The Grantville Gazette - Vol. 10 Part 31

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.

OutsideSt. 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 a.s.sured him that they didn't believe these rumors. This news should have rea.s.sured 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 ent.i.tled to use the t.i.tle 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 theUniversityofJena 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 a.s.says, the university faculty had been prepared to overlook his use of the t.i.tle. However, with his a.s.sociation 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 ofSt. 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 inJena 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 t.i.tle backed up by a worthless piece of parchment."

"No, Phillip. It isn't an empty t.i.tle. 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. "h.e.l.lo, 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 ma.s.s 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 inJena now."

Thomas pouted. "It's not fair. Phillip, Fritz 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 inJena 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 st.i.tching 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 theLeahyMedicalCenter . Take the word of someone who knows, anesthesia during childbirth is the only way to go."

Dina touched her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, 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 succ.u.mbed 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 st.i.tching 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 d.a.m.nation. 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 t.i.tle 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 pa.s.sed 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 c.r.a.p. 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?"

"Drop me off? You mean, travel in your car?"

"Yeah. Where're you staying?"

"The Higgins. If it's not too much trouble."

Caleb led Phillip over to the pa.s.senger side and opened the door. "You sure you wouldn't like to go a bit further afield? The Higgins is only a few minutes away."