Friday's Title
Tales
of Horror Fantasy and Science Fiction
Richard
H. Williams
Excerpt
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Book
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at: www.roguephoenixpress.com
Tales of Horror, Fantasy,
and Science Fiction, by Richard H. Williams, is a collection of twenty-three speculative
short stories.
EXCERPT
David
Weiss was a graduate student in Counseling at Mountain University. This
academic institution was located 3500 feet above sea level in the western part
of North Carolina, not far from Grandfather Mountain and neighboring Rike’s
Peak. David had always been interested in history and in famous people who
lived long ago. If he could somehow invent a time machine he would whisk
himself backward in time to visit some of them.
David
knew of a professor on campus who had published a paper on Time Travel.
He
was a Professor of Electrical Engineering named Frank Wisdom. David thought, I
should send him a note through inter-office mail requesting a reprint of his
publication. Maybe that would lead to a meeting between the two of us.
The
next morning David Weiss found the article in his student mailbox. He
immediately perused the paper, finding the sketches of the time machine
intriguing.
The
two men ended up meeting at the campus Rathskeller. Dr. Wisdom was an older
faculty member and David thought he didn’t look healthy. Frank Wisdom wore a
Salvador Dali type mustache and a goatee. His hair was gray.
They
occupied a table near the window and soon a waiter came by requesting their
orders. Frank said,"I’ll have a fish sandwich and a mug of draft
beer."
David also requested a mug of draft beer and with it a Reuben sandwich. The Rathskeller was noted for its Reuben sandwiches.
David also requested a mug of draft beer and with it a Reuben sandwich. The Rathskeller was noted for its Reuben sandwiches.
David
and Frank decided to work together on a project designed to create a time
machine. Frank Wisdom said,"I have a grant with a flexible budget and so
we can bring in consulting experts for advice from time to time." Before
they were well into the project, they hired a consultant who was a Professor of
Physics.
In
six months they produced a machine that seemed to have the potential, but in
its present form, a modest trial test would be necessary. One day the two of
them entered the cockpit and traveled slowly in a five-year interval, going
forward in time and then backward. Some aberrations occurred, although they
landed safely.
Wisdom was skeptical and said,"I am
reticent to set off for a more ambitious trip prematurely." But David
Weiss decided to take the risk and attempt to visit three luminaries that he
and the professor had chosen.
Professor
Wisdom was interested in Oriental poetry and had selected Matsuo, the father of
Haiku and David Weiss’s choice was Fibonacci, famed especially for his
Fibonacci numbers and series. They tossed a coin to see who would select the
third choice.
Wisdom
won the toss and said,"I pick Jesus Christ! Why be conservative? Let’s
shoot for the moon."
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