"You do--!"
"Then I won't say it doesn't matter."
"I'm ignoring your crude remark. Walt, we did accomplish something. It
wasn't too good. Now let's figure out why this thing seems to have been
run over with a fourth dimensional caterpillar-tread truck."
"Well, I can hazard a guess. The synchronizing circuits were not
clamped perfectly. That gives the accordion-pleat effect. The starting
of the trace was not made at the same place each time due to slippage.
We'll have to beef up the synchronization impulse. The circular
staircase effect was probably due to phase distortion."
"Could be," said Don. "That means we have to beef up the transmission
band so it'll carry a higher frequency."
"A lower impedance with corrective elements?"
"Might work. Those will have to be matched closely. We're not
transmitting on a line, you know. It's sheer transmission-tube stuff
from here to there. Well, gang, we've had our fun. Now let's widen the
transmission band and beef up the sync. Then we'll try number two."
Number two was tried the following afternoon. Again, everybody stood
around and watched over Don's shoulder as he removed the cube from the
cabinet.
"Nice," he said, doing a little war dance.
Franks came in puffing, took the cube from Don's fingers and inspected
it. "Not too bad," he said.
"Perfect."
"Not by a jug full. The index of refraction is higher at this edge than
at the other. See?" Walt held the cube before a newspaper and they
squinted through the glass block.
"Seems to be. Now why?"
"Second harmonic distortion, if present, would tend to thin out one
side and thicken up the other side. A sine-wave transmission would
result in even thickness, but if second harmonic distortion is present,
the broad loops at the top create a condition where the average from
zero to top is higher than the average from zero to the other peak.
Follow?"
"That would indicate that the distortion was coming in at this end. If
both were even, they would cancel."
"Right. Your scanning at one end is regular--at the other end it is
irregular, resulting in non-homogeneity."
"The corners aren't sharp," objected Arden.
"That's an easy one. The wave-front isn't sharp either. Instead of
clipping sharply at the end of the trace, the signal tapers off. That
means higher frequency response is needed."
"We need a term. Audio for sonics; radio for electronics; video for
television signals--"
"Mateo," said Arden.
"Um--sounds sort of silly," grinned Walt.
"That's because it's strange. Mateo it is," said Don. "Our mateo
amplifier needs higher frequency response in order to follow the square
wave-front. Might put a clipper circuit in there, too."
"I think a clipper and a sharpener will do more than the higher
frequency," said Farrell. He was plying a vernier caliper, and he
added: "I'm certain of that second harmonic stuff now. The dimension is
cockeyed on this side. Tell you what, Don. I'm going to have the index
of refraction measured within an inch of its life. Then we'll check the
thing and apply some high-powered math and see if we can come up with
the percentage of distortion."
"Go ahead. Meanwhile, _we'll_ apply the harmonic analyzer to this
thing and see what we find. If we square up the edges and make her
homogeneous, we'll be in business."
"The space lines will hate you to pieces," said Arden.
"Nope. I doubt that we could send anything very large. It might be more
bother to run a huge job than the money it costs to send it by spacer.
But we have a market for small stuff that is hard to handle in space
because of its size."
"I see no reason why Keg Johnson wouldn't go for a hunk of it," offered
Wes Farrell.
"I've mentioned it to Keg; the last time I was in Canalopsis," said
Walt. "He wasn't too worried--provided he could buy a hunk."
"Interplanet is pretty progressive," mused Don. "There'll be no reason
why we can't make some real handy loose change out of this. Well, let's
try it again tomorrow."
"O.K. Let's break this up. Will we need any more blocks from Terran
Electric?"
* * * * *
It was less than a month later that a newspaper reporter caught the
advance patent notice and swallowed hard. He did a double take, shook
his head, and then read the names on the patent application and decided
that someone was not fooling. He took leave and made the run to Venus
Equilateral to interview the officials. He returned not only with a
story, but with a sample glass block that he had seen run through the
machine.
The news pushed one hatchet murder, a bank robbery, a football upset,
and three political harangues all the way back to page seven. In terms
more glowing than scientifically accurate, the matter transmitter
screamed in three-inch headlines, trailed down across the page in
smaller type, and was embellished with pictures, diagrams, and a
description of the apparatus. The latter had been furnished by
Walt Franks, and had been rewritten by the reporter because Walt's
description was too dry.
The following morning Venus Equilateral had nine rush telegrams. Three
were from cranks who wanted to go to Sirius and set up a restorer there
to take people; four were from superstitious nuts who called Channing's
attention to the fact that he was overstepping the rights given to him
by his Creator; one was from a gentleman who had a number of ideas, all
of which were based on the idea of getting something for nothing and
none of which were legal; and the last one was a rather curt note from
Terran Electric, pointing out that this device came under the realm of
the power-transmission tube and its developments and that they wanted a
legal discussion.
"Have they got a leg to stand on?" asked Walt.
"I doubt it."
"Then to the devil with them," snapped Walt. "We'll tell 'em to go jump
in the lake."
"Nope. We're going to Terra and slip them the slug. If we clip them
now, they'll have nothing to go on. If we wait till they get started,
they'll have a fighting chance. Besides, I think that all they want to
do is to have the facts brought out. Are we or are we not under the
terms of that contract?"
"Are we?"
"We're as safe as Sol. And I know it. That contract pertained to the
use of the solar beam only, plus certain other concessions pertaining
to the use of the power-transmission tubes and other basic effects as
utilized in communications."
"Why can't we tell them that?"
"It's got to be told in a court of law," said Don. "Kingman's mind runs
to legal procedure like Blackstone."
"We'll take the gadgets?"
"Right. What are you using for power?"
"What other? Solar beams, of course. We don't bother about running
stuff around any more. We plug it in the 115-volt line, it energizes
the little fellows just long enough to make them self-sustaining from
Sol. All the 115-volt line does is to act as a starting circuit."
"You and Farrell had better dream up a couple of power supplies then.
We can't use the solar beam on Terra."
"I know. We're a little ahead of you on that. Wes and one of the Thomas
boys cooked up a beam-transducer power supply that will get its juice
from any standard 115-volt, sixty-cycle line socket. We've got two of
them--and they run the things easily."
"Good. I'll 'gram Terran Electric and let 'em know we're on our way for
the legal tangle. You load up the _Relay Girl_ and we'll be on our way.
Stock up the usual supply of bars, blocks, gadgets, and traps. Might
include a bar magnet. When we show that it is still magnetized, we'll
gain a point for sure."
"If we take a magnet, we'd better take the fluxmeter to show that the
magnetic field hasn't dropped."
"Right. Take anything you can think of for a good show. We can knock
them dead!"
* * * * *
Mark Kingman put his assistant legal counsel on the witness stand. "You
will state the intent of the contract signed between Terran Electric
and Venus Equilateral."
"The contract holds the following intent: 'Use of the
power-transmission tubes for communications purposes shall fall under
the jurisdiction of Venus Equilateral. For power transmission, the
tubes and associated equipment shall be under the control of Terran
Electric. In the matter of the solar beam tubes, the contract is as
follows: Venus Equilateral holds the control of the solar beam in
space, on man-made bodies in space, and upon those natural bodies in
space where Venus Equilateral requires the solar power to maintain
subsidiary relay stations.'"
"Please clarify the latter," said Kingman. "Unless it is your intent to
imply that Terra, Mars, and Mercury fall under the classification of
'places where Venus Equilateral requires power.'"
"Their control on natural celestial objects extends only to their
own installations and requirements. Basically, aside from their own
power requirements, Venus Equilateral is not authorized to sell
power. In short, the contract implies that the use of the sub-etheric
phenomena is divided so that Venus Equilateral may use this region for
communications, while Terran Electric uses the sub-ether for power. In
space, however, Venus Equilateral holds the rights to the power beam."
Frank Tinken, head legal man of Venus Equilateral, turned to Don and
said: "We should have this in a technical court."
Don turned his attention from the long discussion of the contract and
asked: "Why not change?"
"Judges hate people who ask for changes of court. It is bad for the
requestee--and is only done when the judge's disinterest is open to
question--and also when the suspicion of dislike is less dangerous than
the judge himself."
"Well, this should be in a technical court."
"Want to chance it?"
"I think so. This is more than likely to turn up with differential
equations, physics experts, and perhaps a demonstration of atom
smashing."
Kingman finished his examination and turned away. The judge nodded
sourly at Tinken. "Cross-examination?"
Tinken faced the witness, nodded, and then faced the court.
"The witness' statements regarding the contract are true. However,
Judge Hamilton, I will attempt to show that this case is highly
technical in nature and as such falls under the jurisdiction of the
Technical Court. May I proceed?"
"Counsel for the plaintiff assures me that this is not truly a
technical case," snapped Hamilton. "However, if you can definitely
prove that the case in point hinges on purely technical matters, what
you say may be instrumental in having this hearing changed. Proceed."
"Thank you." Tinken turned to the witness. "Exactly what is the point
in question?"
"The point in question," said the witness, "is whether or not the
matter transmitter falls under Terran Electric's contract or Venus
Equilateral's contract."
"Isn't the question really a matter of whether the basic effect is
technically communication or power transmission?"
"Objection!" barked Kingman. "The counsel is leading the witness."
"Objection permitted--strike the question from the record."
"I was merely trying to bring out the technical aspect of the case,"
explained Tinken, "I'll rephrase the question. Is it not true that the
contract between Terran Electric and Venus Equilateral is based upon a
certain technology?"
"Certainly."
"Then if the case is based upon technical aspects--"
"Objection!" marked Kingman. "More than half of all manufacturing
contracts are based upon technical background. I quote the case of
Hines versus Ingall in which the subject matter was the development of
a new type of calculating machine. This case was heard in a legal court
and disposed of in the same."
"Objection permitted."
"No further examination," said Tinken. He sat down and turned to Don,
"We're in trouble. Hamilton does not like us."
"Well, we still have the whip hand."
"Right, but before we get done we'll have trouble with Hamilton."
"Before we get done, Kingman will have trouble with us," said Don.
Terran Electric's lawyer called Wes Farrell to the stand. "Mr. Farrell,
you are employed by Venus Equilateral?"
"Yes."
"In what capacity?"
"As an experimental physicist."
"And as such, you were involved in some phases of the device under
discussion?"
"I was," said Farrell.
"Does the device make use of the solar beam?"
"It does but--"
"Thank you," interrupted Kingman.
"I'm not through," snapped Farrell, "The solar beam is not integral."
"It is used, though."
"It may be removed. If necessary, we can have hand-generators supplied
to generate the operating power."
"I see," said Kingman sourly. "The device itself is entirely new and
basic?"
"Not entirely. The main components are developments of existing parts,
specialized to fit the requirements."
"They are based on specifically what?"
"Certain effects noted in the power-transmission tubes plus certain
effects noted in the solar beam tubes."
"And which of these effects is more contributory?"
"Both are about equally responsible. One will be useless without the
other."
Kingman turned to the judge. "I intend to show that the use of these
effects is stated in the contract."
"Proceed."
"Was there any time during the development of the device any question
of jurisdiction?"
"None whatever," said Farrell. "We knew how we stood."
"The statement is hearsay and prejudiced," stated Kingman.
"Strike it from the record," snapped Hamilton.
"It stands at 'none whatever,'" said Kingman.
The secretary nodded.
"Since absolutely no attention was paid to the terms of the contract,
doesn't that imply that a certain ignorance of the terms might prevail?"
"Objection!" shouted Tinken. "Counsel's question implies legal
carelessness on the part of his opponent."
"How can you be aware of the ramifications of a contract that you do
not read?" stormed Kingman.
"Objection overruled."
"May I take exception?" requested Tinken.
"Exception noted. Counsel, will you rephrase your question so that no
lack of foresight is implied?"
"Certainly," smiled Kingman. "How were you certain that you were within
your rights?"
"If this plan had been open to any question, my superiors would not
have permitted me--"
"That will not serve!" snapped Kingman. "You are making an
implication--your testimony is biased."
"Naturally," barked Farrell. "No one but an idiot would claim to have
no opinion."
"Does that include the court?" asked Kingman suavely.
"Naturally not," retorted Farrell. "I was speaking of interested
parties."
"Let it pass. In other words, Dr. Farrell, you were never sure that you
were within your rights?"
"I object!" exploded Tinken. "Counsel is questioning a witness whose
business is not legal matters on a subject which is legal in every
phase."
"Objection sustained," said Hamilton wearily. The matter was dropped,
but Kingman had gained his point. The item might never appear in the
records, but it was present in the judge's mind.
"Dr. Farrell," said Kingman, "since you have no legal training,
precisely what has been your education and background?"
"I hold a few degrees in physics, one in mathematics, and also in
physical chemistry." Farrell turned to the judge. "Judge Hamilton, may
I explain my position here?"
"You may."
"I have spent thirteen years studying physics and allied sciences. I
believe that I stand fairly high among my fellows. Since no man may be
capable in many arts, I believe that I have not been lax in not seeking
degrees in law."
"No objection," said Kingman. "Dr. Farrell, in order that the process
be properly outlined in the record, I am going to ask you to explain it
in brief. How does your matter transmitter work?"
Farrell nodded and took time to think. Tinken whispered in Don's ear:
"The stinker! He knows Hamilton hates anything more complex than a can
opener!"
"What can we do?"
"Hope that our demonstration blasts them loose. That's our best bet,
plus fighting for every inch."
Farrell moistened his lips and said: "Utilizing certain effects noted
with earlier experimentation, we have achieved the following effects:
The matter to be transmitted is placed in situ, where it is scanned by
an atom-scanner. This removes the substance, atom by atom, converting
the atoms to energy. This energy is then re-converted into atoms and
stored in a matter bank as matter again. The energy of disintegration
is utilized in reintegration at the matter bank with but small losses.
Since some atoms have higher energy than others, the matter bank's
composition will depend upon the scanned substance."
"The matter bank is composed of the same elements as the matter for
transmission?" asked Kingman.
"No. Some elements release more energy than others. It is desirable
that the energy-transfer be slightly negative. That is to say, that
additional energy must be used in order to make the thing work."
"Why?"
"All power lines and other devices are developed for delivering
energy, not receiving it. It is less disastrous to take energy from a
power line than to try and drive it back in--and the energy must be
dissipated somehow."
"Then the matter bank is not the same material."
"No," said Farrell. "The substance of the matter bank is
nonhomogeneous. Simultaneously, it will be whatever element is
necessary to maintain the fine balance of energy--and it is in constant
change."
"Proceed," said Kingman.
"In passing from the disintegrator tube to the reintegrator tube, the
energy impresses its characteristic signal on a sub-ether transmission
system. Radio might work, except that the signal is unbelievably
complex. Wired communications--"
"Objection to the term," said Kingman.
"Sustained."
"Wired--transfer--might work, but probably would not, due to this same
high complexity in transmitted signal. At any rate, upon reception,
the signal is used to influence, or modulate the energy passing from a
disintegrator tube in the receiver. But this time the tube is tearing
down the matter bank and restoring the object. Follow?"
"I believe so. Does the court understand?"
"This court can follow the technical terms."
"Now, Dr. Farrell, the matter transmitter does actually transmit over a
power-transmission tube?"
"Yes. Of the type developed by us for communications."
"But it is a power tube?"
"Yes."
"Then are you certain that you are sending no energy?"
"I object!" shouted Tinken. "The question has no answer."
"Hasn't it?" queried Kingman. "My worthy opponent, all questions have
an answer."
"Objection overruled," snapped Hamilton sourly. "Let the witness
answer."
"It is impossible to send communications without sending some energy.
It is the intent to which the energy is put that determines the
classification."
"Explain further."
"You must send energy when you communicate with a light-blinker,"
grinned Farrell. "The receiving party receives the energy, but couldn't
possibly read a newspaper with it. The beams at Venus Equilateral send
out several million watts--and by the time they get to Luna, they
require amplifications bordering on the million-times before they are
usable. The intent is clear--we are not supplying power, we are sending
intelligence."
"I contend," said Kingman to the judge, "that the contract states
clearly that developments of this device are to be used for
communications only when operated by Venus Equilateral. I further
contend that the transmission of matter does not constitute a
communication, but rather a transfer of energy."
"I object," said Tinken. "If this statement was objectionable to the
learned counsel before, it is equally objectionable to me now."
"Previously," said Kingman suavely, "counsel was trying to influence a
witness. I am merely trying to explain my point."
Hamilton cleared his throat. "Counsel is merely trying to influence
the court; the same privilege will be available to his opponent at the
proper time. That is why we have courts."
Tinken sat down.
"I maintain that the concept of communication precludes matter
transmission," stormed Kingman. "Matter transmission becomes a problem
for the transportation companies and the power companies. _Matter, your
honor, is energy._ They are transmitting energy!"
He stalked over to Tinken and smiled affably, "Cross-examination?" he
offered.
"No questions," said Tinken.