Alternating Current: A Tesla Novel

by Agostino, John

  Alex looked at his sister.

  “It’s true, Dr. Armaly told me on many occasions.”

  “You spoke to him?”

  “No, but he spoke to me all the time. Whenever Junior was off fishing. He needed somebody to talk to, it made him feel good, and since I was a mute, he didn’t worry about what he said. He said many times that the water was a diversion.”

  “A diversion? From what?” Alex asked.

  “From Teleforce. He said that Tesla probably devised the water to ease his conscience.”

  “Now I’m confused.” Turbo said.

  “Dr. Armaly truly believed that Nikola Tesla purposely created the concept to delay the world from developing Teleforce. And it worked. The U.S. stopped working on it immediately upon finding the water concept.”

  “That makes sense,” Yuri added.

  “No it doesn’t,” Turbo cried. “My uncle was a genius. The water will work, we’ll show them, won’t we Alex---

  Turbo fell to his knees and bawled.

  Carrie comforted him.

  “Carrie, I’m so sorry, you too, Phillip. I’m sorry I got you into this. What a waste of time.”

  “It wasn’t a waste of time.” Agent Arnold exclaimed. If it weren’t for you, Mika, Sava and Marco over there would still be out on the street. Not to mention those C.F.F. thugs.”

  “He’s right.” Lawson told them. “Hell, Turbo, you helped us capture someone on the most wanted list for more than forty years. I know he was your cousin and all, but still.”

  Turbo went silent. Arnold and Yuri went over to deal with Marco.

  The paramedics wheeled Buddy out on a stretcher. Carrie stopped them before they reached the door. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “For what?” Buddy asked.

  “For saving my life.”

  “Oh, that. Don’t mention it. Will you visit me in the hospital?”

  “Of course, I’ll be there when you get out of surgery.” She kissed his cheek.

  “Make sure they give you lots of morphine,” Alex added.

  Aluna nudged him.

  “What? I’ve been there. That shit hurts.” They followed the paramedics outside.

  Carrie went back over to console Turbo. “Well, at least we’re not dead.” She joked.

  “Might as well be.”

  Carrie called Phillip and Cosmo over to help. ”C’mon buddy.” Phillip said. We still have Alex’s notes and Dr. Ganz. Besides, Dr. Trump is bound to show up sooner or later.”

  “No, Phillip, I’m done. I lost my wife and kids because of him.” He pointed to the portrait on the wall.

  “You’re talking crazy.” Cosmo said. “You got a half-million dollars coming. You can move to Florida.”

  “Thanks for reminding me, Cosmo. I want to talk to you about that.”

  Carrie and Phillip turned to walk away. “No, come back, I want to talk to all of you.”

  “Okay, so talk.” Cosmo said.

  “It’s about the money, I’m gonna split it with all of you.”

  They were dumfounded. Cosmo spoke first. “Nah, I already got my Lexus, that’s all I need. Keep your money.”

  “Yeah, Cosmo’s right, you’ve worked hard all these years, keep your money.”

  “No, I’m splitting the money, I’m gonna give you each a hundred-thousand. And Phillip, you’re going to college like your grandmother wanted.”

  Phillip hugged him. “You don’t have to do this.”

  “Yes, I do, and I don’t want to hear anymore about it.”

  Turbo noticed Alex and Aluna talking to Lawson just outside the door. He grabbed the duffle bag from behind the counter and brought it to him. Lawson and Aluna were making goo-goo-eyes at each other. They hardly noticed him. He handed Alex the duffle bag and asked what his plans were.

  “I will stay in America for a while, but I will go to Belgrade soon. There is an attendant at the Tesla Museum that I must thank.”

  “Well, make sure you come see me before you leave, there is someone I’d like you to meet.”

  Alex promised.

  Turbo turned to go back inside when he saw a Yellow-cab heading their way. The cab was obviously speeding and had to lock up the brakes to stop in time. It definitely got the attention of the Police Woman talking to Cosmo.

  Turbo wondered who would take a taxi to his shop, especially that day. His mouth dropped when Phillip’s Aunt Edna got out of the cab. “Now don’t you leave me, I’m not gonna be long.” She told the driver.

  Aunt Edna made her way through the maze of vehicles toward Turbo’s shop. “Wow, that’s a nice Lexus. Whose car is this?”

  Cosmo looked at her funny. But Turbo called out to her before he said anything. “Aunt Edna, over here.”

  “Oh Turbo, there you are.” She handed him her oversized handbag. “Be a dear and carry that for me, it’s too heavy.”

  “Sure,” he said. “Come inside.”

  Officer Riley walked over to admonish the cab driver. Cosmo followed Turbo and Edna inside.

  Edna went straight for the recliner. Turbo set her purse down beside her.

  Yuri and Arnold were still questioning Marco. They had already moved over to the counter area.

  Carrie and Phillip were surprised to see Edna. Particularly Phillip. “Aunt Edna what are you doing here?”

  “I’m here to see Turbo.”

  “What?” Turbo said. “Why do you need to see me?”

  Phillip decided against questioning his Aunt’s reasons for coming there. He thought it could be due to dementia.

  “Turbo, honey, I got something for you, two things actually.” She reached in her purse and pulled out a container of discs. One you might find at a discount store or warehouse club. The label on top indicated there were 84 discs in the package. She handed it to Turbo.

  “What’s this?” Turbo asked.

  “It’s your papers, the ones from the trunk.” Edna exclaimed. “Now Turbo, nobody uses paper anymore. I scanned everything before I shredded it; it’s all there on those discs.”

  Turbo took the package of discs.

  “But Aunt Edna, why’d you put all that newspaper in the trunk?”

  “Phillip, quit being silly, I was gonna burn the newspaper anyway and I didn’t need that ugly green trunk for anything, so I figured I’d just burn it all at once. I don’t know why that darn furnace didn’t work.”

  Turbo examined the discs. It took a few seconds before he had composed himself enough to speak. “Edna, thank you so much.” He handed the discs to Phillip. “Would you keep these safe for me?”

  Phillip smiled. “But Aunt Edna, you said you had two things for Turbo.”

  “Oh, Phillip, thank you, I almost forgot.” She untied her scarf and unbuttoned the top few buttons of her blouse. “I’ve been wearing this darn thing for forty years, I’m glad to get rid of it.”

  She pulled a gold chain from under her blouse and lifted it over her head. The Edison Medallion hung from the chain. “Turbo, this belonged to your uncle. Mavis gave it to me the day Frederick died. She made me promise never to take it off. But I don’t think she’ll mind if you have it now.”

  Tears rolled down Turbo’s face. He put the chain around his neck and let the medallion hang there against his wife-beater. He thought about Maria and the kids.

  Carrie and Phillip congratulated him.

  Arnold and Yuri smiled as they ushered Marco out of the shop.

  Marco wasn’t happy at all. “The fucking crazy aunt, how did I miss the crazy aunt?”

  Phillip walked up and punched him in the gut. “That’s from my crazy aunt. The one who outsmarted you.”

  Turbo, Carrie and Cosmo applauded.

  “Now Phillip Washington, why did you hit that man?” Aunt Edna asked. “I know my sister didn’t raise you that way.”

  They all laughed.

  Carrie smiled and waved good riddance to Rudy, then gave Edna a huge hug. They all fussed over her.

  Turbo slipped away and called Maria’
s cell phone. He didn’t really expect her to answer. He would have settled for just hearing her recorded voice. But much to his surprise, she answered the phone right away and even called him Turbo.

  “Maria, honey, it’s over. I’m done with my uncle and I’m selling the shop, please let me come to Florida and make it up to you?”

  Turbo had heard what she said, but asked her to repeat it just to be certain. “I thought you said come home, but I’m confused . . . home? . . . what home?” By then, everyone in the shop had heard what he said. They were all staring at him.

  “Our home? The one in Brooklyn? You’re back in Brooklyn?” Turbo turned around and saw everyone looking at him. “My family’s back in Brooklyn.”

  Again, there was applause. Turbo held up the phone for Maria to hear. Then he hung up and hi-fived everyone on his way out the door. Thirty-seconds later, he came back inside. “Hey Cosmo, can I borrow your car?”

  ###

  Thanks for reading!

  About The Author

  John Agostino was born on September 3, 1959, in Brooklyn, New York. As the son of Italian immigrants, he effortlessly translates this robust culture and uses it as a rich, but subtle backdrop in his novels.

  John's tenth grade English teacher, Ms. Carmichael, spotted him as a true writer when she read his Thanksgiving essay written from the turkey's perspective. He waited many years before heeding her advice to make writing a profession, but his perspective is still both haunting and hilarious.

  Reality dominated the years between those early works and today. According to John, it's been a good reality---one not completely dissimilar from that of the loving and bewildered protagonists in his stories. John and his wife are the proud parents of four children.

  His reality is fine; however, his passion involves escaping reality. This is what makes John an effective fiction writer. Readers grab his stories and hang on, much in the way we all navigate life at times.

  John says his qualifications for the writing profession are the ingredients of a happy life, an overactive imagination, and a willingness to work hard.

  Mostly though, he loves to write.

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  Also by John Agostino

  “Distant Relatives”

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  Acknowledgements

  I would like to start by thanking my wonderful wife, Bonnie. Without her, I would be a blundering fool wandering aimlessly throughout the earth. I would also like to thank my children; Christie, Michael, Michelle, and Alyssa, you may not know it, but you are my inspiration. And my grandchildren, Hayden and Elle Kade, who keep me young in spirit.

  Also a big thank you to my sister, Vickie, who is the biggest fan of my writing, and her husband, Ron. Along with my brother, Joey, and the rest of my siblings and their children and grandchildren. Thank you to all my friends on Facebook who endure all my posts promoting my books and all those who spread the word and pressed the “Like” button. Thank you all for your support!

  Here are a few behind the scenes notes about “Alternating Current.”

  Nikola Tesla was a real person. The greatest scientist the world has ever known. Google him!

  Tesla really has a grandnephew named William, who goes by the nickname, Terbo. He is the curator of The Tesla Memorial Foundation in the United States.

  Phillip Washington’s character was inspired by a young Denzel Washington playing the part of Dr. Phillip Chandler in the hit TV show “St. Elsewhere.” Hence the hybrid name.

  Michael Lawson and Corey Arnold are actually two car salesmen who worked for me at a Toyota Dealership. Lawson is actually a good-natured fun loving guy while Arnold is staunch and sophisticated and really drinks a lot of Red Bull. Millard Jones is also a former co-worker. All are good men and good friends of mine.

  And Michael Armaly is an old friend who taught me how to sell cars way back when. He is really from the Bahamas.