Priceless works of art, framed in gold, hung high and low. Niko identified Renaissance Masters, Van Goghs, Rembrandts and medieval fresco panels.
Morgan had also collected several tiger skins, rhino horns, and a stuffed bear. The man was a collector all right. He had collected Steel, Oil and Railroads. He had driven many rival companies into bankruptcy so he could scoop them into his coffers. Now Niko was giving Morgan the means to add World Wireless to his private hoard.
But what other choice do I have?
Morgan fixed him with a steely gaze. “Tesla, you are like the midway at Coney Island. Always something novel, strange and fantastic.” Sighing, he took out a pen. “Very well—there's no fortune without risk. So I'll take a shot at this venture of yours! I'll advance you a loan of $150,000 to complete your tower. I'll retain a 51 percent interest in your company, but here's the catch...” he leaned forward with a sly grin. “If the reporters ask, tell 'em that was your idea. They're already complaining that I control the whole damn country. All right? Here, sign on this line. Now then—let's drink a toast to our new venture, the control of wireless radio communication!” He poured sparkling brandy into two crystal shot glasses.
“Thank you, Mr. Morgan, you are truly one of the most generous men on Earth!”
After that, Niko worked twice as hard and slept even less than before. A mania took him, similar to that of his gaming days: a passion to challenge himself. Now he had wagered his technical abilities, his finances, and his reputation, in the hope that his grand idea would work. For this game he had pitted his nerve and wits against nature, physics, and one of the greatest financial kings in the world.
“I'm sorry, Katharine,” he told his friend over the telephone. “I cannot spare the time to accept your dinner invitation.”
“Do tell! What sort of grand scheme are you hatching these days,
Nicky?”
“It will be a scientific breakthrough—a method of transmitting information and electrical power through the world.”
Katherine sighed. “How wonderful. I only wish your machine could transmit your delightful presence to our humble parlor now and again.”
The project got underway at the remote acreage in Shoreham. The first project was a large brick plant which would house his equipment—the great generators that came from Westinghouse, the transformer coils, and the contents of Niko's laboratory which would be shipped from the city.
Then the tower itself began to take shape. Tall girders and struts rose up into the sky. The tower framework would house the mightiest of all transformers to send out the pulses to the heavens. Workmen dug tunnels beneath the tower as well, to tap the currents transmitted by the Earth.
Niko often came out to watch the construction. He could see the whole thing in his mind. Unfortunately it was taking longer than he'd thought to put his vision into being—and costing much, much more.
“How is your great project coming along?” Katharine telephoned him.
Niko sighed. “Not as well as I would like. There are problems with suppliers, design details, labor disputes. And most of all...money.”
“Oh dear. Do tell!”
“Yes, prices keep rising and the bills are piling up. The stock market has taken a nosedive. They say the whole economy's going into recession.”
***
Every day brought new frustrations, but Niko kept his spirits up, visualizing the future. One day he would be able to speak with anyone...his family in Croatia, his college friends in Hungary, and...his Colleagues far beyond Earth, wherever they might be. Mars? Venus? A Jovian world of gas clouds? Who knew? Surely there were intelligent beings out there. Morgan could have his stock quotes and Niko could exchange ideas with great minds all around the galaxy. How grand that would be!
The time slipped by and soon a year passed, then two years and three. While Niko struggled to put his vision
Morgan had also collected several tiger skins, rhino horns, and a stuffed bear. The man was a collector all right. He had collected Steel, Oil and Railroads. He had driven many rival companies into bankruptcy so he could scoop them into his coffers. Now Niko was giving Morgan the means to add World Wireless to his private hoard.
But what other choice do I have?
Morgan fixed him with a steely gaze. “Tesla, you are like the midway at Coney Island. Always something novel, strange and fantastic.” Sighing, he took out a pen. “Very well—there's no fortune without risk. So I'll take a shot at this venture of yours! I'll advance you a loan of $150,000 to complete your tower. I'll retain a 51 percent interest in your company, but here's the catch...” he leaned forward with a sly grin. “If the reporters ask, tell 'em that was your idea. They're already complaining that I control the whole damn country. All right? Here, sign on this line. Now then—let's drink a toast to our new venture, the control of wireless radio communication!” He poured sparkling brandy into two crystal shot glasses.
“Thank you, Mr. Morgan, you are truly one of the most generous men on Earth!”
After that, Niko worked twice as hard and slept even less than before. A mania took him, similar to that of his gaming days: a passion to challenge himself. Now he had wagered his technical abilities, his finances, and his reputation, in the hope that his grand idea would work. For this game he had pitted his nerve and wits against nature, physics, and one of the greatest financial kings in the world.
“I'm sorry, Katharine,” he told his friend over the telephone. “I cannot spare the time to accept your dinner invitation.”
“Do tell! What sort of grand scheme are you hatching these days,
Nicky?”
“It will be a scientific breakthrough—a method of transmitting information and electrical power through the world.”
Katherine sighed. “How wonderful. I only wish your machine could transmit your delightful presence to our humble parlor now and again.”
The project got underway at the remote acreage in Shoreham. The first project was a large brick plant which would house his equipment—the great generators that came from Westinghouse, the transformer coils, and the contents of Niko's laboratory which would be shipped from the city.
Then the tower itself began to take shape. Tall girders and struts rose up into the sky. The tower framework would house the mightiest of all transformers to send out the pulses to the heavens. Workmen dug tunnels beneath the tower as well, to tap the currents transmitted by the Earth.
Niko often came out to watch the construction. He could see the whole thing in his mind. Unfortunately it was taking longer than he'd thought to put his vision into being—and costing much, much more.
“How is your great project coming along?” Katharine telephoned him.
Niko sighed. “Not as well as I would like. There are problems with suppliers, design details, labor disputes. And most of all...money.”
“Oh dear. Do tell!”
“Yes, prices keep rising and the bills are piling up. The stock market has taken a nosedive. They say the whole economy's going into recession.”
***
Every day brought new frustrations, but Niko kept his spirits up, visualizing the future. One day he would be able to speak with anyone...his family in Croatia, his college friends in Hungary, and...his Colleagues far beyond Earth, wherever they might be. Mars? Venus? A Jovian world of gas clouds? Who knew? Surely there were intelligent beings out there. Morgan could have his stock quotes and Niko could exchange ideas with great minds all around the galaxy. How grand that would be!
The time slipped by and soon a year passed, then two years and three. While Niko struggled to put his vision
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