He noted the calendar for the day. He nodded. He was to see a group of
physicists from one of the government bureaus. That would be O.K. Later
in the afternoon there was a conference between a group of production
superintendents who were about to start producing items using the
poltergeist effect. He made a notation to investigate the epicenter
effect and see what could be generated out of it.
The latter was interesting, and presented a problem.
He arose from the breakfast table and sought the chessboard. He
laughed quietly and advanced a knight to cover his opponent's bishop.
That was in accordance with a well-known theory of chess. If, after
several moves, no apparent pattern is manifest, attack with a minor
piece--or even capture or exchange minor pieces. The plan of attack may
be obscure to you, but the chances are that a bold counterattack or
exchange of minor pieces will disrupt the attack.
Well, all was well.
His plans? They were simple enough. He would carry on. He would do more
research, and confound the engineer whenever next he returned. It was
as simple as that.
* * * * *
"The poltergeist effect," said Thomas, facing the group of government
physicists, "is still in the field of research and development--and
wide open on all sides. Much is still unknown about it, in spite of the
fact," he added distastefully, "that certain aspects of it have already
been put to work.
"You are all familiar with the initial theories, though I shall touch
upon them briefly here again. The spatial strains, when under the
influence of solar gravity, lunar gravity, and terrestrial gravity
all in proper vectorial relationship, add to the spatial strains
caused by the magnetic fields of the three main bodies mentioned. The
electrostatic fields in the terrestrial atmosphere--the same which
cause lightning in another manifestation--also add to the spatial
strain. These are all natural phenomena.
"The radiation of a thinking brain, gentlemen, is not a natural
phenomena--not a natural characteristic warp in space," he corrected
with a slight smile. "It causes a vibration in the region of the
end-hysteresis loop of space itself when space is saturated to that
threshold by the natural warps and strains. It exerts a triggering
action that releases a more powerful nonphysical radiation, which in
turn releases the space strain that causes--things--to move. Also this
final buckling of the space strain releases a component of the initial
wave which again exerts the triggering action. The proposition is
self-sustaining as long as the gravitic, magnetic, and electrostatic
effects are such as to maintain the saturation of space at the
hysteresis-loop level.
"However," continued Thomas, "it has been discovered that these
potentials are not only released, but are dirigible, under the complex
force-fields generated by the equipment so far developed. Some effects
are akin to gravitic effects--the real nature of which none of us can
state, or even guess."
"Your statements border on the fantastic," smiled the head visitor,
Lowell Johnstown. "Were it not for the fact that your statements have
been accompanied by experimental proof, we would be forced to discount
them as the ravings of an insane mind. However, your paper before the
American Physical Society plus your experimental data--which we all
have duplicated--gives proof. The nullification of gravity--"
"Not nullification," insisted Thomas. "I do not claim nullification.
The effect is a development of diagravitic force."
"The difference--?"
"Does exist. The generation of a counter-force may, in some cases be
considered nullification. But nullification does not describe all
aspects of counter-force. I prefer to use the counter-force definition,
since vectorial components may be generated in the object under
observation. These forces have no relation to the force of gravity
acting upon the object, other than can be similarly observed in the
free flight of a projectile, where both the forward motion and the
gravitic attraction cause summation of forces into a parabolic path."
"I'll accept your remarks. But we are here to discuss the epicenter
effect."
"The epicenter is a generator of the radiation which causes release
of the potentials indigenous to all material bodies. This radiation
is of a complex nature. It requires both physical, electrostatic,
electromagnetic generators to produce the radiation that triggers the
poltergeist potential.
"Incidentally, gentlemen, this may be why some people always seem to be
getting into accidents. I believe that we have the true answer to the
'Accident-Prone' within our grasp."
"How does this manifest in experimental work?" asked Johnstown.
"By crystallographic generation of the force-fields coupled with
the radiation of the brain in question. The effect is probably more
pronounced with a man whose prevalence toward poltergeist effects and
accident prone-ness is higher than normal. I am seeking such a man now.
By further filtering through crystals the random release of poltergeist
energy is directed and controlled so that a desired object may be moved
almost at will."
"This equipment--can we hope to get it in practical size?"
Thomas considered and then said with a touch of disinterest: "It is
possible. No doubt the practical viewpoint will appeal to many."
"To sum up your statements," interjected Johnstown, "we have an effect
that will cause the movement of any desired object by the use of
nonmaterial supporting and actuating means."
"Right. And one other interesting effect. The generation of direct
current electricity is also possible in the same manner. I might even
add," he concluded with a smile, "that manifestation of any physical
effect is possible."
Johnstown packed the pages of data in his briefcase. "You have unlocked
a veritable universe of basic study," he said. "You should feel
gratified. We'll keep in touch with you, Lionel. And, we'll return
once we have had a chance to digest this information. Also, we'll
furnish you with whatever observations we make."
Thomas watched them leave. He smiled. Adding to the discomfiture of the
engineer at really having nothing left to work for--the bank account
being filled daily--he was tossing his discoveries to the world of
physicists, and other engineers and scientists would take over, more
than likely leaving the engineer foundering in a sea of uncertainty.
* * * * *
The group of production superintendents entered and seated themselves.
Their spokesman, Charles Norden said: "We are here because of
certain difficulties we are having in making your effect operate
satisfactorily."
"I can, of course, assist you," smiled Thomas, affably.
"Good," answered Norden. "Here is the first difficulty." He pulled from
his case a sheaf of blueprints, and he spread them out across the desk.
"Our design department claims that the arrangement of knobs on the
panel is inconvenient. A suggested change is to put them like this."
Franklen, who was one of Norden's associates objected: "That means
you'll have to shunt the snivvy over here. That lengthens the leads and
cause instability."
"But we can reinstate the stability by running the leads through a
dingink."
"That won't help. Shielding the leads only adds distributed capacity."
"It works. Only one percent loss in efficiency and better stability,
believe it or not."
"Well," said Norden, "I'll leave it up to Lionel, here. What do you
think?"
"I'll have to consider it," answered Lionel.
"You understand that it is important," urged Norden.
"But why?"
"Why?" exploded Norden. "Great Scott! Look Lionel, the arrangements of
these knobs are such that the operator must cross the calibration-scale
with his hand while adjusting the output. That means that he must
either assume a cramped position or he must adjust, observe, adjust,
observe, and so on, taking the adjustment of output by increments
instead of a stepless arrival at the precise value."
"Um."
"Look, Lionel, we aren't toying with the job of lifting a standard
weight. We are hoisting three hundred tons of semirigid structure that
mustn't be joggled too much."
"I see. Well under the circumstances I'll take quick action and give
you the answer within twenty-four hours."
"We can't have it immediately?"
"I'm afraid not. I must make some tests before I can pass judgment on
the matter."
"We are more or less forced to accept your time-limit," said Norden
glumly. "Please understand that time is essential because every
minute that our production line is down costs the company about twenty
dollars."
"I'll get your answer in twenty-four hours," Thomas faced another man.
"And your trouble?"
He was Mawson, of Technical Manufacturing, Inc.
"You specify this part," indicating another set of blueprints, "as pure
copper. Anything else do?"
"It carries high frequency. Copper is best--unless you could get
silver. If that is--"
"Look we're making production and hope to hit fifteen thousand
completed assemblies per day. That piece would weigh about two pounds.
Silver is out."
"What's the matter with copper?" asked Lionel.
"It cuts like cheddar cheese, gums up the tools, and is generally not
good for close tolerance work."
"The first one was all right."
"Listen," said Mawson, "you carved the first one out by hand and I'll
bet it took you four or five hours. We're going to 'run 'em on an
automatic screw machine at the rate of ten per minute."
"So?"
"I want to use free cutting brass."
"You'll lose conductivity--"
"The rig will be only seven percent less efficient. Tests--"
"Your tests may be right. But seven percent loss is pretty bad,"
grumbled Thomas. "I'd say no."
"Then I'm going to ask you to name a substitute. What alloy would
suffice? I want a free cutting alloy that'll come off of the tools
clean."
* * * * *
Will White spoke up at this point. "We've got a bit of regeneration in
our driver system," he said.
"That's easy. Have one of your engineers remove it."
"Can't. Anything they do to remove regeneration also destroys the
driver's efficiency."
"Efficiency," said Thomas, "is the inverse function of the frequency
of drive divided by the number of full-phase poles in the genedyne.
Expressed by the quadratic equation in which A equals the number of
full-phase poles--"
"But we can't get rid of the regeneration!" exploded White.
"Look, that driver is as simple as ABC. It has and will be a standard
assembly for seven generations past and forward. Now don't tell me--"
"I'm telling you that we're burning up our test stands left and right.
How long can you take a forty percent regeneration in a hundred
kilowatt genedyne?"
"Well, not long," admitted Thomas. "You understand the principles
involved?"
"Not entirely."
"I'll explain. The force-fields created by the full-phase poles under
the power output from the driver create a nonelectromagnetic field
radiation. The intensity of this field is a function of the driver
output, derived tertially through the pole system. Now the development
of the field radiation creates a space hysteresis that--"
"Look," snapped White, "I don't give a care about field theory. It
doesn't apply in my job. I merely want to know what to do about the
regeneration."
"How can you work without understanding the theory?" asked Thomas with
a sneer.
"How can a musician play a pipe organ without a course in first year
physics?" shouted White. "Just tell me what to do!"
"Tell 'em to retune the driver to another band."
"They aren't certain that the pick-up loop is itself tuned or not."
"It is."
"Then that means tuning the entire feeder line."
"Naturally."
"But the feeder line is a silver plated die casting."
"Change the dies," said Thomas.
"May we charge you for them?" asked White, sweetly. "And also for
scrapping the three hundred and seventy thousand parts we have cast
already?"
"Why get so far ahead?"
"Look, Thomas Lionel, we did it because it was cheaper not to tie up
the die-caster's shop in weekly driblets rather than get the whole
order in a lump. Now--what do we do about regeneration?"
"Anybody can clear up regeneration," snapped Lionel.
"Good--you show us how. That's what we're retaining you for. Your
developments and whatever technical assistance is required."
Thomas Lionel looked up, and scanned each face at the big table. "From
left to right, can you state your problems?" he asked.
"Plating specs on the genedyne."
"Problem in suspension during process."
"Can plus or minus fifteen percent electrical components be used in
place of ten percents?"
"We still require the alignment procedure."
Thomas held up a hand. "O.K., fellows. Submit your problems in writing
and I'll furnish the answers in twenty-four hours."
Norden bobbed his head in agreement. "I fear that I shall call for
cancellation of contract and the forfeit sum if your answers are not
forthcoming."
Thomas nodded silently. The forfeit--if this whole gang bopped their
contracts back he'd lose his shirt.
He watched them file out. And his eyes dropped from their stare out of
the window to the pile of questions on the desk. A pile of production
problems!
Sheer, unadulterated hell.
Well, he might as well call the engineer and let him handle this.
It was one of the things that the engineer got a kick out of. As a
physicist, this was not his job--and as an intelligent physicist, he
did know how to get things done. Everything for its own use; if he
didn't know, he knew where to find out.
* * * * *
Thomas went out to the laboratory and faced his tungsten box. A twinge
of wonder flashed through his mind. It bothered him.
_Was this an admission of partial defeat?_
Not at all. This was good sense. Call in the engineer to clear up this
mess, since his income and well-being depended upon it. Once these
contracts were clear and closed--well, time enough!
He pressed the button.
And Thomas Lionel, Ph.D., M.M., pressed it again.