1860-June-03 “Lay Of The Land” for Kent (born 1958)

Kent was the last of the four Time Travelers from the 1985 Off-line Moment to appear at the mission destination—or as Merritt had decided to call them the LZ, a term he thought was used in the Vietnam war when helicopters dropped off soldiers, a term meaning “landing zone.” The LZ this time, Kent quickly realized, was a barn. It was night. And seemed to be summer, if the muggy feel in the air meant anything.

“Welcome to the 1800s” Emma said as Kent brushed a mosquito from his neck.

“I don’t much like this era,” Hannah replied. “The memories I have from the me living back then are not…”

“…comfortable.” Merritt finished her thought.

“Right,” Hannah replied.

A realistic digital painting shows the 1985 versions of Emma Knox Gray, Kent Marlon, Hannah Madison Marlon, and Merritt Gray inside a dimly lit barn on the northern outskirts of Memphis, Tennessee, in the year 1860. Emma (left) stands in a tan dress with long sleeves and a fitted bodice, her wavy brown hair cascading to her shoulders. Kent (back center) stands slightly behind the group, wearing a beige shirt and a dark brown vest. In front of him stands Hannah (center), wearing a similar tan top with a vivid blue skirt and short, dark bobbed hair. Merritt (right) stands alert, also dressed in 1860s-style clothing: a beige shirt, dark vest, and dark trousers. The group is bathed in soft moonlight filtering through the open barn doors behind them, where a full moon glows in the night sky. Their expressions are calm but serious, aware of the time period they've translocated into, ready for the unknown mission ahead.

Kent looked out the main barn door first, then out the side door behind where everyone stood. There was a lot of dark out there; the only light came from the moon and stars. The sounds of the still Tennessee night were loud, but he felt compelled to whisper.

“Underground railroad… Stop a wagon.”

“Tomorrow night,” Emma replied. “Tonight we…”

When she failed to say anything more, Merritt took a few steps and looked out the main door. “We need to stay out of trouble and get a lay of the land.”

“We should check to see if what we packed made the Translocation,” Hannah said as she held up the little bag she’d packed.

Hannah had packed medical supplies. Though all of the 1985 Main-line Moment in Virginia (The Arch-line) were trained as EMTs, the Hannah born in 1858 had gone to medical school, and her memories were part of the merged memories all of the Hannah’s shared.

As they were all checking the few things they packed, Merritt looked up and said, “Everyone feeling okay? Anything… odd?”

“Odd how?” Emma asked.

Merritt looked up. “Odd like… Like the part of me that is the Merritt born in 1856 is… is…”

“Everyone sit down… let’s take a minute to settle in…” Kent thought he understood what Merritt was trying to say.

The others all nodded and after a moment they were fairly comfortable. On the floor of the barn. Though there were no lights other than the moon and stars, as their eyes adjusted, they could make out more and more of the shapes beyond the barn.

Kent found it… familiar, and returned to the idea Merritt had started. “The 1800s versions of us… this is normal to them… Emma, especially, growing up outside of the city.”

Merritt nodded. “Those versions of us… are sort of…”

“Present,” Hannah said. “They are doing that ‘focus’ thing Paul Charm told us they’d be doing.”

“Present… Yeah… that’s the…” Merritt laughed a little. “I was going to use 2025-me’s word… ‘vibe’…

“Our eyes are almost fully adjusted to the darkness now,” Emma said pointing. “I can see the farm house… Not a light, one…”

Kent and the others looked where she was pointing; the dark outline of a house was visible at the far side of a pasture. “Maybe they are asleep?”

A realistic digital painting depicts the 1985 versions of Emma Knox Gray, Kent Marlon, Hannah Madison Marlon, and Merritt Gray sitting inside a dimly lit barn on the northern outskirts of Memphis, Tennessee, in the year 1860. Moonlight streams faintly through an open doorway behind them, casting a cool glow across the rustic wooden walls and straw-covered floor. Emma, on the left, wears a long, tan dress with fitted sleeves and buttons down the front. Her wavy brown hair frames her calm, observant expression. Behind her sits Kent, dressed in a beige shirt and dark vest, his posture alert and steady. In front center sits Hannah, her expression serious and composed. She wears a cream blouse and a vivid blue skirt, and her short brown bob is neatly styled. Merritt, seated on the right, wears a beige shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a brown vest. His expression is calm but ready. Each of them has a small satchel or bag resting near them on the straw-covered floor. The atmosphere conveys quiet readiness, as the group takes a moment to rest and prepare in the peaceful darkness before continuing their mysterious mission.


“Maybe they are gone to the city?” Emma said.

“Well…” Kent pointed to the side door. “If anything happens, we can grab our bags and make a run for it. We’ve got the map Paul gave us…”

“Doc Chandler’s ‘old barn’ he said,” Merritt pointed at the house. “Maybe this one’s not used anymore? It’s basically empty…”

A detailed close-up section of an 1860s topographical map titled "Memphis and Vicinity," surveyed by order of Major General W.T. Sherman and drawn by Lieutenants Pitzman and Frick. The center of the image highlights the New Raleigh Road, which runs eastward through wooded and hilly terrain. Above the road is the Wolf River, winding from the west to northeast, with its name labeled prominently near the top left. The map displays small property names and landmarks such as Mill Creek, Rogers, Dunlap, Siebert, and Powell. At the top right, the town of Raleigh is marked in block letters. Further southeast, the Memphis and Ohio Railroad is visible, cutting across the image diagonally. Topographical contour lines show changes in elevation, while shaded areas represent wooded regions. Dotted lines indicate roads, trails, or property boundaries. This portion of the map provides strategic geographic context for Civil War-era movements and historic navigation along the rural northern outskirts of Memphis, Tennessee.

“We should be on the alert, anyway,” Kent said.

“Oh, I agree.” Merritt nodded. “Without a doubt.”

Hannah was nodding, too. “If this has anything to do with the Underground Railroad, like we were told it will, there’s a really good chance someone is not going to be happy with the outcome.”

Kent nodded. The Moment for 2025 had been told to study the Underground Railroad, and their memories were fresh in the minds of the mission team. Kent had said to Hannah earlier that it felt like he had a textbook in his head or that he’d been cramming for an exam for weeks.

The Underground Railroad was a secret network of safe houses, routes, and allies that helped enslaved African Americans escape from bondage in the Southern United States to freedom in the North and Canada during the 19th century. It was not an actual railroad but rather a coordinated, informal system supported by both Black and white abolitionists, free African Americans, religious groups like the Quakers, and other sympathizers.

Those who guided the escapees, often at great personal risk, were known as "conductors." Harriet Tubman, one of the most famous conductors, helped lead dozens of enslaved people to freedom after escaping herself. The people seeking freedom were called "passengers" or "cargo," and safe locations along the way were referred to as "stations" or "depots." Stationmasters were those who offered shelter, food, and assistance along the route.

Routes varied widely, often depending on local geography, available resources, and changing laws, such as the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which increased danger for escapees and those who aided them. While exact numbers are difficult to confirm, it is estimated that tens of thousands of enslaved people gained their freedom through this system before the Civil War helped bring slavery to an end. The Underground Railroad remains a powerful symbol of resistance, courage, and the enduring fight for human dignity and freedom.

Around 1860, the Underground Railroad route through Memphis, Tennessee, was one of the more dangerous and covert paths due to the city's strategic location along the Mississippi River and its status as a growing center for slave trade and cotton commerce. Despite these risks, Memphis became a key crossing point for escapees traveling north or east from deeper in the South.

Enslaved individuals fleeing from Mississippi, Arkansas, or interior parts of Tennessee often passed through the rural outskirts of Memphis—especially at night—using wooded trails, old wagon roads, and waterways to avoid detection. Sympathetic farmers, free Black residents, and secret abolitionist networks occasionally provided hidden shelters in barns, cabins, and church properties.

The Wolf River to the north and the Hatchie River to the east were sometimes used as natural guides, and those traveling north might attempt to cross the Wolf River near areas like the Powell or Siebert properties, as shown on contemporary maps. These crossings avoided toll roads and better-patrolled routes like Randolph Road.

From Memphis, some escapees moved northeast toward abolitionist-friendly communities in Kentucky or Ohio. Others attempted to reach the Mississippi River under cover of night to secure passage north via sympathetic riverboat crews. Travel was slow and perilous, with patrols, slave catchers, and bounty hunters posing constant threats.

While records of specific paths are scarce—due to the necessity of secrecy—the route through Memphis illustrates the extraordinary risks and coordination required to support the Underground Railroad in heavily surveilled and enslaved regions of the American South.

Kent was sure of one thing. He was glad none of the versions of him had ever been a slave in the US south. However, one of the two versions of Devon had been born a slave in 1858 in Vicksburg. The corresponding version of Kent had talked to him at length about the experiences.

“I think we should plan on sleeping in turns,” Emma said. “Two of us can stay on the alert while the other two sleep.”

“Probably best,” Kent replied.

“When the sun comes up, we can get out the maps and have a look around.” Merritt added. “Maybe we can make a guess about what we’re supposed to do?”

“That sounds good.” Kent looked around. “How about me and Hannah keep watch first. We can stay close and be ready to go out either door if needed.”

Emma looked around and nodded. “That sounds fine to me.”

A soft-lit, realistic digital painting shows the 1985 versions of Emma Knox Gray, Merritt Gray, Hannah Madison Marlon, and Kent Marlon resting inside a barn on the northern outskirts of Memphis, Tennessee, in the year 1860. The barn interior is dim, lit only by moonlight pouring in through an open door in the background, revealing a cloudy night sky. In the foreground, Emma and Merritt lie beside each other on a blanket spread over the straw-covered floor. Emma’s head rests gently on Merritt’s shoulder, her eyes closed in peaceful sleep. She wears a long, tan 1860s-style dress with a gathered bodice. Merritt lies on his back, one arm resting comfortably across his midsection, dressed in a beige shirt and brown vest. His expression is calm and reflective, eyes open and alert. Behind them, Hannah sits with her hands in her lap, her face soft with tiredness. She wears a cream blouse and a full blue skirt, and her short brown hair is tucked neatly behind her ears. Beside her, Kent sits upright on watch, his posture strong and vigilant. He is dressed in 1860s-era clothing—a light shirt and brown vest. The atmosphere is quiet and intimate, with the group resting in the safety of the barn, prepared for whatever lies ahead in their mission.

Shortly, Merritt and Emma had spread the blankets Merritt had brought and laid down. Kent and Hannah sat up close by where they could see easily out both doors.


NOTE: The historical passages regarding the Underground Railroad as remembered by Kent were partially generated by ChatGPT.

A vintage black-and-white topographical map titled "Memphis and Vicinity" is displayed, surveyed and drawn by order of Major General W.T. Sherman by Lieutenant Pitzman & Frick, Topographical Engineers. The map shows detailed terrain, roads, and landmarks in and around Memphis, Tennessee, along the eastern bank of the Mississippi River. A legend in the lower left corner indicates markings for main roads, cross roads, and lanes or paths. The city of Memphis is prominently labeled near the center-left, just above the "Deportation Grounds." The Wolf River snakes across the central area of the map, with detailed elevation markings and tree lines denoting wooded regions. To the east of the city, rural properties are marked with names like Powell, Dr. Chandler, and Siebert. The Siebert property is near Cotton Creek and a bridge that appears to be a key crossing point. The terrain features ridges, fields, wooded areas, and paths that were important during the Civil War era. The map includes the location of toll roads and trails leading away from the city into the surrounding countryside.



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