Grantville Gazette, Volume I

by Eric Flint

  "Phillip, Mama suggests I should have the baby in Grantville to take advantage of the medical services."

  "Of course, Dina."

  "With the train service, I can stay at home until almost the last minute, and still have our baby at the Grantville hospital."

  Phillip stilled. He didn't have much experience of children, and even less experience of babies. But he was pretty sure of one thing. "Dina, I don't think even your baby will decide to come to fit the train schedule. It'd be much better if you moved in with your family, or we rented an apartment as you near your time."

  "What? Leave home for a couple of weeks? But who will teach the children?"

  "I'm sorry, Dina. But if you want to have the baby in Grantville, then you'll have to move here before you're due. Hans and your brothers can take your classes while you're away."

  Dina grabbed Phillip's hand. "No. You're just trying to cut back my work load."

  "No I'm not."

  "Prove it."

  "Be reasonable, Dina. You can't rely on the train service to get you to the hospital in time. What you need is a personal ambulance . . ."

  Suddenly, Phillip scrambled to his feet. "Don't go away. I have to make a telephone call."

  "A phone call?"

  He dipped down and kissed Dina on the tip of the nose. "Yes. I want to call a man about an ambulance."

  * * *

  "Call a man about an ambulance?" Surely that wasn't possible. Dina shook her head. If anybody could solve the problem of getting her from Jena to Grantville when the time came, it was Phillip.

  She lay back on the bed and started to daydream about the child she carried. It would be a boy, with the intelligence of her husband, who would follow in his footsteps.

  Downstairs at the Higgins Hotel

  Phillip waited impatiently for his call to be put through. Eventually someone answered.

  "Fortney Consulting. Caleb Fortney speaking."

  "Hello, Caleb. This is Phillip Gribbleflotz. We met earlier in the day."

  "Hey, hi, Phillip. What can I do for you?"

  Phillip hesitated. How to ask? Obviously the Jonathan way was best. Just come straight out and state what you want. "I was wondering about that car you were driving earlier. Could you teach me to drive?"

  "Yeah, well. Sure I could teach you. But I'm not the greatest teacher. Absolutely no patience. Just ask my daughter. I think Dick Clelland, the Driver's Ed teacher at the high school, would be your best bet."

  "Thank you, Caleb. How do I go about making arrangements?"

  "Just call the high school and ask the secretary to make an appointment. Mind, you'll need to provide your own car. Do you have one?"

  "I was wondering it you could help me there. Do you know where I might buy something like the car we traveled in earlier today?"

  "You can have that one if you like. It belongs to my daughter, Lynette. She married Kevin Fritz late last year and, well, they could use the money."

  Phillip beamed. This was better than he had hoped for. The little car would be perfect on the narrow streets of Jena. Not that he intended to drive through them very often. Just once or twice, right past the university. "Thank you, Caleb. I'll let Frau Kubiak negotiate a fair price."

  "Rightyo, and thanks. Lynette and Kevin will appreciate a quick sale. Reading between the lines, I think they're expecting my first grandchild."

  "Thank you, Caleb, and congratulations on becoming a grandfather."

  "It's not a sure thing yet, Phillip. The wife might be jumping to conclusions, but there must be a good reason why they suddenly asked if I could get the car ready for sale."

  A month later

  Phillip waved goodbye to Trent Haygood, engaged gear, and drove off. After a month of commuting to Grantville for driving lessons, Dick Clelland had declared himself satisfied with Phillip's driving. However, Jonathan had suggested that Phillip might benefit from some lessons from a real driver. He shuddered when he remembered that first trip as a passenger in Trent's vehicle. Caleb had been right. That close to the ground you really did think you were traveling very fast. Of course, Trent had driven fast. Over eighty miles per hour. It had been an interesting few hours, but now Phillip considered himself sufficiently skilled to safely drive Dina between Jena and Grantville. Thanks to Caleb, he even had some idea how to maintain the car and its engine.

  Phillip stopped just outside the Leahy Medical Center. He zeroed the trip meter, took note of the time and started the stopwatch function on his pocket watch. Then he set off home.

  It was a gentle drive along the road connecting Grantville to Rudolstadt and Jena. He kept the speed down for several reasons. Firstly, fuel economy and preserving the tires. The other reason was the fancy new road could be damaged if he traveled too fast.

  He was happy to find that he had no difficulties with other road users. Not even when passing through Rudolstadt and the villages on his route. Apparently the locals and their animals were used to the American vehicles, although a number of dogs had attempted to give chase.

  Pulling up outside the door of his apartments at HDG Enterprizes, Phillip stopped the stopwatch. One hour eight minutes and four point three-four seconds. Not bad for a run of, he checked the trip meter, of twenty-six and three-tenths miles. It was certainly much quicker than going by train, and it was door to door.

  Phillip undid the seatbelt, a safety measure Trent had recommended he use, and reached for the door latch. That was when he realized he'd attracted a crowd. Pushing the door open he set about showing off his new car.

  Two months later

  Dina knocked on the door of Phillip's laboratory and poked her head in. "Phillip. You haven't forgotten that I have an appointment to see Dr. Shipley this afternoon?"

  "Of course not, Dina. If you're ready, I'll come now."

  Dina suppressed a sigh. She had used to think Phillip was perfect. She now knew that he wasn't. But she had to admit, he tried. Although sometimes he was just "trying." Like right now, when it should be obvious that she was ready to go. "I'm ready, dear."

  * * *

  Phillip knew how to take a hint. He marked his place and put the book he'd been reading into his shoulder bag. He could read some more while Dina was with the doctor. He called over to his assistant. "Hans, you know the drill."

  Hans nodded.

  "Right, Dina, I'm all yours." Phillip slung the shoulder bag over his shoulder and escorted Dina out of his office and set off for the garage.

  The garage was a work of art. There was plenty of room for the car, and anybody working on it. It was heated by a radiator, because Caleb had suggested that there might be problems with the fuel jelling in cold weather. The car itself was covered by a heavy quilt custom made for the job.

  A couple of laborants removed and folded the cover while Phillip led Dina to the passenger door and helped her in. After making sure she was comfortable and was wearing her seatbelt, he walked around to the driver's side. Stopping a couple of times to polish specks off the metal work and the rear window. Before entering the car he checked the windshield for blemishes. Finally he got in.

  "You think more of this car than you do me." Dina accused.

  Phillip was shocked. "No I don't, Dina. What ever gave you that idea?"

  "You certainly pamper it more than you pamper me."

  "But dear, the car is temperamental and needs delicate handling . . ." Phillip bit his tongue. In the mood she was in right now, Dina was bound to take that the wrong way.

  "I am not temperamental."

  Phillip wilted under his wife's glare. Yes. Definitely a big mistake. "Of course you aren't temperamental, Dina." Before Dina could start an argument Phillip started the car and reversed out of the garage. To fill the silence he inserted a tape into the car tape deck. To the strains of Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance, they set off for Grantville.

  The Higgins Hotel

  Phillip frowned. What the book on pyramid power said didn't agree with his findings. That meant either there was s
omething wrong with the author's theory, or there was something wrong with Phillip's pyramid. He slumped back in the easy chair and contemplated the possibility that the author's theory was wrong. It wasn't an attractive thought. If the theory of pyramid power was wrong, then all of his efforts to invigorate the Quinta Essentia of the Human Humors had been wasted. Alternatively, Phillip couldn't imagine what he could have done wrong with his pyramid. He had even obtained pure nickel for the structural members, and Michael and Kurt had made some new gems from aluminum oxide which he'd had faceted by a local jeweler. What Phillip needed was access to a computer so he could check his calculations. At least, Gerry Stone had suggested he run his calculations through a computer spreadsheet just in case the problem was accumulated rounding errors. Dina's friend Ronella Koch taught mathematics at the Grantville high school and she had arranged for Ronella to check the numbers for him.

  Phillip looked up at the clock. Dina had said that Ronella wouldn't be free to run the calculations until after school, but it was now well past six. He sighed. He had always heard that when women got together to gossip, they could forget about time. And he wanted those calculations. He wasn't sure if he wanted his calculations to be right though, because that would mean he had wasted nearly four years on a pipe dream. Maybe he wasn't destined to be remembered in the same breath as his great grandfather, the great Paracelsus.

  Phillip took another sip of wine. Now that he had Dina, he could live with not being as famous as great grandfather Paracelsus. He knew he would be remembered through his children. Right now, that was much more important than fame. And he was scared. What did he know about raising children? And then there was the bombshell Dr. Shipley had delivered earlier in the day. Twins. His Dina was carrying two babies. Of course Frau Mittelhausen would be there, but maybe Dina would like a nursery maid to help. Maybe he should see Dina's stepmother about hiring one. Phillip froze at the thought. That was probably the wrong way to go about it. Maybe a better bet would be to ask Dina if she wanted help first. He nodded. Surely Dina wouldn't bite his head off if he suggested employing a nursery maid, especially as it would leave her more time for her teaching.

  Proud of his logic, Phillip closed his pyramid power book, placed it on the occasional table beside his chair, and picked up the first of the books on babies and child rearing Frau Kubiak had found for him.

  * * *

  Dina entered the suite first. Together she and Ronella looked around the room. The light was on, so Phillip should be in the suite. "Phillip." Dina called.

  There was no response. Both women started to walk around the room. Then Ronella stopped and gestured for Dina to come over.

  "He looks kinda cute, doesn't he?" Ronella asked, pointing to the sleeping Phillip.

  Dina nodded. Yes, Phillip did look cute sleeping slumped in his chair. He must have dozed off while he waited for her. There was an open book on the floor that must have slipped from his grasp when he fell asleep. I wonder what he was reading? She bent to pick it up, and almost burst out laughing. She showed Ronella the book.

  "The Expectant Father." Ronella grinned. "What else has he been reading?"

  Dina looked through the mountain of books beside Phillip. All but the book on pyramid power were about pregnancy. Reading the titles she started to get worried. What to Expect When You're Expecting, What to Eat When You're Expecting, Pregnancy for Dummies, Fit Pregnancy for Dummies, Dr Spock's Baby and Child Care. Even one titled The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. Then there were the ones on raising twins.

  Raising Multiple Birth Children: A Parents' Survival Guide .

  Ouch. Dina wasn't sure she liked the idea of needing a survival guide. Even worse was the idea that Phillip had, or intended, to read these books, and maybe try to implement the ideas put forward. Heck, look at the effort he'd put into his research into pyramid power. Dina wasn't sure she wanted Phillip that focused on her babies.

  Ronella looked up after looking at the titles. "Girl, you've got problems. Whoever gave Phillip these is either too well meaning for words, or they have it in for you."

  Dina didn't get to respond, because just then Phillip jerked awake.

  "Dina, where have you been? I expected you home hours ago."

  Dina flushed. "I'm sorry, Phillip. We got talking and just forgot the time."

  "Well, you're home now." He turned to Ronella. "Thank you for seeing my wife safely home. Can I escort you to your home?"

  Ronella turned expectantly to Dina.

  She took the hint. "Phillip, the reason I'm so late is we got talking about the chemical engineer you said you wanted. You know Jerry Trainer?"

  "What?" Phillip was suddenly all attentive. "Herr Jerry Trainer? He is willing to work for us?"

  "No, Phillip." Dina shook her head. "But he has an apprentice he's been training for the last few years. Lori Drahuta. Mrs. Penzey thinks she might be interested."

  February 1636,

  1:00 am

  Phillip had thought he was prepared, but right now, he was on the verge of panicking. He'd woken up when Dina jerked and cried out. At least her waters hadn't broken yet. There was still time to get to Grantville if they hurried. "I have to get you to the hospital, Dina." Phillip slipped out of bed and made for the bell pull. He pulled it and could hear the distant ringing of a bell. He grabbed some clothes and made for the dressing room door. "Don't go away, I'll be right back."

  * * *

  Frau Mittelhausen bustled into the bedroom. She could see immediately that the doctor had grabbed some clothes and made for his dressing room. She spared the mess he'd made a single sigh before turning her attention to the mistress. Helping her out of bed she helped Dina into a fresh nightdress and started to wrap her in a dressing gown and coat to keep out the cold. "How do you feel, Frau? I've sent Hans out to get the car ready. Would you like anything to eat or drink?"

  Dina shook her head and let Frau Mittelhausen take charge.

  * * *

  Dina let Phillip help her into the car. "I'm all right, Phillip. Are you sure it's safe to drive to Grantville at night?"

  "Of course it's safe, Dina. Jonathan and his father fitted the extra lights just in case we had to make a night run. It'll be just like driving during the day, but without the traffic."

  Dina nodded. That sounded safe. She tried to make herself comfortable in the car seat. The seat belt wasn't very comfortable, but Phillip insisted she wear it, so she made the best of it.

  It was a still winter's morning. The moon was high in the sky, moonlight illuminated the countryside. Phillip, she could see, was fiddling with the radio-cassette player. Then he started the car moving forward. He was driving a little faster than normal, but as he had said, the road was clear of other traffic. Dina tried to relax. Suddenly she jerked. Another contraction. She didn't need Phillip's watch to know they were getting closer together.

  Dina noticed Phillip flicking a switch. She thought nothing had happened until she looked up at the road ahead. It was well illuminated for hundreds of paces ahead. She could see the beam hitting the windows of the neighbors. She sighed. She'd have to placate them when she got back from Grantville.

  "We'll soon be out of Jena, Dina. Then I'll be able to go a bit faster."

  "That'll be nice, Phillip." Dina snuggled deeper into her heavy fur coat. Phillip had one just like it. Sable, if she remembered what the furrier said. A special delivery from Russia. Whatever, it was very warm.

  * * *

  Dina jerked awake. She tried to work out where they were, but she wasn't used to seeing the countryside by moonlight. She turned to ask Phillip, but stopped at the sight of him concentrating on the road ahead. She looked out the side window, and rapidly turned back to face the front. Surely the landscape was going past overly fast. She edged over so she could see the speedometer, and immediately wished she hadn't. She sat back firmly in her seat, with both hands gripping it firm
ly.

  "You're awake, Dina? Don't worry, we'll soon be in Grantville."

  Dina swallowed. Surely Phillip shouldn't be looking at her when he was driving. "Keep your eyes on the road, Phillip."

  "Of course dear, but there's nothing to worry about. I know this road well."

  There was a screeching of tortured tires and Dina felt the car sliding.

  "Whoops! Sorry about that. Went around that curve a little fast. Nothing to worry about. There was nothing coming the other way. We'll soon be there, Dina. Rudolstadt should be just around this next curve."

  Dina could feel her nails digging into the upholstery. When would this nightmare trip end?

  She could hear the muted roar of the car engine reverberating back off the buildings as they sped through Rudolstadt. And Dina was sure they were speeding. Everything was wizzing past so much quicker than when Phillip normally drove through Rudolstadt. Even the sound of tires on cobblestones suggested excessive speed.

  Before she'd realized, they were through Rudolstadt. The hospital was only a few miles away.

  Leahy Medical Center

  Phillip screeched to a halt outside the admissions area at the Leahy Medical Center. He leaped out of the car and ran around to the passenger door. Even before he got to Dina, medical orderlies were approaching with a trolley. "It's my wife. She's about to have a baby. Two of them!"

  The orderlies carefully lifted Dina onto the padded trolley and set off for the medical center. Phillip ran alongside, holding Dina's hand. She was wheeled into a delivery room and transferred to a hospital bed. Dr. Shipley arrived and immediately suggested Phillip might like to wait outside.

  * * *

  Dina looked tired but happy. Dr. Shipley had claimed that it had been a remarkably easy labor. Phillip wasn't so sure. If that had been an easy delivery, he wasn't sure he wanted his Dina going through a difficult one. He'd already talked to Dr. Shipley about that. She had suggested that there was a simple medical procedure that could prevent him fathering another child. She had suggested he talk to Dina about the option. Phillip had been terrified for Dina. The way she screamed and yelled, she must have been in extreme pain. And the blood. He'd almost fainted at the sight of so much blood. But after the nurse had given her the two wrapped bundles, Dina had been all smiles. It was as if the pain had never occurred.