11 The Future’s Future 650 Million AD

CHAPTER 11 THE FUTURE'S FUTURE We swirl and swirl and swirl some more until we finally stop swirling. 'I've got some good news and some bad news,' says Terry, looking out of the bin. 'The bad news is we're 650 million years in the future. The good news is

we're at the beach.' I look around. It's a weird beach. The sea is black. The sky is red. Oh yeah, and we're surrounded by giant crabs. 'I can't understand why there are giant crabs everywhere,' says the inspector. 'I'm sure I left the giant-crab eliminator button on back at Safety Central Headquarters.' 'Um,' says Terry, 'I think I might have turned it off again when you weren't looking. I couldn't help it. I just really wanted to see a giant crab.'

'You idiot, Terry!' I say. 'Thanks to you the future Earth is now overrun with giant crabs.' 'Yeah, I know,' says Terry, 'and I'm sorry. But look on the bright side: giant crabs are pretty cool.' 'Yeah, you're right,' I say, 'they are extremely cool

…and very, very dangerous!' 'It's interesting, though,' says Terry, 'because this is

just like what happens at the end of The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. The time traveller goes into the future as far as he can—almost to the end of time—and lands on a beach and there are giant crabs all over the place!' 'I thought that book was fiction,' I say. 'So did I!' says Terry. 'But it was obviously based on actual fact. H.G. Wells must have time-travelled here himself… otherwise, how could he have described it all so exactly?'

'Oh dear,' says the inspector. 'Look over there. One of the giant crabs has got hold of an old-fashioned man and is waving him around in its giant crab claw!'