diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:14:06 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:14:06 -0700 |
| commit | 32c1d64612934b231e933865c49073f79acd9ef4 (patch) | |
| tree | ca2d8d50f504c7102affd9ec304f67eb0cd0cdf9 /24707-h | |
Diffstat (limited to '24707-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 24707-h/24707-h.htm | 3336 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24707-h/images/001.png | bin | 0 -> 59449 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24707-h/images/002.png | bin | 0 -> 793 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24707-h/images/003.png | bin | 0 -> 37754 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24707-h/images/004.png | bin | 0 -> 14955 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24707-h/images/005.png | bin | 0 -> 22034 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24707-h/images/006-1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 15484 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24707-h/images/006-2.jpg | bin | 0 -> 129743 bytes |
8 files changed, 3336 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/24707-h/24707-h.htm b/24707-h/24707-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dda7892 --- /dev/null +++ b/24707-h/24707-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3336 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of By Proxy, by David Gordon + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .noin {text-indent: 0em;} + body > p {text-indent: 1em;} + h1,h2 {text-align: right; clear: both; margin-top: 0;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 1em auto; visibility: hidden;} + .dfx {margin: 0em auto; clear: both;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .figcenter {margin: 1em auto; width: 600px;} + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; padding: 0; width: 159px;} + .poem {margin: 0 10%; text-align: left; font-style: italic;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + img {border: none;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .illo {font-size: small; font-weight: bold; text-align: right;} + .tease {margin-top: 1em; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;} + .theend {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 2em; text-indent: 0;} + .titl {background: url("images/001.png") top left no-repeat; width: 600px; height: 412px; margin: 0 auto 5em;} + .bk1 {padding: 120px 0 0 315px;} + .figic {float: left; clear: left; margin: 0 .75em .1em 0; padding: 0; width: 51px;} + .figic img {border: double 3px;} + .fgcap {text-indent: -.5em;margin-left:8%;} + .figtran {float: left; text-align: justify; border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; padding: 1em;} + .figtran img {float: left; padding-right: 1em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of By Proxy, by Gordon Randall Garrett + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: By Proxy + +Author: Gordon Randall Garrett + +Illustrator: H. R. van Dongen + +Release Date: February 27, 2008 [EBook #24707] +[Last updated: May 14, 2015] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BY PROXY *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Bruce Albrecht, Stephen Blundell +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="titl"> +<div class="bk1"> +<h1>BY<br /> +PROXY</h1> + +<h2>By DAVID GORDON</h2> + +<div class="tease">It's been said that the act of +creation is a solitary thing—that +teams never create; only individuals. +But sometimes a team may be needed +to make creation effective....</div> + +<p class="illo">Illustrated by Van Dongen</p> +</div></div> + +<p><img src="images/002.png" width="45" height="45" alt="M" title="M" /><span class="dcap">r.</span> Terrence Elshawe did +not conform to the +mental picture that +pops into the average +person's mind when he +hears the words "news reporter." +Automatically, one thinks of the +general run of earnest, handsome, +firm-jawed, level-eyed, smooth-voiced +gentlemen one sees on one's TV +screen. No matter which news service +one subscribes to, the reporters +are all pretty much of a type. And +Terrence Elshawe simply wasn't the +type.</p> + +<p>The confusion arises because +thirty-odd years of television has resulted +in specialization. If you run +up much Magnum Telenews time on +your meter, you're familiar with the +cultured voice and rugged good looks +of Brett Maxon, "your Magnum reporter," +but Maxon is a reporter +only in the very literal sense of the +word. He's an actor, whose sole job +is to make Magnum news sound more +interesting than some other telenews +service, even though he's giving you +exactly the same facts. But he +doesn't go out and dig up those +stories.</p> + +<p>The actual leg work of getting the +news into Maxon's hands so that he +can report it to you is done by research +reporters—men like Terrence +Elshawe.</p> + +<p>Elshawe was a small, lean man +with a large, round head on which +grew close-cropped, light brown +hair. His mouth was wide and full-lipped, +and had a distinct tendency +to grin impishly, even when he was +trying to look serious. His eyes were +large, blue, and innocent; only when +the light hit them at just the right +angle was it possible to detect the +contact lenses which corrected an +acute myopia.</p> + +<p>When he was deep in thought, he +had a habit of relaxing in his desk +chair with his head back and his eyes +closed. His left arm would be across +his chest, his left hand cupping his +right elbow, while the right hand +held the bowl of a large-bowled +briar which Elshawe puffed methodically +during his ruminations. He was +in exactly that position when Oler +Winstein put his head in the door +of Elshawe's office.</p> + +<p>"Busy?" Winstein asked conversationally.</p> + +<p>In some offices, if the boss comes +in and finds an employee in a pose +like that, there would be a flurry of +sudden action on the part of the +employee as he tried frantically to +look as though he had only paused +for a moment from his busy work. +Elshawe's only reaction was to open +his eyes. He wasn't the kind of man +who would put on a phony act like +that, even if his boss fired him on +the spot.</p> + +<p>"Not particularly," he said, in his +slow, easy drawl. "What's up?"</p> + +<p>Winstein came on into the office. +"I've got something that might make +a good spot. See what you think."</p> + +<p>If Elshawe didn't conform to the +stereotype of a reporter, so much less +did Oler Winstein conform to the +stereotype of a top-flight TV magnate. +He was no taller than Elshawe's +five-seven, and was only slightly +heavier. He wore his hair in a crew +cut, and his boyish face made him +look more like a graduate student at +a university than the man who had +put Magnum Telenews together +with his own hands. He had an office, +but he couldn't be found in it +more than half the time; the rest of +the time, he was prowling around +the Magnum Building, wandering +into studios and offices and workshops. +He wasn't checking up on his +employees, and never gave the impression +that he was. He didn't throw +his weight around and he didn't +snoop. If he hired a man for a job, +he expected the job to be done, that +was all. If it was, the man could +sleep at his desk or play solitaire or +drink beer for all Winstein cared; if +the work wasn't done, it didn't matter +if the culprit looked as busy as an +anteater at a picnic—he got one +warning and then the sack. The only +reason for Winstein's prowling +around was the way his mind worked; +it was forever bubbling with +ideas, and he wanted to bounce those +ideas off other people to see if anything +new and worthwhile would +come of them.</p> + +<p>He didn't look particularly excited, +but, then, he rarely did. Even the +most objective of employees is likely +to become biased one way or another +if he thinks his boss is particularly +enthusiastic about an idea. +Winstein didn't want yes-men +around him; he wanted men who +could and would think. And he had +a theory that, while the tenseness of +an emergency could and did produce +some very high-powered thinking indeed, +an atmosphere of that kind +wasn't a good thing for day-in-and-day-out +work. He saved that kind +of pressure for the times that he +needed it, so that it was effective because +of its contrast with normal +procedure.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Elshawe took his heavy briar out +of his mouth as Winstein sat down +on the corner of the desk. "You have +a gleam in your eye, Ole," he said +accusingly.</p> + +<p>"Maybe," Winstein said noncommittally. +"We might be able to work +something out of it. Remember a +guy by the name of Malcom Porter?"</p> + +<p>Elshawe lowered his brows in a +thoughtful frown. "Name's familiar. +Wait a second. Wasn't he the guy +that was sent to prison back in 1979 +for sending up an unauthorized +rocket?"</p> + +<p>Winstein nodded. "That's him. +Served two years of a five-year sentence, +got out on parole about a year +ago. I just got word from a confidential +source that he's going to try +to send up another one."</p> + +<p>"I didn't know things were so +pleasant at Alcatraz," Elshawe said. +"He seems to be trying awfully hard +to get back in."</p> + +<p>"Not according to what my informant +says. This time, he's going +to ask for permission. And this time, +he's going to have a piloted craft, +not a self-guided missile, like he did +in '79."</p> + +<p>"Ho<i>ho</i>. Well, there might be a +story in it, but I can't see that it +would be much of one. It isn't as +if a rocket shoot were something +unusual. The only thing unusual +about it is that it's a private enterprise +shoot instead of a Government +one."</p> + +<p>Winstein said: "Might be more +to it than that. Do you remember +the trial in '79?"</p> + +<p>"Vaguely. As I remember it, he +claimed he didn't send up a rocket, +but the evidence showed overwhelmingly +that he had. The jury wasn't +out more than a few minutes, as I +remember."</p> + +<p>"There was a little more to it +than that," Winstein said.</p> + +<p>"I was in South Africa at the +time," Elshawe said. "Covering the +civil war down there, remember?"</p> + +<p>"That's right. You're excused," +Winstein said, grinning. "The thing +was that Malcom Porter didn't claim +he hadn't sent the thing up. What +he did claim was that it wasn't a +rocket. He claimed that he had a new +kind of drive in it—something that +didn't use rockets.</p> + +<p>"The Army picked the thing up +on their radar screens, going straight +up at high acceleration. They bracketed +it with Cobra pursuit rockets +and blew it out of the sky when it +didn't respond to identification signals. +They could trace the thing +back to its launching pad, of course, +and they nabbed Malcom Porter.</p> + +<p>"Porter was furious. Wanted to +slap a suit against the Government +for wanton destruction of private +property. His claim was that the law +forbids unauthorized rocket tests all +right, but his missile wasn't illegal +because it wasn't a rocket."</p> + +<p>"What did he claim it was?" Elshawe +asked.</p> + +<p>"He said it was a secret device of +his own invention. Antigravity, or +something like that."</p> + +<p>"Did he try to prove it?"</p> + +<p>"No. The Court agreed that, according +to the way the law is worded, +only 'rocket-propelled missiles' +come under the ban. The judge said +that if Malcom Porter could prove +that the missile wasn't rocket-propelled, +he'd dismiss the case. But +Porter wanted to prove it by building +another missile. He wouldn't give the +court his plans or specifications for +the drive he claimed he'd invented, +or say anything about it except that +it operated—and I quote—'on a new +principle of physics'—unquote. Said +he wouldn't tell them anything because +the Government was simply +using this as an excuse to take his +invention away from him."</p> + +<p>Elshawe chuckled. "That's as +flimsy a defense as I've heard."</p> + +<p>"Don't laugh," said Winstein. "It +almost worked."</p> + +<p>"What? How?"</p> + +<p>"It threw the burden of proof on +the Government. They thought they +had him when he admitted that he'd +shot the thing off, but when he denied +that it was a rocket, then, in +order to prove that he'd committed +a crime, they had to prove that it <i>was</i> +a rocket. It wasn't up to Porter to +prove that it <i>wasn't</i>."</p> + +<p>"Hey," Elshawe said in admiration, +"that's pretty neat. I'm almost sorry +it didn't work."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"Yeah. Trouble was that the Army +had blown up the evidence. They +knew it was a rocket, but they had +to prove it. They had recordings of +the radar picture, of course, and +they used that to show the shape +and acceleration of the missile. They +proved that he'd bought an old obsolete +Odin rocket from one of the +small colleges in the Midwest—one +that the Army had sold them as a +demonstration model for their rocket +engineering classes. They proved that +he had a small liquid air plant out +there at his place in New Mexico. +In other words, they proved that he +had the equipment to rebuild the +rocket and the fuel to run it.</p> + +<p>"Then they got a battery of high-powered +physicists up on the stands +to prove that nothing else but a +rocket could have driven the thing +that way.</p> + +<p>"Porter's attorney hammered at +them in cross-examination, trying to +get one of them to admit that it was +possible that Porter had discovered +a new principle of physics that could +fly a missile without rockets, but the +Attorney General's prosecutor had +coached them pretty well. They all +said that unless there was evidence +to the contrary, they could not admit +that there was such a principle.</p> + +<p>"When the prosecutor presented +his case to the jury, he really had +himself a ball. I'll give you a transcript +of the trial later; you'll have +to read it for yourself to get the real +flavor of it. The gist of it was that +things had come to a pretty pass if +a man could claim a scientific principle +known only to himself as a +defense against a crime.</p> + +<p>"He gave one analogy I liked. He +said, suppose that a man is found +speeding in a car. The cops find him +all alone, behind the wheel, when +they chase him down. Then, in court, +he admits that he was alone, and +that the car was speeding, but he +insists that the car was steering itself, +and that he wasn't in control +of the vehicle at all. And what was +steering the car? Why, a new scientific +principle, of course."</p> + +<p>Elshawe burst out laughing. +"Wow! No wonder the jury didn't +stay out long! I'm going to have to +dig the recordings of the newscasts +out of the files; I missed a real +comedy while I was in Africa."</p> + +<p>Winstein nodded. "We got pretty +good coverage on it, but our worthy +competitor, whose name I will not +have mentioned within these sacred +halls, got Beebee Vayne to run a +commentary on it, and we got beat +out on the meters."</p> + +<p>"Vayne?" Elshawe was still grinning. +"That's a new twist—getting a +comedian to do a news report."</p> + +<p>"I'll have to admit that my worthy +competitor, whose name et cetera, +does get an idea once in a while. But +I don't want him beating us out +again. We're in on the ground floor +this time, and I want to hog the +whole thing if I can."</p> + +<p>"Sounds like a great idea, if we +can swing it," Elshawe agreed. "Do +you have a new gimmick? You're not +going to get a comedian to do it, are +you?"</p> + +<p>"Heaven forbid! Even if it had +been my own idea three years ago, +I wouldn't repeat it, and I certainly +won't have it said that I copy my +competitors. No, what I want you +to do is go out there and find out +what's going on. Get a full background +on it. We'll figure out the +presentation angle when we get some +idea of what he's going to do this +time." Winstein eased himself off the +corner of Elshawe's desk and stood +up. "By the way—"</p> + +<p>"Yeah?"</p> + +<p>"Play it straight when you go out +there. You're a reporter, looking for +news; you haven't made any previous +judgments."</p> + +<p>Elshawe's pipe had gone out. He +fired it up again with his desk lighter. +"I don't want to be," he said +between puffs, "too cagey. If he's +got ... any brains ... he'll know +it's ... a phony act ... if I overdo +it." He snapped off the lighter and +looked at his employer through a +cloud of blue-gray smoke. "I mean, +after all, he's on the records as being +a crackpot. I'd be a pretty +stupid reporter if I believed everything +he said. If I don't act a little +skeptical, he'll think I'm either a +blockhead or a phony or both."</p> + +<p>"Maybe," Winstein said doubtfully. +"Still, some of these crackpots fly +off the handle if you doubt their +word in the least bit."</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what I'll do," Elshawe +said. "He used to live here +in New York, didn't he?"</p> + +<p>"Still does," Winstein said. "He +has a two-floor apartment on Central +Park West. He just uses that New +Mexico ranch of his for relaxation."</p> + +<p>"He's not hurting for money, is +he?" Elshawe asked at random. +"Anyway, what I'll do is look up +some of the people he knows and +get an idea of what kind of a bird +he is. Then, when I get out there, +I'll know more what kind of line to +feed him."</p> + +<p>"That sounds good. But whatever +you do, play it on the soft side. My +confidential informant tells me that +the only reason we're getting this inside +info is because Malcom Porter +is sore about the way our competition +treated him four years ago."</p> + +<p>"Just who is this confidential informant, +anyway, Ole?" Elshawe asked +curiously.</p> + +<p>Winstein grinned widely. "It's +supposed to be very confidential. I +don't want it to get any further than +you."</p> + +<p>"Sure not. Since when am I a +blabbermouth? Who is it?"</p> + +<p>"Malcom Porter."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Two days later, Terrence Elshawe +was sitting in the front seat of a big +station wagon, watching the scenery +go by and listening to the driver +talk as the machine tooled its way +out of Silver City, New Mexico, and +headed up into the Mogollon Mountains.</p> + +<p>"Was a time, not too long back," +the driver was saying, "when a man +couldn't get up into this part of the +country 'thout a pack mule. Still +places y'can't, but the boss had t' +have a road built up to the ranch +so's he could bring in all that heavy +equipment. Reckon one of these days +the Mogollons 'll be so civilized and +full a people that a fella might as +well live in New York."</p> + +<p>Elshawe, who hadn't seen another +human being for fifteen minutes, felt +that the predicted overcrowding was +still some time off.</p> + +<p>"'Course," the driver went on, "I +reckon folks have t' live some place, +but I never could see why human +bein's are so all-fired determined to +bunch theirselves up so thick together +that they can't hardly move—like +a bunch of sheep in a snowstorm. +It don't make sense to me. +Does it to you, Mr. Skinner?"</p> + +<p>That last was addressed to the +other passenger, an elderly man who +was sitting in the seat behind Elshawe.</p> + +<p>"I guess it's pretty much a matter +of taste, Bill," Mr. Skinner said in a +soft voice.</p> + +<p>"I reckon," Bill said, in a tone +that implied that anyone whose +tastes were so bad that he wanted to +live in the city was an object of pity +who probably needed psychiatric +treatment. He was silent for a moment, +in obvious commiseration with +his less fortunate fellows.</p> + +<p>Elshawe took the opportunity to +try to get a word in. The chunky +Westerner had picked him up at the +airport, along with Mr. Samuel Skinner, +who had come in on the same +plane with Elshawe, and, after introducing +himself as Bill Rodriguez, he +had kept up a steady stream of chatter +ever since. Elshawe didn't feel he +should take a chance on passing up +the sudden silence.</p> + +<p>"By the way; has Mr. Porter applied +to the Government for permission +to test his ... uh ... his ship, +yet?"</p> + +<p>Bill Rodriguez didn't take his eyes +off the winding road. "Well, now, I +don't rightly know, Mr. Elshawe. +Y'see, I just work on the ranch up +there. I don't have a doggone thing +to do with the lab'r'tory at all—'cept +to keep the fence in good shape so's +the stock don't get into the lab'r'tory +area. If Mr. Porter wants me to +know somethin', he tells me, an' if +he don't, why, I don't reckon it's +any a my business."</p> + +<p>"I see," said Elshawe. <i>And that +shuts</i> me <i>up</i>, he thought to himself. +He took out his pipe and began to +fill it in silence.</p> + +<p>"How's everything out in Los +Angeles, Mr. Skinner?" Rodriguez +asked the passenger in back. "Haven't +seen you in quite a spell."</p> + +<p>Elshawe listened to the conversation +between the two with half an +ear and smoked his pipe wordlessly.</p> + +<p>He had spent the previous day +getting all the information he could +on Malcom Porter, and the information +hadn't been dull by any means.</p> + +<p>Porter had been born in New York +in 1949, which made him just barely +thirty-three. His father, Vanneman +Porter, had been an oddball in his +own way, too. The Porters of New +York didn't quite date back to the +time of Peter Stuyvesant, but they +had been around long enough to acquire +the feeling that the twenty-four +dollars that had been paid for Manhattan +Island had come out of the +family exchequer. Just as the Vanderbilts +looked upon the Rockefellers +as newcomers, so the Porters looked +on the Vanderbilts.</p> + +<p>For generations, it had been tacitly +conceded that a young Porter gentleman +had only three courses of +action open to him when it came +time for him to choose his vocation +in life. He could join the firm of +Porter & Sons on Wall Street, or he +could join some other respectable +business or banking enterprise, or he +could take up the Law. (Corporation +law, of course—<i>never</i> criminal law.) +For those few who felt that the business +world was not for them, there +was a fourth alternative—studying +for the priesthood of the Episcopal +Church. Anything else was unheard +of.</p> + +<p>So it had been somewhat of a +shock to Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Porter +when their only son, Vanneman, +had announced that he intended to +study physics at M.I.T. But they +gave their permission; they were +quite certain that the dear boy would +"come to his senses" and join the +firm after he had been graduated. +He was, after all, the only one to +carry on the family name and manage +the family holdings.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/003.png" width="600" height="361" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>But Vanneman Porter not only +stuck to his guns and went on to a +Ph.D.; he compounded his delinquency +by marrying a pretty, sweet, +but not overly bright girl named +Mary Kelley.</p> + +<p>Malcom Porter was their son.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>When Malcom was ten years old, +both his parents were killed in a +smashup on the New Jersey Turnpike, +and the child went to live with +his widowed grandmother, Mrs. +Hamilton Porter.</p> + +<p>Terry Elshawe had gathered that +young Malcom Porter's life had not +been exactly idyllic from that point +on. Grandmother Porter hadn't approved +of her son's marriage, and +she seemed to have felt that she +must do everything in her power to +help her grandson overcome the +handicap of having nonaristocratic +blood in his veins.</p> + +<p>Elshawe wasn't sure in his own +mind whether environment or heredity +had been the deciding factor in +Malcom Porter's subsequent life, but +he had a hunch that the two had +been acting synergistically. It was +likely that the radical change in his +way of life after his tenth year had +as much to do with his behavior as +the possibility that the undeniably +brilliant mental characteristics of the +Porter family had been modified by +the genes of the pretty but scatter-brained +wife of Vanneman Porter.</p> + +<p>Three times, only his grandmother's +influence kept him from being +expelled from the exclusive prep +school she had enrolled him in, and +his final grades were nothing to +mention in polite society, much less +boast about.</p> + +<p>In her own way, the old lady was +trying to do her best for him, but +she had found it difficult to understand +her own son, and his deviations +from the Porter norm had been +slight in comparison with those of +his son. When the time came for +Malcom to enter college, Grandmother +Porter was at a total loss as to +what to do. With his record, it was +unlikely that any law school would +take him unless he showed tremendous +improvement in his pre-law +courses. And unless that improvement +was a general one, not only as far +as his studies were concerned, but +in his handling of his personal life, +it would be commercial suicide to +put him in any position of trust with +Porter & Sons. It wasn't that he was +dishonest; he simply couldn't be +trusted to do anything properly. He +had a tendency to follow his own +whims and ignore everybody else.</p> + +<p>The idea of his entering the +clergy was never even considered.</p> + +<p>It came almost as a relief to the +old woman when Malcom announced +that he was going to study physics, +as his father had done.</p> + +<p>The relief didn't last long. By the +time Malcom was in his sophomore +year, he was apparently convinced +that his instructors were dunderheads +to the last man. That, Elshawe +thought, was probably not unusual +among college students, but Malcom +Porter made the mistake of telling +them about it.</p> + +<p>One of the professors with whom +Elshawe had talked had said: "He +acted as though he owned the college. +That, I think, was what was +his trouble in his studies; he wasn't +really stupid, and he wasn't as lazy +as some said, but he didn't want to +be bothered with anything that he +didn't enjoy. The experiments he +liked, for instance, were the showy, +spectacular ones. He built himself a +Tesla coil, and a table with hidden +AC electromagnets in it that would +make a metal plate float in the air. +But when it came to nucleonics, he +was bored. Anything less than a +thermonuclear bomb wasn't any +fun."</p> + +<p>The trouble was that he called his +instructors stupid and dull for being +interested in "commonplace +stuff," and it infuriated him to be +forced to study such "junk."</p> + +<p>As a result, he managed to get +himself booted out of college toward +the end of his junior year. And that +was the end of his formal education.</p> + +<p>Six months after that, his grandmother +died. Although she had married +into the Porter family, she was +fiercely proud of the name; she had +been born a Van Courtland, so she +knew what family pride was. And +the realization that Malcom was the +last of the Porters—and a failure—was +more than she could bear. The +coronary attack she suffered should +have been cured in a week, but the +best medico-surgical techniques on +Earth can't help a woman who +doesn't want to live.</p> + +<p>Her will showed exactly what she +thought of Malcom Porter. The Porter +holdings were placed in trust. +Malcom was to have the earnings, +but he had no voice whatever in control +of the principal until he was +fifty years of age.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Instead of being angry, Malcom +was perfectly happy. He had an income +that exceeded a million dollars +before taxes, and didn't need to +worry about the dull details of making +money. He formed a small corporation +of his own, Porter Research +Associates, and financed it with his +own money. It ran deep in the red, +but Porter didn't mind; Porter Research +Associates was a hobby, not +a business, and running at a deficit +saved him plenty in taxes.</p> + +<p>By the time he was twenty-five, he +was known as a crackpot. He had a +motley crew of technicians and scientists +working for him—some with +Ph.D.'s, some with a trade-school +education. The personnel turnover in +that little group was on a par with +the turnover of patients in a maternity +ward, at least as far as genuine +scientists were concerned. Porter +concocted theories and hypotheses out +of cobwebs and became furious with +anyone who tried to tear them down. +If evidence came up that would tend +to show that one of his pet theories +was utter hogwash, he'd come up +with an <i>ad hoc</i> explanation which +showed that this particular bit of +evidence was an exception. He insisted +that "the basis of science lies +in the experimental evidence, not in +the pronouncements of authorities," +which meant that any recourse to +the theories of Einstein, Pauli, Dirac, +Bohr, or Fermi was as silly as quoting +Aristotle, Plato, or St. Thomas +Aquinas. The only authority he would +accept was Malcom Porter.</p> + +<p>Nobody who had had any training +in science could work long with a +man like that, even if the pay had +been high, which it wasn't. The only +people who could stick with him +were the skilled workers—the welders, +tool-and-die men, electricians, +and junior engineers, who didn't care +much about theories as long as they +got the work done. They listened +respectfully to what Porter had to +say and then built the gadgets he told +them to build. If the gadgets didn't +work the way Porter expected them +to, Porter would fuss and fidget with +them until he got tired of them, then +he would junk them and try something +else. He never blamed a technician +who had followed orders. +Since the salaries he paid were proportional +to the man's "ability and +loyalty"—judged, of course, by Porter's +own standards—he soon had a +group of technician-artisans who +knew that their personal security +rested with Malcom Porter, and that +personal loyalty was more important +than the ability to utilize the scientific +method.</p> + +<p>Not everything that Porter had +done was a one-hundred-per cent +failure. He had managed to come up +with a few basic improvements, patented +them, and licensed them out +to various manufacturers. But these +were purely an accidental by-product. +Malcom Porter was interested +in "basic research" and not much +else, it seemed.</p> + +<p>He had written papers and books, +but they had been uniformly rejected +by the scientific journals, and those +he had had published himself were +on a par with the writings of Immanuel +Velikovsky and George +Adamski.</p> + +<p>And now he was going to shoot a +rocket—or whatever it was—to the +moon. Well, Elshawe thought, if it +went off as scheduled, it would at +least be worth watching. Elshawe +was a rocket buff; he'd watched a +dozen or more moon shots in his life—everything +from the automatic +supply-carriers to the three-man passenger +rockets that added to the personnel +of Moon Base One—and he +never tired of watching the bellowing +monsters climb up skywards on +their white-hot pillars of flame.</p> + +<p>And if nothing happened, Elshawe +decided, he'd at least get a laugh +out of the whole episode.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>After nearly two hours of driving, +Bill Rodriguez finally turned off the +main road onto an asphalt road that +climbed steeply into the pine forest +that surrounded it. A sign said: +<i>Double Horseshoe Ranch—Private +Road—No Trespassing</i>.</p> + +<p>Elshawe had always thought of a +ranch as a huge spread of flat +prairie land full of cattle and gun-toting +cowpokes on horseback; a +mountainside full of sheep just +didn't fit into that picture.</p> + +<p>After a half mile or so, the station +wagon came to a high metal-mesh +fence that blocked the road. On the +big gate, another sign proclaimed +that the area beyond was private +property and that trespassers would +be prosecuted.</p> + +<p>Bill Rodriguez stopped the car, +got out, and walked over to the gate. +He pressed a button in one of the +metal gateposts and said, "Ed? +This's Bill. I got Mr. Skinner and +that New York reporter with me."</p> + +<p>After a slight pause, there was a +metallic click, and the gate swung +open. Rodriguez came back to the +car, got in, and drove on through +the gate. Elshawe twisted his head +to watch the big gate swing shut behind +them.</p> + +<p>After another ten minutes, Rodriguez +swung off the road onto another +side road, and ten minutes after +that the station wagon went over a +small rise and headed down into a +small valley. In the middle of it, +shining like bright aluminum in the +sun, was a vessel.</p> + +<p><i>Now I know Porter is nuts</i>, Elshawe +thought wryly.</p> + +<p>Because the vessel, whatever it +was, was parallel to the ground, +looking like the fuselage of a stratojet, +minus wings and tail, sitting on +its landing gear. Nowhere was there +any sign of a launching pad, with +its gantries and cranes and jet baffles. +Nor was there any sign of a rocket +motor on the vessel itself.</p> + +<p>As the station wagon approached +the cluster of buildings a hundred +yards this side of the machine, Elshawe +realized with shock that the +thing <i>was</i> a stripped-down stratojet—an +old Grumman <i>Supernova</i>, <i>circa</i> +1970.</p> + +<p>"Well, Elijah got there by sitting +in an iron chair and throwing a magnet +out in front of himself," Elshawe +said, "so what the hell."</p> + +<p>"What?" Rodriguez asked blankly.</p> + +<p>"Nothing; just thinking out loud. +Sorry."</p> + +<p>Behind Elshawe, Mr. Skinner +chuckled softly, but said nothing.</p> + +<p>When the station wagon pulled up +next to one of the cluster of white +prefab buildings, Malcom Porter +himself stepped out of the wide door +and walked toward them.</p> + +<p>Elshawe recognized the man from +his pictures—tall, wide-shouldered, +dark-haired, and almost handsome, +he didn't look much like a wild-eyed +crackpot. He greeted Rodriguez and +Skinner rather peremptorily, but he +smiled broadly and held out his hand +to Elshawe.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Elshawe? I'm Malcom Porter." +His grip was firm and friendly. +"I'm glad to see you. Glad you could +make it."</p> + +<p>"Glad to be here, Dr. Porter," Elshawe +said in his best manner. "It's +quite a privilege." He knew that +Porter liked to be called "Doctor"; +all his subordinates called him that.</p> + +<p>But, surprisingly, Porter said: +"Not 'Doctor,' Mr. Elshawe; just +'Mister.' My boys like to call me +'Doctor,' but it's sort of a nickname. +I don't have a degree, and I don't +claim one. I don't want the public +thinking I'm claiming to be something +I'm not."</p> + +<p>"I understand, Mr. Porter."</p> + +<p>Bill Rodriguez's voice broke in. +"Where do you want me to put all +this stuff, Doc?" He had unloaded +Elshawe's baggage from the station +wagon and set it carefully on the +ground. Skinner picked up his single +suitcase and looked at Porter inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"My usual room, Malcom?"</p> + +<p>"Yeah. Sure, Sam; sure." As Skinner +walked off toward one of the +other buildings, Porter said: "Quite +a load of baggage you have there, +Mr. Elshawe. Recording equipment?"</p> + +<p>"Most of it," the reporter admitted. +"Recording TV cameras, 16mm +movie cameras, tape recorders, 35mm +still cameras—the works. I wanted +to get good coverage, and if you've +got any men that you won't be using +during the take-off, I'd like to borrow +them to help me operate this stuff."</p> + +<p>"Certainly; certainly. Come on, +Bill, let's get this stuff over to Mr. +Elshawe's suite."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The suite consisted of three +rooms, all very nicely appointed for +a place as far out in the wilderness +as this. When Elshawe got his equipment +stowed away, Porter invited him +to come out and take a look at his +pride and joy.</p> + +<p>"The first real spaceship, Elshawe," +he said energetically. "The first real +spaceship. The rocket is no more a +spaceship than a rowboat is an ocean-going +vessel." He gestured toward +the sleek, shining, metal ship. "Of +course, it's only a pilot model, you +might say. I don't have hundreds of +millions of dollars to spend; I had +to make do with what I could afford. +That's an old Grumman <i>Supernova</i> +stratojet. I got it fairly cheap because +I told 'em I didn't want the engines +or the wings or the tail assembly.</p> + +<p>"But she'll do the job, all right. +Isn't she a beauty?"</p> + +<p>Elshawe had his small pocket recorder +going; he might as well get +all this down. "Mr. Porter," he asked +carefully, "just how does this +vessel propel itself? I understand +that, at the trial, it was said that you +claimed it was an antigravity device, +but that you denied it."</p> + +<p>"Those idiots!" Porter exploded +angrily. "Nobody understood what I +was talking about because they +wouldn't listen! Antigravity! <i>Pfui!</i> +When they learned how to harness +electricity, did they call it anti-electricity? +When they built the first +atomic reactor, did they call it anti-atomic +energy? A rocket works +against gravity, but they don't call +<i>that</i> antigravity, do they? My device +works <i>with</i> gravity, not against +it."</p> + +<p>"What sort of device is it?" Elshawe +asked.</p> + +<p>"I call it the Gravito-Inertial Differential +Polarizer," Porter said importantly.</p> + +<p>Elshawe was trying to frame his +next question when Porter said: "I +know the name doesn't tell you +much, but then, names never do, do +they? You know what a transformer +does, but what does the name by +itself convey? Nothing, unless you +know what it does in the first place. +A cyclotron cycles something, but +what? A broadcaster casts something +abroad—what? And how?"</p> + +<p>"I see. And the 'how' and 'what' +is your secret, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Partly. I can give you a little information, +though. Suppose there +were only one planet in all space, +and you were standing on its surface. +Could you tell if the planet were +spinning or not? And, if so, how +fast? Sure you could; you could +measure the so-called centrifugal +force. The same thing goes for a +proton or electron or neutron or even +a neutrino. But, if it <i>is</i> spinning, +what is the spin relative to? To the +particle itself? That's obvious nonsense. +Therefore, what is commonly +called 'inertia' is as much a property +of so-called 'empty space' as it is a +property of matter. My device simply +utilizes spatial inertia by polarizing it +against the matter inertia of the ship, +that's all."</p> + +<p>"Hm-m-m," said Elshawe. As far +as his own knowledge of science +went, that statement made no sense +whatever. But the man's manner was +persuasive. Talking to him, Elshawe +began to have the feeling that Porter +not only knew what he was talking +about, but could actually do what he +said he was going to do.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" Porter asked +sharply, looking up into the sky.</p> + +<p>Elshawe followed his gaze. "That" +was a Cadillac aircar coming over a +ridge in the distance, its fans making +an ever-louder throaty hum as it approached. +It settled down to an altitude +of three feet as it neared, and +floated toward them on its cushion +of air. On its side, Elshawe could see +the words, UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, +and beneath that, in +smaller letters, <i>Civil Aeronautics Authority</i>.</p> + +<p>"Now what?" Porter muttered +softly. "I haven't notified anyone of +my intentions yet—not officially."</p> + +<p>"Sometimes those boys don't wait +for official notification," Elshawe said.</p> + +<p>Porter glanced at him, his eyes +narrowed. "You didn't say anything, +did you?"</p> + +<p>"Look, Mr. Porter, I don't play +that way," Elshawe said tightly. "As +far as I'm concerned, this is your +show; I'm just here to get the story. +You did us a favor by giving us advance +notice; why should we louse +up your show for you?"</p> + +<p>"Sorry," Porter said brusquely. +"Well, let's make a good show of +it."</p> + +<p>The CAA aircar slowed to a halt, +its fans died, and it settled to its +wheels.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Two neatly dressed, middle-aged +men climbed out. Both were carrying +briefcases. Porter walked briskly toward +them, a warm smile on his face; +Elshawe tagged along behind. The +CAA men returned Porter's smile +with smiles that could only be called +polite and businesslike.</p> + +<p>Porter performed the introductions, +and the two men identified themselves +as Mr. Granby and Mr. Feldstein, +of the Civil Aeronautics Authority.</p> + +<p>"Can I help you, gentlemen?" +Porter asked.</p> + +<p>Granby, who was somewhat shorter, +fatter, and balder than his partner, +opened his briefcase. "We're +just here on a routine check, Mr. +Porter. If you can give us a little +information...?" He let the half-question +hang in the air as he took +a sheaf of papers from his briefcase.</p> + +<p>"Anything I can do to help," Porter +said.</p> + +<p>Granby, looking at the papers, +said: "In 1979, I believe you purchased +a Grumman <i>Supernova</i> jet +powered aircraft from Trans-American +Airlines? Is that correct?"</p> + +<p>"That is correct," Porter agreed.</p> + +<p>Granby handed one of the papers +to Porter. "That is a copy of the +registration certificate. Is the registration +number the same as it is on your +copy?"</p> + +<div class="figleft"> +<img src="images/004.png" width="159" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"I believe so," Porter said, looking +at the number. "Yes, I'm sure it +is."</p> + +<p>Granby nodded briskly. "According +to our records, the machine was +sold as scrap. That is to say, it was +not in an airworthy condition. It +was, in fact, sold without the engines. +Is that correct?"</p> + +<p>"Correct."</p> + +<p>"May I ask if you still own the +machine in question?"</p> + +<p>Porter gave the man a look that +accused Granby of being stupid or +blind or both. He pointed to the +hulking fuselage of the giant aircraft. +"There it is."</p> + +<p>Granby and Feldstein both turned +to look at it as though they had +never noticed it before. "Ah, yes," +Granby said, turning back. "Well, +that's about all there is to it." He +looked at his partner. "It's obvious +that there's no violation here, eh, +Feldstein?"</p> + +<p>"Quite," said Feldstein in a staccato +voice.</p> + +<p>"Violation?" Porter asked. "What +violation?"</p> + +<p>"Well, nothing, really," Granby +said, deprecatingly. "Just routine, as +I said. People have been known to +buy aircraft as scrap and then repair +them and re-outfit them."</p> + +<p>"Is that illegal?" Porter asked.</p> + +<p>"No, no," said Granby hastily. +"Of course not. But any ship so re-outfitted +and repaired must pass CAA +inspection before it can leave the +ground, you understand. So we keep +an eye on such transactions to make +sure that the law isn't violated."</p> + +<p>"After three years?" Porter asked +blandly.</p> + +<p>"Well ... ah ... well ... +you know how it is," Granby said +nervously. "These things take time. +Sometimes ... due to ... clerical +error, we overlook a case now and +then." He glanced at his partner, +then quickly looked back at Porter.</p> + +<p>"As a matter of fact, Mr. Porter," +Feldstein said in a flat, cold +voice, "in view of your record, we +felt that the investigation at this +time was advisable. You bought a +scrap missile and used it illegally. +You can hardly blame us for looking +into this matter."</p> + +<p>"No," said Porter. He had transferred +his level gaze to the taller of +the two men, since it had suddenly +become evident that Feldstein, not +Granby, was the stronger of the two.</p> + +<p>"However," Feldstein went on, +"I'm glad to see that we have no +cause for alarm. You're obviously not +fitting that up as an aircraft. By the +way—just out of curiosity—what +<i>are</i> you doing with it?" He turned +around to look at the big fuselage +again.</p> + +<p>Porter sighed. "I had intended to +hold off on this for a few days, but +I might as well let the cat out now. +I intend to take off in that ship this +week end."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Granby's eyes opened wide, and +Feldstein spun around as though +someone had jabbed him with a +needle. "<i>What?</i>"</p> + +<p>Porter simply repeated what he +had said. "I had intended to make +application to the Space Force for +permission to test it," he added.</p> + +<p>Feldstein looked at him blankly +for a moment.</p> + +<p>Then: "The <i>Space</i> Force? Mr. +Porter, civilian aircraft come under +the jurisdiction of the CAA."</p> + +<p>"How's he going to fly it?" Granby +asked. "No engines, no wings, no +control surfaces. It's silly."</p> + +<p>"Rocket motors in the rear, of +course," said Feldstein. "He's converted +the thing into a rocket."</p> + +<p>"But the tail is closed," Granby +objected. "There's no rocket orifice."</p> + +<p>"Dummy cover, I imagine," Feldstein +said. "Right, Mr. Porter?"</p> + +<p>"Wrong," said Porter angrily. +"The motive power is supplied by a +mechanism of my own devising! It +has nothing to do with rockets! It's +as superior to rocket power as the +electric motor is to the steam engine!"</p> + +<p>Feldstein and Granby glanced at +each other, and an almost identical +expression of superior smugness grew +over their features. Feldstein looked +back at Porter and said, "Mr. Porter, +I assure you that it doesn't matter +what you're using to lift that thing. +You could be using dynamite for all +I care. The law says that it can't +leave the ground unless it's airworthy. +Without wings or control +surfaces, it is obviously not airworthy. +If it is not a rocket device, +then it comes under the jurisdiction +of the Civil Aeronautics Authority, +and if you try to take off without +our permission, you'll go to jail.</p> + +<p>"If it <i>is</i> a rocket device, then it +will be up to the Space Force to inspect +it before take-off to make sure +it is not dangerous.</p> + +<p>"I might remind you, Mr. Porter, +that you are on parole. You still have +three years to serve on your last conviction. +I wouldn't play around with +rockets any more if I were you."</p> + +<p>Porter blew up. "Listen, you! I'm +not going to be pushed around by +you or anyone else! I know better +than you do what Alcatraz is like, +and I'm not going back there if I +can help it. This country is still +Constitutionally a democracy, not a +bureaucracy, and I'm going to see to +it that I get to exercise my rights!</p> + +<p>"I've invented something that's as +radically new as ... as ... as the Law +of Gravity was in the Seventeenth +Century! And I'm going to get recognition +for it, understand me?" He +gestured furiously toward the fuselage +of the old <i>Supernova</i>. "That ship +is not only airworthy, but <i>space</i>worthy! +And it's a thousand times +safer and a thousand times better +than any rocket will ever be!</p> + +<p>"For your information, Mister +Smug-Face, I've already flown her!"</p> + +<p>Porter stopped, took a deep +breath, compressed his lips, and then +said, in a lower, somewhat calmer +tone, "Know what she'll do? That +baby will hang in the air just like +your aircar, there—and without benefit +of those outmoded, power-wasting +blower fans, too.</p> + +<p>"Now, understand me, Mr. Feldstein: +I'm not going to break any +laws unless I have to. You and all +your bureaucrat friends will have a +chance to give me an O.K. on this +test. But I warn you, brother—<i>I'm +going to take that ship up!</i>"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Feldstein's jaw muscles had tightened +at Porter's tone when he began, +but he had relaxed by the time the +millionaire had finished, and was +even managing to look smugly tolerant. +Elshawe had thumbed the button on +his minirecorder when the conversation +had begun, and he was chuckling +mentally at the thought of what +was going down on the thin, magnetite-impregnated, +plastic thread +that was hissing past the recording +head.</p> + +<p>Feldstein said: "Mr. Porter, we +came here to remind you of the law, +nothing more. If you intend to abide +by the law, fine and dandy. If not, +you'll go back to prison.</p> + +<p>"That ship is not airworthy, +and—"</p> + +<p>"How do you know it isn't?" Porter +roared.</p> + +<p>"By inspection, Mr. Porter; by +inspection." Feldstein looked exasperated. +"We have certain standards +to go by, and an aircraft without +wings or control surfaces simply +doesn't come up to those standards, +that's all. Even a rocket has to have +stabilizing fins." He paused and zipped +open his briefcase.</p> + +<p>"In view of your attitude," he +said, pulling out a paper, "I'm afraid +I shall have to take official steps. +This is to notify you that the aircraft +in question has been inspected and +found to be not airworthy. Since—"</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute!" Porter snapped. +"Who are you to say so? How would +you know?"</p> + +<p>"I happen to be an officer of the +CAA," said Feldstein, obviously trying +to control his temper. "I also +happen to be a graduate aeronautical +engineer. If you wish, I will give +the ... the ... aircraft a thorough +inspection, inside and out, +and—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" said Porter. His voice +and his manner had suddenly become +very gentle. "I don't think that would +do much good, do you?"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I mean that you'd condemn the +ship, no matter what you found inside. +You couldn't O.K. a ship without +airfoils, could you?"</p> + +<p>"Of course not," said Feldstein, +"that's obvious, in the face of—"</p> + +<p>"All right, then give me the notification +and forget the rest of the +inspection." Porter held out his hand.</p> + +<p>Feldstein hesitated. "Well, now, +without a complete inspection—"</p> + +<p>Again Porter interrupted. "You're +not going to get a complete inspection, +Buster," he said with a wolfish +grin. "Either serve that paper or get +off my back."</p> + +<p>Feldstein slammed the paper into +Porter's hand. "That's your official +notification! If necessary, Mr. Porter, +we will be back with a Federal marshal! +Good day, Mr. Porter. Let's +go, Granby."</p> + +<p>The two of them marched back +to their aircar and climbed inside. +The car lifted with a roar of blowers +and headed back over the mountains +toward Albuquerque.</p> + +<p>But long before they were out of +sight over the ridge, Malcom Porter +had turned on his heel and started +back toward the cluster of buildings. +He was swearing vilely in a rumbling +monotone, and had apparently +forgotten all about Elshawe.</p> + +<p>The reporter followed in silence +for a dozen paces, then he asked: +"What's your next step, Mr. Porter?"</p> + +<p>Porter came to an abrupt stop, +turned, and looked at Elshawe. "I'm +going to phone General Fitzsimmons +in Washington! I'm—" He stopped, +scowling. "No, I guess I'd better +phone my lawyer first. I'll find out +what they can do and what they +can't." Then he turned again and +strode rapidly toward the nearest of +the buildings.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Seventy-two hours later, Terry Elshawe +was in Silver City, talking to +his boss over a long-distance line.</p> + +<p>"... And that's the way it lines +up, Ole. The CAA won't clear his +ship for take-off, and the Space Force +won't either. And if he tries it without +the O.K. of both of them, he'll +be right back in Alcatraz."</p> + +<p>"He hasn't violated his parole +yet, though?" Winstein's voice came +distantly.</p> + +<p>"No." Elshawe cursed the fact +that he couldn't get a vision connection +with New York. "But, the way +he's acting, he's likely to. He's furious."</p> + +<p>"Why wouldn't he let the Space +Force officers look over his ship?" +Winstein asked. "I still don't see +how that would have hurt him if +he's really got something."</p> + +<p>"It's on the recording I sent +you," Elshawe said.</p> + +<p>"I haven't played it yet," Winstein +said. "Brief me."</p> + +<p>"He wouldn't let the Space Force +men look at his engine or whatever +it is because he doesn't trust them," +Elshawe said. "He claims to have +this new drive, but he doesn't want +anyone to go nosing around it. The +Space Force colonel ... what's his +name? ... Manetti, that's it. Manetti +asked Porter why, if he had a +new invention, he hadn't patented +it. Porter said that he wasn't going +to patent it because that would make +it available to every Tom, Dick, and +Harry—his very words—who wanted +to build it. Porter insists that, +since it's impossible to patent the +discovery of a new natural law, he +isn't going to give away his genius +for nothing. He said that Enrico +Fermi was the prime example of +what happened when the Government +got hold of something like +that when the individual couldn't +argue."</p> + +<p>"Fermi?" Winstein asked puzzledly. +"Wasn't he a physicist or something, +back in the Forties?"</p> + +<p>"Right. He's the boy who figured +out how to make the atomic bomb +practical. But the United States Government +latched onto it, and it took +him years to get any compensation. +He never did get the money that he +was entitled to.</p> + +<p>"Porter says he wants to make +sure that the same thing doesn't happen +to him. He wants to prove that +he's got something and then let the +Government pay him what it's worth +and give him the recognition he deserves. +He says he has discovered a +new natural law and devised a machine +that utilizes that law. He isn't +going to let go of his invention until +he gets credit for everything."</p> + +<p>There was a long silence from the +other end. After a minute, Elshawe +said: "Ole? You there?"</p> + +<p>"Oh. Yeah ... sure. Just thinking. +Terry, what do you think of +this whole thing? Does Porter have +something?"</p> + +<p>"Damned if I know. If I were in +New York, I'd say he was a complete +nut, but when I talk to him, +I'm halfway convinced that he +knows what he's talking about."</p> + +<p>There was another long pause. +This time, Elshawe waited. Finally, +Oler Winstein said: "You think +Porter's likely to do something drastic?"</p> + +<p>"Looks like it. The CAA has already +forbidden him to lift that ship. +The Space Force flatly told him that +he couldn't take off without permission, +and they said he wouldn't get +permission unless he let them look +over his gizmo ... whatever it +is."</p> + +<p>"And he refused?"</p> + +<p>"Well, he did let Colonel Manetti +look it over, but the colonel said +that, whatever the drive principle +was, it wouldn't operate a ship. He +said the engines didn't make any +sense. What it boils down to is that +the CAA thinks Porter has rockets +in the ship, and the Space Force +does, too. So they've both forbidden +him to take off."</p> + +<p>"<i>Are</i> there any rocket motors in +the ship?" Winstein asked.</p> + +<p>"Not as far as I can see," Elshawe +said. "He's got two big atomic-powered +DC generators aboard—says +they have to be DC to avoid electromagnetic +effects. But the drive engines +don't make any more sense to +me than they do to Colonel Manetti."</p> + +<p>Another pause. Then: "O.K., +Terry; you stick with it. If Porter +tries to buck the Government, we've +got a hell of a story if his gadget +works the way he says it does. If it +doesn't—which is more likely—then +we can still get a story when they +haul him back to the Bastille."</p> + +<p>"Check-check. I'll call you if anything +happens."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>He hung up and stepped out of +the phone booth into the lobby of +the Murray Hotel. Across the lobby, +a glowing sign said <i>cocktail lounge</i> +in lower-case script.</p> + +<p>He decided that a tall cool one +wouldn't hurt him any on a day like +this and ambled over, fumbling in +his pockets for pipe, tobacco pouch, +and other paraphernalia as he went. +He pushed open the door, spotted a +stool at the bar of the dimly-lit room, +went over to it and sat down.</p> + +<p>He ordered his drink and had no +sooner finished than the man to his +left said, "Good afternoon, Mr. Elshawe."</p> + +<p>The reporter turned his head toward +his neighbor. "Oh, hello, Mr. +Skinner. I didn't know you'd come +to town."</p> + +<p>"I came in somewhat earlier. +Couple, three hours ago." His voice +had the careful, measured steadiness +of a man who has had a little too +much to drink and is determined not +to show it. That surprised Elshawe +a little; Skinner had struck him as a +middle-aged accountant or maybe +a high school teacher—the mild kind +of man who doesn't drink at all, +much less take a few too many.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to hire a 'copter and +fly back," Elshawe said. "You're +welcome if you want to come along."</p> + +<p>Skinner shook his head solemnly. +"No. Thank you. I'm going back +to Los Angeles this afternoon. I'm +just killing time, waiting for the local +plane to El Paso."</p> + +<p>"Oh? Well, I hope you have a +good trip." Elshawe had been under +the impression that Skinner had come +to New Mexico solely to see the test +of Porter's ship. He had wondered +before how the man fitted into the +picture, and now he was wondering +why Skinner was leaving. He decided +he might as well try to find out. +"I guess you're disappointed because +the test has been called off," he said +casually.</p> + +<p>"Called off? Hah. No such thing," +Skinner said. "Not by a long shot. +Not Porter. He'll take the thing up, +and if the Army doesn't shoot him +down, the CAA will see to it that +he's taken back to prison. But that +won't stop him. Malcom Porter is +determined to go down in history +as a great scientist, and nothing is +going to stop him if he can help it."</p> + +<p>"You think his spaceship will +work, then?"</p> + +<p>"Work? Sure it'll work. It worked +in '79; it'll work now. The way that +drive is built, it can't help but work. +I just don't want to stick around +and watch him get in trouble again, +that's all."</p> + +<p>Elshawe frowned. All the time +that Porter had been in prison, his +technicians had been getting together +the stuff to build the so-called +"spaceship," but none of them knew +how it was put together or how it +worked. Only Porter knew that, and +he'd put it together after he'd been +released on parole.</p> + +<p>But if that was so, how come Skinner, +who didn't even work for Porter, +was so knowledgeable about the +drive? Or was that liquor talking?</p> + +<p>"Did you help him build it?" the +reporter asked smoothly.</p> + +<p>"<i>Help</i> him build it? Why, I—" +Then Skinner stopped abruptly. +"Why, no," he said after a moment. +"No. I don't know anything about it, +really. I just know that it worked in +'79, that's all." He finished his drink +and got off his stool. "Well, I've got +to be going. Nice talking to you. +Hope I see you again sometime."</p> + +<p>"Sure. So long, Mr. Skinner." He +watched the man leave the bar.</p> + +<p>Then he finished his own drink +and went back into the lobby and got +a phone. Ten minutes later, a friend +of his who was a detective on the Los +Angeles police force had promised to +check into Mr. Samuel Skinner. Elshawe +particularly wanted to know +what he had been doing in the past +three years and very especially what +he had been doing in the past year. +The cop said he'd find out. There was +probably nothing to it, Elshawe reflected, +but a reporter who doesn't +follow up accidentally dropped hints +isn't much of a reporter.</p> + +<p>He came out of the phone booth, +fired up his pipe again, and strolled +back to the bar for one more drink +before he went back to Porter's ranch.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Malcom Porter took one of the +darts from the half dozen he held in +his left hand and hurled it viciously +at the target board hung on the far +wall of the room.</p> + +<p><i>Thunk!</i></p> + +<p>"Four ring at six o'clock," he said +in a tight voice.</p> + +<p><i>Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! +Thunk!</i></p> + +<p>The other five darts followed in +rapid succession. As he threw each +one, Porter snapped out a word. +"They ... can't ... stop ... Malcom +... Porter!" He glared at the +board "Two bull's-eyes; three fours, +and a three. Twenty-five points. You +owe me a quarter, Elshawe."</p> + +<p>The reporter handed him a coin. +"Two bits it is. What can you do, +Porter? They've got you sewed up +tight. If you try to take off, they'll +cart you right back to The Rock—if +the Army doesn't shoot you down +first. Do you want to spend the next +ten years engrossed in the scenic beauties +of San Francisco Bay?"</p> + +<p>"No. And I won't, either."</p> + +<p>"Not if the Army gets you. I can +see the epitaph now:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">Malcom Porter, with vexation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thought he could defy the nation.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He shot for space with great elation—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now he's dust and radiation.<br /></span> +</div> + +<p class="noin">Beneath it, they'll engrave a spaceship +argent with A-bombs rampant on a +field sable."</p> + +<p>Porter didn't take offense. He grinned. +"What are you griping about? It +would make a great story."</p> + +<p>"Sure it would," Elshawe agreed. +"But not for me. I don't write the +obituary column."</p> + +<p>"You know what I like about you, +Elshawe?"</p> + +<p>"Sure. I lose dart games to you."</p> + +<p>"That, yes. But you really sound +worried. That means two things. One: +You like me. Two: You believe that +my ship actually will take off. That's +more than any of those other reporters +who have been prowling around +and phoning in do."</p> + +<p>Elshawe shrugged silently and puffed +at his pipe. Malcom Porter's ego +was showing through. He was wrong +on two counts. Elshawe didn't like +him; the man's arrogance and his inflated +opinion of himself as a scientific +genius didn't sit well with the +reporter. And Elshawe didn't really +believe there was anything but a rocket +motor in that hull outside. A new, +more powerful kind of rocket perhaps—otherwise +Porter wouldn't be +trying to take a one-stage rocket to +the Moon. But a rocket, nonetheless.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to go back to prison," +Porter continued, "but I'll risk +that if I have to. But I won't risk +death just yet. Don't worry; the +Army won't know I'm even gone until +I'm halfway to the Moon."</p> + +<p>"Foo!" said Elshawe. "Every radar +base from Albuquerque to the Mexican +border has an antenna focused on +the air above this ranch. The minute +you get above those mountains, they'll +have a fix on you, and a minute after +that, they'll have you bracketed with +Cobras.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you let the Government +inspectors look it over and give +you an O.K.? What makes you think +they're all out to steal your invention?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, they won't <i>steal</i> it," Porter +said bitterly. "Heaven's-to-Betsy <i>no</i>! +But this invention of mine will mean +that the United States of America will +be in complete control of the planets +and the space between. When the +Government wants a piece of property, +they try to buy it at their price; +if they can't do that, they condemn +it and pay the owner what they think +it's worth—not what the owner thinks +it's worth. The same thing applies +here; they'd give me what they +thought I ought to have—in ten years +or so. Look what happened to Fermi.</p> + +<p>"No, Elshawe; when the Government +comes begging to me for this +invention, they can have it—on <i>my</i> +terms."</p> + +<p>"Going to keep it a secret, eh? You +can't keep a thing like that secret. +Look what happened with atomic +energy after World War Two. We +kept it a secret from the Russians, +didn't we? Fine lot of good that did +us. As soon as they knew it was possible, +they went to work on it. Nature +answers any questions you ask her if +you ask her the right way. As soon +as the Government sees that your +spaceship works, they'll put some of +their bright physicists to work on it, +and you'll be in the same position +as you would have been if you'd +showed it to them in the first place. +Why risk your neck?"</p> + +<p>Porter shook his head. "The analogy +isn't valid. Suppose someone had +invented the A-bomb in 1810. It +would have been a perfectly safe secret +because there wasn't a scientist +on Earth who included such a thing as +atomic energy in his philosophy. And, +believe me, this drive of mine is just +as far ahead of contemporary scientific +philosophy as atomic energy was +ahead of Napoleon's scientists.</p> + +<p>"Suppose I told you that the fuel +my ship uses is a gas lighter than hydrogen. +It isn't, but suppose I told +you so. Do you think any scientist +today could figure out how it worked? +No. They <i>know</i> that there's no such +thing as a gas with a lighter atomic +weight than hydrogen. They know it +so well that they wouldn't even +bother to consider the idea.</p> + +<p>"My invention is so far ahead of +present-day scientific thought that no +scientists except myself could have +even considered the idea."</p> + +<p>"O.K.; O.K.," Elshawe said. "So +you're going to get yourself shot +down to prove your point."</p> + +<p>Porter grinned lopsidedly. "Not at +all. You're still thinking in terms of +a rocket. Sure—if I used a rocket, +they'd knock me down fast, just as +soon as I lifted above the mountains. +But I don't have to do that. All I +have to do is get a few feet of altitude +and hug the ground all the way +to the Pacific coast. Once I get out +in the middle of the Pacific, I can +take off straight up without being +bothered at all."</p> + +<p>"All right. If your machine will +do it," the reporter said, trying to +hide his skepticism.</p> + +<p>"You still think I've got some kind +of rocket, don't you?" Porter asked +accusingly. He paused a moment, +then, as if making a sudden decision, +he said: "Look, Elshawe, I trust +you. I'm going to show you the inside +of that ship. I won't show you +my engines, but I <i>will</i> prove to you +that there are no rocket motors in +her. That way, when you write up +the story, you'll be able to say that +you have first-hand knowledge of that +fact. O.K.?"</p> + +<p>"It's up to you," the reporter said. +"I'd like to see it."</p> + +<p>"Come along," said Malcom Porter.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Elshawe followed Porter out to +the field, feeling rather grateful that +he was getting something to work +on. They walked across the field, +past the two gun-toting men in Levis +that Porter had guarding the ship. +Overhead, the stars were shining +brightly through the thin mountain +air. Elshawe glanced at his wrist +watch. It was a little after ten p.m.</p> + +<p>He helped Porter wheel the ramp +up to the door of the ship and then +followed him up the steps. Porter +unlocked the door and went inside. +The Grumman had been built to +cruise in the high stratosphere, so it +was as air-tight as a submarine.</p> + +<p>Porter switched on the lights. "Go +on in."</p> + +<p>The reporter stepped into the cabin +of the ship and looked around. It +had been rebuilt, all right; it didn't +look anything like the inside of a +normal stratojet.</p> + +<p>"Elshawe."</p> + +<p>"Yeah?" The reporter turned to +look at Porter, who was standing a +little behind him. He didn't even see +the fist that arced upward and smashed +into his jaw. All he saw was a +blaze of light, followed by darkness.</p> + +<p>The next thing he knew, something +was stinging in his nostrils. He +jerked his head aside, coughing. The +smell came again. Ammonia.</p> + +<p>"Wake up, Elshawe," Porter was +saying. "Have another whiff of these +smelling salts and you'll feel better."</p> + +<p>Elshawe opened his eyes and looked +at the bigger man. "I'm awake. +Take that stuff away. What's the +idea of slugging me?"</p> + +<p>"I was afraid you might not come +willingly," Porter said apologetically. +"I needed a witness, and I figured +you'd do better than anyone else."</p> + +<p>Elshawe tried to move and found +that he was tied to the seat and +strapped in with a safety belt. +"What's this for?" he asked angrily. +His jaw still hurt.</p> + +<p>"I'll take that stuff off in a few +minutes. I know I can trust you, but +I want you to remember that I'm the +only one who can pilot this ship. If +you try anything funny, neither one +of us will get back alive. I'll let you +go as soon as we get up to three hundred +miles."</p> + +<p>Elshawe stared at him. "Where +are we?"</p> + +<p>"Heading out toward mid-Pacific. +I headed south, to Mexico, first. +We're over open water now, headed +toward Baja California, so I put on +the autopilot. As soon as we get out +over the ocean, we can really make +time. You can watch the sun come +up in the west."</p> + +<p>"And then?" Elshawe felt dazed.</p> + +<p>"And then we head straight up. +For empty space."</p> + +<p>Elshawe closed his eyes again. He +didn't even want to think about it.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"... As you no doubt heard," Terrence +Elshawe dictated into the +phone, "Malcom Porter made good +his threat to take a spaceship of his +own devising to the Moon. Ham +radios all over North America picked +up his speech, which was made by +spreading the beam from an eighty-foot +diameter parabolic reflector and +aiming it at Earth from a hundred +thousand miles out. It was a collapsible +reflector, made of thin foil, like +the ones used on space stations. Paragraph.</p> + +<p>"He announced that the trip was +made with the co-operation of the +United States Space Force, and that +it represented a major breakthrough +in the conquest of space. He—"</p> + +<p>"Just a sec," Winstein's voice +broke in. "Is that the truth? Was he +really working with the Space +Force?"</p> + +<p>"Hell, no," said Elshawe. "But +they'll have to claim he was now. +Let me go on."</p> + +<p>"Shoot."</p> + +<p>"... He also beamed a message +to the men on Moon Base One, telling +them that from now on they +would be able to commute back and +forth from Luna to Earth, just as +simply as flying from New York to +Detroit. Paragraph.</p> + +<p>"What followed was even more +astounding. At tremendous acceleration, +Malcom Porter and Terrence +Elshawe, your reporter, headed for +Mars. Inside Porter's ship, there is +no feeling of acceleration except for +a steady, one-gee pull which makes +the passenger feel as though he is +on an ordinary airplane, even though +the spaceship may be accelerating at +more than a hundred gravities. Paragraph.</p> + +<p>"Porter's ship circled Mars, taking +photographs of the Red Planet—the +first close-ups of Mars to be +seen by the human race. Then, at +the same tremendous rate of speed, +Porter's ship returned to Earth. The +entire trip took less than thirty-six +hours. According to Porter, improved +ships should be able to cut that time +down considerably. Paragraph."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/005.png" width="600" height="459" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Have you got those pics?" Winstein +cut in.</p> + +<p>"Sure. Porter gave me an exclusive +in return for socking me. It was +worth it. Remember back in the +Twenties, when the newspapermen +talked about a scoop? Well, we've +got the biggest scoop of the century."</p> + +<p>"Maybe," said Winstein. "The +Government hasn't made any announcement +yet. Where's Porter?"</p> + +<p>"Under arrest, where'd you think? +After announcing that he would land +on his New Mexico ranch, he did +just that. As soon as he stepped out, +a couple of dozen Government +agents grabbed him. Violation of +parole—he left the state without notifying +his parole officer. But they +couldn't touch me, and they knew +it.</p> + +<p>"Here's another bit of news for +your personal information. A bomb +went off inside the ship after it landed +and blew the drive to smithereens. +The only information is inside Porter's +head. He's got the Government +where the short hair grows."</p> + +<p>"Looks like it. See here, Terry; +you get all the information you can +and be back here by Saturday. +You're going to go on the Weekend +Report."</p> + +<p>"Me? I'm no actor. Let Maxon +handle it."</p> + +<p>"No. This is hot. You're an eye-witness. +Maxon will interview you. +Understand?"</p> + +<p>"O.K.; you're the boss, Ole. Anything +else?"</p> + +<p>"Not right now, but if anything +more comes up, call in."</p> + +<p>"Right. 'Bye." He hung up and +leaned back in his chair, cocking his +feet up on the desk. It was Malcom +Porter's desk and Malcom Porter's +chair. He was sitting in the Big +Man's office, just as though he owned +it. His jaw still hurt a little, but he +loved every ache of it. It was hard +to remember that he had ever been +angry with Porter.</p> + +<p>Just before they had landed, Porter +had said: "They'll arrest me, of +course. I knew that when I left. But +I think I can get out of it. There +will be various kinds of Government +agents all over the place, but they +won't find anything. I've burned all +my notebooks.</p> + +<p>"I'll instruct my attorney that +you're to have free run of the place +so that you can call in your story."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The phone rang. Elshawe grabbed +up the receiver and said: "Malcom +Porter's residence." He wished that +they had visiphones out in the country; +he missed seeing the face of the +person he was talking to.</p> + +<p>"Let me talk to Mr. Terrence Elshawe, +please," said the voice at the +other end. "This is Detective Lieutenant +Martin of the Los Angeles +Police Department."</p> + +<p>"This is me, Marty."</p> + +<p>"Good! Boy, have I had trouble +getting to you! I had to make it an +official call before the phone company +would put the call through. +How does it feel to be notorious?"</p> + +<p>"Great. What's new?"</p> + +<p>"I got the dope on that Skinner +fellow. I suppose you still want it? +Or has success gone to your head?"</p> + +<p>Elshawe had almost forgotten +about Skinner. "Shoot," he said.</p> + +<p>The police officer rattled off Samuel +Skinner's vital statistics—age, +sex, date and place of birth, and so +on. Then: "He lived in New York +until 1977. Taught science for fifteen +years at a prep school there. +He—"</p> + +<p>"Wait a second," Elshawe interrupted. +"When was he born? Repeat +that."</p> + +<p>"March fourth, nineteen-thirty."</p> + +<p>"Fifty-three," Elshawe said, musingly. +"Older than he looks. O.K.; +go on."</p> + +<p>"He retired in '77 and came to +L.A. to live. He—"</p> + +<p>"Retired at the age of forty-seven?" +Elshawe asked incredulously.</p> + +<p>"That's right. Not on a teacher's +pension, though. He's got some kind +of annuity from a New York life +insurance company. Pays pretty good, +too. He gets a check for two thousand +dollars on the third of every +month. I checked with his bank on +that. Nice, huh?"</p> + +<p>"Very nice. Go on."</p> + +<p>"He lives comfortably. No police +record. Quiet type. One servant, a +Chinese, lives with him. Sort of +combination of valet and secretary.</p> + +<p>"As far as we can tell, he has +made four trips in the past three +years. One in June of '79, one in +June of '80, one in June of '81, and +this year he made the fourth one. +In '79, he went to Silver City, New +Mexico. In '80 and '81, he went to +Hawaii. This year, he went to Silver +City again. Mean anything to you?"</p> + +<p>"Not yet," Elshawe said. "Are +you paying for this call, or is the +City of Los Angeles footing the +bill?"</p> + +<p>"Neither. You are."</p> + +<p>"Then shut up and let me think +for a minute." After less than a minute, +he said: "Martin, I want some +more data on that guy. I'm willing +to pay for it. Should I hire a private +detective?"</p> + +<p>"That's up to you. I can't take +any money for it, naturally—but I'm +willing to nose around a little more +for you if I can. On the other hand, +I can't put full time in on it. There's +a reliable detective agency here in +L.A.— Drake's the guy's name. +Want me to get in touch with +him?"</p> + +<p>"I'd appreciate it. Don't tell him +who wants the information or that +it has any connection with Porter. +Get—"</p> + +<p>"Hold it, Terry ... just a second. +You know that if I uncover any indication +of a crime, all bets are off. +The information goes to my superiors, +not to you."</p> + +<p>"I know. But I don't think there's +any crime involved. You work it +from your end and send me the bills. +O.K.?"</p> + +<p>"Fair enough. What more do you +want?"</p> + +<p>Elshawe told him.</p> + +<p>When the phone call had been +completed, Elshawe sat back and +made clouds of pipe smoke, which he +stared at contemplatively. Then he +made two calls to New York—one +to his boss and another to a private +detective agency he knew he could +trust.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The Malcom Porter case quickly +became a <i>cause célèbre</i>. Somebody +goofed. Handled properly, the whole +affair might have been hushed up; +the Government would have gotten +what it wanted, Porter would have +gotten what <i>he</i> wanted, and everyone +would have saved face. But some +bureaucrat couldn't see beyond the +outer surface of his spectacle lenses, +and some other bureaucrat failed to +stop the thing in time.</p> + +<p>"Gall, gall, and bitter, bitter +wormwood," said Oler Winstein, +perching himself on the edge of +Terry Elshawe's desk.</p> + +<p>"You don't Gallic, bitter, wormy, +or wooden. What's up?"</p> + +<p>"Got a call from Senator Tallifero. +He wants to know if you'll consent +to appear before the Joint +Congressional Committee for Investigating +Military Affairs. I get the +feeling that if you say 'no,' they'll +send a formal invitation—something +on the order of a subpoena."</p> + +<p>Elshawe sighed. "Oh, well. It's +news, anyway. When do they want +me to be in Washington?"</p> + +<p>"Tomorrow. Meanwhile, Porter, of +course, is under arrest and in close +confinement. Confusion six ways +from Sunday." He shook his head. +"I don't understand why they just +didn't pat him on the back, say +they'd been working on this thing +all along, and cover it up fast."</p> + +<p>"Too many people involved," Elshawe +said, putting his cold pipe in +the huge ashtray on his desk. "The +Civil Aeronautics crowd must have +had a spotter up in those mountains; +they had a warrant out for his arrest +within an hour after we took off. +They also notified the parole board, +who put out an all-points bulletin +immediately. The Army and the Air +Force were furious because he'd +evaded their radar net. Porter stepped +on so many toes so hard that it +was inevitable that one or more +would yell before they realized it +would be better to keep their mouths +shut."</p> + +<p>"Well, you get up there and tell +your story, and I dare say he'll come +out of it."</p> + +<p>"Sure he will. They know he's got +something, and they know they have +to have it. But he's going to go +through hell before they give it to +him."</p> + +<p>Winstein slid off the desk and +stood up. "I hope so. He deserves +it. By the way, it's too bad you +couldn't get a story out of that Sam +Skinner character."</p> + +<p>"Yeah. But there's nothing to it. +After all, even the FBI tried to find +out if there was anyone at all besides +Porter who might know anything +about it. No luck. Not even +the technicians who worked with +him knew anything useful. Skinner +didn't know anything at all." He told +the lie with a perfectly straight face. +He didn't like lying to Winstein, but +there was no other way. He hoped +he wouldn't have to lie to the Congressional +Committee; perjury was +not something he liked doing. The +trouble was, if he told the truth, +he'd be worse off than if he lied.</p> + +<p>He took the plane that night for +Washington, and spent the next +three days answering questions while +he tried to keep his nerves under +control. Not once did they even approach +the area he wanted them to +avoid.</p> + +<p>On the plane back, he relaxed, +closed his eyes, and, for the first +time in days, allowed himself to +think about Mr. Samuel Skinner.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The reports from the two detective +agencies on the East and West +Coasts hadn't made much sense separately, +but together they added up +to enough to have made it worth +Elshawe's time to go to Los Angeles +and tackle Samuel Skinner personally. +He had called Skinner and +made an appointment; Skinner had +invited him out to his home.</p> + +<p>It was a fairly big house, not too +new, and it sat in the middle of a lot +that was bigger than normal for land-hungry +Los Angeles.</p> + +<p>Elshawe ran through the scene +mentally. He could see Skinner's +mild face and hear his voice saying: +"Come in, Mr. Elshawe."</p> + +<p>They went into the living room, +and Skinner waved him toward a +chair. "Sit down. Want some coffee?"</p> + +<p>"Thanks; I'd appreciate it." While +Skinner made coffee, the reporter +looked around the room. It wasn't +overly showy, but it showed a sort +of subdued wealth. It was obvious +that Mr. Skinner wasn't lacking in +comforts.</p> + +<p>Skinner brought in the coffee and +then sat down, facing Elshawe, in +another chair. "Now," he said bluntly, +"what was that remark you made +on the phone about showing up Malcom +Porter as a phony? I understood +that you actually went to Mars on +his ship. Don't you believe the evidence +of your own senses?"</p> + +<p>"I don't mean that kind of +phony," Elshawe said. "And you +know it. I'll come to the point. I +know that Malcom Porter didn't invent +the Gravito-Inertial Differential +Polarizer. <i>You</i> did."</p> + +<p>Skinner's eyes widened. "Where +did you get that information?"</p> + +<p>"I can't tell you my sources, Mr. +Skinner. Not yet, anyhow. But I +have enough information to tell me +that you're the man. It wouldn't hold +up in court, but, with the additional +information you can give me, I think +it will."</p> + +<p>Skinner looked baffled, as if not +knowing what to say next.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Skinner," Elshawe went on, +"a research reporter has to have a +little of the crusader in him, and +maybe I've got more than most. +You've discovered one of the greatest +things in history—or invented it, +whatever you want to call it. You +deserve to go down in history along +with Newton, Watt, Roentgen, Edison, +Einstein, Fermi, and all the +rest.</p> + +<p>"But somehow Malcom Porter +stole your invention and he intends +to take full credit for it. Oh, I know +he's paid you plenty of money not +to make any fuss, and he probably +thinks you couldn't prove anything, +anyway. But you don't have to be +satisfied with his conscience money +any more. With the backing of Magnum +Telenews, you can blow Mister +Glory-hound Porter's phony setup +wide open and take the credit you +deserve."</p> + +<p>Skinner didn't look at all the way +Elshawe had expected. Instead, he +frowned a little and said: "I'm glad +you came, Mr. Elshawe. I didn't +realize that there was enough evidence +to connect me with his project." +But he didn't look exactly +overjoyed.</p> + +<p>"Well," Elshawe said tentatively, +"if you'll just answer a few questions—"</p> + +<p>"Just a minute, Mr. Elshawe. Do +you mind if I ask you a few questions +first?"</p> + +<p>"Go ahead."</p> + +<p>Skinner leaned forward earnestly. +"Mr. Elshawe, who deserves credit +for an invention? Who deserves the +money?"</p> + +<p>"Why ... why, the inventor, of +course."</p> + +<p>"The inventor? Or the man who +gives it to humanity?"</p> + +<p>"I ... don't quite follow you."</p> + +<p>He leaned back in his chair again. +"Mr. Elshawe, when I invented the +Polarizer, I hadn't the remotest idea +of what I'd invented. I taught general +science in the high school Malcom +Porter went to, and I had a lab +in my basement. Porter was a pretty +bright boy, and he liked to come +around to my lab and watch me putter +around. I had made this gadget—it +was a toy for children as far as +I was concerned. I didn't have any +idea of its worth. It was just a little +gadget that hopped up into the air +and floated down again. Cute, but +worthless, except as a novelty. And +it was too expensive to build it as a +novelty. So I forgot about it.</p> + +<p>"Years later, Porter came around +to me and offered to buy it. I dug +it out of the junk that was in my +little workshop and sold it to him.</p> + +<p>"A couple of years after that, he +came back. He said that he'd invented +something. After beating all around +the bush, he finally admitted that +his invention was a development of +my little toy. He offered me a million +dollars if I'd keep my mouth +shut and forget all about the thing."</p> + +<p>"And you accepted?" Elshawe +asked incredulously.</p> + +<p>"Certainly! I made him buy me a +tax-paid annuity that pays me more +than enough to get by on. I don't +want wealth, Mr. Elshawe—just +comfort. And that's why I gave it to +him."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"I don't follow you."</p> + +<p>"Let me tell you about Malcom +Porter. He is one of that vast horde +of people who want to be <i>someone</i>. +They want to be respected and looked +up to. But they either can't, or +won't, take the time to learn the +basics of the field they want to excel +in. The beautiful girl who wants to +be an actress without bothering to +learn to act; the young man who +wants to be a judge without going +through law school, or be a general +without studying military tactics; and +Malcom Porter, the boy who wanted +to be a great scientist—but didn't +want to take the trouble to learn +science."</p> + +<p>Elshawe nodded. He was thinking +of the "artists" who splatter up clean +canvas and call it "artistic self-expression." +And the clodheads who +write disconnected, meaningless +prose and claim that it's free verse. +The muddleminds who forget that +Picasso learned to paint within the +strict limits of classical art before +he tried new methods, and that +James Joyce learned to handle the +English language well before he +wrote "Finnegan's Wake."</p> + +<p>"On the other hand," Skinner +continued, "I am ... well, rather a +shy man. As soon as Malcom told +me what the device would do when +it was properly powered, I knew that +there would be trouble. I am not a +fighter, Mr. Elshawe. I have no desire +to spend time in prison or be +vilified in the news or called a crackpot +by orthodox scientists.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to fight Malcom's +claim, Mr. Elshawe. Don't you see, +he <i>deserves</i> the credit! In the first +place, he recognized it for what it +was. If he hadn't, Heaven only +knows how long it would have been +before someone rediscovered it. In +the second place, he has fought and +fought hard to give it to humanity. +He has suffered in prison and spent +millions of dollars to get the Polarizer +into the hands of the United +States Government. He has, in fact, +worked harder and suffered more +than if he'd taken the time and trouble +to get a proper education. And +it got him what he wanted; I doubt +that he would have made a very +good scientist, anyway.</p> + +<p>"Porter deserves every bit of +credit for the Polarizer. I am perfectly +happy with the way things are +working out."</p> + +<p>Elshawe said: "But what if the +FBI gets hold of the evidence I +have?"</p> + +<p>"That's why I have told you the +truth, Mr. Elshawe," Skinner said +earnestly. "I want you to destroy +that evidence. I would deny flatly +that I had anything to do with the +Polarizer, in any case. And that +would put an end to any inquiry because +no one would believe that I +would deny inventing something like +that. But I would just as soon that +the question never came up. I would +rather that there be no whisper +whatever of anything like that."</p> + +<p>He paused for a moment, then, +very carefully, he said: "Mr. Elshawe, +you have intimated that the inventor +of the Polarizer deserves some kind +of reward. I assure you that the +greatest reward you could give me +would be to help me destroy all +traces of any connection with the +device. Will you do that, Mr. Elshawe?"</p> + +<p>Elshawe just sat silently in the +chair for long minutes, thinking. +Skinner didn't interrupt; he simply +waited patiently.</p> + +<p>After about ten minutes, Elshawe +put his pipe carefully on a nearby +table and reached down to pick up +his briefcase. He handed it to Skinner.</p> + +<p>"Here. It contains all the evidence +I have. Including, I might say, the +recording of our conversation here. +Just take the tape out of the minirecorder. +A man like you deserves +whatever reward he wants. Take it, +Mr. Skinner."</p> + +<p>"Thanks," said Skinner softly, +taking the briefcase.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>And, on the plane winging back +to New York from the Congressional +investigation, Mr. Terrence Elshawe +sighed softly. He was glad none of +the senators had asked anything +about Skinner, because he knew he +would certainly have had to tell the +truth.</p> + +<p>And he knew, just as certainly, +that he would have been in a great +deal more hot water than Porter had +been. Because Malcom Porter was +going to become American Hero +Number One, and Terry Elshawe +would have ended up as the lying +little sneak who had tried to destroy +the reputation of the great Malcom +Porter.</p> + +<p>Which, all things considered, +would have been a hell of a note.</p> + +<p class="theend">THE END</p> + +<div class="figtran"> +<a href="images/006-2.jpg"><img src="images/006-1.jpg" width="140" height="200" alt="" title="" /></a> +<b><big>Transcriber's Note:</big></b><br /><br /> +This etext was produced from <i>Astounding Science Fiction</i> September +1960. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. +copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and +typographical errors have been corrected without note.</div> + +<hr class="dfx" /> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of By Proxy, by Gordon Randall Garrett + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BY PROXY *** + +***** This file should be named 24707-h.htm or 24707-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/7/0/24707/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Bruce Albrecht, Stephen Blundell +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/24707-h/images/001.png b/24707-h/images/001.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c85eb40 --- /dev/null +++ b/24707-h/images/001.png diff --git a/24707-h/images/002.png b/24707-h/images/002.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0a3f5fa --- /dev/null +++ b/24707-h/images/002.png diff --git a/24707-h/images/003.png b/24707-h/images/003.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3b5eb17 --- /dev/null +++ b/24707-h/images/003.png diff --git a/24707-h/images/004.png b/24707-h/images/004.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..89bdb11 --- /dev/null +++ b/24707-h/images/004.png diff --git a/24707-h/images/005.png b/24707-h/images/005.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a33589f --- /dev/null +++ b/24707-h/images/005.png diff --git a/24707-h/images/006-1.jpg b/24707-h/images/006-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9de0d91 --- /dev/null +++ b/24707-h/images/006-1.jpg diff --git a/24707-h/images/006-2.jpg b/24707-h/images/006-2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ef98d06 --- /dev/null +++ b/24707-h/images/006-2.jpg |
