Sherlock Holmes in 2012: TIMELESS DUEL Read Free Page A

appeal to his sense of comfort. Everything arranged and in order only applied to one’s mind, not to one’s surrounds as far as Holmes was concerned.

    H. G Wells s house 143 Maybury Road, in Woking
     
     
    Watson turned to the house, as a man, probably in his thirties judging from his smooth face and scrutinizing gaze, opened the front door wide, obviously surprised at the sight of the two men. “What can I do for you, gentlemen, and who might you be?”
    “Ah, very good question, Professor -who might we be? Very good indeed.”
    Watson was visibly embarrassed. He lowered his head and took his hat off.
    Holmes handed the man his visiting card. “Here is mycard.,” and turning to Watson, “This is my friend, Dr. Watson. May we come in?”
    Looking down at the card, “Mr. Holmes., how.,” Wells blurted, noticeably shocked to find the renowned detective standing in the doorway of his house. “By all means, Mr. Holmes, by all means. I am Mr. Wells..” He extended a welcoming arm toward the lounge room beyond the small foyer. “Please, do be seated.,” he added, indicating a couple of chairs and sofa furnishing the room.
    Having deposited his hat and cane on it, Watson took a seat on the sofa, while Holmes and Wells sat facing each other beside the fireplace.
    “May I get you some tea or refreshments?” Wells asked, apparently a little nervous.
    Holmes waved a dismissive hand in front of him. “Nothing for the moment, Mr. Wells. Just tell us, where are you storing your time machine?”
    Evidently taken aback by the abruptness of the query, Wells leaned against the back of the chair and caressed his rather voluminous mustache. “Not here, Mr. Holmes.” He smiled. “This is not the sort of thing one stores in one’s lounge room.” He chortled.
    “Where then?” Holmes demanded, getting to his feet.
    “Please, Mr. Holmes, sit down. Let me explain.”
    “Explain what, my good man? I only came to view your time machine. I am interested in your invention and I want to set my eyes on it so to satisfy my curiosity.” Holmes resumed his seat slowly.
    “It’s not here, Mr. Holmes, because it is a rather large machine and dangerous to anyone who should desire to use it without acquiring the knowledge of its function beforehand.”
    Somewhat mollified by Wells’s comments, Holmes asked, “Just answer two questions for me, Mr. Wells: first, where is the machine stored, and second, would it be capable of transporting a man into the future?”
    Wells caressed his mustache again. “The answer to your first question is obviously dependant on my answer to the second question, isn’t it, Mr. Holmes?”
    Holmes chuckled. Watson opened his eyes wide. It had been a long time since he had seen his friend this excited about anything.
    “Yes, Mr. Wells, if your Time Machine is incapable of propelling a man into the future, I, as many others I suspect, will not be interested in seeing your invention.”
    “Very well then, Mr. Holmes, the answer to your second question, is yes. The time machine is capable of transporting a man through and into the future-I have no doubt of it.”
    “How can you be so certain since, I believe, you have not tried it yourself?”
    “It is just a matter of space and time calculations; their relationship is intrinsic to their value. If you can turn a wheel in one direction-in space and time-without a doubt, you will be able to turn the same wheel in the opposite direction.”
    “Let me understand this correctly, Mr. Wells; if I am able to turn the clock backward, I should be able to turn the clock forward, is that the principle behind your invention?”
    “Absolutely, Mr. Holmes. And to prove my point; should you travel today to the middle of the Pacific, arriving on some island tomorrow, you would notice that the calendar the residents of the island use will tell you that you are still living in today’s date.”
    Holmes stared at the man facing him. “Yes, you are correct! I would have