Part 4: The Kids

There's never much fun in waiting around.
But I'll say one thing for her: She never wastes time.
Sonetto: Morning, Timekeeper. Did you happen to see Mr. X?

Sonetto: Yes, but after we left Mr. Wilson's office, X suddenly claimed he had to get some coffee …
Sonetto: But when I went to check, he wasn't in the cafe downstairs.
Sonetto: I was hoping to ask him to go over the rider again and perhaps draw up a formal proposal …
Sonetto: Oh, no, no, please, Timekeeper, leave the paperwork to your capable assistant.
Sonetto: But, if you do have time, could I trouble you to help me find Mr. X?
Finding X is not hard.
One only needs to consider where someone would go when they're trying to dodge work—somewhere spacious, quiet, and off the beaten track.
X: Okay, one more wire to go …
X: Who wants to provide our final lucky wire?
Children: Me, me!
X finds himself in an old garage, one he has set up in near to the protesters. And in front of him now stands a rudimentary Rube Goldberg machine.
So far, it consists of marbles, wires, rusty horns, a sprinkler, and a bucket with the bottom missing—household junk.
Before him, a group of kids from the protest gather around, looking at the contraption in amazement.
X: Thanks to everyone's enthusiastic support, our "Fully Automatic Marble Launcher" is finally ready!
X: Simply adjust the machine to the desired angle and press this spring … Then we can enjoy a marvelous flying marble show!
X: Who wants to go first?
The children eagerly raise their hands. One little girl is particularly loud in her excitement.
X: Mm-hm, ladies first. Let's let Sophie, our prized bucket sponsor, come up and take our maiden flight!
Sophie: Haha! I told you I'd get you back for spraying me with that sprinkler!
Sophie lets out a vindictive laugh as she turns the machine toward her companion and presses the spring down smugly.
The marble bursts up and outwards, rolling around inside the bottomless bucket three times, and then flings out high into the air.
Traveling through the rusty horn, before it lands right back ... where it started.
Sophie: …
Children: ...
X: Beautiful! An unmitigated success, Sophie.
X: You see, no matter what angle you set it at, the marble will always return to its original position.
X: A truly epic invention—a Fully Automated Marble Launcher which self-resets for unlimited use!
X begins to clap for himself. The response is an overwhelming chorus of boos from the kids.
Sophie: Hey, what's this all about, mister! You promised me that marble would fly 30 feet!
X: In fact, I promised that the vertical flight distance would be 30 meters…
Sophie: And what about the "precise targeting"? It didn't even hit 'em!
X: A marble falling back into its exact starting position is the very definition of precise targeting!
Sophie: If I'd known it was just gonna do that, I never would have given you the bucket!
The kids start into an uproar as loud as the protests outside.
Mixed in are shouts of "Make a better one," "Give me back my sprinkler," and "I'm telling my mom that you're a weirdo!"
Sonetto: Is Mr. X … putting on some kind of performance for these children?
Sonetto: He seems to be enjoying it.
X: …?!
X: Oh! Vertin, Ms. Sonetto?! When did you get here …?
Sonetto: Don't be so nervous, Mr. X. The Timekeeper just wants to see your latest performance.
Sonetto: Right, so what is this … "Sprinkler" she just mentioned?
Little Girl: It's the most fun machine in the whole world! It made Sophie cry and call for her mom!
Sophie: Nuh-uh! I wasn't crying! That was just water! Water!
X: Don't look at me like that. I solemnly swear that this machine was carefully designed to avoid any risk of harm.
X: I can explain this.
As X begins to speak, several calling voices are heard in the distance.
Little Girl: Ah, that's my mom! Guess it's time for my medicine ... again.
Sophie: Yeah, my dad says we've got to leave soon. So, wanna meet up and play here tomorrow?
Little Girl: I dunno ... Mom said she might have to take me back to the hospital, but only if "Mr. Wilson grows a heart" ...
Sophie: That sucks ...
Sophie: Why do we gotta be sick? It'd be cool if we could just wind up a spring and reset like this weirdo's toy ...
X: Hm? Thought you said you didn't like my Automatic Marble Launcher.
Sophie: Yeah, cause—I—don't—! I'm going home. You can keep the broken bucket, Mr. Weirdo!
The children begin to leave, heading back towards their waiting parents.
Sonetto: Who were those kids …?
X: They're all children with congenital copper metabolism disorder.
X: I'll explain—but just wait a sec.
X lets out a sigh and begins to dismantle his contraption, carefully removing each of the different donated pieces.
X: I'll be just a minute.