by Ward Wagher
“I think we will need to mount a larger lever on that switch,” Dieter commented, making notes in the record book. “The meter is on zero. Go ahead and start twisting the controller knob.”
Jette slowly reached out to the knob. She touched it and drew back.
“It’s okay. Go ahead, please.”
She reached out again and slowly twisted the knob on the controller. Florian had inscribed a mark on the base of the controller that indicated the power generation threshold. As the knob reached the mark, the needle on the power meter kicked up slightly.
“Hold there for a moment, please.”
She withdrew her hand and looked at Dieter. Florian had inscribed a second mark that indicated the maximum level the previous apparatus had tolerated. Dieter recorded the meter reading.
“Now, Jette, I would like you to slowly turn the dial to the second mark and stop there.”
She nodded and began easing the controller knob around. He watched as the needle on the meter continued to climb. When she reached the second mark, she pulled her hand back again. Dieter studied the meter with raised eyebrows. He scribbled more notes in the record book.
“Very good. Now gradually turn the knob back to where you started.”
Dieter observed as she worked the controller. She had a steady hand, and the readings were interesting. When she had zeroed the controller, she looked up at Dieter.
“That was smoothly done, Jette. Now flip the switch off.”
With a sharp snap, the switch opened, and she jumped. Dieter chuckled.
“That’s a heavy switch. It has to absorb a lot of power.”
“It startled me.”
“Not to worry,” he said. “You did very well. Thank you. That should be all for now.”
“Of course, Dieter.”
She went back over to her desk and sat down. Dieter watched her go and then returned to his notes. Florian slipped over next to Dieter.
“How did she do?”
“At a guess, I would say she was maybe fifteen percent stronger than me.”
Florian whistled softly. “And you are the strongest we have tested previously.”
“I need to tell Ignatz.”
“He needs to know.”
Dieter walked around Florian and over to the open door to Ignatz’s office. He tapped on the door frame.
“Got a minute, Ignatz?”
“Come in, Dieter. What do you need?”
He walked over to the desk where he could speak softly.
“I just tested Jette on the equipment. She is the strongest we have tested.”
Ignatz tossed his pencil down and leaned back in his chair. It was easier now for him to move around and stretch since Jette had removed the stacks of books and papers he would have otherwise been in danger of toppling.
“Is that so? That is interesting. Be sure to write it up, Dieter. When the colonel gets back from Berlin, I want to give him an updated report.”
“The updates Florian made to the test gear seem to work well, too.”
“Good. How is work going on your latest experiment?”
“I am having trouble procuring the necessary electromagnets.”
He scratched his head. “Phone relays, right?”
“Yes. Konrad Zuse has been scrounging old ones for his work, and new ones are on allocation.”
“Very well. When the colonel gets back, I will ask him to see if he can do something for us.”
Dieter nodded. “Thanks, Ignatz.”
“Now, if you will excuse me, those old women in the accounts section are challenging the expenses I submit. I swear they could pick a pig carcass clean.”
“Thanks for your time, Ignatz.”
He wandered back to his bench and studied the new machine he was building. He wondered if he could build smaller and improve on the idea. But that didn’t feel right. He had twelve electromagnets, and it seemed to him like thirty-two was the correct number. He wasn’t sure why he felt that way but was convinced he was right. He pondered the problem, and another idea came to him.
When Dieter drilled his way into a project, his concentration allowed him to ignore everything around him. One time Florian had set off a small firecracker behind him to see if he would notice. Dieter had noticed, as had Ignatz, leading to one of the few times they had witnessed the older man yell. So, as Dieter worked, he did not notice the people entering the lab.
“Everyone and that means you, Dieter, please gather around.”
He looked up when Ignatz spoke to get his attention. Colonel Klemperer stood next to Ignatz and next to the colonel, an SS major in silver and black who seemed to cast a shadow across the room. Dieter pushed his notebook away and moved over to where the other lab workers were gathered.
“Thank you,” Ignatz said, “Colonel Klemperer has an announcement to make.”
The colonel cleared his throat. “Thank you, Herr Schneider. I wish to announce that the Reichsmarshall has turned this laboratory and its projects over to the SS. I believe this will be a great opportunity for everyone. I would like to introduce Major Rolf Kaaden, who will take over from me as the project sponsor.”
“Thank you, Herr Colonel. As he said, the laboratory is now a part of the SS research establishment. The colonel has explained to me the projects that you have been developing. I must say his reports sound incredible. As our first order of business, I would like a demonstration of your equipment. Following that, Herr Schneider and I will begin working on a plan for moving forward.”
Dieter glanced around the room. Ignatz and the colonel had impassive faces. Jette looked frightened. He was uneasy himself, although the SS was more professional than the Gestapo thugs, even though both groups answered to Himmler. He wondered what would become of his work.
“Herr Major, please allow me to introduce our inventor,” Ignatz said. “This is Dieter Faust.”
Dieter stepped forward and bowed slightly, then shook the major’s proffered hand.
“I understand you have created some remarkable machines, Herr Faust.”
After the surprise, Dieter struggled to get his mind functioning again. He tried to study the man who stood in front of him. As a scientist, he was good at quick appraisals. Rolf Kaaden was an unremarkable-looking man in his early thirties. Of medium height with blond hair and blue eyes, Kaaden seemed to illustrate the Nazi image of the Aryan archetype. The man’s baritone voice was perhaps softer than one would expect. Dieter wondered why the man seemed to exude something that made him uncomfortable. He snapped back to the present and realized the major awaited an answer.
“I have had a lot of help from the other people here in the lab, Herr Major. We are a team.”
“Nevertheless, I understand you have developed the original ideas. Perhaps Herr Schneider, if you could have the others return to their tasks, I will allow Herr Faust to demonstrate his inventions.”
“Of course, Herr Major.”
Ignatz retreated to his office, plainly uncomfortable. Dieter walked back over to his bench with the major following.
“First of all, Herr Major, I will demonstrate the power source we have developed.”
“Since we will be working together, please call me Rolf. May I call you Dieter?”
“Of course… Rolf. This is the power cylinder. It consists of multiple coils arranged around a central iron shield. We use the two dry cells here to energize the device. Once it powers up, a relay disconnects the dry cells. Power flows through the copper bar, where we measure the output. We are still working on ways to attenuate the power flow. The initial tests destroyed the light bulbs we used to verify current flow.”
“And you can demonstrate this?” Rolf asked.
“Of course. I flip this switch and turn the controller knob.”
“And this produces power?”
“Yes, with a caveat. We have discovered that this works with only certain people manipulating the device.”
“And what causes the device to produce electrical power?�
��
“We don’t know.”
Major Kaaden glared at Dieter. “You don’t know?”
“It does not match any laws of physics we know of,” Dieter said patiently, “but it works.”
“You are expecting me to believe in magic, Herr Faust?”
“Perhaps I should demonstrate the device.”
Dieter quickly flipped the switch and eased the controller up to the point where the device started producing power. The relay clicked, taking the dry cells out of the circuit. The needle on the power meter popped up to about twenty-five percent.
The major studied the meter and the apparatus. He leaned down to look under the bench to see if any power cables were surreptitiously connected to the device.
“Disconnect the leads to the battery, if you please, Dieter.”
Without a word, Dieter pulled one of the wires from the dry cells. The major studied the device for a few moments. He put his hands on his hips.
“Very well, Dieter. I remain unconvinced; however, this is an impressive demonstration. Now, I understand you have a practical application to show me.”
“I will need the assistance of the lab personnel for this test.”
The others worked at their benches, pretending not to be watching.
“Very well. Florian, Ludwig, Konrad, I need your assistance.”
The other members of the team functioned smoothly setting up a demonstration, as they had done before. Florian handed the major a pair of goggles with dark lenses. He looked at them curiously.
“We have removed the window from a welding helmet and cut the glass to fit in the frames. This experiment is very bright. You will note there are five holes in the wall over there. We will add a sixth.”
The team set the frame holding the glass rod on the bench and connected it to the power generator. Konrad mounted a small plate of inch-thick steel in front of the glass rod. Dieter reviewed all the connections and then nodded.
“Very well, Rolf. I would urge you to put on the goggles. The colonel did not believe me. He was unable to see afterward for about fifteen minutes.”
The major looked around as the others put on their goggles. He shrugged and put his on, too.
“Very well, Dieter. I am ready.”
Dieter flipped the master switch on the power generator and eased up the controller knob.
“Ready, everyone,” he announced.
He twisted the controller knob. The lab team was prepared for the actinic flash and the sharp crack when the device triggered.
“Gott in Himmel!”
The major stared open-mouthed at the apparatus. He whipped the goggles off and turned to look at the piece of steel with the hole newly punched in the center. The edges of the hole were still glowing from the heat. He walked over to the wall, where a seventh hole joined the others. Wisps of steam wafted from the hole.
“I would not touch the hole, just yet, Rolf,” Dieter said. “It is very hot.”
The major walked back over to the device and looked at it, then at the steel plate. He turned back to Dieter.
“Very well, Herr Faust. I now believe you.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
November 9, 1939
“Ignatz, this coffee is terrible,” Dieter said after taking a sip. “What happened?”
Ignatz got up from his desk and walked out into the lab.
“This is all that was on the shelf. The good coffee is gone, and the shopkeeper didn’t know when more would be available. The British have imposed sanctions on our trade.”
Konrad picked up a cup and waited for his turn to pour his potion. “I guess we don’t grow coffee in Germany.”
“Apparently not,” Ignatz said dryly. “What do we have on our plate for today?”
“I have nearly completed a prototype beam weapon for Rolf to inspect,” Konrad said. “I think it will be ready to test later today or tomorrow.”
Dieter sipped at his coffee and grimaced. “I think this may be bad enough for me to give up coffee. Anyway, Ignatz, I’m about ready to test my latest experiment. Florian and Ludwig are helping. Where is Rolf, anyway?”
“I have not heard from him in a couple of days. He mentioned something about finding a new home for the lab.”
Dieter looked at Ignatz. “I kind of like this space.”
Ignatz shrugged. “Whatever our thoughts, I am sure Rolf will tell us what he expects. That is, whenever he returns.”
“Did someone ask for me?” They turned as Rolf walked into the lab.
“Sorry to have been gone for so long. I have arranged for a more secure and larger location for the lab as well as funding.”
“That is good news,” Ignatz commented. “Do you have a date planned for a move?”
“I am arranging for security for the new location. I think we could move the lab with a couple of days’ work. Ignatz’s office would consume the bulk of the time.”
“Oh, thank you very much, Rolf,” Ignatz grumbled as the others laughed.
Despite getting the lab on an organized footing and making heroic efforts in sorting out Ignatz’s office, Jette had yet to make a significant impact on the massive collection of paper in the director’s office.
“It is good you have returned, Rolf,” Dieter said. “I am ready to perform the first test on my new experiment. I know you wanted to observe.”
“Yes, I do. Colonel Heydrich did not believe me when I explained your instruments. I expect he will want to visit soon. I need to be as familiar as possible with your work.”
The SS Major walked over to Dieter’s bench and studied the new apparatus.
“What is this device supposed to do?”
Dieter joined him at the bench. “I think it may provide some kind of a protective field around the wearer. Of course, I may be totally wrong. It may do something else, or it may do nothing.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I am an electrical engineer. When I look at these devices, I see a collection of random parts that individually may produce light or magnetism. But the physical properties say that is all they should do. I am at a loss to explain why they work as they do – or why they work for some people and not for others.”
Rolf canted his head as he studied the equipment, and then he looked up at Rolf.
“You know, one thing we have not done is for me to test the gear.”
“That is right,” Dieter said. “I don’t know why I did not think of that. Would you like to test that now, or watch me test the new device?”
“Let’s test the new device. It has me curious.”
“Very well.” Dieter looked around the lab. “Florian, Ludwig, and Konrad, if you would assist me.”
“What would you desire?” Florian asked.
“Konrad, you will observe and dictate notes to Florian. Ludwig will test the device with me.”
Florian returned to his bench to pick up a notebook and pencil. The group positioned themselves around the bench. Rolf stepped back to give more space.
“Very well,” Dieter said. “I will begin by connecting the wiring to the dry cell battery.”
“You are not using your special power generator?” Rolf interrupted.
“No. That would add more complexity to the experiment. I am trying to keep things simple.”
Rolf nodded for Dieter to continue. After connecting the wires to the screw terminals on the battery, Dieter moved to the center of the workspace. He pushed the lever on the knife switch to close the circuit. He then slowly advanced the rheostat knob. After about a quarter turn, a slight fuzziness appeared in the air over the apparatus.
“Ludwig, please take your pencil and ease it into the air over the device.”
Ludwig slid a pencil out of his pocket and slowly slid it over the device.
“Did you feel anything?”
Ludwig shrugged. “I may have felt some resistance, but I am not sure.”
“Try it again, faster,” Dieter said.
Ludwig pulled the pencil ba
ck and studied the device. Behind him Rolf watched closely. Ludwig tried to push the pencil into the space quickly and stopped.
“Why did you stop?” Dieter asked.
“It stopped me,” Ludwig replied. “It seems like I can slide it in slowly, but not quickly.”
“That is interesting. Try snapping the pencil against the area like it was a small club.”
Ludwig tried this technique, and they could hear the clicking sound as the pencil bounced off something in the air above the device. Florian was scribbling madly in his notebook. Konrad observed, as did Rolf.
“I think we need to try with something heavier,” Dieter suggested.
“I could slap it with my hand,” Ludwig replied.
“No, I don’t think you should do that. We have no idea what might happen when your hand contacts the field.”
“Good point.” Ludwig smiled ruefully.
“Would this help?”
Dieter turned to see Jette holding a 2-centimeter by 2-centimeter piece of oak that was about a meter long.
“Where did this come from?”
“It was a part of the packing crate some equipment arrived in last week,” the girl said.
“Thank you, Jette,” Dieter said. “Here you go, Ludwig. Let’s try some light taps and gradually increase the efforts.”
Ludwig followed Dieter’s instructions and began tapping the field. The sound of the wood thwocking carried around the room.
“Try it harder and see if you can cause the device to move on the table.”
Ludwig gave the field above the device a sharp blow, and the machine moved a couple of centimeters across the bench. Dieter twisted the controller to its farthest position. The fuzziness above the device solidified into a silvery reflective dome.
“Try it again, Ludwig.”
He subjected the field to another hard blow, and this time it did not move.
“Hit it hard,” Dieter ordered.
Ludwig twisted around and swung the wood. The silvery field gonged like a bell when the club connected. The wood splintered. Ludwig dropped the remaining piece and shook his hands with a yelp.
“That stung!”
As they watched, the silvery reflective air faded. Dieter looked over at the voltmeter connected to the circuit.