The Coma

THE COMA

CHAPTER ONE

RECOVERY

THE very first thing the Bavarian Prince, the hero of our fantastic tale, remembered remembering years later was the presence of several people around his bed praying for his recovery while Calvin, the monk, continuously administered to the gash on his forehead. Arriving at some semblance of consciousness took both time and effort for Gerhardt, our Prince's name, and since time had no meaning then, it is difficult to say now how long it took him to arrive at some level of clarity. Maybe days, maybe weeks; certainly, a long time.

During this recovery period Prince Gerhardt would later recall receiving lots of beef stocked broth along with good Bavarian bread. He drank the soup and was grateful for the prayers being said around him and for the ministrations of Calvin the monk. Of course, as he came around, the focal point of our story began to ask the obvious questions: "Where am I? Who am 1?" and, most importantly, "What brought me here?"

"Not too much information too soon,” Calvin, who was also a qualified healer, advised everyone. "We don't want to confuse the lad with our responses." All reluctantly agreed with the wise monk.

Nevertheless, as the days and weeks went by, it became apparent that the young Prince would have to have his questions addressed. The group of family and friends who had been taking turns sitting with him by his bed eventually decided that Calvin would be the obvious individual to respond to the increasingly demanding requests for information. Where to begin, the monk thought, and as a devout spiritual being he

came to the conclusion that the truth was the best path to take. So, he decided to begin at the beginning, proceed slowly, with no more than one response per day.

Therefore, the next time the young man propped himself up on his rather elaborate and very comfortably bolstered bedpost, and inquired as to his usual posits, Calvin was ready. "My young friend whom I have known from your birth," he began, you are in Offenbach Manor in the German state of Bavaria where you

were born, raised, married and had two beautiful young children, a boy and a girl. So that's who those people are always milling around in my chamber, Gerhard thought. He quickly followed up with a few more inquiries but was told by the monk that sufficed for the day. Despite his protests, that's all the information the young man received on that visit from his long- time monastic friend. He would just have to get used to a slow and steady approach, he thought, as he sipped on a little weak ale which he was now allowed.

Eventually he would get the information he desired. As certain as the rain fell in the Spring, which it was now in Bavaria, the answers came almost daily. He, the hero of our story, had been out surveying the ample grounds attached to the manor on his trusted mount Prince as he did as a matter of course, but had not come home at his regular hour. When Prince showed up in the courtyard riderless, it was time for deep concern and a search party was organized. Gerhard was told that a few of his servants found him on the ground with a deep gash in his head, unconscious. They had immediately assembled a cart with a small bed and after carefully loading him, brought him back to Offenbach where he had remained under the monk's care and the prayers of his family for nearly 30 days.

Disconcerting news to say the least he thought, however it was good to finally know the truth. "What was the truth?' He continuously wondered. Had all of that he had experienced in his young psyche during that time in a comatose state been nothing more than a dream? It all seemed so real. He had been living in the 1960s in the Americas and had learned so much with his alternate identity, Gustav, about the modern conveniences that everyone in that decade took for granted. The automobiles, radios, refrigerators and, most of all, the screens that brought news into the homes every day -it had all been so clear. Had that been a prolonged dream or was this reality in a 17th century German province the real dream?

The monk had told him it was the year of our Lord 1625 and that the world as they knew it had been in a perpetual state of conflict since 1618 when some emissaries at a peace conference had been thrown out the third story window of the disagreeable hosts. War had ensued, allies had been called in to make things more difficult and the continent of Europe had been in perpetual conflict since that unforeseen incident.

Gerhardt, with an ever-clearing consciousness tried to remember the history he had read in the 60s, some 300 years in the future. Vaguely, since he had been more oriented toward science in that futuristic world then history, he recalled something about a long, protracted European conflict known as the Thirty Years War.

What to make of all this, the young Prince thought. Would he wake up one morning and find himself back in 20th century living, or was this 17th century world the one he had to cope with? Only time will tell, he thought, only time will tell.

CHAPTER TWO

REMEDY

As he slowly regained both body strength and increased mental capacity, our young Prince not only had questions he wanted answered, but also had a strong desire to get up out of his recovery bed and visually explore his surroundings. At first he needed help getting down the two flights of stairs to the Great Hall, but slowly and surely he was able to make that short trip by himself which gave him at least a sense of independence.

The Great Hall of the Manor was quite large and held a huge dining room table in the middle which, having counted chairs, Gerhardt figured would hold a gathering of at least twelve. He explored some of the alcoves shooting off of the Hall and was pleased to find a quiet and substantial library in one of them. The library had, in addition to what appeared to be 100 books, a number of maps, which pleased our Prince no end. Perhaps, he thought, with some help I can figure out exactly where I am. So, during Calvin's next visit, Gerhardt opened a few maps, spread them over the library desk and asked the monk to point out where Offenbach Manor was located and also showed him the nearest large town, which turned out to be Augsburg.

Calvin explained it was about a half hour by horse to the village which lay between Offenbach and Augsburg and another four hours on the speedy Prince to reach the city itself. He was in Bavaria, it became clear, and within a day's ride to and from the nearest population center. Gerhardt reasoned, there he might find more answers to the questions, troubling questions, that he still had. Also, he surmised, he would have access to- no offense to Calvin- an abundance of the better educated people of the first quarter of the 17th century, in which he now had to function.

Back to that village lying between the Manor and the city; the young Prince needed to be reminded that he and his family had held those 200 or so "souls" as their serfs and therefore he was responsible for their safety, and perhaps even health and wellbeing. This was still a very medieval economic concept, even

though the feudal system itself had been wiped but by the Black Plague which eliminated most of the barons' labor force and made these serfs into the equivalent of poor share cropping peasants. "Just what I needed" our hero thought, "another responsibility to deal with as I try to acclimate myself to this new old world that I must learn about."

He began to ask more and more questions of Calvin, his family, and anyone he could find to talk to. The monk assured him that Johannes Gutenberg had in fact invented a printing press with movable type, thus making it possible for small pamphlets and circulars to be printed and mass distributed. "Good," Gerhard

thought, "at least we don't have that to deal with." Then came the subject of the most important man of the time up for some discussion. Yes, everyone even the help, knew who Martin Luther was, and thought of him in different ways. Some who had been devoted to the Church their whole lives regarded him

as a heretic and the theses he had posted on the front door of the cathedral in Wittenberg as preposterous. Others, surprisingly Calvin included, thought there was something to be said for Luther's attempts to reform some of the older and more odious practices of the Church, such as the sale of "indulgences." "Yes," he thought, "the Reformation has begun and they don't yet understand what that will mean."

More and more Prince Gerhardt came to realize what he would be dealing with in this 17th century life. Wishing he remembered more about rotating crops from his dream world, he decided he would do the best he could to help those villagers prosper. He would also write down everything he could about the Thirty Year's War, now under way, although no one of that time had an inkling it would end in 1648. He would also try to explain what Luther thought he was trying to do, certainly not create an abundance of new churches, to anyone willing to listen.

All in all, he figured, he would be very busy in the weeks and months that lay ahead trying to make himself, and his 20th century information, useful to those people of good hearts that he found around him. The power brokers of Bavaria would have to get on without him.

CHAPTER THREE

RECONNOITRE

ONCE the young Prince began to feel better, had his strength back and spent a good amount of time looking over the Manor, particularly the library, he became insistent that he travel to Augsburg. He was, by now, thirsting for information that those around him, including the monk, could not provide and deduced that he would have to go to the city to get the rest of his questions answered. This was not to be an easy task in that all of those around him advised it was too early in his recovery to undergo such a journey; particularly since he was insisting on going alone riding Prince.

Soon it became apparent that Gerhardt would not be denied. So, a compromise of sorts was developed. The Prince would get to go to Augsburg, but only by carriage and with a few of the more astute Manor servants accompanying him. So, on a warm early summer Bavarian day, with intermittent late spring

showers to make things a bit more difficult, the Prince set off on his much-requested journey in the family's best carriage with great enthusiasm. This was a two -horse affair since the carriage itself was loaded with both the Prince and the three servants, who had been provided to make sure he returned

safely, and with some supplies.

It had been decided that, since he was going in that direction anyway, the focal point of our story would stop by "his "village and make an appearance to arrest any fears that he had not survived his fall. After a half hour's ride, therefore, he found himself in the middle of a small enclave, standing in the center of the only road, assuring everyone in a simple Bavarian dialect, Hoch Deutsch would not have been appropriate, that he was well and preparing to take steps to improve the lives of those gathered around him. Toward that end, he said, he had brought two barrels of good ale with him along with a generous supply of the spring lamb that the Manor was famous for. This was only a token, he explained, of better days ahead.

Our travel group then headed off to Augsburg without any further delay. Gerhardt soon realized how difficult it would have been to make this trip by himself astride Prince. The roads, if you chose to call them that, were still muddy from the spring rains with potholes everywhere to be avoided. Just sitting there in the coach, our Prince suffered through the boredom of the four- hour trip. When they finally got to the

city, they all took the time to relieve themselves in the large piss pots they had thoughtfully brought with them and went to the first stable they came upon to make arrangements for the care of their horses. Then, without ado, Gerhardt dropped his security detail off at a local ale house, paid the bill in advance,

and quietly and with some degree of stealth, embarked on his quest for information alone on foot.

It was a time of exultation for the Prince, who had finally begun to feel liberated from the rather confined and isolated grounds of Offenbach. As he meandered around the several streets of the town, having admired the local cathedral from a distance, Gerhardt saw what appeared to be a General Store with an

unmistakable sign of an apothecary posted above the door. This, he decided, would be the starting point of his quest for information.

The front of the store had, as the name implied, an assortment of general merchandise. Cloths, dyes of various shades, and larger items, such as saddles. Off to one side of the main entrance stood a small but well supplied pharmacy, with an apothecary on duty. After a few pleasantries, Gerhardt found that the store manager's name was Mr. Smithson, while the apothecary was manned by hey Mr. Roget. Obviously, neither proprietor was an indigenous Bavarian. Smithson was obviously an English name, and its bearer had come to Augsburg to set up his business about a decade earlier while Roget was just as markedly French and was a more recent import. Soon our Prince had ingratiated himself with his two new acquaintances and prepared to ask a whole list of questions which he had committed to memory.

Where to begin, he must have thought. Let's first find out what the two of them know. He started by asking Smithson about tobacco; had he heard of it? The Englishman was barely familiar with that commodity and, after all, it was only 1625 and news from abroad traveled slowly. Gerhardt explained that there was a planter extraordinare in the new world in a place called Virginia and, John Rolfe by name, had developed the indigenous crop grown for many years by the natives, into a sweeter variety, carefully wrapped and prepared for the long journey by sea, and was having great success in exporting his tobacco back home to England. It seemed to be popular there and with the Dutch as well, who crushed it and put it in their long- stemmed bowl pipes and smoked it after a nice, hefty dinner.

He followed that brief but apparently interesting conversation with Smithson, whose eyes lit up at the thought of the profits to be made on such a product, with his attention now focused on the apothecary. He explained that he had been in a dream like state of comatosis for nearly 30 days and had been nursed back to health by a healer monk who had enough skills and wraps to help him slowly regain consciousness. Logically, then, he asked, if he had been in Augsburg during his convalescence what would Mr. Roget have prescribed. What followed was a verbal listing of roots, barks and herbs which Gerhardt barely could decipher, never mind understand. These natural items would be crushed, had water added and been made into a poultice. It seemed to our Prince that this was very similar to what, in fact, the monk had done.

It then came time for the questioner to become the answerer. Once Gerhardt explained a bit about his dream and the knowledge gained from it, the merchandise owner and apothecary had several questions of their own. The Prince slowly but surely explained what types of fabrics would exist in the future and spent some time discussing the new textile industry that was emerging in the Americas in the 1960s. Then he explained, horse- power, both on the farm and for travel, would be replaced by horseless carriages called automobiles. When he detailed the speed at which these vehicles could move, Smithson appeared breathless. He then explained to the apothecary about the wonder drugs of the 20th century namely aspirin, which would be developed in Bayern, Germany, and, later, penicillin and what both did to eradicate pain and disease. Now, it was Roget's turn to be aghast. "If I only had those available now" he exclaimed, "what suffering I could relieve." Gerhardt explained that the wonders he had described were dependent on earlier discoveries such as engines and microscopes which, he said, were a long way in the future from 1625.

The conversation went on and on with all parties now collaborating with their respective knowledge of their areas of expertise. Sometimes friendships occur quickly, and this chance encounter provided such a bonding. By the time Gerhardt left the shop and made his way back toward the ale house to find his manor helpers, he was besieged by Smithson and Roget wit to come back soon and often. Of course, our Prince agreed and,now extremely fatigued both mentally and physically, looked forward to making his way back to Offenbach and having plenty of time to distill this new information. All of a sudden the thought of quiet and solitude was welcome.

CHAPTER FOUR

ROMANCE

During one of his visits to Augsburg, during which he made his customary house call to the Science and History faculties at the University, one of the pre-eminent institutions of its kind in all of Europe, Gerhardt had occasion to notice an attractive young woman shopping at Mr. Smithson's general store. She was definitely an eye catcher, about 5 feet 4 in the measuring system of the Americas in the century he had dreamed of, had a narrow, pleasing face accompanied by a head full of soft strawberry blonde hair and a figure, which even hidden by the long gown- like dress of the time, gave a clear indication of the bodice that was hidden underneath. In other words, our Prince noted that she was prettier than the other women he had noticed around town.

After she purchased her cloth and some dark black dye and said her goodbyes to the small group present, Gerhardt asked Smithson who she was. The proprietor responded by telling him that she was the daughter of a fellow store owner specializing in preserved goods, located on the other side of the city. "Single, too," he added, noting that, despite her youth, she was only 17, and already had two marriage proposals, which her father had deemed unworthy of the dowry he would have to provide. Our Prince made a mental record of what she had looked like, something not very difficult for him considering the coma circumstances during which he had captured several visions, and after a light meal at one of the inns dose by, rounded up his traveling party and made his way back to the Manor.

All the way home he found he could not get her out of his mind. Strange, he thought, he didn't even know her name. He resolved to find that piece of information the next time he visited the general store. For now, he decided that the vision of such a lovely creature was enough. Back at Offenbach, he fell asleep with images of his new discovery filling his imagination. At this point in our saga, we must remember that, though married on paper and thus by contract, Gerhardt had no memory of his earlier involvement with his wife, Princess Joan, or of the upbringing of their two children. A weird circumstance to say the least, but a very real one for the Prince. So, on the couple of occasions when Joan had tried to make her way into his chamber and onto his bed, Gerhardt had simply turned away, expressing absolutely no interest in his wife's advances. "I'm sure she was pretty at one time" he thought, but her now stocky frame and broad hips did nothing for him. Particularly, he mused, since he had found a new vision of what a 17th century woman could look like.

He treated the kids a bit differently. After all, through no fault of their own, they had initially been viewed as a bother to his recovery, and no more. Nevertheless, he had given them the run of the house and, as time went by, became accustomed to the ten- year- old girl and the eight-year- old boy, both with fair skin and Bavarian blue eyes, and allowed them to tag around after him as he conducted his daily business around the Manor's ample grounds. After a few months he found himself actually becoming fond of them.

Now, back to his romantic vision of the Augsburg lady. He simply could not get her out of his mind and, one morning acting rather impulsively, saddled up Prince and set off for the city. Surely everyone would have advised against it, but Gerhardt left so precipitously that they never had a chance to dissuade him from his journey. This way the trip went faster, cutting the time by almost 1/2 hour, not to mention the

pleasure of once again riding the horse who, most likely, had saved his life.

After stabling Prince and demanding only the best food and care for his four-legged friend, the young Prince quickly made his way back to the general store. After chatting with the apothecary, thus providing a rationale for being there, he broached the subject of the young lady, attempting to be casual about his interest. Her name was Marcia, he discovered, and she still had no change in her marital status. She and her family lived above their store, as was customary for the time, in what Smithson described {he had visited there} as nicely appointed rooms. Pushing the matter, no doubt more then he should have, Gerhardt found the location of the father's store and, having said his goodbyes to proprietor and apothecary, made

his way across town on foot.

The sign on the store front read "Flugle's, Everything Preserved" in large print and, in much more moderately sized letters off to one side, added "Johannes Flugle, Proprietor." "I will not be dealing with any migrant merchants here," he thought, "she is of good Bavarian stock." Taking a deep breath Gerhardt entered the spacious shop. Inside, behind the front counter stood a middle-aged man, with a large Bavarian belly and, to our Prince's pleasure, just behind the proprietor, the backside of a female, stocking shelves. "Can I help you, young man?" Herr Flugle greeted his finely dressed visitor, sensing the possibility of a substantial sale, "We have some wonderful salted-cod in that barrel over there by my daughter," he continued, having no idea whatsoever the forces he had just set in motion.

"I'll have a look," Gerhardt answered wryly, quickly thinking "What a double entendre." The scene continued to play out to the Prince's satisfaction when Flugle bellowed "Bring a few pieces over here, my dear, for this gentleman to sample" addressing his daughter. Only when Marcia dutifully responded and came to the counter, paper wrapped fish in hand, did she look up at her father's customer. Immediately, she began to wipe her hands on her apron and straighten her hair, staring directly at Gerhardt. Realizing the nature of the moment both parties continued to act out their respective roles, causing no alarm on Herr Flugle's part.

"My coach will come by later to load. Let's have a full barrel please," much to the delight of the proprietor, who nevertheless managed to say: "But you haven't even sampled it?" "No need to, my friend Smithson informs me that everything in the shop is first class," Gerhardt replied, causing Marcia to suppress a giggle. Thus, unfolded the first meeting between Prince and the Lady of his Dreams; one he would never forget.

Now our Prince began to devise a plan by which he could see Marcia on a more frequent basis, and in privacy. He would have to be discreet so as to not indicate to family or proprietor what he was up to. After several attempts to come up with a suitable story, none of which held the test of truth, he finally struck upon a generally logical explanation for staying overnight in Augsburg. He would tell everyone that, because of his role of advisor to both faculty members and proprietors, he would be spending more time in the city. Staying at a local inn on those occasions was not the answer, in that the public rooms within those establishments contained some seedy and unsavory characters. Therefore, he would tell everyone, he found it necessary to have a small apartment within the city in a secure area for those occasions when he would be staying over for business.

When he presented this proposition to family and friends everyone seemed to accept the logic of the Prince's plan. It would be good for consulting with his contacts in Augsburg, he had said, for which he would receive compensation, either of a monetary kind or by receiving goods and services from his newfound clients. For sure, everyone around him was repulsed by the thought of a Prince doing business like a common, ordinary merchant, but because up their love and respect for Gerhardt, said nothing of the matter in front of him. What no one knew except, of course, the Prince himself, was that he had no intention of finding quarters in the city itself, with prying eyes virtually everywhere. Instead, after some rigorous searching, he had found a well- built, cute country cottage a few miles out of town. He bought it outright not wanting a paper trail necessitated by a rental contract. He even paid one of the local housewives to decorate it for him and bought comfortable, country-style furniture from a contact he had in Regensburg and had it hauled, at some considerable expense, to his newfound hideaway.

Now the issue became how to lure Marcia, with whom he had not actually said anything that didn't relate to preserved fish, to his hideaway for a visit with his intentions obvious. He made yet another bold move and decided to put the location onto a small note and slip it to her personally the next time he was at her father's shop. He rewrote that note at least a dozen times before settling on a brief and simple invitation to meet him and look over his Augsburg residence, with perhaps a cup of tea and a Bavarian cream pastry to ease the sexual tension implicit in his plan. The next time he was in Flugle's he did just that, briefly getting her attention long enough to have her come to the counter to wait on him, during which time, with her father's back turned on other business, slip her the note.

Now it became a waiting game to see if there would be a response. That time for the Prince seemed to last forever, as he had run out of excuses for a reasonable stay in Augsburg. Wanting to return home and yet fearful of missing a reply Gerhardt waited it out, fidgeting his time away on menial house- hold chores. One afternoon that steamy summer of 1625, just as he was mentally preparing himself for rejection, an outbound Augsburg coach noisily approached his cottage's front door. When he went to check and see what the commotion was all about, the driver, still not making a complete stop, handed him a letter and continued on his way.

It was short and sweet. The letter itself was laced with perfume, obviously identifying its sender as a female. The Prince's fingers trembled as he broke the seal and opened the fancy envelope. Marcia said that his advances were improper, but then accepted the invitation. It seems she had been taken by the strains of romance as well. Now, he thought, how to set a day and time? The answer once again came in the form of another visit to the "Everything Preserved" store. On this occasion when she waited on him, intuitively understanding the reason for his appearance, softly whispered in his ear "I'm off tomorrow. See you around noon time." Not to give away the reason for his visit, Gerhardt paid for his usual order of salted

Cod and quickly exited the store.

That night he could not sleep at all. When morning finally broke in the Bavarian countryside, the Prince was already up, straightening the cottage and readying his finest clothes for the occasion. When noon came and went with no visitor, he, in despair, lay on the bed and began to replace the lost sleep of

the night before. He was still half awake when a merchant's cart pulled up to the front of his hideaway. After tying her horse to a tether close to where the speedy Prince was eating his oats and barley from a bucket, Marcia pushed open the door she knew would not be locked and said "Do you have some extra food for my horse? "Quite an opener", he thought, for a love tryst and, spying the sparkle in her eyes and smile on her lips, walked her outside to provide her cart puller with food and water.

On re- entering the cottage, they looked directly into each other's face and, as he began to start the conversation by asking if she would like some specially brewed tea, she beat him to the punch by asking "Is that your bed over there?" "Yes," he replied, "and quite a comfortable one too." Before he could say anything more, she was at the bed taking off her blouse and carefully laying her long riding pants on its side. Before he knew it, they were lying together holding and kissing one another as if they had done this many times before. As luck would have it, she was in the time of her period. After entering anyway and quickly reaching his climax, he noticed blood all over the bed. It was hard to tell the source, since she was

menstruating, but his question was answered when she softly told him "I was a Virgin." Then, in the middle of the afternoon, they fell asleep in each other's arms for the first, but surely not the last, time.

CHAPTER FIVE

REMUNERATION

WHEN Gerhardt could get his mind off of Marcia, which, by the fall of 1625, was becoming increasingly difficult, he tried to turn his attention to the subject of what to do with his "dream knowledge". There were altruistic thoughts of how humanity -that is to say, the society of his new 17th century world -could benefit from his forethought. The problem there was he wasn't entirely sure of many of the 20th century concepts that would be the bases of his advice. For instance, he was certainly not an expert on the future developments of the "Thirty Years War" after 1625 and, before its conclusion in 1648{he was reasonably sure it would end in 1648 since he established that hostilities had begun in 1618). Yet he was fairly certain that his "privileged information" was certain to be of value to someone in some way.

Then there was the less altruistic thought of how he, his family and Offenbach Manor could benefit from this information. After all, the property that Gerhardt had inherited was not without its financial liabilities.

Beginning with the Prince's grandfather and extending down to his now deceased Pater's generation, he had learned, upon achieving some semblance of mental clarity, there was the unpleasant subject of back taxes owed the Duke of Bavaria. It seems that Grand PaPa had used some of the Manor's income to revise and expand the old building's structure and to purchase some of the land adjacent to his own from a Lord who was suffering from bad health, and was therefore unable to care for it, instead of paying his yearly taxes to the Crown. This, of course, was a debt that Gerhart had inherited; one which had hung over the Manor's current caretakers during the Prince's coma and rather lengthy convalescence.

Perhaps, he thought, some of his dream world info could be used to repay that odious debt. So, in between thoughts of making love to Marcia, the Prince set about the joint tasks of improving 17th century

life in Bavaria and making enough gold and silver to relieve his family's obligation. HOW to accomplish these goals proved to be far more difficult then realizing them. Gerhardt decided to pay a visit to the University's faculty on his next trip to Augsburg, the main purpose of which was, of course, to spend time with Marcia in their romantic hideaway. This time he chose to focus his attention on the scholars in the History Department to see if his vague information about the wars that plagued Europe might be useful to them. In the colloquy that followed shortly after his arrival, he began by asking questions about the current King of Sweden, one Gustavus Adolphus by name. How much did the history scholars know about him?

Were they aware that he had the potential to not only improve the lives of the people through a total reorganization of government, but also to achieve great fame on the battlefield as a strategic genius? Since there appeared to be some genuine interest in this subject, Gerhardt remembered enough about Adolphus to explain that he would achieve great renown as a military hero in having an uncanny sense of how to move his batteries around to do the most damage to his enemies' front lines as possible. Also, the

Prince related, that despite his several efforts as a peacemaker to end the wars, the King of Sweden would ultimately die on the battlefield. Though the historians appeared entranced by this information, there was not much in it that, they all agreed, that would be useful in aiding humanity. However, one of the younger scholars thought that this information might prove helpful in the secular world. Furthermore, he had an old school friend who currently worked in the Ministry of Defense for the Bavarian government.

Encouraged by this suggestion and leaving with a letter of recommendation from the young professor, Gerhardt then set off for the Capitol to see if anyone there was interested in his forecast for the European wars. In those days Munchen (Munich) was a hustling, bustling market town which had the advantage of also being a governmental center, having replaced Regensburg in that capacity some 100 years or so earlier. Our Prince immediately noticed the difference in the pace of life just by watching the speed of the carts running up and down the main road. After slowing Prince to an easy canter, Gerhardt leaned over the side of his trusty steed and asked a well-dressed merchant unloading his goods where he might find the Ministry of Defense. After receiving directions, he once again increased his horse's speed and set off on his mission.

A few minutes later he found himself staring at a huge governmental complex which was somewhat intimidating to a visitor from the countryside. Afterfinding a nearby stable to care for Prince, he made his way on foot to what appeared to be the complex's front entrance. Presenting himself to the doorkeeper, he asked for directions to the Ministry of Defense. After showing the envelope containing his letter of recommendation with the seal of the University unbroken, he was allowed to pass and make his way to an unassuming office on the main building's second floor. There, rather hesitantly, Gerhardt took a deep breath and pushed the door, already slightly ajar, to a fully opened position. The stares of the bureaucrats in the office front hit him immediately. He slowly made his way to one of them who seemed a little less hostile than the others, and asked for the office of Herr Ludwig, the friend of his contact at the University. Rather hesitantly, and only after looking at the envelope, the office worker directed him to take a left turn off the main hall, proceed three doors down and announce himself.

Somewhat shaken, Gerhardt followed the instructions without another word and soon found himself in front of another office that had a small wooden sign saying "van Ludwig" posted. The Prince gathered himself, said a quiet prayer and knocked. A. youthful voice responded with an authoritative "Come in please." Upon entering he found himself facing a man of about his own age sitting behind an Oaked desk, busily at work writing in a large book, seemingly undisturbed by his visitor. Gerhart waited for the man to look up, cleared his throat and announced himself. Quickly, he handed the envelope to Ludwig, and stood motionless.

The young bureaucrat, immediately recognizing the seal, took an expensive looking letter opener out of the front drawer on his desk and quietly read its contents. "So," he began, "You come highly recommended from my old school friend at the University. He says you have information that might be useful to Bavaria's defense. So, exactly what is it that you have to offer?"

Gerhardt didn't know where to start. He encapsulated the story of his coma, dream and reawakening and got right to the point. "I have some knowledge of how these wars you find yourself caught up in, with some significant loss of life, might end and when that may occur." He told the young bureaucrat everything he could remember about the incessant wars which, he stated authoritatively, would end in 1648 and would therefore be known to history as the "Thirty Years War." He went to some length to explain the King of Sweden's involvement in that sad experience, both on and off the battlefield, ending with his death a few years ahead. He talked about a place called Westphalia and summarized the importance of the terms under which the wars would end and how the victorious powers, would redraw the map of Europe in a manner that would last for centuries.

Ludwig listened intently, finally responding "If what you say is true, there would be a great strategic advantage in planning for our military for certain." He then continued by asking Gerhardt, now understanding that the messenger was of princely rank, if he would provide similar information in the future. The response came out involuntarily and was extremely out of character for the visitor: "That will cost you I'm afraid. You will have to do me a favor in return."

An explanation followed relating to the back taxes that Offenbach Manor owed the Duke, the quid pro quo being that as part of his remuneration for future services, the Ministry would request the Department of the Treasury to consider the debt paid. "I'm afraid that sort of negotiation is way above my pay grade "Ludwig said reflectively," But I will put the matter before my superiors and see what might be possible." The two young negotiators then shook hands and wished each other a pleasant day.

Gerhardt made his way back to the stable, retrieved Prince and started the long journey back to Augsburg. Thinking of little beside being back in his warm bed with Marcia under the covers with him, the Prince left Munich believing that he might have a deal forthcoming. Only time would tell, but, once back in Augsburg, he made several arrangements with local merchants to provide advance information relating to product selection, such as the import of tobacco and spices, and with the local munitions manufacturer for information he had relating to the wars and how they may proceed. By the time he finally reached the Manor, after delaying his return by another few days that he had wonderfully spent with Marcia, he had good reason to believe that his family's financial situation was in a better state then when he had departed.

"Better times ahead," he thought, locking himself back in his bedroom for a long, deserved rest. "Better times ahead."

CHAPTER SIX

RETURN

AS he was falling asleep that fateful night, tired from his journeys, door locked to ensure maximum privacy, Gerhardt knew he had drunk way too much. He did manage to remove all of his clothes and was able to crawl into bed and get under the covers. Just to repeat for emphasis: He had consumed way too much strong wine. A deep slumber ensued.

He was awakened by bright lights apparently emanating from the ceiling. He was able to slowly sit up and look around. "Where were these lights coming from?" he thought. Slowly, he became aware of other people in the room close to his bed. Except it wasn't HIS bed, he soon realized. And the people around him were dressed funny, all in some sort of white smock. One of these, what he thought to be, apparitions, approached him and, after a pause and check of his head, said "We thought we had lost you."

Remembering that he had had too much to drink, our hero was only able to spit out 'Where am I? the reply came "Bay Shore Hospital in Bay View Maryland. You've been out for some time my friend. Your lucky to be with us at all." Anticipating the next question, the man in the white smock continued "You took a pretty good hit to the head."

Very confused, the Prince, or was he still a Prince, asked how it had happened. "You were at a baseball game with your wife and two children, one of whom, a girl, was participating. She was waiting in the 'on deck' circle for her turn to bat when the current hitter let loose with a huge swing, unintentionally releasing the bat, flinging it into the stands on the left side of the batter's cage, where, unfortunately, it hit you squarely in the head. You were brought here by ambulance and after triaging you in the emergency room, you were sent to the longterm ward on the hospital's third floor. You're very lucky to be alive."

"What year is it?", was Gerhardt's next question. "Why 1966, of course," the man who was now recognizable as a physician responded. "You've been in a coma for more than two weeks. Yes, Gerry-forgive me for being so informal- Mr. Prinz, you're fortunate to have emerged from your long sleep in relatively good shape."

There now followed about two minutes of complete silence in the hospital room. There was, of course, a lot for Gerry Prinz to absorb, and the medical staff decided to let everything sink in. After all, their patient had been in a coma for a long time and needed a while to process everything that had occurred. Eventually the lead doctor, the one who had been standing closest to the patient when he awoke, broke the silence and asked, "Is there anything we can do for you, you know to make you more comfortable?" "Yes, came the reply, "could you help me sit up and have something warm to drink too, maybe a little tea?"

Just as before, in his other reality, when awakening from his sleep, there were a lot of questions to be answered. So, Gerry slowly sipped his tea and tried to gather his wits before speaking again. This time he inquired as to whom had been taking care of him and if he could see his family. One of the orderlies standing behind the physician now spoke up and said: "Your principal nurse has been Marsha who has cared for you during the day shift and our hospital Chaplain, John Calvin, has also seen you daily, saying a prayer for you each time. Would you like to see them? Nurse Marsha will be coming on duty within the hour and we can ask Chaplain Calvin to come by as well." Gerry nodded his head in the affirmative and sat back, sipping his tea and attempting to collect his thoughts.

First of all, of course, came the nurse. Rather short, somewhere around 5 foot 2, with brown eyes and hair to match. Gerry made her out to be somewhat attractive, if not beautiful. As she drew closer and he got a good look at her, he had a strange feeling that he had seen her before. When he asked if they knew each other, she replied "Only in the last few weeks. And you were asleep all that time." Still, Gerry thought, I've seen her somewhere before. Marsha gave him a brief update on what she had noticed about his condition, mentioning that from time to time he had mumbled some indistinguishable words, she thought perhaps something about his manners, or possibly a manor. She closed by telling him that she was glad to see him recovering, gave him a quick pat on his clenched left hand, and went on to check her other patients.

Next to arrive was his family, at least that's what he was told. As in his other world he did not recognize them and tried to keep the conversation as brief as possible. His wife, Hilda, she said her name out loud, was crying with joy and made it clear how deeply in love with him she was. "The thought of losing you," she said, "was too much to bear." He made Hilda out to be much taller than his nurse, with blonde hair and blue eyes and, despite her bearing two children, still had an admirable figure. He only asked her one question, something he thought a wife would know. "Exactly what is it that I do for a living?" The answer came softly but quickly, "Why, dear, you're the leading antiquarian on the Eastern Shore here in Maryland. You've been very successful and have provided a beautiful home overlooking the water for the kids and me." The children, a boy and a girl, with the latter appearing to be a few years older then came over to his bed and in turn kissed him on the cheek. Very tired now he asked them to let him get some rest and they

complied, leaving almost immediately. Jerry wasn't sure how long he had napped when Marsha came by with a cup of warm chicken broth. He thanked her, she withdrew leaving the door slightly open, and, before long, he heard a knock and prepared himself for another visit from one of the docs. To his surprise it wasn't a physician at all who now entered; rather, a man in clothing which denoted a minister of some kind, with a large gold cross draped around his neck. "I'm the hospital chaplain, John Calvin, and, like the medical staff I am very glad to see you awake and sitting up ".

Gerry then thanked him profusely for checking on him during his stay and told him he believed it was his prayers that had pulled him through his ordeal. The clergy man thanked him for his kind words and when the patient began his next question by calling him Father, the reply came quickly "Just call me by my last

name, Calvin, most everyone does." Now, smiling for a reason only he understood, Gerry began slowly but methodically to relate what he remembered about his experience in 1625. He tried not to leave anything out, including his many trips to Augsburg and his affair.

He continued by telling Calvin that he thought he had left his family back then in relatively good shape financially because of the deals he had made during his last trip. "At least," he related, "I handled that part right." After he completed his story, the minister looked at him and said, as if he truly understood the situation, "Well, you should have no guilt about that at all." There was another pause and then Gerry Prinz

asked "Father, if I may call you that, I still feel a strong attachment to that world that I just left, but, after meeting my family, also feel that I belong here. I just don't know which time I belong in and how I can function in one without feeling very guilty about my absence from the other. I don't know what to do."

Then came the reply from Calvin: "Why not live in both? I've been reading a lot of Phillip K. Dicks lately -you know, Man in the High Castle and all of that parallel lives stuff. And he's not the only one that thought that might be possible, even some of the ancient Greeks. So, I ask you - Why not live in both?"