TESLA'S FREQUENCY
A historical science fiction novel set approximately 30 years after 'Tesla's Signal'.
An elderly inventor...a young orphan...a charismatic poet... An alien queen rising from the ruins with hypnotic power! Retired inventor Nikola Tesla dreams of harnessing cosmic power and ensuring world peace. But ambitious men want to control him and use his genius for their own ends. In a remote mountain town, a cult arises, heralding the arrival of the Space Queen. The sinister Eagle Talon Brotherhood seeks to compel Nikola to build a fleet of advanced weaponry. Their aim: to join forces with Adolf Hitler and rule the world! Who can stop them...except 85-year old Nikola Tesla, a mysterious orphan girl...and a white pigeon? |
Excerpt : Chapter One
The Wizard
The elderly Wizard gripped the switch. “Let there be light,” he cried.
The machine emitted a faint hum. A spark burst from its depths and grew into a steady glow. Blinding flashes of blue light filled the drab hotel room.
Wizard Nikola fixed intense eyes on the glass column. Inside sat a small lump of material like glowing clay: an unstable para-metal with tremendous conductive properties. Around this center he twirled a small rod of tantalum, as if it were a wand. “Come...you can do it,” he whispered in his native Serbian, beckoning with long slender fingers.
The surroundings began to waver. Nikola sensed the wheel of invisible forces turning: pulling great powers up from earth and down from sky. Flashes of blinding light filled the room, illuminating the Wizard's gaunt, aged face. His silver hair glowed; his coat billowed out as a great wind churned through the room. Papers whirled in the air; a lamp shook, a cup smashed on the floor.
A movement caught his eye: a snow-white pigeon fluttered in through the open window.
“Ah, Clara, my love.” He reached out and the White Bird hopped onto his arm. “I think we're close to success!”
He gazed into her bright eyes, knowing that Clara understood his every word. “You and I, we'll tap the wheelworks of Nature. Once we perfect our system, we could power the whole city of New York with this device. We'll usher in a new age of infinite energy for the world...”
A sudden noise interrupted him. His overstrained mind took a moment to identify it: it was no communication from the other universe, but something quite mundane: a sharp knock on the door.
“Mr. Tesla, open up! Security!”
With a silent curse, Nikola dragged himself back to reality. He rubbed at his eyes, as if waking from a dream.
“I'll be right there.” Sighing, the Wizard turned the dial exactly three times, powering the device down. The hum faded; the glow disappeared. The White Pigeon retreated to the windowsill as Niko shoved the machine into its box and stashed it inside the oak cabinet.
“Another time,” he told the electrons as they settled back to their usual course. He ran a comb across his thinning silver hair, with three precise strokes. Dear Lord, he must look a mess!
Two scowling security men confronted him at the door. “Mr. Nikola Tesla?”
“Yes, gentlemen, how can I help you?”
“We had a report your room was on fire.”
“Fire? Oh no, nothing's wrong. I'm just...” Niko searched for words. “I'm experimenting with a new form of energy.”
The hotel manager burst in from behind the security men. “Now you listen here!” His hair looked mussed and he wore his nightshirt. Niko glimpsed the clock: 3:30 AM.
“I've warned you about this before,” cried the manager. “There'll be no 'lectric experiments here.” He shook a finger. “This is a respectable hotel! I've got paying guests who're trying to sleep!” His volume increased with every word. “Why don't you experiment with a rent check now and then, you old fraud!” He paused for breath and hurled his judgment. “Mr. Tesla, you haven't paid up in three months. Gather your things! I want you out of this room by morning.”
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The Wizard
The elderly Wizard gripped the switch. “Let there be light,” he cried.
The machine emitted a faint hum. A spark burst from its depths and grew into a steady glow. Blinding flashes of blue light filled the drab hotel room.
Wizard Nikola fixed intense eyes on the glass column. Inside sat a small lump of material like glowing clay: an unstable para-metal with tremendous conductive properties. Around this center he twirled a small rod of tantalum, as if it were a wand. “Come...you can do it,” he whispered in his native Serbian, beckoning with long slender fingers.
The surroundings began to waver. Nikola sensed the wheel of invisible forces turning: pulling great powers up from earth and down from sky. Flashes of blinding light filled the room, illuminating the Wizard's gaunt, aged face. His silver hair glowed; his coat billowed out as a great wind churned through the room. Papers whirled in the air; a lamp shook, a cup smashed on the floor.
A movement caught his eye: a snow-white pigeon fluttered in through the open window.
“Ah, Clara, my love.” He reached out and the White Bird hopped onto his arm. “I think we're close to success!”
He gazed into her bright eyes, knowing that Clara understood his every word. “You and I, we'll tap the wheelworks of Nature. Once we perfect our system, we could power the whole city of New York with this device. We'll usher in a new age of infinite energy for the world...”
A sudden noise interrupted him. His overstrained mind took a moment to identify it: it was no communication from the other universe, but something quite mundane: a sharp knock on the door.
“Mr. Tesla, open up! Security!”
With a silent curse, Nikola dragged himself back to reality. He rubbed at his eyes, as if waking from a dream.
“I'll be right there.” Sighing, the Wizard turned the dial exactly three times, powering the device down. The hum faded; the glow disappeared. The White Pigeon retreated to the windowsill as Niko shoved the machine into its box and stashed it inside the oak cabinet.
“Another time,” he told the electrons as they settled back to their usual course. He ran a comb across his thinning silver hair, with three precise strokes. Dear Lord, he must look a mess!
Two scowling security men confronted him at the door. “Mr. Nikola Tesla?”
“Yes, gentlemen, how can I help you?”
“We had a report your room was on fire.”
“Fire? Oh no, nothing's wrong. I'm just...” Niko searched for words. “I'm experimenting with a new form of energy.”
The hotel manager burst in from behind the security men. “Now you listen here!” His hair looked mussed and he wore his nightshirt. Niko glimpsed the clock: 3:30 AM.
“I've warned you about this before,” cried the manager. “There'll be no 'lectric experiments here.” He shook a finger. “This is a respectable hotel! I've got paying guests who're trying to sleep!” His volume increased with every word. “Why don't you experiment with a rent check now and then, you old fraud!” He paused for breath and hurled his judgment. “Mr. Tesla, you haven't paid up in three months. Gather your things! I want you out of this room by morning.”
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See also "Tesla's Signal: A historical SF adventure" on main page.
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Please sign the contact form on main page to be put on my mailing list, request an advance review copy, or purchase a discount print copy.