Nevertheless, said Cornelius, the two-hundred-atmospheres pressure here is not the same as whatever unthinkable pressure exists down on Jupiter. Could the change be injurious?
Viken gave him a look of respect. Not likely, he answered. I told you the J ships are designed leaky. External pressure is transmitted to the, uh, uterine mechanism through a series of diaphragms, in a gradual fashion. It takes hours to make the descent, you realize.
Well, what happens next? went on Cornelius. The ship lands, the uterine mechanism opens, the umbilical connection disengages, and Joe is, shall we say, born. But he has an adult brain. He is not protected by the only half-developed infant brain from the shock of sudden awareness.
We thought of that, said Viken. Anglesey was on the psibeam, in phase with Joe, when the ship left this moon. So it wasnt really Joe who emerged, who perceived. Joe has never been much more than a biological waldo. He can only suffer mental shock to the extent that Ed does, because it is Ed down there!
As you will, said Cornelius. Still, you didnt plan for a race of puppets, did you?
Oh, heavens, no, said Viken. Out of the question. Once we know Joe is well established, well import a few more esmen and get him some assistance in the form of other pseudos. Eventually fe
males will be sent down, and uncontrolled males, to be educated by the puppets. A new generation will be born normallywell, anyhow, the ultimate aim is a small civilization of Jovians. There will be hunters, miners, artisans, farmers, housewives, the works. They will support a few key members, a kind of priesthood. And that priesthood wifi be esp-controlled, as Joe is. It wifi exist solely to make instruments, take readings, perform experiments, and tell us what we want to know!
Cornelius nodded. In a general way, this was the Jovian project as he had understood it. He could appreciate the importance of his own assignment.
Only, he still had no clue to the cause of that positive feedback in the K tubes.
And what could he do about it?
His hands were stifi bruised. Oh God, he thought with a groan, for the hundredth time, does it affect me that much? While Joe was fighting down there, did I really hammer my fists on metal up here?
His eyes smoldered across the room, to the bench where Cornelius worked. He didnt like Cornelius, fat cigar-sucking slob, interminably talking and talking. He had about given up trying to be civil to the Earthworm.
The psionicist laid down a screwdriver and flexed cramped fingers. Whuff! He smiled. Im going to take a break.
The half-assembled esprojector made a gaunt backdrop for his wide soft body, where it squatted toad fashion on the bench. Anglesey detested the whole idea of anyone sharing this room, even for a few hours a day. Of late he had been demanding his meals brought here, left outside the door of his adjoining bedroom-bath. He had not gone beyond for quite some time now.
And why should I?
Couldnt you hurry it up a little? snapped Anglesey.
Cornelius flushed. If youd had an assembled spare machine, instead of loose parts he began. Shrugging, he took out a cigar stub and relit it carefully; his supply had to last a long time. Anglesey wondered if those stinking clouds were blown from his mouth of malicious purpose. I dont like you, Mr. Earthman Cornelius, and it is doubtless quite mutual.
There was no obvious need for one, until the other esmen arrive,
said Anglesey in a sullen voice. And the testing instruments report this one in perfectly good order.
Nevertheless, said Cornelius, at irregular intervals it goes into wild oscillations which burn out the K tube. The problem is why. Ill have you try out this new machine as soon as it is ready, but, frankly, I dont believe the trouble lies in electronic failure at allor even in unsuspected physical effects.
Where, then? Anglesey felt more at ease as the discussion grew purely technical.
Well, look. What exactly is the K tube? Its the heart of the esprojector. It amplifies your natural psionic pulses, uses them to modulate the carrier wave, and shoots the whole beam down at Joe. It also picks up Joes resonating impulses and amplifies them for your benefit. Everything else is auxiliary to the K tube.