Harry Jones, Electrical Wizard. (standard:science fiction, 2207 words)
Author: Oscar A Rat	Added: Jul 19 2020	Views/Reads: 1399/982	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
One day while surfing the Internet a young man finds jewel, so too speak. A way to become rich.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story


Harry hurried to a local hardware store and bought several common
electrical outlets along with appropriate plugs, wall boxes, and cords. 
He also bought a few new rechargeable "C" cells. Returning home, Harry 
quickly screwed the parts together. They resembled the wall plugs in 
his room but instead sat on the table, unconnected except to flashlight 
batteries. 

Harry pointed his finger at each of them in turn and recited his 110
volt 60 cycle spell. He then plugged his lamp, with a new bulb, into 
one of them. He also plugged a ten-inch B&W television into another, 
and his computer into the third. They all worked. 

Harry had a hard time controlling himself as he waited first a week, and
then another week. The appliances still worked perfectly. 

*** 

After waiting another week, Harry withdrew all his savings and spent it
on supplies. Working in his spare time, he assembled 500 of the 
devices, mostly for 110 volts. He made a few in 220 and even a couple 
of 440 volt devices. They were exactly the same except for the plugs 
and the voltage and amps, written on their sides with a magic marker. 

The excited man gave a couple to each of his neighbors and some to his
friends. Harry figured he didn't have to advertise. When people found 
out they worked, he'd soon have more business. 

It took another week or so before, getting home from work, he found two
people waiting at his door. 

“You that guy giving away free electricity?” the first one asked. 

“I'm the guy,” Harry told him, “but its not free anymore.” 

“How much you want for one of those, then?” 

“$100. Take it or leave it.” 

“How I know it works.” 

“You take it home and plug something in.” 

“I mean, does it have a warranty or a guarantee or sumpin'?” 

“Nope. I have a lamp you can test it on before you leave. That's all. No
guarantees after that.” 

The other customer turned and left. but the one talking said, “Okay.
Let's check it out.” 

He followed Harry into the apartment. Harry reached for the pile of
devices, chose one at random and plugged his lamp into it. When he 
turned on the lamp it worked. Harry unplugged the lamp and looked at 
the man. “Well, you want one or not?” Harry was not a born salesman. 

The customer considered a moment and paid the money. Harry thanked his
first customer and the man left. The next day, there were five 
customers. Only one balked at the price. The third day, Harry quit his 
job. As word circulated, many more customers arrived. Almost all of 
them paid him the money. 

After only a week, Harry was running out of devices. He had so far made
over $40,000 dollars on a $1,500 investment. With his profits, he hired 
three high school students to manufacture the devices and a salesman to 
help him sell them. Harry even had to retain an accountant to do the 
paperwork. He applied for a sales license and soon had a regular 
business going, “Jones Electric.” 

In another week he'd grossed over $100,000 dollars in sales. Harry
rented a billboard on a major highway and advertised. His sales soon 
increased to $500,000 a week, with a staff of 30 people. 

*** 

One day, a month or so after he started sales, a limousine parked next
to a fire plug outside his small storefront and two well-dressed men 
entered. They approached the manager. 

“Is this your store, buddy?” 

“No sir. Would you care to purchase a device?” 

“We want to see the owners.” 

“May I ask your purpose, sir? 

“Are they here or not?” 

“I'll see, sir. Please wait here a moment.” He left to see if Harry was
in. Finding him in the office, the manager told him about the men. 

“Send them right in,” Harry instructed. “I'll take care of them.” 

The men introduced themselves as Jackson & Jetson, from the J&J Electric
Company. Coming right to the point J1 stated “We would like to buy you 
out.” 

J2 finished with, “Name your price?” 

Harry sort of grinned as he answered, “I expected you a little sooner,
gentlemen. I'm not going to sell. I have a simple goal and am not 
intending to drive you out of business. But then, that's up to you.” 

“We didn't come here to play games, Mr. Jones,” from J1. 

“We want you off the playing field, Mr. Jones,” from J2. 

“It is only a matter of time. Mr, Jones,” stated J1. 

“We will outlaw your device as unsafe,” said J2. “The paperwork has
already been started. You will not only have to recall all sold units, 
but also pay a large fine and court costs.” 

“We will give you $20 million for the device, right now,” from J1. 

“No, but thanks for the offer,” Harry told them. 

“See you in court, Mr. Jones,” J1 told him, and the pair left. 

*** 

Harry enjoyed a good month, finishing with more than $20 million in
profits. J&J lost a corresponding amount. Why pay monthly for electric 
service when you can generate your own? 

Harry was rapidly reaching his goal of 100-million dollars. He didn't
put his profits in banks but salted it away using various hard to find 
methods. Some were buried, some in caves, some in undeclared foreign 
investments and the rest in other hidden locations. He also sent a 
manila envelope, with money and instructions, to an old friend across 
the country. 

About the time Harry had accumulated $90 million dollars in profit, he
was served with a lawsuit to appear in court over his device. He was 
given three months to get ready. 

Harry went to see the J&J twins. 

When he was ushered into their inner sanctum, he noticed a third person
-- an older woman -- with them. She was introduced as Ms. Jerkson, a 
lawyer. 

The three J's sat at one end of a long conference table, Harry at the
other. J1 smiled and said, “I'm glad you came to your senses, Mr. 
Jones.” 

J2 told him, “We will have the check for you in a few minutes.” 

J3 finished with, “I have the agreement ready for you to sign, Mr.
Jones.” 

Harry glanced at three widely grinning faces and told them, “I didn't
come here to sell out. I came here to tell you that I changed my mind. 
The public is tired of being gouged by you people. I'm shutting down at 
the end of the month. Within three or four, you'll also be out of 
business.” 

He could almost hear gears grinding in their heads as they mulled over
the last sentence. 

“You can't fight big business and expect to win.” J1 laughed. 

“I already have,” said Harry. “I've made arrangements to give my
business to a charity.” 

He told them the clincher. “In two months I'll also place my secret
formula onto the Internet. Everybody will be making the devices in 
their basements and garages, and for almost nothing. If you try to stop 
me from doing any of these things I have also made arrangements, out of 
my control, to publish it immediately. 

“You have a choice of going out of business in a few months time, or
immediately,” Harry finished. 

He stood, grinned, waved goodbye and left the room. Even as he heard the
door slam behind him, he could hear the three at the table blustering 
and arguing. 

A couple of days went by before a charity began selling the devices.
Harry wanted them to have a short head start. 

Two months later, the secret formula, complete with spells, was
published at various places on the Internet. 

Despite recent laws against it in the United States, people all over the
world began enjoying free electrical power. In order to remain 
competitive, the United States was soon forced to rescind the new 
“Jones Laws” from their books. Harry, being a world-wide hero, could 
hardly be prosecuted. 

With the lure of free power, scientists soon produced “Jones” powered
autos, locomotives, ships, and even airplanes. There was a new 
industrial Age. The “Jones Age” lasted for exactly fifty years. 

*** 

A huge Demon walked through fiery chambers toward his Master's lair. He
opened a normal appearing door at the other end of the 
vastly-overheated chamber. 

Master Satan was found sitting on an asbestos sofa watching his favorite
show, “The Simpsons,” on television. It had been fifty years since 
Harry retired to a country in the Far East with his 100 million 
dollars. 

When the show was over -- nobody interrupted the Master while it was on
-- the aide approached Satan. “You wanted me, sir?” 

Satan grinned and told him, “Yes, Beezle. I think it's time to turn off
that huge generator.” 

Nobody had ever wondered where all that power was coming from. Not until
Beezle flicked a switch. 

The End.


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