And once those Jovians do become personalities, worried Viken, are they necessarily going to string along with Joe? Dont forget, the pseudos are not carbon copies of each other. The uncertainty principle assures each one a unique set of genes. If there is only one human mind on Jupiter, among all those aliens
One human mind? It was barely audible. Viken opened his mouth inquiringly. The other man hurried on.
Oh, Im sure Anglesey can continue to dominate them, said Cornelius. His own personality is rathertremendous.
Viken looked startled. You really think so?
The psionicist nodded. Yes. Ive seen more of him in the past weeks than anyone else. And my profession naturally orients me more toward a mans psychology than his body or his habits. You see a waspish cripple. I see a mind which has reacted to its physical handicaps by developing such a hellish energy, such an inhuman power of concentration, that it almost frightens me. Give that mind a sound body for its use and nothing is impossible to it.
You may be right, at that, murmured Viken after a pause. Not
that it matters. The decision is taken, the rockets go down tomorrow. I hope it all works out.
He waited for another while. The whirring of ventilators in his little room seemed unnaturally loud, the colors of a girlie picture on the wall shockingly garish. Then he said slowly, Youve been rather close-mouthed yourself, Jan. When do you expect to finish your own esprojector and start making the tests?
Cornelius looked around. The door stood open to an empty hallway, but he reached out and closed it before he answered with a slight grin, Its been ready for the past few days. But dont tell anyone.
Hows that? Viken started. The movement, in low gee, took him out of his chair and halfway across the table between the men. He shoved himself back and waited.
I have been making meaningless tinkering motions, said Cornelius, but what I waited for was a highly emotional moment, a time when I can be sure Angleseys entire attention will be focused on Joe. This business tomorrow is exactly what I need.
Why?
You see, I have pretty well convinced myself that the trouble in the machine is psychological, not physical. I think that for some reason, buried in his subconscious, Anglesey doesnt want to experience Jupiter. A conflict of that type might well set a psionic-amplifier circuit oscifiating.
Hm-m-m. Viken rubbed his chin. Could be. Lately Ed has been changing more and more. When he first came here, he was peppery enough, and he would at least play an occasional game of poker. Now hes pulled so far into his shell you cant even see him. I never thought of it before, but … yes, by God, Jupiter must be having some effect on him.
Hm-m-m. Cornelius nodded. He did not elaboratedid not, for instance, mention that one altogether uncharacteristic episode when Anglesey had tried to describe what it was like to be a Jovian.
Of course, said Viken thoughtfully, the previous men were not affected especially. Nor was Ed at first, while he was still controffing lower-type pseudos. Its only since Joe went down to the surface that hes become so different.
Yes, yes, said Cornelius hastily. Ive learned that much. But enough shop talk
No. Wait a minute. Viken spoke in a low, hurried tone, looking
past him. For the first time, Im starting to think clearly about this. Never really stopped to analyze it before, just accepted a bad situation. There is something peculiar about Joe. It cant very well involve his physical structure, or the environment, because lower forms didnt give this trouble. Could it be the fact that Joe is the first puppet in all history with a potentially human intelligence?
We speculate in a vacuum, said Cornelius. Tomorrow, maybe, I can tell you. Now I know nothing.
Viken sat up straight. His pale eyes focused on the other man and stayed there, unblinking. One minute, he said.
Yes? Cornelius shifted, half rising. Quickly, please. It is past my bedtime.
You know a good deal more than youve admitted, said Viken. Dont you?
What makes you think that?