Collected Fiction

by Kris Neville

  “The theory,” said Dr. Nostran, “is an evolutionary growth, the final culmination of research that extends back into antiquity. It no more belongs to me than it does to the millions of physicists traveling the same path before me. You are familiar with what used to be called quantum mechanics, one of the loveliest intellectual concepts of the Human race? I returned to this theory rather than the Corsi equations. My contribution is to postulate that the quanta do not represent discrete jumps, but are composed of a number of interrelated elements I chose to call pifilins.

  “Now the Nostran Theory, so-called, essentially proposes that the various alpha-pifilins interact with the gamma-pifilins to produce conditions formerly referred to as the quanta. Whereas it could be demonstrated that the location or energy of a single quantum-particle was indeterminate, I propose that both the location and energy of the two pifilins are indeterminate. This is the crucial point, however: I suggest that the combination condition, commonly held to be the quanta, is absolutely determinate. Provided only that we can establish the actual value for the ideal mass of either the alpha-pifilin or the gamma-pifilin. The problem poses unusual experimental difficulties.

  “I suggested to the Thyre Committee that the malfunction of the transportation system on this planet arises from this very uncertainty principle, operating statistically over billions and billions of molecules in transit between Booths. The problem is insoluble in terms of our present revised Corsi equations. An approach through the old quantum mechanics, as reinterpreted by the Nostran Theory, is our only hope for success.”

  “Then you are proposing extensive research?” asked Bellflower. “I took that to be the case from your presentation.”

  “There is no other way, Mr. Bellflower. I have devoted my life to this research, and I can tell you it will tax our resources to the limit if we are to conclusively determine the ideal mass of the gamma-pifilin. But it represents, in my opinion, the only real solution to Thyre’s ghastly accident rate.

  “I may as well be frank with you, Bellflower. I would never have consented to the scientific management of this program if I felt for a single instant that pecunious administrators would withhold needed funds, as they have been known to do all too often in the past With human lives at stake, almost 8,000 a year, we have no alternative But to persevere until we have determined the ideal mass of the gamma-pifilin.”

  “And, doctor, once done—?”

  “The engineers should be able to apply the new equations immediately in the redesign of the Transportation System.”

  That night, Dr. Nostran wrote his colleague on the planet Thorsen:

  Dear Professor Rind:

  I am now established on Thyre Planet and have had a very successful conference with Reginald Bellflower, the principal administrator of the project I wrote you about. I know you will be as elated as I am to learn that at last I am assured of adequate financial support to consummate my lifelong ambition to determine the ideal mass of the gamma-pifilin.

  IV

  Within a month of arrival, Dr. Nostran supplied Bellflower with a detailed estimate of his projected requirements for the first full year of operation.

  Bellflower had already acquired a skeleton staff from the local population and was beginning to add elective flesh. An unexpected find had been the man to head up the Engineering Division, a local applicant. This permitted the preliminary design work to get underway within six weeks after receipt of Dr. Nostran’s request. Engineering promised construction could begin in eleven months on the largest particle accelerator ever conceived.

  Bellflower hired a personnel director from his own home planet, Costain, known to him by reputation: Dr. A. Jung Fiedler. Between them they outlined the recruiting program. First priority went to obtaining suitable people to head the Purchasing Contract Administration and Xenological Divisions, the last a division particularly forward in Bellflower’s thoughts, whose job would be to elaborate the psychology on the alien Thyrians.

  “Dr. Fiedler,” said Bellflower, “I want you to get your department built up as quickly as possible. I want you free to concentrate on getting in three or four top managers. I hope you can start on that in two weeks. Let the staff Handle the engineers and scientists. But be sure they know what they’re doing. Sell the job’, sell its importance. I want to blanket the universe with recruitment ads for just the right people. Be sure to feature the fact Thyre was discovered by a Federation exploration team and that choice Homesteads are still available. Next, play up Dr. Nostran. He won’t be offended. And then hit heavy on the opportunities for professional advancement, the working conditions, the full support of technical-minded management . . . you know the usual thing. Sell them on the idea they’ll have the best and latest equipment and virtually unlimited funds at their disposal in view of the critical nature of the research.”

  “I think we ought to play down the actual problem we’re working on,” said Dr. Fiedler. “I’ve been here three days and I’m still terrified every time I get into a Transportation Booth. A lot of people will think twice before they’ll bring their families to a planet with a transportation system like this.”

  “That’s one reason we pay top salaries,” said Bellflower. “I’ll leave it to you how to handle it. Better set up a Psychology Group to do some depth research for you and come up with a scientific approach for the copywriters.”

  “I was thinking along those lines,” said Dr. Fiedler.

  “Let’s try to get some genuinely creative people in the organization, too. We’re committed to Dr. Nostran’s general approach; we must see he gets every person he needs. But we can support him with a lot of peripheral research. I’m thinking, now, of a special group in the Xenological Division to examine the feasibility of locating surviving Thyrians. First, what are the probabilities that there are still Thyrians on the planet? How much of the planet has not been explored by us as yet? Where would the Thyrians logically be Hiding?

  “Let’s check every inch of territory on the map for possible sites. Let’s run an analysis to find out the probability not only of finding Thyrians, but also the probability of finding a technically oriented Thyrian. Out of the total population, whatever it was, what percentage of Thyrians were likely to understand How the Transportation System actually operated? In other words, statistically speaking, what is the maximum number of Thyrians that could be hiding, and out of this number, what are our chances of finding one who could contribute to the solution of our problem? Would the actual search, in short, be worth the expense?

  “Let’s find out how many aliens there were on the planet when the cities were inhabited. Let’s study the cities and estimate the size of the population they were built to serve.

  “Let’s set up a group to find out what was the recent disaster that led to the total disappearance of the Thyrians. How long ago did it happen? Let’s find out why they incinerated their dead and why their visual artists avoided the representation of objects from nature.

  “This is the type thinking I want. Let’s go after creative people.”

  “I’m with you all the way.”

  “I want those three division directors within three months. We’re going to cut the normal recruiting time in half all the way down the line!”

  Under the dynamic management of Bellflower, the operation began to snowball. By the time of ground-breaking ceremonies for the particle accelerator—only two months behind schedule—Bellflower was able to assure the growing population of Thyre Planet that everything conceivable was being done.

  Now in the second year of the operation, Bellflower began to devote his energies to larger aspects of the problem.

  He was as conditioned as any man on the planet to the use of Transportation Booths. His frequent statement that he made more trips in a day in overseeing the vast organization than most citizens made in a week indicated his interest in the solution was, vitally personal.

  Colonel Ramsey, the president’s liaison with Bellflower now that the citizens committ
ee, goal accomplished, had been dissolved, came for his biweekly briefing.

  “We’re approaching a planetwide death rate of thirty a day,” the colonel said.

  “I’ve seen the papers,” said Bellflower. “We’re not getting our story across. Look at the tremendous progress we’ve made just during the last quarter. Dr. Nostran’s accelerator is nearly back on schedule. We have expanded thirteen per cent in terms of technical staff alone. Approximately one million people are now directly on our payrolls, not to mention the people paid by the independent contractors. We have inaugurated a new division exclusively to study the operation of the Transportation Booths from a theoretical standpoint, including what actually occurs during transit. We haven’t even been able to solve that problem for the starships! So you see we’re trying every approach that is even remotely promising. This is the story we have to get across.”

  “The president understands this,” said Colonel Ramsey. “The papers are malting very uninformed criticisms. We’re much nearer to the solution than we were a month ago, and there has been no hint of waste and mismanagement above the nominal minimum you’ve got to expect and allow for in a crash operation of this magnitude. But it’s a difficult point, as you say.”

  “I don’t know how often I’ve repeated obvious statements,” said Bellflower. “Take the truism: In physics, the smaller the phenomenon under investigation, the larger the energy requirement. What can be more obvious? And the death rate: of course it is going up. What would you expect? The population is going up! Cut down on the population, you’ll cut down on the death rate.”

  “We have some room for optimism on that point,” said Colonel Ramsey. “Most of the Homestead property is gone. The Federation team expects to complete their work of processing claims in another month or two. Our projection now is that the immigrant population will peak at two million in three years. Then we’ll find out how stable the population is going to be, whether Thyre will continue to grow in a logical fashion, or whether Thyre is just another flash in the pan. But we’re almost over the Hump on the population, and we can be grateful for that.”

  “There are several things we can do about the immediate problem,” said Bellflower. “We need a Public Relations Division to keep the citizens abreast of our work. We’re going to have to start getting out press releases, posters, documentary films, tie-in promotions with toy manufacturers . . . you know the sort of thing I mean. We need some good people for a Speakers’ Bureau to get the message to the fraternal organizations, the business groups and the schools. We are going to have to create a whole new image of STFSTFTP, starting from the ground up, with a new, catchy nickname.”

  “We’ve definitely got to improve the image before the organization becomes a political football,” said Colonel Ramsey, Bellflower bent forward to his desk and requested, by means of the intercom, delivery of a document. When the secretary brought it, he said, “Colonel Ramsey, I want you to look this over. I’ve been thinking of the larger aspects of the work. An administrator is not only responsible for selling the program to management—in this case the billion and a Half citizens on Thyre. But he is also responsible for making whatever contribution he can to the financial end of the operation.

  “Appropriations time is coining up very soon.” He handed across the document and continued his explanation. “I’m not surprised at the costs we’ve run into. I have never minced words on the subject of costs, nor has Dr. Nostran, But it’s not going to be as expensive as converting to land transportation, as some have proposed. All the cities on Thyre are organized to accommodate the Transportation Booths. It would be impossible to put in a safe and rational system of surface streets. The expense of inter-city highways, on top of that, would be astronomical! That approach is out I’ve Heard people say, well, can we afford to solve the problem? Is it worth it?”

  Bellflower bent forward intently, fixing Colonel Ramsey’s eyes. “Unless something is done, in three years we’ll be losing forty people a day, fourteen thousand six Hundred a year! The economic cost alone, in terms of deaths and injuries, is already between half and one billion dollars a year, by very conservative figures. And this says nothing of the Human suffering. The question must not be: Can we pay for the solution? The question must be: How can we pay for the solution?”

  “The president is with you one hundred per cent,” said Colonel Ramsey.

  “Please glance through the proposal. Let me know what you think.”

  Colonel Ramsey read quietly for a full minute. Looking up at last, He asked, “Do you think we can sell it?”

  “I know we can sell it,” said Bellflower. “This is one of an administrator’s many jobs, if He knows his business. All I need is life president’s full support and cooperation.”

  “Looking back,” said Colonel Ramsey, “I think we should have gone after Federation money in the very beginning.”

  “Yes,” said Bellflower, “I could have recommended it at the time. But experience has indicated to me that it’s always better to wait a year or two. You have to convince the Federation people that you’re serious yourself, that you really intend to carry through.

  “If we had tried a year ago, we might not have succeeded. What did we have to show them, then? And it’s too hard trying to go back in after you’ve lost once. Now we’re ready.

  “This program is a natural for the Federation. Once we get this little kink worked out of the transportation system, look at what the Federation will save bought for its financial support! For the first tithe in history we will have operational matter transmitters that will function in any gravitational field. It will revolutionize transportation on the surface of every planet in the Federation. Even the spin-off from such research is of incalculable value!”

  “I wish you would come with me this afternoon,” said Colonel Ramsey “and tell the president what you’ve told me. Tell it just the way you’ve told it to me.”

  “I want you to think of the advantages of this to Thyre. With Federation backing, we can really get the program into high gear. Think of what it will mean to the whole economy of Thyre!”

  “You must, Mr. Bellflower, come tell the President tins yourself. I can’t tell you how enthusiastic I am for the idea!”

  V

  Three months later, Bellflower returned from Coueril, the planetary headquarters of the Federation of Star Systems.

  He reported to the president on the success of his mission.

  “Mr. President, I am submitting a written report, but I’m very pleased and gratified to have this opportunity of giving you a first-hand account. I must tell you in the beginning that the staff you sent with me did a magnificent job. I literally could not have done it without them. I cannot praise too highly Mr. Leggitt, from the Thyrian National Chamber of Commerce. There is no man more genuinely dedicated to the waif are of Thyre than Mr. Leggitt.

  “I can report the mission was entirely successful. We have a firm commitment of ten billion dollars from the Federation emergency fund. That will solve our immediate problem with the accelerator backup research in six months. After that, I believe we can really start talking with them about substantial monies.”

  “Mr. Bellflower,” said the president of Thyre, “I don’t need to tell you that today you are one of the most popular men on Thyre Planet I want to assure you, personally, and the whole Save Our Children! organization that we will give you every possible support I can’t tell you with what emotions we have all greeted the Federation action.” The president glanced into the distance. “Thyre Planet is a small, new insignificant planet crying out to the stars for aid in our hour of crisis. Now, through you, Mr. Bellflower, the stars have thundered back their support. Here are the billion billion people in the known universe, united through the Federation of Star Systems, extending a Hand of assistance to the least of their brothers. No grander day has been known in the History of the race of man! How true it is: Ask and it shall be given you. I heard of your success on TV, Mr. Bellflower, with tears o
f gratitude in my eyes.”

  Bellflower, as he waited for Dr. Nostran, surveyed his new offices with appreciation. They occupied one complete floor of the Commercial Building in central Aloseni, the major City on Thyre Planet. The main office had been completely; remodeled during his fifteen-day stay on Coueril. His offices in fife new SOC Administration Complex, now under construction, would be even grander.

  Before Him on fife desk, fife second annual report awaited his approval. Two hours from now, He was scheduled to receive an Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from the University of Altung, center of much research on Thyrian psychology sponsored by SOC. his remarks were before Him for final reading. The weekly Divisional Progress Reports Summary awaited his Study.

  Dr. Nos Iran stepped from the Transportation Booth, smiling. “Congratulations, Bellflower! It’s been all over TV for the last three days! Wonderful news! We are pushing full ahead on the accelerator.”

  Bellflower extended a Hand. “How good of you to come over. Please have a seat, Dr. Nostran. I won’t keep you but a few minutes.”

  Beaming, Dr. Nostran, looking younger and more fit than when he arrived on Thyre Planet more than two years ago, drew up the chair and settled himself into it “My own work is showing good progress. For the first time I feel we are on our way toward making solid progress.”

  “I’ve been reading some of the old weekly progress reports since I got back,” Bellflower said. “I seem to remember, Doctor, that you once told me you could solve the problem by measuring the ideal mass of either the alpha- or gamma-pifilin. I have not seen any work at all on the alpha-pifilin.”

  Dr. Nostran admitted he had been working on only the gamma-pifilin. It would be very very difficult to do that for the alpha-pifilin. Being time-negative, it presents exceptional instrumentation problems. If we had a small time machine, the difficulties would be reduced by an order of magnitude.”