I’m pretty sure the original story doesn’t mention Rip checking his voicemails when he returns from his 20-year nap.
That isn’t an old answering machine, it’s the phone. So it could have a counter, or maybe he’s calling his voicemail. Either way, the system would have gone to saying “The mailbox is full, and cannot accept any more messages,” long ago.
I’m pretty sure the original story doesn’t mention Rip checking his voicemails when he returns from his 20-year nap.
That isn’t an old answering machine, it’s the phone. So it could have a counter, or maybe he’s calling his voicemail. Either way, the system would have gone to saying “The mailbox is full, and cannot accept any more messages,” long ago.