ELMO’S INVENTION XI
THE FUTURE OF ELMO’S TIME MACHINE
Kingsley walked home with tomorrow’s paper. He was deep in thought and anxious to organize them. As soon as he got home he retrieved a pad and pencil, opened the paper, and while reading took copious notes. His expression grew grave as he worked and highlighted the articles and sections he thought were important. Once this was accomplished he prepared for bed knowing he would get little sleep. The next morning he awoke from the restless night he anticipated. After a meager breakfast he placed a call to Elmo.
Elmo answered to phone and Kingsley could hear the anticipation in his voice. This did not do much for Kingsley’s spirits. “Elmo, this is Kingsley. I thought we might get together and have a discussion about your machine. Would six tonight be okay?”
“Sure,” Elmo responded. “I can’t wait to talk to you about it. It’s all I can think about.”
Mildred was listening and instantly knew the subject of the conversation. She tried to hide her growing apprehension thinking about the last time her husband’s invention was made public.
Kingsley arrived at precisely 6:00PM to Mildred waiting with a steaming mug of coffee. She said, “Elmo is so excited to talk to you.” She looked at Kingsley’s expression and could detect and uneasiness. She said no more and Kingsley walked down the stairs to the cellar.
“Kingsley, my friend, I’m so glad you came. I can’t wait to talk to you about the prospects of patenting my machine.”
Kingsley was known for his directness, and Elmo expected that now, but to say he was less than enthusiastic with what he heard would be a stretch.
Holding the paper obtained during his time travel, Kingsley referred to his pad of notes although he knew exactly what he needed to say. “Elmo, I’ve highlighted some sections and articles in this paper. Areas where your time machine would have an impact.”
Elmo and noticed that the entire sports section was marked. He looked up at his friend.
“Your machine could spell the end of sports betting both legal and illegal. The horse racing industry would collapse. If just one person knew the future and outcome of any sporting event and sold that information, well you can see what would happen.”
As Elmo continued to study the paper Kingsley went on. “Keep in mind that one person selling information scenario. What would happen if the future of the stock market was known? I have no idea how it would effect the economy, but I don’t think it would be for the best.
“Then there are political races. Knowledge of the winner would be devastating. It would result in a self fulfilling prophecy. Why vote if the winner is known?
“These are just a few of the instances where your machine could determine the present by knowing the future.
“Then there is the bigger picture. In science fiction, whenever someone travels into the past they make sure not to change a single thing. Step on a beetle and you could come back to a different world. But you see, even when you are traveling into the future you are trespassing on someone’s past.
“I’ve been thinking about H.G. Wells book The Time Machine. Of course it was fiction, but the future looked dismal for mankind. When the time traveler traveled into the distant future the planet was inhabited by giant crabs. I know this is only fiction but do we really want to know what the future holds?
“Elmo, I’m just afraid from the public may not be as immediate as it was when your machine was a prison, but eventually the response could be more devastating and disruptive to you and Mildred.”
Kingsley’s opinions carried a great deal of work with Elmo. He sat in silence and then said, “All that work for nothing. I’m a failure.”
“No you’re not. It’s just that your efforts produced knowledge that our society is unable to handle. I know it isn’t much, but I’m proud of what you accomplished. Perhaps there will come a time when your time machine will serve a useful purpose, but I’m afraid that time is not now.
“The final choice is yours, Elmo. I can only give you my advice and opinion.”
Kingsley then stood up, put his had on Elmo’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze, and walked upstairs. He saw Mildred in the kitchen. “I think Elmo needs to be alone for a while, but he also needs you.” Kingsley left and Mildred knew the discussion did not go well.
She waited and then walked down the cellar stairs. Elmo was wheeling his time machine to the corner of the cellar where his transport chambers stood. The machine that had cost Mildred her tea cups. She walked up to her husband and gave him a hug and a lingering kiss.
He said, “Well, Doll, we won’t make our fortune off my time machine.”
Mildred responded, “I don’t need a fortune. All I need is you. It’s getting late. Let’s go to bed.”
They walked up the stairs and put out the cellar lights. In the darkened corner stood the time machine which someday might serve a purpose, but not now. Of one thing we can be certain, this will not be Elmo’s last invention.
This concludes my novella, Elmo’s Invention. I hope you enjoyed it.
Next will come my published short stories followed by my published novella, Elmo’s Sojourn, which is a sequel to Elmo’s invention.
