Dangerous Betrayal

by Bill Blowers

  Morgan and Curtis sat in the safety of Morgan’s Packard a block from the fire and watched in silence as the fire department put water on the embers and knocked down those few hot spots that still had active flames. Even from a distance they could feel the intense heat and the ground shake as explosions rocked the area. Morgan turned to Curtis and studied his damaged face. He tapped his chauffeur on the shoulder. “George, let’s get this man to a doctor.”

  BOOK 6

  CHAPTER 28

  1904—Colorado Springs, Colorado

  Nikola Tesla reread the newspaper account in utter astonishment. He was having trouble believing that the story Viko just told him was the truth and not a fictional tale of deceit, failure, and retribution, a Shakespearean tragedy unfolding in twentieth-century America. He could not deny, however, the cover page of the New York Times that described in dramatic terms the terrible fire of unknown origin that destroyed the better part of a Bronx block of industrial buildings fourteen days earlier. The devastation was total. The building’s owner, industrialist J.P. Morgan, could not be reached for comment. His office released a short statement confirming that Mr. Morgan was on an extended visit to a health spa in Geneva, Switzerland.

  An accompanying story described the severe injuries suffered by Mr. Kenneth Anderson. A Times reporter managed to get into the hospital room where Anderson was recovering from severe burns. He reported that Anderson’s eyes were covered in bandages, and he found him to be quite willing to discuss his injuries. Anderson claimed to be an employee of Edison Laboratories in Menlo Park, New Jersey. The next day the reporter learned Anderson had been moved to a private undisclosed location. Inquiries placed at the Menlo Park headquarters of Edison Labs received a terse “No comment.”

  After letting Nikola absorb the news, Viko said, “Morgan had no intention of letting you produce lamps. As soon as you brought him the first working lamp he was going to toss you aside. Everything that Robert Johnson predicted when you signed those papers happened just as he said. When are you going to learn that this world is a treacherous place? How is it that you trust your property, the products of your incredible mind, to these thieves that have only their own greedy interests at heart?”

  The questions elicited no reply from Tesla, nor did Viko expect they would. The questions he was asking had no answers. The mystery of Tesla was locked somewhere within the most creative mind of the twentieth century, hidden from everyone, most likely even Tesla himself.

  Tesla looked off in the distance as if trying to find something else, anything at all, to take his mind away from the moment.

  They avoided each other for several days. Tesla buried himself in his work while Viko used the time to recover from the trauma of the previous month. Viko found a local livery stable, rented a gentle horse, and spent his days exploring the countryside and the spectacular scenery.

  He was sleeping soundly for the first time in years, no longer burdened with the issues that confronted him in New York. Perhaps it was the country air, or maybe the altitude, or most likely it was the effect of finally taking a vacation after years of nonstop activity and tension.

  Ten days after arriving, Viko finally decided that enough was enough, and after rising early one morning he knocked on Tesla’s door and invited him to breakfast. Viko spoke first. “So you’re angry with me. Can we get past this? There is a lot that we can still do together, and quite frankly I’m beginning to miss you.”

  A smile came across Tesla’s face. He shrugged his shoulders in resignation. “Yes, I agree that we need to get past this, but you must realize that I am having difficulty understanding the actions you took. You could have gone to the police. You could have obtained a lawyer. There were other more civil ways to deal with Morgan.”

  Viko sighed. “Can we put this behind us and move on? I am interested in your work out here. May I come in and work with you for a few weeks before I return to New York? Perhaps I can lend some insight into the forces you are struggling against.”

  Tesla reached across the table, offering his handshake to Viko. “The past is the past. The slate is clean. I can really use your help here. Let’s eat and get to work.”

  CHAPTER 29

  Reconciliation and Discovery

  Nikola Tesla was the father and original creator of practical radio communication, making nearly all of the basic discoveries that led to wireless communication by the turn of the century.

  Tesla believed that wireless power distribution was simply an extension of wireless communication, much the same way that telegraph wires and AC transmission lines were simply different versions of the same electrical interconnections. He came to Colorado because of the extreme electrical discharges that occurred there. He believed this environment would be the ideal testing ground for his attempts to launch and retrieve airborne electrical power. He never did realize his dream, but in the process of trying he discovered a unique method of wireless communication.

  One afternoon Viko was about fifteen miles away driving a horse-drawn cart that contained receiving coils and measuring equipment. He stood in front of the coil jotting down numbers registered by the meters when he heard a voice that sounded a great deal like Tesla’s asking for a pen and paper. Viko was alone—there was no one else for miles. He turned to see who was speaking when the voice he heard spoke again, saying “Thank you.”

  Was he hallucinating?

  He looked back at the meters as the voice spoke once more: “I hope Viko is getting the readings. We have to shut this down in five more minutes.”

  One of the meters was perceptibly moving as the voice was speaking. When the voice stopped, the meter stopped. Viko put his ear against the coil, and after another minute he distinctly heard the voice of Tesla call out, “Ten minutes has passed; turn off the power.” The meter emitted a distinct clicking sound and its reading fell to zero.

  Viko and Nikola were alone in the transmitter building the following Saturday. Viko asked him to sit down for a few minutes and go over the measurements he had taken a few days before.

  “There is something else here. I think that you’ll be interested. Take a look.”

  Tesla frowned as he read what appeared to be a transcription of a conversation. “I don’t understand. What is this?”

  “That, dear uncle, is your voice. I heard it distinctly while I was fifteen miles away monitoring the transmission. Your transmitter is sending your voice out with the transmission of power.”

  Tesla reread the words. He had total recall, able to remember the tiniest of details even from years ago. He thought for a few seconds and remembered that these were indeed the words he used while they were testing the transmitter.

  They decided to do a quick test to determine what was happening.

  The “quick test” turned into a weekend of discovery as they studied the effect, learned how to make it stronger and weaker, and finally late on Sunday evening made an amazing discovery.

  The ramifications of their findings were overwhelming. Here, in a dusty barn on the outskirts of a small town in the shadows of the majestic Rocky Mountains, was the basic blueprint that would direct and shape communication for decades. They agreed that they would discuss this with no one. Curious to learn as much as possible about the phenomena before Viko traveled back to New York, they conducted long-distance tests. To their amazement, reception remained excellent at distances up to one hundred twenty miles from the transmitter, over all kinds of terrain, including deep into the bottom of distant canyons.

  Viko and Nikola Tesla had discovered the basic principle of frequency modulation, or as it is more popularly known, FM radio.

  Armed with blueprints and schematics of the wireless power transmitter and the receiving coil apparatus, Viko bid farewell to his uncle. He boarded the train that would take him to Chicago and his long trek home.

  CHAPTER 30

  May 1909—Financial Salvation

  Viko was hard at work completing the design and construction of two transceivers
embodying the discovery made in Colorado. The work was daunting and made even more difficult by the lack of funds and the constant distracting demands on his time. Fulfillment of commitments to Westinghouse used up most of his daylight hours and those of his men at Tesla Electric. It was their only source of income.

  Tesla spent the entire year in Colorado constantly fighting the immense technical challenges he faced attempting to prove that his concept of wireless power distribution would work. Only after nearly destroying a power generating station in the Rocky Mountains for a second time during one of his more aggressive attempts did he finally wear out his welcome. He rebuilt the damaged generators for the power company, closed up shop, and returned home to Manhattan.

  Tesla’s return to New York took a great deal of pressure off Viko. His insights into the FM wireless concept were a great help as they struggled to overcome one technical hurdle after another. It was rough going as Viko and Nikola spent their daylight hours addressing existing commitments and all night working on wireless voice communication. Their major obstacle continued to be a lack of funds. They went to Robert Johnson for help but quickly found that all possible sources of investment funds to them were blocked. Robert was convinced that Morgan’s tentacles extended into every financial institution in New York, perhaps the entire country, and Morgan’s hatred for Tesla ran deep.

  A courier delivered a letter from Robert Johnson.

  My Dear Nikola:

  I trust that you are well, not working more than your usual 18 hours a day. Please do not discuss the contents of this letter with anyone, even Viko whom you trust with everything, until we meet.

  Late yesterday, I opened a new account (a very large account for that matter) for a gentleman previously unknown to me. He is from Great Britain and is heir to a very large coal mining fortune. He has traveled to America in search of investment opportunities. While processing his paperwork and arranging for the international funds transfer he told me about the Marconi wireless on the ship and how fascinated he was with it.

  I was quick to inform him that Marconi is a sham and a charlatan, and that he has stolen all of his ideas from an American inventor. At that he perked up and asked for more information. I haven’t disclosed your name to him but I did tell him enough to whet his appetite. It is his intention to invest in shipbuilding, and after seeing the Marconi wireless he sees the tremendous importance of ship-to-shore communications.

  This could be a major breakthrough for you Nik. I cannot stress enough the importance of meeting with him, and soon, especially to talk to him before he goes to Marconi. Let us know when you will be available for dinner at our home in Manhattan.

  Remaining your true and faithful friend,

  Robert Johnson

  Two days earlier, Robert had been at his desk when his secretary knocked and announced that a gentleman from Great Britain was in the reception area to see him about a financial matter. His name was Harold Wittington. Robert’s first reaction was one of annoyance at having his lunch hour interrupted, but that changed quickly when she added, “He was attempting to deposit one million five hundred thousand in British currency with a teller on the bank floor and was directed here to speak with you.”

  “One million five hundred thousand in British pound sterling? Are you certain of that, Miss Simmons?”

  “I know, sir, it sounds ridiculously large, but that is what I was told.”

  Wittington was scanning that morning’s copy of the Wall Street Journal when Robert came out to greet him. He immediately extended his hand and said, “Harold Wittington here. I do hope I’m not disturbing you. I didn’t suspect that there would be any difficulty in opening an account, but the young man downstairs seemed quite flustered.”

  “Mr. Wittington, good morning. I am Robert Johnson, president of the bank. I assure you that there is no problem. Mr. Atkinson was not so much confused as he was overwhelmed. Accounts of this size are handled exclusively by me. You will qualify for a much higher interest than the average depositor. I am flattered and honored that you have chosen my bank. Let’s go into my office and discuss your banking needs.”

  Wittington explained his situation. His family’s involvement in coal mining spanned over a hundred years; he was the third generation to be in charge of the business. He wanted to find solid investments outside of the field of mining, and having read about the explosive growth in American manufacturing, he came here to seek opportunities.

  Robert found Harold Wittington to be friendly, gregarious, and quite down to earth. Harry was without affectation and showed a genuine interest in all things American, never once looking down his British nose at the funny mannerisms of speech. The afternoon turned into early evening as they went through the steps to arrange the deposit and the conversions of British pound sterling into the dollar value of US bank notes.

  Wittington had become fascinated with the Marconi wireless aboard the ship as it sailed to New York. He recognized its huge potential for communication and was planning to seek out the New York office of Marconi and discuss investment possibilities.

  His choice of Robert’s bank was an incredible stroke of fortune for Nikola Tesla. Robert immediately recognized that this could be the answer to Tesla’s financial problems. Here was a man of means, one who saw potential and could use his means to exploit that potential. This might be the solution to the unending problems of funding and the effective American blockade that Morgan built around Tesla.

  Robert asked, “Harry, would you like to meet the real inventor of wireless?”

  “Do you know Marconi?”

  “Marconi is nothing but a thief. He has stolen the work of a true genius. There is another man in whom you should invest.”

  “Why, who is he? Of course I would like to meet him!”

  “I’ll give you his name in due time. He has a well-earned distrust of investors in America, a distrust as intense as his hatred of lawyers. These people have stripped him of everything, even his ability to earn a simple living. Let me talk to him. I will arrange for the two of you to meet at my home here in Manhattan. Can you give me two days to arrange a meeting?”

  It was an eventful and beneficial day for Robert and Harold. They had established a working relationship based on trust and cooperation. He agreed to wait a few days. There was a lot of sightseeing to do in New York.

  Robert needed to spend time alone with Tesla before he introduced him to Wittington. He was going to try to put an end to his predilection to give away everything when negotiating with investors. He intended to cajole, plead, threaten, beg, whatever, to open Tesla’s eyes and help him achieve the recognition and wealth he deserved.

  It was nearly impossible for Nikola to believe that he was ever in the wrong. He considered himself to be a giant intellect among inferiors. His leaps of technology left everyone years behind. He was not incorrect in his assessment, but those “inferiors” had a big advantage over him: they lived in the world of here and now, living with the daily consequences of their successes and failures. When Tesla failed to complete something and left people, promises, and money hanging, it was (in his mind at least) because he was moving on to a more important idea, but the consequences of those abandonments cut him off from those he depended upon for support.

  Robert knew he would have to work very hard, walking a tightrope between winning Tesla to his argument or having him storm out of the house, furious at being treated like a naughty schoolboy. Viko was not invited. Robert felt it was important that he not make Tesla feel like he was under attack.

  To their surprise, Tesla was actually on time. Robert had originally planned to wait until after dinner, but since Tesla was early and dinner was not ready, Robert began, proceeding carefully. Robert, Katherine, and Nikola sat in the library with glasses of wine.

  Robert began, “Nik, are you aware of why you are unable to raise investment funds?”

  “No, I don’t understand at all. I offer the most significant electrical developments, but no one is inte
rested.”

  “Nik, they turn you down because you are not dependable. You are the greatest inventor of the present day. Your ideas are the most far-reaching of anyone alive, but you cannot be counted upon to complete what you start. You have a history of walking away from your commitments.”

  Tesla became very quiet. His demeanor took on a look of confusion and anger. His breathing was slow and steady. He stared into Robert’s eyes for what seemed an eternity. He could not understand how Robert, his most supportive champion, could say such a thing. About to shout out in self-defense, he stopped as similar words that Viko had so often spoken to him echoed through his mind. His shoulders sagged; the fatigue of the weeks of struggle flooded over him and he fell back into his chair, buried his face in his hands, and sobbed uncontrollably.

  Robert nodded to Katherine and together they helped Tesla settle down. Katherine spoke softly to him, “Nik, please Nik, you know that we care for you. We think of you as family. Please listen to Robert. He wants to help you. That’s all he is trying to do.”

  Tesla’s muscles relaxed. He rested his head back on the cushion and stared at the ceiling for a few moments. Then, looking at Robert and Katherine standing before him, he said in a quiet voice, “You two are the only true friends I have in this city and, except for Viko, the only family I have left. Go ahead, Robert, I need to hear what you have to say, no matter how painful.”

  At that moment, they were interrupted by Ginny, their maid, who was awkwardly standing in the doorway. “Dinner is ready, but I can keep it warm, Mum.”

  To their surprise, Tesla spoke up. “I’m famished. Let’s enjoy another wonderful meal together.”

  As they walked to the dining room Katherine and Robert exchanged glances and shrugged their shoulders; one could never predict the events of an evening that included Nikola Tesla as company. At dinner one would not have known that anything of a discordant nature occurred between them. Conversation was light and friendly. Once again, Tesla showed the unusual ability of compartmentalizing his emotions.