Chapter II - The Beginning, the Sequel
October 16th, 1066
Somewhere in Brandenburg.
After a few minutes of rocking and shaking the time machine finally stopped.
The screen went off and smoke came out of its interiors. A few nails and screws fell out of the machine.
'It seems,' Merkwürdigliebe said, 'that fate does not favor us today. I do not know whether I should be happy to see that I have successfully traveled in time, or whether I should be angry because it worked!'
The other were dismayed. Had they really gone a thousand years back in time?
Hitler opened the door and stepped outside. They were in Berlin, but not exactly. The city was not to be founded until a century later. The others emerged from the machine as well, and Eva regained her consciousness. Before anyone could say a word, Goebbels screamed.
'What happened to you! You all look so young!'
The others noticed this as well. Everyone looked as if they were twenty years younger. Merkwürdigliebe rolled back to the machine and wondered what could have caused this.
'Ah,' he said, 'how young do you feel?'
Everyone agreed that they felt 20-something. 25 or 26. Everyone also agreed that they felt much healthier too.
Merkwürdigliebe continued, 'I know what caused this. This is the year 1066. What year was 26 years ago? 1040.
The machine had actually set your birthday to that year. You see, we were trying to reach the year 1940 but the machine mixed up a few numbers so... well, shall I say we should be thankful that you were not set to be born in 1940!'
Few shared his humor. They all wanted to lynch him for what he had done.
'How does that even work? What do you mean it can set your birthday?' Speer asked. 'You ruined everything!'
They were interrupted by a stranger emerging from the bushes. He looked like a soldier and spoke with typical medieval dialect.
'Halt! Who are you? You are trespassing in the Duke's lands.'
Hitler immediately stepped forward (finding it easy to do so, he was no longer bothered by Parkinson's).
'Take us to your duke. We have important news for him. Take us to him, at once.'
After a short while pondering the situation the soldier agreed and told them to follow him.
'Very well stranger. I shall take you to my master, he shall decide who you are and what to do with you.'
As they began following the soldier, a cheerful shout was heard behind them:
'MEIN FÜHRER, I CAN WALK!'