human
Under strict Government supervision, Power Utilities will proceed to liquidate their holdings--slowly, so that there will be no repercussions on an economic level. The danger lies, not in the Converter's replacing existing power equipment, but in the danger of its replacing them too quickly. But with care and control, the adjustment can be made slowly. The process will take about ten years, but you will receive a lump sum, plus a monthly payment, as an advance against future royalties.
gpt
I see, said Bending slowly.
human
That sounds all right to me. What about you, Jim? What do you think?
gpt
Sounds fine to me, Sam. We'll have to work out the terms of the contract, of course, but I think Mr. Olcott and I can see eye to eye.
human
I suppose I'll have to be sworn to secrecy, eh?
gpt
You will. He made his characteristic pause, looking down at the gold pen and back up.
human
Mr. Bending, don't think that this is the first time this has happened. Yours is not the first dangerous invention that has come up. It just so happens that it's the most dangerous so far. We don't like to have to work this way, but we must. There was simply nothing else to do.
gpt
That's all right. To be perfectly honest, there are a lot of details that I still don't understand. But I recognize the fact that I'm simply not an economist; I can see the broad outlines plainly enough.
human
I do not understand the details of your machine, either, Mr. Bending, but I understand the broad outlines of its operations well enough to be frightened when I think of what it could do to world economy if it were to be dumped on the market at this time. I am happy to see that America, as well as Mother Russia, can produce patriots of a high order.
gpt
Thanks. He didn't know quite what else to say to a statement like that.
human
But Jim, here, is going to spend the next several days trotting out facts and figures for me. I want to see just what would take place, if I can wrestle with that kind of data.
gpt
Oh, brother! said Jim Luckman softly.
human
Well, I'll try.
gpt
I'll have the reports from the computers sent to you, Condley offered.
human
They show the whole collapse, step by step.
gpt
There's one other thing, Sam said flatly.
human
The Converter is my baby, and I want to go on working on it. I think Power Utilities might put me on as a permanent consultant, so that I could earn some of the money that's coming in over the next ten years. That way, my royalties won't suffer so much from the advance payments.
gpt
I thought you said you were no businessman, Mr. Bending.
human
I may be ignorant, said Sam,
gpt
Definitely, he said.
human
I want Mr. Bending to show me how he managed to dope that thing out. And, to be perfectly frank, there are a couple of things in there that I don't get at all.
gpt
That's understandable, said Dr. Vanderlin.
human
We only had a few hours to look at the thing. Still, I must admit it's a lulu.
gpt
That's not what I meant, Larchmont said.
human
There are some things in there that would take a long time to figure out without an explanation. I'll admit that--
gpt
Wait a minute, Bending interrupted.
human
You said 'a few hours', Dr. Vanderlin. You mean only since this morning? He grinned.
gpt
What happened to the one you got Friday night? Did my fusing device work the first time?
human
Friday? You mean you had _two_ pilot models?
gpt
Where was the other? We checked your power drain and saw you weren't using any at your house, so--
human
I had three models, Bending said.
gpt
I've got one left in my car; you took one from my house, and the third was taken from my lab sometime Friday night. Somebody has it ...
human
Dr. Artomonov, do you know anything about this?
gpt
Nothing. He looked plainly frightened.
human
I assure you, my government knew nothing of this.
gpt
Where are those FBI men?
human
The black market, said Bending softly.
gpt
They found out somehow.
human
And they've had three days to study it, Larchmont said.
gpt
It's too late now. That thing is probably somewhere in South America by this time.
human
You must excuse me, gentlemen. I must get in touch with Moscow immediately.