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diff --git a/24723-h/24723-h.htm b/24723-h/24723-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8fd105e --- /dev/null +++ b/24723-h/24723-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4680 @@ +<!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 Final Weapon, by Everett B. Cole + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h2 {text-align: center;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 1em auto; visibility: hidden;} + .dfx {margin: 0em auto; clear: both;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .blockquot {margin: 1em 10%;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .figcenter {margin: 1em auto; width: 600px;} + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0; padding: 0; width: 158px;} + img {border: none;} + .illo {margin-bottom: 2em; font-size: small; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} + .tease {margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; font-size: large;} + .theend {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 2em;} + .figtran {float: left; text-align: justify; border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; padding: 1em;} + .figtran img {float: left; padding-right: 1em;} + .rdt {text-align: right; position: absolute; right: 18%;} + .hds {text-align: left; position: absolute; left: 30%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Final Weapon, by Everett B. Cole + +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: Final Weapon + +Author: Everett B. Cole + +Illustrator: Alexander Leydenfrost + +Release Date: March 1, 2008 [EBook #24723] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FINAL WEAPON *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figleft"> +<img src="images/001.png" width="158" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<h1><big>FINAL<br /> +WEAPON</big></h1> + +<h2>BY EVERETT B. COLE</h2> + +<p class="tease"><big>Man has</big> developed many a deadly +weapon. Today, the weapon most +effective in destroying a man's +hopes and security is the file +folder ... and that was the weapon +Morely knew and loved. But there +was something more potent to come.</p> + +<p class="illo">Illustrated by Leydenfrost</p> + +<p>District Leader Howard Morely +leaned back in his seat, to glance +down at the bay. Idly, he allowed his +gaze to wander over the expanse of +water between the two blunt points +of land, then he looked back at the +skeletonlike spire which jutted upward +from the green hills he had just +passed over. He could remember +when that ruin had been a support +for one of the world's great bridges.</p> + +<p>Now, a crumbling symbol of the +past, it stubbornly resisted the attacks +of the weather, as it had once +resisted the far more powerful blasts +of explosives. Obstinately, it pointed +its rusty length skyward, to remind +the observer of bygone conflict—and +more.</p> + +<p>Together with the tangled cables, +dimly seen in the shoal water, the +line of wreckage in the channel, and +the weed-covered strip of torn concrete +which led through the hills, it +testified to the arrival of the air age. +Bridges, highways, and harbors alike +had passed their day of usefulness.</p> + +<p>Not far from the ruined bridge +support, Morely could see the huge, +well maintained intake of one of the +chemical extraction plants. He shook +his head at the contrast.</p> + +<p>"That eyesore should be pulled +down," he muttered. "Should have +been pulled down long ago. Suggested +it in a report, but I suppose it +never got to the Old Man. He depends +on his staff too much. If I had +the region, I'd—"</p> + +<p>He shook his head. He was not +the regional director—yet. Some day, +the old director would retire. Then, +Central Coördination would be examining +the records of various district +leaders, looking for a successor. +Then—</p> + +<p>He shrugged and turned his attention +to his piloting of the borrowed +helicopter. It was a clumsy +machine, and he had to get in to +Regional Headquarters in time for +the morning conference. There would +be no sense it getting involved in +employee traffic—not if he could +avoid it.</p> + +<p>The conference, his informant had +told him, would be a little out of +the ordinary. It seemed that the Old +Man had become somewhat irritated +by the excess privileges allowed in +a few of the eastern districts. And +he was going to jack everyone up +about it. After that would come the +usual period of reports, and possibly +a few special instructions. Some of +the leaders would have pet projects +to put forward, he knew. They always +did. Morely smiled to himself. +He'd have something to come up +with, too.</p> + +<p>And this conference might put a +crimp in Harwood's style. Morely +had carefully worded his progress report +to make contrast with the type +of report that he knew would come +from District One. George Harwood +had been allowing quite a few extra +privileges to his people, stating that +it was good for morale. And, during +the past couple of months, he'd +seemed to be proving his point. Certainly, +the production of the employees +from the peninsula had been +climbing. Harwood, Morely decided +would be the most logical person—after +himself—for the region when +the Old Man retired. In fact, for a +time, it had looked as though the +director of District One was going to +be a dangerous rival.</p> + +<p>But this conference would change +things. Morely smiled slowly as he +thought of possible ways of shading +the odds.</p> + +<p>He looked ahead. Commuters were +streaming in from the peninsula now, +to make for the factory parking lots. +His face tightened a little. Why, he +wondered, had the Old Man decided +to call the conference at this hour? +He could have delayed a little, until +commuter traffic was less heavy. He'd +been a district leader once. And before +that, under the old government, +a field leader. He should know how +annoying the employee classes could +be. And to force his leaders to mingle +with commuting employees in heavy +traffic!</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>For that matter, everyone seemed +to be conspiring to make things uncomfortable +today. Those heavy-handed +mechanics in the district motor +pool, for example. They'd failed +him today. His own sleek machine, +with its distinctive markings was still +being repaired. And he'd been forced +to use this unmarked security patrol +heli. The machine wasn't really too +bad, of course. It had a superb motor, +and it carried identification +lights and siren, which could be used +if necessary. But it resembled some +lower-class citizen's family carryall. +And, despite its modifications, it still +handled like one. Morely grimaced +and eased the wheel left a little. The +helicopter swung in a slow arc.</p> + +<p>Helis were rising from the factory +lots, to interlace with incoming ships +before joining with the great stream +headed south. The night workers +were heading for home. Morely +hovered his machine for a moment, +to watch the ships jockey for position, +sometimes barely avoiding collisions +in the stream of traffic. He +watched one ship, which edged forward, +stopped barely in time to avoid +being hit, edged forward again, and +finally managed to block traffic for a +time while its inept driver fooled +with the controls and finally got on +course.</p> + +<p>"Quarrelsome, brawling fools," he +muttered. "Even among themselves, +they can't get along."</p> + +<p>He looked around, noting that the +air over the Administrative Group +was comparatively free of traffic. To +be sure, he would have to cross the +traffic lines, but he could take the +upper lanes, avoiding all but official +traffic. A guard might challenge, but +he could use his identifying lights. +He wouldn't be halted. He corrected +his course a little, glanced at the +altimeter, and put his ship into a +climb.</p> + +<p>At length, he eased his ship over +the parklike area over Administrative +Square and hovered over the +parking entry. A light blinked on his +dash, to tell him that all the official +spaces were occupied. He grunted.</p> + +<p>"Wonder they couldn't leave a +clear space in Official. They know I'm +coming in for conference."</p> + +<p>He moved the control wheel, allowing +his ship to slide over to a +shopping center parking slot, and +hovered over the entry, debating. He +could park here and take the sub-surface +to Administrative, or he could +use the surface lot just outside of the +headquarters group. Of course, the +director frowned on use of the surface +lot, except in emergency. The +underground lots were designated +for all normal parking. Morely +thought over the problem, ignoring +the helis which hovered, waiting for +him to clear the center of the landing +area. Finally, his hand started for the +throttle. He would settle in the landing +slot, let the guards shove his heli +to a space, and avoid any conflict +with the director's orders regarding +the surface lot.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Suddenly, there was a sputtering +roar. Someone had become impatient +at the delay. A small sports heli +swept by, impellers reversed, and +dropped rapidly toward the entry to +the underground parking space. +Morely's ship rocked a little in the +air blast.</p> + +<p>For an instant, Morely felt a sharp +pain which gnawed at the pit of his +stomach. His head was abruptly light, +and his hand, apparently of its own +volition, closed over the throttle +knob.</p> + +<p>This joy boy was overdue for a +lesson.</p> + +<p>Morely measured the distance +quickly, judging the instant when +the other pilot would have to repitch +his impellers and halt his downward +rush. He allowed his own heavy ship +to wallow earthward.</p> + +<p>Scant feet from ground surface, +the sportster pilot flicked his pitch +control and pulled his throttle out +for the brief burst of power which +would allow him to drop gently to +the landing platform.</p> + +<p>Morely grinned savagely as he saw +the impellers below him change pitch +and start to move faster. He twisted +his own impellers to full pitch and +pulled out the throttle for a sudden, +roaring surge of power, then swung +the control column, jerking his ship +up and away. As he steadied his heli +and cut power, he looked down.</p> + +<p>The powerful downblast had completely +upset the sportster pilot's +calculations. The small ship, struck +by the gale from above, had listed +to the right and gone out of control, +grazing one of the heavy splinter +shutters at the side of the landing +slot. The ship lay on its side, amidst +the wreckage of its impellers.</p> + +<p>Morely flicked on his warning +siren and lights, then feathered his +own impellers, dropping his ship in +free fall. He dropped to the grassy +area by the landing slot, ignoring +the other ships which scattered like +frightened chickens, to give him +room. At the last instant, he twisted +the impellers to full pitch again, +pulled out the throttle for a moment, +then slammed the lever to the +closed position. His ship touched +down on springy turf, its landing +gear settling gently to accept the +weight. A klaxon was sounding, and +warning lights flashed from the landing +slot, to warn ships away from +an attempted landing.</p> + +<p>It would be a long time before the +shiny, new sportster would be in +condition to sweep into another +parking area. And, after paying his +fine and taking care of his extra +duties, it would be an even longer +time before the employee-pilot would +have much business in the luxury +shopping center, anyway.</p> + +<p>Morely smiled bitterly as he closed +the door of his ship. It didn't pay to +cross Howard Morely—ever.</p> + +<p>He walked slowly toward the landing +slot, motioning imperiously to +an approaching guard.</p> + +<p>"Have someone place that ship for +me," he ordered, jerking a thumb +back toward his heli. "Then come +over to that wreck. I shall want words +with the pilot." He held out his +small identification folder.</p> + +<p>The guard's glance went to the +folder. For an instant, he studied the +card exposed before him, then he +straightened and saluted, his face expressionless.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir." He signaled another +guard, then pointed toward Morely's +ship, and to the landing slot. "I can +go with you now."</p> + +<p>The two went down in the elevator +and walked over to the wrecked +sportster. A slender man was crawling +from a door. When the man was +clear of his ship, Morely beckoned.</p> + +<p>"Over here, Fellow," he commanded.</p> + +<p>The sportster pilot approached, +the indignation on his face changing +to bewilderment, then dismay as he +noted Morely's insignia and the attitude +of the two men who faced +him.</p> + +<p>Morely turned to the guard.</p> + +<p>"Get me his name, identification +number, and the name of his leader."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>The guard turned to the man, +who grimaced a little with pain as +he slowly put a hand in his pocket. +Wordlessly, he extracted a bulky +folder, from which he took a small +booklet. He held out the booklet to +the guard.</p> + +<p>Morely held out a hand. "Never +mind," he said. "Simply put him in +custody. I'll turn this over to his +leader myself."</p> + +<p>He had noted the cover design on +the booklet. It was from District +One—Harwood's district. He flipped +the cover open, ascertaining that +there was no transfer notice. He'd +give this to Harwood all right—at +the right time. He looked at his +watch.</p> + +<p>"I shall want my heli in about +three hours," he announced. "See to +it that it's ready. And have a man +check the fuel and see if the ship's +damaged in any way." He turned +away.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The district leaders sat before the +large conference table. Among them, +close to the director's place, was +Morely, his face fixed in an expression +of alert interest. His informant +had been right. The man must have +gotten a look at the Old Man's notes. +The regional director was criticizing +the laxity in inspection and control +of employee activities. He objected to +the excessive luxury activity allowed +to some members of the employee +classes, as well as to the overabundance +of leisure allowed in several +cases, some of which he described +in detail.</p> + +<p>He especially pointed up the fact +that a recent heli meet had been almost +dominated by employee class +entries. And he pointed out the fact +that there was considerable rehabilitation +work to be done in bombed +areas. It could be done by employees, +during their time away from their +subsistence jobs. That was all community +time, he reminded.</p> + +<p>It was all very well, he said, to +allow the second- and even third-class +citizens a certain amount of leisure +recreation. That kept morale up. But +they were certainly not to be allowed +any position of dominance, either +individually, or as a class. That, he +said, was something else again. It +was precisely the sort of thing that +had led to the collapse and downfall +of many previous civilizations.</p> + +<p>"Keep 'em busy," he ordered. "So +busy they don't have time to think +up mischief to get into. Remember, +gentlemen, second- and third-class +citizens have no rights—only privileges. +And privileges may be withdrawn +at any time."</p> + +<p>He rapped sharply on the table +and sat down, looking at the leader +of District One.</p> + +<p>One by one, the district leaders +made their verbal reports of activity. +Occasionally, questions of production +or work quotas were brought up +and decided. Morely waited.</p> + +<p>At last, he made his own report, +emphasizing the fact that his district +had exceeded its quotas—subsistence, +luxury, and rehabilitation—for the +fourth consecutive quarter. He cited +a couple of community construction +projects he had ordered and which +were well on the way to completion, +and brought out the fact that his +people, at least, were being inspected +constantly and thoroughly.</p> + +<p>Also, he suggested, if any time remained +to be used, or if leisure activity +threatened to become excessive, +it might be well to turn some attention +outside of the old urban areas. +There was considerable bomb damage +in the suburban and former +farming areas, and the scrap from +some of the ruined structures could +be stockpiled for disposal to factories +and community reclamation plants.</p> + +<p>Further, a beautification program +for the entire region might keep +some of the employee class busy for +some time. And some of the ex-farmers +among the lower classes might +find it pleasant to work once again +with the soil, instead of their normal +work in the synthetic food labs or +machine shops. With the director's +permission, he could start the program +by removing the useless tower +and wreckage at the bay channel, and +by salvaging the metal from it. Of +course, he admitted, it was a trifle +beyond his own authority, since most +of the channel was in District One. +The regional director cast him a +sharp glance, then considered the +suggestion. At last, he nodded.</p> + +<p>"It might be well," he decided. +"Go ahead, Morely. Take care of that +detail." He looked over at his executive. +"Have Planning draw up +something on salvage and beautification +in the former rural areas," he +ordered. He looked about the room.</p> + +<p>"And the rest of you might try +looking over your own districts. You +don't have to wait for a directive, +and every one of you can find some +improvement that could be made. If +it's a district line matter, submit some +plan for mutual agreement to my +office." He rose and went to the door.</p> + +<p>Morely waited, watching George +Harwood. The leader of District +One gathered his papers, looked +down the table for an instant, then +went out. Morely followed him at a +discreet distance.</p> + +<p>As Harwood neared the door to +the regional director's office, Morely +caught up with him.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Harwood," he said loudly. +"Caught one of your people in a flagrant +case of reckless flying this morning. +Why don't you bear down a +little on those fellows of yours? This +one seemed to think he was winning +a heli meet."</p> + +<p>He held out the folder he had +confiscated. "Here's his identification. +I had the guards hold him for +you. Second-class citizen. Must've +had a lot of spare time, to get the +luxury credits and purchase authorization +for that ship of his."</p> + +<p>Harwood looked at him, a faint +expression of annoyance crossing his +face. Then, he glanced at the open +door nearby, and comprehension +grew on his face. He took the folder, +nodded wordlessly, and walked +rapidly past Morely, who turned to +watch him.</p> + +<p>As Harwood swung through the +door to an elevator, Morely smiled +appreciatively. That had been a +smart trick, he thought. Have to remember +that one. No argument to +disturb the Old Man. Not even positive +proof that Morely hadn't been +talking to empty space. But there was +an answer to that, too, if one was +alert. He walked through the doorway +into the director's office.</p> + +<p>The regional director looked up.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Morely. You wanted to see +me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir." Morely stood at rigid +attention. "I just thought of all those +useless highways around the countryside. +Of course, a few of them +have been camouflaged and converted +to temporary and emergency heli +parking lots, but there's still a lot of +waste concrete about that could be +removed. It would improve the +camouflage of the groups. It could +be divided into community projects +for spare time work, sir."</p> + +<p>"Very good idea. If this stalemate +we're in should develop into another +war, it would be well to have as few +landmarks as possible. And some of +these people do have too much time +on their hands. They sit around, +thinking of their so-called rights. +Next thing we know, some of the +second-class citizens'll be screaming +for the privilege of a vote. Set it up +in your district, Morely. We'll see +how it works out, and the rest of the +district leaders can follow your example."</p> + +<p>He looked sharply at Morely. +"Heard a little disturbance in the hall +just before you came in."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that." Morely contrived a +look of confusion. "I'm sorry, sir. I +didn't mean anyone to hear that. It +was just that I had a minor bit of +business with Leader Harwood. One +of his people nearly knocked me out +of the air this morning, over a parking +area, and I confiscated his identification. +I tried to give it to Harwood +after the conference, but he +must have been in a hurry. I caught +up with him and gave him the +folder."</p> + +<p>"So I heard." The director smiled +wryly. "Anything more?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir." Morely saluted and left.</p> + +<p>"That," he told himself, "should +drop Harwood a few points."</p> + +<p>He went to the parking area to +reclaim his helicopter. Better get +back to his district and start setting +up those community projects. Too, +he would have to run a check inspection +or so this evening. See to it his +sector men weren't getting lax. He'd +check on Bond tonight.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>He flew back to District Twelve, +dropped his helicopter into the landing +area, and made his way to his +office.</p> + +<p>Inside, he went to a file, from +which he took his spot-inspection +folder. Carrying it to his desk, he +checked it. Yes, Bond's sector was +due for a spot inspection. Might be +well to make a detailed check of +one of the employees in that sector, +too. Morely touched a button on his +desk.</p> + +<p>Almost immediately, a clerk stood +in the doorway.</p> + +<p>"Get me the master quarters file +for Sector Fourteen," Morely ordered.</p> + +<p>The clerk went out, to return with +two long file drawers. Quickly, he +set them side by side on a small +table, which he pushed over to his +superior's desk.</p> + +<p>Idly, Morely fingered through the +cards, noting the indexing and condition +of the file. He nodded in approval, +then gave the clerk a nod of +dismissal. At least, his people were +keeping their files in order.</p> + +<p>He reached into a pocket, to withdraw +a notebook. Turning its pages, +he found a few of the entries he had +made on population changes, then +cross-checked them against the files. +All were posted and properly cross-indexed. +Again, he nodded in satisfaction.</p> + +<p>Evidently, that last dressing down +he had given the files section had +done some good. For a moment, he +considered calling in the chief clerk +and complimenting him. Then, he +changed his mind.</p> + +<p>"No use giving him a swelled +head," he told himself.</p> + +<p>He drew a file drawer to him, running +his finger down its length. At +last, he pulled a card at random. It +was colored light blue.</p> + +<p>He put it back. Didn't want to +check a group leader. He'd be a first-class +citizen, and entitled to privacy. +He pulled another card from a different +section of the file. This one +was salmon pink—an assistant +group leader. He examined it. The +man was a junior equipment designer +in one of the communications +plants. For a moment, Morely tapped +the card against his desk. Actually, +he had wanted a basic employee, +but it might be well to check +one of the leadmen. He could have +the man accompany him while he +made a further check on one of the +apartments in his sub-group. Again, +he looked at the card.</p> + +<p>Paul Graham, he noted, was forty-two +years of age. He had three children—was +an electronics designer, +junior grade. His professional profile +showed considerable ability and +training, but the security profile +showed a couple of threes. Nothing +really serious, but he would be naturally +expected to be a second-class +citizen—or below. It was not an unusual +card.</p> + +<p>Morely looked at the quarters +code. Graham lived in Apartment +7A, Group 723, which was in Block +1022, Sector Fourteen. It would be +well to check his quarters first, then +check, say, 7E. Morely went through +the numerical file, found the card +under 7E, and flipped the pages of +his notebook to a blank sheet, upon +which he copied the data he needed +from the two cards.</p> + +<p>He put the notebook in his pocket +and returned the cards to their places +in the file, then riffled the entire file +once more, to be sure there would +be no clue as to which cards he had +consulted. Finally, he touched the +button on his desk again.</p> + +<p>Once more, the clerk stood in the +doorway.</p> + +<p>"This file seems to be satisfactory," +he was told. "You may bring in the +correspondence now."</p> + +<p>The correspondence was no heavier +than usual. Morely flipped +through the routine matter, occasionally +selecting a report or letter and +abstracting data. Tomorrow, he could +check performance by referring to +these. At last, he turned to the separate +pile of directives, production +and man-hour reports, and other +papers which demanded more attention +than the routine paper.</p> + +<p>He worked through the stack of +paper, occasionally calling upon his +clerk for file data, sometimes making +a communicator call. At last, he +pushed away the last remaining report +and leaned back. He spun his +chair about, activated the large entertainment +screen, and spent some +time watching a playlet. At the end +of the play, he glanced at his watch, +then turned back to his desk. He +leaned forward to touch a button on +his communicator.</p> + +<p>As the viewsphere lit, he flicked +on the two-way video, then spoke.</p> + +<p>"Get me Sector Leader Bond." He +snapped the communicator off almost +before the operator could acknowledge, +then spun about, switching his +entertainment screen to ground surface +scan. A scene built up, showing +a view from his estate in the hills.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>There were some buildings on the +surface—mostly homes of upper +grade citizens, who preferred the +open air, and could afford to have a +surface estate in addition to their +quarters in the groups. These homes, +for the most part, were located in +wooded areas, where their owners +could find suitable fishing and hunting.</p> + +<p>Most of the traces of damage done +by the bombings of the Nineties were +gone from about the estate areas by +now, and the few which remained +were being eliminated. Morely increased +the magnification, to watch +a few animals at a waterhole. He +could do a little hunting in a few +weeks. Take a nice leave. He drew +a deep breath.</p> + +<p>Those years after the end of the +last war had been hectic, what with +new organizational directives, the few +sporadic revolts, the integration of +homecoming fighters, and the final, +tight set-up. But it had all been worth +it. Everything was running smoothly +now.</p> + +<p>The second- and third-class citizens +had learned to accept their +status, and some few of them had +even found they liked it. At least, +now they had far more security. +There was subsistence in plenty for +all producers, thanks to the war-born +advances in technology, and to the +highly organized social framework. +To be sure, a few still felt uneasy in +the underground quarters, but the +necessity for protection from bombing +in another war had been made +clear, and they'd just have to get +used to conditions. And, there were +a very few who, unable to get or +hold employment, existed somehow +in the spartan discomfort of the subsistence +quarters.</p> + +<p>For most, however, there was +minor luxury, and a plenitude of +necessities. And there was considerable +freedom of action and choice +as well as full living comfort for the +full citizens, who had proved themselves +to be completely trustworthy, +and who were deemed fit to hold key +positions.</p> + +<p>The communicator beeped softly, +and he glanced at the sphere. It +showed the face of Harold Bond, +leader of the fourteenth sector. The +district leader snapped on his scanner.</p> + +<p>"Report to me here in my office +at eighteen hours, Bond."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"And you might be sure your people +are all in quarters this evening."</p> + +<p>Bond nodded. "They will be, sir."</p> + +<p>"That's all." Morely flicked the +disconnect switch.</p> + +<p>He got up, strode around the +office, then consulted his watch. +There would be time for a cup of +coffee before Bond arrived. Time for +a cup of coffee, and time for the +employees in Sector Fourteen to +scurry about, getting their quarters in +shape for an inspection. They would +have no way of knowing which quarters +were to be checked, and all +would be put in order.</p> + +<p>He smiled. It was a good way, he +thought, to insure that there would +be no sloppiness in the homes of his +people. And it certainly saved a lot +of inspection time and a lot of direct +contact.</p> + +<p>He went out of the office, and +walked slowly down to the snack bar, +where he took his time over coffee, +looking critically at the neat counter +and about the room as he drank.</p> + +<p>The counter girls busied themselves +cleaning up imaginary spots +on the plastic counter and on their +equipment, casting occasional, apprehensive +glances at him. Finally, he +set his cup down, looked at the clock +over the counter, and walked out.</p> + +<p>Bond was waiting in the office. +Morely examined the younger man, +carefully appraising his appearance. +The sector leader, he saw, was properly +attired. The neat uniform looked +as if freshly taken from the tailor +shop. The man stepped forward +alertly, to halt at the correct distance +before his superior.</p> + +<p>"Good evening, sir. My heli is on +the roof."</p> + +<p>"Very good." Morely nodded +shortly and took his notebook from +his pocket. "We'll go to Building +Seven Twenty-three."</p> + +<p>He turned and walked toward the +self-service elevator. Bond hurried a +little to open the door for him.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Bond eased the helicopter neatly +through the entry slot and on down +into one of the empty visitor spaces +in the landing area at Block 1022. +The two men walked across the areaway +to an entrance.</p> + +<p>As they went up the short flight +of stairs into the hall, Morely took +careful notice of the building. The +mosaic tile of the stairs and floor +gleamed from a recent scrubbing. +The plastic and metal handrails were +spotless. He looked briefly at his subordinate, +then motioned toward the +door at their right.</p> + +<p>"This one," he ordered.</p> + +<p>Bond touched the call button and +they waited.</p> + +<p>From inside the apartment, there +was a slight rustle of motion, then +the door opened and a man stood +before them. For an instant, he looked +startled, then he straightened.</p> + +<p>"Paul Graham, sir," he announced. +"Apartment 7A is ready +for inspection." He stepped back.</p> + +<p>Morely looked him over critically, +saw nothing that warranted criticism, +and went inside, followed by Bond.</p> + +<p>Cursorily, the district leader let +his gaze wander about the apartment. +The kitchen at his left, he saw, +was in perfect order, everything being +in place and obviously clean. He +went to the range and motioned +with his head.</p> + +<p>"Pull the drip pan," he ordered.</p> + +<p>Graham came forward and pulled +a flat sheet from the range, then +opened an access door at the front +of the stove.</p> + +<p>Morely peered inside, then thrust +a hand in. For a moment, he groped +around, then he pulled his hand out +and looked at it. It was clean. He +sniffed at his fingers, then turned +away.</p> + +<p>"You may replace the pan, Fellow." +He went into the living room, +noting that the woman and three +children were neat and in the proper +attitudes of attention. One of the +children was looking at him, wide-eyed. +He saw that the child was +clean and apparently healthy.</p> + +<p>In addition to the usual chairs, +table, and divan, there were some +bookcases which formed a small alcove +around a combination desk and +drawing table. Morely circled the +bookcases, to stand before the desk.</p> + +<p>"What's this?" he demanded. He +turned to a bookcase, to examine the +titles.</p> + +<p>Most of the books were engineering +texts and reference works. There +were some standard works of philosophy +and a few on psychology. None +of the titles seemed to be actually +objectionable.</p> + +<p>"I—" Graham started to speak, but +Morely silenced him with an upraised +hand.</p> + +<p>"Later," he said coldly. "Bond, +has this been reported to you, and +have you investigated?"</p> + +<p>Bond nodded. "Yes, sir," he said. +"Graham is a design engineer, sir, +and has been granted permission to +do some research in his quarters.</p> + +<p>"He's commercially employed, +sir, and it was a routine matter. His +employer says he has been keeping +his production quotas, no alteration +to the apartment has been made, and +no community property has been defaced. +I'm told that several of Graham's +designs have been of value in +his plant. I didn't think—"</p> + +<p>"I see you didn't. What is this +man working on now?"</p> + +<p>"A new type of communicator, +sir. I don't know all the details."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/002.png" width="600" height="278" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Get them, Bond. Get them all, +and give me a full report on his +project and its progress tomorrow. +Since this work is being done during +time when the man is not working +for his employer, he's using community +time and the community becomes +vitally interested in his +results." Morely paused, looking at +the bookcase again.</p> + +<p>"And, while we are on the subject," +he added, "get me details on +those previous designs you spoke of. +It's quite possible the community has +not been getting royalty payments +to which it's entitled." He picked +out a book, flipping over its pages +for a moment, then replaced it and +looked searchingly at Bond.</p> + +<p>"And get me a full inventory of +this man's books and any equipment +he may have." He turned on Graham.</p> + +<p>"Do you have purchase authorization +and receipts for all of this?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir." Graham motioned toward +the desk.</p> + +<p>"Very well. I shan't bother with +that now. An investigating team can +check that."</p> + +<p>Morely took a final glance +at the half-finished schematic on +the drawing board, then circled +the bookcases again, to come out into +the main room.</p> + +<p>"We'll inspect the rest of your +quarters."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>At last, Morely left the quarters +area, followed by Bond. As they +reached the helicopter, Morely +turned, one hand on the door.</p> + +<p>"Laxity, Bond, is something I +don't tolerate. You should know +that. Possibly this man, Graham, is +doing nothing illegal, or even irregular. +Possibly, he is not wasting community +time, but I have very serious +doubts. I'll venture to say the community +has a financial interest in several +of his recent designs, and I mean +to find out which ones and how +much. And it's certainly an unusual +situation. The man's a leadman, you +know, and could spend his time more +profitably in checking on the people +he's responsible for." He slid into +the seat.</p> + +<p>"I'll concede," he continued, +"that employees are to be allowed a +certain amount of recreation of their +own choosing. They may have light +reading in their quarters, and they +may even work on small projects—with +permission, of course. But this +man seems to have gone much farther +than that. He has a small electronics +factory of his own, as well as a +rather extensive library. He's obviously +spending a lot of time at his +activities, and that time must come +out of his community performance. +This certainly is not routine, and I +can't condone your failure to make +a report on it."</p> + +<p>"But, I—"</p> + +<p>Morely held up a hand sternly. +"Let's not have a string of excuses," +he said. "Give me a full report on +the man's possessions, his history, +and the progress of whatever work +he's doing in that private factory of +his. Get the details on his previous +designs, too. And bring your report +in to me in the morning, personally. +I shall want to determine whether +to make this new device a community +project, or whether to allow it to be +offered to his employer on a community +royalty agreement. And I +shall require details on his older designs +for Fiscal to examine into. Research, +you should know, is a community +function, not something to be +done in any set of quarters. I shall +want to talk to you further when +I've gone over this matter.</p> + +<p>"Now, get me back to the district +offices. I want to get home, and +you've work to do tonight."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The report was a long one. Morely +smiled to himself as he thought +of the time it must have taken Bond +to assemble the data and to make up +his final draft. Possibly in the future, +that young man would be a +little less inclined to assume too +much authority, or to be too soft in +his dealings with the employee +classes. The spring in his swivel chair +twanged musically as the district +leader leaned back to read.</p> + +<p>First, there was an inventory of +Graham's effects. It was a lengthy +list, followed by a certification by a +security inspector that all of the +equipment inventoried was covered +by authorizations and receipts held +by Graham, and that none of the +books and equipment were of improper +nature for possession by a +member of the employee classes. +Morely grunted and tossed that section +aside.</p> + +<p>There was a detailed history of +Graham's activities, so far as known +to Security. Morely scanned through +it hurriedly. There was nothing here +of an unusual nature.</p> + +<p>Graham had been graduated from +one of the large technical colleges +during the early nineties. Morely +noted that it was one of those schools +which had been later closed as a result +of one of the post-war investigations.</p> + +<p>The subject had been employed by +Consolidated Electronics as a junior +engineer, and had designed several +improvements for Consolidated's +products. There was a record of promotions +and a few awards. He had +held a few patents, which had been +taken over by the Central Coördination +Products Division during the +post-war reorganization. He had also +belonged to the now proscribed Society +of Electronic Engineers, had +contributed articles to that organization's +journal, and had taken an active +part in some of its chapter meetings.</p> + +<p>During the war, he had worked +on radio-controlled servos, doing acceptable +work. When the professional +and trade societies and other +organizations were outlawed, he had +promptly resigned from his society, +and made the required declarations. +But he had been reported as privately +remarking that it was "a sad thing +to see the last vestiges of personal +freedom removed."</p> + +<p>Morely pursed his lips. Not an +unusual history, he decided. Of +course, the man was completely ineligible +for full citizenship—bad +risk. He was barely qualified for second-class +citizenship, his obvious +ability being the only qualifying factor. +Unlike many, he had no record +of any effort to shirk duty, or do +economic damage during the critical +period. The district leader tossed the +dossier aside and picked up the report +on Graham's present activities.</p> + +<p>There were a series of complex +schematics, and several machine +drawings which he shuffled to the +back of his report. Those could be +interpreted later, if necessary. He +was interested in the description of +function.</p> + +<p>The device Graham was working +on was described as a communicator +which operated by direct mind-to-mind +transfer. Morely sat up +straighter, reading the paragraph +over again. Either this man was a +true genius, who had discovered a +new principle, or he was completely +a crackpot.</p> + +<p>"Telepathy!"</p> + +<p>Morely snorted and went over to +the descriptions of the device, reading +carefully. Finally, he read the +comments of a senior engineer, who +cautiously admitted that the circuits +involved, though highly unconventional, +were not of a type to cause +spurious radiation, or to interfere +with normal communication in any +way.</p> + +<p>The engineer also noted that it +was possible that the device might +be capable of radiation effects outside +of the electromagnetic spectrum, +and that the power device was capable +of integration into standard +equipment—in fact, might be well +worth adoption. He carefully declined, +however, to give any definite +opinion without an actual model to +run tests on. And he added the comment +that the first model was as yet +incomplete.</p> + +<p>Morely tossed the last sheet to his +desk and leaned forward, tapping +idly on the dull-finished plastic. +Finally, he touched his call button +and waited till the clerk came in.</p> + +<p>"You may send Mr. Bond in +now," he directed.</p> + +<p>He picked up the section of the +report dealing with Graham's past +designs, and started scanning it. He +would have the Fiscal chief go over +this and set up the necessary royalty +agreements with Consolidated. Some +of them might generate worth-while +amounts of funds.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>He made no sign of recognition +or awareness when Bond entered the +office, but continued with his reading. +At last, he pulled a notepad to +him, wrote a brief indorsement to +the Fiscal chief, and clipped it to the +part of the report dealing with Graham's +older designs. He replaced his +pen in its stand and leaned back, to +stare at his junior, who stood at rigid +attention.</p> + +<p>"Yes?"</p> + +<p>"Sector Leader Bond, sir, reporting +as ordered." Bond saluted.</p> + +<p>Negligently, Merely returned the +salute, then picked up Bond's report.</p> + +<p>"I have gone through this, Bond," +he announced. "Very interesting. +And you thought it too unimportant +to report on before?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't want to bother you with +some idle fantasy, sir. Until the +man's experiments showed definite +results of some sort, I—"</p> + +<p>"And then, you hoped to spring +a completed device on me? Take +credit for it yourself, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all, sir. I—"</p> + +<p>Morely raised a hand. "Never +mind. I don't need any kind of aid +to read your intentions. They're +quite plain, I see. It would have been +quite a credit to you, wouldn't it?</p> + +<p>"'Look what I worked out, with +a little, minor help from one of the +employees in my sector.'</p> + +<p>"But I've seen that line worked +before, Bond, and worked smoothly. +You don't catch the Old Man napping +so easily as that." He paused.</p> + +<p>"Of course we don't know +whether or not this device is going +to be of any real use. But we do +know that this man, Graham, has +developed one thing which can be +profitably incorporated into conventional +equipment. That power source +of his appears to be quite practical, +and we'll adopt it. Offer it to the +man's employer, subject to community +royalty. And see if you can +get Graham a little time off work in +compensation. Then, keep a close +watch on his work on the rest of his +device. He'll probably use his time +off to work on it—at least, he'll be +a lot better off if he does.</p> + +<p>"I want frequent reports on his +progress—daily reports, if any significant +developments occur. And I +want a model of that device as soon +as it's developed and has had preliminary +tests. If it works, it might +be valuable for community defense." +He waved a hand.</p> + +<p>"That's all."</p> + +<p>Bond turned to go, and almost got +to the door before Morely called him +back.</p> + +<p>"Oh, one more thing, Bond. Keep +a closer watch on the rest of your +people. If any more of them decide +to do extra work of any unusual nature, +I shall expect an immediate report +in full. Don't fail me again. Is +that clear?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir." Bond saluted again +and made his escape.</p> + +<p>Morely watched him disappear, +then turned to his communicator. +"Get me Field Leader Denton," he +ordered.</p> + +<p>The pause was slight, then the +face of a middle-aged man appeared +in the viewsphere.</p> + +<p>"Denton," said the district leader, +"I want you to keep closer watch on +your sector men. Last night I spot-checked +Bond, in Fourteen, and I +found an irregularity. I'll expect you +to endorse the report back, and I'll +expect you to tighten down. Keep an +especially close eye on this man, +Bond."</p> + +<p>The field leader's eyebrows raised +a little. "Bond, sir? He's one of—"</p> + +<p>"Bond. Yes." His superior interrupted +forcefully. "And tighten +down on all your men. You know +how I feel about laxity."</p> + +<p>He snapped the communicator off +and gathered Bond's report together. +For a few seconds, he looked at the +neat stack of paper, then he slipped +a paper clamp on it and punched his +call button.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"There!" Paul Graham straightened +from his hunched-over position +at the desk. He laid his soldering +iron down and massaged the small +of his back, grimacing slightly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, me! I'll swear my back'll +never be the same again. But that +ought to do it, at last." He looked +at the equipment before him and +grinned ruefully.</p> + +<p>"Of all the haywire messes. It +started out so nice. And it ended up +so awful."</p> + +<p>The device <i>had</i> started out as a +fairly neat assembly, using a headband +as a chassis. But the circuitry +seemed to have gone out of control. +Miniature sub-assemblies hung at all +angles from their wires and tiny components +were interlaced through the +unit, till the entire assembly looked +like a wig from a horror play. Graham +shook his head, picked up the +band; and carefully fitted it, being +careful that the contacts touched his +forehead and temples properly.</p> + +<p>For an instant, he looked a little +dazed. Then, he reached up and fumbled +for a moment with the controls +at the front of the headband. Suddenly, +he stopped, an expression of +pleasure on his face. He stood for a +time, looking at the wall, then looked +up at the ceiling. He frowned +and looked at his wife, who was +anxiously watching him. A smile +grew on his face, and she was clearly +conscious of the projected thought.</p> + +<p>"<i>I told you, Elaine, it can't possibly +hurt anyone. Stop worrying +about me.</i>"</p> + +<p>Elaine Graham looked startled. "I +didn't, say anything, darling."</p> + +<p>Her husband looked at her with +an impish grin. She frowned a little, +then her eyes widened and her +mouth opened a little. She ran at him +indignantly.</p> + +<p>"It simply isn't decent! You take +that thing off, Paul Graham, right +now. I won't have you reading my +mind!"</p> + +<p>Graham laughingly fended her off +with one hand as he carefully removed +the headband with the other. +He set the device gently on the desk, +then seized his wife about the waist.</p> + +<p>"It works, honey," he said jubilantly. +"It really works." He waltzed +her away from the desk, to the middle +of the living room.</p> + +<p>"Of course, I couldn't get anything +from anyone but you. It seems to +work just as I thought it might—only +if you can see the person you +want to contact. But I'll bet two +people who were acquainted could +use two of these things to communicate +with each other at any distance. +And it may be possible to +work out the problem of single-device +communication at distance and +through obstacles. But that'll have to +come later. Right now, this thing +works."</p> + +<p>"But Paul. I'm afraid. What will +<i>they</i> do with something like this? +We have so little freedom left now. +Why, they won't even let us think +privately." She paused, her head +turning from side to side as she looked +about the apartment.</p> + +<p>"You know, Paul, I hardly ever +dare go out of this apartment now, +they upset me so. And if they're able +to read my thoughts, I shan't be safe, +even here."</p> + +<p>Graham frowned. "True," he admitted. +"But somehow, when I had +the thing on, I got some funny ideas. +I wonder if anyone could really oppress +someone he fully understood. +I wonder if two people who could +fully comprehend each other's point +of view could have a really serious +disagreement." He picked up the +headband, looking at it searchingly.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"And there's another thing," he +added. "Unless both parties are +wearing the things, vision seems to +be essential to any reaction, at least +in this model. I tried to get thoughts +from the kids and from the Moreno's, +upstairs. But there wasn't a +thing. And yet, I could get you clearly. +Apparently this thing won't work +out as a spy device."</p> + +<p>"But, are you sure?"</p> + +<p>Graham shrugged wryly. "Well +... no," he admitted. "I'll have to +finish wiring the other set and try +'em both out before I'll be sure of +anything. And it'll take a lot of tests +before I'm sure of very much. Now, +I've just got some ideas." He +frowned thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Anyway, I can't stop now. They +know about the thing, and I've got +to finish it—or furnish definite proof +it's impractical." He turned back to +the desk. "Should be through with +the other band in a few minutes. +Just have to put in a couple of filters."</p> + +<p>He picked up the completed device +and turned around again. "Here, +Elaine, put this on, will you? See +what you get. Try to catch a thought +from outside the room."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Dutifully, Elaine Graham accepted +the headband. She eyed it doubtfully +for a moment, then adjusted it over +her hair, setting the contacts on her +skin as she had seen her husband do. +For a few seconds, she stared at her +husband, wide-eyed. Then, she looked +away, her eyes focused on infinity.</p> + +<p>Graham busied himself with the +soldering iron and another headband.</p> + +<p>At last, Elaine took the headband +off. "It's weird, Paul," she said. +"When I was looking at you, I knew +everything you were thinking. But +when I looked away, there was nothing. +It was almost as though I didn't +have it on. Only, I seemed to be able +to think so much more clearly."</p> + +<p>Graham looked up from his work, +squinting thoughtfully. "Yeah," he +muttered. "Yeah, I noticed that, too, +come to think of it. Feedback effect +of some sort, I suppose. Have to +experiment with that, too, I expect." +He turned back to his work.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Elaine put the headband back on +and watched him. She felt a complete +familiarity with everything he +was working on. For the first time, +she felt she fully understood this +man with whom she had lived for so +many years. And the understanding +was pleasant. She could comprehend +the mysteries of the circuits he was +working on. She had always felt +slightly neglected when he worked +with his equipment, especially since +the bureaucracy, who took his results +without recompense. Now, she could +feel his interest in his work for its +own sake. She could sympathize with +it. And, with a little study, she felt +she could join with him.</p> + +<p>Graham straightened again. "It's +done," he said. He picked the second +headband from the desk and put +it on. Abruptly, both he and his wife +were aware of a fuzziness in their +thoughts and senses. The walls, the +floor, and the furniture seemed to +blur and waver, like the fantasy +world of delirium. He put his hand +up and adjusted the controls. The +room returned to normal, and their +senses were abruptly sharp and clear +again. He dropped his hand.</p> + +<p>"<i>Outside. See if it'll work when +we can't see each other.</i>"</p> + +<p>"<i>Almost curfew time.</i>"</p> + +<p>"<i>Only a couple of minutes. Then +lights out and sleep.</i>"</p> + +<p>Elaine walked to the door. She +stepped out into the corridor and +walked down the steps.</p> + +<p>"<i>All right?</i>"</p> + +<p>"<i>Perfect! Try the parking lot. +Close the door.</i>"</p> + +<p>She went out of the quarters, +crossed the areaway, and stood under +the landing slot. Far overhead, +a segment of sky appeared between +the open bomb shutters. Stars shone +coldly. She was conscious of a movement +and looked down, toward a +shadow which moved among the +parked helicopters.</p> + +<p>"What's that?"</p> + +<p>She looked more closely at the +shadow, then shuddered a little.</p> + +<p>"<i>Never mind.</i>" The thought was +urgent. "<i>Come inside. I got him, +too.</i>"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Quickly, Elaine walked back into +the apartment. She closed the door +and walked to the desk, removing +the headband as she approached. +Her husband put his headband beside +it.</p> + +<p>"We'd better get to bed," he said +quietly. "I'll notify them tomorrow."</p> + +<p>"No, Paul. It would be harder +then. And there would be so many +questions. Call the sector leader tonight. +We'll have to get it over." +Elaine shivered.</p> + +<p>"But what <i>will</i> they do with it?" +She asked the question almost despairingly.</p> + +<p>Graham shook his head. "I'm not +sure," he admitted. "I started with +the idea of simply building a really +effective communicator. But this is +more than that. To you and I, it +meant full understanding. But to +that person out there ... I don't +know."</p> + +<p>"His thoughts were flat—almost +lifeless. And he made my skin crawl. +Paul, do you remember how you +used to feel when you came close to +a snake? There's something wrong +with that man."</p> + +<p>"I know. I felt it, too. And it +made the blood rush into my ears." +Graham moved toward the communicator, +placing his hand on the +switch. "And you're right. I'll have +to report immediately. They don't +really need telepathy. And certainly, +they never required real evidence. A +suspicion is sufficient, and they'd be +very suspicious if I didn't notify the +sector leader tonight."</p> + +<p>He depressed the switch deliberately, +like a man firing a weapon. +Then, he dialed a number, and +waited.</p> + +<p>The sphere lit, to show the face +of Harold Bond.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Graham." Bond frowned a +little. "It's late. Do you have something +to report?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir." Graham's face was expressionless. +"The mental communicator +is finished. Do you wish to test +it, sir?"</p> + +<p>Bond opened his eyes a little more +and nodded. "It's really done, then?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"I'll be there in a few minutes." +The sphere darkened.</p> + +<p>Graham looked at it. De-energized, +the communicator seemed to be +merely a large ball of clear material. +It stood on its low pedestal, against +its black background, reflecting a distorted +picture of the chiaroscuro of +the room. He leaned toward it, and +saw a faint, deformed reflection of +his own head and shoulders.</p> + +<p>He spread his hands a little, and +turned around. Elaine had crossed to +the divan, where she sat, looking +apathetically at the door, her hands +folded in her lap. He smiled apprehensively, +coughed, and held up a +hand, two fingers crossed.</p> + +<p>Elaine glanced at him, nodded, +and resumed her watch of the door. +Graham shrugged and walked over +to his desk, where he stood, aimlessly +looking down at the two headbands.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>They both jumped convulsively +when the buzzer sounded. Graham +strode rapidly to the door, opened +it, and stood back as the sector leader +came in. Elaine had come to her feet, +and stood rigidly, facing the door.</p> + +<p>Sector Leader Bond closed the +door, then looked from one of them +to the other. He shook his head a +little sadly, and waved a hand gently +back and forth.</p> + +<p>"Relax, you two," he said. "I'm +alone this time." He turned to Graham. +"Let's see what we've got."</p> + +<p>Graham walked to his desk and +picked up the two headbands.</p> + +<p>"They're a little rough-looking, +sir," he apologized. "But they +work."</p> + +<p>Bond tossed his head back with +a little laugh. "They do look a little +rugged, don't they?" he chuckled. +"Well, we'll worry about appearance +later. Right now, I'm curious. I want +to see what these things do."</p> + +<p>Graham handed over one of the +bands and slowly adjusted the other +to his head. For a moment, he looked +searchingly at the sector leader, then +his face relaxed into a relieved expression.</p> + +<p>"<i>Hear me?</i>"</p> + +<p>Bond had been examining the device +in his hands. He looked up, +puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Of course I hear you," he said. +"I'm not deaf."</p> + +<p>Graham smiled a little, then placed +a hand tightly over his mouth.</p> + +<p>"<i>Still get me?</i>"</p> + +<p>Bond cocked his head to one side, +looked down at the device in his +hands, then looked up again. "Well," +he commented. "So that's the way +they work. I thought you spoke."</p> + +<p>Graham shook his head. "<i>Didn't +have to. Try it on.</i>"</p> + +<p>Bond shrugged. "Well, here we +go." He pulled off his cap, tossed it +to a chair, and replaced it with the +headband. For a moment, he looked +around the apartment, then he +glanced at Mrs. Graham. He blinked, +ducked his head, and looked +more closely at her.</p> + +<p>"<i>Ow! Nobody could be as bad as +that!</i>" He looked at Graham. "<i>What +do you think?</i>"</p> + +<p>"<i>There's one outside.</i>" Graham +inclined his head a little.</p> + +<p>Elaine Graham sprang to her feet. +"I'm terribly sorry," she apologized +contritely. "It's just that I—"</p> + +<p>Bond took off the headband +abruptly. "I'm sorry, too," he said. +"I was prying." He looked down at +the device. "I'm not too sure about +this thing," he added. "It works. I +can see that much. But I'm almost +afraid it works too well. What's it +going to cause?"</p> + +<p>Graham pulled off his own headband +and extended his hand for the +other. "I'm not sure," he admitted. +"I'm not sure of anything at all." +He frowned. "Wish I hadn't—" He +looked at the sector leader quickly.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, sir," he apologized. +"Forgot my training, I guess."</p> + +<p>Bond waved a hand. "Look," he +said, "there are times, and there are +places. Right now, I'm in your home, +and I'm just as worried about this as +you are. I'm just another person." +He looked down at his neat uniform.</p> + +<p>"Once," he mused, "we were all +just people. Now—" He shrugged. +"And then, these things come +along." He looked at the two headbands, +then at the man holding them.</p> + +<p>"Wonder how many people feel +like that?"</p> + +<p>Graham held out the headbands. +"I know one way to find out."</p> + +<p>Bond nodded. "I see what you +mean," he admitted. "But it could +be pretty bad." He walked over to +the chair and picked up his cap.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/003.png" width="600" height="340" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Well," he added with a sigh, "I +suppose I'd better grab these things +and take them over to Research. +Have to find out all we can about +them. I've still got to report on +them." Again, he looked at Graham. +"You'd better come along, too. Research +people might have a lot of +questions, and I could never answer +them."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Graham nodded and went to the +hall closet. He took his coat from +the hanger, put it on, and reached +for his hat, then hesitated.</p> + +<p>"You know," he said, "we might +try one experiment, right here."</p> + +<p>"Oh?" Bond raised his eyebrows.</p> + +<p>"There's a man out in the parking +lot. I believe he's detailed to keep +watch on me. You might try him +with one of the headbands. Then, +see what he'll do with one on."</p> + +<p>"Any special reason?"</p> + +<p>Graham twisted his face uneasily. +"I can't describe it," he said almost +inaudibly. "You'd have to see for +yourself."</p> + +<p>Bond looked at him speculatively +for a moment, then held out his cap +and one of the headbands.</p> + +<p>"Here, hold these."</p> + +<p>He put the other headband on, accepted +the first, and walked out of +the apartment, followed by Graham, +who still carried the cap.</p> + +<p>As they came out and started +across the parking lot, a man approached +them.</p> + +<p>Bond looked at him, frowned, +then cast a sidelong look at Graham.</p> + +<p>"<i>That what you meant?</i>" His +thought carried an undercurrent of +incredulity.</p> + +<p>Graham nodded wordlessly, and +Bond looked toward the approaching +man again. Once more, his face wrinkled +distastefully, then he spoke +aloud.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Ross. Want you to try some +thing." He held out the headband +he was carrying in his left hand.</p> + +<p>Ross came up, accepted the device, +and looked at it curiously. "You +mean this is the thing he's been +working on?" He jerked a thumb at +Graham. "Saw his wife come out a +while ago. Guess she had one of 'em +on. She went right back in again."</p> + +<p>Bond nodded. "This is it," he said. +"Let's see how it works for you."</p> + +<p>Ross shrugged. "Try anything +once, I guess." He adjusted the band +to his head, then stood, looking at +the two men.</p> + +<p>"<i>Notice anything?</i>" Bond looked +at him sharply.</p> + +<p>Again, Ross shrugged. "Nothing +special," he said with a slight grunt. +"Seems as though this guy's pretty +nervous."</p> + +<p>"<i>You don't have to say anything, +just think it. And see if you can communicate +with Graham.</i>"</p> + +<p>"Huh?" Ross had been looking +directly at Bond. He frowned.</p> + +<p>"<i>You mean, this thing—</i>" He +paused, looking for a moment at Graham, +then took the headband off. +"Thing doesn't feel good," he complained. +He held the device out to +Bond, who accepted it.</p> + +<p>"But it works? You could communicate +both ways with it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, sure." Ross nodded grudgingly. +"I got you, all right. But I +couldn't get a thing out of this guy." +He wagged his head toward Graham. +"Except he was jittery about +something."</p> + +<p>"I see. Thanks." Bond accepted +the headband. "We're going to take +these to Research," he added. "Let +the technicians there find out how +good they are." He turned away and +led Graham to his helicopter.</p> + +<p>As Graham settled in the seat, he +turned to the sector leader. "He just +couldn't use it properly," he remarked. +"Maybe only certain people <i>can</i> +use them."</p> + +<p>Bond nodded as he started the +motor. "Or maybe only certain people +can't." He busied himself in getting +the machine up through the +landing slot, then turned as they +climbed into the night sky.</p> + +<p>"Maybe you've got to be able to +understand and like people before +you can establish full contact with +them. Maybe ... Maybe a lot of +things." He was silent for a moment. +"You know, this thing might become +far more valuable than you +thought, Graham."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Howard Morely looked up from +a memo as the clerk tapped on the +door.</p> + +<p>"Come in."</p> + +<p>The man opened the door and +stepped inside.</p> + +<p>"Sector Leader Bond is here, sir. +He has some gentlemen with him."</p> + +<p>"And what does he want?"</p> + +<p>"He said it was about that new +communicator, sir."</p> + +<p>"Oh." Morely turned his attention +back to the memo. "Have them +wait." He waved a hand in dismissal +and went on with his reading.</p> + +<p>The beautification program was +progressing well. Twenty miles of +the old main highway through the +valley had been completely cleared +and planted. Crews were working on +another stretch. The foreman of the +wrecking crew down at the point, in +Sector Nine, reported that the last +bit of scrap had been removed from +the old bridge support. Underwater +crews had salvaged the cables and +almost all of the metal from the +fallen bridge itself, and the scrap +was on the beach, ready for delivery +to the reclamation mills in District +One.</p> + +<p>Morely smiled sourly. Harwood +would have a storage problem on +his hands in a day or so. The delay +in delivery could be explained and +justified. Morely had seen to that. +Now, all the material was ready and +could be delivered in one lot.</p> + +<p>Harwood would have to raise his +production quota in his community +mills to use up the excess material, +and that would slow down the clean-up +in District One. The Old Man +couldn't help but notice, and he'd +see who was efficient in his region. +The district leader pushed the memo +sheets aside and placed his hands behind +his head.</p> + +<p>Slowly, he pivoted his chair, to +look at the entertainment screen. He +started to energize it, then drew his +hand back.</p> + +<p>So that crackpot, Graham, had +finally come up with something definite. +Morely smiled again. It had almost +seemed as though the man had +been stalling for a while. But the +pressure and the veiled threats had +been productive—again.</p> + +<p>To be sure, the agents covering +that project had reported that the +device seemed to be merely another +fairly good means of communication—nothing +of any tremendous importance. +But results had been obtained, +and a communicator which was +reasonably free from interception +and which required relatively low +power might be of some value to +the community. He might be able to +get a commendation out of it, at +least.</p> + +<p>And even if it were unsuitable for +defense, there'd be a new product +for one of the luxury products plants +in the district, and the district would +get royalties from the manufacturer. +Too, it would keep people busy and +make 'em spend more of their +credits.</p> + +<p>He grimaced at his vague reflection +in the screen before him, and +spoke aloud.</p> + +<p>"That's the way to get things +done. Make 'em know who's in +charge. And let 'em know that no +nonsense will be tolerated. Breathe +down their necks a little. They'll +produce." He cleared his throat and +spun around, to punch the button on +his desk.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The door opened and the clerk +stood, respectfully awaiting orders.</p> + +<p>"Send in Bond and the people +with him."</p> + +<p>The clerk stepped back, turning +his head.</p> + +<p>"You may go in now, sir." He +disappeared around the door.</p> + +<p>Harold Bond stepped through the +doorway, followed by two men. +Morely looked at them closely. Engineers, +he thought.</p> + +<p>"What have you got?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>One of the men opened a briefcase +and removed a large, dully +gleaming band. Apparently, it was +made of plastic, or some light alloy, +for he handled it as though it +weighed very little.</p> + +<p>As the man laid it on the desk, +Morely examined the object closely. +It was large enough to go on a man's +head, he saw. It had adjustable +straps, which could be used to hold +it in place, and there were a few +spring-loaded contacts, which apparently +were meant to rest against a +wearer's forehead and temples.</p> + +<p>A few tiny knobs protruded from +one side of the band, and a short +wire, terminated by a miniature plug, +depended from the other.</p> + +<p>The engineer dipped into his brief +case again, to produce a small, flat +case with a long wire leading from +it. He put this by the headband, and +connected the plugs.</p> + +<p>"The band, sir," he explained, "is +to be worn on the head." He pointed +to the flat case. "To save weight +in the band, we built a separate +power unit. It can be carried in a +pocket. We've tested the unit, sir, +and it does provide a means of private +communication with anyone +within sight, or with a group of people. +Two people, wearing the headbands, +can communicate for considerable +distances, regardless of obstacles."</p> + +<p>"I see." Morely picked up the +headband. "Do you have more than +one of these?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. We made four of the +prototypes and tested them thoroughly." +Bond stepped forward. "I sent +a report in on them yesterday."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes. I know." Morely +waved impatiently. He examined the +headband again. "And you say it +provides communication?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"No chance of interception?"</p> + +<p>Bond shook his head. "Well," he +admitted, "if two people are in contact, +and a third equipped person +wishes to contact either one, he can +join the conversation."</p> + +<p>"So, it's easier to tap than a cable +circuit, or even a security type radio +circuit." Morely frowned. "Far +from a secure means of communication."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, if anyone cuts in on a +communication, both parties know it +immediately."</p> + +<p>Morely grunted and shook his +head. "Still not secure," he growled. +He looked at the papers on his desk. +"Oh, put one on. We'll see how +they work." He leaned back in his +chair.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Bond turned to the man with the +brief case, who held out another +headband. The sector leader fitted it +to his head, plugged in the power +supply and looked around the room. +Finally, he glanced at his superior. +A shadow of uncertainty crossed his +face, followed by a quickly suppressed +expression of distaste.</p> + +<p>Morely watched him. "Well?" he +demanded impatiently, "I don't feel +or see anything unusual."</p> + +<p>"Of course not, sir," explained +Bond smoothly. "You haven't put on +the other headband yet."</p> + +<p>"Oh? I thought you could establish +communication with only one +headset, so long as you were in the +same room."</p> + +<p>Bond smiled ingratiatingly. "Only +sometimes, sir. Some people are more +susceptible than others."</p> + +<p>"I see." Morely looked again at +the headband, then set it on his head. +One of the engineers hurried forward +to help him with the power +pack, and he looked around the +room, becoming conscious of slight +sensations of outside thought. As he +glanced at the engineers, he received +faint impressions of anxious interest.</p> + +<p>"<i>Can you receive me, sir?</i>"</p> + +<p>Morely looked at Bond. The +younger man was staring at him with +an intense expression on his face. +The district leader started to speak, +then remembered and simply thought +the words.</p> + +<p>"<i>Of course I can. Didn't you expect +results?</i>"</p> + +<p>"<i>Oh, certainly, sir. Do you want +me to go outside for a further test?</i>"</p> + +<p>The headband was bothering +Morely a little. Unwanted impressions +seemed to be hovering about, +uncomfortably outside the range of +recognition. He took the device off +and looked at it again.</p> + +<p>"No," he said aloud. "It won't be +necessary. It's obvious to me that +this thing will never be any good for +practical application in any community +communications problem. It's +too vague. But it'll make an interesting +toy, I suppose. Some people +might like it as a novelty, and it'll +give them some incentive to do extra +work in order to own one. That's +what luxury items are for. And the +district can use any royalty funds it +may generate."</p> + +<p>He laid the headband on his desk. +"Go ahead and produce a few samples. +Offer the designs to Graham's +employer. He can offer them on the +luxury market, if he wishes, and +we'll see what they do. If people +want them, it might be profitable, +both for the district and for Consolidated." +He shrugged.</p> + +<p>"No telling what'll make people +spend their credits." He started to +nod a dismissal, then hesitated.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. I think I'll keep this +one," he added. "And you might +leave a couple more. The regional +director might be amused by them."</p> + +<p>He accepted the two headbands +and their power packs, put them in +a desk drawer, and sat back to watch +the three men leave the office.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>After the door closed, he still sat, +idly staring at the headband on his +desk. He put it on his head again, +then sat, looking about the room. +There was no unusual effect, and he +took the band off again, looked at +it sourly, and laid it down.</p> + +<p>Somehow, when Bond and those +other two had been in the room, he +had sensed a vague feeling of expectancy. +Those three had seemed to +be enthusiastic and hopeful about +something, he was sure. But he failed +to see what. This headband certainly +showed him nothing.</p> + +<p>He stared at the band for a while +longer, then put it back on and +punched the call button on his desk. +As his clerk came into sight, he +watched the man closely. There <i>was</i> +a slight effect. He could sense a vague +fear. And a little, gnawing hatred. +But nothing was definite, and no +details of thought came through. He +shrugged.</p> + +<p>Of course the man was fearful. +He probably was reviewing his recent +mistakes, wondering which one +he might be called upon to explain. +Too bad his mind wasn't clear +enough to read. But what could you +expect? Possibly, he could drive Research +into improving the device +later.</p> + +<p>"Anyway," he told himself, +"everyone has something they're +afraid of. It's natural. And everyone +has their pet hates, too." For +an instant, he thought of Harwood.</p> + +<p>He focused his mind on a single +thought. "<i>Get me the quarters file +for Sector Nine.</i>"</p> + +<p>There was a definite effect this +time. There was a sharp radiation +of pained surprise. Then, there was +acquiescence. The clerk started to +say something, then backed toward +the door. The impression of fear +intensified. Morely smiled sardonically. +The thing was an amusing +toy, at that. He might find uses +for it.</p> + +<p>He sat back, thinking. He could +use it as a detector. Coupled with +shrewd reasoning, well-directed questions, +and his own accurate knowledge +of human failings, it could tell +him a great deal about his people +and their activities.</p> + +<p>For instance, a question about +some suspicious circumstance would +cause a twinge of fear from the +erring person. And that could be +detected and localized. Further questions +would produce alternate feelings +of relief and intensified fear. +He nodded complacently. Very little +had ever gotten by him, he thought. +But from now on, no error would +remain undiscovered or unpunished.</p> + +<p>The clerk returned to place the +file drawers convenient to his superior's +desk. He hesitated a moment, +his eyes on the headband, then picked +up the completed papers from +the desk and went out.</p> + +<p>Morely riffled through the cards, +idly checked a few against his notes, +and leaned back again. The file section +seemed to be operating smoothly. +He looked at his desk. Everything +that had to be done immediately was +done. And the morning was hardly +more than half over.</p> + +<p>He rose to his feet. Surely, somewhere +in the headquarters, there must +be some sort of trouble spot. Somewhere, +someone was not producing +to the fullest possible. There must +be some loose end. And he'd find it. +He went out, jerking a thumb back +at his office as he passed his clerk's +desk.</p> + +<p>"You can pick up those files again, +Roberts. And see to it that my office +gets cleaned up a little. I won't be +back for a while."</p> + +<p>He went out, to walk down the +corridor to the snack bar.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>There were a few girls there. He +walked by their table, glancing at +their badges. Communications people. +He nodded to himself, ordered +coffee, and chose a table.</p> + +<p>As he glanced at the girls' table, +he could detect a current of uneasiness. +They'd probably been fooling +away more time than they should. +Too bad he couldn't get more definite +information from their thoughts. +Like to know just how long they had +been there. He tilted his wrist, taking +a long look at his watch. The +current of uneasiness increased. No +doubt to it, they'd been more than +ten minutes already.</p> + +<p>The girls hurriedly finished their +coffee and left. Morely sipped at his +own cup.</p> + +<p>At last, he got up and went out. +Might be a good idea to visit the +Fixed Communications Section. Looked +as though there might be a little +laxity there.</p> + +<p>As he walked down the corridor, +he mentally reviewed the operation +of communications. There was Fixed +Communications, responsible for +communicator service to all the +offices and quarters in the district, as +well as to the various commercial organizations. +There were also Mobile +Comm, Warning, Long Lines, and +Administrative Radio.</p> + +<p>Of these, the largest was Fixed +Communications, with its dial equipment, +its banks of video amplifiers, +the network of cables, and the substation +equipment. It would take days +to thoroughly check all their activities. +But the office was the key to the +entire operation. He could check +their records, and get a clue to their +efficiency. And he could question the +section chief.</p> + +<p>He took the elevator to the communications +level and walked slowly +along the hallway, glancing at the +heavy steel door leading to Warning +as he passed it. That could be checked +later, though there would be little +point to it.</p> + +<p>It had always annoyed him to +think of the operators in that section. +They simply sat around, doing +nothing but watch their screens and +keep their few, piddling records. +They did nothing productive, but +they had to be retained. Actually, he +had to admit, they were a necessity +under present conditions. War was +always a possibility and the enemy +was building up his potential. He +might strike at any time, and he'd +certainly not send advance notification. +If he did strike, the warning +teams would perform their brief mission, +alerting the active, working +members of the defense groups. +Then, they would be available for +defense. And the defense coördinators +required warning teams and +equipment in prescribed districts. His +was one of these.</p> + +<p>He grumbled to himself. Even the +number of operators and their organization +were prescribed. This was +a section, right within his own district, +where he had little authority. +And it was irritating. Drones, that's +what they were.</p> + +<p>He continued to the Fixed Communications +office. Here, at least, he +had authority.</p> + +<p>He walked through the door, casting +a quick glance at the office as he +entered. The section chief got up +from his chair, and came forward. +Morely felt a little glow of satisfaction +as he detected the now familiar +aura of uneasiness. Again, he wished +this device he wore were more effective. +He would like to know the details +of this man's thoughts.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"Good morning, sir." The Fixed +Communication chief saluted.</p> + +<p>Morely returned the salute perfunctorily, +then examined the man +critically.</p> + +<p>"Morning," he acknowledged. +"Kirk, I want you to get some new +uniforms. You look like a rag bag."</p> + +<p>A little anger was added to the +uneasiness. Kirk looked down at his +clothing. It wasn't new, but there +was actually little wrong, other than +the slight smudge on a trouser leg, +and a few, small spots of dullness on +his highly polished boots.</p> + +<p>"I've been inspecting some cable +vaults, sir," he explained. "We had +a little trouble, due to ground seepage."</p> + +<p>"It makes no difference," the district +leader snorted, "what you've +been doing. A man in your position +should be properly attired at all +times." He paused, looking Kirk over +minutely. "If your cable vaults are +in such bad condition, get them +cleaned up. When I look your installations +over, I shall expect them +to be clean. Clean, and in order."</p> + +<p>He looked beyond Kirk. "And +get that desk cleared. A competent +man works on one thing at a time +and keeps his work in order. A place +for everything, and everything in its +place, you know. You don't need all +that clutter. Is the rest of your office +as disorderly as this?"</p> + +<p>He looked disparagingly about the +small room, then turned toward the +door to the main communications +office. Kirk moved to open the door.</p> + +<p>At one side of the large office was +a battery of file cabinets. Four desks +were arranged conveniently to them. +Morely looked at this arrangement.</p> + +<p>"What's this?"</p> + +<p>"Billing and Directory, sir. These +are the master files of all fixed communication +subscribers. From them, +we make up the semiannual directory, +its corrective supplements, and the +monthly bills."</p> + +<p>Morely frowned at the desks and +files, then looked at the clerks, who +were bent over their desks. As one +of the girls straightened momentarily, +he recognized her. He'd seen her +earlier, in the snack bar. He looked +more closely at her desk. She had +reason, he thought for that radiation +of uncertain fear he could sense.</p> + +<p>"What's in those files?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"It's a complete index to all subscribers, +sir." Kirk looked a little +surprised. Morely recognized that the +man thought the question a little +foolish. He cleared his throat growlingly.</p> + +<p>"Let's see one of those cards."</p> + +<p>Kirk walked to the file, pulled a +small envelope at random, and held +it out. The district leader examined +it.</p> + +<p>"Hah!" he snorted. "I thought +so. Duplication of effort. This has +nothing on it that isn't in my quarters +and locator files."</p> + +<p>"There's billing information on +the back, sir," Kirk, pointed out. +"And current charge slips are kept +in the envelope. We use these to +prepare the subscriber bills, as well +as to maintain the directory service. +It's a convenience file, to speed up +our work."</p> + +<p>Morely turned the envelope over +in his hands. "Oh, yes." He opened +the envelope, to look at the slips inside. +"How do you get the information +for these?"</p> + +<p>"The charge slips come from Long +Lines, sir." Kirk paused. "We get +billing information for basic billing +from the counters in the dial machine. +The other information comes +from installation reports and from +the quarters file section and the locator +files."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Morely handed the envelope back.</p> + +<p>"I can see, Kirk," he said, "that +you've built up a whole subsection +of unnecessary people here." He +stepped over to the file cabinets, examined +their indices, then pulled a +drawer open. He pulled his notebook +out, consulted its entries, and searched +out an envelope. For a moment, +he compared it with the notebook. +Then, he turned, holding out the +envelope.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/004.png" width="600" height="318" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"And you don't even keep your +information current," he accused. +"This man was transferred yesterday +afternoon, to another sector. You +still show him at his old quarters, +with his old communicator code."</p> + +<p>"We haven't that information +from Files yet, sir," protested Kirk. +"They send us a consolidated list of +changes daily, but it generally doesn't +come in till thirteen hundred."</p> + +<p>Morely dropped the envelope on +one of the desks.</p> + +<p>"Quarters Files can handle this +entire operation," he declared, "with +a little help from Fiscal. And they +can handle it far better than your +people here." He stopped for a moment, +thinking, then continued. +"Certainly," he decided, "Fiscal can +take care of your billing. They +handle the funds anyway, in the final +analysis. And you can coördinate your +directory work with the chief clerk +at Files. You've got excess people +here, Kirk. We don't need any of +them."</p> + +<p>He looked at the desks and felt a +wave of consternation. Kirk spread +his hands.</p> + +<p>"But we have the information we +need close at hand, sir. Our directory +has been coming out on time, and +in accurate condition. And our billing +is well organized. The directory +and billing are my respons—"</p> + +<p>Morely waved a hand, then tapped +himself on the chest with a long forefinger. +"The entire operation of this +headquarters is my responsibility, +Kirk," he said positively, "and mine +alone. And I mean to take care of +it. You're responsible to me that +Fixed Communications are kept in +order, and I don't mean to relieve +you of a bit of that responsibility. +But I won't have you making jobs +and wasting funds on excess personnel." +He snorted. "Convenience +files are all right. But they're meant +to save work, not make it."</p> + +<p>Kirk shook his head. "A decentralization +will make it difficult," he +began.</p> + +<p>Again, Morely cut him off. "Don't +start telling me why you can't do +something," he snapped. "Work out +a way you <i>can</i> do it. Make up plans +for transferring this filing function +to Quarters Files, and work up a +plan for transferring your billing to +Fiscal. That's their business, and they +know how to handle it. Submit your +study to me this afternoon." He looked +around the office again.</p> + +<p>"The people in Files and Fiscal +can handle this workload without +adding a single person. And they +will. You're using four clerks to +swing it. Kirk, I want this organization +to run efficiently, and excess +personnel don't lead to economic +operation." He stared at the section +chief.</p> + +<p>"Give these four people their notices +today, and I'll expect some suggestions +from you as to further +streamlining of your section within +the next two days. And be sure +they're sound suggestions, which result +in personnel savings. Otherwise, +I'll be looking for a new section chief +up here."</p> + +<p>For a few seconds, he stood, enjoying +the waves of consternation +and futile anger which beat about +him. Almost, he could pick up some +of the despairing thoughts in detail. +The clerks, of course, were second-class +citizens. And without employment, +they'd soon lose their luxury +privileges. Unless they were fortunate +enough to find other employment +very soon, they'd have to move to +subsistence quarters, and learn to do +without all but the most meagre of +food, clothing, and shelter. When +they did get employment again, +they'd appreciate it. He looked majestically +around the office once more, +then turned and strode away.</p> + +<p>He went through the corridor to +the elevator, and stepped in, smiling +contentedly. The morning hadn't +been entirely wasted.</p> + +<p>As he got out of the elevator on +executive level, he glanced at his +watch. It wasn't quite time for lunch, +but there would be little point in +spending the few remaining minutes +in his office. He walked slowly toward +the executive cafeteria.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>After lunch, he returned to his +office. A few matters awaited his examination +and decision, and he +busied himself for a short time, disposing +of them. He paused over the +last.</p> + +<p>It was a request from Kirk for +more cable construction. The justification +showed figures which indicated +an increase in executive type communications +during the past few +months. This, coupled with new +quarters construction, necessitated +additions to the cable trunks from +the main exchange. There was added +a short survey of necessary repair to +existing cable facilities.</p> + +<p>Morely leaned back. If he approved +the request, he would be helping +Kirk increase his section. On the +other hand, if he disapproved it, and +the communicator lines became congested, +he might find himself open +to criticism later. Some of his satisfaction +evaporated. He looked sourly +at the paper.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, he thought of Bond's +new project. The man had claimed +this device could serve as a communication +means between its wearers, +and had demonstrated that his +claim had some truth. After noting +the slight fatigue the device seemed +to cause in this application, and the +vagueness of the device's operation, +Morely had disregarded the claim. +But junior executives could put up +with a little fatigue and inconvenience. +And he could see that they +did. It might even cut down the +time they were always wasting, talking +with one another. He rubbed his +chin with one hand.</p> + +<p>"Well," he told himself, "let's see +how it works."</p> + +<p>From the way Bond had acted in +his office, the sector leader might be +still wearing his headband. In fact, +he probably was. Morely concentrated +on the man, then concentrated +on a single, peremptory thought.</p> + +<p>"<i>Bond! Can you receive me?</i>"</p> + +<p>The answer was prompt. "<i>Yes, sir. +You wanted me?</i>"</p> + +<p>"<i>Of course, Idiot. Why do you +think I called? Do you really believe +these things would be suitable for +routine communication? Could they +supplement our normal system?</i>"</p> + +<p>"<i>Certainly, sir. They should be +very effective.</i>"</p> + +<p>"<i>Have you offered them to Consolidated +yet?</i>"</p> + +<p>"<i>Yes, sir. They've accepted them. +They're beginning to tool up for production.</i>"</p> + +<p>Morely winced. He had given the +order, to be sure—and before creditable +witnesses. Bond had been right +in taking immediate action, and his +speed would have been commendable +in most cases. But this time, +Morely regretted his subordinate's +efficiency. It was possible the devices +might have a practical use after all. +Possibly he had been hasty in releasing +them to the open market. He +shrugged away his thoughts. After +all, an administrator had to make +quick decisions. He returned to his +unusual conversation.</p> + +<p>"<i>Set up a line in research and +make up sufficient of those communicators +to outfit the executive personnel +of this district.</i>"</p> + +<p>"<i>Yes, sir.</i>"</p> + +<p>"<i>And give me delivery as soon as +you possibly can. How soon will that +be?</i>"</p> + +<p>"<i>We can do it in five days, sir.</i>"</p> + +<p>"<i>Make it three. That's all.</i>"</p> + +<p>Morely took off his headband. It +wasn't as good as a communicator +sphere, but it would be good enough. +He looked at the request from Communications. +Possibly, he would be +able to cut Kirk down still more. +He scrawled a "disapproved" on the +sheet and initialed it. He started to +toss the sheet to the corner of his +desk, then hesitated.</p> + +<p>Drawing the request back to him, +he added: "Two subjects on same +request. Resubmit as separate requests." +He tossed the sheet to the +desk corner, for the clerk to pick +up. Let Kirk make up new requests, +then worry about why his new construction +request was still disapproved. +He could always be advised +to resubmit later, if the headbands +didn't work out.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Miles away, Bond turned to an +engineer.</p> + +<p>"Tool up and start producing +these communicators as fast as you +can make 'em, Morris. I'll tell you +when to stop. The Old Man just +ordered a batch of 'em, and this is +one order I want to comply with, and +fast!"</p> + +<p>He walked toward the small production +office. Let's see, he had to +produce enough for all the exec personnel +in the district. Have to start +finding out just how many of those +guys there were.</p> + +<p>"Make delivery as soon as possible, +huh? Cut my estimate by two days? +I'll have 'em out over night, if I +have to start driving people to do +it."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Morely looked up as the communicator +beeped. He reached to the +control panel and touched the switch. +The face of his deputy appeared in +the sphere.</p> + +<p>"The section chiefs and field leaders +are in the conference room, sir."</p> + +<p>"Very good." Morely pushed back +his chair. "I'll be right in."</p> + +<p>He stepped through the door and +crossed the outer office to the conference +room. As he entered, there was +a rustle of motion. The section +chiefs and field leaders stood at attention +around the table, waiting. At +each place at the table was a blank +notepad. The district leader went +immediately to the head of the table +and sat down.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," he began, "I'll +make this short. I've called you in +to try out a new device which I intend +to use to help solve the ever-present +problem of communication." +He looked toward Ward Kirk, who +had glanced up in surprise.</p> + +<p>"From time to time," he continued, +"requests for more and more +communicator lines have been coming +in to my office. Since no one else +seemed to be able to do anything +about it, I decided it was time for +me to step in. After all, we can't +expand our cables indefinitely. We +haven't unlimited funds at our disposal +and there are other projects +demanding attention. Important +projects.</p> + +<p>"A new electronic development +has come to my attention, and it +promises to relieve the load on our +communicators. Each of you will be +issued one of these devices, which +I believe are called 'mental communicators,' +or something of the +sort. And you will draw sufficient of +them to outfit those of your people +who have occasion to use communication +to any large degree. You will +use them for all routine communications." +He nodded to his deputy, +who stepped to the door and beckoned.</p> + +<p>Two men came in, carrying cartons, +which they distributed around +the room. Morely waited until one +of the cartons was in the hands of +each of the men before him, then +he reached up to touch the headband +he was wearing.</p> + +<p>"This is the device I'm speaking +of," he said. "Each of you will wear +one of these at all times while you +are on duty. You will find, after a +little practice, that you will be able +to call any associate who is similarly +equipped. And you will use them in +place of the conventional communications +whenever possible." He +cleared his throat raspingly.</p> + +<p>"Sufficient of these devices have +been produced to outfit all the key +people of this district. I shall leave +it to you to distribute them to your +subordinates, and to instruct those +subordinates in their use. And I shall +expect the load on our communicator +cables to be appreciably diminished." +He looked to one side of the room.</p> + +<p>"Bond."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"You will instruct those present +in the use of this new communicator." +Morely rose and left the room.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>As the district leader disappeared +through the door, Harold Bond +walked to the front of the room. In +his hands, he held one of the headbands +and a power pack.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," he said, "this is a +form of communicator. I don't pretend +to understand precisely how it +operates, though I watched its development +and set up a production +line for it. All I know is that it +works. And I know how to use it—to +some extent.</p> + +<p>"The district leader remarked that +one could learn to use it with a little +practice, and he's right. Basically, +anyone can use it as soon as he puts +it on for the first time. But it's like +so many other tools. The more you +use it, the more proficient you get +with it. And I suspect it has capabilities +I haven't found yet." He +shrugged.</p> + +<p>"Operation is simple in the extreme. +Since the first model, refinements +have been added, and it's unnecessary +now for an operator to +make any adjustments, other than +intensity."</p> + +<p>He picked up the power pack.</p> + +<p>"This is the power pack, which is +plugged into the headband, thus." +He paused as he connected the two +plugs.</p> + +<p>"If you gentlemen will perform +the operations as I do, this will take +only a short time."</p> + +<p>There was a crackling in the room +as cartons were opened. Power packs +and headbands rattled against the +table for a moment, then Bond continued.</p> + +<p>"Having plugged in the power +pack, you turn this small knob very +slightly in a clockwise direction, then +place the headband on your head. +The knob is the switch and intensity +control, and it's quite sensitive. Most +people need very little intensity. If +you have difficulty with communication, +raise the intensity a little at a +time, till thoughts come through +clearly." He paused, as the men before +him adjusted the headbands to +their heads.</p> + +<p>"The power pack," he continued, +"may be placed in a pocket." He +reached down. "Personally, I carry +mine in my shirt, since I find that +convenient."</p> + +<p>He looked around the room. Men +were turning to stare at their neighbors. +Bond could detect a current of +uncertainty, then a sensation of +pleased surprise. Snatches of thought +drifted to him. He ignored them for +the moment. Time enough to become +acquainted with people later. +He placed a hand over his mouth, +so everyone could see he was not +speaking.</p> + +<p>"<i>Can everyone receive me?</i>"</p> + +<p>There was a wave of affirmation, +and Bond nodded.</p> + +<p>"<i>Simple, isn't it? Are there any +questions?</i>"</p> + +<p>A jumble of thoughts made him +waver. Most of them could have +been phrased, "How does this thing +work? What does it do? Am I +dreaming?" Bond smiled in real +amusement. He held up a hand.</p> + +<p>"<i>I felt the same way</i>," he thought +reassuringly. "<i>Sometimes. I still do. +All I can tell you is what you've already +found out for yourselves. It +works. I'm told it's a sort of telepathic +amplifier and radiator. But as I +told you, I don't understand its principles. +As to practice? I'm still meeting +interesting people. So will you.</i>" +He took off the headband.</p> + +<p>"<i>If anyone has any further questions +on operation, I'll try to answer +them</i>," he thought quickly. He +glanced around the room. Three men +were looking at him blankly. He +took careful note of them, and mentally +shook hands with himself. They +were the ones he'd thought would +blank out. He spoke aloud.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, gentlemen," he apologized. +"I forgot I might be out of +communication. I'm not completely +used to this mentacom, myself." He +looked toward the deputy leader.</p> + +<p>"Do you have anything to add, +sir?"</p> + +<p>The deputy shook his head. "No," +he said thoughtfully. "I think the +demonstration was adequate. He cast +a quizzical look at Bond, then looked +around the room.</p> + +<p>"You gentlemen will find a supply +of these devices in the outer +office. You may draw one for each +person you wish outfitted. If any of +you have further questions, I would +suggest you get in touch with Community +Research. They understand +this thing." He waved toward the +door. "This meeting is adjourned."</p> + +<p>He watched as the men filed from +the room, then turned on Bond.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"What was that business after you +took off your headband?" he demanded. +"I received you perfectly, +and so did practically everyone here. +Why the apology?"</p> + +<p>Bond grimaced. "We found out +something peculiar while we were +making preliminary tests on this device, +sir," he explained. "Some people +don't seem to be able to pick up +clear thoughts with it, unless another +person uses the mentacom to +drive in to them. Most of us can +pick up thoughts from anyone we +look at, whether they have a band +on or not. Definite, surface thoughts, +that is."</p> + +<p>"And?" The deputy's expression +was still questioning. He reached up +to point at the band he was still +wearing. "I'm getting some mighty +peculiar secondary thoughts right +now," he added.</p> + +<p>"And the people who can't use the +device fully have other peculiarities, +sir. I'd rather not go into detail. You +can find out the whole story for yourself +with a very short bit of experimentation, +and you have a subject +right at hand. If I simply told you, +you probably wouldn't believe me +anyway."</p> + +<p>The deputy nodded slowly. "For +the moment," he said, "I'll take your +words—and your thoughts—as true. +Now, one more question: Can a person, +using one of these things, successfully +lie to another person who +wears one?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir." Bond was positive. "It's +impossible."</p> + +<p>"I got that impression. Thanks." +The deputy turned and walked out +of the door. Bond looked after him, +a slight smile growing on his lips.</p> + +<p>"Old Man wanted 'em," he told +himself. "He's got 'em."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The Fiscal chief glanced through +the letter in his hands, then canted +his head a little and read again. He +lowered it to his desk, then sat for +a moment, to stare into space. Finally, +he looked down once more.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">Central Coördination Agency<br /> +Office of the Comptroller</p> + +<p>CCA 7.338 <span class="rdt">21 July, 2012</span></p> + +<p>To: <span class="hds">District Leader</span><br /> +<span class="hds">District Twelve</span><br /> +<span class="hds">Region Nine</span><br /> +Attn.: <span class="hds">Fiscal Chief</span><br /> +Subject: <span class="hds">Mental Communicator</span></p> + +<p>1. It has been brought to the attention +of this office that a product +known as the "Consolidated Mental +Communicator" is being manufactured +in District Twelve, Region +Nine, and offered for sale as a luxury +item.</p> + +<p>2. The characteristics of this device +have been investigated by the +Technical Division, Central Coördination +Agency, and it has been +found that the device does in fact +permit communication between persons +by telepathic or some similar +means.</p> + +<p>3. This device is presently being +offered for sale in retail luxury stores +throughout the nation. The volume +of sales and of potential sales warrants +distribution of the manufacturing +load to manufacturers other than +the Consolidated Electronics Company, +who, it is understood, presently +hold an exclusive manufacturing +agreement with the office of the District +Leader, District Twelve, Region +Nine. This arrangement is inconsistent +with the sales and use potential +of the device in question.</p> + +<p>4. The agreement between District +Twelve, Region Nine, and the +Consolidated Electronics Company +will be forwarded immediately to +this headquarters for consideration. +It is contemplated that this agreement +will be terminated and replaced +by a manufacturing license from the +Products Division, Central Coördinating +Agency, who will further license +other manufacturers to produce +this device.</p> + +<p>By Command of Chief Coördinator Gorman</p> +<p><span class="hds">KELLER</span><br /> +<span class="hds">Comptroller</span><br /></p> +<p>MRK/pem</p></div> + +<p>The Fiscal chief shook his head. +This one spelled trouble—in capitals. +The royalty payments from Consolidated +had become one of the major +sources of income for the district. +And Morely had ordered project after +project, using those funds to pay +for them. Some of the projects were +still outstanding. The Old Man +would blow his top.</p> + +<p>He looked again at the small scrap +of paper which was clipped to the +letter. On it was scrawled: "DeVore—See +me—HRM."</p> + +<p>For a moment, DeVore considered +using his own mentacom, then +he discarded the idea. To be sure, +the leader had insisted that his subordinates +use the devices for their +own communications, and he'd cut +Fixed Communications to the bone. +But he still insisted on either communicator +calls or personal contact +when he wished to talk to any of his +people. And he discouraged any but +essential use of the communicator +system, generally demanding that +people come in to see him.</p> + +<p>DeVore wrinkled his face disgustedly. +It <i>was</i> hard to communicate +with the district leader by means of +a headband. There was a repellent +characteristic about the man's mental +emanations, and he seemed to +fail to comprehend nuances of meaning. +Similes, he ignored completely. +Thoughts had to be completely and +clearly detailed, then phrased into +normal, basic wordage before he +would acknowledge them. None of +the short-cuts used by other members +of the administrative staff +seemed to work out in his case. He +apparently didn't notice visualizations, +and he never made one. His +transmission was as stiff and labored +as the type of communication he required +from others—more so, if anything. +DeVore scratched his neck.</p> + +<p>"How," he asked himself, "does +one define a telepathic monotone?"</p> + +<p>There were a few others with +whom DeVore had experienced similar +difficulties, but most people, he +had found, picked up meanings and +concepts without difficulty—even +seemed to anticipate at times. And +since the new induction mentacoms +had come on the market, with the +annoying contacts and headstraps removed, +virtually everyone seemed to +be either in possession of one of the +devices, or about to get one. And, +they were worn everywhere.</p> + +<p>He smiled as he thought of the +young father-to-be, who had bored +through the evening traffic rush yesterday. +The youngster had been so +intent on getting his wife to the +hospital that he'd probably failed to +see half the ships that clawed out of +his way. And his visualization had +been almost painfully clear. He'd +probably be apologizing for weeks +to everyone he contacted.</p> + +<p>DeVore straightened in his chair. +What would happen, he wondered, if +the leader ever ran into one of those +situations?</p> + +<p>"Yipe!" he muttered. "What a +row that would be."</p> + +<p>He shrugged, got out of his chair, +and walked out into the corridor.</p> + +<p>"Better get it over with," he told +himself.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>As he approached the leader's +door, it opened, and Ward Kirk +came out. He closed the door with +a careful gentleness, then faced it +for an instant. DeVore was conscious +of a wave of hopeless fury, and a +fleeting glimpse of Morely's face, +framed by brilliant flame. Then, Kirk +faced around and saw him.</p> + +<p>"<i>Careful</i>," DeVore thought. +"<i>You're broadcasting. He'll pick you +up.</i>"</p> + +<p>Kirk grimaced and DeVore saw +a faint image of a tyrannosaur, which +reared up, jaws agape. Blood dripped +from the human figure gripped +in the creature's talons.</p> + +<p>"<i>The old ... wouldn't understand +if he did.</i>"</p> + +<p>DeVore grinned. "<i>See what you +mean. Well, guess I'm the next victim.</i>"</p> + +<p>He stepped to the door and tapped.</p> + +<p>"Come in."</p> + +<p>Morely looked up as his Fiscal +Chief entered, then swept some +papers aside. "Well, what do <i>you</i> +want?"</p> + +<p>DeVore held out the letter. "You +wanted to see me, sir, about this." +He placed the paper within the reach +of his superior, who snatched at it, +held it up for a moment, then dropped +it to his desk.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I did. What can we do about +it?"</p> + +<p>"Why," DeVore spread his hands +slightly, "we'll have to comply."</p> + +<p>"That isn't what I meant, Idiot! +How can we continue to receive the +payments from Consolidated?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think we can, sir. If Central +Coördinating wants to put the +device on a national basis, we can't +do anything about it."</p> + +<p>Morely looked down at the letter, +then glared searchingly at DeVore. +"The way I read this," he declared, +"they want to distribute manufacturing +rights on the communicator to +plants in other regions than this. +Right?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"But they don't say anything +about our continuing the Consolidated +payments on an overwrite basis, +for the sale of devices they may +make. Now, do they?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir. But that's implied. In +cases like this, Central always takes +over all rights." DeVore hesitated. +"I believe regulations—"</p> + +<p>"I don't care what's implied, DeVore. +And I don't care what you +believe. All I see is what's in this +letter. They want to distribute the +manufacturing load, and I'm quite +willing that they should. I want to +continue receiving the payments +from Consolidated. Now, you arrange +it so that they're satisfied and +I'm satisfied."</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 200px; margin-top: 1em;"> +<img src="images/005.png" width="200" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"But that'll mean Consolidated +will have to pay double. We can't—"</p> + +<p>"Don't say 'can't' to me!" Morely +held up a hand angrily. "DeVore, +I'm not going to tell you how to do +this. I want it done. The details are +your affair, and if I have to teach +you your business, I'll get someone +who can do things without having +to have them spelled out to him." +He leaned back, to glare at DeVore.</p> + +<p>"Now, get on the job. I told you +to make arrangements for me so +that we will retain our payments +from Consolidated. And I'm not interested +in what arrangements you +make with them, or what arrangements +they make with Central. Is +that a simple enough order for you +to understand?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. I understand all right. +But—"</p> + +<p>"Good! I'm glad I managed to get +at least one simple idea into your +head." The spring in the chair +twanged as Morely came forward, +to poke his head at DeVore. "Now, +get to work on it."</p> + +<p>He jerked his head down for a +quick look at the letter on his desk, +then looked up again.</p> + +<p>"And I'll expect a report from you +by tonight that you've got the matter +taken care of."</p> + +<p>DeVore looked at his superior expressionless +for a heartbeat. He had +been given peculiar orders before, +and he'd always managed to work +out the problems involved. But this +was the ultimate. This one seemed +to be just plain illegal. And there +was no point in arguing further. +There was just the barest chance that +there might be some legitimate way +out. If he challenged the Old Man +on an illegal order, he just might +get his ears pinned back. He'd simply +have to go back to his office and try +to hunt out a technicality. He +nodded.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. I'll get on it immediately."</p> + +<p>He saluted and started to leave the +office. But he didn't make it.</p> + +<p>"And, DeVore!"</p> + +<p>The Fiscal chief halted abruptly, +and turned.</p> + +<p>"Sir?"</p> + +<p>"I'm getting tired of the negative +thinking you people seem to have +fallen into lately. I'm sick of going +into every routine detail with you. +When you got that letter, you should +have immediately worked out a +method of retaining the royalties. +Then, you could have come in and +presented it for my approval. That +is the kind of work I want. And +that's the kind of work I mean to +get in the future. Do you understand?"</p> + +<p>Sternly, DeVore suppressed a sarcastic +thought. He held his mind +and face blank and nodded with a +semblance of respect.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Very well." Morely waved a +hand. "Now get something done."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>As DeVore walked through the +corridor, he thought over the situation. +Of course, the easy way out +would be to force Consolidated to +continue the payments in addition to +their license fees from Central. That +could be done. There were all kinds +of methods by which pressure could +be brought to bear on any company +by the district leader's office. And +from Consolidated's point of view, +double payments could offer a cheap +means of keeping out of difficulties. +They would be able to pass most of +the cost to the consumer by a slight +price increase, justified by a minor +modification of the devices.</p> + +<p>But they wouldn't be happy about +it, and there would come a day when +an auditing team from Central would +be checking in the district. And that +would be the day of days!</p> + +<p>DeVore turned in at the door to +his own office, crossed the room, and +sat down at his desk.</p> + +<p>To be sure, he could request a +share of the fees from Central, and +they'd make an award. But they'd +never award more than fifty per cent, +and it'd be hard to get that much. +That was no good. The Old Man +would want the same payments he'd +been getting.</p> + +<p>Or, he could try to negotiate a +new agreement with Consolidated, +double the royalties, and then request +fifty per cent from Central. +He grinned wryly. That would be +within legal limits, he was sure, but +Central knew the present arrangement, +and he knew that they knew. +And so would most of the interested +manufacturers in other regions. The +first-class citizens who owned the +plants had their own liaison. They'd +all balk. Then, Central would invalidate +both old and new agreements +and refuse compensation of any kind +to district. That would be a suicidal +course.</p> + +<p>He looked up, thinking of one of +the girls out in the legal crew.</p> + +<p>"<i>Fiscal regulations, please. And +Markowitz on royalties, too.</i>"</p> + +<p>The girl turned half around, and +he could see a faint impression of +her view of office details. Then, she +went to a book rack. For a few seconds, +she glanced over the books, +then selected two large volumes.</p> + +<p>"<i>Shall I look it up, or do you want +the books?</i>"</p> + +<p>"<i>I'll take them. Might need quite +a bit of research.</i>"</p> + +<p>Shortly, the girl appeared in his +doorway. Quickly, she laid the two +volumes on his desk.</p> + +<p>DeVore nodded his thanks and +opened regulations. Some of the +paragraphs were delightfully vague, +and could be subject to more than +one interpretation. But one paragraph +was clear and explicit. And that was +the one he was concerned with.</p> + +<p>A royalty agreement with, or +manufacturing license from Central +Coördination definitely abrogated any +agreement with, or payment to, any +lesser headquarters. Such an agreement +or license barred any further +negotiation between any lesser headquarters +and a manufacturer, relating +to the product concerned. Double +royalties were prohibited in any case.</p> + +<p>He pushed the books aside. There +was no need of looking in Markowitz. +That regulation paragraph took +care of this exact situation, and disposed +of it neatly. For an instant, he +thought of taking the volume in to +the leader's office. Then, he remembered +the threatening note in the +authoritative voice and the flat, deadly +thoughts he had noted as secondaries.</p> + +<p>That wouldn't work either. He +thought of the undercurrent in +Kirk's thoughts. Kirk had been +carrying a regulation book, he remembered. +He contacted the Fixed +Communications chief.</p> + +<p>"<i>Don't</i>," he was told. "<i>I tried it. +Know what happened?</i>"</p> + +<p>"<i>Go ahead.</i>"</p> + +<p>"<i>He got the regional director on +the communicator. I've been transferred +to Outpost. They seem to +need a cable maintenance chief up +there. And I was lucky at that. I +started to protest, and they nearly +had me for insubordination.</i>" +Abruptly, Kirk cut away.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>DeVore stared unseeingly across +the desk. He'd been at Outpost for +a short time once, on an inspection +trip, and he still remembered the +place. At one time, it had been a +well supplied, well organized post. +At that time, observational duty had +been regarded more highly than +now, and the place had been desirable +for any single officer, though +the married men had objected to being +separated from their families by +the many miles of frozen waste. But +that had changed.</p> + +<p>Now, Outpost was the end of the +line. The dilapidated surface quarters +offered poor protection from the +fierce cold. Supply ships were rarely +scheduled to the place, and were +often held up by storms when they +were scheduled. Half rations—even +quarter rations—were commonplace. +He shook his head. Kirk was in real +trouble, and there would be no point +in joining him. That would help +neither of them.</p> + +<p>This, he thought, was a situation. +Then, he realized something else. +From Morely's point of view, it was +a perfectly safe situation, with nothing +to lose. The district leader could +easily disclaim any responsibility for +his Fiscal chief's actions in this matter. +After all, he hadn't given any +detailed instructions. He had made +no direct suggestion of any illegal +course. He'd merely consulted his +Fiscal expert on a technical matter, +and if DeVore had seen fit to use an +illegal method of solving a problem, +it was DeVore's responsibility +alone.</p> + +<p>To be sure, Morely had been a +little emphatic in his order, but that +was simply because he was well +aware of his Fiscal chief's disinclination +to make exhaustive technical +research.</p> + +<p>DeVore pursed his lips and looked +thoughtfully at the regulation +book. He might be able to use the +same tactic Morely was following—if +he were so inclined. He could issue +verbal instructions to the sector leader +concerned, and Bond might fail +to see the trap. Then, he could report +to the leader that the matter was +taken care of, indorse the letter back +to Central, with the agreement copy, +and let Bond turn in funds under one +of the "miscellaneous received" accounts. +In fact, he realized, that was +just about what the district leader +expected him to do.</p> + +<p>He smiled and shook his head. A +few months ago, it was possible he +could have done that, but even then, +he wouldn't have. And now, with +the mental communicators in use, it +would be a flat impossibility. The +trap would be as obvious to Bond as +it had been to him. He leaned back +in his chair and tapped his fingertips +against each other.</p> + +<p>The mentacoms, he knew, were +in common use by this time, in virtually +every office of district, regional, +and national administration, as well +as by most citizens. And he'd served +under Marko Keller once—known +him fairly well, too. He shrugged.</p> + +<p>It would be a little irregular for +a district Fiscal chief to make direct +contact with the Coördination +Agency's comptroller, but there was +nothing like getting the most expert +and authoritative advice available. +He relaxed, trying to recreate his +memories of the man who was now +National Comptroller.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Marko Keller strode purposefully +into the filing section. He could +easily get the data he needed by +simply contacting one of the clerks, +he knew, but he felt an urgent need +for personal activity. That conversation +with DeVore, way out in Region +Nine, had upset him more than he +liked to admit, even to himself.</p> + +<p>It wouldn't be so bad if it were +an isolated incident. Such things +could be taken care of by administrative +action, and a single instance +would cause little disturbance. But +there were too many, happening too +often. He pulled a file drawer open, +violently.</p> + +<p>One of the clerks approached. +"Can I help, sir?"</p> + +<p>Keller turned to look at him. The +man, he noted, was wearing one of +the late model inductive headbands +that had been sold in such quantities +lately. Deluxe model, too. Must have +cost him at least two months' pay. +Like almost everyone else, he was +vitally concerned in this latest affair. +Keller frowned. He, himself, he realized, +was acting childishly. He would +simply be wasting time by trying to +do this by himself.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he growled. "Get me a +brief on a few cases like this one." +He made full contact with the man, +rapidly summarizing his conversation +with DeVore, and including DeVore's +short flash of his own conversation +with Ward Kirk.</p> + +<p>"<i>And get a rundown from personnel. +Dig up something on their angle, +too. Several representative cases. Get +a few people to help you—many as +you need. I'm going to take this +whole mess in to the Chief tomorrow +morning.</i>"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Paul Graham swept into the +apartment, seized his wife about the +waist and swung her into the air, to +set her on top of one of his bookcases.</p> + +<p>"They've done it, honey," he +shouted.</p> + +<p>Elaine kicked her heels in a rapid +tattoo against the back of the case.</p> + +<p>"Paul Graham, you get me down +this instant," she ordered indignantly. +"Who's done what?"</p> + +<p>Graham stepped back and beat on +his chest. "Meet the new production +manager, Mentacom Division, Consolidated +Electronics."</p> + +<p>"Production manager? But, Paul, +only first-class citizens can hold supervisory +positions."</p> + +<p>"Not any more. Didn't you have +the communicator on for the news? +It all came in."</p> + +<p>Elaine shook her head and jumped +to the floor. "I've a confession to +make, Paul. Ever since they stopped +the compulsory notices, I haven't had +the thing on at all. It bothered me."</p> + +<p>Her husband shook his head in +mock dismay. "So now, I'm married +to an ignoramus." He spread his +hands. "She doesn't know what's going +on in the great, big world." He +shook a finger at her.</p> + +<p>"It all busted this afternoon, darling. +While you sat around in your +splendid isolation, everything turned +upside down."</p> + +<p>She looked at him indignantly for +an instant, then turned toward the +kitchen.</p> + +<p>"Paul, if you don't stop raving, +I'm going to get my mentacom and +pry it out of you," she threatened. +"Now, you just settle down. Stop +talking in circles and tell me what +this is all about."</p> + +<p>"Oh, all right. If you insist." Graham +sank into a chair, looking like +a small boy caught in a prank. "First, +there are no more first-class citizens—no +second-class citizens—not even +third-class citizens. Everyone's a citizen +again. Period." He threw his +hands up.</p> + +<p>"You mean—?"</p> + +<p>"That's exactly what I mean. No +more restrictions. No more compulsory +community work. No more +quarters inspections. And no more +privileges. We've got rights again!</p> + +<p>"If you want a dress, you buy it. +You don't worry about whether it +suits your station. If I can hold a +job, I get it. And I did!" He got +out of the chair and strode across the +room, to sit on the arm of the divan. +"And I can do this, if I want to. If +I break this thing down, so help me, +George, I'll go out and buy a new +one." He bounced up and down a +little.</p> + +<p>"The administrators are going back +to their original jobs. They're responsible +for defense, in case of +enemy attack, and that's all." He +paused. "Of course, until sector and +district elections can be held, they'll +still take care of some of the community +functions—some of them, +that is. But the elections'll be set up +in a few weeks, and we'll be able to +choose our own officials for community +government."</p> + +<p>He bounced to his feet again, +strode around the bookcases, and +looked down at his desk. Then, he +looked around again.</p> + +<p>"Corporations are being set up to +take over home construction." He +held up a hand. "<i>Home</i> construction, +I said, not quarters. They're commercializing +helicopter manufacture, +all kinds of repair work, and a lot +of other services. And they're going +to restore patent rights. That means +plenty to us, darling, believe me."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"But, but why? What happened?"</p> + +<p>Graham turned on her. "Elaine," +he cried, "haven't you noticed how +many people are wearing mentacoms +now, all the time? Haven't you noticed +the consideration people have +been giving each other for the past +weeks? Remember what I told you +once? If you fully understand a person, +you simply can't kick him +around. It's too much like taking +slaps at yourself. With the exception +of a few empathic cripples, who can't +use the mentacom properly anyway, +everyone, inside the administrative +offices, as well as out, recognized +that the bureaucracy was simply unworkable +as it stood. So, they +changed it. Effective immediately."</p> + +<p>Elaine stamped her foot. "You +know I haven't been out of this apartment," +she cried. "And you know +why. I simply couldn't stand the +treatment I got. I'd have gotten into +serious trouble in minutes. So, I've +stayed in. I've done my shopping by +communicator, and contented myself +right here." She paused.</p> + +<p>"But how is the new administration +going to be supported? What +are people going to do? How are +they taking it? It's all so sudden, I +should think—"</p> + +<p>Graham held up a hand.</p> + +<p>"Hey," he protested. "One at a +time, please! First—remember taxes? +Remember how we used to growl +about them? They're back. And I +love 'em. Second—nobody is going +to do anything. Anything drastic or +unusual, that is. And finally? Everyone +I've seen is taking it in their +stride. Seems as though they've been +sort of expecting it, ever since they +started mind-to-mind communication.</p> + +<p>"You'd be surprised how good +most people are at it, now that they're +used to it. You start into a line of +helicopters. All at once, you realize +that the guy coming is really in a +hurry. He's got to get somewhere, +fast. So, you let him go by. The next +fellow's not going to be in any tearing +rush. He'll let you in, and cheer +you on your way.</p> + +<p>"You feel like being left alone? +Nobody'll even notice you. But if +you feel like talking, half a dozen +total strangers'll find something in +common with you. And they'll discuss +it. Honey, you'll be surprised +how much you've missed. Get your +mentacom. Let's take a little shopping +trip."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"And here's one of our more difficult +cases. But he's coming along +nicely." Dr. Moran pointed through +the one-way window.</p> + +<p>"Name's Howard Morely. He +used to be a district leader, under the +bureaucracy. But along in the last +few weeks, just before the change, +he got into some sort of scrape. They +questioned him, and declared him +unfit for service. Put him out on a +pension." He pulled at an ear.</p> + +<p>"Matter of fact, I understand his +case had quite a deal to do with the +change—sort of triggered it. They +tell me it sort of pointed up the +fallacies of the bureaucracy." He +shrugged.</p> + +<p>"But that's unimportant now, I +guess. He almost receded into complete +paranoia. Had a virtually complete +case of empathic paralysis when +he came to us. Simply no conception +of any other person's point of view, +and a hatred of people that was fantastic. +But he's nearly normal now."</p> + +<p>The visiting psychiatrist nodded. +"I've seen the type, of course. We +have a number of them, too. You +say this new technique was successfully +used in his case?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. We had doubts of it, too. +Seemed too simple. Sure, we're all +familiar with the mentacoms by now. +Wouldn't be without my own. But +the idea of a field generator so powerful +as to force clear impressions +into a crippled mind like his, without +completely destroying that mind, +seemed a little fantastic." He +shrugged.</p> + +<p>"In this case, though, it was a +last resort, so we tried it. He resisted +the field for days. Simply sat in his +cell and stared at the walls. We were +almost ready to give up when one +of the operators finally got through +to him. Know what his first visualization +was?"</p> + +<p>The visitor shook his head and +laughed. "I could try a guess, I suppose," +he said, "but my chances +would be something less than one in +a thousand million."</p> + +<p>Moran grinned. "You're so right. +There was a whole bunch of kids +standing around. Looked like dozens +of 'em. And they were all chanting +at the top of their voices. You know +that old jingle? 'Howie's got a gir-rul?' +Chanted it over and over." The +grin widened. "Operator said his +face stung for ten minutes. That girl +must have packed one sweet wallop!"</p> + +<p class="theend">THE END</p> + +<div class="figtran"> +<a href="images/006-2.jpg"><img src="images/006-1.jpg" width="145" height="200" alt="" title="" /></a> +<b><big>Transcriber's Note:</big></b><br /><br /> +This etext was produced from <i>Astounding Science Fiction</i> June +1955. 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 Final Weapon, by Everett B. 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