[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

could be done without ever trying to explain things in terms of higher
mathematics."
"Certainly it could," Lentz agreed. "You could go on the air with it and
scare everybody half to death. You could create the damnedest panic this
slightly slug-nutty country has ever seen. No, thank you. I, for one, would
rather have us all take the chance of being quietly killed than bring on a
mass psychosis that would destroy the culture we are building up. I think
one taste of the Crazy Years is enough."
"Well, then, what do you suggest?"
Lentz considered shortly, then answered: "All I see is a forlorn hope.
We've got to work on the Board of Directors and try to beat some sense into
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
their heads."
King, who had been following the discussion with attention in spite of his
tired despondency, interjected a remark: "How would you go about that?"
"I don't know," Lentz admitted. "It will take some thinking. But it seems
the most fruitful line of approach. If it doesn't work, we can always fall
back on Harrington's notion of publicity  I don't insist that the world
commit suicide to satisfy my criteria of evaluation."
Harrington glanced at his wristwatch  a bulky affair  and whistled. "Good
heavens!" he exclaimed. "I forgot the time! I'm supposed officially to be
at the Flagstaff Observatory."
King had automatically noted the time shown by the Captain's watch as it
was displayed. "But it can't be that late." he had objected. Harrington
looked puzzled, then laughed.
"It isn't  not by two hours. We are in zone plus-seven; this shows zone
plus-five  it's radio-synchronized with the master clock at Washington."
"Did you say radio-synchronized?"
"Yes. Clever, isn't it?" He held it out for inspection. "I call it a
telechronometer; it's the only one of its sort to date. My nephew designed
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
it for me. He's a bright one, that boy. He'll go far. That is  " his face
clouded, as if the little interlude had only served to emphasize the
tragedy that hung over them  "if any of us live that long!"
A signal light glowed at King's desk, and Steinke's face showed on the
communicator screen. King answered him, then said, "Your car is ready, Dr.
Lentz."
"Let Captain Harrington have it."
"Then you're not going back to Chicago?"
"No. The situation has changed. If you want me, I'm stringing along."
The following Friday, Steinke ushered Lentz into Kings office. King looked
almost happy as he shook hands. "When did you ground, Doctor? I didn't
expect you back for another hour or so."
"Just now. I hired a cab instead of waiting for the shuttle."
"Any luck?"
"None. The same answer they gave you: "The Company is assured by
independent experts that Destry's mechanics is valid, and sees no reason to
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
encourage an hysterical attitude among its employees.' "
King tapped on his desk top, his eyes unfocused. Then, hitching himself
around to face Lentz directly, he said, "Do you suppose the Chairman is
right?"
"How?"
"Could the three of us  you, me and Harrington  have gone off the deep
end  slipped mentally?"
"No."
"You're sure?"
"Certain. I looked up some independent experts of my own, not retained by
the Company, and had them check Harrington's work. It checks." Lentz
purposely neglected to mention that he had done so partly because he was
none too sure of King's present mental stability.
King sat up briskly, reached out and stabbed a push button. "I am going to
make one more try," he explained, "to see if I can't throw a scare into
Dixon's thick head. Steinke," he said to the communicator, "get me Mr.
Dixon on the screen."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"Yes, sir."
In about two minutes the visiphone screen came to life and showed the
features of Chairman Dixon. He was transmitting, not from his office, but
from the board room of the Company in Jersey City. "Yes?" he said. "What is
it, Superintendent?" His manner was somehow both querulous and affable.
"Mr. Dixon," King began, "I've called to try to impress on you the
seriousness of the Company's action. I stake my scientific reputation that
Harrington has proved completely that  "
"Oh, that? Mr. King, I thought you understood that that was a closed
matter."
"But, Mr. Dixon  "
"Superintendent, please! If there were any possible legitimate cause to
fear, do you think I would hesitate? I have children, you know, and
grandchildren."
"That is just why  "
"We try to conduct the affairs of the company with reasonable wisdom and in
the public interest. But we have other responsibilities, too. There are
hundreds of thousands of little stockholders who expect us to show a
reasonable return on their investment. You must not expect us to jettison a
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
billion-dollar corporation just because you've taken up astrology! Moon
theory!" He sniffed. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]