ordinary Electron Pump. If we adjust the energy productions of the two then, though the laws of nature change in the cosmeg-Universe and in the para-Universe, they do not change in ours. We are a highway but not the terminus in either direction.
“Nor need we be disturbed on behalf of the terminuses. The para-men on their side may have adjusted themselves to the cooling off of their Sun which may be pretty cool to begin with. As for the cosmeg-Universe, there is no reason to suspect life can exist there. Indeed, it is by inducing the conditions required for the big bang that we may be setting up a new kind of Universe that will eventually grow hospitable to life.”
For a while, Gottstein said nothing. His plump face, in repose, seemed emotionless. He nodded to himself as though following the line of his own thoughts.
Finally, he said, “You know, Denison, I think this is what will set the world on its ear. Any difficulty in persuading the scientific leadership that the Electron Pump is destroying the world should now disappear.”
Denison said, “The emotional reluctance to accept that no longer exists. It will be possible to present the problem and the solution at the same time.”
“When would you be willing to prepare a paper to this effect if I guarantee speedy publication?”
“Can you guarantee that?”
“In a government-published pamphlet, if no other way.”
“I would prefer to try to neutralize the leak-instability before reporting.”
“Of course.”
“And I think it would be wise,” said Denison, “to arrange to have Dr. Peter Lamont as co-author. He can make the mathematics rigorous; something I cannot do. Besides, it was through his work that I took the course I have followed. One more point, Commissioner—”
“Yes.”
“I would suggest that the Lunar physicists be involved. One of their number, Dr. Barron Neville, might well be a third author.”
“But why? Aren’t you introducing unnecessary complications now?”
“It was their Pionizer that made everything possible.”
“There can be appropriate mention of that.… But did Dr. Barron actually work on the project with you?”
“Not directly.”
“Then why involve him?”
Denison looked down and brushed his hand thoughtfully over the weave of his pants leg. He said, “It would be the diplomatic thing to do. We would need to set up the cosmeg pump on the Moon.”
“Why not on Earth?”
“In the first place, we need a vacuum. This is a one-way transfer and not a two-way as in the case of the Electron Pump, and the conditions necessary to make it practical are different in the two cases. The surface of the Moon has its vacuum ready-made in vast quantities; while to prepare one on Earth would involve an enormous effort.”
“Yet it could be done, couldn’t it?”
“Secondly,” said Denison, “if we have two vast energy sources from opposite directions with our own Universe between, there would be something like a short circuit if the two outlets were too close together. Separation by a quarter-million miles of vacuum, with the Electron Pump operating only on Earth and the cosmeg pump operating only on the Moon, would be ideal—in fact, necessary. And if we are to operate on the Moon, it would be wise, even decent, to take the sensibilities of the Lunar physicists into account. We ought to give them a share.”
Gottstein smiled. “Is this the advice of Miss Lindstrom?”
“I’m sure it would be, but the suggestion is reasonable enough to have occurred to me independently.”
Gottstein rose, stretched, and then jumped in place two or three times in the eerily slow fashion imposed by Lunar gravity. He flexed his knees each time. He sat down again and said, “Ever try that, Dr. Denison?”
Denison shook his head.
“It’s supposed to help the circulation in the lower extremities. I do it whenever I feel my legs may be going to sleep. I’ll be heading back for a short visit to Earth before long and I’m trying to keep from getting too used to Lunar gravity.… Shall we talk of Miss Lindstrom, Dr. Denison?”
Denison said in a quite changed tone, “What about her?”
“She is a tourist guide.”
“Yes. You said so earlier.”
“As I also said, she is an odd assistant for a physicist.”
“Actually, I’m an amateur physicist only, and I suppose she is an amateur assistant.”
Gottstein was no longer smiling. “Don’t play games, Doctor. I have taken the trouble to find out what I can about her. Her record is quite revealing, or would have been if it had occurred to anyone to look at it before this. I believe she is an Intuitionist.”