Michelle wondered if she was the only one that noticed the piano notes that drifted through the low-lit bar. At least, she thought it was a piano. The notes were well-played, but the buzzing chatter of inebriated patrons threatened to drown it.
She stirred her cocktail slowly, wondering if she should have chosen a different night, a different dress, or even a different bar to end a Friday night where she accepts another man’s offer to buy her a drink. The man, whose name she was still unsure of at the moment, had seemed disappointed in her prudent decision on a light drink over the stronger ones he had recommended. Nevertheless, he remained obliviously insistent on attempting to impress her with the tale of how he had heroically fixed Eden Corporation’s financial statements in time for the government auditing.
Unfortunately for him, no amount of alcohol could turn fictitious numbers and imaginary spreadsheets into a realistic opportunity for sating his desires, and Michelle decided to gamble on attempting to divert the topic at hand.
“As fascinating as this is,” Michelle smiled at him, “I accepted your invitation to drink because you promised to tell me about Mr. Engel.”
He was visibly taken aback, but regained his composure quickly. “Ah, Adam Engel? Yes, yes, his name popped up multiple times when I pored over Eden Corp’s statements. Eccentric, he is. Not only did he give billions to the corporation, it seems it was done so as a donation and not as an investment.”
This was immediately interesting information, far more than the earlier knowledge that Eden Corporation was doing well financially and within government regulations.
“Mr. Engel accepted no stock shares in the company?” she asked, looking to clarify. She wasn’t sure if she understood correctly.
“None whatsoever,” was the reply, “And I know of course because I handled all of the financial documents. There’s quite literally no stock unaccounted for, and none of them bear his name or are related at all to him, whether through shell companies or other entities. He only has a seat on the Board, but if David is to be believed, Adam never appears.”
Michelle sipped gently at her drink as she mused at this knowledge. The wealthiest, oldest man in the world, donating well over $140 billion to the most well-known and secretive health company in the world without so much as a stock option. Something to dig for, perhaps? But she needed more information.
“I notice you called him Adam. You’ve met him?” she asked, attempting to keep the conversation flowing. She needed more information if she was to draw any conclusions.
He gulped deeply at his drink, then set it down and belched loudly, causing Michelle to wrinkle her nose. “Once. He was visiting the head doctor, who shares a name with you, by the way. I assume Eden provides him with health care. We all know about Adam’s various, shall we say, dangerous desires to experience life,” he laughed. “I met him in the corridors and immediately tried to talk to him, of course, him being the Adam Engel. If anything, in the short time we talked I distinctively remember his reiteration to simply call him Adam. So, I call him Adam.”
He looked at the bartender. “Another, please. Same drink.”
The bartender frowned at her companion. “Are you sure? It’s quite strong.”
But her companion waved dismissively, “Yes. And for my lady here…” but he paused, looking at Michelle after she removed her hand from his arm. “Is something wrong?”
She lifted up her half-finished glass in response to his questioning gaze.
“Oh,” he said, “Is it not good? I recommend something much, much better. Bartender, do you have anything stronger, like a Long Island, or a – ”
“No, no,” Michelle spoke hastily, “I simply haven’t finished my drink yet.”
“Ah,” he said disappointingly, “Of course. Take your time.”
The bartender came and set down a new drink, from which her companion emptied half of it in one gulp.
“Funny thing,” he continued, “When I asked him what memo I should note his donations under – the forms and government stuff generally don’t want you to leave it blank – he replied ‘For time.’ Can you believe that? The man is well into his one hundred and forties, and he’s still looking to kick it.”
Michelle looked at her drink, stirring it slowly, wondering if she had chosen to spend her time unwisely. But she tried regardless. “Well, we all know David Solomon’s ambition with Eden Corp.”
Her companion chuckled, then drank the other half. “Don’t we all, don’t we all. Forget Adam, Michelle. I expect he’s a dodgy old codger with nothing better to do than to seek death while evading it.” He reached and grabbed her by the arm, exactly where she had touched his. “I fully expected you to ask me more about Eden, not Adam.”
Michelle attempted to withdraw her hand, but his grip was tight. Taking in a deep breath, she shook his hand off her arm swiftly. “There’s a lot everyone wants to know about Eden, of course.”
“Ohhhh, of course,” he responded, his speech slurring. “Everyone wants to know about Eden. Eden the Garden, of course. The Garden of Eden, under his most royal rich-ass Daaaaaaaaavid Sol-” but he yelped loudly. Michelle looked at him, backing away, but he did not make another attempt to grab her. Instead, her companion was looking at the bartender, and Michelle realized that the bartender was holding down his hand.
“Miss,” the bartender smiled at Michelle, “is your companion too drunk?”
“LET GO, you little-” her companion swore loudly, then Michelle blinked.
The world had gone silent.
Michelle looked around her surroundings, wondering if she was having one of those “out of body” experiences. Everything had frozen, like a snapshot of time.
She walked around the silent world. Next to her, the fizz that emanated from the beer glass looked like tiny sparkles of fireworks as the bubbles popped in midair. Her own seat was tilted precariously towards her, threatening to fall in her direction from how she had hastily vacated it earlier.
Around her, other patrons were equally locked in the moment of their actions. One seemed to her as though he was drowning in the mug of alcohol tilted to his open mouth. Another looked comically stuck at the moment of taking a bite out of their food. Michelle almost laughed to herself. Her mind had conjured up a reversing of that, causing her to imagine that the person was instead, spooning the food out of their own mouth.
Then she blanched at the thought of how that would even work.
Bringing herself back to her situation, she tested her earlier seat. It seemed that it was truly frozen in time, for she applied some pressure to it yet it did not tilt even further, or regain its balance.
Which meant that she had to stand near her seat as she contemplated the seemingly obvious.
Something . . . was not quite right here. She knew that, yet she did not dare to believe that. Michelle wrestled with her critical self-doubt even in the face of absolute certainty.
Searching her memories and trying to recall what had happened, she muttered to herself out loud. “Something must have been in my drink then.”
“I take offense at that.”
She almost screamed, taking several steps back. The bartender was actually moving. His eyes were looking at her. Michelle’s eyes were drawn to a glowing, dully golden chain that hung from the bartender’s left breast pocket.
“I would never slip anything unnecessary in a lady’s drink.” The bartender continued to say, letting his hand go from her companion. Her companion’s features were grotesquely locked mid-sentence, his ruddy complexion obvious even in the dark lighting.
“What- What’s happened here? Everything’s stopped. Everyone’s stopped moving. It’s almost like…”
The bartender’s head tilted forward slightly, his eyes twinkling at her.
“Like…time has stopped,” Michelle finished lamely. “I’m sorry,” she apologized almost immediately to no one in particular, “That was extremely stupid to say, I don’t know why I even said it.”
“But you are absolutely correct on what you think it’s like, Michelle,” replied the bartender. “Why did you apologize?”
“I…what? Correct?”
The bartender lifted himself over the counter and dropped down in front of her.
“Candid observation. Appropriate conclusion. Precise examination. Proper review. Legitimate perception. Take your pick, for you are correct. Time, as you can see, has stopped. Though, it pains me to interject my own observation and conclusion from watching you: You suffer from critical self-doubt.”
Still stunned, Michelle tried to collect her bearings in front of this eccentric man.
“I’m sorry, who are you? Aren’t you the bartender? How come only the two of us are moving?” Michelle had so many questions. “What is happening? Am I dreaming? Who are you? I’m sorry, I think I asked the same question twice, but I’m not sure. But, what is happening?”
The man’s expression changed to a slight frown, as he tugged at the chain hanging from his breast pocket, fishing out a golden pocket watch. He flipped it open and then gazed deeply at the watch. “Unreliable.”
“Who are you?” Michelle blurted out again, unhappy at his statement and ignoring her in the moment. For it was a moment, she thought to herself. But then the pocket watch’s cover clacked as he closed it, and her attention was brought back to him.
“I am the Time Merchant,” he replied, “And you may call me Kolo.”
The statements, seemingly innocuous, and probably most definitely possibly were, only served to confuse Michelle even further after a moment of contemplation.
“Time . . . Merchant?” she questioned quizzically, then pointed at the pocket watch in his hand, “As in, you sell watches?”
“No, Michelle,” the Time Merchant replied, looking straight at her, “In a way, I sell time.”
And for the first time in her life, Michelle felt something tugging away at the corner of her mind. A feeling she had always longed for, yet never experienced. For without needing more information to dispel any shade of doubt, she was certain. She was absolutely certain in such a way she didn’t question herself. The one thing anyone could ever be certain about.
She was afraid.
Kolo gestured towards her seat pointedly, then raised an eyebrow.
Michelle was still certain of her fear, but walked towards the seat.
“There’s no need to fear me, Michelle. I am here to help you.”
Michelle glanced back at her erstwhile companion as she sat down again. “Well, thank you, but this is a bit drastic.”
Gesturing sarcastically, Kolo said, “I didn’t mean your rude companion, though I must question your choice of company.“
“I….didn’t know if he was going to be good company. Or not.”
“Well, that’s sort of why I’m here,” Kolo replied. “Also, no.”
Michelle blinked. “To… save women from unwanted harassment?”
“I replied to that already. And yes.”
But Michelle wasn’t certain. “You did? Oh. Wait. ‘Also, no?'”
Kolo gave her an exasperated look.
“I’m sorry,” Michelle tried apologizing, “This conversation has gotten very, very confusing. I can’t tell if you meant yes or no.”
He seemed to ignore her, looking at his pocket watch. “I thought you wanted to know the answer beforehand, and so I tried to set your mind at ease. Give you a sense of… certainty.”
The feeling came back, tugging away in the undercurrents of her thoughts. She knew something.
She felt it.
She was afraid of it.
She was…
She was certain.
“You feel it,” Kolo observed.
“You’re the Time Merchant,” Michelle stated. Kolo bowed his head slightly.
“And this….” Michelle gestured around her at the still-frozen situation, “all of this. You.”
Kolo smiled at her and nodded. “Now say it,” he encouraged.
Michelle paused for a moment, the feeling building up in her. She knew what he wanted her to say.
“I want certainty. No,” she corrected herself. “I wanted certainty.”
Raising his eyebrow again, the Time Merchant tilted his head at her.
“How do you like the experience?” he asked.
She knew. “This … feeling. It’s your doing, isn’t it? I’m certain.”
Kolo smiled at the unintended pun. “Yes. Quite. I decided that instead of answering your questions ahead of time, I merely give you a taste of what you want. It’s amazing, isn’t it?”
“Yes. I feel it! I feel the sense of certainty. The knowing which action to take, what to say, the things that will lead me to the desired outcome!”
Michelle spun towards the Time Merchant excitedly. “You are here to make me a deal.”
The Time Merchant’s smile widened.
Michelle’s mind raced, her thoughts going through multiple scenarios and possibilities at a breakneck pace.
“I can pay with, something. My life? No, wait that’s incorrect. You want me to…” her eyes widened, looking at Kolo’s stoic face, then looking down the golden chain to the Time Merchant’s open pocket watch.
She looked back up at Kolo, then said, “You want me to help you find someone in the future. And…give them an item.”
Kolo smiled this time.
“Yes,” he said, pulling a white card out of his breast pocket. “You will need my card.”
Michelle opened her mouth, wanting to ask about the seemingly blank card. She thought about it the lack of information or instruction that the Time Merchant had given her, then chuckled to herself, “Ahh. I’ll just know, when the time comes.”
“Precisely,” Kolo replied.
The Time Merchant looked at his watch, then continued, “I’m counting on it.”
“I… see?” Michele questioned. The feeling was lost. It was gone. Gone!
“And do we have a deal?” asked the Time Merchant.
GONE! She didn’t know. She couldn’t know. She wanted to know.
“Yes!” she said, almost shouted. “I think so! Please!”
“You understand your method of payment?” Kolo asked.
Michelle clutched her fist, looking at it for confirmation, and brandished the paper card in her fist. “I can’t do it without… it, you know?!”
Kolo’s face seemed concerned as he looked into her eyes, but Michelle couldn’t be sure. “It’s an addicting feeling at first, Michelle. Are you sure?”
“I’m almost certain of it.” she replied after an agonizing moment.
The Time Merchant then flipped his hand over, revealing two more blank cards.
“Three total,” he stated, offering them to Michelle.
After a moment’s hesitation, she closed her eyes and reached for the cards.
The sound almost overwhelmed her as the buzzing chatter washed over her like a wave, with a hint of piano notes hidden in the undercurrents.
“—shit. What the—?!”
Michelle blinked.
“Dear patron, you should know that our establishment has a strict moral code. Please do not act inappropriately with your female friend. Unless, of course, his actions are welcome, miss?”
Kolo was looking at her, still holding down her companion’s hand. Everything was back to moving through time again.
But now, Michelle felt differently about the situation.
She shook her head, then spoke confidently, “No, bartender. I think I’ve had enough of his companionship for the evening. Could you help me hail a taxi?”
“I, what? Michelle, I …” her companion stammered, still struggling with his trapped hand.
“You have been a waste of what could have otherwise been a perfect evening,” Michelle stated coldly. She was seething inwardly at how she could have been so deluded before, lured by the idea of what she did not know. Her newfound certainty was certainly going to be put to good use from now on.
Kolo motioned, and a bouncer came up. “Could you keep this gentleman occupied while I call this guest a taxi?”
The bouncer nodded, then stood between Michelle and her companion. Kolo motioned towards the door, but Michelle was already walking towards it.
“Oh, and here’s a bucket. He’ll need it.” She heard Kolo instruct the bouncer as she walked outside into the night.
He did not make her wait long, joining her outside the bar as she patiently leaned against the wall.
“It’ll be here soon, I know,” she spoke to Kolo as he came up to her. “And yes. And then… yes, and then no.”
He looked at her sharply. “I see. A bit of advice, Michelle. Don’t overuse it. Don’t become greedy. Don’t look too far ahead. And,” he added after a pause, “Curiosity is a beast best kept on a short leash.”
She frowned. “You speak from personal experience.”
Kolo shrugged. She asked regardless, knowing he would answer. “Do I have a choice in the matter?”
“Of course you do,” Kolo replied. “That’s why I’m telling you beforehand. You must choose not to look. It’s the one thing you should never know.”
“Hm,” Michelle stepped forward, knowing her ride was almost here. “You are most definitely right when you called curiosity a beast.”
The taxi pulled up, and Kolo reached forward to open the door for her as she walked towards the vehicle. “Trust me on this, Michelle. Don’t look.”
She settled into her seat, then looked back at the bartender with his glowing chain.
“But you know mine. That seems … unfair. Do you know your own?”
Kolo chuckled. “Oh, I am looking for it.”
“I see,” Michelle replied. “And the last thing you want to tell me?”
“The Garden does not hold the solution.”
It took her a few moments to register. “But there is one,” she replied earnestly.
Kolo smiled, and the door shut closed.
“Where to, miss?” asked the driver. Michelle comfortably gave him her address instead of a location several blocks away.
“I must say,” the driver tried to be conversational after a few blocks, “You two had the weirdest exchange. Almost sounded like your conversation was scripted — except it doesn’t make sense if you only listen to it the first time.”
She thought about that, then smiled. “Perhaps it was,” she conceded. “Perhaps it was.”
“Well, if you won’t tell me, I can’t do anything about it. Who was he, anyways? I see he gave you his card.”
Michelle realized she was still clutching two of the porcelain white cards. She stared at them slowly, and almost answered the driver’s question, but checked ahead and decided against it.
“Just a bartender,” she replied, placing the cards into her breast pocket, knowing she will remember them later. “Though, you wouldn’t believe his part-time job.”
The waves that crashed against the cliff side created a misty spray. Then the dissipating energy of the waves carried that mist upwards as powerful drafts.
This mist looked like a sheet of cloud spraying upwards from the edge of the cliff. It was an ethereal curtain answering the summons of the orange skies, billowing Michelle’s hair in all directions.
“I was waiting,” she finally said, knowing she did not need to shout against the sound of the waves.
The Time Merchant walked up to stand next to her.
“And I know you know,” Michelle forcibly continued in the awkward pause.
“You didn’t heed my advice,” Kolo eventually answered. “No shrugging. I don’t care if it’s human nature.”
Michelle narrowed her eyes exasperatedly, then sighed at his jab. “Curiosity was a bigger beast than I thought.”
“And your leash was not short enough.”
She wanted to ignore him, but watched as another blast of misty vapor shot up the cliff. The skies were darkening into a light purple as the sun hit the horizon.
“You met Daniel, Ellie, and Brandon.” Michelle stated clearly.
The Time Merchant waited until the next gust before he responded. “I did.”
“And you failed all of them, Kolo.”
“That’s quite harsh, Michelle.” Kolo replied.
She shrugged in response. “I’m sure you’ll forgive me if I ignore my manners.”
She looked at Kolo. At the Time Merchant.
“What happens after this?”
The Time Merchant’s lips curled upwards slightly. “That knowledge would cost you.”
Michelle leaned forwards slightly, looking down the cliff. At the rocks jutting out below, at the frothy foam that coated the rock tips like crusty crowns. “I want to know.”
Kolo joined her in looking at it, nodding sympathetically. “Yes. Alluring, isn’t it? That feeling of tasting the unknown again.”
She didn’t answer immediately.
“I wish I could have turned this off.”
“You were certainly serious about besting uncertainty, only now you are certain of how much you crave it.”
She did not want to respond, for they both knew he was right. Instead, she realized how much her shoulders had been tense, and relaxed them.
“Well, this is it, Kolo. The most certain thing of them all.” Michelle spun around slowly at the edge. “The most certain way to stop all of this.”
The Time Merchant did not reply.
Michelle stopped and looked at him. Kolo’s face held a perplexing expression.
“This isn’t your first time,” she reminded him, leaning slightly towards him on her toes, then bouncing back onto the balls of her feet.
Her balanced tipped backwards, and the rushing sense of vertigo forced her to fight the instinct to flail her arms just as Kolo caught her forearm, gripping tightly.
They hung like that for a few moments, as another misty curtain billowed up past her body, the thick vapor clouding her view of Kolo’s face. The purple night was coming even as the moon’s silvery glow bathed the mist in a celestial glow, before the cloud dissipated.
“You chose the right place,” Kolo finally said, his expression incomprehensible. “The right time.”
“It all led here. It had always led here. And like you said — I ruined it for myself,” Michelle spoke sheepishly.
His closed his eyes, then bowed his head slightly.
“Goodbye to you too,” she said playfully. “And I should say this to you, I guess. Thank you, Kolo. You tried, for everyone.”
Michelle felt him loosen his grip.
And she leaned backwards, towards her pursuit of the unknown. Certainly, she did.
For more Time Merchant stories, please visit the index!
Monadic Storytelling 