The Genesis Illusion

Chapter 5

Walking from the 116th Street subway station to the Innovatism Institute laboratory on 120th, the route followed the perimeter of the Columbia University central campus. Vintage brick buildings squeezed in between more modern concrete ones lined both sides of the street. They all felt institutional because of the block design with little adornment or architectural interest. The most unique buildings were churches across Broadway and partially hidden on nearby side streets. Engineering facilities occupied most of the Institute building but there were several offices and laboratories for other scientific disciplines.

"Crap, this sucks," Joanna Armstrong snapped at her boss. "The man with the computer mind? Indeed."

Rookie staff writers usually got this type of assignment, a humorous general interest expose. Joanna worked at Science Technology magazine for more than 10 years as a feature writer. She covered highly technical scientific developments and interviewed world renowned experts, even Nobel Prize laureates.

"What have I done to deserve this?" Armstrong continued complaining but her protest collapsed when the boss explained she was the only writer available.

As she marched toward the laboratory, unaware of the brilliant clear sky and unusually clean air, she plotted her interview strategy. Another geek that has an exaggerated unique skill. I'll ask him a few questions and get out. He'll give a boring unintelligible answer but I can leave. He can't be anything special or I would've heard of him.

Entering the third-floor laboratory thru wide double doors a spacious, ultra-modern scientific research facility came into view. Long benches with overhead cabinets on rollers occupied seemingly random positions around the huge open area. Scientific instruments, some she recognized and others she didn't, either occupied bench tops or docked at the end due to their size. Tanks of compressed gasses secured by safety restraints accompanied many of the instrument consoles. Computer screens dotted almost every bench and instrument.

Research personnel, many in white lab coats and wearing eye protection, stood or sat at the benches or instrument controllers. A quick scan of the work-space revealed a multi-discipline laboratory. Armstrong had seen many research laboratories and, although there were familiar elements, this one was different. She could see chemistry, microbiology, and even electronic and mechanical research areas. The variety was striking.

Armstrong stood, abandoned, near the door since there was no reception area. Only a few feet away a woman wearing a white lab coat and eye protection stooped over something on the bench in front of her. The researcher, however, didn't see or pretended not to see her standing there. In the distant rear of the laboratory, blocked by a maze of benches and scientific instruments, a few offices lined the back wall. She spotted a man hurrying toward her from that direction. He wore a business suit that seemed out of place among the otherwise white-clad brigade.

"Hello, Ms. Armstrong, I'm VK Nara, the Institute CFO."

They shook hands and Nara escorted her through the work area jumble of benches and around instruments to an office she had seen the earlier. Nara sat behind the desk and motioned for her to have a seat in the only chair he quickly cleared of a stack of papers.

"We don't get many visitors, especially journalists, so we don't have reception facilities for guests," Nara said. "Sorry about that." Armstrong smiled but didn't speak. "I understand you are interested in talking with Paul, Paul Jacobs, my colleague?"

"Yes, the managing editor wanted me to interview him regarding his code breaking ability." What is this? I get to talk with a front-man? Who does Jacobs think he is?

Nara chuckled and smiled. "It's astonishing all right. He'll be happy to talk with you but you're a little early. We have about fifteen minutes, would you be interested in a quick tour of our facility while you're waiting?" He can't see me fifteen minutes early? That's rude.

Nara guided her around the lab showing her some of the workstations. There were several unique research specialties she hadn't noticed before. Nara explained the need for special isolation due to contamination concerns or specific environmental requirements. Armstrong showed particular interest in the enclosed area dedicated to nanotechnology. A clean room meeting the most stringent standards was necessary to conduct this unique research.

"Paul is developing some amazing new inventions that rely on advancement in this area," Nara said.

"So you do all of your research work here?" Armstrong asked.

"Most of it, but we have agreements with many other institutes and University departments to conduct specialized research when necessary."

Returning to Nara's office they passed a wall displaying all the inventions and advancements made by the Institute over the years. Armstrong stopped to review the display that included photos of the inventions, and corporate and government leaders congratulating Nara and another man, must be Jacobs, for their contributions. "Is this the President? And this looks like the UN?" Wow, who is this guy?

"Yes, we've made many breakthrough advancements."

"I had no idea. I came here only knowing about Mr. Jacobs' code breaking ability. This is a shock. I see the Institute invented the 'clean air' device so we can use our cars and burn gas without exhaust pollution and no carbon dioxide. It changed everything."

"Paul and I wanted to make our advancements available without fanfare or recognition. Our team embraces this approach. We aren't keeping anything secret but we just don't advertise or look for recognition. Some world leaders insisted on a private ceremony and we gratefully accepted."

As they strolled around the laboratory Nara explained the Institute received funding from his personnel wealth and research grants. He pointed out that although they developed inventions for the military, these focused exclusively on health and safety.

Nara looked at his watch before he said, "It's 10:30, would you like to talk to Paul? I'm sure he's cleared off his desk and is waiting for you."

Nara led Armstrong down the row of offices at the rear of the laboratory stopping at one in the center of the back wall. He introduced her to Paul who was sitting behind a desk partially obscured by piles of papers. Nara left them and returned to his office. Armstrong asked permission to record their conversation, so she didn't need to take notes. Paul obliged her request.

"Mr. Nara gave me a brief tour of your research facilities and I have to tell you, I'm shocked," Armstrong said.

"Thank you, we've been doing this now over 20 years and were quite proud of our accomplishments," Paul said. She reminds me of Donna. Her long dark hair and the turned up corners of her lips. Even the sparkle in her eyes.

She asked about his research probing to discover how the Institute operated. It shocked her when he explained that he not only personally directed the research, he often proposed innovations in disparate fields of study. These developments required him to become expert in areas where he previously only had a superficial knowledge.

"I want to get back to my story about your ability to decipher complex coded messages." Armstrong needed to get what she came for even though there was much more to the story.

"Ok, that's a lot of fun." Paul's lips wrinkled up in a wry smile. "Occasionally I'll get a call from the CIA or sometimes the military with either a message they can't decipher or one they need broken quickly."

Paul explained that he didn't know how he deciphered the codes. He likened his mind to a computer that sorted millions of possibilities to arrive at the solution. Armstrong apologized for bringing a coded message for him to decipher. She used a website that claimed to use a challenging method. After handing it to Paul she looked at her watch to time the procedure. When she looked up Paul, smiling, handed her the paper with the solution written on it.

They continued their conversation for a several minutes longer talking about Paul's extraordinary ability to envision attainable but incredible inventions. But unnoticed by Armstrong, Paul's thoughts drifted away, recalling his painful last day with Donna, while continuing to answer her questions.