Patent Pending: A Hint of Evil

The flight from Seattle to Fairbanks was a frightening one. Not only was the jet much smaller, an A300 Airbus, but once again I was largely empty. Once we got off the ground I asked for some coffee and a warm blanket. I was tired and cold.

When the caffeine kicked in I felt better and decided to finish reading about Dr. Eastlund. The more I read about him, the more I was amazed at his work and how it could revolutionize the world.

Eastlund's first patent (US #4,686,605) was for a "Method and Apparatus for Altering A Region In the Earth's Atmosphere, Ionosphere, And Or Magnetosphere." The patent information contained in my manuscript described the various levels of atmosphere surrounding Earth as a kind of plastic layer, made up of various molecules and having different electrical charges. Eastlund has devised a way of beaming powerful radio waves up in the air and causing these various levels of space that surrounded Earth to become "heated" and to expand - like melted plastic. This seemed like an odd thing for anyone to want to do. But as I read on, it began to make sense.

His second patent described the reflection of a second signal, using a previously "heated" ionospheric bulge, to distant locations on the Earth's surface. Interesting, I thought, but why would anyone want to do that?

Eastlund had been working with the Atlantic Richfield Company, holders of a massive reserve of natural gas under Alaska's north slope. ARCO bought Eastlund's first two patents with the understanding that this new technology would make it possible for their natural gas reserves, too expensive to be piped from Alaska, to be converted to electrical energy on the north slope, and then bounced off the heated ionosphere to customers in remote locations around the globe. Also, because Eastlund's "heaters" could elevate the Earth's ionosphere, his discovery provided the ability to control weather! Jet streams could be altered, tornadoes could be zapped and rain could be made-- anywhere and anytime-- right here and right now! This was definitely getting interesting.

But it seemed the military had other plans. Yellow hilights marked the last several pages. The military had purchased these two patents from ARCO and had given them to Raytheon, a military contractor. So there would be no civilian use for this new technology after all. Was that it? Was this the "terrible" thing that had placed me on this cold jet, heading for icy Fairbanks? Or was there more to the story?

I slept for a while until we landed in Fairbanks. As I deplaned I made sure to transfer the red pin to the lapel of my leather jacket. I had made no plans in Fairbanks and so I was a little concerned. It was late in the evening and I was in the middle of nowhere, with no return plans for four more days. For a moment I panicked.

"Dan? Dan Eden?" I turned to meet a young man wearing a heavy hooded parka with a fur lining. With him was another man, similarly dressed and holding an insulated parka in his arms. "Here, let me take your bag. And why don't you put this on. You'll be more comfortable."

I was surprised that the man was so young. He looked like a college student. I handed his companion my small suitcase and then exchanged my leather coat for the warmer parka.

"We are going to put your coat and bag in a locker. You won't be needing anything while you are here. And we will give you the key so you can get everything when you are ready to leave. Is that okay with you, sir?"

"Sir?" I had never been called that. It immediately made me sense that there was some military component here. The green parkas began to look like government issue. All around me I could see military people, green duffel bags and men with short crew cuts.

"So who are you guys? What's this all about anyway? Are you in the military?" I had a zillion questions. We walked quickly to the lockers and my items were placed inside and I was given the key. "I have my camera and laptop in there and..."

"You won't need anything now. Just come with us. We'll take care of you. It has to be this way for now. We'll explain it all later. Let's go."

As we left the warmth of the airline terminal the cold air struck me and instantly froze my nostrils. My eyes temporarily fogged and breathing was difficult. "Damn it's cold!" A bank sign read "Welcome to Fairbanks - It's 6 degrees F." A big old Chrysler smoked up to meet us at the sidewalk and we all got in. It was warm inside and for the first time I got a good look at my hosts.