The Key

What I have here Adam, is the answer to who will get the money." "I'm not sure I understand, Mike." "With this stub, I'm going to win last Saturday's lottery. Then, tomorrow or the day after, I'm going to claim it. It's all due to this, " Michael indicating the electronic cabinet. "With this I can chronologically displace anything or anyone. It's my time machine." "Time machine . . . . So why did you bring me here?" "This equipment you see behind me I've spent years in researching and building. Now that it's complete, I needed someone outside of Tagotech for a witness. I don't want Tagotech to be the only one with knowledge of this. I don't want my invention to be used for ill purposes." "Okay . . . . Can I go home now?" "Look, Adam. I'm serious. I have set this device to send me three days into the past where I will use this ticket to win last Saturday's lottery. I'll give the money to you, because I won't need it. "You'll give me millions?" "You remember what I said on the way here about wishes? Well, this is it. This is wish fulfilment. This is me going into the past to witness history or into the future to see . . . well, everything. With this, every wish I ever had can come true." "But you'll give me the lottery win?" "Yes." "Okay. Go on then. What do you do need me to do?" The time machine drawer opens. Michael removes the silver ball and hands it to Adam. "Like I said, this is the key. I've set it to take me back seventy-two hours which will be plenty of time for me to get the lottery ticket. Once I have the money it will prove I've done it." Michael opens a second cabinet. It is empty inside. "This is the displacement unit. After I have entered and closed the door, a slot will open for you to place the key. All you do is drop the key into the space, and then it's show time." Placing the lottery stub into his briefcase, Michael closes it, picks it up, enters the cabinet and closes the door. A couple of clicks and clunks are heard from within. A slot opens on the cabinet and a little tray slides out. Into a small cup on the tray, Adam places the key. The tray retreats into the cabinet and the slot closes. For a few seconds, nothing happens. A handful of yellow and red lights blink quietly at Adam. And then a few more. And then lots more. Patterns of light begin to ripple along the body of the cabinet. Faster and faster the illuminations pass, changing from reds and yellows to greens and blues as they get brighter. All the lights turn white. Unbearably white. Then, in unison, all are dark. Unbearably dark. Adam's eyes readjust. The room is as it was when he first walked in. As Adam opens the cabinet, a slot opens and a tray ejects to reveal a small silver ball. Checking within, Michael, and his briefcase, are gone. As the cabinet door is closed again with a bit of a bump, Adam doesn't notice the key drop onto the floor and roll away. After a few minutes, Adam leaves the building and returns home, pondering the fortune he will shortly be receiving. At exactly this location, Michael Weston arrived from a little less than three days in the future. He died suddenly. His body tried to explode from the sudden and total lack of air pressure, but he froze instantaneously in the chilling cold of space.