Featured Article » Continuing Serials
The Doctor Phil Chronicles: Doctor Phil's Family
The content of articles is available only to logged in members.
You can either Log In or subscribe.
In the mean time, a preview of this story is shown below. It's about the first half.
Dr. Gribbleflotz' office, HDG Enterprizes, Jena
Phillip took the next letter from his inbox. It was marked personal, and checking the back, he could see it was from his American friend, Jonathan Fortney. He broke the seal and started reading. He had to smile. Jonathan could be quite droll. The suggestion that his new wife might want to spend all his money on fine jewelry was clearly a joke. His Dina wasn't like that. "Hmmm, instructions on making synthetic rubies and sapphires attached." Always interested in the American cheat sheets, he checked through the bundle of pages until he came across the notes.
There were several pages, so he checked the time. "Plenty of time for a quick glance before lunch."
***
". . . Corundum, a mineral consisting of aluminum oxide, Al2O3. . ."
"What?" Phillip stared hard at the paper in his hands. "Ruby and sapphire are a form of aluminum?" He turned to look up at his model of the aluminum pyramid with the strategically placed faceted gems. Gems that included rubies and sapphires.
He slammed a fist down on his desk. It felt so good he did it again, and again.
***
A slightly worried Maria Blandina poked her head through the doorway. She could see her husband standing over his desk, and it looked as if he'd been pounding it with his fist. "Are you all right, Phillip? I heard some banging."
"Yes, Dina. Everything's all right. I have just realized why my special pyramid doesn't work. It's not the members that are supposed to be aluminum. It is the facetted gems. Of course it didn't work. With both the facetted gems and the structure itself made of aluminum, there was no balance."
Dina relaxed. It was just a problem with his aluminum pyramid. Not that she understood Phillip's fascination with pyramids, but if her brilliant husband was interested in them, they had to be important. "That's very nice, Phillip," and just to prove she had been listening, she asked a question. "What should the structure be made of?"
Phillip sighed. "I don't know. I'll have to research various materials until I find the one that gives balance." He stopped speaking and looked at Dina with some concern. "Darling, you're looking a bit pale. Do you feel unwell?"
Dina didn't feel all that well, in fact. "Perhaps it's a bit warm in here."
***
It had been Dina's American friend, Gerry Stone, who started it. Phillip had been teaching a group of laborants the new science when Gerry disagreed with something he said. The laborants had been aghast and horrified that someone should disagree with him. If it had been anybody but the Frau Kastenmayerin's friend, Gerry Stone, of the House of Stone, Phillip was sure blood might have flowed. But Gerry had raised some interesting questions. They had entered into a lively debate, moving into the seminar room so Gerry could use the blackboard to explain his interpretation of the new science. Soon senior laborants joined in. Then, hesitantly at first, the junior laborants had started asking questions.
After that, Phillip's teaching seminars had turned into in-house seminars where anybody could stand up and talk about what they were doing or hoped to do. The lively discussions had forced Phillip to work even harder on his reading of the American text books so that he could answer the laborants' questions.
The gentle hubbub of conversation petered to a halt as Phillip, notes in hand, made his way to the podium. Today's seminar was about the current status of his exploration of the invigoration of the Quinta Essentia of the Human Humors.
Phillip knew that some of his laborants didn't believe that he would ever be able to invigorate the Quinta Essentia, but one day he hoped to prove them wrong. Until then, any idea was a useful teaching tool. He had to prepare himself for any possible question the audience might ask, and the laborants had to understand the new science well enough to ask intelligent questions.
***
While Phillip stood behind the podium checking his notes, Hans Saltzman and another laborant erected the stand holding the book of flip sheets he had prepared for this presentation. He waited patiently for the laborant to return to his seat and for Hans to place a cloth covered stand beside the podium. When Hans indicated he was ready Phillip turned to his expectant audience.
"Good afternoon everyone, and thank you for coming for this seminar. As you all know, I have been investigating the invigoration of the Quinta Essentia of the Human Humors. I have high hopes for my research, but, as I'm sure you know, there have been problems." He answered the many grins and smiles with a smile of his own.
"My scale model pyramid," he waited while Hans pulled away the dust cloth to reveal the scale model aluminum pyramid, "failed to invigorate the Quinta Essentia of the Humors in selected laboratory animals. My first thought was that the framework of my pyramid," he ran a finger along the metal frame of his model, "was constructed of impure aluminum. The Americans confirmed this. Of course I immediately demanded that they provide me with pure aluminum." Phillip waited for the light laughter to settle. He doubted anybody believed he had demanded anything. His views on dominating American females were well known. "They in turn told me that they were currently unable to produce pure aluminum. Which reminds me," he searched his audience for a familiar face. "Kurt, what progress are you making with the aluminum project?"
Kurt Stoltz answered from where he was seated at the back of the seminar room. "Slowly, sir. We've successfully produced some cryolite. However, to make enough to try and make aluminum, we'll have to make larger batches of hydrofluoric acid, and well, we're still experiencing difficulties producing suitable vessels that the acid won't dissolve. You'll remember what happened to Jochim Fritsch."
Phillip swallowed. The surgeons had been forced to amputate Jochim's right arm below the elbow. It had been a very high price to pay for a moment's carelessness with hydrofluoric acid, and the accident only reinforced his belief that he wanted nothing to do with the stuff. "How is Jochim?"
"The stump has healed well, Doctor. And he is becoming amazingly dexterous with his hook."
"Very good, Kurt. I'd like you to continue experimenting with the hydrofluoric acid, just be extremely careful. Now, where was I?"
"Pure aluminum for the framework of your pyramid, Herr Doctor," Hans Saltzman, his personal assistant, volunteered.
"Thank you, Hans. Right, pure aluminum." Phillip found his place in his notes. "Lacking pure aluminum, I was forced to shelve the project until such time as it became available. However," He paused dramatically. "There has been a new development. Recently, a good friend of mine in Grantville sent me a 'cheat sheet' on the production of rubies and sapphires." Phillip smiled at the sudden shifting of bodies on seats. "Yes, that is correct. The Americans know how to make gems. But that wasn't the most important aspect. No. What I found interesting was the identity of the major components of the gems. Corundum, also known as aluminum oxide."
There were noisy intakes of breath as various members of the audience realized the significance of this discovery. "Yes," Phillip agreed. "If both the gems and the structural members were aluminum, then the pyramid was out of balance." He shook his head in disgust. "All that time and effort wasted because of a lack of such basic knowledge." He gave his audience a searching stare. "And let that be a lesson to you all. Make sure you know the composition of everything you intend using before you commence your experiment. It will save you considerable disappointment. I speak from experience." Phillip gave his model pyramid a gentle pat before indicating to Hans that he should cover it again.
"This brings me to the current state of my research into the invigoration of the Quinta Essentia. Obviously the members can not be formed of aluminum. Which begs the question, what should the members be made of?" He nodded for Hans to reveal the first page of the flip book.
"The human spirit is embodied within the mind, even if the spirit itself is not physically of the mind. But as the various experiments of the various scientists have proven, as my own extensive electrical experimentation has shown, the mind, and therefore the spirit embodied within the mind is effected by electrics."
Phillip walked around his electrical demonstrations. "The external gross electrics of the sparks of the Wimshurst machine . . ." He patted the machine before moving to the batteries. ". . . the more subtle electrics of the various batteries . . ." He flicked a switch completing a circuit, turning on a weak light. ". . . all have their effects on the spirit, but the electrical nature of the mind, and of the spirit actually happens at far too minute, far too small a level for these gross manipulations to effect with the subtlety that is needed to perfect the union of mind and spirit. This happens at a microscopic, or as the learned ones of the future said, a quantum level."
Phillip, now well into the swing of things, indicated that Hans should show the next page. "Now, as Oerstaed proved, electric is linked to magnetic." After a moment to check that his audience was following, he moved over to the large chart of the elements the Americans called the Periodic Table. "Free flowing electrons found in electric metals such as, nickel, copper, silver and gold, platinum, cadmium and cobalt . . ." He tapped each element with his pointer as he named them. ". . . will be strongly influenced by the magnetic potentials. But in all things, balance is the most needed. The metals with poor electric potentials like zinc and tin are too difficult to effect to provide the balance needed by the body. Similarly, the freely electric metals like copper and gold and yes, even aluminum, do not provide enough resistance to the electrons. Only in the middle do we find the needed balance, and that balance is most favorably found in nickel."
Hans flipped the next sheet revealing the important facts about nickel. "A framework of nickel can intercept the grosser variations of the magnetic influences, while allowing penetration, and indeed, influence of the geomagnetic forces which link our spirits to the world."
Phillip let his eyes roam over his audience. Everyone appeared to be deeply interested. "One might think that iron would be preferred, since iron is so often thought of as magnetic." He shook his head. "But one would be wrong. A balance is required. Iron is too magnetic for the Quinta Essentia humanum to be distilled. Aluminum, for all its other virtues is utterly transparent to the grosser magnetism. No, it is in nickel that we find the balance of free electrons and magnetic potentials which provide the shielding from those grosser variations while allowing the quantum development of the magnetic vector potentials which influence the human body at the quantum level. With this, we can look for behaviors, expressions, dreams, or fantasies, which express the true nature of this elimination of the quantum distortion."
Phillip smiled at his audience. "Nickel is a new metal, but not unknown. It should be easy to obtain a supply of the required ore. In fact, I have already sent an order to Annaberg for ore for research purposes."
He held up his hands to silence the sudden noisy intake of breath. It was obvious that many in the audience well remembered what happened the last time he'd ordered ore for research purposes. "Do not panic. I learnt my lesson Sphalerite. That mistake will not be repeated. I placed the order with Ostermann Transport using the new scientific unit of kilograms."
"What ore are we talking about, Herr Doctor?"
Phillip located the source of the question. "Kupfernickel." He nodded at the shocked looks he received. "Yes, that's right. The miners in Annaberg are dumping nickel ore. The price I was offered was," Phillip exchanged grins with Hans Saltzman, "extremely attractive. I am approaching completion of my calculations, and hope to soon begin the effort to produce the needed nickel members. Now, are there any questions?"
***
Michael Siebenhorn, Kurt Stoltz, and Hans Saltzman walked out of the seminar room together. "So, Hans, what does the good doctor know about making gems? Will he be trying to do it himself?"
Hans squinted at the sun, then adjusted his pale blue Gribbleflotz "gimme" cap. "I don't think so, Kurt. He's intensely interested in making his nickel pyramid. He feels he's very close to proving his theory."
"I've spoken to several Americans about his investigations, Hans. Most of them laughed. None of them believe such a thing is possible."
"I've heard the same, but that is no reason not to support his researches. One never knows. Maybe the Americans are wrong. We won't know until the doctor runs his experiments."
"In the meantime, Hans, what can you tell us about Kupfernickel?" Michael asked.
Outside St. Martin's in the Fields a few days later
Phillip was worried about how he would be received by Dina's parents. It had come as a shock, but a pleasant shock, to discover that Dina had had no idea that he was a wealthy man. It was nice to know she had married him for the man he was and not what he could offer. However, her friend Herr Stone had indicated that Dina's parents had heard rumors that he was some kind of charlatan. Herr Stone had quickly assured him that they didn't believe these rumors. This news should have reassured Phillip. And maybe it would have, if Herr Stone hadn't expressed an interest in seeing his doctorate.
Phillip had a guilty secret that he had even kept from Dina. He wasn't entitled to use the title of Doctor. He'd never earned a doctorate. He'd never even completed a bachelor's degree. The impressive piece of parchment he had displayed in his office was a fake. Well, maybe not a fake. There were lawyers' letters confirming its validity. He knew he deserved to hold a doctorate degree, but the University of Jena had had the nerve to suggest that he was insufficiently scholarly.
While he had been a poor insignificant alchemist struggling to finance his research doing assays, the university faculty had been prepared to overlook his use of the title. However, with his association with the Kubiak females, members of the faculty had become jealous of his success. He had rashly taken up the offer made by the Frau Kubiak to do something about his little problem. That of course had happened before he met Dina.
The rectory of St. Martin's in the Fields was in sight when he finally came to a halt. "Dina, there is something I have to tell you."
Dina turned her shining eyes to him. "Yes, Phillip?"
He froze for a moment. Those honest, trusting eyes. He had to be strong. She had to know the truth before he confronted her parents. "I'm. . . ." He stumbled to a halt. How to explain he had lived a lie. A lie that could reflect badly on his dearest Dina and her family. He swallowed. "I'm not a doctor. I've never earned a doctorate degree." He looked down into her eyes, silently pleading that she'd forgive him.
Dina reached for his hands and squeezed them gently. "I know, Phillip. Your friends in Jena told me the whole story."
Phillip was shocked. "You knew?"
She burrowed into his chest. "Yes." Then she looked up and gave him the sweetest of little self-satisfied smiles. "Your friends described how you have put one over the self-important professors at the university. A couple of them have asked if you could arrange for them to receive similar degrees."
"But it's a lie, Dina. I haven't completed the requirements. It is an empty title backed up by a worthless piece of parchment."
"No, Phillip. It isn't an empty title. You are a doctor of philosophy. The first doctor of philosophy. You have completed the course requirement with your research into the new sciences."
Phillip purred. He gathered his wife into his arms. "I love you, Dina."
***
Dina spared the streets a quick glance to check who might be watching. There was only the barrow boy with the cart loaded with gifts for her family. So she stood on tip toes and gave Phillip a quick peck on the cheek. "I love you, Phillip."
She gazed into his eyes for a moment more before slowly slipping out of his embrace. She tucked her hand over his arm and led him towards the Rectory. "Now don't worry about Papa and Step-mama, Phillip. Let me handle them. Gerry warned me that Step-mama and Papa are worried about the boys." She turned and gave Phillip a brilliant smile. "The fact that their studies are progressing so much better since they moved in with us will right many a wrong in Step-mama's eyes."
***
When pastor Kastenmayer opened the rectory door, Maria Blandina threw herself at him. "Papa!"
"Dina!" Ludwig opened his arms for his daughter to rush into them. "You're looking well." Looking up, Ludwig smiled apologetically at Phillip. "Hello, Phillip. I apologize for my daughter. Anybody would think we hadn't seen each other for years."
"Dina misses her family, sir."
"What? With three of her brothers living in the same house, she can miss her family?"
Dina giggled. "Even then, Papa. How is everyone?"
The approaching clatter of leather on floor boards had Ludwig gently releasing Dina. "Brace yourself, I think you're about to find out."
The hall door burst open and a mass of arms and legs charged towards Dina.
"Dina, Dina, Dina. We've missed you so much. Have you come back home?"
Dina knelt down and reached out to hug little Thomas. "No, Thomas. Phillip and I have just come to visit. I live in Jena now."
Thomas pouted. "It's not fair. Phillip, Salomon and Joseph get you all the time. Can I come and live with you? Please?"
"No, Thomas. You have to stay with Mama and Papa. I'll visit whenever I can, and maybe you can visit me in Jena sometime."
Maria Blandina greeted her other brothers before she stood to greet her step mother. She offered her hands. "Step-Mama. How are you?"
"I am well, thank you." Salome looked around. "I think it would be best if we all went inside."
Dina looked around guiltily. She'd been so happy to see her family that she'd forgotten about being out on the street. She waved to the locals who had stopped to watch the strange sight, and then gestured to the barrow boy to follow before taking her husband's hand and following her family into their home.
***
The soccer ball had been such a hit with the boys that they had pleaded to be allowed outside to try it out. Salome and Dina waited at the window until they could see the men folk and boys kicking the new soccer ball around. Then Dina started unwrapping the remaining parcels.
"Oh!' It was a cry of pleasure. Salome ran her hands over the roll of quilted border suitable for attaching to the bottoms of petticoats and drawers. Hand-quilting those borders was very time-consuming, but they kept a person's ankles warm and toasty in cold weather. She looked up at her step-daughter. "A sewing machine?"
Dina grinned. "You know me so well."
Salome returned the grin. Yes, she knew all about Maria Blandina Kastenmayerin and sewing. "But what would an alchemist want with a sewing machine?"
"I believe he bought it to make laboratory coats after the American fashion to protect his worker's clothes." Maria Blandina shook her head, an amused smile on her face. "He thinks like a man. It took his housekeeper to think of a better use."
Salome looked down at the precise stitching on the quilting. "What I wouldn't do for a sewing machine. What with the boys growing and your father . . ." She stopped for a moment, then looked closely at Dina. "Child, are you well?" She touched a hand to Dina's head. "You seem very pale. Have you been ill?"
Dina shook her head.
Salome dropped a hand to Dina's breast. "What about here? Do you feel tender?"
Dina jerked a bit with the contact, then nodded. "Yes, just a bit. There's nothing wrong is there?"
Salome reached out and hugged Dina. "You poor thing. How long have you been married?"
Dina looked up at her step mother. "You know how long I've been married. It's been a little over two months since we . . . oh!"
Salome smiled at Dina's excited face. "It's really too soon to tell, but if you are, I suggest you see one of the American doctors about a delivery in the Leahy Medical Center. Take the word of someone who knows, anesthesia during childbirth is the only way to go."
Dina touched her breasts, then her belly. "Phillip. Oh, I have to tell Phillip. He'll be so pleased."
Salome reached out to stop Dina. "No, not yet." She led Dina to a chair and sat her down before sitting beside her. "Don't raise your hopes just yet. Many times I thought I was pregnant when I wasn't."
Dina sighed. Then she nodded. "Yes, I'll wait until I'm sure." Her gaze switched from her step mother to the quilted cloth on the table. "Phillip gives me a generous allowance, and it would please me to give you something you want. Please, let me buy you one of the new sewing machines."
Salome swallowed. Her vision was all blurry. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she nodded. "Thank you, Dina."
Hearing her brothers' pet name for her on her stepmother's lips reduced Maria Blandina to tears. She walked up to Salome and wrapped her arms around her. "Mama, if there's ever anything you need, please, just ask."
Salome choked back tears. "You called me Mama . . ."
***
Salome watched her step daughter join her husband and son-in-law out in the courtyard. Phillip Gribbleflotz was no longer the monument to bad taste he had been. That was probably due to Dina's influence. He still wore expensive clothes, but now they were better coordinated and less gaudy. Dina, she noted, had succumbed to some of the American fashions. The colors, Salome was forced to admit, suited her. They gave her a glow that hadn't been there before. Mind, Salome thought, watching the affectionate way Dina's husband slipped an arm around her, maybe the glow had another source.
She moved away from the window and took in the rolls of fabric and clothes Dina had given her. Most of it was the sort of hard-wearing material that she would buy herself, just never so much at one time. She picked up the fine linen shift Dina had made for her and just stood there admiring it for several minutes before finally wrapping it in its paper. Then she returned her attention to the fabric on the table. If Dina did buy her a sewing machine . . . She gave a contented sigh. That would cut out the endless tedium of stitching together clothes and leave her with a little time for herself.
Salome gave the little bundle of knitting and crochet needles Dina and Phillip had given her a contented look before calling for the servant she was training to help put things away.
***
Pastor Ludwig Kastenmayer sat back in his armchair. "It was very nice of Dina and Phillip to bring the presents for the boys, wasn't it, Salome?"
"Yes, Ludwig." She hesitated a moment. "What do you think of Dina's husband?"
Pastor Kastenmayer pursed his lips. That was a difficult question. Phillip could support Dina. That was good. They seemed very happy together. That was always nice. It didn't appear that his wealth was pushing him on the slippery slide to damnation. And with Dina as his wife, that was even less likely now. There was the matter of the mysterious doctorate to still be considered, but Phillip had said he had legal proof supporting his claim to the title of Doctor of Philosophy. And finally, there were the letters from the university commenting on how well the boys were progressing in their studies since they had moved in with Dina. Professor Hofmann had been particularly generous in his appreciation of the help young Phillip Kastenmayer had been with the new physics and mathematics.
"I think we did much better than we imagined marrying Dina to Phillip Gribbleflotz."
The Fortney Residence, Grantville
Phillip stopped to examine the two-storied, white, timber house. There were, he noticed, a lot of windows. But no more than most other houses in Grantville. He shook his head at the wastefulness of the Americans, walked up the path, and rapped on the front door. He didn't have to wait long before he could hear footsteps from within the house. There was a rattle of bolts and the door opened a few inches to show a chain across the door. A young face stared at him through the gap.
"Yes?" the woman asked.
"Is this the Fortney residence?" She nodded. "Herr Dr Gribbleflotz." Phillip passed the woman one of his business cards. "Is Jonathan Fortney available?"
The woman looked at the card, then up at Phillip. "I'm sorry, Herr Dr. Gribbleflotz. Herr Jonathan is not available. Herr Caleb is at home if you would like to see him."
Phillip hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, I'll see Herr Caleb."
The woman smiled. "If you'll just go round the back, you can't miss him." Then she shut and bolted the door.
Phillip looked at the closed door for a moment, then shrugged and followed the woman's instructions.
Round the back of the house he immediately understood what she had meant about not missing Jonathan's father. A section of sail had been strung up to provide shade while he worked on a small motor vehicle.
"Herr Fortney."
A man in a soiled blue coverall turned at the sound. He pulled a rag from a pocket and wiped his hands clean before approaching and offering his hand. "Hi. Caleb Fortney. How can I help you?"
Phillip reached out and grasped Caleb's hand. The hand shake was firm, but he was thankful that Jonathan's father didn't attempt to show off his physical strength as so many of the Americans tended to do. "Phillip Gribbleflotz. I really wanted to see Jonathan about some information he sent me recently."
"Yeah, Jonathan's spoken of you. Which information are we talking about?"
"It's for making gems. Some of the senior laborants have voiced an interest in the process, so I was wondering if Jonathan could talk to them."
"Ah, the gemstones. Well, you're in luck. I've actually made some rubies. I wanted to make a ruby laser, so I made a furnace to make the ruby. If you'll wait a moment, I'll see if I can dig it out."
"No, Herr Fortney." Phillip raised an arm to restrain Caleb. "There is no need for you stop what you're doing. Would you be willing to talk to some of my laborants about the process?"
"Sure. Where and when?"
"The company has a facility here in Grantville that we can use whenever suits you, Herr Fortney. We will be happy to pay for your time."
"Hey, you don't have to pay me. And enough of this Herr crap. Call me Caleb."
"Please, call me Phillip. And I really do insist that we pay for your time. You have no idea of how much preparation you'll need to do, Caleb. These seminars are a teaching exercise and the laborants are encouraged to ask questions. Some of the questions can be surprisingly acute."
Caleb raised his eyebrows. "That the voice of experience I hear?"
Phillip nodded. He'd only been caught out a couple of times. Fortunately he had years of experience to draw on and made a close guess on the answer both times. After those close shaves he'd never gone into the seminar room so badly prepared again.
"In that case, I'll be happy to accept a fee." Caleb nodded towards the car he'd been working on. "I'm just about to go for a test drive. Is there anywhere I can drop you off?"
That ends the preview. Probably in the middle of a sentence. Sorry.