He was playing Schubert’s 14th piano sonata he’d bought the score for about a week back when it flew in from his set up portal, the 1st of 3 as it turns out. It clanked and rolled on the floor almost to the opposite wall, freezing his hands mid chord progression with the sound. He knew instantly what it was of course. He’d been here before.
It was minimally damaged in the transition thankfully. He brought it over to his work table, moving his trusty steampunk computer aside for the moment; automatically started to take notes on the thing. “Quasi-vintage Coko Cola can circa 1990s, lid unpopped with pop still inside,” he wrote, unable to resist a ready pun. “12 fluid ounces; bar code 490690.”
Understanding the fractal nature of his universe, Newt brought the computer front and center again, googling the number. Through it he learned the product was manufactured in New York with a can manufacturer called Crown. Approx. date of creation: 1983.
https://www.cokecollection.com/index.php?lang=en&pageid=50&canID=11453
Those are the mundane facts. In digging deeper with the number, he soon found another New York connection here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_90_in_New_York
Within New York, I-90 has a complete set of auxiliary Interstates, which means that there are Interstates numbered I-190 through I-990 in the state, with no gaps in between.
Splitting 490690 in two and averaging the 2 resulting numbers gives us 590, which is exactly between 190 and 990 or exactly in the symbolic center of New York somewhere moving west to east, he determined.
Right about… here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Can_of_Worms_(interchange)
Can front and center once more, he figures the fizz inside has settled down enough to safely pop the top. But dare he?
Another can comes flying through the portal. Saved by the bell, er, *clank*.
Sunklands 