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Feng Shui for the Soul



Kerryn Offord



Grantville, 1633

Kurt Stoltz ignored the rumbling of his stomach and continued his careful scanning of the pages of the newspaper. He well knew that they censored everything. So one had to read everything to detect the tiny inconsistencies that hinted at what they had removed. He knew there were censors about, especially in Grantville. There was no way that they would allow easy access to all the information from the future, no matter what they claimed.

He turned the page and started reading the advertisements.

The ad in the “situations vacant” column practically leapt off the page. Kurt stared at it in disbelief. The Gribbleflotz Spirits of Hartshorn facility in Grantville was looking for multilingual people with fluent English (preferably up-timer English), Latin, and German to work in the research department. He could do that. He was fluent in Latin and German, and had spent several years in England. As for up-timer English, he was a regular user of the various libraries around Grantville. Not that he was well known of course. Anybody growing up in the Stiefel-Meth sect learned the value of keeping his head down and being inconspicuous.

He placed a hand inside his satchel where his notebooks resided. His personal notebooks, with all his notes about the research being undertaken by the great Herr Dr. Gribbleflotz. The doctor was publishing information that Kurt couldn’t find in Grantville’s libraries. Did he have a source of information the censors hadn’t gotten to? This advertisement suggested a way to find out.

A position as a researcher with his company, even if it was in Grantville rather than in Jena, was an opportunity not to be missed. Kurt copied the address for applications, then for the first time since he arrived in Grantville to see the truth of the Corona Conflagrens miracle nearly two years ago, he left a library early. He needed an early night if he was to get to the Gribbleflotz Spirits of Hartshorn facility before any other applicant tomorrow.


HDG Enterprizes

Jena, 1634

Dr. Phillip Theophrastus Gribbleflotz glared at his special aluminum pyramid with the strategically placed faceted gems. He picked up his pen and dipped it into the ink. The pyramid wasn’t working, but the world’s greatest alchemist couldn’t just write “it isn’t working” in his notebook. That kind of comment lacked any hint of scientific credibility.

Phillip paused in thought, idly chewing on the wooden shank of his pen. Then he remembered how the Americans would record the lack of results. He dipped his pen again and wrote “No invigorations of the Quinta Essentia of the Humors were observed.” It was nice. It described the lack of observed results in suitable language, but then, why couldn’t he see anything? Phillip started worrying his pen again.

The obvious answer was that there was nothing to see, but that couldn’t be right. Maybe . . . Phillip sat up straight. Of course! The changes in the Quinta Essentia were invisible to the human eye. What he needed was some method of detecting the invisible forces.

* * *

He’d found it. Photography. More specifically, Kirlian photography. With Kirlian photography one could record the image of a person’s aura. All one needed was some simple electrical equipment . . . and some photographic equipment. That last brought Phillip back to earth. What was the availability of up-timer photographic equipment?

He went to the door of his office and called out. “Hans. I need you.”

The normally reliable Hans Saltzman didn’t answer. Phillip went searching. The first person he found was Ursula Mittelhausen, the housekeeper for HDG Enterprizes.

“Frau Mittelhausen, have you seen Hans?”

“He is in Halle helping set up the Oil of Vitriol facility, Doctor.”

Phillip stifled an unsuitable exclamation. Just when he needed his personal assistant, Hans had to make himself unavailable. Well, when everyone else failed you, there was only one person left to do the work. “I need to make a trip to Grantville. Please book a seat on the train.”

“Of course, Doctor. The evening train? Do you wish for me to also book accommodation?”

Phillip considered the work he had backing up, and the expense of accommodation in Grantville. “At the Higgins. I don’t know how long I’ll be. I need to ask about ‘photography.’ ”

Ursula perked up. “Michael’s sister, Maria Anna, sent a photograph of herself that one of the up-timers took. Are you going to be working on photography now, Doctor?”

“I wish to investigate the application of photography to the detection of the invisible forces of the invigoration of the Quinta Essentia of the Human Humors.”

“So you’ll be taking photographs, Doctor?”

“Purely for science, Frau Mittelhausen.”

“Oh!” Ursula was crestfallen. “I was hoping that I could have my photograph taken so I could send it to my sister in Leipzig.”


Grantville

Phillip had the choice of talking to the dreaded Frau Kubiak, or to Maria Anna. It wasn’t that difficult a decision to make, so he caught the bus to Grays Run. He easily found the property where Frau Mittelhausen said Maria Anna worked. There was a sign declaring the house to be the head office of Brennerei und Chemiefabrik Schwarza. He looked around. It was vaguely similar to the property of Frau Kubiak—a large house on a few acres of land with a number of outbuildings. Obviously it was only a small company.

The door was answered by a little old lady, an up-timer.

“I am Dr. Phillip Gribbleflotz. I believe Maria Anna Siebenhorn works here?”

The little old lady shook her head. “Oh dear, I’m sorry, but Maria Anna’s not in at the moment. She’s in charge of the new explosives division at the Schwarza Gewerbegebiet and won’t be home until late . . . Gribbleflotz, did you say? The Aspirin King?”

Phillip grimaced. “The Aspirin King” was not something the world’s greatest alchemist wished to be known as. They could at least get the name right. “Yes, I am the Gribbleflotz behind Gribbleflotz Sal Vin Betula.”

“Do come in, Doctor. Your people were most helpful when Celeste and I wrote asking about photographic chemicals.”

They were? Phillip hadn’t seen a letter from this company. “You wrote asking about photographic chemicals?”

“Yes, and we got such a nice letter back from your Mr. Saltzman.”

Phillip made a mental note to remind Hans just who was in charge in Jena. So, the next question was, had they done anything with the information? “Did you take Maria Anna’s photograph?”

“Oh, yes.” The woman fluttered a bit. “Would you like me to take yours?”

Well, it seemed he’d come to the right place. “Yes please, Frau . . .”

“Sebastian, but everyone calls me Lettie. Come on in.”


Several days later, the Spirits of Hartshorn Facility, Grantville

Dr. Gribbleflotz was doing what he did best, pontificating on his latest hobbyhorse. Michael Siebenhorn glanced over at his sister. She smiled back and shrugged. When one worked for the doctor, one learned to put up with his little foibles. He didn’t force them on anybody, and the open disbelief of most of his senior laborants only made him work harder to prove his theories.

Michael shuddered. One of the consequences of the doctor’s continued failure to invigorate the Quinta Essentia of the Humors in test subjects was Kurt Stoltz being authorized to work on artificial cryolite so he could make pure aluminum. Dr. Gribbleflotz had theorized that the impurity of the materials might be why his experiments weren’t producing the results he expected. Well, Kurt was welcome to the task. Even the stink of ammonia that hung around the Spirits of Hartshorn facility was preferable to being around hydrofluoric acid.

“I have been unable to observe anything happening when I use my pyramid to invigorate the Quinta Essentia of the Humors in test subjects. I believe the reason I can’t see anything is because the actions taking place are not detectable by the human eye. However, a special photographic technique I have read about should allow me to observe the otherwise invisible forces at work and help me progress my research. The diagram you are looking at is taken from a reputable up-time source, and both Frau Sebastian and Frau Frost believe that such a device should produce the Kirlian images I desire.”

Michael dragged his attention back to what Dr. Gribbleflotz was saying. At least this wasn’t going to be anything as dangerous as hydrofluoric acid. The diagram was a simple electronic circuit, easily understood by anyone with knowledge of the up-timer science. Of course, actually making the device needed a level of expertise he knew the doctor lacked. For that matter, so did he. What was needed was a specialist, someone who knew how to make a transformer. Fortunately, such people were relatively easy to find in Grantville. “Where are you intending to use this . . .” Michael paused to think up a suitable name the doctor would enjoy. “Kirlian Imager, Doctor?”

“Kirlian Imager . . . I like that, Michael. Yes. I will of course use the ‘Kirlian Imager’ in my laboratory for my research, but also, I am running short of the aluminum for my Candles of the Essence of Light demonstrations, and I hope that I might be able to add the Kirlian Imager to my seminars.”

Michael grimaced. He suddenly had an idea where this meeting was heading, and an explanation for his sister’s presence. It wasn’t going to be a simple request to make a Kirlian Imager. No, nothing that easy. “That will require a lot of the new photographic materials. Can Brennerei und Chemiefabrik Schwarza supply your needs?”

Maria Anna, Michael’s little sister, answered. “Lettie Sebastian knows a lot about photography, but not a lot about chemistry, and while Celeste Frost knows a lot about chemistry, she doesn’t know a lot about photography. Together they make a competent photographic chemist, but neither of them understands production on the scale Dr. Gribbleflotz requires.”

Michael sighed. He’d guessed right. “So you want me to develop the information your friends have into procedures to produce photographic chemicals?”

“Yes.” Phillip smiled. “I’ve already talked to Frau Kubiak, and she is happy to make the necessary funds available. I’m sure you’ll have no trouble recruiting additional workers for a new production line.”

Michael struggled not to swear. He shot his sister another look. She was smirking quietly in her corner. The little witch. He knew why she was smirking. She’d been trying to get him to produce the chemicals her friends needed for their photography project for weeks. Well, it looked like she’d succeeded this time. One didn’t turn down Dr. Gribbleflotz. Not when he had taken you, starving and desperate, off the streets and then trained you in the new alchemy. It wasn’t even as if the doctor was interested in the potential fortune Maria Anna insisted photography could bring in either. For someone who must be one of the richest men in Thuringia, the doctor displayed a sometimes distressing disinterest in making money.

Michael tried a last, desperate rearguard action. “Doctor, I am currently running not only the Spirits of Hartshorn facility, I’m also running the production for the new fuel tablets. Couldn’t you find someone else?”

Phillip shook his head. “There is no one else, Michael. Hans and Kurt are both occupied getting the Halle facility up and running. With Hans in Halle I’ve been forced to not only waste my valuable time supervising operations in Jena, but I’ve also been forced to endure the illiterate fool who is Hans’ temporary replacement.”

Well, that hadn’t worked. Michael could well imagine how his boss might be suffering in Hans Saltzman’s absence. Hans had developed from a scared teenager into one of the four best alchemists at HDG in the three years he’d been the doctor’s personal laborant. That was why he was helping Kurt Stoltz, the last of the four, set up the new Oil of Vitriol facility in Halle. Remembering Kurt stopped Michael’s train of thought in its tracks. He grinned. “Doctor, I think I might know of someone suitable as a temporary replacement for Hans. He’s a hard worker here at the Spirits of Hartshorn facility. He has steady hands, and he lived in England for a few years and has been living and working in Grantville for nearly two years, so he has a good command of both written and spoken English.”

Phillip looked interested. “English is good. Frau Mittelhausen has been unable to find anyone suitable who can comprehend the up-time material. But is your man literate?”

“Of course. I wouldn’t suggest him if he wasn’t fluent in Latin.”

“So, who is this paragon?”

Michael grinned. “Kurt Stoltz.”

“What? But Kurt is running the Halle operation. He can’t be . . . oh! Another Kurt Stoltz?”

“Yes, Doctor.”

Michael watched Dr. Gribbleflotz worry his goatee and then polish his spectacles. Both well known signs that he was deep in thought.

“Would he be willing to move to Jena?”

Michael nearly burst out laughing. His Kurt Stoltz had been bothering him for months about a transfer to head office. To actually work as the personal assistant to his hero, even just for a few months until Hans returned, would be more than he could ever have hoped for. “There should be no trouble persuading my Kurt to move to Jena as your temporary personal laborant, Doctor. He has read everything you’ve written about your exploration of the invigoration of the Quinta Essentia using your special pyramid.”

“He is interested in the invigoration of the Quinta Essentia?”

Michael wasn’t surprised by Dr. Gribbleflotz’s reaction. The doctor was well aware that a number of his senior laborants were non-believers. Kurt Stoltz the Second though, he was as close to a true believer as Michael could believe existed. Apparently he had been a follower of Johann Valentin Andreae, and was into spiritual alchemy. “He is most interested in your work, Doctor.”

* * *

Michael returned from seeing Dr. Gribbleflotz out of the office and glared at his sister. “Are you happy now?”

“It won’t be too bad, Michael. Lettie and Celeste have done all the hard work. All you have to do is take their production methods and increase the volume. Your biggest problem will probably be making the Kirlian Imager.”

Michael glanced down at the drawings. “It doesn’t look too hard. I’ll get Kurt to help. If he knows something about the apparatus, he’ll be more useful to the doctor.”

“And with an expert right there in Jena, Dr. Gribbleflotz won’t need to ask you to travel to Jena to help every time something goes wrong,” Maria Anna suggested.

Michael grinned at his sister. She knew him so well. “The thought never crossed my mind.”


A few weeks later

Michael looked down at the finished prototype Kirlian Imager. Things had not gone smoothly in its construction. First, he’d been unable to procure a suitable transformer, so he’d been forced to improvise. That had resulted in a decision to build a big Wimshurst generator, which of course produced its own problems. The main one being that they didn’t have any of the special discs large enough for the task. Fortunately, one of the laborants at the fuel tablet division had been experimenting with some of the surplus waters of formalin. Georg Heinz had been able to reproduce an up-time material with useful properties by using a cheat sheet and chemicals from the gas works. He’d been making “bakelite” insulators for several weeks now. Learning how to make suitable bakelite discs had taken over two weeks of expensive experimentation. However, the imager was finally ready for testing.

“Kurt, switch over to the safe light, please.”

With just the red safe light to see by, Michael took a sheet of photosensitive paper out of its lightproof envelope and placed it on the thin sheet of rubber that covered the small sheet of copper that was the main electrode. Then he attached an earth to the specimen to be examined and placed it on the photosensitive paper.

“All right, you can start the generator now.”

While Kurt pumped away at the treadle of the Wimshurst generator Michael counted the sparks snapping across the air gap until he thought there had been enough discharge to make an image. “Stop! That’s enough.” If the theory was right and the Kirlian Imager was properly constructed, the photosensitive paper should now contain an image of the aura of the object on the paper. Michael removed the coin and took the paper next door where a simple photographic laboratory had been set up. He could feel Kurt breathing over his shoulder as they watched the images appear.

* * *

Michael didn’t see the fascination the Kirlian image had for Kurt. It was just a simple photograph of a coin. The books had much better pictures. Maybe it was the fact that he’d helped make the image.

Kurt looked up. “Could we try making a Kirlian image of a human hand?”

Michael had a quick look at his pocket watch. There was time. “Sure. I assume you’re willing to donate the use of your hand?”

Kurt smiled and rolled up his sleeves. “Which one would you like? Or, better, why not both?”

* * *

Michael looked at the images of Kurt’s fingertips. They were, to put it mildly, disappointing.

Kurt sighed heavily. “It doesn’t look as good as the images in the up-time books.”

Michael nodded. They didn’t look very good. That was probably due to a lot of things. “The paper probably isn’t sensitive enough.”

“The books say an earthed subject’s image is stronger. Maybe if we were to earth me?”

“Kurt, the books also say that you shouldn’t earth a live subject.”

“But, Herr Siebenhorn, I am willing to take the risk. What harm can it do? You have said yourself that you have been stung by the lightning from the generator, with no ill effect.”

Michael bit his lip. He didn’t like going against safety warnings, but Kurt was right. Most of the laborants had been stung by sparks when playing with the doctor’s Wimshurst generator, with no ill effect. However, the new machine was significantly larger. It generated more electricity with a higher voltage, and could make much longer sparks. Further it had a huge capacitor. It was entirely possible they could electrocute someone. Michael thought about the description of the up-timer Benjamin Franklin killing a turkey with a similar device. “Very well.” He quietly adjusted the spark gap to make it smaller. The zaps, while more frequent, would be less dangerous.

* * *

Zap!

“Ouch!” Kurt jerked his hand off the imager.

Michael stopped spinning the generator and removed the wasted photosensitive paper. “Kurt, are you sure you want to do this?”

Kurt nodded. “It was just the surprise, Herr Siebenhorn. I’ll be ready for it next time.”

Michael sighed. He wasn’t sure this was a good idea. He made a minor adjustment to the spark gap and drew another sheet of photosensitive paper from the lightproof envelope. “Right, let’s try again.”

When Kurt put his hand on the paper Michael started the generator spinning. He could see Kurt twitching as the current hit him again and again. “For God’s sake, Kurt! Hold still or we’ll never get an auroral image. The coin didn’t move. Neither should you.”

* * *

Kurt was still rubbing his hand as he examined the damp photograph. “It looks much clearer.”

“Yes, it does. Would you like to try the left hand now?”

Kurt nodded. “Yes, Herr Siebenhorn. Herr Siebenhorn, could I please keep the images of my hands?”

Michael suppressed a sigh. Kurt, for all his experience with English, didn’t seem to understand the concept of the rhetorical question. “Of course, Kurt.”


A few weeks later, HDG Laboratories, Jena

Kurt still couldn’t quite believe he was actually working as his hero’s personal laborant. Even if it was just until his regular laborant returned from an important job. When Herr Siebenhorn made the offer, Kurt had been overcome with emotion.

He gave the safety glass of the fume cupboard a final polish to remove the last speck of dust and stood back to admire his handiwork. The fume cupboard was sparkling clean. Now to collect the various items for Dr. Gribbleflotz’s next experimental session. Kurt’s eyes lit up as he read the requirements sheet. Another experiment with the Kirlian Imager.

* * *

Phillip walked into the small laboratory and nodded in Kurt’s general direction. “Are we all ready to proceed, Beta?”

With two Kurt Stoltzes being employed in important positions, there had been several instances of confusion. Phillip had solved the problem by telling Kurt that, as the latecomer, he was to no longer respond to the name Kurt Stoltz. Instead, he should only respond to Kurt Stoltz Beta or Kurt Beta. Or, as it turned out, just “Beta.”

Kurt had no problem with this. If learning not to respond to the name Stoltz and answer to Beta was what it took to remain as Dr. Gribbleflotz’s personal laborant, he was willing to adapt.

“Yes, Doctor. The envelope of the big sheets is in the top drawer on the table. The trays in the darkroom have been filled with chemicals and are at the correct temperature. All is ready for your experiments.”


Several weeks later, the public seminar room, HDG Enterprizes, Jena

Phillip held the static-charged rod close to the stream of water. There was an “oh” of astonishment from the audience as the stream of water bent away from the rod. Phillip started recharging the rod on the handful of wool in his other hand and smiled at his audience. He really enjoyed it when he got that reaction of amazement. “That was a demonstration of the repelling force of an electrical field. It is interesting to note that the same charged rod can also attract.” Phillip passed the recharged rod above some small pieces of paper on his demonstration table. The paper leapt up to the rod.

The audience applauded the demonstration. “You have seen me use inanimate materials to make my electric fields, but did you know your own body also generates electricity?” He looked around his audience sympathetically. “I see a number of heads shaking. Yes, it is true. And now, using the wonders of the up-timer science of Kirlian photography, I shall prove it.”

Phillip nodded to Kurt that he was ready. While Kurt made preparations, Phillip returned to his audience. “A gifted up-time philosopher, Semyon Kirilian, continuing the work of the great Nikola Tesla, discovered that he could photograph the life force, or aura, which surrounds all living beings, as I shall now demonstrate. Could I have a volunteer from the audience, please?”

* * *

Phillip stood back while Kurt hung the wet prints to dry. Each was carefully labeled with the volunteer’s name so that they could take their own Kirlian image home with them, and they were crowding Kurt so they could see the images.

Once the images were hung up, Kurt opened the heavy blackout curtains and turned out the red safe light. Phillip waited for his audience to return to their seats.

“As you can see, the Kirlian Imager can detect forces invisible to the human eye. Proving the existence of a field around our bodies . . .”

“Yes, but what use does it have, or is it just another useless party trick?”

Phillip froze. Was someone suggesting his Candles of the Essence of Light demonstrations were nothing but a “party trick”? He stared at the speaker. Could he be an agent from the university sent to try and discredit him? There was a gentle cough from his assistant. Phillip looked over at Beta. It appeared he had something he wanted to say. Well, Beta had spent a lot of his own time experimenting with the Kirlian Imager. Maybe he could silence the critic. “Would you like to explain, Beta?”

Kurt nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, and I have a number of Kirlian images that I would like to show everyone.”

Phillip turned to his audience. “My assistant has made a personal study of the uses of the Kirlian Imager. If you will wait patiently for a few moments while he gathers some materials from the laboratory, he will attempt to answer your question.”

* * *

Kurt approached the rostrum with his folder of notes and Kirlian images. This was his opportunity to impress his hero with his level of scientific knowledge and comprehension. He coughed gently into his hand to clear his throat and looked around at the curious faces and took a last steadying breath before starting his very first public presentation.

He held up an image of a modern coin so everyone could see it before passing it around the audience. “In this image of a coin we can see how the Kirlian image of the corona is regular and symmetrical. The life force follows the curvature of the coin.” He passed out a second image. “This is the image from the same coin a week later. Notice how the ‘flames,’ those fine short lines radiating out from the edge of the coin, are the same.”

He held up a new image. “And this is a Kirlian image of an old, well-used and abused coin. Notice how the corona is not symmetrical, showing the damage inflicted on the coin. Again, although I don’t have a second image available to show you, the corona from this coin doesn’t change.

“However, when we examine a living being, things are different.” Kurt passed around some images of his own hands. “Look at the coronas around each finger. Compare the same finger on different images. Notice the variation. That is evidence of the life force interacting with the world. We as human beings have the greatest variation in our Kirlian images, clearly demonstrating the greater complexity of the human spirit.

“It has been my privilege to investigate many Kirlian images. In the course of my investigations, I have determined that no two images, even of the same person, are ever the same. I have found that the variation is due to several things. First, just like the stream of water can be moved by the charged rod in Dr. Gribbleflotz’s demonstration, other life forces can influence your aura. Second, what you eat, drink, or even wear, can influence your aura.

“My investigations suggest that the flames of the corona should be symmetrical around the surface being photographed. This would indicate a spirit in its ideal state. By carefully analyzing the placement and the ratios between various lengths of the flames of the aura, one can analyze what is required to transform an individual’s aura to its ideal state. Not, of course, that it is possible to actually achieve a true ideal state, not as long as there are other life forces able to wield influence. But my investigations have shown that one can ‘manipulate’ the forces acting on one’s aura to arrive as closely as possible to the ideal state, where one is truly in balance with the universe, even by such simple things as changing the color of the clothes one wears on a given day.”

Kurt held up his left hand so the audience could see the chased copper bracelet he was wearing. “Of course, sometimes a little more effort is necessary to bring a person’s aura into balance. But since I have been manipulating my aura towards the ideal state I have improved not only my health, but my prospects. Clearly, an unbalanced aura is an indicator of poor health and vitality.”

Kurt could feel that he had his audience in the palm of his hand. So this is why Dr. Gribbleflotz continues to give his seminars. The feeling of euphoria as everyone listens attentively to one’s every word. “Of course, just looking at the fingertips doesn’t tell us a lot about how our life force interacts with the world. Fortunately, Herr Dr. Gribbleflotz has a special Kirlian Imager that can record much larger images.” Kurt unrolled a large Kirlian image and stuck it to the seminar backboard using magnets. With Dr. Gribbleflotz’s pointer in hand he stepped aside so everyone could see.

“This is a Kirlian image of my head.” He ran the tip of the pointer around the corona surrounding his head. “We can clearly see the ‘halo’ which is present around all of us. Obviously the head is not round, so the flames are not symmetrical, however, by analyzing the ratios of the length and density of the flames we can draw some conclusions as to what the individual must do to move their aura to the ideal state.”

Kurt wasn’t sure where the words were coming from, but he let them continue to flow. Anything to maintain the interest of his audience and the feeling of euphoria.

* * *

Phillip wasn’t sure what to think. Beta had made a most enthusiastically received presentation. Even that dissenting voice was currently begging Kurt to interpret his Kirlian image and explain what he had to do to return his life force toward its ideal state. He shrugged. It seemed Beta had things well in hand. Meanwhile, he had papers to read and write. So Phillip left Beta to deal with the people crowding around him.

* * *

Kurt knocked diffidently on the door. He had a request that he hoped the doctor would approve.

“Enter.”

Kurt pushed the door open and stepped into Dr. Gribbleflotz’s personal office. He passed an envious gaze over the shelves of books that lined one wall.

“Ah, Beta, a most impressive presentation.”

Kurt flushed with pride. Dr. Gribbleflotz had been impressed. “Thank you, sir.”

The doctor gestured toward an easy chair. “Take a seat. What is it I can do for you?”

Kurt gingerly lowered himself into the soft easy chair. Previously he’d only been invited to sit on one of the hard wooden seats. He must have really done well. Maybe Dr. Gribbleflotz would be receptive to his request. “After the seminar today, sir, several of the attendees asked if I could take Kirlian i mages of their halos, and then interpret them so they could move their auras towards the ideal state. I was wondering if you would permit me to use your large Kirlian Imager to take the required photographs, and also allow me the time to interpret the images.”

“The photosensitive paper isn’t exactly cheap, Beta.”

Kurt nodded his head rapidly. “I realize that, Herr Doctor. I expect to charge people a small fee.”

“For the image and the interpretation?”

“If it is permitted, Dr. Gribbleflotz.”

“Well, the Kirlian Imager isn’t giving me the results I hoped for, so I don’t see a problem letting you use it. However, I still need a personal laborant until Hans returns, so I can’t really spare you.”

“I wasn’t thinking of performing the imaging when I should be working for you, sir!”

“You weren’t? Very well. Make arrangements with Frau Mittelhausen.”

“Thank you, Herr Doctor.”


Two months later, Grantville

It was Michael’s first visit to the explosives factory and he was curious. He paused at the door of his sister’s office to look around. It was crowded with filing cabinets and wall charts. There was a good up-time typewriter on the desk and—wonder of wonders—a computer. Maria Anna was currently engrossed with the computer screen. “How come you rate your own computer, Sis?”

“Michael! Long time no see. I get the computer because I handle the books. What can I do for you?”

Michael had been so busy over the last couple of months he hadn’t been able to spend much time with his sister. “I’ve got an order from Jena for some more Kirlian Imagers and photographic chemicals, and I was wondering if Celeste’s daughter and her friends can get me some more milkweed latex.”

“You could have phoned.”

“Sure. But then I couldn’t have shown you this.” Michael tossed a booklet and covering letter over to Maria Anna. He was interested in how she’d react. He’d nearly fallen over laughing, himself. “Kurt’s calling himself Beta these days. Dr. Gribbleflotz was having too much trouble with two Kurt Stoltzes on the payroll.”

Maria Anna gingerly picked up the booklet and looked at it. Her head shot up. “ ‘How to Manage Your Aura for Personal Health and Gain.’ By Kurt Beta. What the hell is happening in Jena?”

“Read the letter. It explains everything.”

Maria Anna dropped the booklet and opened Kurt’s letter. “He’s been teaching others to interpret the life forces made visible by the wonders of Kirlian photography. Is he for real?”

Michael shrugged. “I think so. That’s why he needs the additional imagers. He needs them for his students. Frau Mittelhausen has authorized the order.”

Maria Anna grimaced. “Kurt’s students? What’s he trying to do?”

“Franchise auroral interpretation, of course.”

“Franchise what? He’s selling snake oil.”

Michael shook his head. “No, snake oil is a total fraud. What Kurt Beta is doing is merely pseudoscience, like the doctor and his pyramid. Frau Mittelhausen says people in Jena are lapping it up.”

“You know what I think of the doctor’s pyramid.”

“Sure, but it’s harmless. Think of what Kurt’s doing as being Feng Shui for the soul.”

“What the hell is Fung Shway?”

Michael paused to consider an answer. Feng Shui wasn’t one of those things that were easy to explain. “I think I need to lend you the book I read.”


Several weeks later, office of Boots Bank, Jena

Marguerite Lobstein called over to her partner. “Johann Diefenthaler wants a loan to take the new photographer course in Grantville and to buy a camera obscura photographer equipage. What do you think?”

Catherine Mutschler looked at the photographs of her and Marguerite’s family displayed around the room. “Where does Johann hope to operate?”

“He wants to operate in Bamberg. There hasn’t been anybody else saying they want to work there. Most of them want to operate in Magdeburg.”

Catherine chewed on a lock of hair while she read the detailed loan application. “He’s got a reasonable business plan. I think we can make the loan to do the Certificate in Photography at Brennerei und Chemiefabrik Schwarza’s school in Grantville easily enough. Tell him the rest is dependent on his passing the course.”

“Right.” Marguerite made a note on Johann’s folder and tossed it into the yes basket. Then she pulled out another folder. “Oh, dear!”

Catherine took in the grimace of distaste on Marguerite’s face. “What’s the matter?”

“Another Kirlian Imager application.”

“Just because you don’t believe in the interpretation of the human spirit doesn’t mean it isn’t a sound business proposition.”

“Are you suggesting that you believe in that mumbo-jumbo?”

Catherine shook her head. “No. Of course I don’t believe it, but I know there are lots of people who do. If your applicant has completed Herr Beta’s course and has a good business plan there is no more reason to deny the application than there was to deny Johann Diefenthaler’s. Remember, the only criteria we use to determine whether or not to make a loan is whether or not they can pay it back.”

Marguerite tossed the application across to Catherine. “Very well, you sign off on the loan. I don’t want to touch the thing.”


A couple of weeks later, HDG Enterprizes, Jena

Ursula Mittelhausen smiled at the photograph her sister had sent her. It wasn’t as good as the one she had sent to Margarethe, but her portrait had been taken by Frau Sebastian using a proper up-time camera, not one of the new manual exposure camera obscura photographer machines that the traveling photographers were using.

* * *

Phillip shook Kurt Beta’s hand. “Are you sure you have to leave, Beta? There’s plenty a man with your talents can achieve here at HDG Enterprizes.”

Kurt shook his head. “Thank you for the offer, Doctor. But my time as your personal laborant has opened my eyes to a world of new opportunities. I intend spreading the science of interpreting Kirlian images. I already have a number of lectures scheduled in Magdeburg, and I have to see my publisher about my new book.”

“Your new book?” Phillip asked.

“Yes. Feng Shui for the Soul. Herr Siebenhorn gave me the idea for the title. I had previously missed the obvious connection between the ancient Chinese science of Feng Shui and the new art of interpreting Kirlian images, but as soon as Herr Siebenhorn made the comparison, the relationship was obvious.”

Kurt paused to consider just why he’d missed such an obvious connection. The Censors had been hard at work indeed. They’d hidden the truth with careful use of misdirection, surrounding the truths of Feng Shui with claims only the gullible could believe. It had taken him considerable time and effort to sort through all the up-timer material to discover the truth, but now he knew, and it was going to make him rich.

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Framed