Phantogram - Chapter III
A longtime burden is finally lifted.
THE FIRST OF the funding arrived around a week after Marcus sent the letter. In that time, neither he nor Ielouah has gotten much sleep. Both were continuously thinking about the visit from the Professor. Mont was a seven day trip from Chan-Tudor. How were they supposed to get the machine there? When a letter was sent back, the two used it as a way to distract themselves from there thoughts. When the zeroes were counted on the check they were sent, Marcus left to buy more materials, leaving Ielouah alone with the response.
All the letter said was that they will send them anything necessary in order to get the machine finished. “Once the device has been completed," it said, “please send us a letter saying so so that we can send someone to pick it up. It will take around two weeks after you send a response. Be ready by then." Ielouah spent most of the day thinking about the letter, wondering why they have to go to Mont as well. However, his long train of thought was cut off by Marcus's return.
For an hour, the two of them moved heavy machinery into he basement, including several wheels. Ielouah looked at his husband. “Why?" he asked.
“Because this thing weighs about two tons and is in a basement. I'm trying to make it at least a little bit easier to move," Marcus snapped back in response. When all the parts were moved into the basement, Marcus rushed down and continued his work. Ielouah, too tired to run the shop, locked up early and went to bed, thinking about his future with Marcus.
MARCUS worked on the Phantogram late into the night. The hours went by slowly. All the parts slowly fell into place. When he installed the wheels, he hoisted the machine up with a weighted pulley, screwing them into place. Eventually, the only part he had left to install was the projector.
With all the sweat and grease, he barely felt the room get colder.
The projector, to Marcus, was one of the most important pieces on the machine. Phantasmagorical beings cannot physically exist, so the projector would allow them to project their ethereal forms into physical reality.
The temperature continued to drop. Marcus began to notice.
The projector slid into place; a small, rectangular slot near the front of the machine. The wires connected to each other, winding through the machine and leading back to the generator; a small turbine propelled by a series of pistons that create a jet stream to make the turbine spin. Marcus walked around the machine, oiling up every last piece.
Marcus finally walked back around to the back, pulling the lever that turned the machine on. The pistons pumped harder and harder, the turbine spun faster and faster. He ran back to the front, adjusting the various glasses on the projector until finally...
The room briefly dropped to freezing before returning to normal.
Marcus took a step back, in awe of what he had done. “I've done it," he whispered. “I've finally done it," he said again, louder. Marcus began to laugh like a maniac after committing a murder. “I, Marcus Bas van der Mont, have finally done it!" he yelled.
Ielouah woke up, having heard the yells. He ran downstairs as fast as his hymenopteran legs could carry him.
When he reached the basement, Ielouah witnessed a pale, white, human figure hover above the Phantogram.