[ WP ] In 1990 , a group of computer scientists receive an anonymous package containing a modern smartphone , a charger and a note .

“ Yes, but what does it do? Dylan, I know it ’ s incredible, we all know that, but it just does n't do anything. ” 
 
 “ You can see what it does well enough, you just need to slide your finger over the little lock picture and the image changes. Look, even the display alone is like nothing I have ever seen before, it ’ s just so flat. I let Jules from electronic engineering have a look and she was just blown away. ” 
 
 “ You showed it around? I am not sure that ’ s a good… ” 
 
 “ Relax, it ’ s only Jules, you have known her for years ” 
 
 “ Yeah, fine, I guess it doesn ’ t really matter, we can ’ t keep it secret forever anyway and telling Sam didn ’ t hurt either. But that ’ s all beside the point. What does it do? There are different programs on that thing and they start if we touch the little icons. How does that even work? It doesn ’ t react to pressure. They all do the same thing anyway; they all only show a little circle and the one word. ” 
 
 Connecting. 
 
 “ Connecting to what? Connecting with what? ” 
 
 “ Have you tried plugging it in again? ” 
 
 “ Yes… Yes… We have tried that a hundred times. It still only says connecting. And the cable only goes in an electrical socket anyway. What it is supposed to connect to? ” 
 “ The really weird part is the note; it only says “ smile ”. What kind of sense does that make? ” 
 
 But something was already connected. 
 
 The old man sat in his padded chair and listened. He could only hear them. Those two weren ’ t the brightest by far. Every other group had paid more attention, picked up the device and looked beyond the shining front, had noticed the lens on the back, and had smiled. They would do so, too. Eventually. And then he would know. Know if those two were the right ones. He had very specific requirements. If yes, he, no, they could finally proceed. Great things waited for them. If not, he would send the message; just make it appear on the screen as if it had always been there. He had done it before. The same message as always, only an address. No, not really an address, more like a direction. A direction to a remote little glade just a few miles away from his remote little house. He had a few shells left, and a few more devices. 
 
 If only his back wouldn ’ t hurt so much. 
 
 Digging was a young man ’ s work. 
 
 But he would find the right ones, eventually. 

