They crowd round me excitedly, touching to see if I'm real.

They're so weak and gentle! If they attacked me I could throw them all off me like bowling ball pins! Then I see them touching the time machine! And I suddenly have an idea. I can remove the control lever and carry it with me! Then even if I walk away from the time machine, nobody can ever use it except me.

They pick flowers and cover me with them. They seem to want to take me to meet their friends. I don't like leaving the time machine, but why not? Only I have the control lever, and these people are far too weak to move or damage the machine. Should I go with them and see their friends?? Or stay here and try to communicate with them?? Or explore the area? Or do something else?