youcame into space and many worlds have accepted the plan we offer.
"Obviously, it is impractical to pour out all the knowledge and basicscience we have accumulated. Another world would find it impossible tosort out that which was applicable to it. What we do is act as aconsultation center upon which others can call at will to obtain datapertaining to any problem at hand. Thus, they are not required to sortthrough wholly inapplicable information to find what they need.
"For example, if you desire to improve your surface conveyances, we willsupply you with data for building an optimum vehicle suitable forconditions on Earth and which is virtually indestructible. You will ofcourse do your own manufacturing, but even there we can supply you withtechnology that will make the process seem miraculous by your presentstandards.
"Our services are offered for a fee, payable in suitable items of goodsor raw materials. When you contemplate the freedom from monotonous andunending research in fields already explored by us, I am certain youwill not consider our fees exorbitant. Our desire is to raise thecultural level of all peoples to the maximum of which they are capable.We know it is not possible or even desirable to bring others to our ownhigh levels, but we do offer assistance to all cultures in accord withtheir ability to receive. The basic principle is that they shallask--and whatever is asked for, with intelligence sufficient for itsutilization, that shall be granted.
"I am certain I may count on your acceptance of the generous offer of mypeople."
The envoy sat down with a jiggling of his bright plume, and there wasabsolute silence in the room. Hockley pictured to himself the dusty,cobweb laboratories of Earth vacated by scientists who ran to the phoneto call the Rykes for answers to every problem.
Senator Markham stood up and glanced over the audience. "There is theessence of the program which has been submitted to us," he said. "Thereis a vast amount of detail which is, of course, obvious to the minds ofour friends on Rykeman III, but which must be the subject of muchdeliberation on the part of us comparatively simple minded Earthmen." Hegave a self-conscious chuckle, which got no response.
Hockley felt mentally stunned. Here at last was the thing that had beenhoped for by most, anxiously awaited by a few, and opposed by almost noone.
"The major difficulty," said Markham with slow dignity, "is the price.It's high, yes. In monetary terms, approximately twelve and a halfbillions per year. But certainly no man in his right mind would considerany reasonable figure too high for what we can expect to receive fromour friends of Rykeman III.
"We of the Science Committee do not believe, however, that we could geta commitment for this sum to be added to our normal budget. Yet there isa rather obvious solution. The sum required is very close to that whichis now expended on the National Standardization and ResearchLaboratories."
Hockley felt a sudden chill at the back of his neck.
"With the assistance of the Rykes," said Markham, "we shall have nofurther need of the National Laboratories. We shall require but a smallstaff to analyze our problems and present them to the Rykes and relaythe answers for proper assimilation. Acceptance of the Ryke programprovides its own automatic financing!"
He glanced about with a triumphant smile. Hockley felt as if he werelooking through a mist upon something that happened a long time ago. TheNational Lab! Abandon the National Lab!
Around him there were small nods of agreement from his colleagues. Somepursed their lips as if doubtful--but not very much. He waited forsomeone to rise to his feet in a blast of protest. No one did. For amoment Hockley's own hands tensed on the back of the chair in front ofhim. Then he slumped back to his seat. Now was not the time.
They had to thrash it out among themselves. He had to show them themagnitude of this bribe. He had to find an argument to beat down theCongressmen's irrational hopes of paradise. He couldn't plead for theLab on the grounds of sentiment--or that it was sometimes a good idea towork out your own problems. The Senators didn't care for the problems orconcerns of the scientists. It appeared that even the scientiststhemselves had forgotten to care. He had to slug both groups withsomething very solid.
Markham was going on. "We are convinced this is a bargain which even themost obstinate of our Congressional colleagues will be quick torecognize. It would be folly to compute with building blocks when we cangain access to giant calculators. There should be no real difficulty ingetting funds transferred from the National Laboratory.
"At this time we will adjourn. Liacan leaves this evening. Ouracceptance of this generous offer will be conveyed to Rykeman IIIdirectly upon official sanction by the Congress. I wish to ask this samegroup to meet again for discussion of the details incident to thistransfer of operations. Let us say at ten o'clock in the morning,gentlemen."
* * * * *
Hockley said goodbye to the envoy. Afterwards, he moved through thecircle of Senators to his own group. In the corridor they tightenedabout him and followed along as if he had given an order for them tofollow him. He turned and attempted a grin.
"Looks like a bull session is in order, gents. Assembly in five minutesin my office."
As he and Showalter opened the door to Miss Cardston's office and strodein, the secretary looked up with a start. "I thought you were going tomeet in the conference room."
"We've met," said Hockley. "This is the aftermeeting. Send out for acouple of cases of beer." He glanced at the number surging through thedoorway and fished in his billfold. "Better make it three. This ought tocover it."
With disapproval, Miss Cardston picked up the bills and turned to thephone. Almost simultaneously there was a bellow of protest and anenormous, ham-like hand gripped her slender wrist. She glanced up inmomentary fright.
Dr. Forman K. Silvers was holding her wrist with one hand and clappingHockley on the back with the other. "This is not an occasion for beer,my boy!" he said in an enormous voice. "Make that a case of champagne,Miss Cardston." He released her and drew out his own billfold.
"Get somebody to bring in a couple of dozen chairs," Hockley said.
In his own office he walked to the window behind his desk and stoodfacing it. The afternoon haze was coming up out of the ocean. Faintlyvisible were the great buildings of the National Laboratories on theother side of the city. Above the mist the sun caught the tip of theeight story tower where the massive field tunnels of the newly designedgammatron were to be installed.
Or _were_ to have been installed.
The gammatron was expected to make possible the creation ofgravitational fields up to five thousand g's. It would probably be amere toy to the Rykes, but Hockley felt a fierce pride in its creation.Maybe that was childish. Maybe his whole feeling about the Lab waschildish. Perhaps the time had come to give up childish things and takeupon themselves adulthood.
But looking across the city at the concrete spire of the gammatron, hedidn't believe it.
He heard the clank of metal chairs as a couple of clerks began bringingthem in. Then there was the clink of glassware. He turned to see MissCardston stiffly indicating a spot on the library table for the glassesand the frosty bottles.
Hockley walked slowly to the table and filled one of the glasses. Heraised it slowly. "It's been a short life but a merry one, gentlemen."He swallowed the contents of the glass too quickly and returned to hisdesk.
"You don't sound very happy about the whole thing," said Mortenson, achemist who wore a neat, silvery mustache.
"Are you overjoyed," said Hockley, "that we are to swap the National Labfor a bottomless encyclopedia?"
"Yes, I think so," said Mortenson. "There are some minor objections, butin the end I'm certain we'll all be satisfied with what we get."
"Satisfied! Happy!" exclaimed the mathematician, Dr. Silvers. "How canyou use words so prosaic and restrained in references to these greatevents which we shall be privileged to witness in our lifetimes?"
He had taken his stand by the library table and was now filling theglasses with the clear, bubbling champagne, sloshing
it with ecstaticabandon over the table and the rug.
Hockley glanced toward him. "You don't believe, then, Dr. Silvers, thatwe should maintain any reserve in regard to the Rykes?"
"None whatever! The gods themselves have stepped down and offered aninvitation direct to paradise. Should we question or hold back, or saywe are merely happy. The proper response of a man about to enter heavenis beyond words!"
The bombast of the mathematician never failed to enliven any backroomsession in which he participated. "I have no doubt," he said, "thatwithin a fortnight we shall be in possession of a solution to theLegrandian Equations. I have sought this for forty years."
"I think it would be a mistake to support the closing of the NationalLaboratories," said Hockley