Alternative histories (Fiction); Berlin (Germany) -- Fiction; Inventors -- Fiction; Multiverse -- Fiction; Science fiction; Short stories
"Yes!" Once more, Colonel Lubintsev smiled like a little boy with great
fun in store. "The possibilities of your device are as infinite as the
universe! Think of the enormous help to the people of your nation, for
example, if they could draw on machine tools and equipment from such
alternate places as the one you have just left." Colonel Lubintsev
waved his cigarette. "Or if, when the Americans attack us, we can
transport bombs from a world where the revolution is an accomplished
fact, and have them appear in North America in this."
Professor Kempfer sat up in bed. "Marthe! Marthe, why have you done
this to me?"
"Hush, Jochim," she said. "Please. Don't tire yourself. I have done
nothing to you. You will have care, now. We will be able to live
together in a nice villa, and you will be able to work, and we will be
together."
"Marthe--"
She shook her head, her lips pursed primly. "Please, Jochim. Times have
changed a great deal, here. I explained to the Colonel that your head
was probably still full of the old Nazi propaganda. He understands.
You will learn to see it for what it was. And you will help put the
Americans back in their place." Her eyes filled suddenly with tears.
"All the years I went to visit your grave as often as I could. All the
years I paid for flowers, and all the nights I cried for you."
"But I am _here_, Marthe! I am here! I am not dead."
"Jochim, Jochim," she said gently. "Am I to have had all my grief for
nothing?"
"I have brought a technical expert with me," Colonel Lubintsev went on
as though nothing had happened. "If you will tell him what facilities
you will need, we can begin preliminary work immediately." He rose to
his feet. "I will send him in. I myself must be going." He put out
his cigarette, and extended his hand. "I have been honored, Doctor
Professor Kempfer."
"Yes," Professor Kempfer whispered. "Yes. Honored." He raised his hand,
pushed it toward the colonel's, but could not hold it up long enough to
reach. It fell back to the coverlet, woodenly, and Professor Kempfer
could not find the strength to move it. "Goodbye."
He heard the colonel walk out with a few murmured words for Marthe. He
was quite tired, and he heard only a sort of hum.
He turned his head when the technical expert came in. The man was all
eagerness, all enthusiasm:
"Jochim! This is amazing! Perhaps I should introduce myself--I worked
with your counterpart during the war--we were quite good friends--I am
Georg Tanzler. Jochim! How _are_ you!"
Professor Kempfer looked up. His lips twisted. "I think I am going away
again, Georg," he whispered.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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