After recording the Free School's "video lesson" and "impromptu magic show after class," Abner took Fors to Satch Street in Saint George Borough to visit the great inventor, Mr. Rappard.
Abner had previously given him blueprints for a "camera" and "projector" of his own design, neither of which relied on Beyonder Abilities, and asked him to improve them and build prototypes. Several days had passed, so they should be nearly ready.
Rappard was a tall, thin man in his thirties with black hair and blue eyes. Though he wore gray-blue work clothes, he looked like a scholar.
The inventor was delighted to see Abner. He led them straight into his workshop and up to a machine taller than a person.
"The principles behind the Square Canon you designed aren't complicated, and you've clearly thought them through. There was little I could improve... But the phonograph built into it is an invention ahead of its time. I'm still amazed by your brilliant design.
"Devices that trace sound waves have existed for ages, but no one paid them much attention. Only you thought to reproduce sound by using a metal needle to cut grooves into a wax cylinder.
"That opened up new possibilities for me. I made a series of changes to your blueprints... Now this prototype can record over twenty minutes of images and sound."
Rappard spoke with excitement. He sincerely believed that taking part in this invention would earn him a place in history! He even wanted to return the money Detective Braine had paid him up front, feeling he had gotten the better end of the deal.
Fors glanced at the "behemoth" before them, her expression odd. The mystical version of the Square Canon she had just used had recorded for hours on end...
"Excellent." After a quick test,