Read Caltraps of Time for Free Online Page A

thought possible, but thin and frail. The Letters were wonderful black and fine, and they dazzled my Eyes. Tho’ the Words were (it’s certain) English, yet I cou’d scarce comprehend the meaning of any two or three together. They us’d not our tall s, but throughout only the littie one. Their printing was in London, but one, that I took up, seem’d to be printed in some place call’d Chicago (which put me in mind of my Spanish Travells). Yet was this writ in the same English as the rest. As to their theams, as I cou’d not understand the Words, I can tell you little about ‘em. Many of’em seem’d to have much Mathematicks in them, but I found I cou’d not understand that either. The Title of one was, Diamagnetism, which I suppos’d, shou’d be some kind of Magnetick Operation, but it was full of Diagrams and Numbers, and I cou’d find no Loadstone or Compass pictur’d therein. Another Book was entitul’d, Thermistors, but what those might be, I cou’d not discover, tho’ herein there were a sort of Plates, such as I can give you little idea of; beyond saying, that they were smooth beyond belief so that they resembled less an Engraving, than a real vision of the Eyes, tho’ without colour beyond Black, and White. I cou’d not recognize any thing in them, for all was strange, except a Finger and Thumb in one Picture, that appear’d very large, and a Pin in another, that was also very big. Thinks I, am I come among Gyants? But I remember’d the Face in the Chariot, that was of an ordinary middle size; and the Chairs wou’d not have taken a Gyant, nor the Door.
     
    There was a heap of Papers on the Bench, all printed, but of a marvellous smoothness and lustre. I cou’d not imagine, who wou’d desire to see so many Words in print in a lifetime, and all concern’d with such strange matters withall. On the Wall, hanging from a kind of Pin, was a great Table, as if engrav’d upon a kind of Parchment, but lustrous, that prov’d to be a Calendar or Almanack of the days of one month, that Month of April. But the days of the week had chang’d, so that they did not fit. I saw that the year was indeed that of 1964, Anno Domini, so that my Machine had brought me, where it was appointed. And I thank’d ALMIGHTY GOD for that, and pray’d once more with all my heart, that all shou’d be well.
     
    By this time, I had become in a manner accustom’d to the Clamour without. I was now so Bold, that I thought I cou’d safely go out of this Chamber and out of sight of my Machine. So I softly open’d the Door of the Chamber (and a mighty strange fashion of Door that was), and listen’d (as well as I cou’d for the Chariots) and look’d into the part beyond it. This was a Passage like a huge Hall or Court (but all roof’d), naked and smooth however, and lit by these strange White-hot Bars over-head, that yet seem’d to cast no Heat. No Body was to be seen there, but there were many Doors that open’d out of this Court. I turn’d round to see the Door of the Chamber, that I might know it again, and saw that it bore the Number, Thirteen, high upon it, made of solid Peices of some substance that was Black. Thinks I, may no ill luck attend this Number. Then I closes this Door, opens it again, and closes it finally, and steals along the Hall or Passage where day light came round an Angle.
     
    Here was a great Door, that led perhaps to the Road without, for the Noise of the Chariots was now much more lowd. On the Wall hung great Tables, bearing Papers, and Charts, and solid Numbers, and Knobs, and more things, then I cou’d take note of. Then (before I cou’d vanish) a Door opens, and out comes a Fellow in a mighty strange manner of Cloathing, that I wou’d have burst out laughing at, if I had not been so much in fear. He had long slender Breeches, or Trowzers, of a light-coloured Cloth; a short Coat of smooth Stuff, that came down to his Waist or little lower, but open at the front, with Linnen within and