No more fuel

Winston Laker surveyed the crowd through the thin gap in the curtain that separated the main auditorium from backstage. He hadn't expected this many journalists in one room before, and was amazed to see them continuing to flow in - squeezing themselves in, tighter and tighter. Down at the front, countless camera crews were fiddling with their lenses - the bright video lights casting stark and unflattering shadows across the bare stage.

'Thirty seconds, Mr Laker,' said a girl who had come up to him, grasping his arm reassuringly before rushing off, clipboard in hand. Laker was taken aback at how pretty she was, reminding him of his granddaughter, Vie. He rustled his notes in his hand and then proceeded to loosen his tie and unbutton the top of his shirt. The heat of the room did not help his nerves ' the lights and several hundred bodies combined to raise the temperature to an uncomfortable level. He felt sweat dripping down his back, teasing him to scratch where he couldn't reach.

'Ladies and gentlemen of the press,' came the amplified voice of Archibald T. Moss, Dean of South Bend University. The noise levels rapidly fell until there was almost complete silence. Moss was no doubt enjoying the attention that the Thermodynamic department had attracted over the last few weeks. Never before had a single subject prompted the world's media to descend upon the sleepy Illinois town.

'It is with great pleasure that I present to you my friend and most esteemed colleague ' Winston Laker,'

The applause was deafening - on that cue, Winston stumbled absently through the curtains ' forgetting that he was supposed to enter through stage left ' and approached the podium slowly, grinning at all of the attention.

The clapping died down, and was replaced by an expectant pause. Laker deliberately took his time to settle his papers and put on his spectacles. He didn't want to rush this ' not now. He coughed loudly before addressing the crowd.

'Er ' thank you, Dean Moss. Thank you for your introduction.' He looked up and surveyed the faces, noting that most of them were half his age or less. 'I am here today to bring you momentous news. Never before, in the history of mankind, has there been so desperate a need for a solution. A solution that will transform our lives, re-mould our cities and transport us into a new age of humanity. The crisis we know today as global warming has reached levels of devastation that was unheard of a century ago. In the last decade alone, we have seen the tragedy of thirty million dead and two billion left homeless. Automotive manufacturers and Oil companies have dragged their heels in spite of the clear signs. Instead, they have chosen to blame environmentalists for scaremongering and attack politicians for climbing on the eco-bandwagon.'

A few snorts of agreement rippled through the crowd.

'The internal combustion engine has been one of the major contributors to this crime against the planet. In over a hundred years, the basic design has remained unchanged ' curious considering the great technological progress of the twentieth century. I say this is wrong. I say this is inexcusable. I say this is the time for change!

Friends of the world, I have fought long and hard to make a contribution to the community ' both local and global. In so doing I have sacrificed many things ' my health, my family and my career. Perhaps this was too high a price to pay, perhaps this was not high enough. But the one thing I do know is that if my efforts somehow manage to rescue mankind from self-destruction, then I know that it would have been worth it.

No doubt you will have heard the rumors, spoken to so called experts and generally speculated on the reason for this gathering. I suppose it's time I put you out of your misery.' He paused mischievously, before bellowing, 'Lawrence!'

On cue, Winston's grandson, Lawrence, appeared on stage pulling a handle that was attached to a trolley carrying a seemingly heavy object hidden under a green sheet.

'Today, on Saturday the 13th October, I present to you the world's first ultra-efficent, zero-emission, self-powered engine.'

With that announcement, and accompanied by sudden gasps and murmurings, the sheet was pulled off with a carnival-like gesture. Atop the small trolley sat a square, metal cube with a number of protruding pipes and raised features. It was not particularly beautiful to look at, but it shone gloriously in the artificial light.

Cameras began to flash in quick succession while the first images of this curious object were beamed across the globe.

'Ladies and Gentlemen, this unit will replace every conceivable energy device across the planet. It will not generate any greenhouse gases and it will not spew any carcinogens into the air. It runs on water and light but will not deplete our water reserves ' don't worry, I thought about that one. It has a lifetime of approximately five hundred years as there are no moving parts, and is built from just fifty dollars-worth of Aluminum. Its design is scaleable ' from the size of a pinhead, to the size of the moon. In my mind, it is the answer to a solution I wish had never existed.
The noise levels began to soar. Moss approached the podium and gestured for quiet.

'You will receive,' continued Laker 'a detailed and comprehensive schematic and instructions on how to build one.' After that, he began to cough violently and steadied himself before making his exit. There were a hundred questions flying through the air, and Winston ignored them all.

He stopped, however, when he heard one question.

'How does it feel to be a future billionaire, Mr Laker?'

Winston turned to the plucky young man and laughed.

'Billionaire? Who said I was going to make any money out of this? This engine is licenced for free. For the good of mankind. I don't want any money for it.'

'But ' what about the oil companies? The car manufacturers? Have you been in talks with them?'

'Heh ' no, not really. Do you think that those companies would want to market a device that put them out of a job? No, me neither. I am a man who will no doubt be hunted down by every car maker, oil baron and electricity company on earth. The price on my head will be in the millions. But ' I have one more trick up my sleeve. The cancer eating away at my nervous system will finish me off if they don't get to me first.

'Sounds like the oil magnates will finally get their comeuppance!'

'Perhaps. I just hope they leave me alone. Now, if you'll excuse me - my grandson is waiting to take me home.'