Pangborn's paradox

In the smoky faculty club of Miskatonic University, a lively debate erupts over the possibility of true time travel. Professor Pangborn, a proud physicist with a penchant for provocation, argues that temporal paradoxes are merely theoretical quirks, not insurmountable barriers. Across from him sit the sardonic Doctor Randall, a poet‑advertiser, and Von Juntz, a bearded historian who enjoys classic Latin retorts—all while the narrator sips subpar whiskey and watches the exchange unfold.

When Pangborn unveils his “temporal transducer,” the conversation turns from philosophy to practice. He proposes a daring demonstration: travel back and eliminate his own grandfather, a move that would test the very heart of the grandfather‑paradox. A small wager is placed, the faculty members gather, and the group heads toward the humming laboratory, where coils, tubes, and a flickering monitor promise a glimpse into the impossible. The air crackles with anticipation as the first step toward rewriting history is about to be taken.