The Archeologist and the Physicist

The famed archaeologist, Doctor Charles D. Winterbottom, The Third, entered Doctor Aaron Gamostein's office, a room which could only be described as a shambles. His eyes wandered to a blackboard full of scribbled formulas, drawings of geometric shapes that were like optical illusions and mathematical equations. None of it made the slightest sense to him. After Winterbottom doffed his pith helmet, he made his way through piles of books and overflowing wastebaskets to sit on a straight-backed chair facing Gamostein's desk. The famous physicist had on a rumpled, stained suit; his long uncut hair flared out from his head wildly; and his spectacles were perched precariously on his forehead. He was deeply engrossed with something on his computer, which set among a jumble of papers, reports, magazines and books, and was completely oblivious of Winterbottom's entrance.

Winterbottom cleared his throat.

"Be with you in a minute," Gamostein growled.

The archaeologist waited patiently for several additional minutes. Finally, Gamostein yelled, "I did it. I got that damn frog across the road." He pumped his arm a few times in triumph and gazed up at his visitor. Grinning sheepishly, he said, "Darn computer games. They're so addicting." He stood up and extended his hand. "You're Doctor Winterbottom, I presume."

As Winterbottom rose to shake Gamostein's hand, his well-starched field jacket and trousers crinkled noisily. "The honor is mine, sir, to meet the man who discovered the chronotron, the elementary particle of time. In the years to come, I'm sure it will prove to be a great boon to mankind."

Gamostein waved his hand as though to dismiss the compliment. "Perhaps. So far, however, no time travelers from the future have dropped in on me to get my autograph. Besides, someone would have made that discovery soon or later. It was inevitable once you posited the evolution of the universe since the big bang, quantum theory, relativity and the graviton. The thing is to come up with a single theory that explains everything. Now that would be a discovery. The God theory I call it. But, enough of my meandering. I understand that you've volunteered to be my guinea pig, so to speak."

Winterbottom curled up the corners of his thin lips, the closest he ever came to a smile. "Yes Doctor, I understand that the university engineering department has designed a time machine using your theory of elementary time particles."

"That is true. And it works. We have sent objects and animals forward and backwards in time using the device. But so far, no actual human beings. In fact you may be in luck. As a demonstration, I intend to send my cat to this very moment from two weeks in the future. It should arrive any second."

As though on cue, a shabby black cat appeared seemingly out of nowhere to land on the Winterbottom's lap, startling him so that he leaped up and tipped over his chair. After gaining his aplomb, he brushed cat hair off his lap, righted his chair, and said mildly, "Amazing. And you claim that the creature arrived here from two weeks in the future."

"I assume so. That's when I intend to send him back in time. Sorry about his landing in your lap though."

Winterbottom thought for a moment. "But suppose you forget to send him?"

Gamostein shrugged. "A paradox. In two weeks there might be two identical Jakes, that is assuming. Jake is really my cat's name. You see, I haven't named him yet since he just arrived.