TIME WILL TELL — Barbara Burgess

It is 1759 and the British have just won the Battle on the Plains of Abraham. Isabelle remembers the caves on Cacouna Island where she hid out as a child with her family. She takes her granddaughter and great-granddaughter with her to the caves. A few Acadian families are hiding on the island, too, in order to avoid capture by the British. Pierre, an Acadian, and Claire, Isabelle's great granddaughter, strike up a friendship that has unexpected consequences. Pierre and Claire become friends and discover the magic portal in one of the caves on the island. They travel to the future-to the year 1898 and meet the poet Émile Nelligan. After they spend the day with Émile, they return to the cave and time travel to 1918. A vagabond in the cave presents Pierre with a history book about the Acadiens who helped found the village of Cacouna. Will Pierre, by reading the history book, find out what happened to his parents and brothers and sisters, from whom he was separated? Only time will tell ... Barbara Burgess, a McGill University graduate, is a member of the Quebec Writers Federation.