He sits motionless, like a spider in the centre of its web, but that web has a thousand radiations, and he knows well every quiver of each of them.

- Arthur Conan Doyle, “The Final Problem”

I looked through my notes and to my surprise I did find a few more things about this mystery man. „The Spider... his actual name is Johannes“, I said. „And... he founded Raben Consulting, the company that owns the building we are currently in. And he appears to be a very good chess player.“

„Not only chess, he is virtually unbeatable in any kind of strategy game“, Mr Tuniak explained. „I remember that at school we thought that instead of counting sheep to fall asleep, he was solving mathematical riddles.“ He scratched his chin, thinking. „You should know that Johannes is suffering from a particular illness. His body has never really grown up. You may have seen pictures of grown-ups... of old people who still looked like children.“„Last week you wrote that you still don't know any thing about... the Spider except that he is a former student of the Leviathan school“, Mr Tuniak said, after we had both sat down in his office. „Did I really tell you nothing else about him, apart from that?“

I nodded.

„It's something very similar to this. Only in his case his head did grow, but not the rest of his body. Without support his head is too heavy for his neck to hold it. He needs extra support. And his bones are very brittle, which means that even if he could participate, any kind of sport is extremely dangerous for him. His is sitting in a wheel chair, always has been. But because he can not join in any physical activities, he took upon himself to become the smartest person possible. While we were doing sports at school, he was doing brain sports. He is very probably the most intelligent person I've ever known.“

I was impressed. Praise like that takes on quite another dimension if it is coming from a time traveller.

„Why is he called the Spider?“, I wanted to know.

„Ah, that's not something I'm proud of, but children can be quite cruel. That's what we called him for several reason. For one, he does slightly resemble a spider with his big head on a small body and thin arms and legs. For another, we were reading Sherlock Holmes and found a description of Moriarty to be quite fitting for Johannes. He is also sitting in the centre of his web and controls everything around him. That's especially true now, since he is the head of several multi-national corporations. And I must add that once we started calling him 'the Spider', the name became something of... a medal, a praise. There was no better praise imaginable on Leviathan than 'thinking like the Spider'.“ He leant back in his chair. „After he and I had left Leviathan we had very little contact with each other. He was visiting us a few times at the Villa Atterton, but by that time he was already very busy. He had taken over the shop of his parents and was in the process of expanding it into the big company it now is.“

„Was he one of the people you were visiting after your jump ten years into the future?“, I asked.

„No“, Mr Tuniak said. „That saw him again a lot later.“

Alexander was visiting Mowgli again and by chance, Sarina was there as well. They were talking until late at night with each other and as a matter of course, they were exchanging news about the other children from Leviathan and what they were up to at the time. There were a few none of them had heard much of since they left the island, but others had stayed in contact.

„The Spider has nearly completely disappeared since the Fall of the Iron Curtains“, Mowgli said. „Last I heard of him, he had bought some piece of real estate in the furthest corner of Russia and is controlling all his businesses from there.“

„I've heard something similar“, Sarina agreed. „But they have his phone number at the school. He said that if they ever needed to, if there ever was an emergency, they should call him.“

„An emergency? What kind of an emergency?“, Alexander wanted to know. „Isn't he too far away to help with anything except maybe a financial problem?“

„That's probably what he meant“, Sarina said. „Do you know how many companies he is currently managing?“

„He has probably lost count himself“, Mowgli said. „Although I am very grateful. He helped me to buy the land here and also gave me a couple of very good tips in managing everything.“

„We should go and visit him some time“, Sarina suggested.

„In Russia? I'm not sure if I can be away from here for any long time“, Mowgli said.

„Don't you worry about that, it will only take a day“, Alexander said. „I can take us there.“

„So, we decided to visit the Spider in his lair“, Mr Tuniak said with a smile. „I went to Leviathan to get his phone number and then It was just a matter of calling Johannes and finding a date that would suit all of us. It was surprisingly easy. I also got the coordinates of his whereabouts.“ He stood up and went to the book shelves to find an atlas. He seemed unsteady for a moment and I feared that he would fall down. But fortunately, nothing happened. He sat down again and opened the book on a map of Russia. „We were supposed to meet him here“, he said and pointed to a place right in the middle of Siberia.

The time machine landed and the three travellers got out. They were all wearing thick clothes, but the weather was surprisingly mild and sunny. There were only a few clouds visible in the sky and the wind was only blowing very softly. They looked around and discovered that they had landed near a wooden tower.

„The Spider is living in this tower?“, Mowgli asked, not really believing it. The tower was about twenty metres high and didn't seem to offer any good protection against the weather. There were no windows and no signs that anyone was living in there.

They found a door at its side that wasn't locked. Worried that something might have happened to Johannes, they quickly opened it and entered. But inside there was only a long ramp that led along the walls of the tower to its very top.

„What kind of place is this?“, Sarina wondered aloud, as they were walking up. But no one could offer her an explanation.

They reached the top where a trap door led directly onto the roof of the tower. There they found several thick ropes fastened to the side of the building, as well as big rings of iron.

„This looks like the anchorage for ships“, Alexander said. Then he suddenly knew what he was looking at. „I know what this is!“, he cried out and was searching the horizon for something he was sure had to be there. He found it. „Over there!“

Sarina and Mowgli immediately saw what had made him so excited. Coming in from the north, a dirigible was slowly coming closer. It made practically no noise and it seemed impossible that such a huge machine should be able to move so quietly. When it had nearly reached the tower, they could see that several ropes were lowered from the cabin on its belly. Fascinated they watched as these ropes seemed to come alive and, like snakes, found the metal rings and wound themselves around them. Once the dirigible had secured its position next to the tower, a ramp was lowered and connected the cabin with the building. Sitting in his wheelchair, Johannes was on the top of the ramp and waved.

„Welcome in my little home“, he shouted.

„It is difficult to say how rich Johannes actually was back then... or now, for that matter“, Mr Tuniak said. „If you counted just his money, it wouldn't be that much.“

„No hidden treasure in Switzerland?“, I asked.

„No, he only ever has just the right amount, just what he needs“, Mr Tuniak answered. „And normally, he doesn't need much... for a man who lives in a dirigible. He puts his money in all kinds of different projects, because what's the use of money if it's just safely tucked away in a safe. If something unexpected should happen and if he should suddenly need huge amounts of money, he just sells one of his companies or real estates from all over the world. After all: Money alone is worth nothing. Only the things you can get for money are worth something.“

„You once told me that Philip is among the richest people of the planet“, I said. „Is... does he keep his fortune similar to Johannes in companies and so?“

„No, he really does have a lot of... actual money“, Mr Tuniak said. „It's easier for him that way. Less complicated if he chooses to change his identity.“

The dirigible was office and home at the same time for Johannes. The rooms were all separated by paper walls and their configuration could be easily changed. The office space looked functional and offered little comfort. There was everything there one would need to guide several multi-national companies, but apart from Johannes no one else seemed to use the equipment.

„I've discovered that, as I get older, I need less sleep“, Johannes said in answer to the question why he didn't have any assistants. He pointed at Alexander. „I guess you are feeling it too already, don't you? And if I do everything myself, at least I can be sure that things get done. And done properly. I try not to rely on anyone else, if I don't have to.“

The living rooms looked a lot more inviting. There was more light, several windows offered a great view outside and paintings of various artists from every part of the world – and from every time – decorated the walls.

Johannes led them to a big wooden table which had already been prepared. There were cups for coffee and tea, biscuits and cakes on plates.

Mowgli, who was sitting right next to Johannes, bent over to him and whispered: „You do not live alone here, do you?“ He had noticed several things that didn't make sense to him, if a man in a wheelchair was the only inhabitant of this place.

„No, Gaspar lives here as well. He helps me from time to time“, Johannes said. „And don't take it personally, if he doesn't joins us at the table. He isn't comfortable in the company of other people.“ He looked out of the window and at the snow covered landscape beyond. „It's one of the reasons why we moved here.“

„You never told us about him“, Sarina said.

Johannes hesitated for a while, as if to collect his thoughts. „Gaspar has... a difficult and dark past. His brain... for the longest time of his life, it couldn't differentiate between right and wrong. Most children, if they see a wounded animal... a small dog or a bird, then they want to help it. Without anyone telling them that they have to. But Gaspar had to learn that. You can see why that would bring him into conflict with the law from time to time.“ The others nodded. „Even today he still has to concentrate and think about a decision... to find out what other people would instinctively do in his position. That's why he prefers solitude. Just like me. Of course, I have different reasons for that.“ He smiled. “And he really does help me. He is the greatest stock brocker I've ever known.”

“Didn't you say the same thing about monkeys?”, Mowgli interjected.

„Where did you meet him?“, Sarina asked.

„Oh, I didn't, Cate did during one of her voyages“, Johannes said. „You do know that Cate is working for the Gemini Foundation, don't you?“

„Not exactly, I only knew she was working for some scientific organisation with labs world wide or something like that“, Mowgli answered.

„And she is travelling a lot, which is not something I would have ever expected her to do“, Alexander added.

„You have never heard of the Gemini Foundation?“, Johannes asked, not quite believing. „Not even you, Alexander?“

„I do remember a long time ago... it must have been in the Seventies... I was taking photos of the ice ships of Winston Churchill and I think someone of the Foundation was on board“, Alexander said after thinking about it for a few moments.

„Well, colour me surprised“, Johannes said. „But to put it simply: Gemini is collecting knowledge. From all over the world. Anything they can find. They have asked me to sponsor one of their projects and... Actually it would be easier if they told you themselves. It's quite interesting. I'll give you their address.“

Back in the time machine, Mowgli was laughing out loudly. „He really hasn't changed, has he? He is still the Spider, staying in his net and sending his... agents out to gather information for him.“

„What are you talking about?“, Sarina asked.

„If he had wanted to, he could have told us more about Gemini, I'm sure of that“, Mowgli said. „But he is unsure about supporting them and wants to know everything about them. So he tells us just enough to get our curiosity and then sends us to find out more.“

„Well, at least in my case it worked“, Alexander said, looking at the card in his hand.

NEXT WEEK

Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute.