[ WP ] The year is 1876 , and Alexander Graham Bell is putting the final touches on his first telephone , when suddenly it starts ringing ...

Alex could barely keep the smile off of his face as he screwed a brass plate to the front of the device; more than that: to the front of his device. From the simplest idea implanted in his brain by Joseph Henry it had been wrought through many years of careful experimenting, rigorous testing, and even boyish tinkering. Now it was done. Sat before him, the plaque proudly proclaimed, was'Bell's Wired Telephony Transceiver.' The first device in human history to convey the delicate sounds of the human voice through electrical waves. 
 
 It was the first, but not the only of course: sat at the other end of the hall was a second one waiting for his assistant to operate. By that means they would not merely prove one could talk or one could listen, but that two could communicate. To think of the possibilities: His head was awash with ideas! The merchant could sell and buy from across the city in a second. The politician could negotiate crises away in mere moments. The lover... Well, best not dwell on what that part of the human condition would find use for his'phone in achieving. 
 
 Laying down the screwdriver, Alex stood straight from his stoop over his brass and wooden child and tucked his thumbs into his coat. `` Evie?'' he called to his assistant, `` Be a fine lass and go shepherd the gentlefolk from the Western Union in, they'llwant to hear this.'' 
 
 She nodded and stepped out, leaving the inventor alone with his creation. It would only be a minute, maybe two, before he was vindicated and had the groundwork laid for something that could change a civilisation: maybe several. He smiled, allowing himself some preemptive pleasure in a moment of triumph that was unassailable. Surely, at this moment nothing could shake him. 
 
 Nothing, except... The bell attached to the No.1 set began to ring. 
 
 As soon as the sharp jingle intruded on his silent study the Scotsman's head whipped round to face the No.2 set: to see who would toy with him, ruin him. No one. The room was empty and silent save the ringing that threatened to drill through his head and into the brain within. 
 
 `` Blast!'' he exclaimed. A technical fault at this juncture could ruin his whole venture. Without thinking, Alex picked up the receiver and held it to his ear, hoping the tone or style of the crackle would help divine the source of the problem. Instead of silence, or even static however, it was faint breathing. 
 
 Breathing? 
 
 He paused, his own breath caught in his throat as his eyes darted over to the other set. Still unoperated. The wire along the floor was... faultless. He'd lain it not three hours before and nothing could be wrong with it now. That left... Surely not... It could n't be? 
 
 `` Hello.'' Alex stammered into the cold brass mouthpiece. `` Is this... God?'' 
 
 It was n't a half second before the answer came, the voice deep and clear before a click at the other end ended the world's first telephone conversation. `` No, this is Patrick.''
