The tech-man's home was a small two-story affair on the Outskirts of thehuge, cubiform, windowless affair that dominated the center of the city.
Mallow passed from one to the other through an underground passage, andfound himself in the silent, ozone-tinged atmosphere of the powerhouse.
For fifteen minutes, he followed his guide and said nothing. His eyesmissed nothing. His fingers touched nothing. And then, the tech-man said instrangled tones, "Have you had enough? I couldn't trust my underlings inthis case.""Could you ever?" asked Mallow, ironically. "I've had enough."They were back in the office and Mallow said, thoughtfully, "And all thosegenerators are in your hands?""Every one," said the tech-man, with more than a touch of complacency.
"And you keep them running and in order?""Right!""And if they break down?"The tech-man shook his head indignantly, "They don't break down. They neverbreak down. They were built for eternity.""Eternity is a long time. Just suppose?
"It is unscientific to suppose meaningless cases.""All right. Suppose I were to blast a vital part into nothingness? Isuppose the machines aren't immune to nuclear forces? Suppose I fuse avital connection, or smash a quartz D-tube?""Well, then," shouted the tech-man, furiously, "you would be killed.""Yes, I know that," Mallow was shouting, too, "but what about thegenerator? Could you repair it?""Sir," the tech-man howled his words, "you have had a fair return. You'vehad what you asked for. Now get out! I owe you nothing more!"Mallow bowed with a satiric respect and left.
Two days later he was back where the Far Star waited to return with him tothe planet, Terminus.
And two days later, the tech-man's shield went dead, and for all hispuzzling and cursing never glowed again.
Mallow passed from one to the other through an underground passage, andfound himself in the silent, ozone-tinged atmosphere of the powerhouse.
For fifteen minutes, he followed his guide and said nothing. His eyesmissed nothing. His fingers touched nothing. And then, the tech-man said instrangled tones, "Have you had enough? I couldn't trust my underlings inthis case.""Could you ever?" asked Mallow, ironically. "I've had enough."They were back in the office and Mallow said, thoughtfully, "And all thosegenerators are in your hands?""Every one," said the tech-man, with more than a touch of complacency.
"And you keep them running and in order?""Right!""And if they break down?"The tech-man shook his head indignantly, "They don't break down. They neverbreak down. They were built for eternity.""Eternity is a long time. Just suppose?
"It is unscientific to suppose meaningless cases.""All right. Suppose I were to blast a vital part into nothingness? Isuppose the machines aren't immune to nuclear forces? Suppose I fuse avital connection, or smash a quartz D-tube?""Well, then," shouted the tech-man, furiously, "you would be killed.""Yes, I know that," Mallow was shouting, too, "but what about thegenerator? Could you repair it?""Sir," the tech-man howled his words, "you have had a fair return. You'vehad what you asked for. Now get out! I owe you nothing more!"Mallow bowed with a satiric respect and left.
Two days later he was back where the Far Star waited to return with him tothe planet, Terminus.
And two days later, the tech-man's shield went dead, and for all hispuzzling and cursing never glowed again.
