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Fan, issue 2, July 1945
Page 6
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6 third or one-half. Better and better! Now if he only didn't need Adams. . . . HAGIST loaded every ounce of the platimum, then entered and closed the space-lock. The generator began its gentle hum, supplying air inside the ship. Presently he was able to remove the cumbersome space-suit. Entering the control room, he saw that Adams had done the same. The old man was hunched over a table, pencil in hand, making swift calculation. "Charting for Earth?" Adams nodded but didn't look up. Hagist smiled satisfiedly and didn't speak again until Adams had finished. Then he said: "Must be complicated." Adams stood up. "Oh, no, not any more. Not with robot control." He stepped over to the instrument table. Hagist's face was expressionless, but his hear leaped. Robot control! He had heard of it, he knew it was a comparatively recent thing, but never had he dreamed that Adams' spacer was equipped with it! Already an idea was growing. But he had to be sure it was safe. He stepped to Adams' side. He tried to keep his voice calm. "Robot control, huh? This thing it? I never saw one before, I'm not much of a spaceman you know!" He laughed, rather shrilly. Adams didn't notice. "Yes, this is it." He was busy making sliding adjustments on the rim of a pivoted, horizontal wheel. "The principle is marvellously simple," he said, almost fondling the equipment. "But it's new, and it's very expensive. I spent a small fortune on this robot-control -- that's why I had to make a strike in the asteroids, to get that money back. "Yes, I see." Hagist's voice was toneless now, and under control; his brain crisply alert. "How does it work?" "See these sliding sheathes around the rim? Look at 'em closely. Peculiar metal, eh? It's new stuff recently found on Mercury, specially treated and gravity repellant. You see, see, we used to have to calculate elaborately, recognizing all outside stresses such as other planets and big asteroids. But no longer. These sheathes eliminate that, as they block out all pulls except the body sighted for. In this case, Earth." Adams was in love with that control, it was apparent in the way he handled the adjustments, like a mother with her child. "But I still don't see---" Hagist began. "Look. The sheathes cover every bit of the wheel-rim except one tiny hair-line, left open. That hair-line is now pointed precisely for Earth." Adams reached beneath the horizontal wheel and pressed a stud. There was a little click,
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6 third or one-half. Better and better! Now if he only didn't need Adams. . . . HAGIST loaded every ounce of the platimum, then entered and closed the space-lock. The generator began its gentle hum, supplying air inside the ship. Presently he was able to remove the cumbersome space-suit. Entering the control room, he saw that Adams had done the same. The old man was hunched over a table, pencil in hand, making swift calculation. "Charting for Earth?" Adams nodded but didn't look up. Hagist smiled satisfiedly and didn't speak again until Adams had finished. Then he said: "Must be complicated." Adams stood up. "Oh, no, not any more. Not with robot control." He stepped over to the instrument table. Hagist's face was expressionless, but his hear leaped. Robot control! He had heard of it, he knew it was a comparatively recent thing, but never had he dreamed that Adams' spacer was equipped with it! Already an idea was growing. But he had to be sure it was safe. He stepped to Adams' side. He tried to keep his voice calm. "Robot control, huh? This thing it? I never saw one before, I'm not much of a spaceman you know!" He laughed, rather shrilly. Adams didn't notice. "Yes, this is it." He was busy making sliding adjustments on the rim of a pivoted, horizontal wheel. "The principle is marvellously simple," he said, almost fondling the equipment. "But it's new, and it's very expensive. I spent a small fortune on this robot-control -- that's why I had to make a strike in the asteroids, to get that money back. "Yes, I see." Hagist's voice was toneless now, and under control; his brain crisply alert. "How does it work?" "See these sliding sheathes around the rim? Look at 'em closely. Peculiar metal, eh? It's new stuff recently found on Mercury, specially treated and gravity repellant. You see, see, we used to have to calculate elaborately, recognizing all outside stresses such as other planets and big asteroids. But no longer. These sheathes eliminate that, as they block out all pulls except the body sighted for. In this case, Earth." Adams was in love with that control, it was apparent in the way he handled the adjustments, like a mother with her child. "But I still don't see---" Hagist began. "Look. The sheathes cover every bit of the wheel-rim except one tiny hair-line, left open. That hair-line is now pointed precisely for Earth." Adams reached beneath the horizontal wheel and pressed a stud. There was a little click,
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