Falling: Chapter 1a

Check out the Prologue at: http://fantasticshortstoriesonline.blogspot.com/2013/04/falling-prologue.html

                          CHAPTER ONE: AN INTRODUCTION TO A NEW WORLD

History is the term used to refer to all past events. The word has evolved from being a mere collection of the past to being a collection of significant past events. From the birth and death of the Pharaoh of ancient Egypt, to the one second mechanical process within the revolver which vomited the 2-inch spear, ending the life of President Abraham Lincoln.

But, how would an audience feel if they are told that the most significant events in the history of mankind and the universe in entirety, are not recorded in the great books of public knowledge?

Yes, wars of gargantuan importance have erupted and ended throughout history; but unknown wars of even greater significance have taken place. Scientific inventions and ground-breaking theories were created by great minds such as Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton; yet there have been greater scientific accomplishments in history that the world knows not about.

There is an academia, operating within the shadows of the pseudo academia which we are cognizant of. This academia has been known only to the enlightened - a term which shall be explained in due course.
The peculiarity of this secret academia is not in its proficiently structured secrecy, but rather in its basis for existence. 'Spirituale est clavem'  is a Latin statement which transliterates to 'the spiritual is the key'. This statement is the foundation of the entire academia. It means that whatever is known to us is merely half of what there is to know. Human beings do not inhabit this world alone, they do so with plants and animals; but these three types of organisms are not the sole denizens of the planet earth ... or the universe for that matter.

There are beings which live amongst us; some invisible to the eyes, others visible but disguised. There are unnatural elements which play large roles in the actuation of natural scientific activities and processes, but are expurgated from the formula books due to its inexplicability.
The world of ano-science brings those complex elements of life in order to fully explain life itself. The word prefix 'ano' is an adoption of the Greek word for superior which is 'anoteros'. It is called superior science because it is believed that normal human science, or meio-science with 'meio' being an adoption of Greek 'meiosi' meaning inferior, only explains the world as it is seen. What happens to the part of the world that remains unseen, yet exists?

At this point, it would be appropriate for members of an audience to brace themselves, open their minds, and pause their mutterings as they shall be plunged headfirst into a world of convoluted elucidation, scientific dicoveries, and of course lest it be forgotten, the burnt pages of history.

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His name was Von Wielder. He was a German who made his mark on the world of science. But before there is a procession into the professional life of this great man, his personal life must be encroached on from the onset; and where better to begin from than the womb of his mother.

In the year 1956, there was a conception in the  Mitgefuhl clinic in Bavaria. A healthy 7-pound baby was held in the arms of Mrs Wielder, with cries being produced from its vocal chords. Mrs Wielder was very happy because she finally had her fifth and final child in her arms. She looked into his eyes and said, "I shall call you my little Von".
At that moment, Von had acquired the name with which he would be referred to by millions.

When Von Wielder began to devolop physically and cognitively, he excited the awe of everyone around him. He was a precocious child who uttered his first word just six months after his birth. Perhaps his most remarkable juvenile trait was his ability to unmistakeably play Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 Emperor, at the age of five.
His piano teacher, which he persuaded his parents to employ was bewildered as the toddler protege whom he taught only level one basics to, played the piano that summer evening. When Von was asked how he learned to play the piano so well, he reponded with, "I hear it on radio everyday, so I tried to use what Mr Velch taught me, and play it."


Von grew up to become a handsome man with an abnormally large brain, figuratively connoting that is. His elementary and secondary education was marked by a procession of frequent double promotions, leading him to the foot of the University of Edinburgh; an academy which disseminated foundations of knowledge to some great historic minds, including the meio-naturalist known as Charles Darwin.
At the university, he was introduced into the world of biology which seemed to amaze him thoroughly. He was particularly attracted to marine biology.

Finally, the main point has been reached. An introduction has been made, and now a sequential course of events which took place in the university and led to the rooftop jump must be enumerated in literary form.

"The Dean would like to see you now Master Von." The receptionist announced. Von Wielder marvelled at the alacrity with which he was being attended to. He usually enjoyed the way he was treated at the university; it was as though he always had on a royalty indicative regalia which was visible to all except himself.

The Dean had summoned him ten minutes ago for reasons he was not aware of. It was quite unusual for Dean Warlington to send for him on a weekend.

Von gently pushed the door open and slid into the office. A magnificent room the office was. Decorative wares of fine quality hung, laid, and stood across the corners and walls of the place. The large soft carpet which covered the floor was attractively designed and added greatly to the artistic aura of the room.
Behind the dean's desk, hung on the wall, coruscated an excellently painted facsimile of Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn's 1692 painting titled 'The Nightwatch'. It was evident that Dean Warlington was a conneiseur of artworks.

"Good evening sir."

"Ah, Master Von, it is a delight that you are here. You must forgive me for pulling you out of your chambers at this time of the week." Dean Warlington was a very polite man. His short stature, coupled with the long nose which his circular spectacles rested upon, gave him a most comical look. When he spoke, his bushy moustache moved along like a shrub being perturbed by a lurking tiger stalking its prey.
The way he called Von was also a trigger of laughter. The emphasis which he placed on the 'V' produced a sound that that of an ignited car engine.

"There is no offense to be pardonned sir. I presume whatever you wish to discuss of great importance."

"Oh yes, yes, of course." Dean Warlington scratched his head and verbigerated the words "of course" whilst attempting to remember what he intended to tell Von.

"Aha!" The Dean yelled rather loudly. His old mind had just produced the information he frisked for.

"Master Von, are you au fait with the organization called Jonathan Hawkings Institute of Marine Biology and Research?"

"Indeed sir; it is a large American research institute owned by multi-millionaire Jonathan Hawkings."

"Capital Master Von! So you of course know of the institute's international reputation as one of the top in the world."

"Yes sir."

"Good; now here is the status quo. I recieved a request from the institute yesterday, and due to my hesternal incommodiousness, I could not communicate it to you immediately. The request is with regards to you, Master Von. The institute asked me to send you specifically to undertake a new research of a most delicate nature. They say that they require only the brightest minds, and thus, you. Your essay submitted under the Haut monde Science Competition got you the institute's attention. So Master Von, what is your response."

Von Wielder held his chin between his thumbs and index finger, as he pondered briefly upon the situation. He had always been tired of the small researches he had been helping his professors and other meagre institutions of extraneous origins; he knew that he wanted to begin a major research, and this could be it. Yet, he felt that this was not big enough for him.

"What is the intended timeframe for the study?"

"One year, four months," the Dean replied.

Von sat silently for a few seconds and then, "Yes sir, I shall partake in the research."

That was the first major decision which set Von Wielder on the path to his fall.
Decisions are tricky things. A future is unknown, but the outcome of certain decisions lead to that same future. It is said that the future is permanent, and that everything has been predestined to happen even before the elements involved came to be. The only thing that changes the path to the future is the decisions humans make.

Falling: Prologue

My hairs fly backwards and sway as if they seek to detach themselves to seek protection. The breeze blow into my eyes with so much force that I have to shut them halfway in order to regulate the inflow.

I look down and gaze at the several people watching me as I spear towards the ground, to my demise. 0.24 seconds ago I had jumped off the rooftop of the Royce Penton 41 storey hotel building.

Businessmen and women paused their journeys to yell in horror as they are about to witness an unavoidable event. I say unavoidable because 10 seconds ago my decision to jump off was avoidable. This outcome was just one out of the plethora of possibilities that could have effectuated while I was still on the roof.

My name is Professor Von Wilder, and my body is currently adhering to the law of gravity.

0.39 seconds and I'm still air-borne. My patience diminishes by the millisecond. I have often heard the statement 'at the sight of death your whole life flashes before your eyes', yet I wonder why no flash has crept into my mind. Perhaps I should voluntarily actuate an episode of reminiscences before my brain splatters and releases the memories into the sewers below.

My thought abruptly wanders to the phenomenon of having all these thoughts in two seconds. The brain is an amazing element of life. An element whose capabilities a majority of humans know very little about. The speed at which I have trained my brain to compute data would cause me to receive accolades from the greatest institutions of the scientific academia.

It is for this reason that I possess the preternatural ability to think a lot quicker than the average human.

I must be forgiven if my narration switches to the third person; it is a product of my great predilection for the theatre.This is my story, and within it are the events which led to this aerial outcome.