The morning before they set out on their 'mission', Ethan, Teddy, Faunus, Khonsu and 'Sigi' are given a brief preparatory talk by Teddy. Then Faunus explains that the process by which they shall be transported through 'time and space' shall transform them, so that they shall arrive in Berlin wearing appropriate clothing, and with all the papers they shall need, plus money for the duration of their stay. So - to some degree prepared - they then cross the Nile, and enter the 'Lion Cave'. There they pass through the temple 'courtyard', and exit by the gilded bronze doors. On the other side of the doors they are met with....Berlin in the 1920s.
'Es ist wohl nur ein Traum - das bloße Haschen nach dem Wind'
'It's probably just a dream - mere chasing after the wind'
Teddy was not looking too happy, having been left out of the meeting in the '1886 Restaurant', but when the group of conspirators got settled in the drawing room of Faunus' suite, (where Teddy had been 'dumped' earlier), Teddy, who as usual, was trying to be a 'good teddy-bear', said nothing disparaging, but simply launched into his brief lecture on 1920s Berlin.
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| Weimar Adler un Banner |
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| Wappen von Berlin |
After the 'Greater Berlin Act' the city became the third largest municipality in the world and experienced its heyday as a major world city.
It was known for its leadership roles in science, the humanities, music, film, higher education, government, diplomacy, industries and military affairs.
The 'Weimar Republic' era began in the midst of several major movements in the fine arts.
German Expressionism had begun before World War I, and continued to have a strong influence throughout the 1920s, although artists were increasingly likely to position themselves in opposition to expressionist tendencies as the decade went on.
A sophisticated, innovative culture developed in and around Berlin, including architecture and design, a variety of literature, film ('Metropolis' 'Frau im mond' and 'Nibelungen' - also 'Der blaue Engel'), psychology, philosophy and fashion.
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| 'Graf Zeppelin' over the Siegessäule |
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| Fritz Lang - Nibelungen - 1924 - UFA |
'Talkies', the sound films, were also becoming more popular with the general public across Europe, and Berlin was producing very many of them.
The 'mystical arts' also experienced a revival during this time-period in Berlin, with astrology, the occult, Theosophy, esoteric religions and off-beat religious practices becoming more mainstream and acceptable to the masses as such ideas entered popular culture.
The University of Berlin became a major intellectual center in Germany, Europe, and the World, and the sciences were especially favored from 1914 to 1933.
 |
| Albert Einstein |
Einstein moved to Switzerland in 1895 and renounced his German citizenship in 1896
He served as director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics in Berlin during this period.
In politics Berlin saw a period of turmoil with the rise of political parties on the extreme right and left.
1920s Berlin was a city of many social contrasts.
While a large part of the population continued to struggle with high unemployment and deprivations in the aftermath of World War I, the upper class of society, and a growing middle class, gradually rediscovered prosperity and turned Berlin into a wealthy cosmopolitan city."...
Teddy then paused for a moment to let them all digest some of what he said.
"Now as for you guys.. as 'Sigi', Khonsu and Faunus can speak perfect German, they will present themselves as students at the University of Berlin.
Ethan, of course, can only be American, and so he has come to Berlin - from Los Angeles - to study composition with Paul Hindemith, and in this way he will hopefully meet up with the young von Braun."
At that point Ethan put up his hand, as if he were at school.
"Excuse me, Teddy, but I don't know anything about music...", Ethan said plaintively.
"Don't worry, Ethan... I will quickly give you all the information that you will need to know tonight...", Faunus said, reassuringly.
"And a bit of German, perhaps ?",
"Yes....also a bit of German - but not too much, as it will be too difficult to pass you off as German, despite your appearance.
"Well.... OK... that's no problem...''
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| Hotel 'Adlon' - Berlin |
"We're staying at the Hotel Adlon.", Teddy replied.
Then he started on another one of his 'mini lectures'.
"It's a luxury hotel, situated on the 'Unter den Linden', the main boulevard in the central Mitte district, at the corner with 'Pariser Platz', and directly opposite the 'Brandenburger Tor'.
It is one of the most famous hotels in Europe, and was opened in 1907.
After World War I, and the abdication of the Kaiser, Lorenz Adlon, the owner of the hotel, remained a staunch monarchist, and never imagined normal traffic would pass through the Brandenburg Gate's central archway, which had been reserved for the Kaiser alone.
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| Louis Adlon |
Tragically, this resulted in Adlon being hit by a car on two occasions - the second time fatally.
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| 'Brandenburger Tor' - Berlin |
During the "Golden Twenties", the Adlon remained one of the most famous hotels in Europe, hosting celebrity guests including Louise Brooks, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Emil Jannings, Albert Einstein, Enrico Caruso, Thomas Mann, Josephine Baker, and Marlene Dietrich, and also international politicians such as Franklin Roosevelt, Paul von Hindenburg, and Herbert Hoover - and, of course us...", Teddy said with a dry note of humor.
"Now only very rich people stay at this hotel - so I have provided you all with background stories, but try not to get into detailed conversations, except when trying to lure young von Braun into our plan.", Teddy said.
"And what actually is our plan ?", Sigi asked.
"That, 'Sigi', I will tell you all tomorrow... when we arrive.", Faunus replied.
"Well, if you don't' mind me interrupting... I only asked where we were staying... so there's no need for this long history and guest list." Ethan said, beginning to sulk.
They had all done it before....the boat trip across the Nile with Mahmoud, and then the short taxi ride with Hassan to the base of the Theban Hills.
Then after some 'shai' in the coffee shop in Qurnah village, there was the short climb to the secluded gulley where the 'Cave of the Lion' was situated.
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| The Columned Courtyard in the 'Lion Cave' |
The next step was to pas through the doors.
As they stepped through, they suddenly found themselves in the confined space of a very luxurious elevator.
"Well, it's got an excellent set of buttons...", Teddy commented.
"Yes Teddy, but we need to get out...", Ethan said.
"Well...which floor ?", Teddy sensibly asked.
"Probably the ground floor would be safest.", Faunus suggested.
"You mean 'Erdgeschoss' ?", Teddy asked.
"Yes, whatever... just press it, it's very cramped in here.", Ethan said.
So Teddy got to press an elevator button (in German), and from then on he was a very relaxed bear.
The doors then slid open, and they left the elevator.
"Well... very nice doors...", Ethan said admiringly.
"So where are we...?", Sigi' asked
"Well I would suggest a fancy, upmarket hotel...", Ethan said.
"Of course, Ethan, it's' the 'Adlon', in Berlin - just as I told you all.", Teddy said, sounding very self satisfied..
"Well where do we go now ?...", 'Sigi' asked.
"To the reception desk, and collect the keys for our rooms...", Faunus replied.
"OK... so where's the reception desk ?", Ethan asked.
"Just follow in my direction...", Teddy said, as he led them across the gleaming marble floor.
"And how do you know, Teddy ?", Faunus asked, intrigued.
"I have a complete plan of the hotel on my database...", Teddy said, as if it was obvious.
"Do you have everything on your database ?", 'Sigi' asked, not really sounding convinced...
"Well almost...", Teddy replied.
"Now regardless, we all need to get out stories straight.", Faunus said.
"OK... well who am I ?", Ethan asked.
Faunus shook his head in disbelief.
"Well you know... You're Ethan Walton... remember ?", Faunus said.
"Oh yes... of course...", Ethan said.
"Right !
So 'Sigi'... you are Siegfried von Brandt... a member of the aristocratic Prussian family.", Faunus continued.
"Sounds good...", 'Sigi' said.
"And Ethan... no more 'Sigi'... it's Siegfried, remember he's an aristocrat.", Faunus warned.
Khonsu, as you can speak German you are Friedrich von Hagen, from Munich in Bavaria, and I am Manuel don Picaro, from Madrid.", Faunus concluded.
"Yes... and who am I ?", Teddy asked.
"Well 'der Teddybär' is German for 'teddy-bear', and Edward, which is the full version of Teddy, is 'Eduard'.", Faunus replied.
"Well, just leave it as Teddy, thanks..", Teddy said.
"Anyway, Teddy, you... as usual share my room... so you don't need to register.", Ethan said.
"So... did you know that teddy-bears were invented in Germany ?", Teddy asked, as they waited to register.
"Yes, actually...", Ethan replied.
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| Elevator Doors - Hotel Adlon - Berlin |
"Well... very nice doors...", Ethan said admiringly.
"So where are we...?", Sigi' asked
"Well I would suggest a fancy, upmarket hotel...", Ethan said.
"Of course, Ethan, it's' the 'Adlon', in Berlin - just as I told you all.", Teddy said, sounding very self satisfied..
"Well where do we go now ?...", 'Sigi' asked.
"To the reception desk, and collect the keys for our rooms...", Faunus replied.
"OK... so where's the reception desk ?", Ethan asked.
"Just follow in my direction...", Teddy said, as he led them across the gleaming marble floor.
"And how do you know, Teddy ?", Faunus asked, intrigued.
"I have a complete plan of the hotel on my database...", Teddy said, as if it was obvious.
"Do you have everything on your database ?", 'Sigi' asked, not really sounding convinced...
"Well almost...", Teddy replied.
"Now regardless, we all need to get out stories straight.", Faunus said.
"OK... well who am I ?", Ethan asked.
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| Entrance Lobby and Reception - 'Adlon Hotel' - Berlin |
"Well you know... You're Ethan Walton... remember ?", Faunus said.
"Oh yes... of course...", Ethan said.
"Right !
So 'Sigi'... you are Siegfried von Brandt... a member of the aristocratic Prussian family.", Faunus continued.
"Sounds good...", 'Sigi' said.
"And Ethan... no more 'Sigi'... it's Siegfried, remember he's an aristocrat.", Faunus warned.
Khonsu, as you can speak German you are Friedrich von Hagen, from Munich in Bavaria, and I am Manuel don Picaro, from Madrid.", Faunus concluded.
"Yes... and who am I ?", Teddy asked.
"Well 'der Teddybär' is German for 'teddy-bear', and Edward, which is the full version of Teddy, is 'Eduard'.", Faunus replied.
"Well, just leave it as Teddy, thanks..", Teddy said.
"Anyway, Teddy, you... as usual share my room... so you don't need to register.", Ethan said.
"So... did you know that teddy-bears were invented in Germany ?", Teddy asked, as they waited to register.
"Yes, actually...", Ethan replied.
Richard Stief and his first Teddy At its debut at the Leipzig Toy Fair in 1903, the toy bear designed by the German toy maker, Richard Stieff, initially attracted little attention, but its fortunes were saved when an American buyer snapped up the entire lot of 100 bears, and ordered another 3,000 just before the exhibition finished. The heyday of the Steiff company thus began. At the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904, Steiff sold 12,000 bears and received the Gold Medal, which was the highest honor at the event. The kind of toy bear that Steiff had designed subsequently acquired the appellation 'teddy' - hence 'teddy bear'. - from Teddy's database
"So you see... in a way I'm actually German...", Teddy said.
"OK, Teddy... now stop talking otherwise people will hear you...", Ethan said as they approached the receptionist.
"Oh look at that sweet German boy with his little teddy-bear", an English woman, who was seated at a nearby table with her husband, said.
"Such beautiful blond hair, and lovely blue eyes..."... and Ethan blushed.
'Why', Ethan wondered to himself, 'does everyone think I'm a little boy ?'.
So they were registered and taken to their rooms.
Ethan, of course had to stop Teddy from pressing the buttons in the elevator - as they were being accompanied by a member of the hotel staff.
Eventually they arrived on the second floor and their suite.
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| Ethan and Teddy's Suite |
"So - very nice...", Ethan said as they were shown into their bedroom by one of the Unter Managern - (under-managers).
"Well... plenty of pillows, and the bedspread matches my fur...", Teddy said approvingly.
"I'm so sorry, sir... what did you say ?", the young unter-manager asked - in English, thinking that Ethan had said something..
"Oh... I was just saying... nice bedspread.", Ethan replied, hoping that Teddy wasn't going to say anything else.
"Well, enjoy your stay, and if you need anything just let us know...", the slightly puzzled unter manager said, as he gave Ethan the key.
"Now Teddy... you be careful.
These people will probably not take kindly to a talking teddy-bear.
In my DVDs about the Germans in the war, they're always putting people up against a wall and shooting them... ", Ethan said, plonking Ethan on his pillows.
"True... but I'm amour-plated, if you remember.. 'Vibranium' - Mr Stark did that during my latest upgrade, so bullets wouldn't affect me.", Teddy said, plumping up his cushions and pillows.
'Vibranium' is a metal of extraterrestrial origin, noted for its extraordinary abilities to absorb, store, and release large amounts of kinetic energy, including sound waves and other vibrations.
"Maybe, Teddy, but I'm not amour-plated, and they'd probably decide to shoot me as well.", Ethan replied, hoping that they were not going to end up having an argument - which could be a problem, as Jim was not there to stop them.
"Maybe, but don't get confused about the war....
You see, one war has just ended... which the Germans lost, which is why our hotel suite is so cheap, but in a few years another war will start, and they will also lose that war.", Teddy explained.
"Ah, then perhaps that's why they're so keen on shooting people... because they're niggled - because they keep losing these wars.", Ethan observed - possibly quite accurately.
"Well, anyway... this all looks very 'up to date' to me...
I thought we'd gone back into the past...", Ethan then said, as he looked round the room.
"We have, but as I said before we came here, this time, just after the end of the First World War, was a time of great innovation - in many things, including art and design.", Teddy began.
"Ino-what ?", Ethan asked, once again looking puzzled.
"Innovation - it means new methods, ideas - and in this case particularly in design.", Teddy explained.
"But if you need any proof take a look at this portrait on one of the tables....", Teddy said.
"And ?", Ethan asked.
"Well, it's a portrait of the Kaiser Wilhelm II.
'Kaiser' is the German version of the name 'Cæsar' - like in Julius Cæsar - or more pertinently, Octavian Augustus Cæsar....." Teddy said.
"What, you mean like Marcus (Jim) ?" Ethan asked.,
"Exactly Ethan.", Teddy replied, referring to 'Marcus Octavian Gracchus'.
"So the Germans used a Latin name for their Emperor...", Ethan said, beginning to understand.
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| Kaiser Wilhelm II - Hohenzollern 'König von Preußen' |
"And this guy.... is he still alive ?", Ethan asked.
"Yes... he lives in Holland now, but when Germany lost the war he had to give up being Emperor.", Teddy said.
"Mm... probably a wise move...", Ethan said perceptively.
"But of course, in the 'time' that we live - in America - he's been dead for ages.
"Yes... that's where I get confused...", Ethan said.
Wilhelm II was born on 27 January 1859 and died on 4 June 194. He was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia. He reigned from 15 June 1888 until his abdication on 9 November 1918 shortly before Germany's defeat in World War I. He was he eldest grandchild of the British Queen Victoria, and first cousin to King George V of the United Kingdom. Upon consolidating power as emperor, Wilhelm launched Germany on a bellicose 'New Course' to cement its status as a respected world power. He guaranteed military support to Austria-Hungary during the crisis of July 1914, resulting in the outbreak of World War I. A poor wartime leader, he left virtually all decision-making regarding military strategy and organisation of the war effort in the hands of the German General Staff. This broad delegation of authority gave rise to a 'de facto' military dictatorship whose belligerent foreign policy led to the United States' entry into the war on 6 April 1917. After losing the support of the German military and his subjects in November 1918, Wilhelm abdicated and fled to exile in the Netherlands, where he died.
"So what now ?", Teddy asked.
"Well first I think you need a good brush, after all that travelling, and then I promised Faunus that I would meet the others for lunch here at the hotel....
Now I 'snuck in' your laptop, and a couple of external disk drives in my luggage, but make sure that no one sees you use it, and hide it in a drawer.", Ethan said.
"Of course... I'll be discreet.
I'm a clever bear, and I quite understand that computers haven't been invented yet, so it needs to be hidden...", Teddy said.
"So after your brush, while I'm gone, you can watch a movie...", Ethan said
After Ethan had settled Teddy with his laptop, there was a knock on the door.
Fortunately the suite had a hallway, a lounge, bathroom and bedroom, so Ethan could simply close the bedroom door, and no one would see Teddy with his laptop.
There was no need to worry, however, as it was Faunus who had come to collect Ethan.
Faunus had hired a private dining room for their meals, so they would not be disturbed, and would be able to have their discussions without anyone 'listening in'.
"You can bring Teddy with you - if he wants to come - as nobody seems to be fazed by seeing you with a teddy-bear....", Faunus said.
"OK... but I get a but annoyed at everyone thinking I'm just a kid...", Ethan said, as he went off to get Teddy.
Interestingly, Faunus made no comment.
The private dining-room was on the lower floor, so that was good for Teddy, as it gave him another chance to 'play' with the elevator buttons - which made him much calmer.
No one else had arrived when Faunus, Ethan and Teddy came into the room.
Faunus sat at the head of the table, with Ethan to his left, and Teddy sat on the table next to Ethan, where he could record all that was said.
(Teddy would later transfer the recording to his laptop in the form of a text file, as part of Teddy's ongoing 'log'.)
Moments later Khonsu and 'Sigi' arrived.
"Now remember, Teddy, when the waiters come in to serve food or clear plates away you don't talk..", Faunus said.
"I know... I'm not stupid.", Teddy replied, slightly irritated.
"Of course...", Faunus said, trying to placate the little bear.
"So.... to begin... all seems to have gone well so far... but we must take care, and try to blend into this time and place...", Faunus said.
"Well, that shouldn't be too difficult.....
It's all very nice and luxurious and clean...", Ethan commented.
"Well it should be... this is probably the best hotel in Germany... and the most expensive.", Faunus said.
"Ihrem Teddybär geht es sehr gut, mein Junge...", one of the young waiters said, who was serving Ethan.
"Es tut mir leid, aber er ist Amerikaner - er versteht nicht..", Sigi said to the waiter.
"Ah, it is a very fine bear, young sir...", the waiter then said, translating very well into English.
"Gee, thanks...", Ethan replied, rather overdoing the American accent.
Faunus then paused until the waiters had left, and then began the discussion.
"They have a very nice pool here, and a spa, so I think it would be best for us to relax for the afternoon and evening.
Now let me warn you that Berlin, at this period, is a city with a lot of night-life, a bit like Las Vegas - but a little bit more dangerous, so don't venture out in the evening on your own.
I would suggest an early night tonight, as travelling through these 'dimensional portals' may seem easy, but actually involves a lot of physical stress, as well as the psychological stress of suddenly finding yourself in a 'different country' and a 'different time'.
Faunus paused for a moment to savor the first course...
"OK.... in the morning, 'Sigi', I want you to take Ethan to the 'Berlin University School of Music', which is part of the 'Universität der Künste'.
Now you, Ethan, have a personal letter of recommendation from George Eastman, the founder of the 'Eastman School of Music', which is the professional school of music of the 'University of Rochester', in Rochester, New York, with a recommendation for you to study composition with Paul Hindemith.
Be assured you will be accepted, as George Eastman is fabulously wealthy, and on your acceptance he will make a substantial donation to the 'Berlin University School of Music', which is desperately short of funds.", Faunus explained.
"Ah.... I see, sneaky, yes ?", Ethan responded.
"Well yes, but it's just the way things are done, Ethan..", Faunus replied.
"An offer you can't refuse, as the 'Boss' would say...!", Ethan added.
"True...", Faunus said,
"But back to business.....
I'd like you, Khonsu, to go the the 'Technische Hochschule' in Charlottenburg, and see if you can spot young von Braun.", Faunus then said.
"But I thought he was going to be at the University of Art...", Ethan...", said - puzzled.
"Well, as it happens, von Braun could be spending time in both places.
You see, at this time in Germany students could attend lectures at more that more university, so von Braun could be doing what his mother wanted, by studying music, while at the same time following his 'geek' obsession with science fiction and 'space-flight.", Faunus explained.
"Mm... that make it a bit difficult for us..." Ethan said.
"Well perhaps not, Ethan.......
It could be possible for Khonsu to subtly put him off the science business, while you... as a 'budding' composer... could encourage him with the possibility of going to America and making his fortune writing music for the movies - after all, film music is the new, 'up and coming thing', now that sound had been synchronized with movie images.", Teddy said - finally contributing to the discussion.
"Oh you are a clever little bear !...", Ethan said, tickling Teddy's ears.
"OK... that's enough of that... not in front of everyone.", Teddy said, for once sounding embarrassed.
"You can bring Teddy with you - if he wants to come - as nobody seems to be fazed by seeing you with a teddy-bear....", Faunus said.
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| Private Dining Room - Hotel Adlon - Berlin |
Interestingly, Faunus made no comment.
The private dining-room was on the lower floor, so that was good for Teddy, as it gave him another chance to 'play' with the elevator buttons - which made him much calmer.
No one else had arrived when Faunus, Ethan and Teddy came into the room.
Faunus sat at the head of the table, with Ethan to his left, and Teddy sat on the table next to Ethan, where he could record all that was said.
(Teddy would later transfer the recording to his laptop in the form of a text file, as part of Teddy's ongoing 'log'.)
Moments later Khonsu and 'Sigi' arrived.
"Now remember, Teddy, when the waiters come in to serve food or clear plates away you don't talk..", Faunus said.
"I know... I'm not stupid.", Teddy replied, slightly irritated.
"Of course...", Faunus said, trying to placate the little bear.
"So.... to begin... all seems to have gone well so far... but we must take care, and try to blend into this time and place...", Faunus said.
"Well, that shouldn't be too difficult.....
It's all very nice and luxurious and clean...", Ethan commented.
"Well it should be... this is probably the best hotel in Germany... and the most expensive.", Faunus said.
"Ihrem Teddybär geht es sehr gut, mein Junge...", one of the young waiters said, who was serving Ethan.
"Es tut mir leid, aber er ist Amerikaner - er versteht nicht..", Sigi said to the waiter.
"Ah, it is a very fine bear, young sir...", the waiter then said, translating very well into English.
"Gee, thanks...", Ethan replied, rather overdoing the American accent.
Faunus then paused until the waiters had left, and then began the discussion.
"They have a very nice pool here, and a spa, so I think it would be best for us to relax for the afternoon and evening.
Now let me warn you that Berlin, at this period, is a city with a lot of night-life, a bit like Las Vegas - but a little bit more dangerous, so don't venture out in the evening on your own.
 |
| Universität der Künste Berlin |
Faunus paused for a moment to savor the first course...
"OK.... in the morning, 'Sigi', I want you to take Ethan to the 'Berlin University School of Music', which is part of the 'Universität der Künste'.
 |
| Orchestra of the Eastman Rochester School of Music - USA |
Be assured you will be accepted, as George Eastman is fabulously wealthy, and on your acceptance he will make a substantial donation to the 'Berlin University School of Music', which is desperately short of funds.", Faunus explained.
"Ah.... I see, sneaky, yes ?", Ethan responded.
"Well yes, but it's just the way things are done, Ethan..", Faunus replied.
"An offer you can't refuse, as the 'Boss' would say...!", Ethan added.
"True...", Faunus said,
"But back to business.....
 |
| Technische Hochschule - Charlottenburg - Berlin |
"But I thought he was going to be at the University of Art...", Ethan...", said - puzzled.
"Well, as it happens, von Braun could be spending time in both places.
You see, at this time in Germany students could attend lectures at more that more university, so von Braun could be doing what his mother wanted, by studying music, while at the same time following his 'geek' obsession with science fiction and 'space-flight.", Faunus explained.
"Mm... that make it a bit difficult for us..." Ethan said.
"Well perhaps not, Ethan.......
 |
| 'The Jazz Singer' - Warner Brothers - USA |
"Oh you are a clever little bear !...", Ethan said, tickling Teddy's ears.
"OK... that's enough of that... not in front of everyone.", Teddy said, for once sounding embarrassed.
'The Jazz Singer' is a 1927 American musical drama film directed by Alan Crosland. It is the first feature-length motion picture with not only a synchronized recorded music score but also lip-synchronous singing and speech in several isolated sequences. Its release heralded the commercial ascendance of sound films and ended the silent film era. It was produced by Warner Bros. with its Vitaphone sound-on-disc system.
 |
| Jules Verne |
 |
| Flagstaff Observatory - Arizona - USA |
"So can anyone explain to me how it came to be that von Braun's such a 'geek', as you put it, with all this business about rockets and space travel...?", Khonsu asked.
"Well perhaps I can explain...", Teddy began.....
"Von Braun's obsession with 'space travel', which has now led him to vacillate between becoming a composer, and a rocket-scientist, arose mainly from his reading of Jules Verne, H G Wells and Edgar Rice Burroughs.
 |
| H G Wells |
Both Verne, who was French, and Wells who was English, wrote about journeys to the Moon, with Verne first writing 'From the Earth to the Moon'.
 |
| Edgar Rice Burroughs |
Wells later wrote 'First Men in the Moon', which involved the concept of 'anti gravity'.
Wells also wrote 'War of the Worlds', describing an invasion of Earth by Martians, - inspired by the observations by Lowell at the Flagstaff Observatory in the US - and also the 'Time Machine' - describing 'time travel'.
Also very influential was Edgar Rice Burroughs, an American author, who wrote a series of stories about adventures on Mars called the 'Barsoom Series', adventures in the future on the Moon called the 'Moon Series', and adventures on Venus - called, not surprisingly the 'Venus Series'....
 |
| Edgar Rice Burroughs - John Carter |
But I'll explain more about all of this when you hopefully actually make contact with von Braun..", Teddy said.
"So our young von Braun's done plenty of reading, then...", 'Sigi commented.
"Seems so, but then from what I've found out so far, he's a 'little rich boy', so buying books is no problemo...", Ethan said, beginning to 'get the hang' of a world with no internet, sound movies or TV, and a world where there was a large gap between the rich and the poor.
"And tell me... does von Braun speak good English ?", Faunus asked, believing that he knew the answer, but just looking for confirmation.
"Oh yes, he's had an excellent, and costly education, and among the German upper classes it was considered essential to speak English, particularly as the Prussian royal family was partly English...", Teddy explained.
"And how was this royal family partly English ?", Ethan asked.
"Well it's complicated....", Teddy began.
"Thought it might be...", Ethan said, beginning to wish he hadn't asked.
"The Kaiser, Willhelm II, who abdicated some years before we arrived, was actually half German and half English.
His mother was the English Princess Royal Victoria Adelaide, who married Kaiser Frederick III, who died in 1888.
 |
| Kaiserin Friedrich of Germany |
 |
| Monogram - Kaiserin Friedrich |
Victoria herself was known in Germany as 'Kaiserin Friedrich' - the Empress Frederick - taking the name of her husband, and she's now dead, dying in 1901.", Teddy said.
"Very weird... and from what I've read, England and Germany were fighting each other not many years after she died.", Ethan added.
"Yes - very perceptive Ethan....", Teddy said.
At that point Faunus decided, as the meal was over, and enough had been said, to bring the meeting to an end.
"Now I suggest that we all have a nice relaxed afternoon and evening, and prepare for tomorrow, when hopefully we shall make contact with young von Braun...", Faunus concluded.
So Khonsu and 'Sigi' went off for a stroll down 'Unter den Linden', while Ethan and Teddy returned to their suite.
'Unter Den Linden' - Berlin - Reinhard Bartsch 'Unter den Linden' - 'under the linden trees' - is a boulevard in the central 'Mitte' district of Berlin, the capital of Germany. Running from the City Palace to 'Brandenburg Gate', it is named after the linden (lime) trees that line the grassed pedestrian mall on the median and the two broad carriageways. The avenue links numerous Berlin sights, landmarks and rivers for sightseeing. In the 19th century, as Berlin grew and expanded to the west, 'Unter den Linden' became the best-known, and grandest street in Berlin. In 1851 an equestrian statue of King Frederick II of Prussia was erected on the center strip, designed by Christian Daniel Rauch. Johann Strauss III wrote the waltz 'Unter den Linden' in 1900, and of course the Hotel Adlon is situated on the 'Unter den Linden', close to the 'Brandenburger Tor'.
So what shall we do, Teddy ?", Ethan asked, as they entered their suite.
"Well you have some work to do... Ethan.", Teddy began, sounding very serious.
"You need to make some musical sketches that von Braun can use to 'kick start' his career when he eventually goes to America.", Teddy said.
"But we don't know for sure if he's going to America, or even if he's going to decide to become a composer.", Ethan exclaimed, desperately trying to avoid having to do anything that was obviously going to be very difficult.
"Look, you know and I know Faunus... so do you think von Braun stands any chance of making any other decision ?", Teddy said.
"Well, considering what he did to Glen and 'Sigi'.... I suppose not.", Ethan was forced to admit.
"And that name.. it's not right, and difficult to spell.. and we don't want that 'von' business....
Now one of his other names is Maximillian - so perhaps it might help if he changed it to 'Max' - like 'Max Brown' - that sounds nice and American.", Teddy suggested.
"And why Brown ?", Ethan asked completely innocently.
"Because 'braun' is German for brown...", Teddy replied.
"So what are we actually going to do ", Ethan asked - by then totally confused.
"Well first we need some music manuscript paper ('staff paper' in the US).", Teddy said, as he powered up his laptop.
"And how do we get that - we haven't brought a printer...", Ethan said.
"Well just go along to Faunus' suite and ask him to get some 'staff paper'.", Teddy said.
"Okey dokey....", Ethan said, and quickly left the room, glad to get away from Teddy, who seemed to be getting into a slightly 'manic' mood.
"Ethan knocked on the door of Faunus' suite, and Faunus quickly answered and happily invited Ethan in.
 |
| Staff Paper |
"So Ethan, what's the problem ?", Faunus asked, imagining that perhaps Ethan and Teddy had got into one of their silly arguments.
"It's Teddy.... he's rushing about doing odd things with his laptop, and going on about needing 'staff paper', which he wants you to get for him.", Ethan said breathlessly.
"That's alright... I think I know what he's up to... so come on, we'll go for a look around and see if we can find a music or stationery shop....", Faunus said, grabbing a coat from his closet.
So they left the 'Adlon', and walked down the 'Unter den Linden', in the opposite direction to the Brandenburger Tor..
"And what's going on with Teddy ?", Faunus asked.
"I think he wants to give von Braun a 'push', but I'm not quite sure how... and he also wants to call him 'Max Brown', for when you get him to go to America.", Ethan explained.
"Well I like the 'Max Brown' bit..", Faunus said, smiling.
 |
| Renten mark |
Faunus then led Ethan down some narrow side streets, off the 'Unter den Linden', and they eventually came to a shop selling musical instruments, sheet music, and manuscript paper.
Faunus, speaking fluent German, asked for the manuscript paper,
("Bitte ich möchte ein Manuskriptpapier kaufen"),
and paid in German currency.
As a result of the reparations demanded by the Allies, the German economy developed 'hyper-inflation' after the end of the 'Der erste Weltkrieg', (First World War). When Hjalmar Schacht became currency commissioner, the new 'Rentenmark' was introduced to replace the worthless paper marks issued by the Reichsbank. Twelve zeros were cut from prices, and the prices quoted in the new currency remained stable.
"What do you think Teddy wants with this ?", Ethan asked, indicating the package of manuscript paper.
"Well, if you are to convince 'Max Brown' that you are a 'budding' composer, the least you should have with you is some manuscript paper - and also maybe some musical sketches you've been working on...", Faunus said with a rye smile.
"Oh yes... of course...", Ethan replied - by then really worried about what he was getting himself into....
On arriving back at the 'Adlon', Faunus went off to his suite, leaving Ethan to find out what Teddy had been up to.
"Hi Teddy ! I got your 'funny writing paper' !", Ethan said, as he entered the lobby of the suite.
"It's not 'funny writing paper'... it's 'music manuscript paper', Teddy replied, as he worked away on his laptop.
"OK... whatever... anyway I got it, and Faunus helped...", Ethan replied.
"Good, so come over here - find yourself a pencil...and we can get to work...", Teddy said
"Right... but what are we going to do...?", Ethan asked.
"You are going to write some musical sketches...", Teddy said, determinedly.
"Now look over my shoulder at the laptop screen.....
In one of the laptop hard drives I have all the music, in printed form, from all your favorite cartoons.
All you have to do is copy them, with a few deliberate mistakes - and they can serve as examples of 'themes' that you are working on.
Later, if our friend 'Max Brown' likes them, we'll make sure that you 'accidentally' leave them with him, and, all being well, he will take them with him to America, and knowing this guy's character, he'll almost certainly pass them off as his own... and with a bit of luck our 'mission' will be a success.", Teddy said.
"Well I don't really understand, but I'll try to copy them as best I can.", Ethan said, as he set out to head up the first sketch.
"So what shall I call it...?" Ethan asked.
"Well why not 'Romantic Sketch No. 1'..", Teddy suggested.
"Okey dokey...", Ethan said, as he set to work.
"So isn't there a problem with this...", Ethan began, as he started to carefully copy the notes onto the stave.
"OK... whatever... anyway I got it, and Faunus helped...", Ethan replied.
"Good, so come over here - find yourself a pencil...and we can get to work...", Teddy said
"Right... but what are we going to do...?", Ethan asked.
"You are going to write some musical sketches...", Teddy said, determinedly.
"Now look over my shoulder at the laptop screen.....
In one of the laptop hard drives I have all the music, in printed form, from all your favorite cartoons.
All you have to do is copy them, with a few deliberate mistakes - and they can serve as examples of 'themes' that you are working on.
Later, if our friend 'Max Brown' likes them, we'll make sure that you 'accidentally' leave them with him, and, all being well, he will take them with him to America, and knowing this guy's character, he'll almost certainly pass them off as his own... and with a bit of luck our 'mission' will be a success.", Teddy said.
"Well I don't really understand, but I'll try to copy them as best I can.", Ethan said, as he set out to head up the first sketch.
"So what shall I call it...?" Ethan asked.
 |
| Ethan Copies the Score |
"Okey dokey...", Ethan said, as he set to work.
"So isn't there a problem with this...", Ethan began, as he started to carefully copy the notes onto the stave.
"I mean, if von Braun shows this to anybody else, won't they realize that neither me nor him actually wrote this...
I mean, if they can read music, they'll recognize the tunes....", Ethan said.
"But Ethan... you're not thinking.... this music hasn't even been written yet...
It won't be written until 1937, and then by a new and 'up and coming' movie music composer called Max Brown.", Teddy explained.
Ethan shook his head... not really understanding...
"So what song's this ?", Ethan asked.
"You're making this very difficult, Ethan...
It's 'One Love', you're favorite from 'Snow White'...
"Don't you recognize it ?...
Think about your time with Faunus and try to get back to how he enabled you to read music.", Teddy, who was getting very exasperated, said.
Ethan screwed up his eyes, concentrated and thought back - and then it suddenly came to him
"Oh yes... all these little dots and things are sounds...
Yes... I can hear it now, in my head...", Ethan said, sounding amazed.
"So... keep working Ethan...", Teddy said encouragingly.
Just before eight everyone met in the private dining room at the Hotel Adlon.
It won't be written until 1937, and then by a new and 'up and coming' movie music composer called Max Brown.", Teddy explained.
Ethan shook his head... not really understanding...
"So what song's this ?", Ethan asked.
"You're making this very difficult, Ethan...
It's 'One Love', you're favorite from 'Snow White'...
"Don't you recognize it ?...
Think about your time with Faunus and try to get back to how he enabled you to read music.", Teddy, who was getting very exasperated, said.
Ethan screwed up his eyes, concentrated and thought back - and then it suddenly came to him
"Oh yes... all these little dots and things are sounds...
Yes... I can hear it now, in my head...", Ethan said, sounding amazed.
"So... keep working Ethan...", Teddy said encouragingly.
Just before eight everyone met in the private dining room at the Hotel Adlon.
"So, Ethan, how are you getting on with your preparatory musical sketches ?", Faunus asked.
"OK... but it's very boring...", Ethan replied.
"So will you have enough material if you bump into von Braun at the 'Universität der Künste' ?", Faunus continued.
"If you mean the 'Music School'... yes....", Ethan replied.
"And you've got your letter from Mr Eastman ?", Faunus asked.
"YES !... stop worrying...", Ethan replied tetchily, indicating that he was nervous about the following day.
"And 'Sigi' and Khonsu - you've heard my little lecture about Verne, Wells and Burroughs... so what did you think ?", Faunus asked.
"Well Verne's story is very strange, particularly as he was writing before Orville and Wilbur Wright had even managed manned flight, and his idea of 'shooting' men into space by means of a huge gun is hardly practical.....
"In reality, as Faunus explained, Verne's book was only 'part one', as he soon produced the second part - 'Around the Moon', in which the heroes orbited the moon.
By modern standards it all seems a bit 'tame' and unlikely, but apparently it had a considerable impact on readers, including von Braun.", 'Sigi' said.
"Wells is more interesting...", Khonsu began.
"The story, it seems, was written in 1901, and in 1911 a silent film was made, which I think von Braun would have probably seen.
What Faunus explained, and which I found particularly interesting, was the use of 'Cavorite', an imaginary material that cancelled the effects of gravity, and also Wells suggests that the moon is inhabited by large insects who live under the surface - as it says in the title, 'in the Moon'. Khonsu concluded.
"So... these insects are maybe like the 'alien greys'...", Ethan proposed.
"Yes, Ethan, but then, strangely, Wells goes back to the obviously unworkable proposal, first made by Verne, of a 'gun' to fire humans away from the planet - which Wells describes as a 'space gun' - in his speculative novel 'The Shape of Things to Come'. Faunus said.
"And what about this Edgar Rice Burroughs guy...? Is von Braun influenced by him ?", Ethan asked.
Faunus pondered for a moment...
"Well Burroughs is a very different author from Verne and Wells.
To begin with, he's American - mainly educated in Military Schools - something they didn't have in France and England.
Despite a good education, however, he spent much of his life as a salesman, and only started writing in order to make money for his family.
Much of his work was published in cheap magazines - and unlike Verne and Wells, his only aim was to entertain, and also make money.
The main influence that Burroughs probably is having on von Braun is the whole business about Mars, which was also an influence coming from almost a half dozen books that Percival Lowell wrote regarding the planet Mars.
Lowell was convinced that there was advanced life either existing in his own time, or in the past, on Mars, and these speculations fed into Burroughs Barsoom (Mars) stories, and von Braun's own obsessions about Mars.
Perhaps the strangest thing about the 'John Carter' stories was the means by which Carter was transported to 'Barsoom' - Mars, and it was that fact that makes one wonder where Burroughs got his idea from.
Carter, in travelling to Barsoum, is simply transported in an instant to the planet Mars, which makes me wonder if he hadn't met up with someone like Khonsu, of even myself.
Such a mode of travel, as you well know, Ethan, is quite possible - for example from Pompeii to San Francisco, or from Luxor to Berlin, and all in a moment - but it can hardly be classed as 'science fiction' - but regardless, von Braun is captivated by the idea that Mars is a habitable planet... an idea of which he needs to be disabused....."
Faunus then looked around the table...
"Anyway... I think that Ethan needs to get back to his music copying."
"And 'Sigi' and Khonsu - you've heard my little lecture about Verne, Wells and Burroughs... so what did you think ?", Faunus asked.
 |
| Orville and Wilbur Wright - First Flight |
Wilbur Wright made a three-second flight attempt on December 14, 1903, stalling after takeoff and causing minor damage to the Flyer. Later, Wrights took to the air on December 17, 1903, making two flights each from level ground into a headwind gusting to 27 miles per hour (43 km/h). The first flight, by Orville at 10:35 am, of 120 feet (37 m) in 12 seconds, at a speed of only 6.8 miles per hour (10.9 km/h) over the ground. The next two flights covered approximately 175 and 200 feet (53 and 61 m), by Wilbur and Orville respectively. Their altitude was about 10 feet (3.0 m) above the ground.
 |
| From the Earth to the Moon - Jules Verne |
By modern standards it all seems a bit 'tame' and unlikely, but apparently it had a considerable impact on readers, including von Braun.", 'Sigi' said.
"Wells is more interesting...", Khonsu began.
"The story, it seems, was written in 1901, and in 1911 a silent film was made, which I think von Braun would have probably seen.
What Faunus explained, and which I found particularly interesting, was the use of 'Cavorite', an imaginary material that cancelled the effects of gravity, and also Wells suggests that the moon is inhabited by large insects who live under the surface - as it says in the title, 'in the Moon'. Khonsu concluded.
"So... these insects are maybe like the 'alien greys'...", Ethan proposed.
 |
| 'First Men in the Moon' - H G Wells |
'The Shape of Things to Come' is a work of science fiction by British writer H. G. Wells, published in 1933, which speculates on future events up to the year 2106. A long economic slump causes a major war that leaves Europe devastated and threatened by plague. The nations with the strongest air-forces set up a benevolent dictatorship that paves the way for world peace by abolishing national divisions and promoting scientific learning. The movie of the book includes a 'moon shot' as part of humanity's unending quest for knowledge and advancement, as it journeys out into immensity of space to conquer the stars and beyond, and the movie concludes with the rhetorical question, 'All the universe or nothing ? Which shall it be ? ...'
Space Gun - 'Shape of Things to Come' - H G Wells
 |
| Edgar Rice Burroughs |
Faunus pondered for a moment...
"Well Burroughs is a very different author from Verne and Wells.
To begin with, he's American - mainly educated in Military Schools - something they didn't have in France and England.
Despite a good education, however, he spent much of his life as a salesman, and only started writing in order to make money for his family.
Much of his work was published in cheap magazines - and unlike Verne and Wells, his only aim was to entertain, and also make money.
The main influence that Burroughs probably is having on von Braun is the whole business about Mars, which was also an influence coming from almost a half dozen books that Percival Lowell wrote regarding the planet Mars.
Lowell was convinced that there was advanced life either existing in his own time, or in the past, on Mars, and these speculations fed into Burroughs Barsoom (Mars) stories, and von Braun's own obsessions about Mars.
Carter, in travelling to Barsoum, is simply transported in an instant to the planet Mars, which makes me wonder if he hadn't met up with someone like Khonsu, of even myself.
Such a mode of travel, as you well know, Ethan, is quite possible - for example from Pompeii to San Francisco, or from Luxor to Berlin, and all in a moment - but it can hardly be classed as 'science fiction' - but regardless, von Braun is captivated by the idea that Mars is a habitable planet... an idea of which he needs to be disabused....."
Faunus then looked around the table...
"Anyway... I think that Ethan needs to get back to his music copying."
"Do I really have to do more of this music stuff..?", Ethan whined, as he returned to the suite with Faunus.
"Yes, Ethan... Now I know you're finding this difficult, but we really need you to do this...", Faunus explained - as Teddy just listened.
"Now just remember.... tomorrow you will be attending your first session at the 'Berlin University Music School', so you will not only need to have your sketches, but also some facts to talk about.", Faunus said encouragingly.
"I want you to eventually encourage von Braun to take private lessons from Hans Pfitzner, a much admired composer whose style is ideally suited to incidental 'movie music' - and of course von Braun's family will be well able to afford such lessons.
Pfitzner will be a much better choice than Honegger"
"As a matter of interest...", Teddy interposed, "Pfitzner's work was much appreciated by his contemporaries including Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler, and Mahler explicitly described Pfitzner's 'Second String Quartet', of 1903, as a masterpiece...."
"All very nice Teddy... but I don't really have the slightest idea of who you are talking about..", Ethan said.
"OK... well you just get some more sketches completed, and I'll come and see you later tonight..." Faunus said.
So Faunus left, and Ethan continued to transcribe musical sketches.
"You know, Teddy... I'm not very happy...", Ethan began, seemingly unaware that he could by then write music and talk at the same time.
"And why's that ?", Teddy asked.
"Well.... I don't really like Berlin, or all these weird Germans, particularly now I can understand most of what they are saying...
But also... I really miss Jim...
Jim and I were always together... right from the beginning... and while I love having you around, Teddy... it's not the same without Jim...", Ethan said, sounding very sad.
"I feel the same, Ethan... but somehow I don't think this trip is going to last very long...", Teddy said reassuringly.
"..'hope not...", Ethan said, not sounding very convinced....
And Faunus did go back to Ethan and Teddy's suite that night, and Faunus told Ethan all the things that Ethan needed to know about German music, and the new coming music for the sound-movies, so that Ethan would be able to impress von Braun when they met the following morning.
"Now just remember.... tomorrow you will be attending your first session at the 'Berlin University Music School', so you will not only need to have your sketches, but also some facts to talk about.", Faunus said encouragingly.
 |
| Arthur Honegger |
 |
| Hans Pfitzner |
Pfitzner will be a much better choice than Honegger"
"As a matter of interest...", Teddy interposed, "Pfitzner's work was much appreciated by his contemporaries including Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler, and Mahler explicitly described Pfitzner's 'Second String Quartet', of 1903, as a masterpiece...."
Richard Strauss was born on 11 June 1864, and died on 8 September 1949. He was a German composer, conductor, pianist, and violinist. Considered a leading composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras, he has been described as a successor of Richard Wagner and Franz Liszt. Along with Gustav Mahler, he represents the late flowering of German Romanticism after Wagner, in which pioneering subtleties of orchestration are combined with an advanced harmonic style. His masterpiece is 'Vier letzte Lieder' - (the 'Four Last Songs').
Richard Strauss
Ethan looked completely bemused...Gustav Mahler was born on 7 July 1860 and died on 18 May 1911, and was an Austro-Bohemian Romantic composer, and one of the leading conductors of his generation. As a composer he acted as a bridge between the 19th century Austro-German tradition and the modernism of the early 20th century. While in his lifetime his status as a conductor was established beyond question, his own music gained wide popularity only after periods of relative neglect his symphonies are now considered some of the finest of all time.
Gustav Mahler
"All very nice Teddy... but I don't really have the slightest idea of who you are talking about..", Ethan said.
"OK... well you just get some more sketches completed, and I'll come and see you later tonight..." Faunus said.
So Faunus left, and Ethan continued to transcribe musical sketches.
"You know, Teddy... I'm not very happy...", Ethan began, seemingly unaware that he could by then write music and talk at the same time.
"And why's that ?", Teddy asked.
 |
| Sound Movies |
But also... I really miss Jim...
Jim and I were always together... right from the beginning... and while I love having you around, Teddy... it's not the same without Jim...", Ethan said, sounding very sad.
"I feel the same, Ethan... but somehow I don't think this trip is going to last very long...", Teddy said reassuringly.
"..'hope not...", Ethan said, not sounding very convinced....
And Faunus did go back to Ethan and Teddy's suite that night, and Faunus told Ethan all the things that Ethan needed to know about German music, and the new coming music for the sound-movies, so that Ethan would be able to impress von Braun when they met the following morning.
Even later... Faunus opened the door to Ethan and Teddy's suite - of course Faunus never needed keys - and sometimes he didn't even bother opening the doors, but just materialized inside a room.
"Ah... you've come back... again... so...?", Teddy said.
"No need to talk quietly... Ethan won't wake up.", Faunus said.
"Of course not... I've 'switched him off'...", Teddy said.
"So what have you got to tell me ?", Faunus asked.
"It's about the 'mission'.... there's something odd about it.", Teddy said.
"Like what ?", Faunus asked as he sat down on the bed beside Teddy.
"Well.... Khonsu claims that the Greys are scared that the humans will get to the Moon, and probably also Mars, and Khonsu says that that's where the Greys have 'stop-over' points and bases.
Also, if that looks like happening, the Greys will cause even more problems for the humans on Earth, so it's important that the humans don't have a successful 'space program', and we're here to prevent that 'space program', by preventing von Braun - the 'main guy' in the 'space program' from becoming a rocket engineer...", Teddy explained breathlessly.
"Yes... that's what I understood...", Faunus agreed.
"Well I've been doing lots of research... and that's not right.", Teddy said...
Now you might imagine that Faunus knows everything, but that's not the case.
Faunus can read minds, and much else, but there are still many things of which he is not always consciously aware.
Teddy, on the other hand, if he thinks it is necessary, can look into a particular problem or subject, and come up with huge quantities of information - and he has the 'computing power' to organize that information, and come to meaningful conclusions - and Teddy, while they have been in Berlin, has been working on the problem of 'humans and space travel'.
 |
| Van Allen Radiation Belts |
"So Teddy, why do you say there
is something wrong with the reason for our mission..?", Faunus asked.
"Well my research tells me that while the assumed physiology of the Greys, who are probably some form of 'cybernetic organism', suggests that they would have no problem with the various forms of dangerous radiation to be found in the space outside 'Low Earth Orbit', or in areas between the various planetary bodies of the Solar System, the same cannot be said for humans, unless they are existing in very heavily shielded environments.", Teddy said definitively.
"Now if I understand you rightly, Teddy, you are saying that other than a manned artificial satellite in 'Low Earth Orbit', any other form of manned space exploration is simply not really possible for humans.", Faunus said..
"Now if I understand you rightly, Teddy, you are saying that other than a manned artificial satellite in 'Low Earth Orbit', any other form of manned space exploration is simply not really possible for humans.", Faunus said..
"Yes..
It's the problem of the 'Van Allen Radiation Belts'.", Teddy replied.
The Van Allen radiation belts are a zone of energetic charged particles, most of which originate from the solar wind, that are captured by and held around a planet by that planet's magnetic field. Earth has two such belts and sometimes others may be temporarily created. The belts are named after James Van Allen, who is credited with their discovery. Earth's two main belts extend from an altitude of about 400 to 36,040 miles above the surface of the Earth. Spacecraft travelling beyond low Earth orbit enter the zone of radiation of the Van Allen belts. Beyond the belts, they face additional hazards from cosmic rays and solar particle events.
Dr. James Van Allen
"So in that case, it doesn't matter if von Braun becomes a rocket scientist, because the colonization of space beyond 'Low Earth Orbit' is no threat the the 'alien Greys' - at least for the foreseeable future.", Faunus said.
"And another thing to consider, Faunus, is the fact that the 'aliens' with which we have had contact have never mentioned any concerns about the possibility of human space exploration.", Teddy added.
"So what's going on with Khonsu, and the so called 'guardians' ?, Faunus asked.
"Well, that's the question..", Teddy said.
"So what do you suggest ", Faunus asked.
"Well, immediately, I think it's best to do nothing....
However, what I need to know is can you organize a way for us to get back to the 'Lion cave' in Luxor - or will we need Khonsu.", Teddy asked.
"That's not a problem.
I can get us back, but the best way would be to go direct to Room 33 - because from there we can go to any time, and any place.", Faunus explained as he prepared to leave the suite.
"OK - Well tomorrow just carry on as normal, and say nothing.
Khonsu can't work out what we know, or are thinking, but if we tell the others, Khonsu may well know what's going on, and then there might be trouble.", Faunus said.....
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All text - © Copyright Peter Crawford 2021
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