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No, I don't, said Cheryl flatly.
Such compounds won't fuse. If you heat them to a few hundred million degrees, they break down into
single atoms and the concentration of oxygen and carbon will simply damage the system. But why not
take them in at ordinary temperatures. Hydroxyl will combine with formaldehyde, after compression, in a
chemical reaction that will cause no harm to the system. At least, I'm sure a good Fusionist could modify
the system to handle a chemical reaction at room temperature. The energy of the reaction can be stored
and, after a while, there will be enough to make a Jump possible.
Cheryl said, I don't see that at all. Chemical reactions produce hardly any energy, compared to fusion.
You're quite right, dear. But we don't need much. The previous Jump has left us with insufficient energy
for an immediate second Jump that's regulations. But I'll bet your friend, the Fusionist, saw to it that as
little energy as possible was lacking. Fusionists usually do that. The little extra required to reach ignition
can be collected from ordinary chemical reactions. Then, once a Jump takes us out of the cloud, cruising
for a week or so will refill our energy tanks and we can continue without harm. Of course Martand
raised his eyebrows and shrugged.
Yes?
Of course, said Martand, if for any reason Mr. Viluekis should delay, there may be trouble. Every
day we spend before Jumping uses up energy in the ordinary life of the ship, and after a while chemical
reactions won't supply the energy required to reach Jump-ignition. I hope he doesn't wait long.
Well, why don't you tell him? Now.
Martand shook his head. Tell a Fusionist? I couldn't do that, dear.
Then I will.
Oh, no. He'ssure to think of it himself. In fact, I'll make a bet with you, my dear. You tell him exactly
what I said and say that I told you he had already thought of it himself and that the fusion tube was in
operation. And, of course, if I win
Martand smiled.
Cheryl smiled, too. I'll see, she said.
Martand looked after her thoughtfully as she hastened away, his thoughts not entirely on Viluekis's
possible reaction.
He was not surprised when a ship's guard appeared from almost nowhere and said, Please come with
me, Mr. Martand.
Martand said quietly. Thank you for letting me finish. I was afraid you wouldn't.
Something more than six hours passed before Martand was allowed to see the captain. His
imprisonment (which was what he considered it) was one of isolation, but was not onerous; and the
captain, when he did see him, looked tired and not particularly hostile.
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Hanson said, It was reported to me that you were spreading rumors designed to create panic among
the passengers. That is a serious charge.
I spoke to one passenger only, sir; and for a purpose.
So we realize. We put you under surveillance at once
and I have a report, a rather full one, of the conversation you had with Miss Cheryl Winter. It was the
second conversation on the subject.
Yes, sir.
Apparently you intended the meat of the conversation to be passed on to Mr. Viluekis.
Yes, sir.
You did not consider going to Mr. Viluekis personally?
I doubt that he would have listened, sir.
Or to me.
You might have listened, but how would you pass on the information to Mr. Viluekis? You might then
have had to use Miss Winter yourself. Fusionists have their peculiarities.
The captain nodded abstractedly. What was it you expected to happen when Miss Winter passed on
the information to Mr. Viluekis?
My hope, sir, said Martand, was that he would be less defensive with Miss Winter than with anyone
else; that he would feel less threatened. I was hoping that he would laugh and say the idea was a simple
one that had occurred to him long before, and that, indeed, the scoops were already working, with the
intent of promoting the chemical reaction. Then, when he got rid of Miss Winter, and I imagine he would
do that quickly, he would start the scoops and report his action to you, sir, omitting any reference to
myself or Miss Winter.
You did not think he might dismiss the whole notion as unworkable?
There was that chance, but it didn't happen.
How do you know?
Because half an hour after I was placed in detention, sir, the lights in the room in which I was kept
dimmed perceptibly and did not brighten again. I assumed that energy expenditure in the ship was being
cut to the bone, and assumed further that Viluekis was throwing everything into the pot so that the
chemical reaction would supply enough for ignition.
The captain frowned. What made you so sure you could manipulate Mr. Viluekis? Surely you have
never dealt with Fusionists, have you?
Ah, but I teach the eighth-grade, captain. I have dealt with other children.
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For a moment the captain's expression remained wooden. And then slowly it relaxed into a smile. I like
you, Mr. Martand, he said, but it won't help you. Your expectationsdid come to pass; as nearly as I
can tell, exactly as you had hoped. But do you understand what followed?
I will, if you tell me.
Mr. Viluekis had to evaluate your suggestion and decide, at once, whether it was practical. He had to
make a number of careful adjustments to the system to allow chemical reactions without knocking out the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl akte20.pev.pl
No, I don't, said Cheryl flatly.
Such compounds won't fuse. If you heat them to a few hundred million degrees, they break down into
single atoms and the concentration of oxygen and carbon will simply damage the system. But why not
take them in at ordinary temperatures. Hydroxyl will combine with formaldehyde, after compression, in a
chemical reaction that will cause no harm to the system. At least, I'm sure a good Fusionist could modify
the system to handle a chemical reaction at room temperature. The energy of the reaction can be stored
and, after a while, there will be enough to make a Jump possible.
Cheryl said, I don't see that at all. Chemical reactions produce hardly any energy, compared to fusion.
You're quite right, dear. But we don't need much. The previous Jump has left us with insufficient energy
for an immediate second Jump that's regulations. But I'll bet your friend, the Fusionist, saw to it that as
little energy as possible was lacking. Fusionists usually do that. The little extra required to reach ignition
can be collected from ordinary chemical reactions. Then, once a Jump takes us out of the cloud, cruising
for a week or so will refill our energy tanks and we can continue without harm. Of course Martand
raised his eyebrows and shrugged.
Yes?
Of course, said Martand, if for any reason Mr. Viluekis should delay, there may be trouble. Every
day we spend before Jumping uses up energy in the ordinary life of the ship, and after a while chemical
reactions won't supply the energy required to reach Jump-ignition. I hope he doesn't wait long.
Well, why don't you tell him? Now.
Martand shook his head. Tell a Fusionist? I couldn't do that, dear.
Then I will.
Oh, no. He'ssure to think of it himself. In fact, I'll make a bet with you, my dear. You tell him exactly
what I said and say that I told you he had already thought of it himself and that the fusion tube was in
operation. And, of course, if I win
Martand smiled.
Cheryl smiled, too. I'll see, she said.
Martand looked after her thoughtfully as she hastened away, his thoughts not entirely on Viluekis's
possible reaction.
He was not surprised when a ship's guard appeared from almost nowhere and said, Please come with
me, Mr. Martand.
Martand said quietly. Thank you for letting me finish. I was afraid you wouldn't.
Something more than six hours passed before Martand was allowed to see the captain. His
imprisonment (which was what he considered it) was one of isolation, but was not onerous; and the
captain, when he did see him, looked tired and not particularly hostile.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Hanson said, It was reported to me that you were spreading rumors designed to create panic among
the passengers. That is a serious charge.
I spoke to one passenger only, sir; and for a purpose.
So we realize. We put you under surveillance at once
and I have a report, a rather full one, of the conversation you had with Miss Cheryl Winter. It was the
second conversation on the subject.
Yes, sir.
Apparently you intended the meat of the conversation to be passed on to Mr. Viluekis.
Yes, sir.
You did not consider going to Mr. Viluekis personally?
I doubt that he would have listened, sir.
Or to me.
You might have listened, but how would you pass on the information to Mr. Viluekis? You might then
have had to use Miss Winter yourself. Fusionists have their peculiarities.
The captain nodded abstractedly. What was it you expected to happen when Miss Winter passed on
the information to Mr. Viluekis?
My hope, sir, said Martand, was that he would be less defensive with Miss Winter than with anyone
else; that he would feel less threatened. I was hoping that he would laugh and say the idea was a simple
one that had occurred to him long before, and that, indeed, the scoops were already working, with the
intent of promoting the chemical reaction. Then, when he got rid of Miss Winter, and I imagine he would
do that quickly, he would start the scoops and report his action to you, sir, omitting any reference to
myself or Miss Winter.
You did not think he might dismiss the whole notion as unworkable?
There was that chance, but it didn't happen.
How do you know?
Because half an hour after I was placed in detention, sir, the lights in the room in which I was kept
dimmed perceptibly and did not brighten again. I assumed that energy expenditure in the ship was being
cut to the bone, and assumed further that Viluekis was throwing everything into the pot so that the
chemical reaction would supply enough for ignition.
The captain frowned. What made you so sure you could manipulate Mr. Viluekis? Surely you have
never dealt with Fusionists, have you?
Ah, but I teach the eighth-grade, captain. I have dealt with other children.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
For a moment the captain's expression remained wooden. And then slowly it relaxed into a smile. I like
you, Mr. Martand, he said, but it won't help you. Your expectationsdid come to pass; as nearly as I
can tell, exactly as you had hoped. But do you understand what followed?
I will, if you tell me.
Mr. Viluekis had to evaluate your suggestion and decide, at once, whether it was practical. He had to
make a number of careful adjustments to the system to allow chemical reactions without knocking out the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]