by JM Bannon
* * *
6:00 a.m. Königsberg Prussia
James Clerk Maxwell turned down the Physics Chair at King's College accepting a position in Prussia. His mates at the Royal Society reacted to the news across a continuum of amusement through ridicule, no one was celebratory. Some even claimed it treasonous.
It was not the obvious option to become a research scientist in Königsberg. His German was spotty, and Maxwell had his choice of teaching positions at any university in the world. Already a member of the Royal Society, and holder of the Smith’s Prize, Adams Prize, and recently bestowed the Rumford Medal; Society considered James a savant celebrity in London.
Why then did his considerable scientific mind deduce that the next step in his career led to Königsberg? James chose the capital of Prussia because the Alchemy Guild’s headquarters was in the city and they were prepared to build him a laboratory like none other, no expense spared. The Guild desired his expertise so much that High Elector Baron Keifer, head of the Alchemist Guild visited him to share that his stipend would be three times that of the college and he would have card blanche to pursue his theories on electromagnetism -that closed the deal.
The Guild threw in a well-appointed residence in the Löbenicht district, a brief stroll across the Holz bridge to his workshop on the larger of the two Islets situated in the Pregel River. As he walked from his house to the office, Königsberg seemed fresher than London. It could be the sea air, or the sweet deal he secured doing what he loved. Maybe it was the Teutonic discipline that coordinated the industrial activities on the West side of the city, keeping the rest of capital quite cosmopolitan. His work would deliver the most significant advancement in alchemical sciences. Although not an alchemist, James had pushed the guild to move beyond the sourcing and refining of alchemical substances, to the ultimate alchemical goal of transmutation.
His tasks today were tedious, but required. Not a day of revolutionary research and innovation but running the crucible pilot plant to formulate and test recipes. He brought his lunchbox planning to work through the lunch hour to get through the humdrum tasks.
James admired the tulips and daffodils finally blooming in the late spring. The plants bordered the pathway of the office and research campus the Alchemists had built on the opposite side of town from the original gas werks. As he tread up the track he gazed at the first-floor windows of the lab building observing an orange - green light. His immediate reaction was to pick up his pace to see what was the cause, but before his foot fell again, the building erupted in a massive explosion, fire rolling out of all the blown-out windows. Glass and wood showered down and he saw a large object flying toward him. Turning away James put his arms up to protect his head. He cringed when he heard a heavy thud nearby. Slowly he turned and moved his arms down from his face to witness just a few feet away, Egon's smoldering body sprawled out in front of him.
* * *
10:30 a.m. Königsberg Prussia
Duke Gorber walked up to the chief of the local fire company, operated by the Hosliess Property Group. The brigade commander was busy conducting his company in the clean-up of the equipment. The Duke had several deputies of the Ministry with him to investigate.
"What is the situation with the fire?" inquired the Duke.
"You will need to talk with the proprietor," responded the brigade commander without giving the Duke even a courtesy glance. "Sir, let me be more direct. I am Duke Gorber the Minister of Internal Affairs, not a passerby, rather the investigator. I require your appraisal of the scene for my report to the Minister-President and the High Elector of the Guild." Now the Duke had the man's full attention.
"Your Grace, My brigade quenched the fire on the first floor, I cannot fathom what caused the fire but the damage is extensive. You will need to consult that engineer or scientist over by what is left of the building to understand what they were up to, it's not like anything I have seen.” explained the leader of the fire brigade.
“Thank you. Inspector Segal here is with the Ministry and will take down your details, In case I have further questions” The Duke approached the smoldering building with his two other investigators. As he arrived, a commotion was unfolding. A youthful man speaking broken German with a heavy English accent, was gyrating hysterically in front of a massive piece of burnt equipment waving his arms and yelling at two of the fire brigade.
The Duke interrupted the group of men addressing them with his stern Teutonic tone. "Gentleman, as of this moment the building is under the examination of the Ministry of Internal Affairs by the order of the Minister-President and the High Elector of the Guild.”
"Finally, someone who is talking sense. The machinery here is of the utmost importance to the Guild, as was the team in the building, God rest their souls," replied the Englishman.
“How many bodies have you found so far?” inquired Gorber speaking to the fireman. “Just the one but we are still working through the rubble, but this fellow wants us to stay clear of this equipment,” replied the fire man.
“We must find out if Dr. Traube was in the building. She is diligent in her work and usually arrives before me,” implored the Englishman.
"And you are?" asked the Duke.
"Doctor James Maxwell, the lead scientist in elementary prototransmutation, and you, Sir?"
“I am Manfreid Willhelm Gorber, Duke of Magdeburg and Minister of Internal Affairs. It is in my capacity as the eyes and ears of King Frederick William that I am here. Please slow down, I am grappling with your appalling German. First and foremost, who is this you are concerned about?”
“Doctor Traube, the lead alchemist on the project and my colleague. Certainly, you have heard of the Traubes.” Of course he had, you couldn’t go anywhere in Prussian society and not bump into a Traube. They’re a prolific bunch.
"Go to Baron Traube's home and see if he is there.” instructed the Duke to one of his attending inspectors. “And advise the local police we will need help going through the debris for evidence," directed the Duke.
“Doctor Lorelei Traube, the Baron’s daughter was my colleague,” James injected to correct the mistaken identity.
“Do you know her address, Doctor Maxwell?”
“Not off the top of my head,”
"Your coworker, when was the last time you saw her?”
"I have not seen her since yesterday."
"Doctor, If the case is that this was not an accident why would this building be targeted for arson?”
“The EPT." Maxwell gave him a look first of irritation then appeared to loosen up. “Elementary Prototransmutation, is the holy grail of alchemy. In antiquity alchemists sought the ability to change lead into gold. What we have achieved is that ability to take commodity feedstocks and convert them at the elemental level.”
"Who might have knowledge about this important work?" inquired the Duke.
"We have the Electors of the Guild, then there is the architects and constructors of the production facility. You see this pilot plant was built to prove out the process then it was scaled up for the new kraft werks that will officially open in September.”
"Beyond the Guild, have you spoken with others about your work, at the pub or through correspondence?" probed Gorber.
“Here in Konigsberg, I may be an unknown, living in anonymity, but in the field of physics, I am a luminary. My writings are published in science journals internationally.”
"Publications about this experiment?" asked Gorber.
"No, but my body of work is well known. That's my primary point, your Grace."
The only thing bigger than the Englishman’s brain is his arrogance. “But not specifically this project?” asked the Duke.
“No, it is to be kept secret until the September unveiling of the production crucible at the International Convention of the Alchemical Sciences.”
“I see. Would any rivals seek to foil your experiments? Maybe your decision to do the work in the Confederation of German States rather than your motherland had
something to do with it?"
"While I have invariably suffered envy of my achievements and scrutiny of my theory given its advanced reasoning and my youthful appearance, I can think of no person prepared to go to this extreme to obstruct my work."
"Another angle is the commercial threats you may pose with your invention. Does this look to upset anyone's existing apple cart?" questioned Gorber.
"Yes and no. I reply yes because it will fundamentally transform how we make raw substances, and no because the new process just strengthens the Alchemists dominant position in feedstock production of the synthetic and alchemical."
“I will need to get your address in case I have further questions Doctor and please do not leave Königsberg.”
“I hope you don’t think I had anything to do with this?” replied Maxwell.
“I think nothing yet, if this is an accident even one that culminated in a death than I will step aside for the city guard to investigate. If a vital project to the Guild has been sabotaged, then I will have a keen interest in anyone associated with the project.” asserted the Duke.
Continue Reading the Alchemists
The Alchemists Book One of the Guild Chronicles
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What has Sister Rose Caldwell been up to the past two years?
New Job, New House, New Enemies
Rose, Violet, and little Rosie have been settling into fancy new digs in upscale Paddington. While remodeling a haunted house into a new reliquary and studio arcana is fun, one needs to take a break occasionally. Of course, the White Witch of London’s idea of a break is figuring out the identity of her mysterious benefactor and racing off to hunt a Mesopotamian demon who has ignited the storm of the century.
Things get really weird when the quirky recluse, Preston Gilchrist shows up on her doorstep after three years living as a shut-in. Leaving Gilchrist Manor initiates an adventure that crosses the globe in an old airship piloted by the famous Vanderbilt, Valkyrie Reidun Falk, with stops in Berlin, Constantinople, and Königsberg. Rose and her friend Preston search for his long-lost love, Lorelei Traube, the Alchemist responsible for inventing the crucible process. Along the way, their paths cross with actual historical characters, Sir James Maxwell and Thomas Edison, as well as mythological creatures and characters.
Good thing Rose came along, as Prussian commandos and an ancient order of Wizards are all trying to get their hands on Lorelei. When the truth comes out about Lorelei’s mysterious project and what is really at the heart of it, Rose requires her collection of gadgets and supernatural powers along with the ancient wisdom of Preston’s alter ego, Azul, to save humanity.
Sit back and enjoy a supernatural thriller set in a believable, yet fantastic alternative steampunk history. Following the prequel, The Alchemists is the first book in the Guild Chronicles series.
The series includes:
Prequel: The Untold Tales of Dolly Williamson
The Alchemists
The Necronists
The Mechanists Spring 2018
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About the Author
JM Bannon is the author of the Guild Chronicles. When not writing, his time is spent reading or walking the grounds of the sanitarium, where on a clear day you can see all the way to Prague Castle.
Feel free to reach out by email. All correspondence is reviewed by the staff of the Brookhaven Sanitarium and will be answered by JM Bannon or Doctor Gustav Kreppelin, the resident physician at Brookhaven.
If you too have witnessed strange events occurring in the non-Newtonian universe and would like to help others understand it’s true reality, write JM and learn how you can contribute as an advanced reader or co-writer in the NNU.
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Also by J M Bannon
The Alchemist
The Necronists
The Mechanists 2018