1899- Journey to Mars Read online

  Table of Contents

  ACCOLADES FOR THE FAR JOURNEY CHRONICLES

  BOOKS BY THE AUTHORS

  DEDICATION

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Dramatis Personae

  TELEGRAMS & LETTERS

  PART I: | THE MISSION

  [ 1 ]

  [ 2 ]

  [ 3 ]

  [ 4 ]

  [ 5 ]

  [ 6 ]

  [ 7 ]

  [ 8 ]

  [ 9 ]

  [ 10 ]

  [ 11 ]

  [ 12 ]

  [ 13 ]

  [ 14 ]

  [ 15 ]

  [ 16 ]

  [ 17 ]

  [ 18 ]

  [ 19 ]

  [ 20 ]

  [ 21 ]

  [ 22 ]

  [ 23 ]

  [ 24 ]

  [ 25 ]

  [ 26 ]

  [ 27 ]

  [ 28 ]

  [ 29 ]

  [ 30 ]

  [ 31 ]

  [ 32 ]

  [ 33 ]

  [ 34 ]

  [ 35 ]

  [ 36 ]

  [ 37 ]

  [ 38 ]

  [ 39 ]

  [ 40 ]

  [ 41 ]

  [ 42 ]

  [ 43 ]

  [ 44 ]

  [ 45 ]

  [ 46 ]

  [ 47 ]

  [ 48 ]

  [ 49 ]

  PART II: | OUTWARD BOUND

  [ 50 ]

  [ 51 ]

  [ 52 ]

  [ 53 ]

  [ 54 ]

  [ 55 ]

  [ 56 ]

  [ 57 ]

  [ 58 ]

  [ 59 ]

  [ 60 ]

  [ 61 ]

  PART III: THE RED PLANET BARSOOM

  [ 62 ]

  [ 63 ]

  [ 64 ]

  [ 65 ]

  [ 66 ]

  [ 67 ]

  [ 68 ]

  [ 69 ]

  PART IV: GOLD

  [ 70 ]

  [ 71 ]

  [ 72 ]

  [ 73 ]

  [ 74 ]

  [ 75 ]

  [ 76 ]

  [ 77 ]

  [ 78 ]

  [ 79 ]

  [ 80 ]

  [ 81 ]

  [ 82 ]

  [ 83 ]

  [ 84 ]

  [ 85 ]

  [ 86 ]

  [ 87 ]

  [ 88 ]

  [ 89]

  [ 90 ]

  [ 91 ]

  [ 92 ]

  [ 93 ]

  [ 94 ]

  [ 95 ]

  [ 96 ]

  [ 97 ]

  [ 98 ]

  [ 99 ]

  [ 100 ]

  [ 101 ]

  [ 102 ]

  PART V: TO JASOOM

  [ 103 ]

  [ 104 ]

  [ 105 ]

  [ 106 ]

  [ 107 ]

  [ 108 ]

  [ 109 ]

  [ 110 ]

  EPILOGUE

  [ 111 ]

  ABOUT THE AUTHORS

  ACCOLADES FOR THE FAR JOURNEY CHRONICLES

  “Kring and Wier vault to the head of the burgeoning steampunk genre with this hyper-extrapolated, richly detailed saga. Every nut and bolt is tightened in place, and the cast of characters is a rogue’s gallery of 19th Century mad scientists, outlaws and adventurers. I haven’t had this much fun going to the Moon since H.G. Wells sent Bedford and Cavor into the sky. “

  —KW Jeter, author of Infernal Devices and Fiendish Schemes

  “Reads in the best way like a lost Jules Verne and H.G. Wells collaboration. Sense of wonder and the magic of great storytelling drive this fast-paced, steam-driven tale to a stunning conclusion with some adventurous stops along the way.”

  —Joe R. Lansdale, author of Cold In July and The Bottoms

  “1889: Journey to the Moon is a rip-roaring steampunk thrill-ride with a wonderful cast of characters. Bring on the sequel!”

  —Bill Crider, author of the Sheriff Dan Rhodes Mysteries

  “Kring and Wier elevate the steampunk genre to its pinnacle in 1889: Journey to the Moon. More than Verne, more than Wells, these two have created a thrill-a-minute adventure with a menagerie of unlikely characters, such as Billy the Kid, Nikola Tesla, George Custer and so many others. And what’s truly amazing, the science is plausible! This book will astound and entertain. Add in the special bonus of authentic language, dress and mannerisms, and you have the makings for a classic SF/steampunk novel that will go down in history—or rewrite it!”

  —T.R. Harris, author of The Fringe Worlds

  1899: JOURNEY TO MARS

  A Steampunk Novel

  by

  Billy Kring and George Wier

  Copyright © 2015 by

  Billy Kring and George Wier

  Published by

  Flagstone Books

  Austin, Texas

  1899: Journey to Mars

  First Ebook Edition

  March 2015

  Cover design by Elizabeth Mackey

  All Rights Reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes written in connection with reviews written specifically for a magazine or newspaper.

  BOOKS BY THE AUTHORS

  THE FAR JOURNEY CHRONICLES

  1889: Journey to the Moon

  1899: Journey to Mars

  Also by Billy Kring:

  The Hunter Kincaid Mysteries:

  Quick

  Outlaw Road

  The Empty Land

  The Ronny Baca Mysteries:

  L.A. Woman

  Baca

  Writing as B.G. Kring:

  Where Evil Cannot Enter

  Also by the George Wier:

  The Bill Travis Mysteries:

  The Last Call

  Capitol Offense

  Longnecks & Twisted Hearts

  The Devil To Pay

  Death On The Pedernales

  Slow Falling

  Caddo Cold

  Arrowmoon

  After The Fire

  Ghost Of The Karankawa

  Other mysteries:

  Long Fall From Heaven (with Milton T. Burton)

  Science Fiction:

  The Vindicators: Book One—Last Defense (with Robert A. Taylor)

  Anthologies:

  ‘14: A Texanthology

  Lone Star Noir

  DEDICATION

  This book is dedicated to the wives:

  Elizabeth Bradley Kring and Sallie Duggan Wier.

  All our love.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  The authors owe a debt of gratitude to the memory of Clifford D. Simak for his coining the term transmogrifier and to the memory of Isaac Asimov for his groundbreaking books with robot characters.

  The authors would also like to thank K.W. Jeter, Joe R. Lansdale and Bill Crider for reading our manuscripts and for their most kind endorsements.

  Dramatis Personae

  The Crew and Passengers of the Argent:

  Billy Gostman (formerly known as Billy The Kid)—Captain, pilot, and inventor.

  Ekka Gagarin Gostman—Billy’s wife. Caucasus native, war veteran (Russian invasion).

  Dakota Gostman—Billy and Ekka’s adventurous 8-year old son.

  Edgar Rice Burroughs—Roustabout, wanderer.

  John Carter—Mercenary, swordsman. Former Confederate Captain, Army of Northern Virginia.

  Avanish “Avi” Rathmandu Joseph—Crewman from Tamil Province, Ceylon.

  G.U.3 “Guthrie”— Intelligent robot, Argent security.

  Ian Mackenzie—Scottish Highlander, swordsman, longbow archer
, John Carter’s Second in Command.

  Bixie Cottontree—Jamaican Vodou Witch, healer and seer.

  Other Characters

  John Koothrappally—Mathematician and linguist.

  Pat Garrett—Sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico.

  Nikola Tesla—Famed electrical wizard and inventor. Chief investor in the Argent mission.

  William McKinley—President of the United States of America.

  Percival Lowell—Astronomer, discoverer of the canals of Mars. Predicted the existence of Pluto (Planet “X”).

  Dizang—A mysterious oriental figure who controls one of the Eastern factions.

  Cort Whatley —A former Transylvanian Count. Executor of the Estate of Jonathan Conklin, M.D.

  Solomon Grundy—Captain of the Kraken, and employee of Dizang.

  The Martians

  Dejah Thoris—A Princess of Mars.

  Tardos Mors—One of Dejah’s warriors.

  Mort Prime—Inventor and madman.

  TELEGRAMS & LETTERS

  Letter to Edwin A. Cooper from Ethan B. Stokes

  June 1, 1891

  Edwin A. Cooper

  Managing Partner

  Bessemer Steel Works

  140 Trader Way

  Allentown, Pennsylvania

  USA

  Dear Mister Cooper,

  This office has been retained by the Estate of the late Dr. Jonathan Conklin in the matter of the order of twelve steel drums.

  As you know, Dr. Conklin was the foremost medical practitioner in the field of anatomy and cellular regeneration. His work is now carried forward by his estate.

  In order to further Dr. Conklin’s research, the Executor, Mr. Cort Whatley, has ordered one dozen steel drums from your factory. This order was received the 27th instant, and was found to be unsatisfactory. The original request was for twelve “interiorly enameled” steel drums. The drums delivered were without enamel and are unsuitable for use in a medical laboratory. Those drums are returned with a bill of lading for their transshipment, enclosed. We will not pay delivery charges for your mistake!

  I have directed my contacts in the United States to take this matter to your competitor, should you further neglect to fulfill the requested order in a timely fashion.

  Cordially,

  Ethan B. Stokes

  Fotheringill & Stokes, Solicitors

  Telegram from Avinash Rathmandu to Billy Gostman

  18 MARCH 1893

  TO BILLY GOSTMAN

  WACO TEXAS UNITED STATES

  DEAR BILLY

  YOU MUST BE INFORMED THAT PEOPLE OF THE COLOR WHICH IS YOURS HAVE BEEN UPON CEYLON ASKING MANY QUESTIONS OF THE VILLAGERS STOP I AM BEING SAYING THESE THINGS UNTO THE TELEGRAPH OPERATOR OF OUR VILLAGE AND BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE OF YOURS IS QUITE DEFICIENT IN MY HEAD HE IS SAYING THIS TO YOU FOR ME STOP DO NOT BE ALARMED STOP HE IS MY COUSIN AND WILL NOT GIVE UP THE GREAT SECRET STOP THE LARGE BOATS GO NEAR THE COASTLINE OF THE DAY AND OF THE NIGHT STOP THEY ARE LOOKING FOR IT STOP WE TOLD THEM IT WAS IN THE PLACE WHICH IS BEING MOST INCORRECT AND THEY ARE SEARCHING IN THAT PLACE STOP SHALL YOU BE RETURNING TO US ONCE AGAIN INTERROGATIVE THE FINDING OF IT IS FOR YOU ALONE STOP IT IS THE WISH OF MY FAMILY MOST FERVENT STOP FATHER IS ILL STOP OF THIS WORLD HE WILL NOT LONG BE STOP HE IS YOUR FRIEND IN TRUTH STOP AS IS HIS SON WHICH IS MYSELF STOP

  RATHMANDU AVANISH JOSEPH

  Reply by Telegram from Billy Gostman to Avanish Rathmandu

  30 MARCH 1893

  TO AVINASH RATHMANDU

  MAVELITURAL TAMIL CEYLON

  DEAR AVI

  I AM COMING STOP

  BILLY

  Letter from Billy Gostman to Nikola Tesla

  May 1, 1894

  Dr. Nikola Tesla

  The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel

  New York, New York

  Dear Nikola,

  I have yet to find it. This last search nearly cost me my life. It is a long trip to Ceylon just to drown. No thank you. We either have to ferret out Merkam’s secret some other way, or I will have to return to the Indian Ocean again. I do not look forward to it. However, our good friends there asked about you. They were surprised when I told them you had cornered the market on automatons with your new robot patents. I suppose now you are as wealthy as Westinghouse, and no longer need the son of a bitch to loan you money. That’s a good thing, my friend. Also, you can stay in any hotel you want in New York, and the price be damned.

  I am back in Texas now, and you may post mail to me in Waco, general delivery. You should see my workshop. It’s something else. I took one of your patented robots apart the other day. I thought the thing was going to try to kill me when it turned itself on and told me that I was violating your patent. “Patent infringement!” it said, and repeated it about a dozen times before I took a hammer to it. Congratulations on the protection design.

  What did you think of the plans I sent you? The design of the Argent (that’s what I am calling her) is about right for our needs, I think, but I want your thoughts on it. It’s not written in stone. I keep expecting to get those plans back from you with a bunch of it crossed out and your little squiggles all over it, but so far I will accept that no news is good news.

  Anyway, every test of my transmogrifier blows up. First the lights dim, then the thing lets out a high whine, then I know to run for it. One of my neighbors filed a civil complaint against me and I have had to remove my shop to the country. It’s in a box canyon west of Waco, so if it blows up again, the gears should not fly through any neighboring houses.

  If I don’t watch it, Ekka will be done with me.

  You have to meet my boy, Dakota. You would like him. He is only four years old and the boy is already smarter than me. I am afraid he will be able to do anything I can, only better.

  That is it for now. Let me know something soon so I do not have to come to New York and find you. One long trip every few years is more than enough for me.

  Your friend,

  Billy Gostman

  Letter from Nikola Tesla to Billy Gostman

  May 20, 1894

  Billy Gostman

  General Delivery

  Waco, Texas

  Dear Billy,

  I am in receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant. I understand about your travails in the Indian Ocean. You will not need to return, I hope.

  I am sending my robot, the Tesla Guardian Ultra III to assist you with the construction of your ship. Additionally, I am forwarding funds to the First Bank of Waco for you to draw upon in the construction. Spare no expense in this enterprise. The G.U.3 will assist you in the construction. He is the most versatile robot ever created, and has somewhat of a personality of his own. The G.U.3 carries my revised plans for your ship in his memory. Once he arrives, let him get to work. He will need re-charging from time to time, so anticipate delivery of several re-charging units. These devices each employ a miniature Tesla coil that converts kinetic energy to electrical energy and resembles, somewhat, a bicycle, except that this bicycle goes nowhere quickly.

  You should be concerned about our friends back in Ceylon. Inquiries have been made from the U.S. Government about them. I do not know what is going on, but I fear they may be in danger. I suspect that the governments of the World are searching for Merkam’s secret. Let us not let them have it, shall we? Any of them.

  Telegraph me in need only. I trust the postal service far more than I trust the telegraphers.

  All the best,

  Your friend,

  Nikola

  P.S. I have been thinking a great deal about our dear friend Koothrappally over these last five years. I wonder if there is any hope for him.

  Letter from Billy Gostman to Percival Lowell

  June 2, 1896

  Dr. Percival Lowell

  General Delivery

  Flagstaff, Arizona

  Dear Dr. Lowell,

  I am intrigued by your studies of the Martian canal system on the distant red planet. I read your paper on dying Mars with a great interest.


  Would you have a chart showing the orbit of Mars in relation to Earth, and possibly a table for the next several years depicting when Mars goes into retrograde with its relation to the Earth? I need to know the optimal times and closest approaches, so that I may study it in my new telescope.

  Thank you for your assistance. I wish to verify and expand upon your findings. You may send me letters and parcels care of the postmaster (general delivery), Waco, Texas.

  Your colleague,

  Billy Gostman

  Letter from Percival Lowell to Bill Gostman

  July 1, 1896

  Mr. Billy Gostman

  General Delivery

  Waco, Texas

  Dear Mr. Gostman,

  I have enclosed the charts and tables you requested, and I would dearly enjoy a report of your findings.

  The inner solar system chart shows when Mars will go into retrograde in relation to Earth over the next decade. Additionally, the tables delineate optimal viewing times (weather permitting) from the Northern Hemisphere.

  You did not advise me of the power of your telescope. I need verification of possible anomalous structures near the Great Canal, and I have marked the location on my map of Mars, which I have also enclosed. A telescope of eight inches or greater may suffice to provide proper illumination. I have begun experimenting with photographic equipment (a Kodak camera, properly fitted) so that I may obtain pictures of my discoveries, but thus far I have been unable to produce an image of sufficient resolution, although the structures appear largely as squashed squares and perfect circles. I suspect that at some time in the primordial past, a culture flourished on Mars.

  Please advise soonest of your findings, and whether—if positive—you would be amenable to their publication, either under your name solely, my name, or as a collaboration.

  Thank you for your interest, Mr. Gostman. And good luck.

  With courtesy,

  Percival Lowell

  Flagstaff, Arizona

  Letter from the Maharajah of Jaipur to John Carter

  November 1, 1897

  John Carter

  Stovall, Virginia

  United States

  Dear Mr. Carter,

  Your special services are needed in Ceylon immediately. It is my understanding that the usual rate shall apply. I have enclosed a letter of credit in your name to any bank on Earth in the amount of 10,000 U.S. Dollars.