Steph was in the zone. It was barely 9am, and she’d already smashed out more work than most people would in a day. 

So when the phone rang, she was on it lickedy-split. 

“Welcome to Taipan, this is Steph. How can I help you today?” 

“Why hello there, Steph! It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Merlin. I’m afraid I have a problem on this magical, mystical… is it Tuesday, where you are?” 

“It sure is!” replied Steph, completely unperturbed by the strangeness of the question. 

“That’s something, at least,” sighed Merlin. “Anyway, it’s a problem only you can help me with, Steph. I’m not saying the fate of the world is at stake, but if you can’t help me, the impact will be catastrophic. I estimate around a billion people will cease to exist.” 

“Merlin, I appreciate it can feel like life or death, but if you’re about to say you didn’t get a freebie with your order, I’m really sorry, but we only have a limited quantity to give-” 

“No, no, I already got my Spinning Spider. It’s a fascinating contraption, but that’s beside the point,” said Merlin hurriedly. “I fear it’s quite a bit more dire than that.” 

“Then of course I’ll help you, Merlin. What do you need?” 

“That’s positively splendiferous!” Merlin cried. “I need a specific hydraulic component for my time travel device. I believe in your dimension it’s called a K04BF06.” 

“Oh, a female BSPP hose tail? We’ve got heaps of them, Merlin. Shoot through a purchase order and we’ll get that squared away for you, no problem,” answered Steph cheerfully. 

“Ah, yes, well, ah. This is where the situation gets, hmmm, complicated,” stuttered Merlin. “I need the first one that was ever made by Queensland Hose & Fittings.” 

There was a heavy silence as Steph took that in. “So… you need one from…” 

“Around 2003, yes,” finished Merlin. “I realise that presents certain… logistical difficulties, and I’ve resigned myself to the fact it may be lost forev-” 

“Found the invoice!” interrupted Steph. “Looks like it was sold on August 3, 2003, to…” Steph leaned forward in her chair, squinting at the screen. “It doesn’t actually say, it’s just got a signature. At least, I think it’s a signature. It could also be a child’s drawing of a snake.” 

Merlin groaned. “Drat! We were so close. Oh well. When you think about it, a billion people is only around 12 percent of the population, which are rather good odds-” 

Steph tuned him out and glanced around the office. There had to be someone who knew more about the company’s early days. Most of the team probably hadn’t been born in 2003, but one person came to mind. 

Of course. Julie! 

Steph put the phone down and hurried across the room. Merlin was too caught up in his rambling to notice. 

Julie looked up as Steph approached. “Busy solving the world’s problems this morning?” she asked. 

“Yes, actually” replied Steph, showing Julie the invoice. “Do you recognise this signature?” 

Julie barely looked at it. “Oh, that’s Al’s.” 

Steph blinked. “Seriously?” 

“Yep. He used to personally inspect the first production of every new fitting. He had a superstition about keeping the first one off the lathe, too.” 

“You’re kidding.” 

“Nope. He keeps them all in a mounted display case in his office.” 

Steph practically sprinted for the stairs. Moments later, she was standing inside Al’s empty office, looking at a pristine display case. Under one of the fittings, a small plaque read: 

FIRST K04BF06 PRODUCED 

AUGUST 2003 

She grabbed the fitting and dashed back downstairs. 

“Merlin?” she said, interrupting his stream of consciousness. “I’ve got it.” 

By lunchtime, somewhere across space and time, Merlin installed the fitting, pulled a lever, and prevented a catastrophe nobody would ever know about. 

Except Steph. 

Who was already back in the zone, answering the next phone call before it had rung twice. 

“Welcome to Taipan, this is Steph. How can I help you today?” 

A nervous voice replied. “Hi, my name is Arthur. I was wondering if you could help me: this sword is stuck in a stone and I really need to get it out. Do you sell Rockbreaker hose tails?” 

Steph smiled. 

“Depends. Is it Tuesday where you are?”