Adventures Through Time with Leo Hasenpfeffer

By Timothy Shaw

For years now, Herr Doktor Leo Hasenpfeffer has been using his unique knowledge and great resources to generate a stable time travel vortex field. Now, in the twenty ninth century, the scientist falls into the opportune site at the opportune time, just to become the world's first time traveler. But nothing that complex can ever be that easy. And so, as we join him on the embarkation of his journey, we find ourselves travelling through time to a place nobody could have predicted.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Timothy Shaw
• Release date: Dec 16, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310754999

Timothy Shaw

Timothy Shaw has lead a not so ordinary life. Growing up in his family's travel business, he soon had a passport full of exotic foreign stamps. Having started working at age nine, it was not a great leap that he displayed the same hard work ethic when he joined the Springfield High School theater program, where to this day there is an award bearing his name. Following graduation he had two major choices; a full scholarship to the Ringling Brothers/Barnum Bailey Clown College or join the military in order to pay for college. He opted for the clown job and joined the Army. During his stint in the US Army, Timothy served as a German linguist stationed in what was once known as West Berlin. As it happens, likely due almost entirely to his fine work, peace broke out, the Wall fell and the two Germanies re-united. This effectively put him out of a job but he thought it lucky, as most soldiers these days don't seem to have that kind of luxury. In the years following, between Berlin and his present home of Tacoma, WA he has held a number of different jobs in an equal different number of fields. Although he published a number of poems in national publications over the years, even a play or two; it was not until 2011 while working his current position as a Visual Interpreter for the blind for a community college that he thought to take up the challenge of actually writing a novel. His first novel, written for the National Novel Writing Month in November 2011, was approximately fifty thousand words. The following year saw a second novel in the series coming in at about double that. As The third novel in what has turned into a series has just been completed but has not yet been published.

Book preview

Chapter One

His eyes opened slowly and he blinked several times to allow them to adjust to the morning light. Looking around the room he saw the clean white lines of the modern design and sighed once again before heaving himself upright.

Reaching up with a soft, wrinkled hand he scratched at his white beard and ran his fingers through white curls that once had been brown. He rubbed at his nose, long ago broken and healed in a sort of permanent mash up, which seemed to suit him just fine.

It was three days until his sixty third birthday and he was becoming quite pressed for time. Time, it seemed, had become a very consuming matter to his in the last several years. At that thought, he looked at the glass partition between his bedroom and his dressing room and spoke, Time?

Without a sound the liquid crystal smart glass displayed the digital readout, '7:22 AM'

Now, Seymour, said the old man. You know I don't like that interface.

With what could possibly be felt as a sense of disgust or annoyance, the digital display was jerkily erased from the glass to be replaced with the semi-transparent image of a grandfather clock, which took up nearly the entirety of the partition wall.

I am neither impressed nor amused. the man stated simply.

The clock shrunk down to the size of the previous digital readout and a soft, male voice said, 'My apologies, sir. I do, however, fail to see the sense of hanging on to these anachronisms. In point of fact, I find it a bit offensive.'

The old man chuckled at that. When designing his own quantum computer, Leo had thought it might be an interesting experiment to give it a personality. Nothing said more about one's personality than one's name. Therefore, he had taken to calling the computer, 'Seymour' after Seymour Cray, the father of supercomputing back in the twentieth century. And as personalities could sometimes clash or get in the way of cohesive and cooperative partnerships, with people or machines, he thought it a worthy experiment and allowed for the infrequent flash of color it brought to his work.

He hoisted his 6' 3" frame up from his bed and walked into the dressing room. On more than one occasion, people had commented upon meeting him that he looked more like a farmer or Santa Claus from the old vids than a scholar. He idly touched the glass wall in the dressing room, which brought up several virtual screens. Picking three out of the lot he wiped them away with a flourish of his hand. A moment later a wardrobe rose out of the floor in the middle of the dressing room and opened to reveal its contents. Inside were the three items of clothing that he had selected from the menu on the screen.

As Leo finished getting dressed and pulled his shoes from an inset in the wall, he asked the computer, What is on the agenda for today?

'The delivery of the chip is being off-loaded at the port as we speak and should arrive by courier to Doctor Klumpp's surgery in Düsseldorf by later this morning prior to your appointment.'

Ja, gut! muttered the old man as he pulled on his overcoat. When is my transport to be ready? he asked.

'The shuttle will be waiting on the roof at ten.'

Okay so a bit of breakfast then. the old man smiled.

'May I reiterate that I find this procedure rather reckless and advise again that you reconsider?' asked the computer.

You may. said the old man as he walked out of the room.

***

The house servant in the kitchen did not interrupt his employer, who had carried on his conversation with the house computer from his room and all the way downstairs and into the kitchen. The young man knew enough of his employer by now to not have breakfast waiting in the dining room or in the breakfast nook but simply at the island in the middle of the kitchen.

'Are you sure you should be eating breakfast on the very morning you are going to be having this unfortunate procedure?' queried Seymour.

Mein Gott im Himmel! It is only a small procedure and it is all up here he waved his hands around his head. Not in my stomach. Now, be silent and let me eat.

The young man smiled meekly and served his employer his boiled egg, two slices of toast and assorted smoked meats and cheeses, followed by a large pot of tea. Once his presence was no longer necessary, he made his way out of the kitchen and on to other duties.

As he was about to leave the room, the old man cleared his throat and said, Ah, Elgar, is it? The young man stopped and turned, nodding that this was indeed his name. I am going to be going on a rather extended er, voyage and will no longer be requiring service at this residence. I understand you have been with us for three weeks, is that right?

Again the youth nodded.

Okay then. I shall arrange to deposit a full year’s salary with a bonus on top for the short notice in terminating your employment here as well as a confirmation letter that it had nothing at all to do with the quality of service provided.

The young man, seemingly unfazed, simply smiled, nodded and then left the room. He had not had the time to get to know his current employer and wasn't really sure he wanted to if he had stayed. Older people went a little funny in the head at least that was how Elgar saw it.

***

The old man finished his breakfast alone and in silence. Taking the last slice of toast and a cup of tea with him, he left the kitchen and descended to the basement where his library and workshop were. It was only when the computer announced that the transport had arrived and was ready to leave that he looked up from his books and papers and noticed that his toast was only half eaten and his tea had gone cold.

With a sigh, he strode to the lift and pressed the call button. As he waited for the car, he reached in his pocket and pulled out a silver cylinder about the size and shape of a cigar. Plugging one end into a socket in the wall he said, Well, are you coming?

A slight beep was the only indication that the transfer had been made. Pulling the cylinder from the wall, he slipped it back in his pocket before boarding the lift car and riding up to the roof top where his shuttle waited.

Chapter Two

The flight from Berlin to Düsseldorf took only fifteen minutes and was only that long due to air traffic over Magdeburg was particularly heavy that morning. After the shuttle dropped him off at the hospital in which Dr. Klumpp had his surgery theater and offices, Leo made his way down to meet with his old friend and physician.

Dr. Klumpp looked to be a young man, perhaps in his early to mid-thirties. He smiled and rose as he greeted the elderly man entering his office.

Herr Doktor Hasenpfeffer, he spoke out in a vibrant, clear voice. How good it is to see you again. How are you feeling today?

Please, have a seat. he gestured to one of the chairs in front of his desk. As the elderly man sat himself down he reached into his overcoat pocket and withdrew the silver cylinder, placing it gently on leather pad centered at the front of the crystal desktop.

Ah, so I still cannot talk you out of this plan of yours? said the doctor as he stared at the cylinder which held the imprint of Leo's quantum computer interface. As advanced as technology had become, even in the twenty eighth century, as computer as complicated, intricate and vast as Seymour could never be held on something so small. This was merely the key that once imprinted on a chip, would allow for the connection over untold distances.

Pursing his lips and shaking his head, Leo said, No, Heinrich, my old friend. Seeing the question was about to come up, yet again, he held up his hand to stave it off. And I do not wish to go through any gene therapy or cosmetic hocus pocus. We might have learned to keep death on a tight leash but I do not believe we were meant to look like children forever. I earned each of these grey hairs and refuse to have someone question my authority as an educated man because I look like a boy who spends his time chasing girls rather than being a doctor.

All right, all right. sighed the doctor. But you know, the longer you walk around with that face, the more of a rarity you are going to become. Naturalists like you are becoming a minority these days. He smiled and let it go, as he had many times before when they had the debate about the ability to remain looking younger did not necessitate the actual use of said ability. He knew it was an argument which he would never win and was satisfied with an ongoing stalemate.

The doctor was silent for a moment as he touched his desktop and brought it to life, various virtual screens appearing and being moved hither and yon as the man moved his hands deftly about the desk. Looking up he told his friend and patient, It appears that the shipment has been delivered and is undergoing testing to verify its condition. I shall just go and meet with the courier to ensure everything is ready for our procedure. If you will excuse me?

Leo nodded and the doctor rose from behind his desk and left the room through a side door. Leo sat back and stared out the window. It was only a few minutes but when Dr. Klumpp returned, Leo was lost in thought.

A discreet cough from Heinrich brought the older man back to the moment. Not reconsidering are you? asked the doctor.

No, simply running some calculations for another project I have. smiled Leo. It is all in working order and ready to go, I take it?

Yes, the diagnostic tests on the chips and the implant fibers all came up tip top. I do hope you read my message and did not have anything to eat in the last twelve hours. said Dr. Klumpp.

Leo's silence told the doctor everything he needed to know. My god man, you never listen to anyone else even when they are an expert in their own field of study!

Looking somewhat hurt, though it might have been a well-practiced rouse, Leo said, It's just a little operation, an implant in my head. Why should my stomach suffer for something happening two feet above it?

How can one man hold so many doctorates and still be so, so.. Heinrich appeared genuinely upset.

Thick? Leo offered.

Yes, thank you! agreed the doctor. How can someone so intelligent be so thick?

Well, I don't know about that but if you don't mind me mentioning; you are beginning to sound quite a lot like Seymour. chuckled Leo.

The doctor stopped and stared at his old friend for several seconds before bursting out into laughter himself. Well, I've never before been compared to a computer but in this instance, I think I shall take that as a complement. I tell you this much, gratis, should you ever wish to release the code for Seymour, you would become very wealthy from it. It is a marvelous creation!

Now, now, Heinrich. admonished Leo. I'm already far wealthier than I have any right to be or any useful need. As for Seymour, this is another debate we shall have to leave on the table in check. I don't think the world is ready for a quantum computer with attitude.

Both men chuckled until their mirth died down to a whisper and finally stopped as they stared at the silver cylinder on the desk.

I want that destroyed following the procedure, not simply wiped. Leo reminded his surgeon.

It shall be done. assured Dr. Klumpp. I've closed the entire surgical floor and doubled security. Only I, my nurse assistant Utta and the cyberneticist you contracted to monitor the software will be in the room with you. I wish you would reconsider and allow us to put you under. I would feel much safer, I could have an anesthetist here within the hour.

No, replied Leo. I need to be awake and aware to ensure the software and up link go as planned. I would lose too much time if I waited to hash it all out after I wake up in recovery. Again, Leo pursed his lip and gave a little nod.

Heinrich knew his friend well enough; that was the final word on that conversation. Okay, if you would come with me we will go down to the surgery theater. said the doctor as he gingerly picked up the silver cylinder and lead the older man back out through the side door he had used earlier.

***

Professor Zamenhof accepted the cylinder and placed it on a tray lined with anti-static film next to the standing computer station he manned next to the operating chair. After accepting the imprint device for the quantum computers interface matrix, he returned to prepping the download protocols and algorithms he would be using once Dr. Klumpp had successfully installed the chip.

Good morning professor. said Leo as he sat back into the operating chair, now wearing a clean suit. Clean suits had, more than anything else, decreased the amount of post-op infections and had greatly improved the medical care patients could receive.

This really is a most fascinating piece of design work. responded the cyberneticist. I'd very much like to examine it further.

Not one for small talk. Leo smiled and shrugged at Dr. Klumpp. Turning his head back to face Zamenhof he said, If this goes well, I believe I can put you into contact with the lab that produced this chip. Their work is contracted solely to me, as the chip design was my own. However, if I don't die or become a drooling imbecile from this, I don't see the harm in allowing you access for study.

So, interjected Heinrich. The only requirement is that I have to make sure you don't drool afterward?

After a wince and a grin, Leo shot back, That's about the gist of it. Shall we?

Utta, Dr. Klumpp's nurse assistant brought over a rolling tray with the surgical instruments on it. As she stood next to the chair, arranging the instruments Dr. Klumpp walked over to the counter and opened the Shock-Pak transport container.

There was