to theorize in public. Karvel muttered, “Thank you,” and wheeled himself away.
Lieutenant Ostrander hurried after him and took charge of the wheel chair. Haskins caught up with them a moment later, and they moved in silence toward the center of the hangar and the U.O.
“I suppose he’s going to write a report,” Karvel said.
Haskins nodded.
“What can he possibly have to report? He doesn’t even know what the problem is.”
“Does anyone?” Haskins asked. “What’s your interpretation of those symbols?”
“I think they’re a calendar.”
Haskins whirled, and received a sharp rap on the shin from the wheel chair. He stooped and rubbed his leg vigorously, but there was more amazement than pain in the stare he directed at Karvel. “Calendar?”
“I think three of those instruments work in conjunction to select the U.O.’s destination. When I asked about ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ I was thinking of movement forward or backward in time.”
Haskins gave his shin a final rub and straightened up with a smile. “At least you’re consistent. You’ll have to admit, though, that the professor’s objection is valid. If the controls measured time, the symbols on either side of the norm would exhibit similarities. Five centuries forward or five centuries backward. That sort of thing.”
“Nonsense. If the central symbol represented the year 2500—and I’m not suggesting that it does—the forward count would be six, seven, and eight, and the backward count four, three, and two. Where’s the similarity?”
“Eventually—”
“Eventually, nothing. Our numerical system builds from its simplest components, so we have a pattern of repetition neatly organized by tens. The U.O.’s numerical system uses an individual symbol for each number, without any repetition. Offhand I’d say it would be a difficult system to learn, but that wouldn’t bother the people who built the U.O. because they’re so much smarter than we are.”
Haskins grinned at him. “You’re in good form today, Major. Come along to my meeting, and shake up the security officer.”
Karvel waved a hand, and Ostrander obediently turned the chair toward the partitioned office at the end of the hangar.
Except for Haskins it was to be a military meeting, and Colonel Stubbins was waiting impatiently for him in the doorway. Karvel said softly to Ostrander, “Go have a smoke, Phinney. If the higher ups’ subconscious minds ever get you linked with me, your career will be blighted.”
Haskins chuckled, and placed a hand on the wheel chair. “Go ahead, Lieutenant. I’ll look after Major Karvel. They won’t want to let you in anyway, and since you’re in my party I’d have to insist, and a routine meeting isn’t that important. I’d rather save my ammunition.”
Haskins pushed the chair through the doorway, and Colonel Stubbins followed them and closed the door with a bang.
None of the six officers present paid any attention to Karvel, and he paid very little attention to the meeting. The security officer, a Captain Meyers, delivered a long report, replete with statistics on sentries and security checks and clearance cards and who owned them, and a new cover plan he was working on to replace one that had apparently been under severe criticism. Karvel’s mind wandered back to the U.O. instrument panel, and he was startled, many minutes later, to hear his name spoken.
“We seem to have lost Major Karvel,” Colonel Stubbins said dryly. “I am in the process of polling those present to see if they have any comments, Major. I apologize for the interruption.”
“That’s perfectly all right, sir,” Karvel said, ignoring the undercurrent of laughter that circled the room. “I fully approve of these elaborate security precautions, even though I don’t agree with the reason for them. If the Russians actually wished that U.O. onto us, as some of you seem to believe, I can’t see them wasting time and risking agents to break
Lieutenant Ostrander hurried after him and took charge of the wheel chair. Haskins caught up with them a moment later, and they moved in silence toward the center of the hangar and the U.O.
“I suppose he’s going to write a report,” Karvel said.
Haskins nodded.
“What can he possibly have to report? He doesn’t even know what the problem is.”
“Does anyone?” Haskins asked. “What’s your interpretation of those symbols?”
“I think they’re a calendar.”
Haskins whirled, and received a sharp rap on the shin from the wheel chair. He stooped and rubbed his leg vigorously, but there was more amazement than pain in the stare he directed at Karvel. “Calendar?”
“I think three of those instruments work in conjunction to select the U.O.’s destination. When I asked about ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ I was thinking of movement forward or backward in time.”
Haskins gave his shin a final rub and straightened up with a smile. “At least you’re consistent. You’ll have to admit, though, that the professor’s objection is valid. If the controls measured time, the symbols on either side of the norm would exhibit similarities. Five centuries forward or five centuries backward. That sort of thing.”
“Nonsense. If the central symbol represented the year 2500—and I’m not suggesting that it does—the forward count would be six, seven, and eight, and the backward count four, three, and two. Where’s the similarity?”
“Eventually—”
“Eventually, nothing. Our numerical system builds from its simplest components, so we have a pattern of repetition neatly organized by tens. The U.O.’s numerical system uses an individual symbol for each number, without any repetition. Offhand I’d say it would be a difficult system to learn, but that wouldn’t bother the people who built the U.O. because they’re so much smarter than we are.”
Haskins grinned at him. “You’re in good form today, Major. Come along to my meeting, and shake up the security officer.”
Karvel waved a hand, and Ostrander obediently turned the chair toward the partitioned office at the end of the hangar.
Except for Haskins it was to be a military meeting, and Colonel Stubbins was waiting impatiently for him in the doorway. Karvel said softly to Ostrander, “Go have a smoke, Phinney. If the higher ups’ subconscious minds ever get you linked with me, your career will be blighted.”
Haskins chuckled, and placed a hand on the wheel chair. “Go ahead, Lieutenant. I’ll look after Major Karvel. They won’t want to let you in anyway, and since you’re in my party I’d have to insist, and a routine meeting isn’t that important. I’d rather save my ammunition.”
Haskins pushed the chair through the doorway, and Colonel Stubbins followed them and closed the door with a bang.
None of the six officers present paid any attention to Karvel, and he paid very little attention to the meeting. The security officer, a Captain Meyers, delivered a long report, replete with statistics on sentries and security checks and clearance cards and who owned them, and a new cover plan he was working on to replace one that had apparently been under severe criticism. Karvel’s mind wandered back to the U.O. instrument panel, and he was startled, many minutes later, to hear his name spoken.
“We seem to have lost Major Karvel,” Colonel Stubbins said dryly. “I am in the process of polling those present to see if they have any comments, Major. I apologize for the interruption.”
“That’s perfectly all right, sir,” Karvel said, ignoring the undercurrent of laughter that circled the room. “I fully approve of these elaborate security precautions, even though I don’t agree with the reason for them. If the Russians actually wished that U.O. onto us, as some of you seem to believe, I can’t see them wasting time and risking agents to break
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