Tokyo Time Machine Scandal

Inaugural lecture in the newly restored and resuscitated Tokyo Time Machine. With members of the press in attendance.

Since we have been occupied with other important matters lately, we almost missed the news that the reconstruction of the Time Machine had been accomplished. The problem was that in a cynical bid to cash in on the project the device had been turned into a bizarre entertainment for the well-heeled and their hangers-on. A few palm trees and some parrots and they’d have had it made... if it were not for just one thing.

During the festivities and distractions a certain uninvited guest was glimpsed lurking behind one of the pillars.

This unidentified entity had obviously taken advantage of the lax security and, what with the flickering half-light and the highly-charged atmosphere, the intruder could easily have slipped through the curtains and gained access to the secret underground Koil Chamber.

If this technology gets into the wrong hands and all the planets in the world are accidentally transported backwards, forwards and sideways in time simultaneously, then we only have ourselves to blame.

Or even more alarming: Purposely!

A photograph of something that did not happen purposely.

Whisper's Dream Quest 1

I can still hear the bird singing and playing his wind violin. I know it was only a dream but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t real.

When I’m at the window looking out and then I look inside at things that are very close – that’s a bit like dreaming. Dreaming without being asleep. Everything is very close. So this morning I decided to look for the bird. I was sure I could go there without having to be asleep again.

The rain stopped and I went into the garden. The grass was wet and the sun kept going in and coming out. I was thinking about this when somewhere a dog barked. It sounded like a very small dog and then it stopped. So I didn’t think any more about that.

When I reached the long grass I saw a lot of small flowers which I hadn’t seen there before. They had already grown very high.

As I walked between the flowers I tried not to step on the ground that was making them grow and for a moment I thought I couldn’t feel the ground. It was just a little slope but I couldn’t remember it being there before.

For some reason I thought of the first time I tried to leap up onto the table where Jenny was drawing. As I crouched ready to jump Jenny saw me and before I could move she had picked me up and put me down right on the big sheet of paper and the first thing I did was try to touch the pencils and they kept rolling away from me. I think it was the first time I saw one of her magic pictures.

The grass got longer and more tangled but there were ways through and I chose the one that was covered like a tunnel.

The tunnel seemed to go on forever and I thought about turning around and going back but then I came to a gate. The gate didn’t look as though it was meant to open but it would be easy for me just to walk straight through. So first I stood there in order to know where I was and what was going on.

Some grass touched my nose and it tickled and I nearly sneezed, so I chewed a little bit of grass. I still had the taste of the grass in my mouth when, all of a sudden, something moved up ahead. I went through the gate as silently as possible and the movement stopped. My first thought was that it must be the little bird. I kept going. And then I saw its eyes looking straight through the grass at me.

We both stayed very still and looked at each other. It certainly wasn’t the bird unless this is what the bird changes into when I’m not asleep.

Then the creature was off and I’m glad I didn’t follow because at that very moment the little dog appeared, sniffing around where the creature had been. The dog then must have told the “visitor” on the other end of the leash it’s time to go.

I realised I had come this far only once before. That time I went right to the edge of water before I realised it was there. So I would have to be extra careful if I was going to find my way back.

Jenny might be making a picture and not even know I was gone.

to be continued...

The Bird in the Dream

Two nights ago I had a dream that was silent right up until the last moments.

We were inside and it was raining. Raining inside. Wherever the rain fell puffs of smoke came up from the floor.

We went into another room to get out of the rain and it was raining in there too. So we ran outside and there right in front of us was a tiny bird and we could hear everything. It wasn’t raining outside.

As soon as the bird saw us he began singing and playing an accordion.  The accordion sounded like a violin being played by the wind and when the bird sang it was like a human voice, only very small. There were words but I don’t know what they were, although at the time the song made perfect sense.

I woke while the bird was still singing.

Jenny has been helping me put the pieces together to make a picture. But as we were making it, I realised that there was also someone else. There was me, Jenny (who I couldn't see), the bird, and someone else.

Also I knew we had to make the picture outside in the garden where it really happened.  That's why it has taken so long; we've had a lot of rain since then.

I’m fairly certain the dream had something to do with the fire next door. And maybe Jenny was playing her violin upstairs while I was asleep. I must remember to ask.

But as for the other person… there is a boy in the picture with his back to us listening to the bird.

Birds Hate Barbecues

This afternoon the people next door set fire to their little barbecue.

I was in there hiding in the grass when they wheeled it out and I must say it smelt rather good, even though they hadn’t used it since last summer.

Then something very strange happened.

Mr. Willow (that’s what I call him because they’ve got a willow tree in the back garden) lit the fire and went back into the house. There was a lot of smoke and the birds flew out of the tree. I stayed in the grass and was starting to enjoy this.

Then I heard Mrs. Willow shout and they both ran out of the house and threw water into the smoke. That didn’t help and the little barbecue fell over and the smoke fell on the ground.

Mrs. Willow tried to take the dead meat out of the smoke with a very long fork and suddenly her plastic apron caught fire.

She threw the apron on the ground and started stamping on it. It didn’t smell good so I came back home.

Jenny was at the window. She had been watching all the time. She said the birds hate barbecues.

It is proving to be an interesting day.

Ghost Hole Swallows the World

We will return to the unfolding mystery of The Forbidden Forest. But a question has been received from “Robert” which he feels might touch upon all our lives in the near future.

Robert has seen two recent headlines that must, according to him, have a direct bearing upon each other as they appeared on the same day and on the same page.

“A huge sinkhole in the city of G... crashed into being on Sunday, reportedly swallowing a three-story building.
Giant Sinkhole could get even bigger.”

“Ghostly ‘comets’ have been found circling a supermassive expanding Black Hole.”

If the sinkhole suddenly expands and swallows the world, I don’t think we’ll have time even to think about it. I’m sure you can continue to go out the front door or even the back door without worrying about falling in.

There might, though, be a cause for concern that perhaps you haven’t even thought of yet…

Sometimes I like to go into the kitchen and get up onto the edge of the sink and reach down with my nose towards that strange hole. Sometimes I hear things down in there but usually it doesn’t frighten me. Then one day while I was carefully reaching towards the hole, suddenly a large spider came out!

For a moment neither of us moved, then she ran backwards down the hole and I didn’t go back into the kitchen until Jenny was home again.

Robert, let’s hope the folks of that poor city don’t lose any more streets and bicycles down the sink. Maybe they could do what Jenny does and turn all the taps on to wash away whatever is down there stirring things up. Then at least it won’t smell too bad. And don’t worry about the ghosts cycling around the edge, they can look after themselves.

Actually, I’d be more worried about accidentally stepping on one of the little ants that are running around all over the place this time of year.

Into the Forbidden Forest

Another British lady and her daughter who fearlessly ventured into The Forbidden Forest.

Notice they are being followed at a distance by two “visitors” on a bicycle.  Hopefully, they will return safely home none the wiser to the eyes that were upon them.

Perhaps the council should erect “No Cycling” signs along the path.

However, let's take a closer look at the so-called “British lady".

Where will it all end?

Upon even closer inspection we can see that one of the cyclists has dismounted and is rapidly approaching...

Like I said, you’d never catch me in a place like that!

Beyond the Gate

Here we see a typically fearless British lady, standing at the gate, backpack full, and ready for a pleasant afternoon watching the skies. Her dress is practical and her shoes are sturdy. She's sure to have packed a thermos flask and a folding umbrella.

If a Chariot were to land in the field, she would no doubt get out the paper plates and offer the occupants a place beside her on the picnic rug.

Let’s just hope the visitors have stopped claiming to be Cosmic Lords of the Universe. Those guys were always saying things like that.

But beyond the gate, nothing is what it seems.

Just because they are now as likely to emerge from the trees on bicycles as they are to descend in chariots from the stars, doesn’t mean things have changed.

Personally, I wouldn’t go anywhere near that forest.