Chapter 8 – Behind the Times

Getting from the Jamison household to Florida was not going to be a short trip, no matter what. The continental United States, explained Liz to Anna, covered vast expanses of land that exceeded the size of any nation or city Anna recalled from her own life. Sasha had taken over operation of the "horseless carriage," and tuned out her sister nerding out over anything and everything Anna of Arendelle had to ask.

Quite the opposite of being bored with discussions of technology, Anna eagerly lapped it all up, even as she kept shrugging and saying something along the lines of "if you say so."

"I know this is about the fifth topic you've said that to" sighed Liz. "Let's just say we have a phrase—'Sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.' I guess that whole question of what would happen if Napoleon had a jet fighter now has some basis in reality…"

Seeing Anna's intrigued but still confused face, the older Jamison sister found herself having to unpack her analogy.

"I hope you don't think I'm stupid or anything" replied Anna. "It's just, none of this is anything like where Elsa and I come from!"

"Hardly" reassured Liz. "If you tried to describe fire to ancient humans who had yet to discover it, what do you think their reaction would be?"

"Pretty similar. You did what with that tree? Sorcery!"

Hours later, Sasha pulled into a greasy-looking rest stop to change drivers once again.

"Can I try?"

Both gave Anna withering looks so reminiscent of Elsa circa her engagement to Hans she desisted.

"We're almost there!" said Sasha brightly. "First good news of the day. Let's see…"

About to pull up a news video, her phone screen filled with a warning: Data usage limit approaching.

She didn't even have to ask as Liz gave her a sheepish look.

"I know the University network is horrid, but would you quit using your phone as an internet hotspot?"

It just occurred to Anna that her clothes were sweaty. Though Elsa did bring back summer, formalwear tended to place a premium on appearance over comfort. Furthermore, bathing wasn't as common for her as it was here—"You bathe daily?" she'd asked. "What a luxury!"

A small general store had some clothes that fit.

"Y'all have a good day now. Hey, you look like that chick from Frozen!" drawled the shop owner as he sent the trio on their way. Anna began to turn—she was going to give this random man a piece of her mind until Sasha stopped her.

"Let it go. He didn't mean to…"

Anna returned the glare.

"I wish we could've flown" huffed Liz as she took an exit toward Disney World. Sasha, knowing full well what would happen next, explained to Anna that in this world, people often flew through the air in metal tubes with wings. Such a device, an "airplane," would have cut the trip from over a dozen hours to less than half that.

"You have got to show me those!"

[…]

Hans didn't really keep track of how long his group marched along the odd path. It seemed to be made from stone, but was far smoother than anything using that material he knew of which found a use underfoot. It was as though someone created a road from mortar, except, black.

Wailing sounds and more horseless carriages appeared, surrounding his group and blocking their path. Weapons were discharged, but they seemed to have no effect on either the low-riding white-and-red carriages or their operators.

"Du der, stopp!"

A cannon roared, slamming its payload into the side of the nearest of the squat buggies. It made a large dent, but did nothing to impair the men already outside it.

"Hendene opp!"

Another larger carriage blew past the others, turning hard and spraying dirt up. It appeared the black ribbon was used by these self-propelled carts, though they could operate off of it if necessary.

"Slippe våpnene!"

"I don't understand the language you are speaking!" said Hans loudly, and slower than usual speech. "If you recognize my words, bring someone else who can talk to me."

"Engelsk, finne noen som snakker engelsk."

This proved simple, since Norway included English in its standard educational curriculum for decades, if not longer.

"Who are you, and why are you pulling cannons around?"

Though the man had an accent, Hans could make infinitely more sense of this than whatever language these men (they looked like constables) were using previously.

"There is a dangerous person that we are hunting" he began. "But we seem to have ended up in a place other than where we thought we were. Mr…"

He looked down. "S. Vold" adorned the other's chest on a small plaque.

"…Vold, you look like the type who is in the business of protecting his people. I'm sure you'd agree that dangerous people with strange powers should not run loose!"

"I have no idea…"

Before Vold could finish, a fellow officer (who Hans noticed appeared to be a woman) pulled him aside.

"My fellow officer Bjornstad tells me that something is happening in the United States. Something that might substantiate what are otherwise wild claims. We would at least like to remove you from this wilderness, though I must ask that you leave your weapons behind."

Hans figured playing along might earn him an ally, who based on the horseless carriages alone might be far more powerful than Arendelle, the Southern Isles, Weselton, or any of the other local city-states.

Though they grumbled, the men obeyed Hans' command to abandon their artillery, swords, crossbows, and spears. The prince's curiosity ironically matched Anna's when it came to these mobile boxes, though he wasn't nearly as vocal asking questions. He read a word on the back left door—"Sprinter" though he had no clue what it meant.

[...]

It had been said that Norway could not take a bad picture. The residents of a small seaside village within that country, tucked away but not completely cut off from civilization would have agreed. However, that morning, things changed.

A shop on the main thoroughfare appeared to have shifted back in time, what a resident history enthusiast called "a 19th-century sort of look." Though customers freely patronized the shop without incident and the owner's key still worked, products inside reverted along with the exterior. No more outlets, and lights were replaced with candles or oil burners. Every trace of technology from the 20th and 21st centuries disappeared without a trace. Nobody seemed to be able to catch anything in the act, but turn away and the credit-card machine vanished from the counter. Even the cash register ceased to exist, replaced by a money drawer with lock.