The Archeologist and the Physicist

He even got calls from the president of the United States and the secretary-general of the UN congratulating him. After an extensive debriefing, a complete medical checkup, and a news conference, he was finally able to relax.

On his last day on the space station, he was visited by Gamostein who asked, "What was it like visiting the past?"

"More or less as I had imagined it. The whole time though, I had the awful dread that I would change the present drastically by some action of mine."

"I thought about that too. Mathematically, according to my calculations, the odds were heavily in favor of you changing the timeline drastically. If that had happened, you would never have returned to us, but would've wound up in another universe."

Winterbottom became quiet. When Gamostein had left the room, he thought to himself, I believe I have. In my original universe, you had a mustache and a full beard. In this one, you're clean shaven. I suppose after a while I'll get used to little incongruities like that.

***

As Gamostein walked back to his office, a coworker came up to him and remarked, "I don't know, Doctor. I think you looked better with a beard."

"Really? Well, maybe I'll let it grow back. I shaved it off yesterday on a whim."

The End