Short Stories by Robert A. Heinlein Vol 2 Part 74

'The Other World is close by and full of power!'

In spite of his own intention of taking the old man literally he had ignored that statement. The Other World is full of power. I am sorry I snapped at you,

Uncle Gus,' he said.

'S all right.'

'But what do you make of that?'

'Looks like you've invented perpetual motion, son.'

'In a way, perhaps. Or maybe we've repealed the law of conservation of energy.

Those de Kalbs are drawing energy that was never before in this world!'

'Hm-m-m!'

To check his belief he returned to the control ring, donned his waldoes, cut in a mobile scanner, and proceeded to search the s.p.a.ce around the deKalbs with the most sensitive pickup for the radio power band he had available.

The needles never jumped; the room was dead in the wave lengths to which the deKalbs were sensitive. The power came from Other s.p.a.ce.

The power came from Other s.p.a.ce. Not from his own beamcaster, not from

NAPA's s.h.i.+ny stations, but from Other s.p.a.ce. In that case he was not even close to solving the prob1cm of the defective deKalbs; he might never solve it. Wait, now - just what had he contracted to do? He tried to recall the exact words of the contract.

There just might be a way around it. Maybe. Yes, and this newest c.o.c.keyed trick of Gramps Schneider's little pets could have some very tricky aspects.

He began to see some possibilities, but he needed to think about it.

'Uncle Gus-'

'Yes, Waldo?'

'You can go back and tell Stevens that I'll be ready with the answers.

We'll get his problem licked, and yours too. In the meantime I've got to do some really heavy thinking, so I want to be by myself, please.'

'Greetings, Mr Gleason. Quiet, Baldur! Come in. Be comfortable. How do you do, Dr Stevens.'

'How do you do, Mr Jones.'

'This,' said Gleason, indicating a figure trailing him, 'is Mr. Harkness, head of our legal staff.'

'Ah, yes indeed. There will be matters of contract to be discussed.

Welcome to Freehold, Mr Harkness.'

'Thank you,' Harkness said coldly. 'Will your attorneys be present?'

'They are present.' Waldo indicated a stereo screen. Two figures showed in it; they bowed and murmured polite forms.

'This is most irregular,' Harkness complained. 'Witnesses should be present in person. Things seen and heard by television are not evidence.'

Waldo drew his lips back. 'Do you wish to make an issue of it?'

'Not at all,' Gleason said hastily. 'Never mind, Charles.' Harkness subsided.

'I won't waste your time, gentlemen,' Waldo began. 'We are here in order that I may fulfil my contract with you. The terms are known, we will pa.s.s over them.'

He inserted his arms into his primary waldoes. 'Lined up along the far wall you will see a number of radiant power receptors, commonly called deKalbs.

Dr Stevens may, if he wishes, check their serial numbers-'

'No need to.'

'Very well. I shall start my local beamcaster, in order that we may check the efficiency of their operation.' His waldoes were busy as he spoke.

'Then I shall activate the receptors, one at a time.' His hands pawed the air; a little pair of secondaries switched on the proper switches on the control board of the last set in line. 'This is an ordinary type, supplied to me by Dr Stevens, which has never failed in operation. You may a.s.sure yourself that it is now operating in the normal manner, if you wish, Doctor.'

'I can see that it is.'

'We will call such a receptor a "deKalb" and its operation "normal".' The small waldoes were busy again. 'Here we have a receptor which I choose to term a "Schneider-deKalb" because of certain treatment it has received' the antennae began to move - 'and its operation "Schneider-type" operation.

Will you check it, Doctor?'

'OK.'.

'You fetched with you a receptor set which has failed?'

'As you can see.'

'Have you been able to make it function?'

'No, I have not.'

'Are you sure? Have you examined it carefully?'

'Quite carefully,' Stevens acknowledged sourly. He was beginning to be tired of Waldo's pompous flubdubbery.

'Very well. I will now proceed to make it operative.' Waldo left his control ring, shoved himself over to the vicinity of the defective deKalb, and placed himself so that his body covered his exact actions from the sight of the others. He returncd to the ring and, using waldoes, switched on the activating circuit of the dcKalb.

It immediately exhibited Schneider-type activity.

'That is my case, gentlemen,' he announced. 'I have found out how to repair deKalbs which become spontaneously inoperative. I will undertake to apply the Schneider treatment to any receptors which you may bring to me. That is included in my fee. I will undertake to train others in how to apply the

Schneider treatment. That is included in my fee, but I cannot guarantee that any particular man will profit by my instruction. Without going into technical details I may say that the treatment is very difficult, much harder than it looks. I think that Dr Stevens will confirm that.'

He smiled thinly.