Bernard enters the Wish Machine. What he discovers is a mind-wrenching enigma.
Two days after Mrs. Dellarambo/Champion left my office I had another visitor. Volunteers for my experiments were coming hot and heavy. I suppose that was because of word of mouth. People were talking to each other. After all, wasn’t being able to go back to one’s past and relive the experience one of the most thrilling adventures anyone could have? Damn right. And one of these days I was going to be brave enough to relive a certain day in my past. But not yet. I had to get my courage together. Not only was that day that happened to me 50 years ago dreadfully painful to remember, to live it over again was, well, like I said, I had to get my courage up to face that day a second time.
My new visitor introduced himself.
“I am Bernard Dellarambo,” he said pleasantly.
I wondered if his wife had talked to him. Had she told him that she had gone into the Wish Machine? My better judgment told me to remain silent; I waited for him to tell me more.
Mr. Dellarambo was older than his wife; eight or 10 years older at least. His hair was white and he was balding yet I could still see something in his face and bearing of the man that Mrs. Champion might have seen when he was younger.
“Please sit down, sir.”
I was careful to say no more. I was pretty sure that Mrs. Dellarambo did not know he had come to see me. At any rate, I couldn’t wait to hear what he had to say, especially after his wife’s visit.
He was a polite, a soft-spoken man.
“I saw your ad. Rather, a friend of mine, Nelton Frigby, gave it to me. On one of my visits to the college with my wife I asked her professor if he knew you, doctor. He said he did. My wife, Mrs. Dellarambo, is taking a biology course from professor Tinsdale.”
Mr. Dellarambo smiled. I saw that he was proud of his wife for going back to school so late in life.
“She is one of the smartest women I’ve ever known, doctor, but Annie never had a chance to finish high school. When I encouraged her to go back to school she passed her G.E.D. test with flying colors and went right into college.”
Now I was certain that he had no knowledge of her visit to me two days ago.
“Anyway, he said that you are doing some experiments with black holes and alternate realities. I’ve always been interested in things like string theory, quantum mechanics and things like that. I just finished reading Leonard Susskind’s book, ‘The Black Hole War.’ I’m a writer. Nelton is too. We talk about our work and that’s how he came to mention you and your Wish Machine. I thought of writing a science fiction story about black holes and I wanted to get some background. I hoped you could spare me a few minutes to explain what you were doing.”
Mr. Dellarambo was an engaging fellow and anyone that wanted to talk about my work was welcome in my office anytime.
“On top of Nelton’s telling me about his experience,” Bernard said, “…when I went by Harry’s Meat Market to pick up a pound or two of pork chops yesterday for Annie, Harry was unusually happy. I know Harry Hamm pretty well because I do most of the grocery shopping for Annie and me. I asked Harry what had happened to make him so pleased with himself. He told me that he had volunteered to go into your Wish Machine just like Nelton Frigby. Harry said the Wish Machine changed his life. I knew I had to meet you, doctor. “
He was apologetic.
“I sure don’t want to impose. I have a hunch that what you are doing has the makings of a great story for my readers.”
He glanced over to the corner of the lab where the machine was sitting. After he had studied it for a minute he turned to me again.
“Is that the machine that Harry and Nelton told me about, doctor?”
“That’s it,” I said.
Next episode: Bernard is intrigued. Not knowing his wife has been in the Wish Machine, he wants to try it for himself. As he explains to Dr. Candella, he wants to know what might have happened if Ann had never married him.
Gene Paleno is an author and illustrator living in Witter Springs.
