A Piece of Martin Cann by Laurence M. Janifer

Author:Laurence M. Janifer [Janifer, Laurence M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sci Fi & Fantasy
Publisher: Belmont Books
Published: 1968-06-06T00:00:00+00:00

13

A technician said: “This one’s a funny one. Draws power where you wouldn’t expect it.”

Another peered at a dial, then at a second. “Right. Unless it’s the readouts gone crazy.” “What, by infection? Being around nuts so long, the dials pick it up? Let me tell you, that’s a sensitive circuit.”

Laughter. “Okay, okay—just take a look and explain it. Power in 413 gone nuts, away up. For what?”

“Who knows? They got the power, they can draw on it.”

“And in 412 too. Annell and Moore; look at the dials, look at what’s happening to the leads.”

A pause. “A lot of power going out. This must be a big one.”

“They’re all big ones. One of these days…”

“Sure, sure, we know. One of these days the machines are going to go bust. Too much power drain.”

“Well, they could. You know they could. There’s nothing can stand up against a real drain, an unexpected shift…”

“That’s why were here, brother,” a technician said. “Listen, do you really think something could happen, with us here?”

“It’s…possible. It’s got to be possible.”

“If it were,” a technician said, “do you think anybody would let these jobs be used for setups like this one? Doctors and nurses and nuts and nothing but talk? These jobs are valuable jobs, and don’t you forget it.”

“That’s what I’m thinking of…”

“You’re not. If you were thinking, you’d remember how much care we give these jobs. And you’d remember what the Guild thinks—the same as you, brother. Nobody uses a job this big and valuable where there’s a risk like the one you’re talking about.”

“But—”

“But nothing. Our job’s to protect the machines. People damage ’em, we don’t let the people use ’em—simple as that. Anyhow, got your gain adjusted?”

“Gain adjusted in 413.”

“Gain in 412, two leads, adjusted.”

“All right, then. O.K. Now drop it. Everything’s going to be fine. These babies are good for another sixty years, and that’s damn’ near as long as any one of us is going to be around to coddle ’em.”

“And by that time they’ll have better machines, anyhow.”

“Damn’ right.”

A pause. “Listen,” one said after it. “There isn’t a better machine. And you all know it.”

“Maybe not now—but there will be. Count on that. Things go on improving—that’s progress. Like these doctors, they shape up people, right? Well, if even people get shaped up, what do you think’ll happen to machines? Progress, that’s all, and you can count on it.”

A final pause. “I guess so.”

And quiet. The technicians watched the dials.

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