[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

examination. "A piezoelectric lighter? You're making piezoelectric lighters?" At Ted's nod, John smiled.
"Do you have a supply of Rochelle " Seeing Ted's reaction, John hastily changed what he was saying,
"a supply of Gribbleflotz Amazing Lightning Crystal?"
Ted nodded. John let out a long sigh of relief. "I don't suppose you could sell me a pound or so?"
"Sure. Not all at once, though. But if you can afford to wait, I have a few ounces to spare, and I can ask
Dr. Gribbleflotz to make some more. There'll be a price though."
"Hell, at the moment I'm prepared to pay just about anything. How much?"
"I wasn't thinking about money, John. Dr. Gribbleflotz is doing quite well as it is. The few dollars for a
few ounces of his Amazing Lightning Crystal is neither here nor there. What he will really want is
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
something more than money."
* * *
Jena, an Inn
Dr. Werner Rolfinck, Dean of the Jena Medical College, was quietly seething. Beside him, Doctors
Conrad "Kunz" Herbers and Wilhelm "Willi" Hofacker, both lecturers in iatrochemistry, were also
suppressing their anger. There, in pride of place in one of the best inns in Jena, that charlatan Dr.
Gribbleflotz was describing his philosophies to an enthralled audience.
"This up-time 'chemic,'" Dr. Gribbleflotz was saying, "is fine for technicians, cooks, and industrial
processes. It certainly allows unlettered peasants to tend my caldrons and alembics and produce their
powders and potions, but it completelyignores the spiritual component of alchemy." Phillip looked over
his attentive audience. "Did you know that the up-timers produced Sal Vin Betula pills which werewhite
?" At his audience's collective shaking of heads, Phillip nodded. "Yes, it is true. White. For a pill that is
supposed to reduce pain and reduce fever. When every competent alchemist knows blue is a soothing
color that reduces pain and a cool color that reduces fever. They are such children in the Great Art. As
my Great Grandfather Paracelsus whose namesake I am said: it isn't enough to treat the body, one
must treat the spirit. Which is whymy amazing headache pills are superior to what the up-timers have, for
my Sal Vin Betula pills are pale blue. Yes, Dr. Gribbleflotz's Little Blue Pill is your friend."
Phillip paused for breath. He looked up, made eye contact with Doctors Rolfinck, Herbers, and
Hofacker. He raised a hand in silent greeting before continuing his discourse.
"The nerve of the man. Did you see that? He waved to us as if we were his colleagues," muttered Dr.
Rolfinck. "We are going to have to do something about the man. His conceit is beyond words. We have
to do something about him."
Dr. Hofacker shook his head. "Our hands are tied, Dr. Rolfinck. The radio people passed on the news
that Dr. Gribbleflotz holds a doctorate from an institution of some stature. It is best we ignore him."
While the doctors drank to drown their sorrows, on the other side of the common room Phillip
continued to talk to his audience. He was getting into his stride talking about the topic dearest to him. Dr.
Phillip Theophrastus Gribbleflotz.
"Of course there are some up-timers that have a clue. I have been pursuing references in their library's
collection about pyramids, and crystal power. While much of it is obviously in conflict with
well-established systems, some of their points are most amazing." Phillip removed his spectacles and
drew a special up-time cleaning cloth from a pocket in his up-time style jacket. He exhaled onto the
lenses and wiped them. After he slid the spectacles on, he smiled at his audience. "I am particularly
interested in the combination of gems with the new metal, aluminum. My careful calculations,
corroborated by a most interesting tome in the Grantville Public Library, suggests that a pyramid
composed of aluminum members with the appropriate colors and cuts of gems at the strategic points,
especially these new faceted gems, could result in the invigoration of theQuinta Essentia of the Human
Humors. I ammost anxious to pursue it. But as always, funding is problematic. Perhaps the new Aeolian
Crystals will assist in it." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]