To Change the World and Other Stories

By Adam Pfeffer

Here's a truly eclectic collection of well-written short stories, ranging from the futuristic THE PERFECT WOMAN and THE LAST SOLDIER to the ethnic BLACKJACK and SUPERSTEIN. The enigmatic title story, TO CHANGE THE WORLD, is also included for a memorable reading experience. The compactness of many of the eighteen stories give them power and surprising impact. The diversity of the stories offered represent the full spectrum of the short story art form. So sit back and enjoy tales of fantasy, humor, and gripping drama, many intending a point and all of them meant to entertain. Whether it be about the medical marvels of the future, as in PANACEA, or the cruel horrors of the past, as in OUT FROM THE DARKNESS, all of the stories will keep you wanting more. From the delightful SPECIALTY OF THE HOUSE to the satiric THE THINKING ASYLUMS, this collection of entertaining stories is sure to keep the pages turning.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Dec 23, 2008
• ISBN: 9781440108129

Adam Pfeffer

Adam Pfeffer was born in Queens, New York, and graduated from the University of California–Los Angeles and the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, with degrees in history and fine arts. He has worked for several newspapers and magazines, as well as publications in Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, DC. This is his sixteenth published work.

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To Change The World and Other Stories

Adam Pfeffer

iUniverse, Inc.

New York Bloomington

To Change The World and Other Stories

Copyright © 2008 by Adam Pfeffer

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-0-595-00039-5 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-1-4401-0812-9 (ebk)

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

TO CHANGE THE WORLD

DAMN MACHINES

THE LAST SOLDIER

THE DEVIL’S CHRISTMAS

FOR THE SAKE OF ART

SPECIALTY OF THE HOUSE

PANACEA

THE PERFECT WOMAN

THE LUNACY FACTOR

HOLY SHIT

ALIEN INVASION

BLACKJACK

EL MOZO

SUPERSTEIN

THE THINKING ASYLUMS

WHEN THE ZOOKEEPER COMES

OUT FROM THE DARKNESS

DISAPPEARING ACT

To Change The World

and Other Stories

By Adam

Pfeffer

Books by Adam Pfeffer

Published by iUniverse:

KOLAK OF THE WEREBEASTS

TWILIGHT OF THE GODS

THE MISSING LINK

TO CHANGE THE WORLD and OTHER STORIES

If intelligence is soup, then

wisdom is with the spices added.

ALTON DOC J. BLISS

TO CHANGE THE WORLD

Everybody wants to change the world, Becker said with a laugh. To attain adulation, fame and fortune, as well as immortality, is truly the desire of every mortal running around out there.

Why would anyone want to bother? Devlin asked.

Well, that’s altogether another entirely different story, Becker replied. Whether it’s the right thing to do or whether anyone should bother is quite another story. The fact remains that it’s the fervent wish of anyone under forty.

And let me guess, you’re going to do it, Devlin laughed.

Well, let me just say that I know how to do it in as little time as necessary, Becker said with a smile. Would anyone care to bet me on it?

Count me in, Devlin smiled. Name the price.

The other men in the room also raised their hands, waving bills of various denominations. Becker laughed.

Well, if I’m successful, he said, there won’t be any need to collect my winnings. Because you see, gentlemen, if I’m successful in my little plan then I won’t be seeing any of you ever again.

Come on, Becker, tell us how you’re going to do it, Sandy Shelton complained. Do you know some kind of magic or something?

It’s not magic, Becker assured everyone. It’s totally scientific utilizing my own technological know-how.

Ah, you can keep your technological know-how, Becker, Hanford said with an angry frown. No one living on this earth has the power to change this world. No one.

I didn’t know the world needed changing, Sandy Shelton said. I thought everything works out in the end.

Becker laughed. That’s how much you know, he said. Nothing works out in the end. People just keep dying, that’s all. Why, history is nothing more than one bloody war after another. We continually battle Nature and ourselves. And does anybody really ever win? No, not really. But what if I told you I knew a way to bring everlasting peace to the world? What if I told you I knew a way to end poverty once and for all?

Ah, that’s all just talk, Devlin chimed in. To do what you propose would take something like God and all the armies of the world.

But you’re wrong, Devlin, Becker said. All it would take was some technological know-how.

Like what?

Like some invention, Becker smiled. Some invention that would allow one to go back in time and correct all the errors we made throughout history.

And you have such an invention, Becker?

Becker smiled. Let me just say that I have an invention, Devlin, that will surely win me every bet.

Let’s have a look at it.

Becker smiled, and then he led the small group to the back of the room. There, by an old cot, was a big white box with a door hanging open.

You’ve got to be kidding, Becker. It looks like a refrigerator. Don’t tell me you think you can travel through time in that.

That’s exactly what I’m going to tell you, Devlin, Becker said with a laugh. That refrigerator happens to be fully computerized and I am confident it will take me exactly where I plan on going.

And where is that? Sandy Shelton shouted out.

That, my friends, will be kept a secret, Becker replied. I can’t risk one of you hoodlums trying to mess up my plan.

When do you leave, Becker?

Tonight.

They peered inside the big, white box and stared at the keyboard and computers inside, and decided Becker was ahead of his time. Way ahead of his time.

Technological know-how, bah, Devlin frowned. No way is this thing going to work, Becker. Well, good luck, anyway.

If it doesn’t, Devlin, I’m prepared to pay my bets, Becker replied. But I really don’t think that’s going to be necessary.

But time travel, Becker, is only just a theory.

And if the theory is correct, tomorrow there will be peace throughout the world, gentlemen.

Let him have his theories and his technological know-how, Hanford said with a yawn. As for me, I’m going to bed.

Well, see you tomorrow, gentlemen, Becker said with a laugh. In a brand new world ruled by peace.

Whatever you say, Becker. We’ll be seeing you tomorrow.

Becker smiled, and then those who had filled the room left with a wave of the arm. Becker walked over to the large white box and tapped it with his hand.

Tomorrow, gentlemen, he said with a laugh. Tomorrow.

He then began preparing for his long journey. He opened the back door, and smelled the night air. Taking something to eat just in case something happened, Becker sat down inside the large white box. He closed the door, sat back, and then pushed one of the buttons on the computerized control panel. A low whirring sound enveloped the machine, and then Becker closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he stared at the large computer screen in front of him. A long list of years were parading across the screen. Becker pushed another button on the control panel, and closed his eyes again. The low whirring sound continued.

After a few minutes, there was only silence. Becker pushed a button and opened the door. He found himself in the middle of a desert-like terrain.

Becker smiled and closed the door of the machine. He then began walking. He walked a few yards until he came to a small slope. He slowly trudged up the slope and noticed a few people in Bedouin garb standing on the top of the hill.

Forgive me for disturbing you, Becker said with a wave of his hand. I need to talk with your leader.

I am the one you wish for, said a bearded man in white. What can I do for you, my friend?

There’s no time to explain, Becker said. Would you mind coming with me? I wish to show you something.

His followers looked at him, and then the bearded man nodded his head. I will come with you, he said.

They walked back down the dusty slope, and then the bearded man in white stopped for a moment.

You are from the governor? he asked.

No, Becker replied. I have come to save you.

Who are you?

My name is Becker and what is your name?

The bearded man in white looked at him with a kind smile appearing on his lips. I am the one they call Jesus of Nazareth, he replied.

Becker smiled. Yes, Jesus of Nazareth, he said. The same Jesus of Nazareth who won’t be crucified, the same Jesus of Nazareth who will come with me and finally bring peace to this wounded world. It will be a world that will not know the bloodthirsty ways of those that came before, a world without the need for random bloodshed.

You were sent here to guide me?

Becker slowly nodded his head. Yes, you will be the one to change the world, but this time by living.

The bearded man in white smiled and he followed Becker back to the time machine.

DAMN MACHINES

It was a long ride from the Hudson Brothers Amalgamated Corporation even if one was smart enough to take the downtown express tube. It was especially long since once inside the tube one could no longer witness the brown haze