Writing competition "130" - THE TIME MACHINE

Finally the great news arrived. After much research and investigation, Henry had the confirmation of the discovery of the time machine.

Henry and his team arrived at the appointed point. They entered a tunnel under a mountain until they reached an opening with a lake inside. On the surface of the lake floated a sphere that emitted a rhythmic sound and a green light. It looked like an alien spaceship. Everyone was admiring the object when an old man appeared from a corner behind a rock. He explained to Henry that he had invented the time machine 2000 years in the future.

He had gone back in time several times, but this time something had gone wrong and he was no longer able to restart. He had contacted them because he knew they were reliable and honest scientists, and would kept the secret.

However, the time machine had to have solar energy to work, instead it had materialized underground so it was not possible to start again. Henry was flattered by the compliments and happy to have found the machine. He immediately instructed his team to arrange for the time machine to be transported off the mountain, and tried to reassure the old man. A lot of people worked on the transport, it took about a week. They told the workers that it was a machine useful for geological studies, covered it with a cloth and pulled it out. Then they dismissed everyone.

The old man asked Henry to be left alone so he could use the machine away from prying eyes, but Henry wanted at all costs to understand how it worked.

The old man said it was useless because they still didn't have the technology to build the machine.

Henry couldn't believe he'd worked all that hard for nothing, years and years of research and study, and now this big break. The old man was too stubborn, evidently nothing had changed in mankind in 2000 years, the inventor was too jealous of his machine and didn't want to share it. After a long discussion, Henry had an idea. He would have tricked himself into entering and then stealing the machine.

So he said: “If I can't build a machine, what's the problem in seeing how it works?" The old man accepted without arguing. They went inside together. Henry discovered a wonderful world, new technologies, controls and materials never seen before.

“I know what you want to do,” the old man said suddenly. "but please don't kill me, now I have little left to live".

Henry didn't understand: "I have no intention of killing you!".

"yes", said the old man "now we start arguing, you push me and hit my head".

“How do you know what I will do?” Henry asked.

"Because you've already been in the future, just with my time machine" said the old man.

THE END.