Short Fiction · Chapter
I: Foraminifera 9 explained
Foraminifera 9-Hart Bailey's Beam, a being from a future era of extreme tedium, uses a viewing machine to scan history for a time of adventure and excitement.
What happens
Foraminifera 9-Hart Bailey's Beam, a being from a future era of extreme tedium, uses a viewing machine to scan history for a time of adventure and excitement. After finding every age boring, he uses an index at the Learning Lodge to locate a period with secret, colorful desperadoes. He chooses the mid-20th century, packs his gear, and travels via transmission capsule. Upon arrival, he encounters two rival gangs—the Leopards and the Boomer Dukes—and attempts to find the Mafia, but is betrayed and knocked unconscious.
Themes in this chapter
Alienation and Identity
Foraminifera 9 feels alienated from his own time due to its tedium and seeks a new identity through adventure in the past.
Survival and Adaptation
Foraminifera 9 must adapt to the unfamiliar and dangerous environment of mid-20th century Earth, using his advanced technology to survive encounters with hostile gangs.
Rebellion and Revolution
The Mafia is portrayed as a revolutionary organization fighting against society, which attracts Foraminifera 9's desire for excitement and rebellion.
Characters to notice
- Foraminifera 9-Hart Bailey's Beam
The protagonist, a being from a future era of boredom, who travels back in time seeking adventure and excitement.
- Leopards
A gang of young men in orange jackets who first encounter Foraminifera 9 and attempt to rob him.
- Boomer Dukes
A rival gang in blue jackets who find Foraminifera 9 after he defeats the Leopards, but also intend to rob him.
Key passages
“I arrogated a small viewing machine, and scanned the centuries of the past in the hope that a sanctuary might reveal itself to my aching eyes.”
I took a small viewing device and searched through past centuries, hoping to find a refuge for my weary spirit.
Foraminifera 9 uses a time-viewing machine to search for a more exciting era.
“It was like an enormous library in which there must, there had to be, contained the one fact I was looking for—that, lacking an index, I might wear my life away and never find.”
It felt like a vast library holding the single piece of information I needed, but without an index, I could waste my entire life searching.
Foraminifera 9 realizes he needs an index to find the right time period.
“I had found my wonderland of adventure! Ah, hours and days of exciting preparation!”
I had discovered my perfect adventure world! The preparations were thrilling and took many hours and days.
Foraminifera 9 is excited about his chosen time period and the preparations for his journey.
“I quickly perceived that his intention was not favorable, and attempted to turn around in order to discharge at him with the Stollgratz 16, but he was very rapid.”
I realized his intentions were hostile and tried to shoot him with my Stollgratz 16, but he was too fast.
Foraminifera 9 is attacked by a member of the Boomer Dukes and knocked unconscious.