The Richest
Man in the World
"Do you trust the wizard?"
"He's not a wizard. Rather, the man
is a sci-en-tist, whatever that means?"
Surman stood upon the side of King
Nebuchadnezzar. The advisor had a very precarious job. On the one hand, he was
responsible for giving sound advice to the grand monarch. On the other, he
could not be presumptuous or condescending in the slightest manner. One slip of
his tongue and he might follow his predecessor into jail or worse.
"Then do you trust this
scientist?" Surman not only repeated himself but also, in a roundabout
way, challenged the king of kings. After all, his actions made it clear that
King Nebuchadnezzar had faith in this stranger.
"He does have the most convincing
proof of wonderful things, does he not?" The monarch had a grand smile.
"You saw his flashlight, haven't you?"
"Indeed, I have," Surman spoke
in awe. "As I have also seen his pistol."
"Truly, they are great magic, are
they not?"
"No, they are from science,"
corrected Surman. Afraid he had ruffled the hair of the monarch, he quickly
added, "As you have so distinctly pointed out already."
"And this time machine,"
Nebuchadnezzar's eyes flashed open wide in wonder. "Oh, the marvel of it
all."
"But you are not certain that this
man can travel in time, are you?" Surman knew that the direct approach was
sometimes necessary. Nebuchadnezzar could get talking on a subject and spend
hours babbling.
"Sometimes in life, we must take
chances," the grand monarch replied.
"And what are you paying for this
trip in time?" The chief advisor knew the answer already. He just wanted
Nebuchadnezzar to think very hard on the matter.
"Oh, half of my kingdom,"
replied the King with a casual wave of his hand as if offering a fellow half of
his lunch.
"You are the richest man in the
world!" Surman retorted.
"And what of it?" hissed the
King. "Yes, I have grand palaces filled with harems of delightful ladies
for my pleasure. I have more gold and silver than any man could dream of or
desire. I have horses for a hundred thousand riders; doesn't that make it all
clear?"
"In what way, oh great one?"
"I have everything a man could
desire," Nebuchadnezzar said with a sigh. There are no more worlds for me
to conquer," the King paused, his eyes staring vacantly at nothing. What
this man offers me is more than I could dream of, " the King paused again.
“No, it is more than any man could dream of."
Surman held his tongue, contemplating the
words of his sovereign. He thought the mission was foolhardy and perilous.
Still, it was his job only to advise. He was to support the King in all
matters, regardless of his own personal opinion.
"Think of it, man," King
Nebuchadnezzar spoke with the excitement of a boy on his birthday. "To see
all those wonders. Flying ships that travel through the air. Tall buildings
that reach up into the sky. Chariots without horses. Why did you hear the
sci-en-tist talk as well as I did? Doesn't it fill you with a sense of wonder
about all those marvelous things that he describes? Wouldn't you give half your
kingdom but half your life to spend one day there? Why society must be grand
beyond belief!"
"It is your decision, oh wise king
Nebuchadnezzar," Surman acquiesced with a reluctant sigh. He knew he could
not sway his sovereign from traveling to the future.
###
"So, he walks into the box, you set
the instruments, and you pull the switch?" Surman wanted to make sure he
knew all the details.
"That's right," Doctor Goodman
replied with a grand smile. Nebuchadnezzar will arrive in the future in the
greatest city that ever existed on the face of the Earth. He will arrive at the
pinnacle of civilization."
"Yes," said King
Nebuchadnezzar, "I will be going to New Yawk City." The monarch smiled grandly.
"There, buildings stand a third of a mile tall, and huge horseless
carriages travel underneath the streets."
Surman gritted his teeth. His liege was
acting like the perfect fool. This Doctor Goodman reeked like a total fraud.
However, his wonders from the future baffled not only the advisor but all the
experts of Babylonia. "And he can bring
nothing with him?" asked the advisor.
"No," Doctor Goodman said
softly. "Only with transference with the time machine itself can physical
objects be transported."
"So, he will arrive in this New Yawk
City naked?" Surman asked
bitterly.
"Come now," objected King
Nebuchadnezzar, "what I need surely I will attain. Why I'll be in the lap
of luxury, will I not?"
"Yes, indeed, you shall!"
eagerly agreed Doctor Goodman with a smile.
"Then it is all settled," the king
of kings said as he entered the chamber. Doctor Goodman shut the door behind
him. He examined the controls and dials, making sure they were exactly set.
Then he pulled the lever. The machine started vibrating and then suddenly
stopped. The door then opened, revealing a vacant chamber. All the Babylonians
were overwhelmed with awe.
###
"Okay, mister, I'm sure you got some
good reason why you're wearing your birthday suit in Times
Square?"
"Yes," replied King
Nebuchadnezzar, "I have just traveled through time to witness the greatest
city on Earth."
The monarch looked upwards at the tremendous towers seemingly touching the sky.
In the air, he saw an immense bird. He contemplated that the awe-inspiring
sight was a machine carrying people. The King let out a long, delightful laugh.
"Okay, okay, and just who might you
be then?" asked the cop.
"Why, I am King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the king of
kings!"
"O' Malley, this is Lewis; send the
transport to Times Square; we got ourselves a
real winner here."
King Nebuchadnezzar continued to take in
the sights, overcome with awe.
"You'll be coming with me, Your
Majesty," the police officer said gruffly.
"And where shall you be taking
me?"
"Oh, we have a great place for all
visiting royalty who show up naked. It's called Bellevue Psychiatric
Hospital."
"Splendid," cried out King
Nebuchadnezzar, "will there be a harem of wenches awaiting me there?"
If you enjoyed this story, you definitely want to read In The Mind Of Maggoo!
