Day 26 – April 26 – Part 3 – Just a Little Technical Flaw

Day 26 – April 26 – Part 3 – Just a Little Technical Flaw

“As I said, Sir, it was meant as a simple experiment for the prototypes. A random office block was chosen. Then a random person within that office block was chosen. The device was installed a week ago after the business had already closed. It was small and could be placed underneath the desk without influencing the computer, printer or other equipment.”

“We understand it was an experiment, Smith, we want to know what went wrong.”

“May I have some water, please?”

“After you have answered our questions.”

“But-”

“After you have answered our questions you can have all the imported spring water you can drink, for all I care. But first you must answer our questions. Now. What went wrong?”

“I am not sure. The device was made by the best brains the government could buy. I installed it myself. It was supposed to work.”

“But it was an experiment.”

“Experiments may work. We were sure that this one would work.”

“Look at these pictures. Do you know these people?”

“I know their faces. Look – I only installed the devices at the desk I was told. I didn’t choose them. The system chose them. I didn’t ask their names. It wasn’t necessary.”

“Not necessary, Smith? O’Brian was a devoted husband. Van der Berg would have become a grandmother yesterday. Kelembe was the only bread winner in the family.”

“The experiment was supposed to work.”

“But it didn’t.”

“No.”

“Where are these people… these… test subjects now, Smith?”

“I – we are not completely sure. You see, we wanted to increase time within the field created by the device. We thought that it would either work or nothing would happen. There would have been enough time in a day for one person to do the work of ten or twenty people!”

“Yes, yes, you’ve said that a million times! Where are they?”

“Technically they are still in the same place, Sir. But I am afraid that, due to an unforeseen technical error we have sent them to another time. Unfortunately and completely by accident. And we have yet to find them or the device that sent them there. May I have some water now, please?”