On Deception Watch

by David H Spielberg

  He got up and poked the logs, setting up a shower of sparks that rose quickly up the flue. He placed another log in the fire and, standing before the fireplace, watched the new wood quickly catch fire, ignited by the intense heat of the ember bed. He had the artificial logs and natural gas jets removed from the fireplace in the Oval Office. He wanted everything real in the office. Illusion too often gave way to delusion. In this room he would have none of it.

  Was it our opposing thumb or was it fire that gave us the edge? Drummond knew in his heart it was fire. It was fire that kept the beasts at bay; it was fire that hardened the tips of spears and arrows; it was fire that eased the arctic cold; it was fire that swept and ravaged and cleared.

  There was more than comfort in that little box of flame built into the wall—a satisfaction beyond the physical warmth, the pleasant glow, and the dancing shadows. There was an indefinable kinship, unrelated to any intellectual process. For Drummond, there was a secret place within, a place from where the strength to challenge and persist and conquer is drawn. And that place was forged not from any heart of darkness but rather from a flaming tiger burning bright.

  6

  Samuel Berman arranged himself uncomfortably in his chair, adjusting his glasses and securely holding his leather briefcase on his lap. He was short and slight of build. He wore a gray pinstripe suit, a stiff-collared, bright-white shirt, and wide silk tie. He was correctly attired, yet somehow his clothes seemed meant for another man or another time. Instead of adding grace and confidence, they seemed rather an irrelevance left indifferently to others to choose for him. He and his clothes had not yet formed a happy partnership. They were far too tailored for the humble and sincere person he appeared to be. One had a feeling it was the clothing that deceived.

  “Thank you, Mr. President. I am very grateful for this opportunity to speak with you on behalf of my chairman. I know you will be satisfied that you didn’t do this foolishly when we finish our conversation,” Samuel Berman said quietly, in a respectful European manner.

  “Not at all, Mr. Berman. I must say that you certainly know how to arouse a politician’s interest.”

  The president did not want this conversation taped. He had disabled the automatic recording device, and only Morrison, using earphones in his office, would be witness to whatever transpired between these two men.

  “My chief of staff has assured me that I will not be disappointed in our meeting. Can I get you something before we begin—coffee, tea?”

  “No, thank you, Mr. President. That is very kind of you.”

  “Well, shall we get started then? May I ask you to begin at the beginning for me? I always feel if you lose the basics, no matter how much you learn later, you’re always at a disadvantage, building on a base of sand, you see. Educate me, Mr. Berman, to why you are here and what it is that you want from the United States government.”

  “Thank you, Mr. President. I will do my best. It is very true what you say. The beginnings are always so easily lost. Then actions later on can lose their sense, their rationality. The motivation for great acts can become lost in the blind rush of events.”

  Berman leaned forward in his chair and locked his eyes onto Drummond’s.

  “Mr. President, to begin at the beginning, I am here at the express wishes and with the authorization of the founder, owner, and chairman of the board of Nova Industries Incorporated, Dr. Arthur J. Cranshaw. The purpose of my visit regards a wholly owned subsidiary of Nova Industries called AJC Fusion. As you have no doubt heard by now, AJC Fusion has achieved the great technological breakthrough of igniting deuterium-tritium fuel pellets; that is, accomplishing controlled thermonuclear fusion. We can do this at will, on a regular basis.”

  “Yes, of course, General Slaider passed this information on to me. May I ask how it is that your company was able to succeed at this where so many others have failed?”

  “You understand I am not a technical person, Mr. President, but Dr. Cranshaw has authorized me to say that the success was largely due to a process that we are now patenting called X-ray-enhanced implosion. Our fuel capsules are coated with a proprietary metallic coating that emits large numbers of X-rays during the laser compression phase. The X-rays add to and enhance the optical compression, allowing us to achieve ignition; that is, nuclear fusion of the target material.”

  “When did you first achieve ignition?”

  “Three months ago, Mr. President. We have been verifying and improving the results ever since.”

  “What exactly are the commercial implications of your company’s research success? As you well know, Mr. Berman, very sophisticated technical achievements often are very far-removed from practical application. I imagine we are still a long way from thermonuclear power stations replacing our existing system.”

  “This is very true, Mr. President, but not for the reasons you imagine. We have not just performed a piece of laboratory legerdemain. No, no. This is a complete system we have designed. We have solved the materials problems of containing and utilizing the high neutron fluxes; we have solved the problem of fuel injection and timing; we have solved the problem of conversion to electricity through the use of advanced fuel cell technology or our design. We have solved all the technical problems except one—we are, for the time being, laser limited. This means, Mr. President, that while we can easily achieve ignition, that is, the fusion of some of the fuel in our target capsules, we do not have enough energy in our laser to ignite all or a high percentage of the fuel. This keeps the process from achieving or exceeding economic breakeven. I assume General Slaider explained our meaning for that term. Our percent of fuel compression is limited by our lasers. That is our only technical deficiency, Mr. President, in moving to the stage of commercialization.”

  “Well, Mr. Berman, your company has been clever enough to do the impossible in the area of fusion ignition. Are you not also working on a suitable laser system?”

  “Alas, we are not. You see our plan assumed that a suitable laser would be available to us when we were ready for it. Unhappily that is not the case. The only lasers under development that will allow us to achieve the commercially necessary minimum conversion of fuel are associated with weapons-development programs of the federal government.”

  “I see. It sounds to me, Mr. Berman, that what you are getting around to is asking me for access to our country’s laser developments in order to benefit a private company. I’m afraid as the guardian of the public trust, I can’t do that. Why don’t you just develop your own since you seem to have a wonder lab at your disposal?”

  “We considered this, I assure you. We are very highly motivated by the profit incentive, Mr. President, and are not happy with the prospect of destroying our carefully nurtured private status. However, recent developments necessitate a reevaluation of our position regarding partnership with the United States government. These developments are the reason for our secrecy in contacting you and for our urgency in advancing these discussions. As you will see, what we propose will be to our mutual benefit.”

  Berman stopped speaking and leaned back in his chair, content that he had achieved this degree of exposure of his company’s problem in so short a time. He was pleased that the president was so obviously well-briefed on the basics of the technology that they were discussing. He now felt a moment was in order to let the conversation settle. Also, he was not used to having to move so quickly in a meeting, especially important meetings.

  Drummond was not so content. There were still too many issues he did not understand. But he was interested and would continue the discussion.

  “Mr. Berman, please, if you will, explain to me the reasons for your sense of urgency. Perhaps it will be to the advantage of the United States government not to rush matters. Our interests may be divergent in this regard.”

  “Mr. President, in most revolutionary business ventures, being first with the product can provide a commanding lead over all your competitors. You can solidify your market position while th
ey chase to catch up. For example, xerography illustrates the point well. It took many years for competitors to challenge the Xerox Corporation. And similarly with Apple computers with its continuously revolutionary user-machine interface strategies. Unfortunately, what we are dealing with is not just revolutionary, it is profoundly destabilizing. There are huge financial interests that our discoveries and inventions directly threaten with extinction. Quite simply, Mr. President, we are not concerned with being first. We are concerned with staying alive.

  “We had hoped to control news of our developments until a suitable laser had been incorporated into our system and a complete economically viable package could be demonstrated and marketed. Then we could not be attacked technically or economically, our credibility could not be challenged, our demise not ignored or forgotten. We would have a complete working system worth more than a hundred technical news releases and rebuttals to false or jealous attacks on us. Unhappily there has evidently been a defection in our ranks. Our Director of Operations, Mr. Philip Layland, has disappeared and we fear he is seeking his fortune by betraying us to interests that would pay handsomely for help in destroying us.”

  Drummond was satisfied that his trust in Frank Morrison was once again justified. Frank’s analysis of AJC Fusion’s position was exactly correct. And he himself would say that they had good reason to be concerned about foul play. These were very high stakes being played by all sides. The internal defection and Berman’s insistence on a speedy meeting now seemed consistent to Drummond. He would pursue this.

  “If what you say about your director is true, then it would seem to me you have no choice but to announce your accomplishments as soon as possible.”

  “You are correct, Mr. President. We are in the process now of securing the most credible public announcement. We have arranged with the Washington Courier an exclusive story of our achievement by the noted science journalist, James Marshall. The Courier has assured us they will handle the story as a series of articles so as to achieve the maximum impact and exposure. Nevertheless, the fact remains that we are in the embarrassing position of having almost leaped the chasm, but not quite. Without the laser our technical achievement can easily be made to appear only that: an esoteric scientific bauble. The public memory for such things is short. In the time we would need to develop our own laser we could and probably would be destroyed. We harbor no illusions about the resources that would be aligned against us.”

  Berman leaned forward and stared intently at the president. He had not finished and the president knew this. Lowering his voice and speaking slowly, Berman said, “Our enemies do not want to be first before us. They want no one to be first.”

  Both men remained silent. After a moment, Berman relaxed and leaned back again in his chair. President Drummond continued his studied observance of the intent scholar-businessman before him. Who was this Samuel Berman? What really had AJC Fusion accomplished? How could he decide whether these people really had anything without getting the presidency involved prematurely or foolishly, without risking embarrassment or even scandal for his administration by dealing so closely with a private company? Why did he believe this man? Was it pride, or maybe arrogance, that the true new millennium should begin on his tour of duty?

  “Mr. Berman, perhaps you should get to why you are telling me all this.”

  “Mr. President, we find that because of the present turn of events initiated by the evident defection of Mr. Layland, we are risking everything in order to possess everything. This is an unacceptable position even for a speculative entrepreneurial venture.” Berman paused, as if gathering his strength.

  “For the protection of the United States government and access to appropriate laser developments that will allow a complete commercial package to be offered, we will release a partial equity position in AJC Fusion to the people of America. We estimate that with a successful consummation of this proposal, a pilot methane/hydrogen generating pilot plant along with an associated electric generating pilot plant could be constructed and operating within six months. We even have fuel cells suitable for automobile use that can be incorporated into the current breed of electric vehicles. They would simply use the fuel cells of our design instead of the storage batteries presently in use.

  “Because we are not dealing with radioactive fuel or waste, licensing for a commercial-scale plant should be much simpler and less time-consuming than a typical nuclear power station. A commercial-scale plant could be in operation in two to three years. We estimate that the pilot plant will generate a thousand kilowatts of power at a fuel conversion efficiency of 75 percent with production cost of two-and-a-half cents per kilowatt-hour. This is about one-fourth to one-third the present cost from a fossil fuel plant. A commercial-scale plant will drop the production cost to less than one-tenth of present costs. Once commercial operation has been demonstrated, license fees for the technology can be arranged both domestically and worldwide, producing profits to both the United States treasury and the shareholders of AJC Fusion. Naturally, there will be many details to work out, but this is the basic proposal.”

  Drummond did not react at the conclusion of Berman’s statement. He knew he would need time to think this all out. What he wanted to make sure was that he asked all the questions he needed to ask.

  “Of course you expect that first we will have to verify your technical claims.”

  “Naturally, Mr. President. Mr. Marshall’s articles in the Courier will buy us some time. Several months, we believe. During that period, we would like to move as quickly as possible to establish an agreement with you. We assume that the first step will be verification, probably by a team from the Lawrence Livermore Laboratories. Since they are working along similar lines, they would be your most knowledgeable auditors. Following your team’s confirmation of our claims, the details of the business relationship would be worked out by each side’s business representatives.”

  “You realize, Mr. Berman, that the United States government does not ordinarily engage in joint ventures with private companies.”

  “Our chairman, Dr. Cranshaw, is fond of quoting James Herbert: ‘To him that will, ways are not wanting.’ We were thinking, Mr. President, of a market segmentation where we would handle the licensing portion of the business and the government would function as a for-profit energy supplier, something on the lines of the Tennessee Valley Authority.”

  Drummond had heard enough for the time being. This was sufficient for a first meeting, and to pursue the conversation further to more substantive matters would imply a degree of collaboration he was not prepared to yield on so little evidence or from so tenuous a bargaining position. He would need time to develop a strategy for dealing with Berman and his boss.

  “I think we may be getting ahead of ourselves now. Mr. Berman. When did you say your series by Mr. Marshall would be out?”

  “The Courier expects the first article to appear in three days, in this Sunday’s edition.”

  “Well, so the cat will be out of the bag. At which time it will be perfectly appropriate for your company to invite a select team of government scientists to visit your facility for a detailed technical briefing. Assuming that your claims are verified at that briefing, we should schedule now for a follow-up meeting to continue the discussions we began today. Mr. Morrison, my chief of staff, whom you have already met, will arrange for this and all subsequent meetings. In addition, I will not be attending these discussions. The appropriate government experts will be the participants on our side. Is this satisfactory to you, Mr. Berman?”

  “This is most generous, Mr. President. I look forward to the visit of your technical team. For the present, I will act as liaison between our company and your Mr. Morrison.”

  ‘May I ask you one last question, Mr. Berman?”

  “Of course, Mr. President. Anything.”

  “Why didn’t your chairman ask to speak with me himself?”

  Berman moved uncomfortably in his chair. With a faint smile he explained,
“Sometimes the founder of a company is not the best person to represent the company’s interests, Mr. President. With their passion and their vision . . . well, it is sometimes easier to trust a simple bean counter.”

  “Not such a simple bean counter to get himself and his company in to see the president of the United States on one day’s notice. Not bad, Mr. Berman. I would say your boss gave the right job to the right man. Well, I believe we’ve had a fruitful first meeting today. I appreciate your frankness and your enterprise. Naturally, you will make reference to our meeting today with no one except the highest levels of management in your own company. For me, discretion is a test of trust, Mr. Berman. Let me get Frank Morrison in here and we can get the ball rolling on the technical visit right now.”

  “Of course, Mr. President.”

  7

  The taxi was waiting for him in the driveway as he left the north portico of the White House. Samuel Berman was pleased with the progress of his overtures to the federal government. He knew very well that every impossible problem was solved one small step at a time. But time was precisely his enemy now and the enemy of AJC Fusion and the enemy of the new and better world that AJC Fusion could offer to humanity, for a profit. Yet, he had made progress. Large wheels had been set in motion. And he knew that these wheels, if all went well, could develop a momentum of their own that will move in favor of his assignment. But how can he ensure that all will go well?

  The board of directors had decided that at least one other option had to be pursued in parallel. Berman recommended against this. Trust would be the most important element in his negotiations with the government. Parallel overtures would not enhance the element of trust, nor would it inspire the personal commitment he felt would be needed from the president. Berman was concerned that the president not feel betrayed as a result of his dealing in confidence with AJC Fusion and that he not feel he was being maneuvered into an auction. But his objections were considered and rejected. It was a matter of principle with the board that they must have a fallback position. So be it.