“Uhm .. teacher?  No, I wasn’t actually a teacher.  I did do a little teacher assistant work and substitute teacher work.  Plus as a grad student I mentored other students - which was a little awkward sometimes.  I … graduated high school in my early teens.  So I got an early start on college.”  He frowned and seemed to concentrate.  “But the question as to how I got here is fair enough.  Thing is, it won’t make much sense.  And it will make me sound utterly mad.  But I can promise you this - my answer will be the truth.

“I discovered this island in 1400 AD.  I returned in 1883 or 84?  I forget exactly.  I had a little trouble finding it … again.  I had to be careful to avoid the locals and pirates.  Every now and then pirates would blunder right into my island.  I did my best to misdirect them.  I swear that the rumors that some pirates can only find a place when they are drunk is true.”  He chuckled a little annoyed.  Then I returned here in 1919.”  His eyes glittered with amusement.  He seemed a little annoyed with himself.

Truth was, Duncan hadn’t really wanted to tell Adeline - or anyone for that matter - about what he was.  But the dates he had just given were going to bring up more questions.

“1400 AD.  I had to make sure I got here before anyone discovered the island.  That meant I had to get here before the age of piracy…”

“As to your interests, they are more interesting than you might think.  I saw more of the world by the time I was 11 than most people see their whole lives.  Nice to meet a fellow traveller.”  He gave a wry smile.  “I visited Germany and - very briefly - Rome.  I … flew there and back.  Never actually travelled on a large ship across the ocean until I came here.  Scariest damned trip I ever took.  But I had my reasons for taking the risk.  I also lived in what you will soon know as Turkey or the Republic of Turkey.  They won’t be officially recognized until 1923.  They just declared their independence and are throwing off the shackles of the sultanate.”

He stood up and looked down at her.  He tried not to grin.  “Okay, let’s get you measured for some new clothes.  And … uhm .. yes, I was asking you to get naked.  But you’ll be alone in the room.  Just fold your stuff neatly and stand in the center of the room - with your sunglasses on.”  He leaned down and scooped her up to keep her from having to walk.  “And I will continue my explanation while you are getting scanned.”

Duncan might have been strange, but at least polite.  And he was as good as his word about her being alone in the room.  However, his voice carried through a speaker.  He did a soundcheck, reminded her about the sunglasses - twice - before starting the scan.  It was a strange experience.  It was like taking a shower in light aimed from every direction.  It felt a little like an invasion of privacy and perhaps a little perverse.

“Where was I?  Oh right.  Turkey.  I lived there when they were celebrating their 50 years of independence.  I visited the tomb of Ataturk - well, I don’t think he’s known by that name yet.  He’s still known as Mustafa Kemal Pasha.  Uhm I suppose it isn’t a good idea to talk about the tomb of a man who hasn’t passed away yet.

“I still haven’t quite answered your question yet.  How did I come to be here.  The answer isn’t a matter of where as when.  Have you ever read any books by HG Wells.  The Time Machine?  I travelled to 1881 from the year 2020.  I invented time travel.  It began as sort of an accident.  Again, I have already told you far more than I should.  But you know that Great War?  I call it World War I.  There will be a World War II.  World War II begins in 1939 after the Great Depression of the 1930’s.  After World War II come the Korean War, then the start of the Cold War, then the Vietnam War.  Finally the Cold War ends - without us destroying the world.  But soon after that comes the conflicts in the Middle East - the War on Terror.  Finally … World War III.”

Duncan was silent for a moment.  “Okay, scan is complete.  Go ahead and get dressed and you can join me to select the style of clothing you want.  For outdoor work, though, I suggest jungle boots.  Indoors, maybe some sneakers.” He laughed at the sound of the name of that latter.  “Sneakers are … well, you’ll see.  Easier to sneak around in.

“My turn I guess … oh wait … “ He looked around.  “Hummm .. uh … I need to figure out where you are going to stay.  I never expected guests - never planned for them.  I don’t even have a couch.  Just a bedroom and labs and greenhouses.”