This Island Earth Page #3

Dr. Adams here has been

working along the same lines,

perhaps just

a step behind you,

although both of you are way

ahead of anyone else in your field.

Be careful. Exeter will

flatter you to death.

The truth is never

flattering, Dr. Adams.

Now suppose you relax

and think it over.

Suppose when I do, I find

I can't go along with you?

Naturally, we'll expect you to be

discreet about what you've seen here.

Otherwise, you're free to leave,

Dr. Meacham. As free as air.

And now suppose we continue

your tour of inspection...

right from our chairs.

Conserving energy is one of our

primary concerns, isn't it, doctor?

Your laboratory, doctor. Immediately

below this office, I believe.

Still under construction,

but in a few days,

well, we'll have some

surprises for you. Brack!

Everything in order?

Yes.

Thank you, Brack.

Any reason why you can't start

in the morning, doctor?

No. Another view of your laboratory...

with, uh, your own

interocitor, of course.

In addition to which,

we hope to provide you with...

one of our other units

calling, doctor. Other units?

Yes, we have several at strategic

points throughout the world.

Please forgive me.

We'll have a chat at dinner, Meacham.

Excellent cuisine, by the way.

Like everybody here, the chef

must be dedicated to his work.

Uh, you'll find the stairway through

the living room and to your right.

Your room is at the top

of the stairs. Thanks.

Dr. Meacham,

I'm still sorry I wasn't

the girl in Vermont.

I find, is unsatisfactory.

Yes?

Why schedule as planned.

Because certain methods imposed upon me by

the council have not been effective here.

I wish to discuss it

with the council.

Impossible. The time element will

not permit any dissenting opinions.

Pplan "a" as instructed.

On status of personnel.

With the arrival of Meacham, the

personnel roster is complete.

Proceed with plan "a."

What do you think

of mr. Mozart, Exeter?

I'm afraid I don't

know the chap.

My mind must have been wandering.

Your composer, of course.

Composer? He belongs to

the World. Yes, indeed.

The dinner, Exeter, was even

more perfect than you promised.

Now if you'll excuse me, I could

do with some fresh air myself.

Would you care to join me, Dr. Adams?

You, Dr. carlson?

Show him the grounds.

We won't start cracking the whip

on Meacham until tomorrow.

That's quite a group

Exeter has collected. Quite.

That's Dr. Hu Hin Hang.

Tang's field is tritanium,

the same as Dr. Engelborg.

Dr. Marie Pitchner, u-235.

Dr. Blorfield, plutonium.

Hmm, that puts all of us...

in the production of nuclear energy,

doesn't it, Carlson?

What are you getting at?

Why no biochemists, electronic

experts, mechanical engineers,

people equipped to make

practical application...

of the energy

the rest of us produce?

I seem to remember that was part of

Exeter's pitch. We try to make it a rule...

not to discuss our work

after hours.

Now how about

that fresh air?

How about you and Dr. Adams

showing me my laboratory instead?

After all I've heard today, I can hardly

wait to add my little contribution...

to the good work.

This way, doctor.

Your lab and my lab

are in this wing.

Steve and the others

are on the right.

This is yours

over here.

It's only Neutron. We call him

that because he's so positive.

Stay off Dr. Meacham's equipment.

Well, what do

you think of it?

It's not bad. Should be able

to get started very quickly.

Fine, but a word of warning.

Don't let Exeter push you too hard.

He's the kind of man who

wants results yesterday.

This is the same size lead

slab I use in my own lab.

I guess you're right. Guess Exeter

doesn't expect me to waste any time.

This is very

interesting.

Now, standing here with the

lead slab in front of us,

The lead reactor panel

behind us,

we're shielded

from nuclear rays.

Could be even from the prying

eyes of Exeter's interocitor.

What's your opinion,

doctors?

All right, I'll

spell it out for you.

You walk around here as if

you're scared of your own shadows.

Ruth's afraid to admit

she and I might have held hands.

That's okay, but either I've got

to figure I'm a little cracked...

Or that Exeter's cat

has got both your tongues.

We have a right to throw a few questions

at you. what are you doing here?

Look, I received

a darn fool catalog.

I couldn't resist it.

I built an interocitor,

arrived on that trick plane,

and that's all I know.

But so help me, in the next ten

minutes, I'm gonna know a lot more.

I believe him, Steve.

Well, I guess

I do too.

Now we're

getting somewhere.

To begin with, Cal,

I was the girl in Vermont.

Then why all the... because

we couldn't take a chance.

There's always the possibility you spent a

few minutes under one of Exeter's sunlamps.

Sunlamp?

That's what it looks like.

Only instead of a suntan, you

get your brain cells rearranged.

Steve had a peek at one.

Yeah, it's similar to lobotomy.

Renders useless areas of the brain

controlling the power of the will.

Up until now, Steve and I

have been spared.

We think Engelborg too, but we haven't the

slightest idea why. What about the others?

Try talking to them.

Well, that leaves the big

one. Who's Exeter working for?

We don't know. All we know is

what you've already guessed.

Exeter is desperately trying to come

up with new sources of atomic energy.

And we're the geniuses he's

depending upon to deliver for him.

Well, he might

get a surprise.

Why did you wait, Brack?

You should have told me.

I was busy elsewhere.

If you're so concerned, why don't

you let me use the transformer?

The transformer

is not the only answer.

The council differs.

It says it's infallible.

The council is wrong.

I told the Monitor so today.

The transformer is morally

abhorrent to the subjects.

It sets up subconscious blocks

which defeat our very purposes.

You're being

sentimental.

I am being practical!

No, Brack. Use a machine to control a

man's brain, you destroy his initiative.

You destroy his power

to help us as we need help.

We can both see it

right here.

It may be true,

but are you sure?

We're 30 miles

from nowhere.

Steve and I know.

We've tried.

And if we did get out,

who'd believe all this?

I don't blame you doctors for being

excited about working for Exeter.

It's a rare privilege.

He's a rare man.

Our little Neutron gave us

away. He felt the impulses.

That cat. I could... put Neutron

under the thought transformer?

Why not, Brack? And perhaps

you'd like me to step in with him.

Turn it off, Brack. Our friends won't be

giving us any more information tonight.

it's an interesting equation.

I'll check it.

You may find it'll help you over

some of the more difficult obstacles.

And now, doctor, I'd like to acquaint

you with another of our accomplishments.

Notice that section of

lead plate behind you?

Please bring it forward

about eight feet.

Now please move back.

By the door, doctor.

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