If you missed parts 1 and 2…

1/6 | The Idea For The Telephone | Rec. 219

2/6 | A dead cow almost stops the telephone from existing | Rec. 219

Jon Continues telling Amber his story…

With a great big, black spotted smile plastered across his face, Melville opened the door. And boy, was I really relieved when that smile ended. Luckily however, the smile signaled that he clearly wasn’t bothered by my tardiness. Although, he wasn’t the one I was worried about my tardiness affecting.

I walked in the door, Melville closed it behind me, we shook hands, then he escorted me to the kitchen.

And that’s where I saw Alec for the first time. In all his glory, just sitting on the floor, in the living room, reading a book.

“Hello my friend!” I said in a friendly tone as I waved at him.

He got up, walked over, shook my hand, and said, “Hello sir, a pleasure to meet you.”

Impressed, but not really surprised, I said, “Oh, what a proper boy. A pleasure to meet you too.” And I bowed, as one should, to the fucking inventor of the telephone and telecommunications.

He invented speakers AND microphones! Do you know how important those are to technology!? Anna Iris, my Ai assistant, doesn’t exist without it, there would be no mass produced music, no walkie-Talkies, so much technology isn’t possible without those two inventions!

He figured them out!

Without Internet!

And he wasn’t even a formally trained electrical engineer. He taught himself, he was an elocutionist, that taught deaf people how to speak, read, and sign. As you can tell I’m a bit of a fan boy, and was just so giddy and excited for the opportunity to influence this impact on history.

It was hard to maintain my composure, but I managed, I’m a professional.

Anyhow, Melville and I proceeded to the kitchen down the trash-green walled hallway past the most beautiful antique (well, at the time, new) handmade wooden tables.

Once we broke through the arch of the kitchen doorway I immediately smelled the most delicious tea heating up on a giant ornamental metal stove. This is where I first met Melvilles lovely wife, who, was standing next to the stove tending to the teapot and, upon seeing me enter the room, waved and mouthed hello.

You see, and this is one of the reasons why this story is so crazy, Alec’s mom was deaf, she was a huge inspiration for him learning about sound, but, what’s even more wild, Alec ends up marrying a deaf woman! I’ll circle back to that in a bit. It’s such a cruel joke how humans usually end up essentially marrying a clone of their parents because we tend to gravitate to love that is familiar and comfortable. I only know only three societies throughout time that solved for this, all learnist societies.

I asked Eliza if it was okay if I placed something on her forehead, and by asked I mean I pointed at it and then pointed at her and then nodded and shrugged. I told Melville what it can do, and more importantly that I could not leave it with her after this conversation.

He relayed that information and I put the device on her head. She could now hear me telepathically. I set it so that she would only receive the words that I thought as I spoke them and not my deepest darkest secrets and memories. And by I set it, I mean that I had Anna Iris set it. Who of course gave me lip about it, but did what needed to be done.

Once the device was in place she was very startled, and then a giant smile stretched across her face, that soon turned into a frown because she realized this was the last time she would be able to hear anyone ever again.

After Eliza is alls et up we sit down at the meticulously hand carved table and exchange a few more pleasantries and a bit of small talk as Eliza pours us tea, as we’re discussing Alec’s recent troubles at school I figured that would be a great time to segway into the plan and what needs to be done for us to pull this job off.

“So we’re here for Alec, are you ready to hear what I need you to do Melville?”

“Yes yes, please, anything, I’m ready!”

“First, Make sure you take Alec and Melli (Alec’s brother) to meet Sir Charles Wheatstone, the maker of an automata machine. It’s very important that Alec work on that project, if he doesn’t he won’t have an important base layer of success for his inventing skills. Also, you must to pay for everything he needs to make it.”

“Alright, that shouldn’t be too difficult, but how much are we talking?”

“The cost of material doesn’t matter in comparison to the value of the idea your son is getting right now, and remember, we don’t cost you any money.” …I didn’t really elude to the fact that money from his time period is more like fancy toilet paper to us, or really just something people like to stare at and aww over in a museum about money, but I just needed compliance.

“Well, sure, yeah, I guess you’re right. Fine, fine, I’ll pay whatever it costs.”

“Good man. Okay, so next, you’ve been doing a good job of this already, but continue to feed his curiosity of sound and speech, make sure he knows everything you know.”

“Oh well that’s going to be fun, did you know that the ear…”

“I love the enthusiasm, let’s just save it for Alec, shall we? I’d like to get through this before Alec goes to bed.”

“Right, right, of course.” Melville seceded.

“I apologize for my husband. He just loves his work.” Eliza said to me telepathically.

I politely smiled at her and raised a hand, indicating it wasn’t an issue.

“This next one is harder, and I’m sorry you have to bear this. I can’t give you specifics because of Gears-Law, but, something tragic is going to happen to your family. It’s vital that during this time you must support Alec and his research. Melville, I can’t stress the importance of this enough, that you need to tell him to focus on work and keep at it, guide him to use his work as a distraction from the pain.”

Concern washed over both of their faces, “But what’s going to happen?” they unknowingly said to me at about the same time.

I shook my head and told them, “I’m a call away if you need me. I’ll be here to get you two through that moment so you can guide Alec in his time of need.”

I continued, “more bad news for you I’m afraid Melville, along with the above, you must offer continued finical support when he’s working on the telephone and multi-telegraph. You have to eat your pride and trust that I’m good at my job and that he can pull this off.”

“But what about the other kids?”

“That’s up to you. I’m just telling you what’s required to pull this off, if you don’t do this, I’m going to have to pull the idea and wipe your memories.

And one last thing for you Melville.”

“More! Jesus,” he elongated the, “do I make it out of this?”

Ignoring his response, I gave him the last task, “listen, at least this last one will be easy for you, I’d personally never be able to, but it’s of the utmost importance that you don’t support Alec’s love for a woman named Mabel.”

”Easy? Denying my son’s love for a woman? Give me a break. I don’t know about all this. That seems a bit extreme.”

He started to nervously wring his hands, fidget with his watch, and dart his eyes. It was all becoming a little too much, and bit too real for him, and I could tell this request was really making him second guess moving forwarded. His role is vital in Alec’s story, as well as to securing this job for me, so I had to reassure him.

“Melville, I can tell you care for your sons. You wouldn’t have reached out to me if you didn’t. You can pull this off. When it’s really hard, and it will be, just remember that he end’s up better off for it all. He also impacts humanity for thousands of years, in more ways than one. There’s an honesty and nobleness in that act, and especially in the sacrifice you’re going to make for your sons future.”

He looked at me with a calm sincerity, understanding what needed to be done, and that he was going to do it.

Eliza said, “thank you, thank you so much, even though it was only a few minutes, getting to be heard has meant so much to me, and securing my sons future.”

“You’re very welcome. I’m excited for what we’re about to do and who Alec becomes. Now, if you wouldn’t mind, I’ll need to take the device back Eliza, then have a private talk with Alec alone.” She removed the device from her head and handed it over to me.

As we walked back to the living room where Alec was still reading, I applied some hand sanitizer that protects my hands from germs for 30 minutes. I knew I was going to shake his hand, and didn’t want to chance getting sick.

When we entered the rustic living room Melville reintroduced me to Alec in that terrible parental tone that parents do, you know, the one that’s like an octave higher than normal. Once introduced, Eliza and Millville then retreated back to the kitchen, like I had asked.

“What are you reading there?”

“Elocution; Or, Mental And Vocal Philosophy.” He responded.

“Wow! That sounds like an intense read.”

“I know, I got tired of kids books.”

“Makes sense. Just by what you’re reading Alec, it’s clear you’re on a path to let the world hear each other.” Boom! Snuck it in. God damn it, that’s how a pro does it Amber!

Amber chuckled and told Jon to “shut the frick up.”

Anyhow, Alec responded with, “Huh? What do you mean?”

It was perfect he didn’t understand. This was important because if he was confused by what he’d heard, he’d ruminate on it, but forget about me, ideally at least. I ignored his response and made my way out after saying, “Alec, it’s been a pleasure meeting you. I look forward to seeing what you accomplish.” I shook his hand and held it for 5 seconds. He looked at me oddly. 5 seconds is about 3 seconds longer than you should shake someone’s hand, but it takes that long to ensure the NanoCams get implanted. I had Anna Iris set a program for the NanoCams to turn on when he was working on the automata-head and all the appropriate times that we agreed upon in the future as he works on his galaxy changing idea.

I picked the NanoCams up on the completion date some 50 years later.

Before leaving, I said my goodbyes to Eliza and Melville and joined my new friend Charles in the carriage. I waved goodbye to the Bells, and, with gross, unsure smiles, they waved back as I was galloped away.

Now, it was time to head back to London, get some sleep then return to the 4000’s and take a drone all the way back across the ocean, because frick taking those old ass cruise ships, single icebergs used to sink them with just a small bump….

Next week Alec and Jon get a beer…

And Alec finally gets the idea for how to pull off the telephone.

Did you know that we hacked Jon’s computer and stole the file with his precious Often Unnoticed Moments.

We also had a chat with him about using ‘Password’ as his password.

But you can get access to the drive, any new ones he records here for $5 of your currency units a month!

Read episode 4