Lot 058 : Zero Hour

H

equals Q

Come in, come in, come in!

So happy you could make it.

I have something to pass along to you rather urgently.

Oh, oh, oh,

a vintage tube radio console from the golden age.

Look at it, huh?

Funny.

There was a time when this magic box was considered a miracle.

The ability to entertain, share ideas, and ignite our imaginations from places far and wide.

The family who owned this had a little girl who let her imagination run away with her.

The thing is, this thing has no power coursing through it whatsoever.

But every 30 minutes or so, a broadcast comes through saying the show

is about to begin.

And wouldn't you know it, you are right on

time.

They are calling this one

zero hour.

Before we begin, I want to point out some of the customers whose names have been etched in brass on this beautiful plaque I had made above the front desk.

These are some of the members of the inner circle of the antiquarium.

We go by the Obsidian Covenant.

Recent initiates include Flipspin, Lynn Montalbano,

Autumn Richmond, Fox Force 5, John David, Adam Gamble,

T.O.B.

Roan,

Drekvac,

and Helper23.

We are ever appreciative of your devotion to the Order.

Go to theObsidian Covenant.com to receive the sacrament.

Now,

where were we?

Oh, yes.

Welcome to the Antiquarium of Sinister Happenings

and Odd Goings On.

Oh, boy, this is fun.

What a game.

Such excitement they hadn't known in years.

Mink talked earnestly to someone near the rose bush, though no one was there.

Then the two little girls, shouting, laughing at each other.

Such fun, such tremendous joy.

Mink ran into the house, all dirt and sweat.

For her few years, she was loud loud and strong and definite.

And her mother, Mrs.

Morris, peeling vegetables at the sink, watched with amusement as her daughter threw into a sack old pots and tools and things which were relegated to child play.

My goodness, Mink, what's going on?

Oh, the most exciting game ever, just ever.

Oh?

It's already tickets, Mom?

Just open it then, and it's all right.

Thanks, Mom.

We won't.

Bye.

All right, dear.

Oh, what's the name of the game, dear?

Invasion.

Invasion?

Invasion.

And in the garden now, a serious concentration.

Mink, with an assortment of pots, pans, and wrenches, forks, spoons, and her friend, Anna, tongue and teeth, taking notes on a pad.

This,

this,

and this.

What's it say next?

Wait a minute, Mink.

Well, hurry up.

Four, nine, and seven.

A and B and X.

Four,

nine,

seven,

A and B, and X.

A folk and a string and a hex.

Hexagonal.

A folk and a string and a hexagonal.

What do we do next, Mr.

Drill?

And then Mink talking to the rosebush again, and to her own satisfaction, at least receiving some kind of answer, which she relayed to Anna.

Triangle.

How do you spell it?

Oh, any old way, it doesn't matter.

Now, right, beam.

I haven't got triangle yet.

Well, hurry, zero hours by five o'clock.

We haven't got all day.

Then, time out from Invasion for lunch.

Mink bolted down the soup and coincidentally crammed a sandwich into her mouth.

Now, you slow down, Mink.

Whatever's waiting will wait a few minutes long.

But I can't.

Drill's waiting for me.

Drill?

That's a peculiar name.

Is he a new boy in the neighborhood, dear?

He's new, all right.

Well, I don't think I've ever seen him.

Which one is Drill?

He's just around.

You'll make fun.

Oh, everybody makes fun.

All the kids do.

Why, I don't think that's very nice.

Is Drill shy?

Yes, in a way.

I don't know.

I gotta go now, Mom, if we're gonna have the invasion.

Now, you finish your milk, miss.

Who's invading what?

Martians invading Earth from up there.

Oh, I see.

And, um, Drill's a Martian?

I think so.

He's had a very hard time getting here.

I should imagine.

They couldn't figure out a way to attack Earth, how to get in or something.

And Drill says they have to do it by surprise and even get help from your enemies.

Oh, a fifth column, huh?

Uh-huh.

And all this time, they haven't been able to figure out how to attack until one day they thought of children.

Well, that was bright of them.

And they thought of how grown-ups are so busy they never look under rose bushes or on lawns.

Oh, that's where Drill is now?

Under the rosebush?

Uh-huh, with all his friends, too.

And there's something about kids under 11 with imagination.

It's real funny to hear Drill talk.

Well, it must be.

You better run along out if you want to have your invasion before dark.

Oh, and bath tonight.

School tomorrow, you know?

Drill says I won't have to take any more baths.

Oh, he does, does he?

And we can stay up until 10 o'clock.

Well, your friend, Mr.

Drill, better mind his P's and Q's, or I'm gonna call up his mother and.

That's just it!

Drill says you're dangerous because you don't believe in Martians.

Just like you think Drill's a kid.

Well, he's not.

And they're gonna let us run the world when they get in.

All of us kids, and I might even be queen.

Well, that's nice, dear.

Now run along.

Mom?

What is it, dear?

When the invasion comes, we'll have to get rid of you and daddy.

But I'll be sure it won't hurt very much.

Well, thanks.

Thanks a lot.

Hello?

Hey, Mary.

How are things in New York?

Oh, Helen, how nice.

Are you in town?

Oh, no, I'm in Danbury.

I was just thinking of you and thought I'd call.

How's Henry?

Oh, it's long distance, though.

You shouldn't.

Oh, I can afford three minutes.

How's Henry?

Fine.

And Bill?

Oh, just fine.

What about Mink?

Oh, wonderful.

Noisier than ever.

Oh, she's got a

new game now.

It's taken the place of hopscotch.

Invasion.

Is she playing that too?

Well, yes.

Are yours?

Same thing.

Some kind of geometric jacks, I suppose.

Isn't it a scream?

You know, all the kids their age are playing it up here.

Timmy's got a crush on some guy named Drill.

I think that's what it is.

Oh, it must be a new password.

Mink likes him, too.

I didn't know it had gotten to New York.

Word of mouth, I suppose.

You know, kids.

Funniest thing, I got a letter from my sister in Boston.

Says her kids are playing it too.

It's just sweeping the country.

I wonder where they learned it.

And they talked a little more.

Schoolgirl friends.

Casual woman talk.

But Mrs.

Morris was thoughtful.

She was thinking of other things.

Of adults, of children with imagination, rosebushes, dimensions.

She thought about how much she had forgotten about being a child, and she wondered about Mink and all the kids who were at that moment playing Invasion.

I'm so glad you called.

Oh, give my love to Henry and a kiss from Mink.

I will.

And to Bill and the kids.

Thanks.

Bye.

Goodbye.

An hour drowsed by.

It was three o'clock.

There was an occasional hum inside the coolness of the house as a car passed outside.

The street was lined with good green and peaceful trees, and all across the city, in other gardens, in other places, children under 11 were excitedly playing a game, talking to rose bushes and grass lawns, trees, shrubs, even children in apartment houses, high in the air, conferring with potted plants, cactus, and ivy.

Mrs.

Morris finished her housework and went to the kitchen.

Oh, hello, dear.

Hi, Mom.

Can I have a glass of water?

Of course.

I'll get it.

I R squared.7 A over fifty-six to the seventh degree, XT7.

What, dear?

Oh, uh, nothing, Mom.

Oh,

here you are.

Thanks.

How are things going?

Huh?

The uh

invasion?

Oh, that.

Yes, that.

Almost finished.

When everything's right, Drill says we should be ready on time.

Five o'clock?

That's right.

How'd you know?

Helen called me from Danbury.

She says that uh

Timmy's playing it too.

Hey, that's teen.

I guess all the kids are, aren't they?

No, not all of them.

Not guys like Jimmy Wood and Bob Wilson.

They're growing up and they make fun of us.

They're worse than parents.

They just won't believe in Drill.

They're so smart just because they're growing up.

You'd think they'd know better.

They were little only a couple years ago.

We'll get rid of them first.

Drill says it's okay to kill them first.

Now, Mink, I don't like that kind of talk.

Do you hear me?

I don't like it at all.

Come on, Mom.

Now I mean it.

You keep on that way, and there'll be no more playing.

You'll have to tell Anna to go home.

You'll stay inside until bedtime.

I'm sorry.

Well, I should think so.

Thanks for the water, Mom.

Mink?

Yes, Mom?

What did those, uh,

those numbers mean?

What numbers?

Those numbers you were saying to yourself before?

Oh, that?

They're the things we have to do to get Drill and his friends out.

That's all.

Look, dear, why don't you and Anana go down to the drugstore and get some ice cream?

You don't even have to use your allowance.

I'll pay for it.

I haven't got time, Mom.

Thanks.

Well, I.

I never believe I hear you say that.

I gotta go now, Mom.

Wait a minute.

Mink.

I want you to tell me the truth.

What is this

invasion silliness?

It isn't silly.

It's just a game, that's all.

Mom, we're just playing an invasion.

Excuse me, I gotta get back now.

I'll see you later.

It was a game called Invasion.

Mrs.

Morris' little girl, Mink, was playing it.

So was Mink's friend, Anna, and all the other children under 11.

It was called Invasion, and Zero Hour was to be at 5 o'clock.

Mrs.

Morris was disturbed.

She wasn't sure why,

but there was something.

Something about parents shutting ears and eyes to what was happening.

And because she was disturbed, she did something she didn't usually do.

She called her husband at the office.

Well, I'll be darned.

It does this.

All part of this thing's charming personality, unfortunately.

Listen, I've got something to tend to in the back while the radio finds its way.

I'll be right back, friend.

Why, hello there.

You've reached the antiquarium.

If you wish to leave a message, please do so at the town and have a great day.

Hi, uh, I stopped at your shop a couple days ago and I've been driving for about

feels like

days now after I bought that little hula girl.

You know, one of those

on the dashboard.

I'm running out of food and water.

I just had the last little granola bar that I found underneath my passenger seat and

I ran out of water about a day ago.

I think it was a day ago.

I don't don't know where I am.

I feel like it's a loop.

I just keep seeing the same old-school diner every couple of hours.

I tried stopping by, but there's nobody there.

If you could send somebody or come and get me,

I tried calling 911, but just keeps going to this number.

Can you please help?

End of messages.

Ah, there we go.

The show must go on, as they say.

Let's tune back in on the Morris family and their

active imaginations,

shall we?

She did something she didn't usually do.

She called her husband at the office.

Oh, hello, Henry.

I'm sorry to bother you, but Miss Maxon said you weren't busy.

Oh, not too.

I should be able to get home early today.

Everything all right?

Yes.

You all right?

I.

I'm fine.

Mink?

Oh, she's.

Henry?

What?

Oh, uh.

Nothing.

I just.

wanted to talk to you for a minute.

That's all.

Listen, are you sure you're alright?

Yes.

Mink been getting on your nerves?

No.

Not really.

Well, you tell her to behave, or when I get home, she and I are gonna have a talk.

As a matter of fact, she's been a little fresh lately, and I don't think it's good.

Well, she's playing outside.

She's fine.

Honey, it's is something wrong?

Why?

No, I told you I.

I was thinking about you and wanted to talk.

That's all.

Nothing wrong with that.

Not a thing.

You go back to your work, dear.

I'll see you soon.

All right.

What time do you think you'll be home?

Oh, about five.

Maybe a little earlier.

Five.

Oh.

Hey, what?

Come on, what?

Really?

Nothing, really.

Just Mink and you and me.

Goodbye, dear.

You are okay, aren't you?

Yes, I'm fine.

Goodbye.

All right, goodbye.

Another hour passed, and it was half past four.

The day began to wan.

The sun lowered in a peaceful blue sky.

Shadows lengthened on the green lawn.

Outside, it was quiet.

The two little girls more intent than ever upon their endless movement of design and pattern with the implements before them.

Mrs.

Morris watched from the window, and she had never known Mink to have such powers of concentration.

She had turned on the radio and sat drinking a cup of coffee and turned over over her thoughts.

Children, children, children.

Love and hate side by side.

Sometimes children love you, hate you all in half a second.

Strange children.

Do they ever forget or forgive the whippings and the harsh, strict words of command?

I wonder.

I wonder.

How can you forget or forgive those over and above you?

Those tall, silly dictators.

Those

parents.

What is it, dear?

Have we got a piece of wood pipe and a hammer?

Well, I.

I don't know.

There might be in the garage.

What do you want them for?

We just need them.

Well, if you tell me what for, dear, maybe I can.

I can get them.

Thanks.

Is something wrong?

Just stuck halfway, and if we can get them all the way through, it'd be easier.

Then all the others can come through after her.

Well, can I help?

Thanks, Mom.

I can take some.

You better get through, Mink.

I want you to take your bath before your father comes home.

All right.

Now, he's coming home early.

And Mink.

Mink.

Mink had disappeared behind the shrubs, and Mrs.

Morris knew it was ridiculous to make an issue of it.

Besides, what was the issue?

Invasion?

Drill?

Zero hour?

Unaccountably, a cool breeze came up, and although normally for that time of year, would have been a relief, Mrs.

Morris felt a chill.

She closed the window.

Time passed.

A curious waiting silence came upon the street, deepening.

Then, from the living room, Mrs.

Morris heard...

Five o'clock, the zero hour.

It had come, and now it had gone.

But was the clock right?

Mrs.

Morris, knowing how foolish it was, knowing it, went to the phone and dialed.

Oh, it's silly.

It's silly.

When you hear the tone, the time will be exactly 4.54 and 20 seconds.

4.54 and 20 seconds.

And Mrs.

Morris knew it wasn't as silly as she thought because

it wasn't 5 o'clock yet.

Not zero hour yet.

Then the car drove up into the driveway

Well, hello Mink, how's it going?

Hi, Anna.

Hi, Daddy.

Hi, Mr.

Morris.

Fine.

Got a kiss for your old man?

Haven't got time now, Daddy.

Well, that's a nice thing.

What are you doing?

We're playing invasion.

Oh, swell.

Your mother is in the house.

Uh-huh.

Okay, be good.

I will.

Zero hour in a few minutes, Daddy.

All right, I'll be ready.

Mrs.

Morris heard him chuckle, then his steps up the walk to the front door.

Mary?

I'm in the living room, dear.

Our daughter didn't have time for a kiss.

How about you?

Hard day?

Not particularly.

Would you like a cocktail?

You read my mind.

Martini?

Perfect.

So, anything exciting happened today?

No.

Oh, uh, Helen called from Dan Murray.

I told her she was crazy, but she just felt like calling.

Like you calling me this afternoon, crazy, huh?

Hey, what was that all about?

Well, I told you I

just wanted to.

Hey, incidentally, what's this new game that kids are playing?

Invasion.

That's a nice, depressing thought.

Is she all right?

Come to think of it, she looked kind of funny.

She's all right.

What's the time, Henry?

Oh, uh, a couple of minutes after five.

Why?

No, no, the clock's wrong.

Buy your watch.

Hmm, I've got uh two minutes to.

I'm probably slow.

You got something on the stove?

No, I

just wondered.

Honey, hey, look at me.

What's the matter?

Nothing, really.

Now, really?

Mink's been up to something?

No, of course not.

Then what?

I guess I'm.

a little tired.

Upset, that's all.

You want to go out for dinner?

Oh, no, I've uh...

got a steak here.

I'll tell you what, I'll barbecue.

How'll that be?

Oh, fine.

What was that?

What?

Well, I.

I thought I heard something.

Well, I didn't.

I must have imagined it.

Hey, you are jumpy.

Why don't you have a drink?

It'll do you good.

No, I don't want one.

What's the time?

Mary, what is this?

Now I mean it.

Something's wrong, and I want to know.

It's silly.

It's so silly

I'm on edge that's all Mary I am I don't like this that kid's done something hasn't she I'm gonna get her anywhere no Henry please don't she hasn't it's nothing at all I just

what's that

I

I

don't

know

those kids haven't got anything dangerous out there have they I noticed a lot of junk lying around

I

thought it was a game.

She wouldn't have done it herself.

They made her do it.

What the devil?

Maybe you better go out and tell her to stop playing now.

It's after five.

You tell me to put off the invasion until tomorrow.

It is coming from outside.

What are they up to?

I'd better take a look.

Think!

Think!

Good lord!

They're bombing!

No, no!

It's upstairs!

I know it is!

In the attic.

That's where it is.

Mary!

Mary, it is not up there!

Mary!

He ran after her, confused, not a little frightened.

She seemed to know something.

In the attic.

Her mind had worked that quickly.

Any excuse to get him away from the outside, to get him upstairs to the attic in time.

And outside, there were more explosions, and they could hear the children screaming with delight.

It's not in the attic, it's outside.

Minks out there.

What is the matter with you?

No, no, I'll show you.

Hurry.

Get inside quick.

Mary.

Now we're safe until the night.

Are you crazy?

Why did you throw that key away?

Maybe we can...

We can sneak out later.

We can escape.

For heaven's sake, the kid's out there.

Do you want her to get killed?

No, no, no, no.

You don't know.

You don't.

We've got to stay here.

We've got to.

It's.

It's horrible.

We've got to.

You've got to stay in here with me.

You've got to stay here with me.

At this point, I don't know how the devil I can get out.

Where's that light?

Be quiet.

Please, please, be quiet.

They'll hear us.

They'll find us.

They'll find us.

Henry, please.

Well, who's going to answer the telephone?

There's a noise again.

It's in this house.

Mary, what is this?

Mary, what's happening?

You know now.

Answer me.

Please, please.

Please, please.

Stop it, Mary.

Stop it.

Somebody's downstairs.

Who's down there?

Who?

Between his wife's terror and the electric humming from below, Mr.

Morris felt a great fear.

They trembled together in silence in the attic.

Mr.

and Mrs.

Morris, parents of the little girl.

Then they heard steps coming up, up

the stairs.

And a voice.

Mommy,

Daddy,

where are you?

And a queer, cold light became visible under the door crack.

The strange odor and the alien sound of eagerness in Mink's voice was almost more than they could bear.

Each wanted to scream.

Mommy.

Daddy.

And another sound.

And the attic lock melted.

Mink.

Mink, with bright little eyes and tousled hair, peered inside.

And behind her, tall, wavering blue shadows,

frightful shadows

X.

O.

C.

Q.

N.

C.

Q.

A.

N.

N.

Thank you for your patronage.

Hope you enjoyed your new relic as much as I've enjoyed passing along its sordid history.

It does come with our usual warning, however.

Absolutely no refunds, no exchanges, and we won't be held liable for anything that may or may not occur while the object is in your possession.

If you've got an artifact with mysterious properties, perhaps it's accompanied by a history of bizarre and disturbing circumstances,

Maybe you'd be interested in dropping it and its story by the shop to share with other customers.

Please reach out to antiquariumshop at gmail.com.

A member of our team will be in touch.

Till next time, we'll be waiting for you whenever you close your eyes

in the space between sleep and dream

during regular business hours, of course, or by appointment, only for you,

our

best customer.

You have a good night now.

The Antiquarium of Sinister Happenings, Lot 058, Zero Hour.

Written by Ray Bradbury.

Adapted by Anthony Ellis.

Narrated by Mark Redfield.

Starring Gracia Damsgaard as Mink.

Romy Evans as Mary.

Jade Shand as Anna.

Trevor Shand as Henry.

Dee Quintero as Helen.

Natalie Allen Lind as the operator.

Featuring Stephen Knowles as the antique dealer.

Engineering production and sound design by Trevor Shand.

Theme music by the Newton Brothers.

Additional music by COAG and Vivek Abishek.

The Antiquarium of Sinister Happenings is created and curated by Trevor and Lauren Shand.

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at AntiquariumPod.

Call the Antiquarium at 646-481-7197.

Hello, and welcome to the world of Scare You to Sleep.

I'm your host, Shelby Novak, a show for those of us who need something a little stronger than counting sheep, who find horror to be a strangely relaxing escape.

Here, you'll find a myriad of fright-filled tales, from fictional to true stories, to high strangeness to guided nightmares, where I take you on a journey through your own personal nightmare.

So, come get lost in the terror with me.

Listen to Scare You to Sleep, wherever you listen to podcasts, sweet screams.