C. M. Kornbluth by Return From M-15

Author:Return From M-15 [M-15, Return From]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2011-11-21T23:06:38+00:00

4

What’s that thing?” asked Ann, peering curiously at an odd-looking setupTrain was working on. “A little something. I plan to scare hell out of Hartly with it. A frequency inductor—I can get the wavelength of his inter-office system and bellow in his ear.”

“Very cute,” she said thoughtfully. “What’s the second tube for?”

“Steps up the tertiary vibrations. I could have used a seven-phase transformer with better effect, but a tube’s cheaper and we happened to have one left over.”

He twisted a final screw contact into place. “Finished,” he announced, “shall we call up T. J?”

The curiosity was gone. There was only sudden anguish in her eyes as she clung to him. “Barney!” She buried her face against his shoulder. “What shall we do if anything goes wrong?”

For a brief second her fears leaped through him as he comforted her in the only way he knew. Then cold reason reached in. His voice was steady as he answered: “Nothing will. Independent Fourteen’s checked and triple-checked. We’ve tested it and it clicks every time. What are you worried about?”

“Hartly’s a smart man. He has to be to stay on top of World Research. He must have things up his sleeve that no one has ever dreamed about. Wasn’t he a scientist himself before he rose from the ranks to the executive department? It’s men like that you have to watch out for. Never trust a reformed technician.”

Train smiled happily. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. It’s the nature of Independent Fourteen that has him licked before he can start. With this priceless gimmick we have a machine that will give us unlimited personal power and protection. I’m going to play our cards for everything they’re worth.”

“Barney, isn’t there a chance that we might compromise?” She waved aside the protests that sprang to his lips. “I know,” she said. “The Syndicate’s the greediest octopus that ever got its suckers around the life-blood of a world. It’s utterly contemptible—and yet, it’s too powerful for its own good—and maybe for ours. Couldn’t we compromise and lull their suspicions?”

“Not one bloody chance in a billion!” Train snapped harshly. “Independent Fourteen’s our only trump card, but it’s the winner in this game as soon as we see fit to play it.”

“I guess you’re right, Barney,” said Ann wearily. “Call up Mr. Hartly on that gimmick while I warm up Fourteen.” She turned to a corner of the room cleared except for a bulky piece of machinery, protrusive with tubes and coils, built around heavy castings bolted together, mounted on wheels. Ann fingered a switchboard carefully, and tubes began to glow with fiery electrical life while sparks snapped from point to point.

“Mr. Hartly, please,” said Train quietly into a grid of his instrument.

“Hartly speaking,” boomed from a loudspeaker connected with the tiny device. “Who is this?”

“Dr. Train. Do you remember?”

There was a sudden click. “You can’t hang up, Hartly. If you look, you’ll find that your phone’s blown out. I’m using irregular channels.”

A long pause, then Hardy’s voice came through again, this time tinged with wonder.

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