A Touch of E Flat

An eccentric professor turned reluctant chronicler, Albert Jamieson Cooling, narrates his own strange odyssey from a hospital ward under police surveillance. A former war scientist who abandoned the nuclear race, he’s now a modest college lecturer with a love of jazz, barbecue ribs, and a penchant for inventing—most notably a “Cooling gun” that can freeze rather than fire. With the help of a curious Ohio State Police sergeant, he recounts how a chance discovery led him down a path that could reshape the balance of power in a world still haunted by Cold‑War rivalries.

The tale blends sharp satire with speculative science, exploring how a weapon of cold might challenge the traditional logic of deterrence. As Cooling reflects on his past, his quirky personality and moral doubts color a narrative that asks whether freezing an enemy could ever be a true solution. Listeners are invited into a witty, thought‑provoking first act that sets the stage for a larger debate about technology, ethics, and the uneasy peace that follows.