Fotini had worked for years, fruitlessly, to develop a matter transporter, and was haggard from overwork. Worried friends rented canoes, mock-kidnapped her from her laboratory, and drove three days northward to a national park larger than many countries.
Two weeks later, fit, tanned, and fifty kilometers from anywhere, Fotini took her smuggled notebook – old-fashioned paper – from her pack, and began to scribble.
At the evening campfire, she announced: “Once this device is built, anybody will be able to travel anywhere, instantly!”
From the lake came the unearthly call of a loon.
Wordlessly, she dropped the notebook into the flames.
Author’s note: Be careful what you work for… you might get it!
Well said!
Very interesting. I’m trying to sort my thoughts out on all that this implies, and whether I agree with the spirit of the thing, as I interpret it. Thought provoking little drabble…which, in itself, is no small feat 😀
Pithy story, very engaging with a satisfying character arc in miniature. Thanks for publishing such fine work!