2003-01-30 9:51 a.m. "My god," shouted Dr. Walt Rhinestone. "My new invention, based on my research with the echo-location of both bats and dolphins-- it's struck the whole world mute!" Dr. Rhinestone yanked at his thinning hair and slumped against his desktop, narrowly avoiding the sharp corners of his invention as his head hit the desk. "The whole world, Doctor?" said Lucy, his assistant. "Apparently so. Just-- just look!" Dr. Rhinestone said, indicating their lab's television. The news reporter behind the desk looked as if he were reading the news in his normal, stiff manner. But no sound was coming from the TV. "Are you sure, Doctor?" said Lucy. "I mean... I can still talk. And so can you. So..." "You just don't understand enough about science," said Dr. Rhinestone. His hunched shoulders shook and Lucy thought it sounded like he might be crying. Or hyperventilating. "The TV might just be muted. Or broken," said Lucy. The echo-location device gave an ominous hum. "Imagine," said Dr. Rhinestone, "the new world that awaits us beyond the walls of our humble facility. This invention-- this marvelous invention which I was hoping could change the life of thousands of blind people, allowing them to shriek their way wherever they want to go-- this invention has ruined us all. "Once we go outside, we'll exist in a voiceless vacuum. We'll be forced to communicate through gesture, through charades, through... writing things down on pieces of paper. The deaf of the world will have the advantage on all of us, Lucy. They already have a language. Good Lord, even now they may be plotting and setting up their own silent government. Lucy... are you... a strong girl?" "What do you mean, Doctor?" "I worry about what will happen to you when the deaf enslave us all and make us work in mines, digging out God knows what." "We should really just check out the TV." Lucy moved a chair over so she could climb up and reach the controls. "Lucy... my dear, sweet Lucy. There's something you must know." Lucy paused, one hand extended towards the television. On screen was live footage of a riot somewhere. The graphic at the bottom read "Pewaukee." "Yes, Doctor?" "Lucy..." The doctor wiped at his eyes. "Lucy, the remote is over on the side table here." |
1. today is nice 3. happy yesterdays 8. thanks for hosting 4. doing other things |
(Proof that I am the only one reading.) |