— carto · iv / lateness

a map of being late

network · five lines · times approximate

leaving in time arriving on time leaving five minutes late arriving twelve late leaving by the long way arriving missed leaving on time arriving (works held up) the realising the kettle a forgotten thing an unfamiliar street the unsignalled works house station / ferry / appointment 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 min
the misjudgement · early lost minutes the lingering · always five the wrong route · misses the train the delay encountered · faultless lateness

every line begins at the house. each takes a different course through the same morning. only the first arrives where it intended; the others lose their minutes to the kettle, a forgotten thing, an unfamiliar street, or works without signage.

the white circles mark the moment of realising — the point at which the traveller knows. it always comes too late to make a difference; it always comes early enough to spoil the rest of the journey. by seven o'clock the choice has been made without one's knowledge.

the diagram does not show the line for staying. that line does not leave the station. it sits inside, watches the others go, and is sometimes still there in time for the next ferry or the one after. see also time; see the slow politeness of clocks.

atlas · return