MacReedy carved his tiny figures and cannon and vehicle partsfrom solid chunks of lead. Another was used for painting, a third fordrying.
On this third table were a half-dozen more of the XT-101's--along with agroup of Confederate cannoneers and their field-pieces, some Indians, asmall group of knights in armor, and what appeared to be RomanLegionaries.
The General pointed to these and said, "I didn't know you went in forthem. I thought you were strictly an American specialist."
MacReedy puffed at his pipe, then said, "I'm doing these for Toby--inreturn for his services as delivery boy and all-around helper. I'mtrying to teach him history in reverse."
"Odd concept," said the General.
"It works--doesn't it, Toby?" MacReedy said to the lad.
"Uncle Angus says it will help me when I take history in college," Tobysaid stoutly. "This is King Henry the Fifth at Agincourt--just like SirLawrence Olivier in the movie. And this is Genghis Khan. And here isTamerlaine, and Charles Martel, and Caesar...."
"I see," said the General. He was a little overwhelmed at so muchevidence of one man's individual craftsmanship and industry. He eyed theXT-101's with malevolent interest, then studied a nearly-finished weaponon the carving table. It looked like....
It was! One of the just-conceived, self-reloading rocket-launchers onarmored mobile carriage with amphibious tractor-treads. He said, hisvoice dry and tight, "Where'd you get this, MacReedy?"
MacReedy wandered over to stand beside him. He said, "I didn't _get_ itanywhere; it just seems like the logical next step in ordnance, General.I've had pretty good luck in the past, figuring things out this way. Ihad the Sherman tank plotted back in nineteen-forty--just before I wasdrafted. I hadn't dared trust my hunches till I saw my first one twoyears later at Pine Camp."
"You were in the Army?"
"Six years," said MacReedy. "Two years here in camp and Officer'sCandidate School, then two abroad--Sicily, Anzio and the Rhone Valley. Istopped a piece of shell near Lyon, and put in the rest of my time inhospital."
"Rough," said the General though he had neither the time nor theinterest for sympathy. "Tell me how you 'figure' these things out. TheSherman tank, if you wish."
MacReedy wagged his head modestly. "It wasn't too difficult, once I'dseen the General Grant. That one obviously wouldn't do; it was too high,needed a full-pivot turret. Yet the basic design was there--anyone who'dthought about it could have done the same. But it was a pleasant shockto learn I'd been right."
"I see," said the General. "And you did the others by the sameprocess--and you're always right?"
"Not always," replied MacReedy. "I fluffed badly on the atomic cannon. Iexpected a longer barrel for greater muzzle-velocity and range; here,I'll show you." He led the way to a dusty wall shelf where imperfect andbroken models crowded together. There was the A-cannon--not as it hadappeared, but as the General knew it was going to look in two years,when certain needed changes were made.
He said, "An understandable error. Unfortunately, mobility had to beconsidered." He paused, looked MacReedy straight in the eye. "I hope youdidn't show any of this to your--previous visitor."
MacReedy laughed. "Hardly," he replied. "I'm American, never fear. I'mjust one of the lucky few who has been able to make a good living out ofmy hobby; I have no axes to grind."
"We may have an axe to grind with you," said the General with a hint ofgrimness. The rocket-launcher and the improved A-gun were like theone-two punch of a good heavyweight-hitter. He went back to the XT-101,said, "About this twin-mount tank--how'd you figure we'd mount theautomatic machinery outside the turret?"
"That wasn't too difficult--if I'm right; and I gather I am," saidMacReedy. "There's simply too much stuff to put inside a tank-turret;you've got to mount it outside. And that means plenty of protection,which means an extra armored sleeve. So...."
3
The General said, "MacReedy, why are you showing me this? I could be animposter, a spy."
"With that official limousine?" the model-maker countered. "I doubt it.Besides, Toby vouches for you."
"Risky," said the General.
"Besides," said MacReedy with the suggestion of a smile, "I've seen yourpicture in _Life_ magazine." He paused, added, "After all, in my humbleway I'm a bit of an ordnance nut myself."
"I don't believe you," said the General flatly--"I mean about workingthese things out through logic and guesses. But however you do it,surely you can appreciate that you're much too dangerous to be walkingaround loose. Especially since _They_ know about you. I'm afraid I'mgoing to have to take you back with me."
"Nothing doing," said MacReedy. "I can take care of myself. Besides,this is my home. I like it here."
"You're being close to treasonable," said the General.
"Not I--_you_ are," came the incredible reply. "You, not I, areattempting to deny a citizen his rights under the Constitution."
"Damn it, man!" the General backpedaled quickly. "Can't you understand?Suppose _They_ got hold of you--_They'd_ have you dishing up ourinnermost secrets to them ahead of time. I don't need to tell you whatthat could mean in the present world situation."
"You don't, General," said MacReedy. "But I don't think _They'd_ getmuch out of me--much that was useful, I mean. I can't think clearlyunder drugs or torture; I'd be more of a menace than a help. I explainedthat to my visitor before you came. He seemed to believe me."
"Maybe _he_ did," said the baffled General, "but don't bet on hissuperiors. You've been an Army officer, MacReedy; I can have you calledback into service."
"With a permanent medical discharge?" MacReedy countered.
The General sighed. He knew when he was beaten. He said, "You'll have tostand for a guard then--twenty-four hours. We'll keep them out of sightas much as possible." He wished the whole business were rationallyexplicable to his own superiors. As it was he knew his hands were tiedwhen it came to drastic action.
"I suppose it's necessary," said MacReedy sadly, but not defiantly; "Ishould never have tried to show off."
"It's too late for that sort of thing," said the General. "I'm going tohave to take some of your models with me--it's too late to do much aboutthe new tank, but I'll have to have the rocket-launcher and the A-gun.And I'll want your promise not to indulge in any more such experimentsexcept as I request."
"That I am glad to give you," said MacReedy and there was no doubtingthe sincerity of his words.
"I'll pay you for them," offered the General.
"Of course," replied the model-maker; "my name isn't MacReedy fornothing."
As he handed over a couple of hundred dollars the General found himselfalmost liking the man. _Damn these screwballs_, he thought. He wonderedwhen he was going to wake up and find it hadn't happened. It _couldn't_be happening, any of it. But the perilously-perfect models, of weaponsthat were yet to be, felt terribly real to his touch.
He said, "Toby, run upstairs and tell Sergeant Riley to come down hereand take some stuff out to the car." And, when the boy was gone,"MacReedy, will you do some work for us?"
"Of course," said the other. "A man gets feeling a bit useless makingtoy soldiers in times like these."
"The pay won't be much...." the General began.
"I can afford it," said MacReedy with the unexpected generosity of thetrue Scotsman. "What do you want me to do?"
"_They_ have a new weapon building," said the General. "All we've gotare a few spy-photographs--not very good, I'm afraid."
"What sort of weapon?" the model-maker asked.
"That's just it--we don't know," replied the General. "I'm going to sendyou what we have on it tomorrow; I'm hoping you can give us a line onits purpose." He paused, added grimly, "As it is we don't know how tomeet it. We haven't an inkling. It's given the Chief a whole new patchof grey hairs."
"I'll do what I can," said MacReedy. "But don't expect the moon."
"All I want is the nature and purpose of that weapon--if it _is_ aweapon," was the General's reply. Then Toby and Sergeant Riley cameclu
mping down the stairs and the conference was at an end.
Before he left the General gave Toby five dollars. "That's for bringingme here," he told the lad.