human
That's a really beautiful piece of machinery you've built, Mr. Bending. Really remarkable.
gpt
You mean you opened a Converter up?
human
I presume you are referring to the fusing device. We X-rayed the thing thoroughly before we opened it. These days, many devices are rigged to be self-destroying, but that, in itself is a specialized field. Most of them are traps that are rather easy to get around if one is expecting them and knows how to handle them. But the Converter itself, if I may say so, is one of the most original and elegant devices I have seen in many a day.
gpt
Thanks, said Bending, with a touch of bitterness in his voice.
human
I--
gpt
Jim!
human
Hello, Sam. What's this all about? The FBI men who picked me up said I wasn't under arrest, but I had a hunch it was about as close as you can come without actual arrest.
gpt
Funny--I had that impression, too. He looked at Condley.
human
What's the idea, Condley? Jim doesn't know anything about this.
gpt
Possibly not. We can't be sure, of course, but--frankly, I'd be willing to accept your word. He paused.
human
But--you're not a businessman, Mr. Bending?
gpt
No. I leave that sort of thing up to Jim. Oh, I don't say I'm completely ignorant of the field; it's just that I'm not particularly interested, that's all. Why should I be? He went on, half belligerently.
human
I've known and trusted Jim for years. He knows his business; I know my science. I know enough to be able to check the account books, and he knows enough to be able to understand a technical report. Right, Jim?
gpt
Sure, Sam. But what's all this leading up to? I don't get it. He frowned suddenly.
human
Has someone accused me of cheating you?
gpt
No, no, no, Condley said rapidly.
human
Of course not. Nothing like that. He looked sharply at Luckman.
gpt
Do you know anything about the Converter?
human
Go ahead, Jim, he said,
gpt
I know that Sam was working on something he called a Converter. I don't know anything more about it than that. Sam keeps his ideas secret until he gets them to a marketable stage, which is all right with me. I have enough work to do, handling the stuff he's already patented, without worrying about anything that isn't salable yet. So?
human
Sit down, Mr. Luckman. Do you know these other gentlemen?