly started back to the cave. Tears streamed down his cheeks. He knew his friend was lost. Maybe if he had not put so much stock in his personal things he could have gotten there sooner. A flash of lightning and a crack of thunder made Andy stop in his tracks. All the sudden a single drop of rain spattered in the dust at his feet. He turned as more drops fell all around. He looked back at the crowd and their composure had now changed from joyous to one of panic. They pounded on the sides of the ark, begging Noah to open the door. And knew he could not, because God himself had sealed it and no man could open it. As Andy watched, Aman caught his attention and Andy waved goodbye. Aman bowed his head and fell to his knees. He now believed what Andy had been telling him, but like the others it was now too late.

The rain was now falling steadily and Andy was drenched. The climb to the cave was slippery and very difficult. He slipped and fell many times. A couple of times he was actually afraid that he wouldn't make it either. Finally he made it to the entrance to the cave. He entered and finally got out of the rain. The time machine was still there, all was quiet because it still was not time for the auto startup. Andy changed back into his old clothes and sat on a stone near the entrance of the cave and watched. He saw people trying to run away from the rain. He knew they could not Sleep finally overcame him, the last thing on his mind was the image of Aman kneeling down and praying. A single tear fell.

As morning broke, the skies had opened up. The rain was so intense that Andy could hardly see across the valley. Above the noise of the rain, Andy could still hear the wailing cries of those wo did not make it into the ark. Andy was sure that Aman was not one of them. As Andy watch from the protection of the cave, the afternoon wore on,but there was no easing of the falling rain. About dusk Andy could have sworn that he saw the ark float by just below the level of the cave opening. The water was now lapping at the cave entrance, so Andy retreated to the time machine. He checked the timer, and he still had an hour to go Andy sat down and prayed. Prayed that his friend had found grace in God's eyes and prayed that the computer's clock wasn't wrong!

The beeping sound startled him, looking at the time the last ten seconds were counting down. Looking up he saw that the water was now coming into the cave, it was already about six inches deep. "Professor? are you ready to depart?" asked the computer. "Yes!" exclaimed Andy "and quickly!" "Acknowledged!" responded the machine. As the lights flashed and the dials went round and round, Andy heard a rumble and the cave started to shake. As Andy stood up to look a tremendous shock wave hit the machine. It was so intense that Andy was flung back against the seat and hit his head. The lights went out.

"Andy! Andy! wake up son." Andy's grandfather was shaking his shoulder. Andy opened his eyes, "Papa! oh papa, I was there papa, I saw my friend his name was Aman, he died, I tried to save him, really I did." "Whoa son whoa! hold on now, where were you? What are you carrying on about? Slow down, take a breath, now tell me all about it."

Two hours later Andy was exhausted, he had told his grandfather everything. From watching him hide the key to the water coming in the cave. Andy's grandfather listened carefully, not saying a word until Andy finished. "That's some tale son, you must be tired, what say we get some sleep, you know it's almost dawn and you've got school. "Ok papa, I guess I am pretty tired. As Andy climbed the stairs, his grandfather watched until he closed the door. Turning back to the machine he muttered to himself. "It wasn't supposed to work, it was only for fun" This he was saying as he bent down and picked up an olive pit. Not giving it much thought, he dropped the pit into his pocket. He reached over and shut the machine off. Upstairs in the kitchen he started some fresh coffee and read the paper. When Andy'sapologized mom came down, she kissed her father on the cheek and said, "Dad, you're up awful early this morning. Is everything alright?" "Yep" he replied and continued, "I heard a noise early this morning and found Andy in the basement with my machine." "I'm sorry dad" she apologized, "he knows he's not allowed down there, I'll speak to him when he gets up." "Nope, never mind, it's alright, but you might tell him not to leave his food all over the place." he said as he flipped the olive pit towards his daughter. Where'd this come from?" asked Andy's mom.

"From Aman, my friend" responded Andy. "Where does Aman live son? asked his mother. "He died along with everyone else, we tried to make it on time but he kept stopping to pick up things that fell of the donkey." "Donkey? what donkey?" asked his mother. "The one we took to the ark, with all his stuff on it." "Oh, I see" said his mother nodding her head. "And I suppose this olive pit is one from the olives you two ate on your so-called adventure with, ah what's his name? Aman?" "That's right!" Andy replied and here's some more olives he gave me for later." he said as he pulled out about a half dozen huge olives, larger than any his mother had ever seen. "Can I take these to the store?" asked his mother. "If you like them so much maybe I'll buy some more." Sure" said Andy, and as he turned he said "but you won't find any!"

Where will Andy go next? Who will he meet?