The Tambinder Engine (part seventeen)

The Tambinder Engine 

(part seventeen)

Werin Dycks, aged 57, ruled suicide by drowning

Amanda Allenson, aged 23, ruled suicide by drowning

Lan Tran, aged 30, ruled suicide by drowning

Carl Butters, aged 32, ruled suicide by drowning

Fian Cornach, aged 24, ruled suicide by drowning

Talley McNeil, aged 44, ruled suicide by drowning

Deenie skimmed these names, these drownings of 2098. They had not stopped the engine, but Victor had crafted a fix, a way of slowing its tendency to ramp up.

Victor had to convince them, harangue at them for weeks, that the ramping up was impossible to sustain, that the engine would be of no value to Bitterroot, no value to investors, if it were not stabilized and brought to a steady pace of work. The board members wanted merely to “see where it took them”; they seemed, not indifferent, Victor had told a confidant (possibly we are referring to Dustin Carmadge), but freefalling morally. They had drawn the supernatural from the depths. They conducted themselves as though some allowance of time might cease this trend of suicides, the sighting of strange figures near the river,

This note—she would almost have found its voice McAlley’s—ended at the comma. A handwritten addendum told her four people had drowned to date in 2099, so the slowing of the engine had been of some use.

Freefalling, that was the feeling. These deaths, this sheaf of horrid little testimonies; and the casual ending, scribbled. But the year remained 2098.

The day was September 2.

She sat at the kitchen table, connecting her phone to the international app whose bot would let her state a problem.

“A woman is trying to kill herself. By drowning. Her name is…” Jennifer Salvio.

But, time zones. Jennifer was dead already, she had died yesterday? And who am I to know? They have not identified the body. They will send the police to pick me up.

I’m sorry. I did not understand you.

It recited to Deenie her name, her phone number and location. Is this correct?

“Yes.”

Do you need emergency assistance?

“No.”

Do you wish to be connected to a person? Please state the name or number.

“Dustin Carmadge.”

Tones came from the speaker. These things were too quick for music.

Dustin said, “Who’s this?”

Deep breath. “Baby, it’s your mother. I am so…”

“God, I don’t need it.” He was talking to someone else. He clicked off.

26

The Tambinder Engine

The Tambinder Engine (part eighteen)

(2025, Stephanie Foster)