"Burstein, Michael A - Broken Symmetry" - читать интересную книгу автора (Burstein Michael A)

"Kristin," Ray said, "I'd like you to meet Louis Reichen, of the Department of
Energy."
Kristin closed the door behind her and approached Reichen. He was a small man,
about the same height as Kristin, with a tiny mustache that looked like a
chocolate stain, even up close. Kristin sensed trouble. Most people from the DOE
showed up in plaid shirts and jeans, scientists interested in getting down to
work on some project. This fellow looked like a businessman. He shook her hand
firmly, then turned back to Ray, who sat behind his desk.
"As I was saying, Dr. Shwartz, the people back in Washington are getting
restless, and they've sent me to look into things here."
Ray looked at Kristin. "Dr. Anderson, would you please tell Mr. Reichen the
current status of the SSC?"
Caught off guard, Kristin mumbled, "Uh, yeah," and then filled Reichen in on
their problems in getting data. "But I think I've --"
"Thank you, Doctor," Ray interrupted. "Now, Mr. Reichen. I know this seems bad,
but we've only been running it for about a year now. There's bound to be
problems until the accelerator has gone through a shakedown phase."
"'Shakedown phase,'" Reichen echoed. "You've had ten years to build this thing,
Dr. Shwartz. Any problems you might have had during a 'shakedown phase' must
surely have been foreseen."
"Not necessarily," Ray said. "When you're dealing with an experiment as large as
this, there are bound to be certain unknown factors -- until you actually run
the experiment, that is -- that can't be predicted beforehand."
In fact," Kristin said, "that's exactly how some of the greatest discoveries in
science got made. X-rays. Vulcanized rubber. The --"
"Yes," interrupted Reichen, "but none of those things cost as much as this
contraption. Dr. Shwartz, do you know what they're calling this -- this fiasco
in Congress? 'The Ten Billion Dollar Hole in the Ground' is the least of it. I
wouldn't want to tell you what I've heard them call it in back room
discussions."
Reichen picked up his briefcase. "Don't get me wrong. I'm DOE; I support the
collider, and want to see it working. But my hands are tied. If you can't show
me positive results, and demonstrate to Congress that this thing is more than
just a big failure -- well, I'll have to tell them so, and they'll kill it."
Ray looked at the top of his desk. "What if I could show you those 'positive
results' you want?"
"Well..."
"Look." Ray consulted a small calendar at the top of his desk, then glared at
Kristin. He said, "It just so happens that we have a run scheduled for tomorrow.
Why don't you come watch, and you can judge for yourself. I promise you that
we'll get 'positive results,' as you put it."
Reichen nodded slowly. "That would be acceptable. I'll leave the number of my
hotel with the project secretary. I just hope you do have something to show me."

They watched Reichen leave the room, and as soon as the door closed behind him
Kristin glared back at Ray. "There is no run scheduled for tomorrow."
"There is now."
Kristin sat down. "How are you going to ensure positive results?"
"I'll go out to the collider and tell it that Congress has ordered it to work
smoothly tomorrow." They laughed. Ray continued, "Hey, it worked for the space