The Skylark of Space | Page 3

on--what was left of that carboy of platinum residues after
he had recovered all the values, you know--and got them to put it up at
auction this noon. He resigned from the Bureau, and he and M.
Reynolds Crane, that millionaire friend of his, bid it in for ten cents."

"M. Reynolds Crane?" DuQuesne concealed a start of surprise. "Where
does he come in on this?"
"Oh, they're always together in everything. They've been thicker than
Damon and Pythias for a long time. They play tennis together--they're
doubles champions of the District, you know--and all kinds of things.
Wherever you find one of them you'll usually find the other. Anyway,
after they got the solution Crane took Seaton in his car, and somebody
said they went out to Crane's house. Probably trying to humor him.
Well, ta-ta; I've got a week's work to do yet today."
As Scott left DuQuesne dropped his work and went to his desk, with a
new expression, half of chagrin, half of admiration, on his face. Picking
up his telephone, he called a number.
"Brookings?" he asked, cautiously. "This is DuQuesne. I must see you
immediately. There's something big started that may as well belong to
us.... No, can't say anything over the telephone.... Yes, I'll be right out."
He left the laboratory and soon was in the private office of the head of
the Washington or "diplomatic" branch, as it was known in certain
circles, of the great World Steel Corporation. Offices and laboratories
were maintained in the city, ostensibly for research work, but in reality
to be near the center of political activity.
"How do you do, Doctor DuQuesne?" Brookings said as he seated his
visitor. "You seem excited."
"Not excited, but in a hurry," DuQuesne replied. "The biggest thing in
history has just broken, and we've got to work fast if we get in on it.
Have you any doubts that I always know what I am talking about?"
"No," answered the other in surprise. "Not the slightest. You are widely
known as an able man. In fact, you have helped this company several
times in various deal--er, in various ways."
"Say it. Brookings. 'Deals' is the right word. This one is going to be the
biggest ever. The beauty of it is that it should be easy--one simple

burglary and an equally simple killing--and won't mean wholesale
murder, as did that...."
"Oh, no, Doctor, not murder. Unavoidable accidents."
"Why not call things by their right names and save breath, as long as
we're alone? I'm not squeamish. But to get down to business. You
know Seaton, of our division, of course. He has been recovering the
various rare metals from all the residues that have accumulated in the
Bureau for years. After separating out all the known metals he had
something left, and thought it was a new element, a metal. In one of his
attempts to get it into the metallic state, a little of its solution fizzed out
and over a copper steam bath or tank, which instantly flew out of the
window like a bullet. It went clear out of sight, out of range of his
binoculars, just that quick." He snapped his fingers under Brookings'
nose. "Now that discovery means such power as the world never
dreamed of. In fact, if Seaton hadn't had all the luck in the world right
with him yesterday, he would have blown half of North America off the
map. Chemists have known for years that all matter contains enormous
stores of intra-atomic energy, but have always considered it
'bound'--that is, incapable of liberation. Seaton has liberated it."
"And that means?"
"That with the process worked out, the Corporation could furnish
power to the entire world, at very little expense."
* * * * *
A look of scornful unbelief passed over Brookings' face.
"Sneer if you like," DuQuesne continued evenly. "Your ignorance
doesn't change the fact in any particular. Do you know what
intra-atomic energy is?"
"I'm afraid that I don't, exactly."
"Well, it's the force that exists between the ultimate component parts of

matter, if you can understand that. A child ought to. Call in your chief
chemist and ask him what would happen if somebody would liberate
the intra-atomic energy of one hundred pounds of copper."
"Pardon me, Doctor. I didn't presume to doubt you. I will call him in."
He telephoned a request and soon a man in white appeared. In response
to the question he thought for a moment, then smiled slowly.
"If it were done instantaneously it would probably blow the entire
world into a vapor, and might force it clear out of its orbit. If it could be
controlled it would furnish millions of horsepower for a long time. But
it can't be done. The energy is bound.