Synaptic Snaps, Crackles & Pops

Warning signs [30 DBC entry]

30DBC November 2 Prompt: You are curator of a museum. This museum has an area of interest to you. Take us on a guided tour of your latest exhibition

I wouldn't be surprised to learn that at least one of the lettered agencies in the U.S. Intelligence Community has a museum dedicated to the wonderful world of spycraft. If they ever gave tours of their collection, the following might just happen [not to me, of course; I pay attention to signs]...


Well, I hope these folks are better behaved than the last tour group. Those knuckleheads went around touching everything!

"Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the museum's newest exhibit - "Tools of the Cold War"; I'm the curator, Matt Carter. Please take careful note of the rope barriers and signs cautioning against touching some of the items; they're there for your protection. These items were...donated, shall we say...by various intelligence organizations, and one or two may still present something of a hazard.

The small group began to mill about, gathering around display cases filled with cleverly designed cameras and audio recording devices. The display highlighting various elements of secret writing was also drawing quite a few of the members. As Carter watched the various knots of people move about the room, he saw one man approaching an open book set on a pedestal. The man looked around slowly, probably certain he was being appropriately "covert". In reality, his furtive movements were like a neon sign pointing at him and declaring, "Hey, everyone, I'm about to do something really stupid!"

"Sir, please don't touch the pages of the book," Carter said. Although each word was clearly spoken, the volume was barely enough for a bystander to tell he'd even spoken aloud. One would have thought he was acting out a scene from the original Willy Wonka movie.

The man's hand edged past the "Do not touch!" sign, over the rope, and turned a page. Almost immediately he looked at his hand, then fell to the floor. He began to twitch.

Well, that's why they have to sign indemnification waivers before entering the exhibit.

"Central, this is Carter at Intel-1. Bring the atropine kit, please." He took a look at the stricken visitor, then added, "You probably ought to hurry."