The Enigma Source

“Jacob, your grandfather is in the library sipping some cabernet and reading the current newspaper. He ate very little today and didn’t take his normal walk. If he doesn’t shake off this cold complaint, which he voiced again during breakfast, I would appreciate a recommendation from you that he needs to see his physician.

“I have asked Cook to prepare his favorites for supper and she can serve in an hour’s time, if you wish.”

Jacob nodded agreement with a slight smile and a concerned look as he clasped Petra’s hand and entered the library. Wolfgang was indeed sipping wine and looked up with a half-smile at their arrival.

“I could pour for you, my boy, but it would be far easier on both of you to take care of it, if you don’t mind. I am a bit light-headed, perhaps too much wine with so little to eat.”

Petra moved toward Wolfgang to sit as close as possible and held his hand near her cheek. “Wolfgang,” she asked with some concern, “are you warm enough? Your hands feel like ice cubes.”

Wolfgang nodded and replied, “It’s the seasons changing, my dear. Perhaps Jacob will start a small fire to warm the room.”

Jacob moved to the fireplace and lit the already set fire. Jacob brought the drinks over to them and began his request. “Grandfather, we are having a hard time tracking the funds. We used the programs you suggested ICABOD was familiar with, but we have not had any real hits at this point. Is there a special variable we should be using to increase the effectiveness?”

ICABOD had so many programs in its library and an array of data sources far superior to any other supercomputer. Quip had designed ICABOD, yet it had almost been brought down by Wolfgang as he had used ICABOD to build some complex search analytics programs which were used to grab huge amounts of data with no throttle on processing power. As a result of this almost disaster, Quip had modified the ability of ICABOD to expand space during complex routines.

Wolfgang smiled and slurred slightly as he commented, “That is one really smart system, that ICABOD.

“No special variables are needed, other than to point ICABOD to search destinations that maintain confidentiality, as well as those that are not controlled by governments. I was reading something earlier I meant to set aside for you and thought that perhaps Chesterfield had invested in some Blockchain venture. There are so many of those springing up and then failing. Perhaps Chesterfield invested in this sort of arrangement and lost everything. He would never have kept the cash in a safety deposit box or the like, so I think that avenue would be useless to focus on at this point. And precious metals for that amount would weigh far too much.”

Jacob thought for a few moments and then agreed, “Wolfgang, I think you’re onto something. Petra, can we do some modifications to the search for Blockchain and let ICABOD work while we have supper? I’m suddenly famished.”