Comment from equestrik

Excellent

I know this item well! Good write for the contest. Hoe common things can be but when the finder has no frame of reference it seems exotic. Good write.

 Comment Written 13-Dec-2020

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reply by the author on 15-Dec-2020

Now that the contest is over, I wish to thank you for the gracious affirmation. You play? Have you a concert schedule yet? Please advise when you do.
Fantasist

reply by equestrik on 15-Dec-2020

no concert, no public any more but i do play the guitar, drums and a few others, it has been awhile

Comment from Cynthia Adams1

Excellent

You certainly nailed all the scientific talk.
Your story reads well; it was a bit like reading a Star Trek script.
As you can see from the fact there are only two entries, the rest of us were either scared away by how hard this story seemed to be or we tried to do it but failed. I commend you on putting out this very well-done effort.
I didn't know what a jaw harp is and had to look it up; which is fine.
It's always nice to learn something new.
Strong entry in the contest.

 Comment Written 13-Dec-2020

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reply by the author on 15-Dec-2020

Thanks for stopping by. Now that the contest is over, they are charming little devices aren't they? I have seen them used and haven't determined what class of instrument they fit in, if any. Probably like a whistler, the skin flute. Maybe I should have posted one of the alternates I ginned up. It was haunted by the spirit of another explorer long gone. The spirit in the device was trying to return to its home system though only able to achieve partial control of the human. Differences in its concept of normal and the captive's were astoundingly different resulting in comic confusion; as when communication problems arose and the battle between the host and symbiant for control during their variant sleep cycles.

Livelong and write well,

Fantasist

Comment from palmart

Exceptional

I found your poem full of details that make it much more attractive as future will have language and science that may probably be non-understandable for today`s knowledge. Full of future terms and apparatus well imagined. I found it very attractive. Great job!

 Comment Written 13-Dec-2020

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reply by the author on 15-Dec-2020

Master palmart,
Now that the contest is finished, I wish to thank you for the extremely generous affirmation. This was one a a couple of variants on the theme, the truest to the discovery and evaluation processes. I checked the periodic table of elements and dug out some of my college texts to lay the framework for the posting. So I thank you for your attention to the details of this whimsy.

Live long and write well,

Fantasist

reply by palmart on 15-Dec-2020

Wow, Fantasist!! You did some research to write this work! That is something readers can feel and be happy about!

Have a Wonderful time and a Merry Christmas with your close people!

Don`t forget to write your wishes! Sometimes, Santa comes with some spare miracles and yours can turn into reality!!

Comment from Elizabeth Emerald

Excellent

Intriguing--skillful narration--with technical details that sound credible--I'll take it on faith. Is the reader supposed to figure out what the image is from the story? I sure couldn't. Sugg: more extensive notes.

 Comment Written 12-Dec-2020

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reply by the author on 15-Dec-2020

Lady Elizabeth Emerald,

Thank you for stopping by and the assuring words and gracious affirmation of this bit of whimsy.

Live long and write well,

Fantasist

PS - Did you read the notes at the end of the post? I did identify the object.

reply by Elizabeth Emerald on 15-Dec-2020

Yes, I read the note--what I mean is were we supposed to figure that out for ourselves just by reading? (Esp. if we don't already know what a jew-harp looks like.)

Comment from Bill Schott

Excellent

This was a neat story that fits the category challenge perfectly. Thanks for identifying the jaw harp in the notes as I would never have figured it bout.

 Comment Written 12-Dec-2020

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reply by the author on 15-Dec-2020

Master Bill Schott,

Thanks for stopping by, offering the encouragement and the stellar display of affirmation.

Simply shows that an unfamiliar tool can be confounding. Growing up in rural Wyoming before WWII, I was familiar with horse-drawn farm equipment and watched my grandfather make horse shoes and other parts in his forge. I was privileged to crank the blower to heat the iron and steel quicker than simply soaking it in the coal fire with natural draft. Not long ago, I was visiting in historic Lander when I saw a couple of tourists puzzling over a device on display. Huge, huge, straight-cut gears were prominent and a long lever with a ratchet device and pawl to hold the gear in place after it was moved a few degrees. As I explained, the wooden wheels of the wagons had a circumferential steel band as a tire to protect the wooden wheels from damage. However, constant use would cause the steel band to stretch and loosen. Then the tire was removed and placed in the machine we were looking at. By brute force verified by the mechanical and geared force advantage, it would literally compress the metal together between the gears and become thicker and the tire became smaller in diameter as it was forced through the device. A fine eye was necessary. When the tire was processed to the degree necessary, being slightly smaller in circumference now than the wood wheel it would be fitted to, the steel band would be heated to make it expand, fitted to the wheel and immediately cooled with wet rags to shrink it tightly against the wheel and be ready for months more of use. The alternative was to cut the tire, remove a slight amount from the end, then hammer weld it together and refit.

I wonder who thought of that concept, then designed that tool.

Live long and write well,

Fantasist

Comment from Judy Lawless

Excellent

Well written. It does indeed invoke curiosity! After reading it twice, I'm still not sure if I am supposed to know what the object is. I'll be interested to read further reviews that might enlighten me.

"That center part could act (as) a clasp I suppose."

 Comment Written 12-Dec-2020

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reply by the author on 15-Dec-2020

Lady Judy Lawless,

Thanks for stopping by and the gracious affirmation. I did identify it in the end notes. Not many are familiar with the device and fewer have seen it used.

Live long and write well,

Fantasist

Comment from royowen

Excellent

You've painted a slightly scary view of what archaeological mission might be, and to have them view us would be interesting, because in reality we have to take the viewpoint of archaeological finds in our past, and take the so called "experts" version of the past now. Beautifully written my friend, you've written a clever post, with an educational view so well written, well done, blessings Roy

 Comment Written 12-Dec-2020

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reply by the author on 15-Dec-2020

Master royowen,

My sincerest thanks for your extensive comments and fine affirmation. Have you ever seen a jaw harp used? It was mostly in the very traditional western or country bands. Like the washboard, it was improvised to provide a unique sound.

Live long and write well,

Fantasist

reply by royowen on 15-Dec-2020

Only on TV. my friend,

reply by the author on 15-Dec-2020

God bless YouTube!