Answer Key: Episode 9

It happened again, but faster. This time, a pen sailed from workbench to desk with the precision of a dart. This was followed by a book, another pen, then calipers, faster and faster, back-and-forth across the room until he could no longer identify the objects themselves, just the blur of them passing. The blur became a mist, a fog, a gloaming of indistinct shapes. He watched in fascination as though he were watching a movie. Then the fog lifted, the blur returned to distinct shapes, the shapes became objects, the objects slowed until they wafted to stillness.

Hal had arrived. He took a breath, uncertain if there would be more movement, but nothing changed. The light was the same. He jumped up, tapped his computer, and went to the closet for the gym clothes. The monitor came on as he dressed: he was 5 years in the future.