Time Trip
So I opened the curtain of the Machine and got in. Doc came after me handing a small box, which seemed to be a wireless control for the Machine. Then he closed the curtain and operated the control box flicking switches and moving knobs before entering Aug. 24th 8:00pm and pushed the start button.
So the ‘Time Machine function’ was going to operate. Then the Machine began to zoom and, to my amazement, the afternoon sun seen through the gap of the curtain began to move. It moved faster and faster until it sank in the west. Then it became night. But it soon dawned. Then it became night once again and soon dawned and so forth. And it became even faster. Outside the Machine, it became darker or brighter very quickly nearly thirty times before it slowed down and the Machine stopped.
“Now we’re at August 24th.” Doc said.
He opened the curtain gently and looked outside. It was dark and there seemed to be no one in the laboratory.
“OK. There is no one here. I’m going to the Physical Society meeting from August 24th. So I’m not here.”
Then we went outside the Machine and turned on the light.
“But you were expelled from the Physical Society, weren’t you, Doc?”
“Only stupid guys expelled me from the university. I was not expelled from the Society. There are still many physicists who respect me.”
“OK. I understand. I know you're a great physicist!”
“Exactly!”
Then I glanced around and looked at the clock on the wall. It was just after 8:00 pm.
“I’m going home to find out the baseball championship results on TV.”
Saying so, I went outside the laboratory and looked for my bike. But it wasn't there. I didn't know why. Anyhow, I decided to walk home. It could be dangerous on the street at night. I was wondering what would happen if I run into Devil. But then, there seemed to be no other option, I walked home looking around carefully.
While walking, I was thinking how I was going to watch the news at 9:00pm on TV at home and see who won the game. You might think I could watch TV at Doc’s house. But he didn’t have a TV. He says they are “such stupid things!” And I was also wondering on the way what should I do if I run into the other myself at home, who was ‘living’ in August 24th. But it was quite simple. All I needed was to explain 'him' about the situation since ‘he’ probably knew about the Machine.
Anyhow, thinking about various things, I approached my house to find something so strange. There were two lanterns at the gate of my house and on both of them had the Japanese kanji ‘To be in mourning’ written on them. And there was a desk at the entrance that seemed to be some kind of reception, and one of my uncles was sitting at it.
There was also a crowd of people in the garden and in the house and there was a notice by the desk, which read ‘Kosuke Suzuki’s’ wake is being held’.
Kosuke Suzuki is my father!
This means that my father was dead!
