human
This is the area here, he said, placing his finger on the map.
gpt
I think it is best suited for our purpose. Dave Barret and Carter Devers concur--
human
Someone mention my name?
gpt
Devers! exclaimed Hemmingwell in obvious delight.
human
I didn't expect you until this evening.
gpt
Got away earlier than I figured, replied the elder man, who then turned to the two Solar Guard officers.
human
Hello, Commander Walters, Major Connel. Meet Dave Barret, my assistant.
gpt
Well, said Devers,
human
Just starting,
gpt
Fine, said Devers.
human
Oh, by the way, I want it understood, Commander, that while I am lending Dave to you to work on the operation with the professor, I'm not even going to let you pay him. He remains on my payroll, so you can't take him away from me. The Jilolo Spaceways would be lost without him.
gpt
All right with me,
human
I don't care _who_ pays him, as long as he's with me on this, Commander, said Hemmingwell, wiping his glasses carefully.
gpt
That young man has a mind equipped with a built-in calculator.
human
If Mr. Devers can devote his time to you for one credit a year as salary, I have no objections to working on this project, he said.
gpt
In fact, I told Mr. Devers that if he didn't let me come down here, I'd quit and come, anyway.
human
Well, now, if Captain Strong were only here, we could get along with the business at hand.
gpt
Why is he so important?
human
Steve has been placed in charge of procurement for the construction of the hangar and getting the spur line in from the monorail station, replied Connel.
gpt
And that reminds me, Professor, he continued.
human
Where is your hangar going to be? And where is that spur coming in from? Are we going to have a lot of building to do to get that blasted thing snaked over those hills?
gpt
That's why Dave Barret here is so important, replied Hemmingwell.
human
He figured out a way of tunneling through this section here --he pointed to a particularly rugged section of the hills--
gpt
Very good,
human
You think you can do it, Dave?
gpt
I'm sure I can, sir,
human
And save time?
gpt
I'll have that line through, and in operation, bringing in the first haul of hangar material in three weeks.
human
Well, if you can do that, Barret, said Walters,
gpt
Professor Hemmingwell will have to begin his operations now, won't you, Professor?
human
That's right, said the wiry old man.
gpt
Right now, this very minute.
human
I would like to have one thing explained, Commander, unless, of course, it's a breach of security, but--
gpt
What is it?
human
I've been going along with you for some time now, explained Devers.
gpt
But I still don't know the exact nature of the projectile you propose to build. What's the purpose of it?
human
You certainly deserve an answer to that question, said Commander Walters warmly.
gpt
You've contributed your services to this operation absolutely blindly. Now you should know everything. He paused and looked at Hemmingwell and Connel, who nodded in return.
human
Carter, he resumed,
gpt
You mean, you are going to fire payloads from space freighters instead of landing with them?
human
Exactly, said Walters.
gpt
These freighters will deliver mail and supplies to out-of-the-way settlements that do not have a spaceport large enough to handle the giant freighters and have to depend on surface transport from the larger cities.
human
This is the most amazing thing I've ever heard of in my life.
gpt
I thought you'd be surprised, Carter, said Walters, his face glowing with pleasure.
human
The big item, of course, is to lick the problem of standardizing the receivers for the projectiles. They must be lightweight, easily assembled, and precision made, since it's going to have an electronic gismo inside for the projectile to 'home' on.
gpt
That electronic gismo, as you call it, is the real idea behind the whole operation.
human
How is that, Professor?
gpt
Well, it works on this principle, began Hemmingwell.
human
The receiver will send out a distinctive radar beam. In the spaceship, the projectile designated for that receiver will be tuned in to the frequency of that beam and fired from the ship. A homing device, built into the projectile will take over, guiding it right down the beam to its destination.
gpt
And how does that radar beam work?
human
That, said Connel stiffly,
gpt
Of course, nodded Devers, smiling.
human
I was just curious.
gpt
Well, now that we're agreed on a site for the operation, said Professor Hemmingwell,
human
Not for the moment, Professor, replied the commandant of Space Academy.
gpt
You have any more questions, Major Connel?
human
There is something else I would like to know, if it isn't a breach of military secrecy, he said with a smile at Connel.
gpt
I don't remember seeing anything about this project in the bills sent before the Solar Council. When was it authorized?
human
It wasn't, snapped Hemmingwell.
gpt
It was blocked before it came to a vote. So I ran around the whole Solar Alliance, begging and borrowing the money to finance the project myself.
human
And the Solar Guard is just lending technical assistance and facilities, supplied Walters.
gpt
Of course, should the project succeed, we will go before the Solar Council with an emergency request to incorporate the idea into the defense of all Solar Guard outposts.
human
Private capital, eh? said Devers, turning to look at the professor admiringly.
gpt
You are a very brave man, Professor Hemmingwell, to risk so much. And, I might add, you must be an excellent salesman to sell Solar Alliance bankers your ideas.
human
Common sense, snorted the professor.
gpt
Plain horse sense.
human
Still, insisted Devers,
gpt
As everyone laughed, he turned to Walters.
human
Now, just what do you want me to do, Commander?
gpt
Carter, you've done so much for this project already that I'm going to give you a rest,
human
I don't understand.
gpt
From now on, Major Connel broke in,
human
You understand, of course,
gpt
Of course, replied Devers easily.
human
Still, if you need my help on this thing at all, don't fail to call me.
gpt
Thank you, Carter, said Walters.
human
You've been a great help already.