Islands of Space | Page 4

us an atom with
positrons circling a negatively charged nucleus. It even gave the
neutrons a reverse spin, converting them into anti-neutrons.
"Result: total annihilation of matter! When the contraterrene lead atoms
met the terrene lead atoms, mutual annihilation resulted, giving us pure
energy.
"Some of this power can be bled off to power the mechanism itself; the
rest is useful energy. We've got all the power we need--power, literally
by the ton."
Fuller said nothing; he just looked dazed. He was well beginning to
believe that these three men could do the impossible and do it to order.
"The second thing," Arcot continued, "was, as I said, a way to store the
energy so that it could be released as rapidly or as slowly as we needed
it.
"That was Morey's baby. He figured it would be possible to use the
space-strain apparatus to store energy. It's an old method; induction
coils, condensers, and even gravity itself are storing energy by straining
space. But with Morey's apparatus we could store a lot more.
"A torus-shaped induction coil encloses all its magnetic field within it;
the torus, or 'doughnut' coil, has a perfectly enclosed magnetic field.
We built an enclosed coil, using Morey's principle, and expected to
store a few watts of power in it to see how long we could hold it.
"Unfortunately, we made the mistake of connecting it to the city power
lines, and it cost us a hundred and fifty dollars at a quarter of a cent per
kilowatt hour. We blew fuses all over the place. After that, we used the
relux plate generator.
"At any rate, the gadget can store power and plenty of it, and it can put
it out the same way."

Arcot knocked the ashes out of his pipe and smiled at Fuller. "Those
are the essentials of what we have to offer. We give you the job of
figuring out the stresses and strains involved. We want a ship with a
cruising radius of a thousand million light years."
"Yes, sir! Right away, sir! Do you want a gross or only a dozen?"
Fuller asked sarcastically. "You sure believe in big orders! And whence
cometh the cold cash for this lovely dream of yours?"
"That," said Morey darkly, "is where the trouble comes in. We have to
convince Dad. As President of Transcontinental Airways, he's my boss,
but the trouble is, he's also my father. When he hears that I want to go
gallivanting off all over the Universe with you guys, he is very likely to
turn thumbs down on the whole deal. Besides, Arcot's dad has a lot of
influence around here, too, and I have a healthy hunch he won't like the
idea, either."
"I rather fear he won't," agreed Arcot gloomily.
A silence hung over the room that felt almost as heavy as the pall of
pipe smoke the air conditioners were trying frantically to disperse.
The elder Mr. Morey had full control of their finances. A ship that
would cost easily hundreds of millions of dollars was well beyond
anything the four men could get by themselves. Their inventions were
the property of Transcontinental, but even if they had not been, not one
of the four men would think of selling them to another company.
Finally, Wade said: "I think we'll stand a much better chance if we
show them a big, spectacular exhibition; something really impressive.
We'll point out all the advantages and uses of the apparatus. Then we'll
show them complete plans for the ship. They might consent."
"They might," replied Morey smiling. "It's worth a try, anyway. And
let's get out of the city to do it. We can go up to my place in Vermont.
We can use the lab up there for all we need. We've got everything
worked out, so there's no need to stay here.

"Besides, I've got a lake up there in which we can indulge in a little
atavism to the fish stage of evolution."
"Good enough," Arcot agreed, grinning broadly. "And we'll need that
lake, too. Here in the city it's only eighty-five because the aircars are
soaking up heat for their molecular drive, but out in the country it'll be
in the nineties."
"To the mountains, then! Let's pack up!"

II
The many books and papers they had collected were hastily put into the
briefcases, and the four men took the elevator to the landing area on the
roof.
"We'll take my car," Morey said. "The rest of you can just leave yours
here. They'll be safe for a few days."
They all piled in as Morey slid into the driver's seat and turned on the
power.
They rose slowly, looking below them at the traffic of the great city.
New York had long since