The Projected Man Page #2

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That is, for the time being.

But Dr. Blanchard...

Mitchel, please, please.

There are reasons why the

visit should not be announced.

I will, myself, inform

Professor Steiner in ample time.

In that case, why tell me?

As I said, Mitchel,

you are my representative,

not Steiner's.

That should be sufficient.

I still don't understand.

It's not going to be

as simple as we thought.

I had hoped that Lembach's

visit would throw him,

but he seems to be more

advanced than I'd imagined.

He's brought in a pathologist.

You're in no position to

allow anything to go wrong now.

But what can

I do? My hands are tied.

You'll have to use your

position with the ministry

to delay the demonstration

until I found out how far he's got.

Put it off?

After I've spent three exhausting days

heckling the minister to arrange it?

But you have to accept

that things have changed in three days.

He may have achieved some

sort of breakthrough.

I must find out before any

official demonstration...

I'm quite uninterested.

Really, I am.

That demonstration will

take place but it will fail.

Steiner must be discredited

in front of an official party.

But Latham,

how can I possibly

make sure that it will fail?

If not, there are certain aspects of

your warm and cozy private life

that suddenly will become

much more widely known.

All right! All right!

Good!

We're agreed then.

I'll have to do a

more careful examination

but I think I can pronounce

the patient fit and well.

Paul, that's splendid.

Congratulations.

Hey, do I get a kiss too?

It needed such a tiny adjustment

to counteract that time phase.

There's nothing to prevent

me from calling the ministry

and arranging a demonstration.

Chris, get the glasses.

I think we deserve a celebration.

This is really going

to embarrass Blanchard.

Don't be too hard on him.

After all, it's his job

and we're not one of his pet projects.

You are too generous.

Blanchard hasn't spoken to you.

About what?

Well if it's something that

concerns us all, tell us.

It's supposed to be confidential.

He's arranged a demonstration.

- He's done what?

- When?

For Tuesday.

The ministry are bring

Professor Lembach down.

He told me days ago and

ordered me not to tell you.

What does he expect to gain?

I can't believe it,

unless he's so childish he

thinks he can embarrass me.

Chris, don't tell him you told me.

Don't even tell him we've succeeded.

I can be childish too and surprise him.

I'm tremendously excited

over this demonstration.

May I take your glass,

Professor Lembach?

Danke schon, danke schon.

In some ways, I think it's a pity

your visit couldn't have

be delayed, professor.

I'm sure Steiner would

prefer to demonstrate

at a later date.

There are urgencies.

My ministry is anxious to take advantage

of this offer of collaboration

from Professor Lembach's.

It's no so urgent, Mr. Latham,

but my dear friend and

colleague assures me

my visit will not be wasted.

Danke schon.

Sheila?

We also drink who only stand and wait.

Then don't stand or wait.

That's quite a

performance of Blanchard's.

If only he knew what was in store for him.

I plea that you're not part of all that.

Paul's very grateful to you.

So am I.

You knew him very well, didn't you?

I worked with him once in Stockholm

soon after I qualified.

That's all.

You're sure I wouldn't be

treading on anyone's toes

if I asked you to have dinner with me?

No.

I know what you mean,

but that was all finished a long time ago.

I'd be delighted.

It's a remarkable development, Paul,

but I don't understand how

you've overcome the time element.

Oh well, you will very soon.

Shall we start?

Mitchel,

would you check that everything's ready?

Yes, professor.

Where would you like to go?

Chris, I'd rather Paul didn't know.

But I thought you said...

I did and I meant it.

Oh I don't know, he's on edge.

I wouldn't want to do anything

that would precipitate...

You see, he trusts us.

What's that got to do with

me taking you out to dinner?

Nothing, really.

It's just him and his

work I'm thinking about.

In here, Professor Lembach.

Ready?

Ready.

Dr. Hill will show you the subject

from the first part of our demonstration,

which is the transformation of the subject

into stored energy.

Please watch the subject carefully

when I give the signal to transmit.

Secondary relays in.

Secondary relays in.

Transmit.

The animal is now in

the form of pure energy

which is stored in that cell over there.

I will now project the

animal onto the target table.

We have corrected the time lag element

which caused death in

our early experiments.

Please watch the target table.

Laser preheat.

Laser preheat.

In.

Laser emission relay.

Laser emission relay...

On.

Relay one.

Relay two.

Project.

Cut the power!

The power line of the storage cell

is completely burned out.

Just like depriving the brain of blood.

It's completely destroyed.

So we can't project the rat?

He's gone wherever good rats go.

God, what was Mitchel ever thinking of?

Why? What's it got to do with him?

Maintenance is part of his function.

Perhaps he's just loyal to Blanchard.

Paul, that's unfair and you know it.

I don't know anything anymore.

What about Blanchard?

Have you seen him?

Oh, he ran off with

Lembach and that man, Latham,

like a scolded cat.

You must explain.

We must try and arrange another...

Paul!

What do you want?

I've been checking.

Well, it's a bit late for excuses.

Paul, please.

- I'm not making any.

- Look at this.

A burn through. That's

hardly surprising.

Look at the leads.

They're burned through,

what should I expect?

I specifically told you

to check everything.

I did! You still can't see what's wrong?

Those are acid burns.

Sabotage.

When the power built up,

the natural heat in the

wires completed the rupture.

I'm surprised we weren't all killed.

Who would want to do such a thing?

Somebody who wanted to

make sure the experiment

was never completed.

Well, it doesn't make any difference.

Will be months before

we can be ready again.

I can replace this overnight.

You can't replace the storage cell.

Without it, the apparatus is useless.

I think it's only shorted.

Well, if you're right,

then we can recharge it.

I'm darn sure we can.

How long is Lembach staying?

I'll find out.

Pat.

I'm afraid this takes

precedence over dinner.

Chris, what does I mean?

The idea that

somebody would want to

destroy Paul's discovery,

it frightens me.

But if that was their intention,

they certainly haven't succeeded.

If we work day and night,

get the apparatus in order,

achieve another perfect projection,

we can convince everyone,

including Blanchard.

Can I help?

Well, I could always do with a mate.

Lembach is staying in

London another few days.

Arrangements are being made

for me to have dinner with him

at Blanchard's house.

Well then you'll be

able to convince him.

Yes but someone seems to

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