very well. He sought no glory; he wanted no credit for scientific invention. He was happy to remain unnoticed, in the background.
"Fascinating!" he exclaimed. "What a fertile mind you have, Professor."
"The demonstration model is filled with plain water only, of course. It holds exactly four liters. More than sufficient for the task."
"The perfect quantity," said Soren Similin. "And, I would guess, no heavier to wear than a thick winter coat. Has anyone tried it on?"
He asked as if it were a matter of no more than idle curiosity. Ortus signalled to one of his juniors.
"Put it on. Stand where we can see you."
The junior stood in the light of the main lamps, and the professor studied the effect, frowning. Similin looked down. He knew he need say no more. Not only did the bulging jacket attract immediate attention, it caused even the idlest observer to wonder what was stuffed inside it.
"Ah," said Ortus, his excitement fading.
"You think it might give rise to suspicion?" said Similin in his soft voice.
"It might."
"I'm afraid you may be right. Never mind. We keep thinking."
"Keep thinking!" In his disappointment, the scientist allowed his frustration to show. "I've been thinking day and night! I've prayed to the Radiant Power above for illumination, but it's got me nowhere. I tell you, it's impossible!"
"Nothing is impossible," said the secretary, "to a mind as brilliant as yours."
"Where has brilliance got me?"
"Now, please, Professor! I won't hear that! Who has done all this? Who has found a way to take the power of the sun and store it in liquid form?"
He gestured at the apparatus that surrounded them, from the simple bottle of water, up past the pipes and the tubes, to the glazed roof above, through which the moon was now shining.
"True," said Ortus, recovering his spirits a little. "It is, I admit, a historic breakthrough. Some might call it a triumph of pure scientific discovery. Not that anyone knows about it yet."
"Patience, Professor. The world will learn of your historic breakthrough when it is perfected. We have one last difficulty to overcome."
"One last impossibility!" cried the scientist in exasperation.
Soren Similin believed he had the answer. But it suited him to lead the proud scientist to suppose he was making this final discovery for himself.
"I have only the mind of a common man, Professor," he murmured. "I have none of your brilliance and originality. But I can listen and repeat. Perhaps if I were to remind us all of the elements of the problem, your keen intellect will cast some new illumination on our dilemma."
"I've been over it and over it," said the scientist with a sigh.
"Then for my own benefit, perhaps. To make sure I understand the situation, before I make my next report to the king."
"To the king. Yes, of course. Very well."
"First, the achievements." The secretary ticked the list off on his fingers. "You and your team have found a way to store the energy of the sun in plain water, in sealed containers."
"I have named it 'charged water,'" said Ortus with some pride.
"An apt name, Professor. This 'charged water' can be made to release its energy in the form of an explosion. A large enough quantity, we believe, could achieve our objective, which is to destroy the island of Anacrea."
"Four liters or more."
"Just so. And here is the brilliance of your discovery. The 'charged water' is harmless so long as it remains sealed. Once exposed to the air, the explosion is triggered. This means the weapon can be carried safely onto the island, then triggered at the time of the carrier's choice."
"Yes, yes, yes!" cried Ortus. "But that's where it all falls down! The island is closed to outsiders. It is watched and defended. How is the weapon to be carried onto the island? In the night, unable to sleep, I thought of the water-filled jacket. But look at it! It's laughable!"
"Allow me, Professor," said Soren Similin in his most soothing voice. "Allow me, in my slow and plodding way, to
"Fascinating!" he exclaimed. "What a fertile mind you have, Professor."
"The demonstration model is filled with plain water only, of course. It holds exactly four liters. More than sufficient for the task."
"The perfect quantity," said Soren Similin. "And, I would guess, no heavier to wear than a thick winter coat. Has anyone tried it on?"
He asked as if it were a matter of no more than idle curiosity. Ortus signalled to one of his juniors.
"Put it on. Stand where we can see you."
The junior stood in the light of the main lamps, and the professor studied the effect, frowning. Similin looked down. He knew he need say no more. Not only did the bulging jacket attract immediate attention, it caused even the idlest observer to wonder what was stuffed inside it.
"Ah," said Ortus, his excitement fading.
"You think it might give rise to suspicion?" said Similin in his soft voice.
"It might."
"I'm afraid you may be right. Never mind. We keep thinking."
"Keep thinking!" In his disappointment, the scientist allowed his frustration to show. "I've been thinking day and night! I've prayed to the Radiant Power above for illumination, but it's got me nowhere. I tell you, it's impossible!"
"Nothing is impossible," said the secretary, "to a mind as brilliant as yours."
"Where has brilliance got me?"
"Now, please, Professor! I won't hear that! Who has done all this? Who has found a way to take the power of the sun and store it in liquid form?"
He gestured at the apparatus that surrounded them, from the simple bottle of water, up past the pipes and the tubes, to the glazed roof above, through which the moon was now shining.
"True," said Ortus, recovering his spirits a little. "It is, I admit, a historic breakthrough. Some might call it a triumph of pure scientific discovery. Not that anyone knows about it yet."
"Patience, Professor. The world will learn of your historic breakthrough when it is perfected. We have one last difficulty to overcome."
"One last impossibility!" cried the scientist in exasperation.
Soren Similin believed he had the answer. But it suited him to lead the proud scientist to suppose he was making this final discovery for himself.
"I have only the mind of a common man, Professor," he murmured. "I have none of your brilliance and originality. But I can listen and repeat. Perhaps if I were to remind us all of the elements of the problem, your keen intellect will cast some new illumination on our dilemma."
"I've been over it and over it," said the scientist with a sigh.
"Then for my own benefit, perhaps. To make sure I understand the situation, before I make my next report to the king."
"To the king. Yes, of course. Very well."
"First, the achievements." The secretary ticked the list off on his fingers. "You and your team have found a way to store the energy of the sun in plain water, in sealed containers."
"I have named it 'charged water,'" said Ortus with some pride.
"An apt name, Professor. This 'charged water' can be made to release its energy in the form of an explosion. A large enough quantity, we believe, could achieve our objective, which is to destroy the island of Anacrea."
"Four liters or more."
"Just so. And here is the brilliance of your discovery. The 'charged water' is harmless so long as it remains sealed. Once exposed to the air, the explosion is triggered. This means the weapon can be carried safely onto the island, then triggered at the time of the carrier's choice."
"Yes, yes, yes!" cried Ortus. "But that's where it all falls down! The island is closed to outsiders. It is watched and defended. How is the weapon to be carried onto the island? In the night, unable to sleep, I thought of the water-filled jacket. But look at it! It's laughable!"
"Allow me, Professor," said Soren Similin in his most soothing voice. "Allow me, in my slow and plodding way, to
Similar Books
