Almost as soon as they finished their Latin American trip and returned to the North Pole, Nicholas wanted them to start working on the lessons for the time continuum. It took Kris a good deal of arguing with his son to wait until they both had gotten some rest.
Nicholas acquiesced even if not quietly. He spent several days going over the last trip with Carrow, Frederick, and other members of the Council and discussing some new ideas that Nicholas had been forming in his head.
Kris had allowed Nicholas to take over the “Santa List” project as it was called. He was working with Ella, Macintosh, Ion and other elves to devise and implement the communications between the “Ambassadors” as they were called and the North Pole. However when the second world war broke out, Nicholas explained that before they implemented anything, it might be better to wait until that conflict resolved itself.
Even so, they had figured out a way to hide a transmitter into the pompom of the long hat that Santa usually wore. As the children would speak their requests, each one would be transmitted to a new database that was being created. A whole new wing was built to hold the machinery that collected the data. They decided to call the new machines after their inventor, Macintosh.
The Macintosh would align the request with as much other information about the child as they had collected from other sources including previous letters, geographic locations, birth records, etc. and create a file on that child. Other data was entered on whether the child seemed naughty or was well behaved, if they had siblings, and how they behaved in school.
Nicholas was pleased about how much they were able to learn about the children. But he was very disenchanted with the other side of the equation.
Nicholas learned from some of his visits, that many of the men who dressed as Santa were only doing so to bring money to their pockets, with no care for the children or their needs. Most had fake beards. The time when men wore beards with regularity had fallen out of fashion ever since the Civil War era, and now all but a few men were clean shaven.
Nicholas would often just shake his head at the large number and poor style of beards they used. He told his parents one evening at dinner, “They might as well throw mops on their heads for as much realism as what they have on their faces.”
Many of the Santas just frightened the children and many more knew nothing about his father or his ancestors, let alone the North Pole and what happened there. But a few, a very few, had a genuine love for children and were trying hard to portray a true representation of Santa Claus and his kindness.
He had asked the Council of Elves if it might be possible to bring these exceptional ambassadors to the North Pole to get a better understanding of what took place and to learn the history of Santa Claus.
He was summarily turned down for his request and reminded again of the importance of keeping the North Pole secret from the tallfolk. Especially now while the whole world seemed to be in conflict.
He talked to his father about the impasse he was at, wanting to train the ambassadors, but not being able to bring them to the North Pole.
“This seems to be a situation of 'If the mountain can't come to you...you must go to the mountain',” said Kris to his son. “You know there are many places that you could train them. Why not hold a school somewhere centralized, but remote enough to bring some reindeer, elves and I may even pop in for a talk or two.”
Nicholas said to himself as much as his father, “How ridiculously simple! Of course, then we could show them exactly what they need to know, and not have to worry about revealing too many secrets. Who do think should teach them?”
Kris thought for a moment, “Seems that I would choose someone who knows about as much of the North Pole and the job of Santa Claus as possible, someone who has actually performed the job and understands the inner workings of the Pole itself.”
Nicholas chuckled, “Okay, I get it. Add one more thing to my fairly substantial schedule.”
“Well, you would only have to do it a couple weeks out of the year, as I don't think you have too many ambassadors to keep this thing going full time,” said Kris.
“Guess I will start thinking of some sites where I might do this. Thank you,” said Nicholas and began to head off.
“Just a moment, Nicholas,” Kris stopped him. “I was thinking tomorrow might be a good time for us to take a walk together to the woodlands area if you are game?”
Nicholas brightened and said, “I would be very pleased with that!”
“Then we will head off after breakfast, and you may want to clear your schedule for the next couple days,” smiled Kris.
With that Nicholas waved goodbye and simply said, “Will do!”
The next morning the father and son had begun their trek to the woodlands. As they passed many of the elves, the elves would giggle or point to the two tallfolk, who now resembled each other greatly. Nicholas had quit shaving as his father suggested, and was sporting a thick salt and pepper colored beard and his hair was nearly entirely white even if not quite as long as his father's. They were about the same size and build and looked like bookends coming down the road.
They reached the cottage and Kris warned that the interior might be a little dusty. As they opened the door the cobwebs had taken hold of much of the cottage. Kris himself hadn't returned since his previous practice session, and he hadn't done too much to be rid of the excess dust even then.
“Wow,” Nicholas exclaimed and coughed. “Maybe we should find somewhere else.”
“It just needs a little sweeping up and some fresh air,” stated Kris.
Nicholas shrugged. When his father came up with a plan he was pretty gung ho about it, and wouldn't sway too far from it. So he began looking around for something to sweep up the dust and cobwebs.
He found a broom in a corner of the dwelling and began pushing the dust toward the door. Kris found a cloth and started cleaning away the cobwebs from the rafters and corners.
After getting much of the dust from the flat surfaces, Nicholas said tomorrow he would bring something more suitable to clean the books and other items around the place. They stepped out to the garden in the back for some fresh air. The garden was immaculate. Not a weed or wild flower growing where it shouldn't. Nicholas looked at his father and asked, “How is this possible?”
“Beats me,” his father replied. “I certainly have not been tending this. I wonder if one of the other elves uses this as a retreat of their own?”
“It seems improbable that the garden would tend itself,” Nicholas mused. “You are probably right, maybe Frederick takes care of it as a favor to Aeon.”
After a few more moments, they returned inside and to their straightening.
Kris was pleased that his son was trying to put things right in the cottage, and while he teased Nicholas that Aeon may have thought it much ado about nothing, he thought the old elf would appreciate the gesture nonetheless.
Once the area was cleaned up Nicholas said, “Well, that is the best I think we can do without proper supplies. Tomorrow I will get this looking better.”
Kris began the lessons with Nicholas. Nicholas had already grasped the stop time part of the continuum, but was still having problems with the moving through time and wasn't able to understand the multi-destination portion of the continuum at all.
Kris thought he should begin with the basics again and once more explained how time works as a place. He thought Nicholas' biggest problem was that he still thought of time as a thing. This was why he could stop time, but couldn't travel in and through it.
He had Nicholas concentrate on a place he wanted to visit, just as Aeon had taken Kris to multiple places when teaching him. Nicholas concentrated on a place he had seen from the sleigh and thought would be wonderful to visit. He held the image tightly in his mind, but the two men stayed where they started.
Kris said, “Perhaps I should do it the way Aeon did it with me. I will take us somewhere and you bring us back.” Nicholas took his father's arm and the two disappeared from the cottage to an area with a running stream in the middle of a forest that looked to be in a mountain area.
“Where are we?” Nicolas asked.
“In the Great Smoky Mountains. It is a newly inaugurated National Park from 1940. I want to take your mother here sometime, and if you ever learn how to do this, perhaps I will be able to,” Kris teased.
“Okay, message received. This is really beautiful. I wouldn't mind spending some time here myself,” whispered Nicholas.
“First things first,” admonished Kris. “Now picture Aeon's cottage in your mind. When you have it pictured soundly, think about this moment and take us back there.”
Nicholas closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them again to see his father and him surrounded by the dingy surroundings of Aeon's cottage.
“Very good,” said Kris. “That's a good start. Now let's try a place of your choosing. This time stop time first so that we don't advance beyond the moment.”
Again Nicholas closed his eyes and the two men appeared on a bustling city street. “Where are we?” asked Nicholas.
“Shouldn't you know?” questioned Kris, “I thought you picked the place.”
“I had picked a farm we visited last Christmas Eve outside of Chicago that I thought looked charming,” answered Nicholas.
“Well you aren't close, this looks more like San Francisco. Though at least you stopped time effectively. I will get us back and you can try again,” said Kris. Kris touched the side of his nose as was still his custom and they popped back to Aeon's home again.
“How could I be so far off?” asked Nicholas.
“You just need to concentrate harder, somehow you must have pictured San Francisco in your head,” commented Kris.
Nicholas laughed and pointed to a postcard on Aeon's shelf, “That might have done it.”
Kris looked at the card and said, “Yup, even down to the street. I was right San Francisco. This is why using the time continuum can be so dangerous. Any little thought could throw you completely off course.”
Nicholas said, “Try it again?”
Kris just nodded his head and said, “And this time concentrate. You better stop time again as we don't want to be mowed over by a train or shot on a battlefield like Aeon once was.”
“Really? You'll have to tell me more about Aeon. I wish I could have met him before he left, or that he would return from wherever he went.” Nicholas sighed.
“Who knows if we practice enough, we may even run into him somewhere,” laughed Kris.
Nicholas took his father's arm and they vanished from the cottage again.
After a full day of popping from one place to another Nicholas was getting the hang of moving from one place to another. For his last test, Kris had chosen several places himself and told Nicholas to take them there. After five consecutive correctly transported attempts, Kris said it was time to return and rest.
When they arrived back Nicholas had returned them to their home, instead of the cottage.
Kris asked, “Was this intended?”
“Absolutely, I'm tired and I thought we'd skip the long walk back,” said Nicholas, “If you want we can skip the walk and I will just take us to Aeon's tomorrow along with cleaning supplies as a bonus!”
Kris thought tomorrow might prove to be an interesting day indeed.
Nicholas was ravenous the next morning and ate four eggs, sausage, potatoes and some fruit. His father laughed and said, “You know you will get to eat again, no matter where we end up!”
“I don't understand why I am so hungry this morning, except to feel that I am going to expend a great deal of energy today and think I need to be prepared,” Nicholas chuckled.
When Nicholas finally ate his fill, he kissed his mother and gathered the cleaning rags and such that he had pulled together the night before. He turned to his father and said, “Ready?”
Kris just nodded and moved to his son and rested his hand on his shoulder. Instantly they left home and reappeared in the dusty cabin.
“Well, first things first. Let's see if we can't make this place a little more comfortable,” said Nicholas as he began to pull rags from the bucket he carried.
His father said, “I'll fill the bucket with some soap and water,” and took the bucket from Nicholas. “You know I am still not sure why we have to be so particular about cleaning this place. I almost feel like I am intruding on Aeon's life.”
Nicholas answered, “I don't think he would mind in the least, and besides if we are going to be spending some long days practicing, it might feel better returning to an orderly home.”
Kris knew Nicholas had always had a “cleaning bug” in him and most times he left him to it. Nicholas was very organized like his mother and was uncomfortable if things were not very neat and tidy. Kris on the other hand could step out of the dirtiest fireplace covered in ashes and soot and just laugh about it.
Annie was far happier that Nicholas took after her than his father. All the years growing up he had been particularly neat as a child and even as a toddler seemed bothered if he made a mess. Annie knew she was spoiled in that regard, but figured after a hundred plus years with a man who cared little what type of mess he made, she deserved a neat son.
Nicholas started on the bookcases and was dusting off the books and wiping down anything on the top. He stacked the books on the little table Aeon used for everything from map making to eating. Apparently Aeon had the sense to clean up the table and little kitchen before “going into retirement” as everyone in the Pole called it.
Most of the cleaning consisted of dusting things off and sweeping the floor. As Nicholas started on the second bookcase, Kris had taken a damp cloth to dirtier pieces and placed them back where they were originally removed as if he did not want Aeon to know he moved his stuff.
As Nicholas began the other bookcase he began to dust off the books and had pulled out a rather sizable volume. As he cleared the layer of dust off it he froze.
“Uh, Dad,” he just said to his father. Kris came over to his son and looked at the book he was holding.
Nicholas' hands began trembling. His father soothed him and had his son set the book on the table. Kris said, “Apparently you were expected. Well, you should see what Aeon has to say.”
The book was entitled, To Nicholas Kristopher Kringle, The Next Santa Claus.
As Nicholas opened the book he read aloud what Aeon had written at the beginning:
To my young Nicholas,
Though you and I haven't had the pleasure of physically meeting, I have had the pleasure of catching glimpses of you growing up, developing to manhood and assuming the mantle of Santa Claus.
Let me first say that you will make a wonderful Santa Claus and will be every bit as proficient as your father has been. While he has created the legend, you will further it and serve even more children and families than he has.
Now for the reason of this book. Your father had the advantage of my personal tutelage at the North Pole, which you shall not. Some day we will meet, as I have made certain to do so with you, but as to whether or not I am still in existence then I cannot say. So we will say for now that you will meet my ghost as it were, and leave it at that.
In the meantime there are things that I feel you will need to know and events that I would like to forewarn you about so you are better prepared.
Kris scoffed and said, “Why that dirty old scoundrel would never tell me much of anything about the future saying it was best I didn't know too much. He never even told me about you!”
“Perhaps it was because he knew if it was really important he would be around to explain the events or the results of those events,” Nicholas shrugged. “I don't know, but perhaps we should learn more about what he has to say before we judge him too harshly.”
He could see his father was clearly agitated because Aeon had not even left him a letter or note when he left. Nicholas continued to read but now did so to himself.
You have had a little difficulty learning everything your father knows now, but you will not only master these accomplishments, but exceed them. You need to do this quickly, because since the next World War has come to an end, an explosion of the population never before seen is occurring. Also, many more technical advancements across the world will come in waves, and you will even help be the instrument to many of these accomplishments.
While this may not seem likely, or even possible, trust me that it will happen. But before then, this book will help you become proficient in the use of the time continuum and give you some other tools to help you accomplish all that you shall need to for your job as Santa Claus.
By now your father has learned, and put into use, the multiple dimension timeline continuum that allows him to visit many places while remaining in the same period of time. This is extremely important, but as you will learn, you may also lay several timelines atop one another so that you may accomplish an exponential number of visits in one moment rather than just several places in one time.
I am certain that you will have many questions at the end of this, and I will tell you right here that most of these will go unanswered. As I had told your father often times, it is best that you do not know too much about your future. However that said, there are some key elements in your future that I will not leave to chance, as they are too important to your future and those you affect. We will get to those later in this book, but please do not rush ahead. You need to look at this book the way I have written it. Things will make much more sense if you do.
This book is for you and you, alone. This contains secrets and knowledge that is not to be shared lightly. Not even with your family, though many of its lessons will be passed onto your heir some day. But I implore you to keep this secret and safe from prying eyes.
Again, I wish I could be there to instruct you personally as I did with your father, but I thought this would be the next best thing. So let us begin with a discussion of the time continuum, both as you understand it now, and as I will explain its other subtleties to you. Your lessons begin now -
Nicholas looked at his father who was still cleaning up around the cottage, now with a broom in his hand sweeping a cloud of dust toward the door. Nicholas bit his lip, not quite knowing how to proceed.
Should he dismiss his father and tell him that Aeon would teach him everything he needed from this treasure he uncovered? Or should he hold its secrets until later. He could work with his father today, so as not to further hurt his dad's feelings and possibly make him resentful of Aeon's teachings?
He decided on the latter. Now, how to make the book seem like less of a big deal and get back to the more affable time when they arrived. Nicholas closed the book, as difficult as that was, and said to his father, “Well we better begin with the lessons if I am going to accomplish anything today.”
Kris swept the last of the dust outside and turned toward Nicholas, “What, you still want to work with me after your find?”
“Of course, this says it may help me into the future a little bit. Though he gave me the same warning as you, that it was never a good thing to know much about my future, so I presume this will come in handy for later, but I need you to teach me the basics,” stated Nicholas.
Kris scoffed, “Still up to his old ways, even in written form?” He then smirked and said that they better get started and hoped his son had gotten his cleaning bug out of himself.
“I'm all yours to be taught and to learn,” smiled Nicholas, as much to himself as to his father.
“Okay, let's pick up where we left off yesterday,” said Kris. “Pick a place in your mind and concentrate on the here and now...”
And so began the travels of the present and future Santa Claus as they moved across continents and later time intervals, though never moving far from the present.
The following day Nicholas popped into the old cabin and went right to the book that he'd replaced on the bookcase. He opened it up and started to read where he left off the day before. So began his tutelage with Aeon.
While Nicholas expected to find the highly technical information difficult to disseminate, Aeon had used a good many common sense examples and relational stories that helped Nicholas see exactly the principles involved.
He tried a couple of theories and explanations that Aeon had laid out and along with what his father had already taught him, found them easier to do than he expected. He had trouble grasping the multi-dimensional time layer that his father was trying to explain. But coupled with Aeon's examples and less complex instructions he could now do what he couldn't grasp with his father.
So in accordance with Aeon's instructions, Nicholas performed several multi-dimensional time continuum jumps and returned successfully after each.
After a while Nicholas decided to take a break and look through the next part of the book. The first thing he read shook him to his very core. Aeon had written:
The first thing you will need to know is that within fifty years of taking the reins as Santa Claus, the world population will swell from 2.5 billion people to over 6 billion with nearly a third of these people being Christian. This means that in one form or another they will celebrate your annual return as well. Even if you cut this in half, this means you will probably be delivering more than one billion presents each year. So now you understand why it is so important for you to have complete and total control over the time continuum.
You will also need to know how to reduce the size of the gifts, so that many more may fit into your sleigh than do currently. As the world gets more crowded you will have less room to cover larger areas. One of my gifts to you are the sheets that are in the back of this book. When I request it, please take these to your most advanced elves in technology. I believe I know who they will be, but in the event things change, I leave this up to you.
Only after the elves have a chance to look over the schematics, and agree it is practical, should you go to the Council with the concept and advise them that it is in the works. They will see my hand in this, and that is okay, but no sense letting 'the cat out of the bag' until it can become a reality.
The next thing you need to do very soon is to meet your future wife, and this is too important to leave to chance. While I am fairly certain this will happen as it should, I wish to insure these events. You are to take Rory Mattle to California, where you will meet with a company that has recently formed there. You need to set up a meeting between you, Rory, Ruth and Elliot Handler, also Harold "Matt" Matson. Rory will become part of their company and will assist them in becoming the largest toy company in the world. When you go, you need to fly commercially and arrive in Los Angeles, where you will be met by one of their employees who will take you to your meeting. Her name is Mary Theresa Atwater. Get to know her, and let nature take its course.
Let Rory do most of the talking at the meeting and you just offer your support and suggest that their toys will soon be sought all over the world.
There are many more things I could tell you, but once more, to know too much is a dangerous thing. However I will tell you, that along with the Mattel company, you will need to create and align with many more corporations in order to create enough toys to perform your function and to supply enough materials to the Pole for all you hope to accomplish.
For this you must rely even more heavily on Frederick Salsbury and others. You will need to establish a complete global network utilizing elves as best you can, but also learning to trust more tallfolk in order to fill in the gaps. You must devise a way to integrate them into the North Pole, and convince the elders that it is finally time to allow tallfolk to visit the North Pole. There are some truly brilliant tallfolk within the world, and it would be a terrible waste if we were unable to utilize their talents because of distrust. If you are to truly be global, than you must reach out globally.
You will have many exhausting years as the world expands greatly and you have much to change and much to grow. As you are already aware, television sets have begun to take root in America and soon no household will be without at least one and many homes will eventually have several. But the broadcasting of information will soon skyrocket and even as the world increases, it will become smaller, figuratively.
All of this will have multiple effects on you, and you will need to deal with these as best you can. But my advice is to learn how to use this technology to your best advantage rather than work against it. And even as fast as technology will increase among the tallfolk, the elves will still surpass them and keep ahead of the rest of the world.
Everything I have placed in this book will assist in guaranteeing this advancement. Some of the schematics are to be held until the year written on the upper margin of the schematic, so it will be up to you to keep this information safe and only release it when appropriate. I always did this with the Council, and they knew it. So they won't be too surprised when you do the same, if they even catch on.
I was pleased that your father had the good sense to use the time continuum for his purpose and not for time travel. I am hoping that you will do the same. Time travel is not safe in the best circumstances, and while I have used it often, this will be one of those instances where I ask that you do what I say, and not as I do. I have made notes on the pages before each of the schematics with a little hint of what is coming, in part to help quell your curiosity, but more importantly to make certain that you do not feel compelled to discover events out of time as I have, and to keep you safe. This is my personal request and I ask you to honor it.
Now I will ask you to continue your time continuum studies and then take the first set of schematics to the elves as requested.
Nicholas sat back on his chair and rubbed his graying hair. So much. An unbelievable amount of information, a wife and a BILLION souls to deliver to – every year. Is it all truly possible? Obviously, since Aeon had said it would, he must have witnessed it, himself.
“He did say that we would meet up some time and that I would have the chance to talk with him. I wonder what year that will be?” Nicholas wondered out loud.
He looked at the schematics and noted the year in the margin. 1948. How could he know? He felt an eerie cringe, as if being watched, and then dismissed it. Aeon obviously had been keeping closer tabs than anyone knew or suspected. He then thought about Aeon's 'retirement' and wondered how someone that had seen history and the future – backwards and forwards – would suddenly find life on a quiet stretch of sand so interesting? Answer: he couldn't.
I'll bet he has been hanging around and checking on us from time to time, Nicholas thought. That is probably why the garden looked so good, even though the rest of the cottage was a shambles.
“Well if you are hanging around, you old spy, then I tell you, you have my promise to uphold all that you ask me the very best way that I can,” he announced. Then Nicholas smiled to himself. The time continuum, maybe he would never know all its secrets, but he bet Aeon did.
Nicholas rolled up the pages on the first set of instructions and closed the book. Now, where to hide this from 'prying eyes', he wondered to himself. As far as he knew he and his father were the only two souls in the North Pole that knew of its existence. But he couldn't guarantee that would always be the case, especially once he took the drawings to his little band of elves working on “the Santa Project” and other new ideas Nicholas would come up with.
He looked around but only saw widely accessible areas that wouldn't conceal a book so large. The other cabinets and drawers were too small. He went out into the garden and saw an area by the fountain that had large stones. He went to move a few of the larger stones and soon discovered that Aeon had prepared a hiding place himself for stowing away secrets, and it was just large enough to hide the book. But before stuffing it into its hiding place, Nicholas went back inside and carefully covered the book in plastic to protect it from any elements.
After he squirreled the book away, he grabbed the plans and began walking toward the main village. As he walked, his thoughts turned to some of the ideas he already was working on with several of the elves. He didn't tell his parents about the ideas. Instead, he decided to “test the waters” to see if any of his ideas would float or if more importantly, if they could be implemented.
Besides the Santa Project, he was also working with Keeney Eagleye on a more sophisticated and less intrusive way to determine when children had been particularly, or continuously, naughty.
Keeney was working on a set of scanners that they could test out to see the level of kindness or lack thereof in people as they would pass by them.
He also knew Aeon was right and sooner or later the North Pole would need to be more involved with tallfolk to accomplish all that they would need to in coming years. Now he, himself, was certain of it.
Nicholas decided to try persuading his father about the prospect of bringing the Santas to the Pole. As expected, he was shot down as soon as he brought up the subject. He was prepared for that, and backed down quickly. But Nicholas knew it was only a matter of time until the outside world would play a considerably larger role in the goings on of the Pole. He thought that time was the here and now.
He had another idea based on his father's complaints about so many tallfolk not honoring the true spirit and reason of Christmas. On several occasions he remarked how disappointed his ancestor, St. Nicholas, would be if he traveled the world today.
It seemed the older his father was, the more cynical he became. Nicholas wasn't sure if he truly believed what he said, or was just wearing out. But he felt his father's retirement was long overdue. Many heated discussions ensued when Nicholas countered his father's rants with the fact that there are as many good people as bad, and there are some wonderful souls that uphold all the importance, beauty and ideals of Christmas, that he only needed to look a little harder.
In response, his father had basically told Nicholas to prove it, which is precisely what Nicholas was attempting to do, again with Keeney. Unbeknownst to the Council in particular, Macintosh Gelfeeney, Ion Crosswire, Keeney and Nicholas, along with a several others, were all working to develop a rating system to determine how good or bad people are, and this would work in tandem with the scanner system.
The first set of scanners would be a broad range system of colors, while the “pinpoint array”, as it was termed, would be more precise and give an actual base number to let the Pole know just how good or how bad people were based on their actions, kindness, and a host of other factors assigning a positive (good) or negative (bad) number to that person.
Once Nicholas could prove that the system would work, he had a plan to take an area of the North Pole that was being utilized for shops within the elfin community and redesign it into a “Visitor Center” for tallfolk. He planned to change some of the shops to stores where visitors could shop and see some of the masterful ways and items the elves made.
Since they had already put in a railroad system to bring materials and food to the North Pole and transport toys and goods to the distribution centers down south, they could just add a passenger train that could bring the people to and from Fairbanks, Alaska, the closest town to the North Pole. Especially since there was already talk about making Alaska the 49th state, it meant that soon it would fall under the purview of the United States.
As they were making the passenger train, they would build a grand inn for the visitors to stay. It would have every comfort and each guest would be well attended to. While most of the advances the Council was concerned about would be kept from prying eyes, some things that the tallfolk were already close to could be shared.
But most importantly, the spirit of Christmas would be demonstrated and observed in everything that the visitors would see, bringing home the true meaning once more of why the North Pole (and all others) celebrate Christmas in the first place.
Nicholas knew he had an uphill battle to convince the Council of this idea, but he had been working on certain members quietly and putting thoughts in their heads about working with tallfolk. Interestingly, his toughest critic to date had been his own father. But he knew that if he could sway the majority of the Council, then his father couldn't interfere. His father’s vote only occurred in a tie, and he was unable to sway the votes of the Council because of his own feelings.
He could see the village through the last of the trees and veered toward the right to where he would walk by Keeney's lookout retreat. He headed further up the road until he entered the elves' trade school. He went to the dormitories he had visited many times before and found first Ion Crosswire and then Macintosh Gelfeeney.
“So what's the latest to report?” he asked knowing they would be bursting at the seams to tell him.
“Well it appears that we have solved the data problem and that we can now retrieve and store as much data as we will need for the next couple decades,” Ion spoke first.
“Yes and we have just finished hardwiring into the last of the hospitals and birthing centers in the Christian world,” Macintosh jumped in. “Did you know they had recorded like 6,000 births in the first four hours we were patched in?”
“It is going to be very interesting to see how you keep up with the world literally exploding with new babies,” Ion sighed.
“And we have developed small scanner modules that can be hidden virtually anywhere in the world, and record all the data you would want on whether a person is good or bad,” said Macintosh.
Nicholas smiled and said, “That is all excellent news, and I will soon have the program I want to lay out to the Council. As far as the increase in population, I may have a way to assist with that challenge, too. Is there somewhere private that we can talk? I have something to show you.”
Both elves looked puzzled and excited that Nicholas wanted their help on another project, they both thoroughly enjoyed the ideas he was coming up with. Not to mention he always challenged them to work beyond the next level.
Macintosh said, “Why don't we go into one of the classrooms that aren't occupied? We would probably have as much time as we need there.”
Ion asked, “Is there anyone else we need to join us? Many of the elves are out of class by now.”
Nicholas whispered conspiratorially, “Not at this time, I think it is best we keep this among the three of us.”
So the three of them checked the various classrooms and found not only one room empty, but the rooms on either side were also vacant so they wouldn't be overheard.
As they sat around one of the longer tables used for woodcarving, Nicholas pulled out Aeon's plans and laid them before the two elves.
“What is it?” asked Ion.
“I was hoping you could tell me,” replied Nicholas.
Macintosh stared at the plans for a while and after a time he gave a low whistle and his eyes got very big and round. “Where did you get this?” he asked.
Nicholas had decided that for the time being he would keep secret the book and the other schematics hidden inside. “I really can't tell you at present as I am sworn to secrecy,” he answered.
“Well I can tell you these didn't come from any elf around here. These drawing are much more advanced than anything we have now,” said Macintosh.
As if a light bulb suddenly went off in Ion's head he exclaimed, “Oh my heavens, it's a miniaturization machine!”
Both Macintosh and Nicholas shushed him into a quieter voice. “I had guessed that was the premise of this when I looked at it,” said Nicholas knowing all along its purpose.
“You mean you really didn't know?” an amazed Ion questioned, “Then who or how did you come up with these?”
“As I said, I really can't divulge my source right now. The person I got these from just told me to take it to the brightest elves in the North Pole, so I immediately thought of you two.” Nicholas smiled.
“This will take some time to figure out, and a good deal more time to build. Not to mention it would occupy a very large structure,” said Macintosh.
“Just how big are we talking, Mac?” asked Nicholas.
“According to the dimensions here, probably about two thirds the size of one of our manufacturing buildings, or about half the size of one of the warehouses,” Macintosh replied.
“Not to mention the raw materials are going to be substantial, we won't be able to build this out of spare parts as we did the scanners and data machines,” added Ion.
Nicholas hadn't thought of that. So far they were able to keep some of the projects from the Council until they were closer to putting on a full scale demonstration, and this also allowed time to run some of the ideas and gain support from his best allies on the Council, his mother being one of them.
But this could present a whole new problem. He was hoping that he could present the idea once the concept was at least proven sound, but they couldn't do that without a working model. Wait, Nicholas thought, that's it! We make a miniature of the miniaturization machine!
“What if we created a scale model?” he asked the elves, “It could just be big enough to take before the Council and demonstrate it.”
“Why not just take these plans before the Council and ask them to construct the full size thing?” asked Macintosh. “It is bound to make everyone's life easier both up here and at the distribution centers. I can't imagine they wouldn't approve it.”
“I really do not wish to make my source for this public to the Council at this time.” Nicholas sighed, “If you could at least build a model, than it would look like this was your idea.”
Ion barked, “I won't take credit for someone else's work! That's not at all ethical!”
“Relax, Ion, my source has no problem with that, and unless I miss my guess, the elf in question had some help from others that we will never know about,” chuckled Nicholas.
“Can we keep these and look them over for a day or so?” asked Macintosh.
“Just keep them secret and safe and you may keep them as long as you like,” said Nicholas, “After all, it's not as if I am going to start construction on it.” He laughed with a perfect copy of his father's laugh.
“I swear you are more like him everyday,” Macintosh said shaking his head.
Ion rolled up the papers and they all agreed to meet in a couple days to discuss what they thought could be done and what could not.
Nicholas returned to his home and saw his father sitting in the living room. Kris looked at his son and asked, “Where have you been all day?”
“Mostly practicing the time continuum and visiting some of the elves working on various projects,” Nicholas answered.
“How are you coming along with your jumps?” questioned Kris. 'Jumps' was the term that Nicholas and Kris decided to call the more bulky time continuum wording.
“Actually quite well!” Nicholas said in an animated voice. “I really have the multi-dimensional thing down cold now. I'll be happy to show you whenever you'd like.”
“Was Aeon a help on that?” queried Kris.
“Actually, it was more what you said,” Nicholas exaggerated. “You told me that once I was able to get the concept down even once, then it would fall pretty much into place. And that's what happened.” The last part was certainly true.
“Well good, I was hoping you would catch on.” Kris hesitated and stared off into space.
“What's the matter, Dad?” Nicholas looked into his fathers old eyes with concern.
“It seems your mother and a couple Council members want me to pass the reins over to you as early as this year. Apparently they think I have traveled the globe enough for one, or maybe even a few lifetimes.” Kris shook his head.
Nicholas held his jubilation in check and asked in the most concerned voice he could muster, “And how do you feel about the idea?”
“I won't deny I have thought about this for a very long time, and while some years are easier than others, most are becoming more exhausting each year. And after all you are approaching nearly a century yourself. I guess I should have started with your training earlier.” Kris mused.
“I didn't mind, but I must say you don't seem to enjoy it as you once did,” Nicholas said, “And it is certainly becoming a bigger world by the day.” He thought about the 6,000 new babies in just four hours.
“In that case I would like to discuss this further at dinner with your mother, but I think you should plan on meeting with the Council this week and seeing if we can get a consensus on this issue and assuming we will, officially declare you the next Santa Claus,” Kris joked. “Great, another reason for a banquet, again.”
“Sounds perfectly fine with me.” Nicholas smiled.
Kris stood and looked closely at his son and said, “I would caution you about what you say, and who you say it to, nothing is decided until the Council meets and makes its decision. And I wouldn't go around buttering up the Council this week because they will see right through that ruse.”
Nicholas laughed at his father's suggestion and said, “Now father you haven't raised a fool. I will be the vision of tact until everything is completed, regardless of the outcome.”
And while Nicholas was approaching 94, he felt like a 16 year old who just got a new car and couldn't wait to take it for a spin. He had to go off and do some celebrating even if in private.
Later at dinner, Nicholas and his parents discussed the many toys needing to be made and how the list got longer each year. They talked about the four manufacturing areas being near capacity and how they will make enough to fill the demand.
“I have some ideas on how to fill the rest of the need,” said Nicholas in an offhand manner.
“Well I would love to hear your ideas, as Carrow and I are nearly out of our minds, and we can't build the next manufacturing center fast enough,” said Annie.
“Actually I would hold off on finishing that building for now, as I may suggest a better use for it soon,” Nicholas said casually.
His mother looked at him and asked, “Would you care to share this with us so we might be 'in the know' about your plans?”
“Mother, you have my word that when I get everything figured out, I plan to lay out a whole strategy to both of you and the Council.” Nicholas looked deeply at his mother. “I have a glimpse of what is coming and it is much bigger than even you fear. Unless we do some major retooling, we will not be able to keep up and my new legacy will be short indeed.”
“Are you getting this information from that book?” questioned his father.
“Partially, but if you look around you can see the signs of what is taking place all around. Movie theaters, televisions, radio shows, telephones and telegraphs, transatlantic flights, and much more. All of this is going to revolutionize the varying cultures and countries into sharing more information, and we will be the only society cut off from the world.” Nicholas did not mean to get so passionate, but he had been thinking of many of these same problems for years and his enthusiasm got the better of him.
His mother's gaze softened and she smiled and said, “The Council and I were worried you were taking things in stride, but I can see this is not the case. We have been having many discussions along this same discourse, but I will tell you that the Council is still divided and you won't have an easy time swaying some of the members.”
Nicholas sighed, and said, “I will have so many things to show the Council and many new inventions and gadgets on a scale not seen since the start of our culture up here. But every one of them is a necessity if we hope to keep up, no, I mean keep ahead, of the rest of the world as we always have.”
His father shook his head and said, “Now I remember why I need to retire. I don't have the drive and passion I once had.”
His wife looked lovingly at her husband and said, “Well at least you passed it on to our son, and besides for nearly two centuries you have brought joy and love to children, I think you've earned a rest.”
“Well look at Carrow, that old codger is 400 plus and he isn't retired yet, and neither is Ulzana,” pointed out Kris, “And nobody is kicking them out.”
Annie laughed and said, “Ahh, at last it comes out! First, nobody is kicking you out. You asked us if Nicholas could please take the next year...”
Nicholas looked at his father with shock, he had no clue his dad asked the Council, rather than the other way around.
“...And secondly both Carrow and Ulzana are stepping down this year as well, and we will need to appoint their replacements after Christmas,” Annie continued.
“You’re kidding!” exclaimed Nicholas, “They actually are stepping away from the Council? I can't believe it.”
“More importantly, you better not say anything to anyone, as only the Council knows this and they will know where it came from if they hear it elsewhere,” scolded Kris.
“Father you may not be aware of this yet, but I can keep confidences with the best of them and keep many from everyone else,” Nicholas said in a hurt tone. “There has never been any discussions at this table that had become idle chat around the North Pole from me.”
Kris apologized, and mumbled something about getting old AND grumpy.
“Now MR. Santa Claus.” Annie was staring at her son. “I would like to help you implement your new ideas with the Council, assuming they are as good as I believe they will be. You do have friends in the Council, which many you already know, but some you may not. There have been a good many discussions concerning everything from opening up the Pole to tallfolk, to working with more companies outside of the North Pole. And some of these have come from you talking to other Council members, but it is time to cease these clandestine discussions, and bring some of your plans and ideas to all of us.”
Nicholas looked dumbstruck. He thought he had been so clever and his mother knew, or at least suspected all along, what he was up to in his movements.
“Now there will be a perfect time once your position has been made official, and I would suggest you wait for that moment, but if you want to let me in on some of these projects, I could help you get the right backing at the right time to see them through.” Annie paused and waited for Nicholas.
He had always loved his mother deeply, and had complete and total respect for her in all things. But he was amazed of her total grasp of the situation. She also knew best how to handle the issue with the Council. He was very glad she was his ally, and he thought he would hate to ever have to fight her on anything.
“We can begin tomorrow,” was all he needed to say.
Kris sat knowing Annie was always in charge, and might forever be the CEO of the North Pole.