Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)
This is the Doctrine’s contribution to the Six Sentence Story bloghop.
Hosted by Denise, constrained by a sentence limit (high and low) of six, there are worse ways to spend the remaining time you have on earth.
Prompt word:
INTEREST
(Oxford University, 1885)
“This has to work….”
As declarative statements go, these four words are admittedly weak; the subject vague and non-specific, the object abstract and the verb, well, nothing has to; however, the speaker was a professor of Advanced Noetics at the University of Oxford alone in his workshop well after midnight and so can be forgiven for being startled when a voice spoke in response,
“It will.”
Very much a tsunami in a teacup, Earl Grey broke over the china rim and, shedding a mist of steam, plummeted towards the carpet in Dr.Egmont’s laboratory/workshop/office/ad hoc bedroom,
“Who said that?”
A man stepped from shadows that had no right to exist, as the room abounded in light, even at the current late hour; by way of more introduction, he made a sound resembling a good-natured chuckle, except for a curious undertone of ancient privilege gilded in an urbane patina with just a hint of the jungle;
“Good Evening, Professor Eg…”
“Doctor,” his eyebrows resembled a spontaneous and resentful scrum as he repeated, “it is Doctor Egmont” all the while glancing towards the wall of diploma and Certifications behind his desk; Dr.Egmont added what he considered a courteous elaboration, “Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Advanced Noetics, although I maintain a Professorship here at Oxford, it is purely for the convenience of the administration,” his interest in professional credentials established, added: “And now that I recall your recent telegrams conveying an interest in my work you must be Count St.Lor…”
“Cyrus, please! It has been my experience when working with a collaborator, a certain degree of familiarity serves to enhance the joint effort, particularly in matters such as your current project; my title is a function of history and heritage, unlike yours that reflect a person’s accomplishments in science and academia.”
Dr. Egmont offered a smile as an invitation to join him in a hospitable conversation, while seating himself behind his desk;
“So, Doctor Egmont, how may I be of assistance with this remarkable device you describe in your telegrams, this Time Mechanism?”
*
About clarkscottroger
So Dr Egmont is indeed making a time machine and it looks like he is getting just the help he needs just in time. I am looking forward to finding out what it will be used for.
as often I do, I concur. (the Count, Count St. Loreto has been is a couple of my other WIPs an interesting ‘bad guy’)
Cyrus? Of course he’d show up for something like the Time Mechanism. Dr. Egmont hasn’t a clue who he’s dealing with… but he’ll eventually find out.
I did enjoy this: “Very much a tsunami in a teacup, Earl Grey broke over the china rim…”
And! You also included last week’s prompt word. Nice.
I knew that!
not
Sometimes I wonder what I would do of I did have such a mechanism. I wonder what they will do in the story when they get it.
Good question
…wish I knew (lol)
what we know:
the Time Mechanism is en route to Chicago and the Omni Corporation, which Anya Clarieaux runs (her title is Executive Administrative Assistant, she is not driven by a desire for recognition or acclaim
Rosetta Storme. accompanied by the Sophomore are driving to the Windy City to try and intercept the package. Rosetta is mostly interested in getting the Order of Lilith up off her back
Sister Aclima ‘neé Kayla Sheperd, accompanied by Brother Lymphocytus are driving to the city on orders from the Order
Ian Devereaux is flying to Chicago in part as a favor to Lou Caesare to watch over Rosetta (like I wouldn’t want to be the one to have to tell her that) and because of all the people interested in Anya or the Time Mechanism he has the most experience dealing Anya and/or a part to a working time machine
hope that helps*
*it actually does help me to keep track of the plot and characters. seeing how this story involves time travel
You just never know who is going to show up when you’re on to something big!
It is risky to use a Time Mechanism; going back to the past where there’s no Time Machine to bring them back to their own era. Unless of course, they can take their portable Time Mechanism along with them in their time travels.
This is going to be interesting… those two very eloquent people. Do tell us more…
This does not bode well for the other people in the story.
As a one time rugby player I appreciate the spontaneous and resentful scrum of his eyebrows. I also appreciate having to go to the dictionary for Noetics, thank you for a word that rhymes with poetics. And a time mechanism! What could possibly go wrong? I have a feeling we will be reading more about this contraption and find out.
You’re welcome.
I’ve always admired the idea of rugby which strikes me as being (American) football, minus the safety equipment and angrier players… and lots of mud and dirt and such
What could possibly go wrong? This being a ‘Time Mechanism’ it seems to possess the facility of being aim-able at specific individuals. (Favorite time machine meme/joke: protestor carrying a sign saying ‘What do we want? /// Time Travel/// When do we want it? /// It’s irrelevant’
That’s determination, not anger.
Love that meme! 🤣
I just noticed that I may have let spelchek have it’s way with my subtitle to the post. Hey, one advantage of having a writing style that dares class or cat -orization
It occurred to me, reading through the list of characters, that we’re only missing a Girl Scout selling Mystic Mint cookies at an inflated, and personally profitable price. Although mint is a sketchy pairing with Earl Grey tea.
Cyrus, eh? It’s one of those names that arrives with a reputation.
Love this Six.
funny you should mention Mystic Mint cookies
Cyrus has been a character in a couple WIPs and serial stories. Fun guy. Technically a bad guy. Which, come to think of it, I don’t have in an abundance at the moment. (No, come on, Lou is not a bad guy! He’s a bandit with a sense of style. A robber with an appreciation of irony)
Count St. Loreto on the other hand is… well, don’t tell anyone, but more often than not when I have a character appearing to fit a mold, I refuse to give my authorly seal of approval, i.e. “Yes so and so is such and such a person/thing” My position is the Reader is capable of making the decision and does not require a narrative label.
example when you have a moment this entry from The Order of Lilith
and this (an excerpt from a chapter in ‘Home and Heart’ A Sister Margaret Ryan Mystery)
Chapter 5
AUGUST 16, 2020
The Espirito Santo building, a thirty-six story glass and steel tower at 666 Brickell Avenue in Miami’s financial district, was built by the newest Fortune 500 company, the Bernebau Company. The top third was utilized as administration offices by the metastasizing organization. The 36th floor served as home for founder and CEO, Cyrus St. Loreto.
The core narrative of most successful business’s culture is invariably the story of its founder. And, in the myths and legends that take root and grow in the developing social matrix, are found the most telling of insights into the character of the people running the business. These corporate cautionary tales also serve as counter balance to resentment, an inevitable decay in morale, whenever one individual advances too quickly. This is very much the Wharton School of Business’s version of Robert Johnson and the crossroads. The original was the story of a dirt-poor guitar player whose ambition brought him to a midnight meeting with the Devil at a Mississippi Delta crossroads. The bargain: his soul in exchange for becoming the greatest of all bluesmen. Whether the arts or business, some things never change.
In high-rise cafeterias and commuter train cars, executives and secretaries amused themselves exchanging versions of the story of the beginnings of the Bernebau Company. Like the pages of illuminated manuscripts in Medieval times, the value lay in the exchange of information, real or imagined, rather than in their factual content. Among the tales:
Cyrus is never seen in public, as his face is hideously scarred. (According to the story), the plane he was piloting, crashed off an un-charted Caribbean island. The CEO of the Bernebau Company has never set foot on bare earth. He suffers from a phobia of germs so powerful that he avoids all surfaces not artificial. One of the first tales of the Bernebau Company a new employee learns is that the company’s founder, Cyrus St. Loreto has never been seen in direct sunlight. (Everyone enjoys that one and it’s the one they would most like to believe is true.)
And so on, each story more fantastic than the last. As with most myths and legends, there is, at heart, something of truth, insinuated like pre-cancerous cells, in the words.
The grand opening of the Espirito Santo tower provided fertile ground for old and new myths to take root and flourish.
I do love a meaty backstory.
A time machine…I happen to be in the market for one–what’s the cost? are there discounts for Seniors?
ah! the cost… the cost of time travel tends to be lose of innocence but in reverse
to return to a time when we were young with the experience of a lifetime would, imo, be cruel and unusual punishment.
(in the process of writing my first time travel story I came to the realization that were I to go back I would not be able to stand by friends! Literally, friends who have survived a lifetime… but (as I wrote it became clear that a person at 18 is different from (that same person) at 50, 60 plus… same person but) think back to your best friend in high school and imagine hanging out with them (through the agency of a Time Mechanism)… how long could you do that? (Hint: four or more years?)
ikr?
A congenial setting thus far, but what happens next only time will tell.
(god willing!)
lol
Sometimes I wonder if it’s better to be a outliner/plotter. Suspect you are in the seat-of-the-pants category