Future World Rocks!

By Terry Tumbler

where the past meets the future, as two German scientists steal die Glocke, ‘The Bell’ and take it time traveling. New settlers arrive from another galaxy and settle in, while revealing the existence of previously unknown beings hiding in the depths of the planet. Also found are slave laborers on the moon, who us humans feel duty bou

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sombrella
• Release date: Nov 21, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370309603

Terry Tumbler

I retired in 2004 and am now living with my wife in Spain, amongst the Spanish. For over 30 years I was in the computer industry, some of which were with IBM before I got itchy feet. Afterward, I worked as an Organisation & Methods specialist before moving into mainstream computing and becoming involved in installation, management, analysis and programming. I took up writing at an advanced age simply because I had the time and energy to do so.A keen blogger, especially recently on Brexit related politics, and equally importantly on outlandish matters associated with my area of creativity in writing. My exhaustive research on UFO reported incidents is for authenticity, with the results reflected primarily in my books.

Book preview

FUTURE WORLD ROCKS!

(Going Back To Our Roots)

by

Terry Tumbler

Book 1 in the series

Carousels of Life

Copyright

Copyright © Terry Tumbler 2017

The right of Terry Tumbler to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

No resemblance is intended to any real person, living or dead.

This book is sold subject to the condition it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be circulated in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise without the author’s prior consent.

ISBN 978-1-5136-2455-6

http://terrytumbler.blogspot.com.es/

Cover design by http://jeffreykosh.wix.com/jeffreykoshgraphics

Vsn 2b

Author’s Notes

For a Sci-Fi book like this; what date would you elect as representative of the ‘distant future’? Would it be: 150 years, 1,000 years, or 2,000 years?

In comparison with the geological timescale, from the Pleistocene to the Archean eras, spanning millions to billions of years, this measure of the future is trivial.

In fact, this author views a future date of 2170 AD as the near future. The speed at which developments have taken place, at an escalating rate since the early 19th century, leads me to believe that humanity will lead a life in 2170 similar to that depicted in this book.

It could well be the kick-off point for us to progress to the next step in the evolutionary chain. Perhaps it could be the ultimate step we ever take.

I now wish to address a second point of relevance to this specific book. You, the reader, may detect certain phrases being used that remind you of something you have read elsewhere. If I am fortunate, you may also appreciate that it is no coincidence.

It is because I have chosen, in my story-telling, to take nostalgic extracts from songs belted out in the early days of Rock n’ Roll music.

In a sense, what I have written is a nascent Sci-Fi rock musical with sprinkles of humor in its soul. This to me is what a true Space Opera should be all about!

Be my guest and if the mood takes you, hum along with me. If your curiosity is aroused, look up the clues on the web and listen to the tunes.

Author’s Foreword

The English in this story represents what may well be in common use in 2170 and thereabouts. It is an extrapolation of UK and USA spellings.

Titles

If anyone cares to read all the books written by the same author, the suggested sequence is:

Seb Cage Begins His Adventures – where Terry Tumbler’s grandsons come to stay with him and his wife on the Costa Blanca, for the entire summer vacation.

During this period, the elder grandson, Seb, has a number of futuristic adventures when he joins a summer campus run by a mysterious organization called The Sombrella Syndicate.

Series: The Dreadnought Collective Book 1

The Inlooker – where a unique character, Thomas Beckon, realizes his paranormal talents to change the nature of society in Great Britain. Thereafter, as a power broker, he helps to shape mankind in its future development.

Series: The Dreadnought Collective Book 2

The Time Slipsters – A group of friends take a trip together in the near future. They will travel on the latest type of flying bus. Unwittingly, they are entering a world where time travel is a reality, and soon embark on a tour like nothing they could have imagined. Some have a hidden agenda, as is apparent upon arrival at a secret location.

Series: The Dreadnought Collective Book 3

The Deaduction Agency − witness at first-hand a group of specialist investigators, as they set up and run a new agency, dedicated to the resolution of criminal cases using paranormal assistance. This will be a new and emerging brand of policing, designed to protect our citizens.

Series: The Dreadnought Collective Book 4

The Sightseers Agency− the first recruit joins the new Sightseers Agency. He is a remote viewer and participant in the resolution of events threatening world security. Both his fledgling agency and that of The Deaduction Agency belong to The Dreadnought Collective.

Series: The Dreadnought Collective Book 5

Future World Rocks! − where the past meets the future, as two German scientists steal die Glocke, ‘The Bell’ and take it time traveling. New settlers arrive from another galaxy and settle in, while revealing the existence of previously unknown beings hiding in the depths of the planet. Also found are slave laborers on the moon, who us humans feel duty bound to help.

This is a space opera set to rock music!

Series: Carousels of Life Book 1

For those who may be more than remotely interested in his upbringing, the author’s childhood behavior is recounted in a mildly fictionalized autobiographical work called:

The Rough & Tumbles Of Early Years

The author himself subsequently regarded this as a potentially valuable compendium of incidents, which could be serialized in the same vein as Just William. Originally, it was prepared for the benefit of his family, who would otherwise have known nothing about his outrageous childhood behavior

Series: A Wonderfully Wacky World Book 1

Santiago Tales – where the irascible Tumbler, based loosely on the author’s personality, organizes a trip for himself and his cronies to travel to the sacred city of Santiago de Compostela, following parts of the St James Camino, in Northern Spain.

En route, as well as swapping stories in the same vein as those published in Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, they endure interesting encounters themselves.

Conceptually, this is a semi-fictional book within a travelogue.

Series: A Wonderfully Wacky World Book 2

Acknowledgements

A deep gratitude is felt towards those pioneers of music who gave us such enjoyment in our formative years. I yearned for the dream life that only they could lead, as beacons of hope, whereas the rest of us poor mortals had only the drudge of normality to cope with.

For a different reason, I admire those people who had the courage to speak out when they witnessed stars in the sky that were anything but.

On many fronts, now I know better.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my wife of many years.

Without her patience of me when I enter my brown study, her loyal and unwavering support, and endless tolerance of me in its preparation when I emerge, none of it would have been possible.

Contents

FUTURE WORLD ROCKS!

Copyright

Author’s Notes

Author’s Foreword

Titles

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Setting The Scene Afresh

§  1: For Whom The Bell Tolls

§  2: Accentuate The Positive

§  3: Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick

§  4: As Tears Go By

§  5: There's Something in the Woodshed

§  6: You Were Meant For me

§  7: Something In The Air

§  8: Black Is Black

§  9: The Great Pretender

§ 10: Getting To Know You

§ 11: Unchained Melody

§ 12: What The World Needs Now

§ 13: Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes

§ 14: What A Wonderful World

§ 15: Don’t you Feel Like Crying

§ 16: Let’s Get Together

§ 17: Let’s Dance!

§ 18: Ming The Merciless

§ 19: Fly Me To The Moon

§ 20: I’m Her Yesterday Man

§ 21: You Can Get It If You Want…

§ 22: Mission Impossible

§ 23: Spirit In The Sky

§ 24: Have I The Right to Hold You

§ 25: If I Could Turn Back Time

§ 26: There’s A Starman

Appendix

Setting The Scene Afresh

The human race is fast nearing its target population of 1.5 billion. The timeframe is 150 years in the near future, which can be regarded as almost imminent, if one compares it with the geological timescale and the arrival of man on earth.

Broadly speaking, nations have retained their geographical boundaries for many centuries, although the groupings tend to be larger. For ease of world administration, many of the smaller nations have now merged.

State organized manufacturing, agriculture and fish farming in a stable, global society have become the norm. Ages ago, we dispensed with free trade and random enterprise because of their instability as economic models.

At worldwide and national levels, a minimal ‘civil’ service tends biologically enhanced computers, which determine the necessary products and services for the populace to maintain a good, healthy lifestyle.

Individual nations retain their historic, regional identities, although there is much debate at a global level on how long population disparities can last.

Already, nations are divided into equal constituencies, each of which elects a single consul to represent them at the national consulate on a first-past-the-post basis.

Proportional representation has been discarded, it being regarded as too complicated and irrelevant. The concept of inducing strife between politicians with opposing ideologies was agreed to be unhelpful.

A good education, logical thought, intelligence, life experience and mental stability are the core criteria by which candidates are elected to be representatives of the people.

It is regarded as an honor to be nominated and approved, and consultation between each consul and his or her constituents is regular, with majority decisions endorsed by electronic referendum. The consul must abide by their voters’ decision.

From their estimable ranks, consuls elect peers to serve on a supreme, worldwide council.

Those voters who can’t be bothered with any of the formalities are excluded from voting, provided they do not exceed a small percentage of the constituency, else anarchy could develop. Those who want to vote have to prove they think rationally, to avert the twin risks of malice and stupidity in their choice of candidates.

Adult workers within the community are awarded credits according to the graded values of their work and relevant talents, and these form the basis of a worldwide pay grade. This starts at level 1 and goes as high as 15, the latter being the top permitted grade. No one can earn more than fifteen times the minimum grade.

Oh yes, it must also be mentioned that only one currency is used worldwide, called the Pulse, which is referred to as the MOP, or Monetary Pulse. It’s health system equivalent is the HOP, or in full, the Health Organization Pulse or shorter Hospital Pulse, which is where more serious disorders are treated.

To focus on prolonged life for a moment, the ages that citizens can expect to reach considerably exceed those in the year in which this book was written. It rivals that of Valant Thor, an alien who lived on Earth for 3 years from 1957, but stated that his lifespan was expected to be 600 years, measured by our standard.

Energy costs are minimal, with power generated by a few key transformers sited strategically around the globe, and conveyed freely by wireless waves resonating in the atmosphere. Tesla’s discovery at the end of the 19th century has belatedly become reality.

Transport is cheap, using the same, free power source. Driverless flying crafts are hired from national agencies. Collectively, they are called Personal Official Transport, which is abbreviated to POTS, but they are affectionately known as potties. Mass-transit systems no longer exist in any volume, except for school runs, the mass distribution of products, and tourism.

The United States of America re-branded potties as airpots, preferring not to use a vulgar word such as potty. It also reminded them of what they had lost, the use of airports. It defeats logic why anyone should think nostalgically of such hindrances to travel.

To get back on track, food is grown plentifully, relative to local needs and tastes.

The climate is benign, at least in comparison with the extremes we experienced in the previous century. Again, Tesla’s early experiments with weather control had proven to be successful in, and holiday types accord with the needs of the different age groups.

Zero inflation is the benchmark to which all nations aspire and largely achieve, to help ensure enduring stability in all parts of the world.

There are sporadic outbreaks of criminality, terrorism and morally bad behavior in some elements of society, but it is a reducing phenomenon as genetic engineering takes a grip of the ongoing situation. The process of pacification is aided by specialist policing of the type provided by the Deaduction Agency and others of similar, unique types.

Religion is more or less redundant in the new society, after the discovery of the naturally evolving life force that occupies the human body, when it is alive. Reincarnation is accepted as the norm and is the key component of evolution, with persons striving to lead a good life or suffering reversals in their spiritual progress.

It is crucial to avoid immorality, criminality, over-indulgence and selfishness, to sustain momentum on the spiritual journey upward to a higher existence.

In broad terms, this describes the type of society that is emerging in the New World Order (which is not to be confused with an earlier 21st-century attempt of a similar name to impose itself on a wary public).

Known alien races have been expelled from Planet Earth, and are now officially represented by diplomats of their own races, or they should be.

In this book, events are recounted which are regarded as aberrations from normal behavior.

They could easily be classified as Whodunits.

§  1: For Whom The Bell Tolls

Timeframe 1945 - 1948

Stop pushing me with that thing!

The white-coated scientist glared back at the general, who was prodding him hard in the back with a broom.

Ouch, those bristles are hard! he shouted, rubbing his back and turning to face his accoster.

His name was Fritz Uber, previously a 3rd year undergraduate in Physics at Heidelberg University. He had been frog-marched away from his degree course, to act as a research scientist on something called the Wunderwaffen Weapon Research program.

Through gritted teeth, General Kammler replied, Do what I tell you, immediately!

Kammler was the head of Wunderwaffen Weapon Research.

Fritz narrowed his eyes and hissed, You may have the rank of SS General, but I will not allow you to bully me like this. two stony-faced black-uniformed SS troopers standing behind them moved their hands to their pistol holsters, ready to intervene.

All of them were gaunt in appearance and suffered from a lack of food rations. Their demise was caused by the Second World War nearing its end and the crumbling of the Third Reich.

They were located at the secret Polish base named Der Riese [The Giants], near the Czech border and on top of the Wenceslaus Mine.

Fritz snorted in disgust. If you think I’m going into that contraption again, you’ve got another think coming! It could be instant death. Soon we will be liberated, hopefully by the Yankees, and I want to live to see the day.

The general leaned forward, his face softening as he pleaded, You will not die. The mercury inside the craft has been insulated with lead. You will be safe, I promise you! You only have to make one final test and we can ship it out. You will be in the convoy, with me, but we must leave tonight or the Russians will get us!

The two soldiers were holding their pistols by now, ready to shoot.

Fritz looked at them with distaste, knowing he would probably be killed if he didn’t comply, and shrugged his shoulders.

Turning his back resolutely, he strode toward the bell-shaped craft, which was resting on its side, stepping over the heavy steel chains that held it to the reinforced-concrete circular frame that surrounded it. The frame’s nickname was the ‘Henge’, based on its similarity to Stonehenge in England. However, this version was made of modern concrete reinforced with steel rods.

He stooped and entered via an oval-shaped portal set in the flat, round base. Leaving it open, he sat in the right of the two empty bucket seats and buckled the retaining harness tight. During this test, he would be on his own.

The interior looked primitive, with its banks of Bakelite switches, knobs, and small black screens mounted centrally on a metal control panel in front, nearer the rounded bow of the craft. He glanced with a degree of fear at the vertical lead-shielded column sited next to him, which housed lethal liquid mercury.

Kammler’s scientists had reverse-engineered the propulsion system of a crashed UFO. They had heated mercury until it turned into gas, to use as a source of plasma. This was accelerated at incredibly high pressure in a ring (toroidal) built around the crew cockpit.

The ring is now officially designated the ‘Magnetic Field Disrupter’. When installed, it causes the craft to become extremely lightweight. Couple this anti-gravitational effect with advanced jet propulsion and pilots can out-maneuver other conventional craft at very fast speed.

He put on his headphones and heard Kammler’s voice crackling in his ears, Don’t worry. The thicker lead casing will keep you safe for the duration of the test and beyond. Start the generator and let it heat up until I give you the next command.

Fritz flicked the bank of switches to illuminate the control panel and interior lights with low-wattage bulbs. Turning his attention to the sturdy lever that switched on the main power, he gripped it by its handle and pushed it down.

The lever was an industrial-strength unit fitted to the vertical panel in front of the controls. It had two steel rods welded to the handle, covered with rubber. The soles of the shoes worn by all the scientists were also made of rubber, to avoid electrocution.

The entire craft was light in weight compared with a traditional bell, owing to the extensive use of an alloy of Austenite stainless steel in its construction, coated externally in a blast furnace to apply ceramic glaze.

The original scientists and engineers had been unable to replicate the incredibly strong, lightweight alloys used in the crashed UFO they had acquired, though they came close to doing so.

An increasingly loud humming noise built-up as the internal generator started operating and green letters flickered on the screens.

The thick cables trailing into the craft through the open door stiffened as high-voltage electrical currents flowed through them, and the craft began to judder from the raw power surging into it.

He stared at the front of the mercury column where an internal viewing port was located. Through its thick glass, he stared in awe at two metal spheres, the size of tennis balls, that were spinning in opposite circles. Faster and faster they spun, adding to the noise level until it was deafening, as he held the headphones tightly over his ears, to lessen the din pounding him.

He yelled into the fixed microphone in front of him, Can I stop now? He looked at the open door and noticed fearfully that the cables were whiplashing around on the floor, as they too struggled to cope with the power they were feeding into the craft.

Nearly there! Kammler shouted back. In seconds, you should be taking off.

Fritz heard a metallic clanking of chains outside as they tautened and the craft tried to break-free from the Henge.

Kammler shouted, Yes, it’s rising in the air. Turn off the engine!

Fritz pulled up the main lever to cut off the power, and the craft landed with a resounding thump and clatter of chains. Quickly, the cacophony diminished until silence reigned.

In a quieter voice, Kammler said, Well done, I’m pleased! Come out now so we can start packing the bell, ready to leave.

Fearing the worst and trembling, Fritz unbuckled his safety harness and quit the craft, fully expecting to be shot. To his relief, Kammler welcomed him with a hug and led him away whilst, with the aid of a crane, the technicians moved their Wunderwaffe, die Glocke, onto a strong pallet and crated it.

Both looked back as it was loaded onto a lorry, along with the mass of cables that had fed it with energy, followed by the powerful generator that had provided the initial power. Afterward, the restraining chains were coiled around it.

They resumed their walk, as Kammler draped an arm around his comrade’s shoulders and commented, Fritz, we are witnessing our passport to a wealthy and happy future, if things go as planned. Let’s go and pack a few essentials and get out of this hellhole.

In late April 1945, Kammler and his convoy of high quality cars and trucks containing 600 people arrived in Oberammergau, in the Bavarian Alps. The local authorities had several arguments with Kammler himself, but these were interrupted when American forces began storming the town.

Soon, by prior arrangement, a special agent of the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) spirited the general, with his core team of scientists and their precious cargo, to the U.S.A under the auspice of Operation Paperclip. The remaining retinue dispersed to be with their families.

Boys Just Wanna Have Fun

Life for Kammler and his scientific team in their new, adopted country was not quite as blissful as they had anticipated. Granted, they had been lodged in swanky accommodation, purpose built for them, in a sizzling hot, isolated, desert base, away from inquisitive eyes. It was the ideal place for them to perfect their special craft, die Glocke. However, there was little else for them to do other than prove it worked.

The individual houses, shared by small teams of two or more scientists, had air-conditioning installed, but the lack of social facilities for the new arrivals was proving to be disastrous.

Jealousy toward their former colleagues was the prevailing emotion, as they read enviously in the latest news sheets of the way in which NASA was lauding the handsome Wernher von Braun and his team.

Fritz grumbled, "They are refining rocket science, whereas we strive to replace their dated technology with anti-gravity propulsion. How can anyone make such an unfair comparison? Using our approach you get free power and much faster velocity!"

His best friend, Selik, agreed, Yes, when we win we will eclipse them and be rewarded as well! Looking glum, he confided, I am missing my family and this place is a dump.

Selik Bader had been a fellow undergraduate in physics at Heidelberg University, conscripted into the Wunderwaffen project the same as Fritz.

To be specific about Selik’s family, he meant his parents and siblings. The same situation applied to Fritz, since neither man was married, but both had been eager to fraternize with girls. It was a natural expectation of young men before and during the war, especially those who were as good looking as they were. They had set many a female heart aflutter when they sauntered around town with their flaxen-haired, chiseled Germanic good looks.

Now, with food being plentiful, they were no longer skinny, but had filled out pleasingly, to no avail given their present, celibate circumstance.

They both knew that anti-gravity propulsion was not the only tempting offer that ex-General Kammler had made to the Americans. He had also outlined in glowing terms the prospect of time travel.

Neither scientist held much hope of this boast becoming reality, so began making plans for their own escape from the hellhole that ensnared them.

Fritz was the first to broach the subject. I don’t know about you, Selik, but they haven’t even shipped in any women from any nearby brothel, if there is one. I’m starved for sex!

Selik nodded glumly in agreement. Me too. I’ve got to have someone soon or I’ll burst! It’s making me bad tempered.

Fritz’s face lit up. Tell you what, tomorrow is when we resume testing, Let’s steal the bloody craft!

Selik looked thoughtful. Yes, stuff whatever food and drinks we can get into our pilot’s bags, to take on board with us. What about funds?

Fritz had a gleam in his eyes. We’ll have to fly to the bank and draw money out before they latch onto us. I’ve been transferring some of my own to the folks back home, to keep them quiet. Have you been doing the same? If this craft of ours is fast like it’s supposed to be, we can get into town in next to no time.

Selik gave more thought to the possibilities.

We could stop off and draw cash out to tide us over. We will have to land on the outskirts, hide the craft in the desert and walk in. Yes, it could be done before the alert is raised, if we act quickly.

They both walked to the window and stared at the arid desert landscape stretching into the distance, with the heat haze shimmering around the cacti and shrubs and over the rock-strewn ground. Gloomily, they were comparing it to the well-irrigated, verdant countryside of Germany, with its meadows and dense forests.

Mein Gott, it is a living hell! Fritz cried out. Let’s do it, let’s escape from this furnace!

Whoops of glee ensued, as they both embraced and did a clumsy jig.

The next morning, they rose early, sang and joked and oompah farted as they got ready to take the bus to the nearby launch site, packing their leather bags with provisions for the secret journey ahead.

Kammler said, Joy upon joy, you both look happy today. He wore a broad grin on his face as they came near.

Yes’, it is a special day for us, Selik said, unable to restrain his good humor. Another day closer to the fruition of our plans. This’ll show the Yanks what we can do!

Indeed it will! Kammler responded as he clasped their hands with affection, blissfully ignorant of their intentions.

Off you go and mount our bell, he said, using its English name; he sounded almost word perfect in his pronunciation. Selik broke into a sweat at his use of the word mount; it conjured up images of the opposite sex in suggestive poses.

They waved to him with beaming smiles as they entered, before slamming the portal shut and rotating the interior wheel to seal it fully. Sitting down in the bucket seats, they harnessed themselves in, donned their headphones, and switched on the lights.

Fritz announced to the flight commander, who was sitting alongside Kammler in the control tower, We are powering up the Glocke, starting now.

He pushed down the control handle, to start the newly designed internal generator; this started the two spheres rotating in opposite directions above the mercury fluid.

The original generator had been large and could only provide power externally, but the Yanks had been able to provide a miniaturized, equally powerful unit that fitted inside the craft, which was a step forward in the testing process.

However, it meant that fuel had to be drawn from an internal tank; this would add to the overall weight combating takeoff thrust.

Anyway, in order to stop the craft from fully ascending, chains had been attached, to restrict it from rising too high. However, these were far lighter than those used originally in Poland. Kammler had moaned about the new chains but had been overruled.

For their own sakes, Fritz and Selik hoped they would prove inadequate under full thrust and end up snapping.

The new chains are much more robust than they look, their American masters assured all three, who meekly accepted the assurance.

Full power was attained in minutes, making the craft vibrate as it turned itself upright, its rounded bow facing heavenward. As a result, the pilots’ seats tilted back and became horizontal.

Fritz placed his hand on the accelerator dial and looked across at Selik, who nodded back to him. For the first time ever, he turned it clockwise to its full extent, causing the two spheres to become a blur as they achieved maximum rotating speeds in opposite directions.

In a few minutes, the toroidal ring around the lower edge of the craft began to glow and hum loudly, adding to their discomfort.

Those watching events unfold in the command tower were stunned at what happened next: the bell didn’t simply fail to achieve lift-off, it vanished as they were staring at it!

As the chains dropped limply to the ground, they leapt to their feet, amazed by this unexpected turn of events.

Oh no! groaned the American commander; he knew he was going to be in the doghouse for this almighty cockup, while Kammler realized belatedly he had been conned by his two underlings.

"Never mind, he thought. It’s going to take years to find out where they have gone. I’ve got a job for life!"

There were benefits to him, Kammler, playing the underdog, and the lure of time travel would be a valuable bargaining chip.

His mind began wandering. "What do they have in their pilot’s bags? No doubt it is food and drinks to sustain them for the next few days. Where can they be heading?"

He reflected further, thinking, "What a pity they didn’t wait one more week. I’ was going to hold a hoe-down and knees-up, with local girls to dance and entertain them. What ungrateful schweine!"

He was getting his act together for inevitable questions that would follow.

At a convenient height above the toroidal ring, narrow slits had been cut in the round steel body of the bell. These contained