by Phil Wheeler
“And yet you say that your work is not a false trail, that you have been successful?”, said Dr. Toshuro. Both Doctor's looked at him with undisguised skepticism on their faces.
Dylan looked at the three people standing in his office. His exhilaration barely contained, he said, “Yes, Professor Arata had just missed the point. It wasn't that he couldn't produce massive quantities of energy, that isn't important. What is important is that he produced energy. Separate from Arata, Doctors Rossi and Focardi successfully demonstrated a similar device for Swedish physicists. Those who were invited to the demonstration all agreed, it had produced too much excess heat to have been originating from a chemical process and the only answer was some kind of a nuclear process that had created the measured energy production. Later, Rossi built a large version of his device that combined many smaller cold fusion modules. It wasn't successful, but they were close to the truth.”
He had their interest, “The point they missed is simply this – Size isn't the answer, replication is.”
For a moment there was silence among his guests, then Dr. Toshuro said, “Please explain.”
“First, please take a seat.” After they were all seated, he continued, “OK, think about electrical power. What are the two basic types that can be generated?”
It was Tommy that spoke first, “A/C and D/C, is that what you mean?”
“Yes”, said Dylan, “A/C, or alternating current, and D/C, which is direct current. Now, what power type would you use to light a city?”
“Why, A/C, of course.” Again, it was Tommy who spoke.
“And, if you want to power a flashlight you wouldn't hook up cables to the fuse box on your house, you would use batteries. Now, let's put the whole thing together. Common accepted wisdom is if you want to power large things, like a house, than you need a large A/C power source, it's effective and proven. If you want to power something small, like a flashlight, you use a small D/C power source, and that source must be recharged or replaced when it grows weak. But, the technology exists to take a small, renewable power source and power a house; in fact it's being done with solar power all over the United States. Essentially, solar power is a bunch of small D/C power supplies ganged together and stored in storage cells, run through a converter and then released on demand.”
Tommy made the intuitive leap he was hoping for. “You mean we can store the power from cold fusion in batteries, and release it all together, somehow, as a larger power source?”, she said.
“That is exactly what I mean. Everyone wants cold fusion as an unlimited power source and it can be, but you need to treat it like a bunch of little power sources. Like a 12-volt battery, you don't just use one cell. You use multiple cells and build small amounts into big amounts, ganging them together to create a large source of energy. This building is an example of that technology; it runs on a cold fusion generator. All the power for my lab is supplied by a working cold fusion generator that's about the size of a cigar box.”
The stunned silence of his listeners told Dylan all he wanted to know. They understand and, more importantly, they were beginning to believe.
It was Dr. Toshiro who broke the silence, “How did you accomplish this, surely regular batteries would be too cumbersome to supply any device larger than a small house?”
“Nanotechnology.”
Dr. Toshuro looked at Dylan with speculative eyes, and said, “Nanotechnology has been used in many fields successfully. From products that eat stains on your clothes to synthetic bones, and it is quickly becoming the wave of the future; Samuelson, Ltd has a division dedicated to it. I have never, however, heard of using it for what you are proposing.”
“Until now.”, Dylan said, “Nanotechnology controls things on the molecular level, modifying effects to achieve desired results. I have developed the technology to use it as an energy storage device.”
“Explain.”, said Tommy peremptorily.
“One nanometer is one billionth of a meter. For comparison, typical carbon-carbon bond lengths, or the spacing between the atoms in a molecule, are in the range 0.12–0.15 nm, and a DNA double-helix has a diameter around 2 nm. On the other hand, the smallest cellular life-forms, the bacteria of the genus Mycoplasma, are around 200 nm in length. By convention, nanotechnology is in the range 1 to 100 nm. My next generation of semiconductors, capacitors, and transformers are 10,000 times thinner than a sheet of paper, and I am working with a storage device that is 50 nm in size. Each battery contains strings of transistors, so the transistors and nanowires are already pre-wired. Each transistor is made entirely from carbon nanotubes a thousand times thinner than human hair. Each transistor has two different branches that meet at a single point; it looks like a Y. Current can flow through both branches and is controlled by a third branch that turns the voltage on or off. Each of my storage batteries can generate 3.4 x 10-2 ergs.”
“Please remind me – I forget what an erg is, exactly.”, she said.
“An erg is a unit of energy relating to mechanical work – it is defined as the amount of work done by the force of one dyne exerted for a distance of one centimeter; a dyne being a measured unit of force. To Generate 1 watt of power you need 10 million ergs. That works out to 295 x 10 9 nanobatteries per watt. To run this lab I needed between 45 and 85 Kilowatts of power, depending on what equipment is currently running, but my power supply is much larger than that. It generates .25 gigawatt.”
Professor Yamato was incredulous. “Are you trying to saying that an energy unit small enough to fit in this building can generate 250,000 watts? You would need – let me think for a moment – over 70 quadrillion of your batteries to do that.”
“To expedite our conversation I have been rounding all my numbers, but you are correct – the number is 74 quadrillion to be exact.”, Said Dylan. “Each battery has a volume of 50 x 10-6 cubic nanometers, so you can fit millions into a very small package. My power supply is 15.2 cm, about 6 inches, to a side. That's the size of two cigar boxes stacked on top of each other.”
It was Dr. Toshuro who sounded the alarm. “What about radioactivity? That powerful of a source would be highly radioactive. How do you block it, and what is the count?”
“Almost 0”, Dylan assured them. “I am not causing huge amounts of massive collisions. Each reaction is individual, and the cumulative effect is negligible. No shielding is needed; the radiation given off is less than normal background levels.”
“Please, Dr. Teague”, Dr. Yamato said incredulously, “What kind of capacitor are you using? I know of no known type which could do what you claim.”
“It is my own design. I used a thin layer of metal, then a thin layer of insulator, and another thin layer of metal deposited into each pore. It mimics the traditional electrode-insulator-electrode composition of electrostatic capacitors, and looks a lot like a tiny solar panel. It can be layered to increase capacity even further. I also took advantage of self-assembly, each capacitor reorders itself into a set pattern determined by local interactions between each item without direction from any other outside forces. It is self-aligning as well, reordering based on chemical composition and interactions which prevent the components from expanding beyond a well-defined physical area so that they will remain within the confines of the group interactions.”
“Amazing. What fuel source are you using?”
“The hydrogen in ordinary water; it is split off from the oxygen, and the oxygen is released as simply that – oxygen. The only requirement I found was filtered water works the best. It's not that regular water won't work; I originally used the Cuyahoga River as my fuel source. It's just that, if you have anything else in the water it can give off an odor when the oxygen is released. The problem is purely olfactory in nature, and doesn’t present any pollution problem. It just smells bad.”
The response was chaotic, with everyone speaking at once. Finally, Tommie called for quiet. “Can we see this device?”
“Sure, it's in our power room.” Dylan lead the way out of his office and down the side hall to a door with storage marked on it. He opened the door and flipped on the lights to reveal a 12 x 12 room with meters, cables, and shelves filled with assorted items. At the back of the room sat a small black case mounted off the floor on a steel rack. A garden hose was threaded to a brass connection on the side of the box, then through a filter system, and finally to a spigot under the sink. Two large cables exited the other side of the box, running to a fuse box on the wall. There was an exhaust manifold on top, with a barely discernible hiss coming from it, the released oxygen. In sum, it hardly looked like the answer to mankind’s energy problems – clean, infinitely renewable power.
“Seriously”, asked Tommy, unable to keep the laughter from her voice, “a black box?”
“Well, I guess it's just my sense of humor, but it seemed right.” (The black box was a science fiction staple used in hundreds of films, whenever some strange, nonexistent device was needed a black box became anything that you wanted it to be.) “Most of the size for the power supply comes from the connections, and not the actual nanocircuits.”, grinned Dylan.
Tommy turned to look at him, her beautiful hazel eyes luminescent in the shadows of the single light shining about their head, “Congratulations, Dr. Teague, it would appear that our money was well spent. You've done it.”
They returned to his office and sat in silence at the small table drinking coffee, each one lost in their own thoughts. Dylan saw the events of today as the beginning of a new era in human history. Cheap, plentiful power could supply a city, or would drive the machines that could draw the water from deep within the earth to irrigate arid lands. It released the human race from their dependence on fossil fuel, and all the attendant problems presented by it. It was a new day, and he had made it a reality.
Tommy finally broke the silence. “Dylan, I want you to come to Japan. We have a large research and manufacturing facility in Kagoshima, at the southern tip of the Okinawa prefecture. Everything you need to replicate your generator and continue your research will be provided for you.”
“Come to Japan, for how long?” The thought of leaving his home in Cleveland had never occurred to him. Excepting for a few fishing trips to Ontario he had never been out of the country.
“I would like you to be a part of my team. We have the facility and the money to produce your power supply, and to further your research in a way that I don't believe is possible here at this facility.”
Dylan thought about what it would mean to have a major player like Samuelson Ltd backing him, he could change the world. “Alright, I'll do it”
“Good”, said Tommy, “Do you have a passport?”
“Yes, I needed it to go fishing in Canada.”
“I will make sure that the arrangements are made. How soon can you leave here?”, said Tommy.
“I don't know, I'll need to have someone watch my house – I don't know what to say.”
“I realize that this is a huge step, and I promise you that I will make it as easy of a transition as I possibly can.”, she said.
Glancing into her hazel eyes, Dylan thought to himself that anything which served to keep him close to her was easy, and highly desirable, but all he could say was, “Alright, let's do it.”
“Good, then it's settled”, she said, “Go ahead and arrange things here, and I will have my assistant call you to make all the preparations for you trip to Japan.”
He dropped his guests off at the Wyndham Cleveland at Playhouse Square, the hotel where he'd reserve rooms for them. It was a nice hotel, situated in the very heart of Cleveland, with an on-site restaurant and lounge as well as an indoor swimming pool. Each guest room came with a flat-screen TV and a work desk, and featured warm colors in dark wood; it even had coffee making facilities. He'd made reservations at the hotel's restaurant, The Encore, and would return at 6:30 that evening to join them.
Chapter 7
The time was passing too fast. Tomiko (he preferred to think of her that way) was radiant in a long evening dress. Red, almost maroon in color, it clung to her body, conforming to every curve and turn of her figure. It was cut low in the front and back, revealing the rounded curve of her breasts and the smooth skin of her back down to her waist. Her hair was let down straight, although the hair beside her face was subtlety curled and feathered. She wore very little makeup, just a hint of eye shadow, and she was beautiful.
“Dylan, would you mind ordering for me? Tomiko smiled at him. She had chosen the seat next to him, and her perfume drifted to his nostrils with intoxicating effect.
“I haven't eaten here before”, he admitted, “but I can certainly try.” He reviewed the menu. Looking to the waiter standing by the table, he asked, “Is the Caesar Salad made with real Anchovies?”
“Yes.”, the waiter responded.
“OK. Let's start with that, and the Manhattan steamed little neck clams. For the entree, let's go with the Ohio City Pappardelle. Waiter, would you suggest a nice wine to go with that?”
“Certainly, sir. May I suggest the Riesling?”, answered the waiter.
Dylan was at a real disadvantage here. He wasn't much of a wine drinker, so he simply said, “That will be fine, thank you.”
The conversation was mostly small talk about their return trip, and he was saddened by the knowledge that she would soon be leaving his life, if even for just a short while, for he would miss her. The wine came, a Robert Mondavi Private selection. The waiter informed them that it was a California product, produced entirely from grapes grown in Monterey County, and described as rich and full bodied with fresh honeysuckle, ripe peach and citrus blossom. Tomiko took a sip and pronounced it an excellent choice. Dylan was secretly pleased.
The conversation turned to the weather (warm), and chance of rain (minimal), then their meals arrived. The Caesar salad had just the right amount of anchovies in the dressing, the croutons were perfectly toasted, and the grated Parmesan was well-aged. The Ohio Pappardelle proved to be a delicious mixture of Chorizo sausage, Prawns, roasted peppers and caramelized onions, in a tomato cream sauce. Finally, a New York style cheesecake with a strawberry compote finished off an excellent meal. They talked a while longer until Dr. Yamato begged their forgiveness, and excused himself for the evening, sighting jet lag. Dr. Toshuro followed about 5 minutes, later, bidding them a good night, and leaving Dylan and Tomiko alone.
“I should probably go soon.”, she said. “I have some Email to answer, and I am somewhat tired.” She made no move to leave.
“I can order us some more wine if you would like, or coffee?” He wanted to continue this evening but he felt awkward, not knowing what to say.
The offer was politely turned down, and some few minutes of general conversation passed, but finally Tomiko said, “I really most go.”, and stood to leave. Dylan stood and she slowly leaned towards him, placing her hand on his chest. She brushed her lips against his cheek, sending shock waves through his body. “I hope to see you soon in Japan.” With that, she turned and walked out of the restaurant.
Dylan sat back down, watching her leave. It was another ten minutes before he got up to leave.
Chapter 8
1119 AD Jerusalem
Nine men gathered around a table dimly lit by tallow candles. The room was deep within the castle keep, and it was damp and cold. Even the large fire burning in the fireplace did nothing to take the chill off the room. There was nothing in the room other than a table, and nine chairs, there was no need for more. Their leader sat at the head of the table and his voice was calm. “I meet with King Baldwin on the morrow.”
“Do you believe that he will grant your request?” The man speaking was short and his clothes, though well mended, were beginning to look shabby from constant wear. Far from home, these men had no need for the fine dress of court.
“Yes. T
he threat is real, even if our real goal is hidden, but we must keep our secrets safe.”
Another of the group, a tall thin man spoke, “This will be a start. It we can grow from this and gain in power we can someday reveal to this world who and what we are – its rightful rulers.”
“But, we must proceed slowly, and be constantly on our guard. If they knew the truth they would call us abomination, and burn us at the stake.”, said the short man.
Their leader surveyed the men at the table. They were the core of the people who had come to this place so long ago. They were superior in every way to those around them, but must remain hidden. They were the elite, but not strong enough to reveal themselves openly. “This meeting with the king will be the start we need.”, he said. “We will meet again tomorrow.”
The others got up to leave, but the leader of this small group remained behind to think about the next day’s meeting and what it would mean to them. Tomorrow, Sir Huges de Paynes would take his petition to the king. Yes, this will be what we need, he said to himself.
Court of King Baldwin II
The Kingdom of Jerusalem has its origins in the First Crusade, when Godfrey of Bouillon took the title Advocatus Sancti Sepulchri (Protector of the Holy Sepulcher) in 1099. He was crowned as ruler of Jerusalem in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The following year his brother, Baldwin I, was the first to take the name of King, and be crowned as such. The Royal Palace was in the Citadel of the Tower of David, in the captured Al-Aqsa Mosque, at the Temple Mount known in Hebrew as Har haBáyith. The mount, forming the northern portion of a very narrow spur of hill incline sharply from north to south and rising above the Kieran Valley to the east and Tyropoeon Valley to the west, reaches to a height of 2,428 ft above sea level. Herod the Great extended the Mount's natural plateau, enclosing the area with four massive retaining walls and filling the voids. It was in this palace that the current King of Jerusalem, Baldwin II, held court.