The Chalice of Death: Three Novels of Mystery in Space by Silverberg Robert

Author:Silverberg, Robert [Silverberg, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9781504014250
Publisher: Open Road Media Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Published: 2015-07-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

“I want you to do the impossible for me,” Thurdan had told him. And, Mantell reflected soberly, that was pretty close to the truth.

He stood silently looking down at the huge man in the relaxing cradle who had built Starhaven. The personal defense screen was the goal of every defense outfit and of every planet in the galaxy, but so far even the basic working principles had eluded everyone’s grasp. The problem was a horribly complex one: there had to be an arrangement which would selectively block off blaster energy while still admitting air, and although this could be accomplished within the realm of technological possibility, there were all the additional fillips that made the thing impossible. The unit had to be made small enough for a man to carry it about with him; then there was the necessity of somehow grounding the diverted energy, as well as providing for a steady and unstoppable power flow.

And, Mantell thought, even if all these problems were to be solved, such a screen would be useless. Round and round, and no answer without new problems. If a screen could be devised that was portable and efficient, as a perfect defense against energy weapons, its only effect would be to make energy weapons obsolete. Then, perhaps, the old, crude weapons of the ancient past would be reborn. And if so, there would be the problem of how to devise a screen that would block off knives and bullets and acid and still not cut off air and food.

“Well?” Thurdan said.

“You hit the nail square,” Mantell said. “A screen like that is damned close to being an impossibility.”

“So was building Starhaven,” Thurdan shot back immediately. “But I built it! I don’t know a damned thing about electronics, but I found men who did know. I found the best men in their fields, and they laughed when I showed them my rough plans for Starhaven. But I didn’t listen to them. I told them to go ahead and do what I was paying them to do. I never take ‘impossibles’ for answers, Mantell.”

Mantell shrugged. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t try. I’m just not promising delivery until I know I can do it.”

“Fair enough,” Thurdan said. “Don’t promise anything. Just deliver. I don’t want to die, Johnny.”

Mantell caught the undertone in Thurdan’s voice as he spoke the last words, and it was a startling revelation of the big man’s character. For behind the bold voice, the resounding tones of command, there lay fear of the unknown, of death, just as in every other human being. Ben Thurdan didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to lose the world and private empire that he had planned and brought into being.

Well, Mantell considered, you can’t blame him for that.

“There’s one other thing I want to talk about, Mantell.” The fear was gone from Thurdan’s voice. “It’s the matter of Miss Butler.”

Mantell tensed. “What does she—?”

“I asked her to accompany you around during your first few days on Starhaven, Johnny.

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