Microcosmic God Sturgeon Theodore

8/3/2019 Microcosmic God Sturgeon Theodore

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MICROCOSMIC GODTheodore Sturgeon

Here is a story about a man who had too much power, & aman who too too much, but don!t worry" I!m not goingpo#itica# on you$ The man who had the power was named%ames idder & the other was his baner$

idder was 'uite a guy$ He was a scientist & he #i(ed on asma## is#and o)) the *ew +ng#and coast a## by himse#)$ Hewasn!t the dwar)ed #itt#e gnome o) a mad scientist you readabout$ His hobby wasn!t persona# pro)it, & he wasn!t amega#omaniac with a Russian name & no scrup#es$ Hewasn!t insidious, & he wasn!t e(en particu#ar#y sub(ersi(e$He ept his hair cut & his nai#s c#ean & #i(ed & thought #iea reasonab#e human being$ He was s#ight#y on the baby)aced side" he was inc#ined to be a hermit" he was short &p#ump &-bri##iant$ His specia#ity was biochemistry, & hewas a#ways ca##ed Mr$ idder$

*ot .Dr$. *ot ./ro)essor$. %ust Mr$ idder$

He was an odd sort o) app#e & a#ways had been$ He hadne(er graduated )rom any co##ege or uni(ersity because he)ound them too s#ow )or him, & too rigid in their approachto education$ He cou#dn!t get used to the idea that perhapshis pro)essors new what they were ta#ing about$ Thatwent )or his te0ts, too$ He was a#ways asing 'uestions, &didn!t mind (ery much when they were embarrassing$ Heconsidered Gregor Mende# a bung#ing #iar, Darwin an

amusing phi#osopher, & 1uther 2urban a sensationa#ist$He ne(er opened his mouth without #ea(ing his (ictim)ee#ing breath#ess$ I) he was ta#ing to some one who hadnow#edge, he went in there & got it, #ea(ing his (ictimbreath#ess$ I) he was ta#ing to someone whose now#edgewas a#ready

in his possession, he on#y ased repeated#y, .How do younow34. His most de#ectab#e p#easure was cutting a )anatica#eugenicist into con(ersationa# ribbons$ So peop#e #e)t hima#one & ne(er, ne(er ased him to tea$ He was po#ite, but

not po#itic$

He had a #itt#e money o) his own, & with it he #eased theis#and & bui#t himse#) a #aboratory$ *ow I!(e mentionedthat he was a biochemist$ 2ut being what he was, hecou#dn!t eep his nose in his own )ie#d$ It wasn!t tooremarab#e when he made an inte##ectua# e0cursion wideenough to per)ect a method o) crysta##i5ing 6itamin 2,pro)itab#y by the toni) anyone wanted it by the ton$ He gota #ot o) money )or it$ He bought his is#and outright & puteight hundred men to wor on an acre & a ha#) o) his

ground, adding to his #aboratory & bui#ding e'uipment$ Hegot to messing around with sisa# )ibre, )ound out how to)use it, & boomed the banana industry by producing apractica##y unbreaab#e cord )rom the stu))$

7ou remember the popu#ari5ing demonstration he put on at*iagara, don!t you4 That business o) running a #ine o) thenew cord )rom ban to ban o(er the rapids & suspending atenton truc )rom the midd#e o) it by ra5or edges resting onthe cord4 That!s why ships now moor themse#(es with what#oos #ie hea(ing #ine, no thicer than a #ead penci#, thatcan be coi#ed on ree#s #ie garden hose$ idder madecigarette money out o) that, too$ He went out & boughthimse#) a cyc#otron with part o) it$

8)ter that money wasn!t money any more$ It was #arge

numbers in #itt#e boos$ idder used #itt#e amounts o) it to

ha(e )ood & e'uipment sent out to him, but a)ter a whi#e that

stopped, too$ His ban dispatched a messenger by seap#ane

to )ind out i) idder was sti## a#i(e$ The man returned two

days #ater in a bemused state, ha(ing been ama5ed some

thing awesome at the things he!d seen out there$ idder was

a#i(e, a## right, & he was turning out a surp#us o) good )ood

in an astonishing#y simp#i)ied synthetic )orm$ The ban

wrote immediate#y & wanted to now i) Mr$ idder, in his

own interest, was wi##ing to re#ease the secret o) his dirt#ess

)arming$ idder rep#ied that he wou#d be g#ad to, & enc#osed

the )ormu#as$ In a /$S$ he said that he hadn!t sent the

in)ormation ashore because he hadn!t rea#i5ed anyone wou#d

be interested$ That )rom a man who was responsib#e )or the

greatest socio#ogica# change in the second ha#) o) the

twentieth century-)actory )arming$ It made him richer" I

mean it made his ban richer$ He didn!t gi(e a rap$ 2ut

idder didn!t rea##y get started unti# about eight months a)ter

the messenger!s (isit$ 9or a biochemist who cou#dn!t e(en be

ca##ed .Doctor. he did pretty we##$ Here is a partia# #ist o) the

things that he turned out.

8 commercia##y )easib#e p#an )or maing an a#uminiuma##oy stronger than the best stee# so that it cou#d be used as astructura# meta#$ 8n e0hibition gadget he ca##ed a #ightpump, which wored on the theory that #ight is a )orm o)matter & there)ore sub:ect to physica# & e#ectromagnetic#aws$ Sea# a room with a sing#e #ight source, beam acy#indrica# (ibratory magnetic )ie#d to it )rom the pump, &the #ight wi## be #ed down it$ *ow pass the #ight throughidder!s .#ens.-a ring which perpetuates an e#ectric )ie#da#ong the #ines o) a highspeech iristype camera shutter$2e#ow this is the heart o) the #ight pump a ninetyeightpercent e))icient #ight absorber, crysta##ine, which, in asense, #oses the #ight in its interna# )acets$ The e))ect o)darening the room with this apparatus is s#ight butmeasurab#e$ /ardon my #ayman3s #anguage, but that!s thegenera# idea$

Synthetic ch#orophy##-by the barre#$

8n airp#ane prope##er e))icient at eight times sonic speed$

8 cheap goo you brush on o(er o#d paint, #et harden, & thenpee# o)) #ie strips o) c#oth$ The o#d paint comes with it$That one made )riends )ast$

MICROCOSMIC GOD 1 Of 12 Theodore Sturgeon



8 se#)sustaining atomic disintegration o) uranium!s isotope;<=, which is two hundred times as p#enti)u# as the o#dstandby, >;<?$

That wi## do )or the present$ I) I may repeat myse#)" )or a

biochemica# who cou#dn!t e(en be ca##ed .Doctor,. he did

pretty we##$ idder was apparent#y unconscious o) the )act

that he he#d power enough on his #itt#e is#and to become

master o) the wor#d$ His mind simp#y didn@t run to things

#ie that$ 8s #ong as he was #e)t a#one with his e0periments,

he was we## content to #ea(e the rest o) the wor#d to its own

c#umsy & primiti(e de(ices$ He cou#dn!t be reached e0cept

by a radiophone o) his own design, & its on#y counterpart

was #oced in a (au#t o) his 2oston ban$ On#y one man

cou#d operate it$ The e0traordinari#y sensiti(e transmitter

wou#d respond on#y to Conant3s own body (ibrations$ idder

had instructed Conant that he was not to be disturbed e0cept

by messages o) the greatest moment$ His ideas & patents,

what Conant cou#d pry out o) him, were re#eased under

pseudonyms nown on#y to Conant-idder didn!t care$

The resu#t, o) course, was an in)i#tration o) the mostastonishing ad(ancements since the dawn o) ci(i#i5ation$The nation pro)ited-the wor#d pro)ited$ 2ut most o) a##, theban pro)ited$ It began to get a #itt#e o(ersi5e$ It begangetting its )ingers into other pies$ It grew more )ingers &had to bae more )igurati(e pies$ 2e)ore many years hadpassed, it was so big that, using idder!s many weapons, ita#most matched idder in power$

8#most$

*ew stand by whi#e I s'ue#ch those )e##ows in the #ower#e)thand corner who!(e been saying a## this whi#e thatidder!s s#ight#y improbab#e" that no man cou#d e(er per)ecthimse#) in so many ways in so many sciences$

Ae##, you!re right$ idder was a genius-granted$ 2ut hisgenius was not creati(e$ He was, to the core, a student$ Heapp#ied what he new, what he saw, & what he was taught$Ahen )irst he began woring in his new #aboratory on hisis#and he reasoned something #ie thisB

.+(erything I now is what I ha(e been taught by thesayings & writings o) peop#e who ha(e studied the sayings& writings o) peop#e who ha(e-& so on$ Once in a whi#esomeone stumb#es on something new & he or someonec#e(erer uses the idea & disseminates it$ 2ut 9or each onethat )inds something rea##y new, a coup#e o) mi##ion gather& pass on in)ormation that is a#ready current$ I3d nowmore i) I cou#d get the :ump on e(o#utionary trends$ It taestoo #ong to wait )or the accidents that increase man!snow#edge-my now#edge$ I) I had ambition enough nowto )igure out how to tra(e# ahead in time, I cou#d sim thesur)ace o) the )uture & :ust dip down when I saw somethinginteresting$ 2ut time isn!t that way$ It can!t be #e)t behind ortossed ahead$ Ahat e#se is #e)t4

.Ae##, there!s the proposition o) speeding inte##ectua#e(o#ution so that I can obser(e what it coos up$ That seemsa bit ine))icient$ It wou#d in(o#(e more #abour to discip#inehuman minds to that e0tent than it wou#d to simp#y app#ymyse#) a#ong those #ines$ 2ut I can!t app#y myse#) that way$*o one man can$

.I!m #iced$ I can!t speed myse#) up, & I can!t speed othermen!s minds up$ Isn!t there an a#ternati(e There must be

somewhere, somehow, there!s got to be an answer$.

So it was on this, & not on eugenics, or #ight pumps, orbotany, or atomic physics, that %ames idder app#iedhimse#)$ 9or a practica# man he )ound t#e prob#em s#ight#yon the metaphysica# side" but he attaced it with typica#thoroughness, using his own pecu#iar brand o) #ogic$ Daya)ter day he wandered o(er the is#and, throwing she##simpotent#y at sea gu##s & swearing rich#y$ Then came a timewhen he sat indoors & brooded$ 8nd on#y then did he get)e(erish#y to wor$

He wored in his own )ie#d, biochemistry, & concentratedmain#y on two things-genetics & anima# metabo#ism$ He#earned, & )i#ed away in his insatiab#e mind, many thingsha(ing nothing to do with the prob#em in hand, & (ery #itt#eo) what he wanted$ 2ut he pi#ed that #itt#e on what #itt#e henew or guessed, & in time had 'uite a co##ection o) nown)actors to wor with$ His approach was characteristica##yunorthodo0$ He did things on the order o) mu#tip#yingapp#es by pears, & ba#ancing e'uations by adding #og E toone side & FF to the other$ He made mistaes, but on#y one

o) a ind, & #ater, on#y one o) a species$ He spent so manyhours at his microscope that he had 'uit wor )or two daysto get rid o) a ha##ucination that his heart was pumping hisown b#ood through the mie$ He did nothing by tria# & errorbecause he disappro(ed o) the method as s#oppy$

8nd he got resu#ts$ He was #ucy to begin with & e(en#ucier when he )ormu#arised the #aw o) probabi#ity &reduced it to such #ow terms that he new a#most to the itemwhat e0periments not to try$ Ahen the c#oudy, (iscoussemi)#uid on the watch g#ass began to mo(e itse#) he new

he was on the right trac$ Ahen it began to see )ood on itsown he began to be e0cited$ Ahen it di(ided &, in a )ewhours, redi(ided, & each part grew & di(ided again, he wastriumphant, )or he had created #i)e$

He nursed his brain chi#dren & sweated & strained o(erthem, & he designed baths o) (arious (ibrations )or them, &inocu#ated & dosed & sprayed them$ +ach mo(e he madetaught him the ne0t$ 8nd out o) his tans & tubes &incubators came amoeba#ie creatures, & then ci#iatedanima#cu#es, & more & more rapid#y he produced anima#s

with eye spots, ner(e cysts, & then-(ictory o) (ictories-area# b#astopod, possessed o) many ce##s instead o) one$More s#ow#y he de(e#oped a gastropod, but once he had it, itwas not too di))icu#t )or him to gi(e it organs, each with aspeci)ied )unction, each inheritab#e$




Then came cu#tured mo##usc#ie things, & creatures withmore & more per)ected gi##s$ The day that a nondescriptthing wrigg#ed up an inc#ined board out o) a tan, threw)#aps o(er its gi##s & )eeb#y breathed air, idder 'uit wor& went to the other end o) the is#and & got disgusting#ydrun$ Hango(er & a##, he was soon bac in the #ab,)orgetting to eat, )orgetting to s#eep, tearing into hisprob#em$ He turned into a scienti)ic byway & ran & downhis other great triumph-acce#erated metabo#ism$ Hee0tracted & re)ined the stimu#ating )actors in a#coho#, coca,heroin, & Mother *ature!s pri5e dope runner, cannabisindica$ 1ie the scientist who, in ana#ysing the (ariousc#otting agents )or b#ood treatments, )ound that o0a#ic acid& o0a#ic acid a#one was the acti(e )actor, idder iso#atedthe acce#erators & dece#erators, the stimu#ants & sopori)ics,in e(ery substance that e(er undermined a man!s mora#ity &)or caused a .nob#e e0periment$. In the process he )oundone thing he needed bad#y-a co#our#ess e#i0ir that mades#eep the unnecessary & a(oidab#e waster o) time it shou#dbe$ Then & there he went on a twenty)ourhour shi)t$

He arti)icia##y synthesi5ed the substances he had iso#ated, &in doing so s#oughed away a great many use#esscomponents$ He pursued the sub:ect a#ong the #ines o)radiations & (ibrations$ He disco(ered something in the#onger reds which, when pro:ected through a (esse# )u## o)air (ibrating in the supersonics, & then po#ari5ed, speededup the heartbeat o) sma## anima#s twenty to one$ They atetwenty times as much, grew twenty times as )ast, &-diedtwenty times sooner than they shou#d ha(e$

idder bui#t a huge hermetica##y sea#ed room$ 8bo(e it wasanother room, the same #ength & breadth but not 'uite ashigh$ This was his contro# chamber$ The #arge room wasdi(ided into )our sea#ed sections, each with its indi(idua#miniature cranes & derrics-hand#ing machinery o) a##inds$ There were a#so trapdoors )itted with air #ocs#eading )rom the upper to the #ower room$

2y this time the other #aboratory had produced a warmb#ooded, snaesinned 'uadruped with an astonishing#yrapid #i)e cyc#ea generation e(ery eight days, a #i)e spano) about )i)teen$ 1ie the echidna, it was o(iparous &mamma#ian$ Its period o) gestation was si0 hours" the eggshatched in three" the young reached se0ua# maturity inanother )our days$ +ach )ema#e #aid )our eggs & #i(ed :ust#ong enough to care )or the young a)ter they hatched$ Thema#e genera##y died two or three hours a)ter mating$ Thecreatures were high#y adaptab#e$ They were sma##-notmore than three inches #ong, two inches to the shou#der)rom the ground$ Their )orepaws had three digits & a trip#e

:ointed, opposed thumb$ They were attuned to #i)e in anatmosphere with a #arge ammonia content$ idder bred )ouro) the creatures & put one group in each section o) thesea#ed room$

Then he was ready$ Aith his contro##ed atmospheres he

(aried temperatures, o0ygen content, humidity$ He i##ed

them o)) #ie )#ies with e0cesses o), )or instance, carbon

dio0ide, & the sur(i(ors bred their physica# resistance into

the ne0t generation$ /eriodica##y he wou#d switch the eggs

)rom one sea#ed section to another to eep the strains (aried$

8nd rapid#y, under these contro##ed conditions, the creatures

began to e(o#(e$

This, then, was the answer to his prob#em$ He cou#dn!t speed

up manind!s inte##ectua# ad(ancement enough to ha(e it

teach him the things his incredib#e mind yearned )or$ He

cou#dn!t speed himse#) up$ So he created a new race-a race

which wou#d de(e#op & e(o#(e so )ast that it wou#d surpass

the ci(i#i5ation o) man" & )rom them he wou#d #earn$

They were comp#ete#y in idder!s power$ +arth!s norma#atmosphere wou#d poison them, as he too care todemonstrate to e(ery )ourth generation$ They wou#d maeno attempt to escape )rom him$ They wou#d #i(e their #i(es& progress & mae their #itt#e tria#&error e0perimentshundreds o) times )aster than man did$ They had the edgeson man, )or they had idder to guide them$ It too man si0thousand years rea##y to disco(er science, three hundred toput it to wor$ It too idder!s creatures two hundred daysto e'ua# man3s menta# attainments 8nd )rom then on-idder!s spasmodic output made the #ate, great Tom +dison#oo #ie a home handicra)ter$

He ca##ed them *eoterics, & he teased them into woring )or

him idder was in(enti(e in an ideo#ogica# way" that is, he

cou#d dream up impossib#e propositions pro(iding he didn!t

ha(e to wor them out$ 9or e0amp#e, he wanted the *eoterics

to )igure out )or themse#(es how to bui#d she#ters out o)

porous materia#$ He created the need )or such she#ters by

sub:ecting one o) the sections to a highpressure rainstorm

which )#attened the inhabitants$ The *eoterics prompt#y

de(ised waterproo) she#ters out o) the thin waterproo)

materia# he pi#ed in one corner$ idder immediate#y b#ew

down the )#imsy structure with a b#ast o) co#d air They bui#t

them up again so that they resisted both wind & rain idder

#owered the temperature so abrupt#y that they cou#d not

ad:ust their bodies to it$ They heated their she#ters with tiny

bra5iers$ idder prompt#y turned up the heat unti# they began

to toast to death$ 8)ter a )ew deaths, one o) their bright boys

)igured out how to bui#d a strong insu#ant house by using

threep#y rubberoid, with the midd#e #ayer per)orated

thousands o) times to create tiny air pocets$

>sing such tactics, idder )orced them to de(e#op a high#y

ad(anced #itt#e cu#ture$ He caused a drought in one section &

a #i'uid surp#us in another, & then opened the partition

between them$ uite a spectacu#ar war was )ought, &

idder!s noteboos )i##ed with in)ormation about mi#itary

tactics & weapons$ Then there was the (accine they

de(e#oped against the common co#d-the reason why that

a))#iction has been abso#ute#y stamped out in the wor#d today,




)or it was one o) the things that Conant, the ban president,

got ho#d o)$ He spoe to idder o(er the radio phone one

winter a)ternoon with a (oice so hoarse )rom #aryngitis that

idder sent him a (ia# o) (accine & to#d him bris#y not to

e(er ca## him again in such a disgusting#y inaudib#e state$

Conant had it ana#ysed & again idder!s accounts & the

ban!s swe##ed$

8t )irst, idder mere#y supp#ied the materia#s he thought

they might need, but when they de(e#oped a inte##igencee'ua# to the tas o) )abricating their own )rom the e#ementsat hand, he ga(e each section a stoc o) raw materia#s$ Theprocess )or rea##y strong a#uminium was de(e#oped whenhe bui#t in a huge p#unger in one o) the sections, whichreached )rom wa## to wa## & was designed to descend at therate o) )our inches a day unti# it crushed whate(er was atthe bottom$ The *eoterics, in se#)de)ence, used whatstrong materia# they had in hand to stop the ine0orab#edeath that threatened them$ 2ut idder had seen to it thatthey had nothing but a#uminium o0ide & a scattering o)

other e#ements, p#us p#enty o) e#ectric power$ 8t )irst theyran up do5ens o) a#uminium pi##ars" when these werecrushed & twisted they tried shaping them so that the so)tmeta# wou#d tae more weight$ Ahen that )ai#ed they'uic#y bui#t stronger ones" & when the p#unger was ha#ted,idder remo(ed one o) the pi##ars & ana#ysed it$ It washardened a#uminium, stronger & tougher than mo#ybd stee#$

+0perience taught idder that he had to mae certainchanges to increase his power o(er his *eoterics be)orethey got too ingenious$ There were things that cou#d be

done with atomic power that he was curious about" but hewas not wi##ing to trust his #itt#e superscientists with a thing#ie that un#ess they cou#d be trusted to use it strict#yaccording to Hoy#e$ So he instituted a ru#e o) )ear$ The mosttri(ia# departure )rom what he chose to consider the rightway o) doing things resu#ted in instant death o) ha#) a tribe$I) he was trying to de(e#op a Diese#type power p#ant, )orinstance, that wou#d operate without a )#ywhee#, & a brightyoung *eoteric used any o) the materia#s )or architectura#purposes, ha#) the tribe immediate#y died$ O) course, theyhad de(e#oped a written #anguage" it was idder!s own$ The

Te#etype in in g#assenc#osed area in a comer o) eachsection was a shrine$ 8ny directions that were gi(en on itwere obeyed, or e#se$$$ 8)ter this inno(ation, idder!s worwas much simp#er$ There was no need )or any indirection$8nything he wanted done was done$ *o matter how impossib#e his commands, three or )our generations o)*eoterics cou#d )ind a way to carry them out$

This 'uotation is )rom a paper that one o) idder!s highspeed te#escopic cameras disco(ered being circu#atedamong the younger *euterics$ It is trans#ated )rom the

high#y simp#i)ied script o) the *eoterics$

.These edicts sha## be )o##owed by each *eoteric upon paino) death, which punishment wi## be in)#icted by the tribeupon the indi(idua# to protect the tribe against him$

./riority o) interest & triba# & indi(idua# e))ort is to begi(en the commands that appear on the word machine$

.8ny misdirection o) materia# or power, or use thereo) )orany other purpose than the carrying out o) the machine!scommands, un#ess no command appears, sha## bepunishab#e by death$

.8ny in)ormation regarding the prob#em at hand, or ideas ore0periments which might concei(ab#y bear upon it, are tobecome the property o) the tribe$

.8ny indi(idua# )ai#ing to cooperate in the triba# e))ort, orwho can be termed gui#ty o) not e0pending his )u## e))orts inthe wor, or the suspicion thereo) sha## be sub:ect to thedeath pena#ty$.

Such are the resu#ts o) comp#ete domination$ This paperimpressed idder as much as it did because it wascomp#ete#y spontaneous$ It was the *eoterics@ own creed,de(e#oped by them )or their own greatest good$

8nd so at #ast idder had his )u#)i#ment$ Crouched in the

upper room, going )rom te#escope to te#escope, running o))

s#oweddown )i#ms )rom his highspeed cameras, he )ound

himse#) possessed o) a tractab#e, dynamic source o)

in)ormation$ Housed in the great s'uare bui#ding with its )our

ha#)acre sections was a new wor#d, to which he was god$

Conant!s mind was simi#ar to idder!s in that its approachto any prob#em was a#ong the shortest distance betweenany two points, regard#ess o) whether that approach wasa#ong the #ine o) most or #east resistance$ His rise to theban presidency was a history o) ruth#ess mo(es whose on#y

:usti)ication was that they got him what he wanted$ 1ie ano(ere))icient genera#, he wou#d ne(er (an'uish an enemythrough sheer )orce o) numbers a#one$ He wou#d a#sosi#)u##y )#an his enemy, not on one side, but on both$Innocent bystanders were creatures deser(ing noconsideration$

The time he too o(er a certain thousandacre property, )orinstance, )rom a man named Grady, he was not satis)iedwith on#y the tit#e to the #and$ Grady was an airport owner-had been a## his #i)e, & his )ather be)ore him$ Conante0erted e(ery ind o) pressure on the man & )ound himunshaab#e$

9ina##y :udicious persuasion #ed the city o))icia#s to dig asewer right across the midd#e o) the )ie#d, 'uite e))icient#ywrecing Grady!s business$ nowing that this wou#d supp#yGrady, who was a wea#thy man, with moti(e )or re(enge,Conant too o(er Grady!s ban at ha#) again its (a#ue &caused it to )o#d up$ Grady #ost e(ery cent he had & endedhis #i)e in an asy#um$ Conant was (ery proud o) his tactics$




1ie many another who had had Mammon by the tai#,Conant did I not now when to #et go$ His (astorgani5ation yie#ded him more money & power than anyother concern in history, & yet he was not satis)ied$ Conant& money were #ie idder & now#edge$ Conant!spyramided enterprises were to him what the *eoterics wereto idder$

+ach had made his pri(ate wor#d" each used it )or hisinstruction & pro)it$ idder, though, disturbed nobody buthis *eoterics$ +(en so, Conant was not who##y (i##ainous$He was a shrewd man, & had disco(ered ear#y the (a#ue o)p#easing peop#e$ *o man can rob success)u##y o(er a periodo) years without p#easing the peop#e he robs$ The techni'ue)or doing this is high#y in(o#(ed, but master it & you canstart your own mint$

Conant!s one great )ear was that idder wou#d some daytae an interest in wor#d e(ents & begin to becomeopinionated$ Good hea(ens-the potentia# power he had 8#itt#e matter #ie swinging an e#ection cou#d be managed bya man #ie idder as easi#y as turning o(er in bed$ The on#ything he cou#d do was to ca## him periodica##y & see i) therewas any thing that idder needed to eep himse#) busy$idder appreciated this$ Conant, once in a whi#e, wou#dsuggest something to idder that intrigued him, somethingthat wou#d eep him deep in his hermitage )or a )ew wees$The #ight pump was one o) the resu#ts o) Conant!simagination$ Conant bet him it cou#dn!t be done$ idder didit$

One a)ternoon idder answered the s'uea# o) theradiophone!s signa#$ Swearing mi#d#y, he shut o)) the )i#mhe was watching & crossed the compound to the o#d#aboratory$ He went to the radiophone, threw a switch$ Thes'uea#ing stopped$

.Ae##4.

.He##o,. said Conant$ .2usy@4.

.*ot (ery,. said idder$ He was de#ighted with the pictureshis camera had caught, showing the si#)u# wor o) a gango) *eoterics synthesi5ing rubber out o) pure su#phur$ Hewou#d rather ha(e #ied to te## Conant about it, butsomehow he had ne(er got around to te##ing Conant aboutthe *eoterics, & he didn!t see why he shou#d start now$Conant said, .+r$ $ $ idder, I was down at the c#ub the otherday & a bunch o) us were )i##ing up an e(ening with #ooseta#$ Something came up which might interest you$.

.Ahat4.

.Coup#e o) the uti#ities boys there$ 7ou now the power setup in this country, don!t you4 Thirty per cent atomic, therest hydroe#ectric, Diese# mid steam@4.

.I hadn!t nown,. said idder, who was as innocent as ababe o) current e(ents$

.Ae##, we were arguing about what chance a new power

source wou#d ha(e$ One o) the men there said it wou#d be

smarter to produce a new power & then ta# about it$

8nother one wai(ed that" said he cou#dn!t name that new

power, but he cou#d describe it$ Said it wou#d ha(e to ha(e

e(erything that present power sources ha(e, p#us one or two

more things$ It cou#d be cheaper, )or instance$ It cou#d be

more e))icient$ It might supersede the others by being easier

to carry )rom the power p#ant to the consumer$ See what I

mean4 8ny one o) these )actors might pro(e a new source o)

power competiti(e to the others$ Ahat I!d #ie to see is a new

power with a## o) these )actors$ Ahat do you thin o) it4.

.*ot impossib#e$.

.Thin not4.

.I!## by it$.

.eep me posted$. Conant!s transmitter c#iced o))$ Theswitch was a #itt#e piece o) )a#se )ront that idder had bui#tinto the set, which was something that Conant didn@t now$The set switched itse#) o)) when Conant mo(ed )rom it$8)ter the switch!s sharp crac, idder heard the banermutter, .#) he does it, I!m a## set$ I) he doesn!t, at #east thecra5y )oo# wi## eep himse#) busy on the is#-.

idder eyed the radiophone )or an instant with raised

eyebrows, & then shrugged them down again with his

shou#ders$ It was 'uite e(ident that Conant had something up

his s#ee(e, but idder wasn!t worried Aho on earth wou#d

want to disturb him4 He wasn!t bothering anybody He went

bac to the *eoterics! bui#ding, )u## o) the new power idea$

+#e(en days #ater idder ca##ed Conant & ga(e speci)ic

instructions on how to e'uip his recei(er with a )acsimi#e set

which wou#d enab#e idder to send written matter o(er the

air$ 8s soon as this was done & idder in)ormed, the

biochemist )or once in his #i)e spoe at so #ength$

.Conant-you imp#ied that a new power source that wou#d

be cheaper, more e))icient & more easi#y transmitted thanany now in use did not e0ist$ 7ou might be interested in the#itt#e generator I ha(e :ust set up$

.It has power, Conant-unbe#ie(ab#e power$ 2roadcast$ 8beauti)u#$ #itt#e tight beam$ Here-catch this on the)acsimi#e ecorder$. idder s#ipped a sheet o) paper underthe c#ips o) his transmitter & it appeared on Conant!s set$.Here!s the wiring diagram )or a power recei(er$ *ow#isten$ The beam is so tight, so high#y directiona#, that notthree thousandths o) one per cent o) the power wou#d be

#ost in a two thousand-mi#e transmission$ The powersystem is c#osed$ That is, any drain on the beam returns asigna# a#ong it to the transmitter, which automatica##y stepsup to increase the power output$ It has a #imit, but it!s wayup$ 8nd something e#se$




This #itt#e gadget o) mine can send out eight di))erent beamswith a tota# horsepower output o) around eight thousand perminute per beam$ 9rom each beam you can draw enoughpower to turn the page o) a boo or )#y a superstratospherep#ane$ Ho#d on-I ha(en3t )inished yet$ +ach beam, as I to#dyou be)ore, returns a signa# )rom recei(er to transmitter$This not on#y contro#s the power output o) the beam, butdirects it$ Once contact is made, the beam wi## ne(er #et go$It wi## )o##ow the recei(er anywhere$ 7ou can power #and,air or water (ehic#es with it, as we## as any stationary p#ant$1ie it4. Conant, who was a baner & not a scientist, wipedhis shining pate with the bac o) his hand & said, .I!(ene(er nown you to steer me wrong yet, idder$ How aboutthe cost o) this thing4.

.High,. said idder prompt#y$ .8s high as an atomic p#ant$2ut there are no hightension #ines, no wires, no pipe#ines,no nothing$ The recei(ers are #itt#e more comp#icated than aradio set$ Transmitter is we##, that!s 'uite a :ob$.

.Didn!t tae you #ong,. said Conant$

.*o,. said idder, .it didn@t, did it4. It was the #i)ewor o)near#y twe#(e hundred high#y cu#tured peop#e, but idderwasn!t going into that$ .O) course, the one I ha(e here!s :usta mode#.

Conant!s (oice was strained$ .8-mode#4 8nd it de#i(ers-.

.O(er si0tythousand horsepower,. said idder g#ee)u##y$

.Good hea(ens In a )u##si5ed machine-why, onetransmitter wou#d be enough to-. The possibi#ities o) thething choed Conant )or a moment$ .How is it )ue##ed4.

.It isn!t,. said idder$ .I won!t begin to e0p#ain it$ I!(etapped a source o) power o) unimaginab#e )orce$ It!s-we##,big$ So big that it can!t be misused$.

.Ahat34. snapped Conant$ .Ahat do you mean by that4.

idder coced an eyebrow$ Conant had something up his

s#ee(e, then$ 8t this second indication o) it, idder, the #eastsuspicious o) men, began to put himse#) on guard$ @ @I mean

:ust what I say,. he said e(en#y$ .Don@t try too hard tounderstand me bare#y sa((y it myse#)$ 2ut the source o)this power is a monstrous resu#tant caused by the unba#anceo) two pre(ious#y e'ua#i5ed )orces$ Those e'ua#i5ed )orcesare cosmic in 'uantity$ 8ctua##y, the )orces are those whichmae suns, crush atoms the way they crushed those thatcompose the companion o) Sirius$ It!s not anything you can)oo# with$.

.I don!t-. said Conant, & his (oice ended pu55#ed#y$

.I!## gi(e you a para##e# o) it,. said idder$ .Suppose youtae two rods, one in each hand$ /#ace their tips together &push$ 8s #ong as your pressure is direct#y a#ong their #ong

a0es, the pressure is e'ua#i5ed" right & #e)t hands cance#each other$ *ow I come a#ong" I put out one )inger & touchthe rods e(er so #ight#y where they come together$ Theysnap out o) #ine (io#ent#y" you brea a coup#e o) nuc#es$The resu#tant )orce is at right ang#es to the origina# )orcesyou e0erted$ My power transmitter is on the same princip#e$It taes an in)initesima# amount o) energy to throw those)orces out o) #ine$ +asy enough when you now how to doit$ The important 'uestion is whether or not you can contro#the resu#tant when you get it$ I can$.

.I-see$. Conant indu#ged in a )oursecond g#oat$ .Hea(enhe#p the uti#ity companies$ I don!t intend to$ idder-I wanta hi##si5e power transmitter$.

idder c#uced into the radiophone$ .8mbitious, aren@tyou4 I ha(en!t a sta)) out here, Conant-you now that$8nd I can!t be e0pected to bui#d )our or i(e thousand tonso) apparatus myse#)$.

.I!## ha(e )i(e hundred engineers & #abourers out there in)ortyeight hours$.

.7ou wi## not$ Ahy bother me with it4 I!m 'uite happyhere, Conant, & one o) the reasons is that I!(e no one to getin my hair$.

.Oh, now, idder-don!t be #ie that-I!## pay you-.

.7ou ha(en!t got that much money. said idder brist#y$ He)#ipped the switch on his set$ His switch wored$

Conant was )urious$ He shouted into the phone se(era#times, then began to #ean on the signa# button$ On his is#and,idder #et the thing s'uea# & went bac to his pro:ectionroom$ He was sorry he had sent the diagram o) the recei(erto Conant$ It wou#d ha(e been interesting to power a p#aneor a car with the mode# transmitter he had taen )rom the*eoterics$ 2ut i) Conant was going to be that way about it-we##, anyway, the recei(er wou#d be no good without thetransmitter$ 8ny radio engineer wou#d understand thediagram, but not the beam which acti(ated it$ 8rid Conantwou#dn!t get his beam$

/ity he didn!t now Conant we## enough$

idder!s days were end#ess sorties into #earning$ He ne(ers#ept, nor did his *eoterics$ He ate regu#ar#y e(ery )i(ehours, e0ercised )or ha#) an hour in e(ery twe#(e$ He did noteep trac o) time, )or it meant nothing to him$ Had hewanted to now the date, or the year, e(en, he new hecou#d get it )rom Conant$ He didn!t care, that!s a##$ The timethat was not spent in obser(ation was used in de(e#opingnew prob#ems )or the *eoterics$ His thoughts :ust now ranto de)ence$ The idea-was born in his con(ersation withConant" now the idea was primary, its moti(ation somethingo) no importance$




The *eoterics were woring on a (ibration )ie#d o) 'uasie#ectrica# nature$ idder cou#d see #itt#e practica# (a#ue insuch a thing-an in(isib#e wa## which wou#d i## any #i(ingthing which touched it$ 2ut sti##-the idea was intriguing$

He stretched & mo(ed away )rom the te#escope in the upperroom through which he had been watching his creations atwor$ He was pro)ound#y happy here in the #arge contro#room$ 1ea(ing it to go to the o#d #aboratory )or a bite to eatwas a thing he hated to do$ He )e#t #ie bidding it goodbyeach time he wa#ed across the compound, & saying a g#adhe##o when he returned$ 8 #itt#e amused at himse#), he wentout$

There was a b#ac b#ob-a distant power boat-a )ew mi#eso)) the is#and, toward the main#and$ idder stopped &stared distaste)u##y at it$ 8 white peta# o) spray was a))i0edto each side o) the b#ac body-it was coming toward him$He snorted, thining o) the time a yacht#oad o) si##y )oo#shad #anded out o) curiosity one a)ternoon, spewed themse#(es o(er his be#o(ed is#and, peppered him with #amebrained 'uestions, & thrown his ner(ous e'ui#ibrium out )ordays$ 1ord, how he hated peop#e

The thought o) unp#easantness bred two more thoughts thatp#ayed ha#)-conscious#y with his mind as he crossed thecompound & entered the o#d #aboratory$ One was thatperhaps it might be wise to surround his bui#dings with a)ie#d o) )orce o) some ind & post warnings )or trespassers$The other thought was o) Conant & the (ague uneasinessthe man had been sending to him through the radiophonethese #ast wees$ His suggestion, two days ago, that a powerp#ant be bui#t on the is#and-horrib#e idea

Conant rose )rom a #aboratory bench as idder wa#ed in$They #ooed as each other word#ess#y )or a #ong moment$idder hadn!t seen the ban president in years$ The man!spresence, he )ound, made his sca#p craw#$

.He##o,. said Conant genia##y$ .7ou!re #ooing )it$.

idder grunted$ Conant eased his unwie#dy body bac ontothe bench & said, .%ust to sa(e you the energy o) asing'uestions, Mr$ idder, I arri(ed two hours ago on a sma##boat$ Rotten way to tra(e#$ I wanted to be a surprise to you"my two men rowed me the #ast coup#e o) mi#es$ 7ou!re not(ery we## e'uipped here )or de)ence, are you4 Ahy, anyonecou#d s#ip up on you the way I did$.

.Aho!d want to@4. grow#ed idder$ The man!s (oice edgedannoying#y into his brain$ He spoe too #oud#y )or such asma## room" at #east, idder!s hermit!s ears )e#t that way$idder shrugged & went about preparing a #ight mea# )orhimse#)$

.Ae##,. draw#ed the baner$ .I might want to$. He drew outa Dowmeta# cigar case$ .Mind i) I smoe4.

.I do,. said idder sharp#y$

Conant #aughed easi#y & put the cigars away$ .# might,. hesaid, .want to urge you to #et me bui#d that power station onthis is#and$.

.Radiophone wor4.

.Oh, yes$ 2ut now that I!m here you can!t switch me o))$

*ow-how about it4.

.I ha(en!t changed my mind$.

.Oh, but you shou#d, idder, you shou#d$ Thin o) it-thino) the good it wou#d do )or the masses o) peop#e that arenow paying e0orbitant power bi##s. J

.I hate the masses Ahy do you ha(e to bui#d here4.

.Oh, that$ It3s an idea# #ocation$ 7ou own the is#and" worcou#d begin here without causing any comment whatsoe(er$The p#ant wou#d spring )u##-)#edged on the power maretso) the country, ha(ing been bui#t in secret$ The is#and can bemad impregnab#e$.

.I don!t want to be bothered$.

.Ae wou#dn!t bother you$ Ae!d bui#d on the north end o)the is#and-a mi#e & a 'uarter )rom you & your wor$ 8h-by the way-where!s the mode# o) the powertransnitter4.

idder, with his mouth )u## o) synthesi5ed )ood, wa(ed ahand at a sma## tab#e on which stood the mode#, a )our)oot,ama5ing#y intricate de(ice o) p#astic & stee# & tiny coi#s$

Conant nose & went o(er to #oo at it$ .8etua#y wors,eh4. He sighed deep#y & said, .idder, I rea##y hate to dothis, but I want to bui#d that p#ant rather bad#y$ CarsonRobbins.

Two bu##neced indi(idua#s stepped out )rom their hidingp#aces in the corners o) the room$ One id#y dang#ed a

re(o#(er by its trigger guard$ idder #ooed b#an#y )romone to the other o) them$.These gent#emen wi## )o##ow my orders imp#icit#y, idder$In ha#) an hour a party wi## #and here-engineers,contractors$ They wi## start sur(eying the north end o) theis#and )or the construction o) the power p#ant$ These boyshere )ee# about the same way I do as )ar as you areconcerned$ Do we proceed with your cooperation or withoutit4 It!s immateria# to me whether or not you are #e)t a#i(e tocontinue your wor$ My engineers can dup#icate yourmode#$.

idder said nothing$ He had stopped chewing when he sawthe gunmen, & on#y now remembered to swa##ow$ He satcrouched o(er his p#ate without mo(ing or speaing$




Conant broe the si#ence by wa#ing to the door$ .Robbins-can you carry that mode# there4. The big man put his gunaway, #i)ted the mode# gent#y, & nodded$ .Tae it down tothe beach & meet the other boat$ Te## Mr$ %ohansen, theengineer, that this is the mode# he is to wor )rom$. Robbinswent out$ Conant turned to idder$ .There!s no need )or usto anger ourse#(es,. he said oi#i#y$ .I thin you are stubborn, but I don@t ho#d it against you$ I now how you )ee#$7ou!## be #e)t a#one" you ha(e my promise$ 2ut I mean to goahead on this :ob, & a sma## thing #ie your #i)e can!t standin my way$. idder said, .Get out o) here$. There were twoswo##en (eins throbbing at his temp#es$ His (oice was #ow,& it shoo$

.6ery we##$ Good day, Mr$ idder$ Oh-by the way-you!re a c#e(er de(i#$. *o one had e(er re)erred to thescho#astic Mr$ idder that way be)ore$ .I rea#i5e thepossibi#ity o) your b#asting us o)) the is#and$ I wou#dn!t do iti) I were you$ I!m wi##ing to gi(e you what you want-pri(acy$ I want the same thing in return$ I) anythinghappens to me whi#e I!m here, the is#and wi## be bombed bysomeone who is woring )or me$ I!## admit they might )ai#$It they do, the >nited States go(ernment wi## tae a hand$7ou wou#dn!t want that, wou#d you4

That!s rather a big thing )or one man to )ight$ The samething goes i) the p#ant is sabotaged in any way a)ter I gobac to the main#and$ 7ou might be i##ed$ 7ou wi## mostcertain#y be bothered interminab#y$ Thans )or your$ $$er $ $ $ cooperation4 The baner smired & wa#ed out,)o##owed by his taciturn gori##a$

idder sat there )or a #ong time without mo(ing$ Then heshoo his head, rested it in his pa#ms$ He was bad#y)rightened" not so much because his #i)e was in danger, butbecause his pri(acy & his wor his wor#d-werethreatened$ He was hurt & bewi#dered$ He wasn!t abusinessman$ He cou#dn!t hand#e men$ 8## his #i)e he hadrun away )rom human beings & what they represented tohim$ He was #ie a )rightened chi#d when men c#osed in onhim$

Coo#ing a #itt#e, he wondered (ague#y what wou#d happenwhen the power p#ant opened$ Certain#y the go(ernmentwou#d be interested$ >n#ess-uness by then Conant wasthe go(ernment$ That p#ant was an unimaginab#e source o)power, & not on#y the ind o) power that turned whee#s$ Herose & went bac to the wor#d that was home to him, awor#d where his moti(es were understood, & where therewere those who cou#d he#p him$ 2ac at the *eoterics!bui#ding, he escaped yet again )rom the wor#d o) men intohis wor$

idder ca##ed Conant the )o##owing wee, much to thebaner!s surprise$ His two days on the is#and had got thewor we## under way, & he had #e)t with the arri(a# o) aship#oad o) #abourers & materia#$ He ept in c#ose touch by

radio with %ohansen, the engineer in charge$ It had been ab#ind :ob )or %ohansen & a## the rest o) the crew on theis#and$ On#y the ban!s in)inite resources cou#d ha(e hiredsuch a man, or the piced gang with him$

%ohansen!s )irst reaction when he saw the mode# had beenecstatic$ He wanted to te## his )riends about this mar(e#" butthe on#y radio set a(ai#ab#e was beamed to Conant!s pri(ateo))ice in the ban, & Conant!s armed guards, one to e(erytwo worers, had strict orders to destroy any other radiotransmitter on sight$ 8bout that time he rea#i5ed that he wasa prisoner on the is#and$ His instant anger subsided when here)#ected that being a prisoner at )i)ty thousand do##ars awee wasn3t too bad$ Two o) the #abourers & an engineerthought di))erent#y, & got disgrunt#ed a coup#e o) days a)terthey arri(ed$ They disappeared one night-the same nightthat )i(e shots were tired down on the beach$ *o 'uestionswere ased, & there was no more troub#e$

Conant co(ered his surprise at idder!s ca## & was aso))ensi(e#y :o(ia# as e(er$ .Ae##, now 8nything I can do)or you4.

.7es,. said idder$ His (oice was #ow, comp#ete#y withoute0pression$ .I want you to issue a warning to your men notto pass the white #ine I ha(e drawn #i(e hundred yards northo) my bui#dings, right across the is#and$.

.Aarning34 Ahy, my dear )e##ow, they ha(e orders that youare not to be disturbed on any account$.

K@7ou!(e ordered them$ 8## right$ *ow warn them$ I ha(e ane#ectric He#d surrounding my #aboratories that wi## i##anything #i(ing which penetrates it$ I don!t want to ha(emurder on my conscience$ There wi## be no deaths un#essthere are trespassers$ 7ou!## in)orm your worers4.

.Oh, now idder,. the baner e0postu#ated$ .3Jhat wastota##y unnecessary$ 7ou won!t be bothered$ Ahy-. 2ut he)ound he was ta#ing into a dead mie$ He new better thanto ca## bac$ He ca##ed %ohansen instead & to#d him about it$%ohansen didn!t #ie the sound o) it, but he repeated themessage & signed o))$Conant #ied that man$ He was$ )or a moment, a #itt#e sorrythat %ohansen wou#d ne(er reach the main#and a#i(e$

2ut that idder-he was beginning to be a prob#em$ 8s#ong as his weapons were strict#y de)ensi(e he was no rea#menace$ 2ut he wou#d ha(e to be taen care o) when thep#ant was operating$ Conant cou#dn!t a))ord to ha(e geniusaround him un#ess it was un'uestionab#y on his side$ Thepower transmitter & Conant!s high#y ambitious p#ans wou#dbe sa)e as #ong as idder was #e)t to himse#)$ idder newthat he cou#d, )or the time being, e0pect more sympathetictreatment )rom Conant than he cou#d )rom a horde o)go(ernment in(estigators$




idder on#y #e)t his own enc#osure once a)ter the worbegan on the north end o) the is#and, & it too a## o) hisunsi##ed dip#omacy to do it$ nowing the source o) thep#ant!s power, nowing what cou#d happen i) it weremisused, he ased Conant!s permission to inspect the greattransmitter when it was near#y )inished$ Insuring his own#i)e by re)using to report bac to Conant unti# he was sa)ewithin his own #aboratory again, he turned o)) his shie#d &wa#ed up to the north end$

He saw an aweinspiring sight$ The )our)oot mode# was

dup#icated near#y a hundred times as #arge$ Inside a massi(e

threehundred)oot tower a space was paced near#y so#id

with the same bewi#dering ma5e o) coi#s & bars that the

*eoterics had bui#t so de#icate#y into their machine$ 8t the

top was a g#obe o) po#ished go#den a##oy, the transmitting

antenna$ 9rom it wou#d stream thousands o) tight beams o)

)orce, which cou#d be tapped to any degree by corresponding

thousands o) recei(ers p#aced anywhere at any distance$

idder #earned that the recei(ers had a#ready been bui#t, but

his in)ormant, %ohansen, new #itt#e about that end o) it &

was saying #ess$ idder checed o(er e(ery detai# o) the

structure, & when he was through he shoo %ohansen!s hand

admiring#y$

.I didn!t want this thing here,. he said shy#y, .& I don!t$ 2utI wi## say that it!s a p#easure to see this ind o) wor$.

.It!s a p#easure to meet the man that in(ented it$.

idder beamed$ .# didn!t in(ent it,. he said$ .Maybe

someday I!## show you who did$ I-we##, goodby$. Heturned be)ore he had a chance to say too much & marchedo)) down the path$

.Sha## I4. said a (oice at %ohansen!s side$ One o) Conant3sguards had his gun out$

%ohansen noced the man@s arm down$ .*o$. He scratchedhis head$ @ @So that!s the mysterious menace )rom the otherend o) the is#and$ +h Ahy, he!s a he## o) a nice #itt#e )e##er.

2ui#t on the ruins o) Den(er, which was destroyed in thegreat 2att#e o) the Rocies during the Aestern Aar, stands

the most beauti)u# city in the wor#d-our nation@s capita#$

*ew Aashington$ In a circu#ar room deep in the heart o) the

Ahite House, the president, three army men & a ci(i#ian sat$

>nder the president!s des a Dictaphone unostentatious#y

recorded e(ery word that was said$ Two thousand & more

mi#es away, Conant hung o(er a radio recei(er, timed to

recei(e the signa#s o) the tiny transmitter in the ci(i#ian!s

side pocet$

One o) the o))icers spoe$

.Mr$ /resident, the @impossib#e c#aims! made )or thisgent#eman!s product are abso#ute#y true$ He has pro(edbeyond doubt each item on his prospectus$.

The president g#anced at the ci(i#ian, bac at the o))icer$ .Iwon!t wait )or your report,. he said$ .Te## me-whathappened34.

8nother o) the army men mopped his )ace with a haibandanna$ .# can!t as you to be#ie(e us, Mr$ /resident, butit!s true a## the same$

Mr$ Aright here has in his suitcase three or )our do5ensma## $ $ $ er $ $ $ bombs-.

.They!re not bombs,. said Aright casua##y$

.8## right$ T#ey!re not bombs$ Mr$ Aright smashed two o)them on an an(i# with a s#edge hammer$ There was noresu#t$ He put two more in an e#ectric )urnace$ They burnedaway #ie so much tin & cardboard$ Ae dropped one downthe barre# o) a )ie#d piece & )ired it$ Sti## nothing. Hepaused & #ooed at the third o))icer, who piced up theaccountB

.Ae rea##y got started then$ Ae Hew to the pro(inggrounds, dropped one o) the ob:ects & )#ew to thirtythousand )eet$ 9rom there, with a sma## hand detonator nobigger than your )ist, Mr$ Aright set the thing o))$ I!(ene(er seen anything #ie it$ 9orty acres o) #and came straightup at us, breaing up as it came$ The concussion was terri)ic-you must ha(e )e#t it here, )our hundred mi#es away$.

The president nodded$ .I did$ Seismographs on the otherside o) the +arth piced it up$.

.The crater it #e)t was a 'uarter o) a mi#e deep at the centre$Ahy, one p#ane #oad o) those things cou#d demo#ish anycity There isn!t e(en any necessity )or accuracy.

.7ou ha(en!t heard anything yet,. another o))icer broe in$

.Mr$ Aright!s automobi#e is powered by a sma## p#antsimi#ar to the others$ He demonstrated it to us$ Ae cou#d)ind no )ue# tan o) any ind, or any other dri(ingmechanism$2ut with a power p#ant no bigger than si0 cubic inches, thatcar, carrying enough weight to gi(e it traction, outpu##ed anarmy tan.

.8nd the other test. said the third e0cited#y$ .He put one o)the ob:ects into a rep#ica o) a treasury (au#t$ The wa##s weretwe#(e )eet thic, superrein)orced concrete$ He contro##ed it)rom o(er a hundred yards away$ He $ $ $he burst that (au#tIt wasn!t an e0p#osion-it was as i) some incredib#ypower)u# e0pansi(e )orce inside pu##ed it & )#attened thewa##s )rom inside$ They craced & sp#it & powdered, & thestee# girders & rods came twisting & shearing out #ie $ $ $#ie whew 8)ter that he insisted on seeing you$ Ae newit wasn!t usua#, but he said he has more to say & wou#d sayit on#y in your presence$.




The president said gra(e#y, .Ahat is it, Mr$ Aright4.

Aright rose, piced up his suitcase, opened it & too out asma## cube, about eight inches on a side, made o) some #ight-absorbent red materia#$ 9our men edged ner(ous#y away)rom it$

.These gent#emen,. he began, .ha(e seen on#y part o) thethings this de(ice can do$ I!m going to demonstrate to youthe de#icacy o) contro# that is possib#e with it$. He made anad:ustment with a tiny nob on the side o) the cube, set it onthe edge o) the president!s des$

.7ou ha(e ased me more than once i) this is my in(entionor i) I nm representing someone$ The #atter is true$ It mighta#so interest you to now that the man who contro#s thiscube is right now se(era# thou sand mi#es )rom here$ He &he a#one, can pre(ent it )rom detonator now that I. Hepu##ed his detonator out o) the suitcase & pressed a button-.ha(e done this$ It wi## e0p#ode the way the one wedropped )rom the p#ane did, comp#ete#y destroying this city& e(erything in it, in :ust )our hours$ It wi## a#so e0p#ode-.He stepped bac & threw a tiny switch on his detonator-.i) any mo(ing ob:ect comes within three )eet o) it or i)anyone #ea(es this room but me-it can be compensated )orthat$ I), a)ter I #ea(e, I am mo#ested, it wi## detonate as soonas a hand is #aid on me$ *o bu##ets can i## me )ast enoughto pre(ent me )rom setting it o))$.

The three army men were si#ent$ One o) them swipedner(ous#y at the beads o) co#d sweat on his )orehead$ Theothers did not mo(e$ The president said e(en#yB .!Ahat!syour proposition@4.

.8 (ery reasonab#e one$ My emp#oyer does not wor in theopen, )or ob(ious reasons$ 8## he wants is your agreementto carry out his orders" to appoint the cabinet members hechooses, to throw your in)#uence in any way he dictates$The pub#ic-Congress-anyone e#se- need ne(er nowanything about it$ I might add that i) you agree to thisproposa#, this @bomb,! as you ca## it, wi## not go o))$ 2ut youcan be sure that thousands o) them are p#anted a## o(er thecountry$ 7ou wi## ne(er now when you are near one$ I)you disobey, it means instant annihi#ation )or you &e(eryone e#se within three or )our s'uare mi#es$

.In three hours & )i)ty minutes-that wi## be at precise#yse(en o@c#oc-there is a commercia# radio program onStation R/RS$ 7ou wi## cause the announcer, a)ter hisstation identi)ication, to say @8greed$! It wi## pass unnoticedby a## but my emp#oyer$ There is no use in ha(ing me)o##owed" my wor is done$ I sha## ne(er see nor contact myemp#oyer again$ That is a##$ Good a)ternoon, gent#emen.

Aright c#osed his suitcase with a business#ie snap, bowed,& #e)t the room$ 9our men sat staring at the #itt#e red cube$

.Do you thin he can do a## he says@4. ased the president$

The three nodded mute#y$ The president reached )or hisphone$

There was an ea(esdropper to a## o) the )oregoing$ Conant,s'uatting behind his great des in the (au#t, where he hadhis sanctum sanctorum, new nothing o) it$ 2ut beside himwas the compact bu# o) idder!s radiophone$ His presence

switched it on, & idder, on his is#and, b#essed the day hehad thought o) the de(ice$ He had been meaning to ca##Conant a## morning, but was (ery hesitant$ His meeting withthe young engineer %ohansen had impressed him strong#y$The man was such a thorough scientist, possessed o) suchcomp#ete de#ight in the wor he did, that )or the )irst time inhis #i)e idder )ound himse#) actua##y wanting to seesomeone again$ 2ut he )eared )or %ohansen!s #i)e i) hebrought him to the #aboratory, )or %ohansen!s wor wasdone on the is#and, & Conant wou#d most certain#y ha(e theengineer i##ed i) he heard o) his (isit, )earing that idder

wou#d in)#uence him to sabotage the great transmitter$ 8ndi) idder went to the power p#ant he wou#d probab#y be shoton sight$

8## one day idder wrang#ed with himse#), & )ina##ydetermined to ca## Conant$ 9ortunate#y he ga(e no signa#,but turned up the (o#ume on the recei(er when the #itt#e red#ight to#d him that Conant!s transmitter was )unctioning$Curious, he heard e(erything that occurred in the president!schamber three thousand mi#es away$ Horri)ied, he rea#i5edwhat Conant!s engineers had done$ 2ui#t into tiny containers

were tens o) thousands o) power recei(ers$ They had nopower o) their own, but, by remote contro#, cou#d draw onany or a## o) the bi##ions o) horsepower the huge p#ant onthe is#and was broadcasting$

idder stood in )ront o) his recei(er, speech#ess$ There wasnothing he cou#d do$ I) he de(ised some means o)destroying the power p#ant, the go(ernment wou#d certain#ystep in & tae o(er the is#and, & then-what wou#d happento him & his precious *eoterics4 8nother sound grated outo) the recei(er-a commercia# radio pro gram$ 8 )ew bars

o) music, a man!s (oice ad(ertising strato#ine )ares on theinsta#ment p#an, a short si#ence, thenB

.Station R/RS, (oice o) the nation!s Capita#, District o)South Co#orado$.

The threesecond pause was interminab#e$

.The time is e0act#y $ $ $ er$ $ $ agreed$ The time is e0act#yse(en /$M$, Mountain Standard Time$.

Then came a ha#)insane chuc#e$ idder had di))icu#tybe#ie(ing it was Conant$ 8 phone c#iced$ The baner!s(oiceB .2i##4 8## set$ Get out there with your s'uadron &bomb up the is#and$ eep away )rom the p#ant, but cut therest o) it to ribbons$ Do it 'uic & get out o) there$.




8#most hysterica# with )ear, idder rushed about the room& then shot out the door & across the compound$ Therewere #i(e hundred innocent wormen in barracs a 'uartermi#e )rom the p#ant$ Conant didn!t need them now, & hedidn!t need idder$ The on#y sa)ety )or anyone was in thep#ant itse#), & idder wou#dn!t #ea(e his *eote0ics to bebombed$ He Hung himse#) up the stairs & to the nearestTe#etype$ He banged out, .Get me a de)ence$ I want animpenetrab#e shie#d$

>rgent.

3The words ripped out )rom under his #ingers in the)unctiona# script o) the *eoterics$ idder didn!t thin o)what he wrote, didn!t rea##y (isua#i5e the thing he ordered$2ut he had done what he cou#d$ He!d ha(e to #ea(e themnow, get to the barracs" warn those men$ He ran up thepath toward the p#ant, )#ung himse#) o(er the white #ine thatmared death to those who crossed it$

8 s'uadron o) nine c#ipwinged, mos'uitonosed p#anesrose out o) a co(er on the main#and$ There was no sound)rom the engines, )or there were no engines$ +ach p#ane waspowered with a tiny recei(er & drew its unmared, #ightabsorbent wings through the air with power )rom the is#and$In a matter o) minutes they raised the is#and$ The s'uadron#eader spoe bris#y into a microphone$

.Tae the barracs )irst$ C#ean !em up$ Then wor south$.

%ohansen was a#one on a sma## hi## near the centre o) theis#and$ He carried a camera, & though he new pretty we##that his chances o) e(er getting ashore again werepractica##y none0istent, he #ied ang#e shots o) his tower, &too innumerab#e pictures$ The )irst he new o) the p#aneswas when he heard their whining di(e o(er the barracs$ Hestood trans)i0ed, saw a shower o) bombs hurt#e down &turn the bar racs into a smashed ruin o) broen wood,meta# & bodies$ The picture o) idder!s earnest )ace )#ashedinto his mind$ /oor #itt#e guy-i) they e(er bombed his endo) the is#and he wou#d-2ut his tower Aere they going tobomb the p#ant4

He watched, utter#y appa##ed, as the p#anes )#ew out to sea,cut bac & do(e again$ They seemed to be woring south$8t the third di(e he was sure o) it$ *ot nowing what hecou#d do, he ne(erthe#ess turned & ran toward idder!sp#ace$ He rounded a turn in the trai# & co##ided (io#ent#ywith the #itt#e biochemist$ idder!s )ace was scar#et withe0ertion, & he was the most terri)ied#ooing ob:ect%ohansen had e(er seen$

idder wa(ed a hand northward$ .Conant. he screamedo(er the uproar$ .It!s Conant He@s going to i## us a##.

.The p#ant4. said %ohansen, turning pa#e$

.It!s sa)e$ He won!t touch that 2ut $ $ $ my p#ace $ $ $ whatabout a## those men4.

.Too #ate. shouted %ohansen$

.Maybe I can-Come on. ca##ed idder, & was o)) downthe trai#, heading south$

%ohansen pounded a)ter him$ idder!s #itt#e short #egsbecame a b#ur as the s'uadron swooped o(erhead, #aying itseggs in the spot where they had met$

8s they burst out o) the woods, %ohansen put on a spurt,caught up with the scientist & noced him spraw#ing notsi0 )eet )rom the whim #ine$

.Ah $ $ $ wh-.

.Don!t go any )arther, you )oo# 7our own damned )orce)ie#d-it3## i## you.

.9orce he#d4 2utI came through it on the way up-Here$Aait$ i) I can-. idder began hunting )urious#y about inthe grass$ In a )ew seconds he ran up to the #ine, c#utching a#arge grasshopper in his hand$ He tossed it o(er$ It #ay sti##$

.See4. said %ohansen$ .It-.

.1oo It :umped Come on I don!t now what wentwrong, un#ess the *eoterics shut it o))$ They generated that)ie#d-I didn!t$.

.*eo-huh4.

.*e(er mind,. snapped the biochemist, & ran$

They pounded gasping up the steps & into the *eoterics!contro# room$ idder c#apped his eyes to a te#escope &shrieed in g#ee$ .They!(e done it They!(e done it.

.Aho!s-.

.My #itt#e peop#e The *eoterics They!(e made theimpenetrab#e shie#d Don!t you see-it cut through the #ineso) )orce that start up that )ie#d out there$ Their generator issti## throwing it up, but the (ibrations can!t get out They!resa)e They!re sa)e. 8nd the o(erwrought hermit began tocry$ %ohansen #ooed at him pitying#y & shoo his head$.Sure-your #itt#e men are a## right$ 2ut we aren!t,. headded as the )#oor shoo to the detonation o) a bomb$

%ohansen c#osed his eyes, got a grip on himse#) & #et hiscuriosity o(ercome his )ear$ He stepped to the binocu#ar

te#escope, ga5ed down it$ There was nothing there but acur(ed sheet o) grey materia#$ He had ne(er seen a grey'uite #ie that$ It was abso#ute#y neutra#$ It didn!t seem so)t& it didn!t seem hard, & to #oo at it made his brain ree#$ He#ooed up$




idder was pounding the eys o) a Te#etype, watching theb#an ye##ow tape an0ious#y$

.I!m not getting through to thern,. he whimpered$ .I don!tnow what!s the mat-Fh, o) course.

.Ahat43

.The shie#d is abso#ute#y impenetrab#e The Te#etypeimpu#ses can!t get through or I cou#d get them to e0tend thescreen o(er the bui#ding o(er the who#e is#and There@snothing those peop#e can@t do.

.He!s cra5y,. %ohansen muttered$ ./oor #itt#e-4

The Te#etype began c#icing sharp#y$ idder do(e at it,practica##y embraced it$ He read o)) the tape as it came out$%ohansen saw the characters, but they meant nothing to him$

.8#mighty,. idder read )a#tering#y, .pray ha(e mercy onus & he )orbearing unti# we ha(e said our say$ Aithoutorders we ha(e #owered the screen you ordered us to raise$Ae are #ost, O great one$ Our screen is tru#y impenetrab#e,& so cut o)) your words on the word machine$ Ae ha(ene(er, in the memory o) any *eoteric, been without yourword be)ore$ 9orgi(e us our action$ Ae wi## eager#y awaityour answerer$.

idder@s #ingers danced o(er the eys$ .7ou can #oo now,.he gasped$ .Go on-the te#escope.

%ohansen, trying to ignore the whine o) sure death )romabo(e, #ooed$

He saw what #ooed #ie #and-)antastic )ie#ds undercu#ti(ation, a sett#ement o) some sort, )actories, &--beings$ +(erything mo(ed with incredib#e rapidity$ Hecou#dn!t see one o) the inhabitants e0cept as darting pinywhite streas$ 9ascinated, he stared )or a #ong minute$ 8sound behind him made him whir#$ It was idder, rubbinghis hands together bris#y$ There was a broad smi#e on his)ace$

.They did it,. he said happi#y$ .7ou see4.

%ohansen didn!t see unti# he began to rea#i5e that there was adead si#ence outside$ He ran to a window$ It was nightoutsideLthe b#acest night-when it shou#d ha(e beendus$ .Ahat happened4.

.The *eoterics,. said idder, & #aughed #ie a chi#d$ .My)riends downstairs there$ They threw up the impenetrab#eshie#d o(er the who#e is#and$ Ae can!t be touched now.

8nd at %ohansen!s ama5ed 'uestions, he #aunched into adescription o) the race o) beings be#ow them$

Outside the she##, things$ happened$ *ine airp#anes sudden#ywent dead-stic$ *ine pi#ots g#ided downward, power#ess,& some )e## into the sea, & some struc the miracu#ous greyshe## that #oomed in p#ace o) an is#and" s#id o)) & san$

8nd ashore, a man named Aright sat in a car, ha#) deadwith )ear, whi#e go(ernment men surrounded him,approached cautious#y, daring instant death )rom a nowdead source$

In a room deep in the Ahite House, a highraning armyo))icer shrieed, .I can!t stand it any more I can!t &#eaped up, snatched a red cube o)) the president3s des,ground it to ine))ectua# #itter under his shining boots$

8nd in a )ew days they too a broen o#d man away )romthe ban & put him in an asy#um, where he died within awee$

The shie#d, you see, was tru#y impenetrab#e$ The power

p#ant was untouched & sent out its beams" but the beamscou#d not get out, & anything powered )rom the p#ant wentdead$ The story ne(er became pub#ic, a#though )or someyears there was heightened na(a# acti(ity o)) the *ew+ng#and coast$ The na(y, so the story went, had a newtarget range out there-a great hemio(oid o) grey materia#$They bombed it & she##ed it & rayed it & b#asted a## aroundit, but ne(er e(en dented its smooth sur)ace$

idder & %ohansen #et it stay there$ They were happyenough with their researches & their *eoterics$ They did

not hear or )ee# the she##ing, )or the shie#d was near#yimpenetrab#e$ They synthesi5ed their )ood & their #ight &air )rom the materia#s at hand, & they simp#y didn3t care$They were the on#y sur(i(ors o) the bombing, with thee0ception o) three poor maimed de(i#s who died soona)terward$

8## this happened many years ago, & idder & %ohansenmay be a#i(e today, & they may be dead$ 2ut that doesn@tmatter too much$ The important thing is that the great greyshe## wi## bear watching$ Men die, but races #i(e$ Some day

the *eoteries, a)ter innumerab#e generations o)inconcei(ab#e ad(ancement, wi## tae down their shie#d &come )orth$ Ahen I thin o) that # )ee# )rightened$


Microcosmic God Sturgeon Theodore

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