The Project Gutenberg EBook of Two Timer, by Fredric Brown

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Title: Two Timer

Author: Fredric Brown

Illustrator: Stone

Release Date: September 9, 2009 [EBook #29948]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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Two Timer

By FREDRIC BROWN

_Here is a brace of vignettes by the Old Vignette
Master ... short and sharp ... like a hypodermic!_

Illustrated by STONE

[Illustration]

Experiment

"The first time machine, gentlemen," Professor Johnson proudly informed
his two colleagues. "True, it is a small-scale experimental model. It
will operate only on objects weighing less than three pounds, five
ounces and for distances into the past and future of twelve minutes or
less. But it works."

The small-scale model looked like a small scale--a postage scale--except
for two dials in the part under the platform.

Professor Johnson held up a small metal cube. "Our experimental object,"
he said, "is a brass cube weighing one pound, two point three ounces.
First, I shall send it five minutes into the future."

He leaned forward and set one of the dials on the time machine. "Look at
your watches," he said.

They looked at their watches. Professor Johnson placed the cube gently
on the machine's platform. It vanished.

Five minutes later, to the second, it reappeared.

Professor Johnson picked it up. "Now five minutes into the past." He set
the other dial. Holding the cube in his hand he looked at his watch. "It
is six minutes before three o'clock. I shall now activate the
mechanism--by placing the cube on the platform--at exactly three
o'clock. Therefore, the cube should, at five minutes before three,
vanish from my hand and appear on the platform, five minutes before I
place it there."

"How can you place it there, then?" asked one of his colleagues.

"It will, as my hand approaches, vanish from the platform and appear in
my hand to be placed there. Three o'clock. Notice, please."

The cube vanished from his hand.

It appeared on the platform of the t