"Hogan, James P - The Genesis Machine p174-259" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hogan James P)

didnТt it cause us enough trouble trying to get ourselves away from all that? Now weТre tying ourselves in knots trying to set it all up again the way it was. It just doesnТt make any sense.Ф
УBut itТs not like it was, is it?Ф Aub answered. He obviously harbored few doubts. УLike Zim said, weТre talking to the right people now. We couldnТt have left things the way they were goingЧthey werenТt going anywhere at all. This way we look like we might end up back in business again. That canТt be all bad.Ф
УI just donТt like it. I donТt trust them, and I donТt like being mixed up with people I donТt trust. IТve seen too much of how they work.Ф
Aub clapped him encouragingly on the shoulder.
УMaybe youТre looking at it the wrong way. We got out before, sure, but they werenТt on our side then. Since then, weТve come a long way all on our own. Now weТve still got all that, but weТve got them on our side too. That changes everything. That bunch next door could fund Mark II by pooling their salaries. ThatТs what this is all about, donТt forget.Ф
УYouТre right, but I still donТt like it. . . .У Clifford didnТt seem cheered.
At that moment one of the police guards who had been posted outside the door of the Conference Theater came into the lounge and exchanged a few words quietly with Peter Hughes. Hughes nodded, stood up from the chair in which he had been sitting, fidgeting nervously, and spoke in a raised voice.
УWell, it looks as if this is it. The jury seems to have reached a verdict. I donТt think it would be appropriate for all of us to go crowding in, so if you donТt mind, IТll just take Al, Brad, and Aub. No doubt weТll see you all here when we come back out.Ф
УDo you think theyТll buy it?Ф Hughes muttered under his breath as they followed the burly figure of the guard back along the corridor.
УIf they do, IТll know to apply to IBM for my next job,Ф Aub replied cheerfully.
They went back into the Conference Theater and sat down facing the august gathering. William Foreshaw waited until the door had been closed before addressing them.
УFirst of all, I would like to express our appreciation for the efforts that you have made today. Any words I might choose to attempt to describe our impressions would be an understatement. Therefore IТll just settle for Сthank you all.ТФ A murmur of assent rippled round the rest of the delegation. Foreshaw continued. УSecond, weТd like Mr. Hughes to convey our appreciation back to 1SF headquarters in Geneva. We are gratified by this demonstration that an independent scientific organization will rise to meet its national obligations. And now, to business. First, I have one or two questions IТd like to ask. . . .У He paused and looked slowly from one to another of the four people sitting in front of him. There was a curious look in his eyes.
УWould it come as a surprise to you gentlemen,Ф he said at last, Уto learn that the same line of theoretical work is also being pursued elsewhere in this country? I should add that it has not progressed to anything near the things you have showed us today, but the basics are there.Ф
Nobody spoke. The Sudbury group looked slightly uncomfortable.
УThey ran into a problem,Ф Warren Keele supplied, more to ease the silence. УSome bum who was key to the whole thing walked out on them. TheyТre still trying to ungum the mess he left them with.Ф
УYou mean at ACRE,Ф Clifford said quietly. He never could stand pretense in any form.
Foreshaw looked disturbed. УHow do you know about ACRE?Ф he asked. Puzzled looks from around him punctuated the question.
УI used to work there. I was that bum.Ф
In the next fifteen minutes the story came out. Clifford and his colleagues had not intended to raise this issue, having determined to let the water that had flowed under the bridge go its way and to concentrate on the future. But the questions were insistent. As it became apparent just how much a key to the whole thing Clifford had been, and exactly how the mess had come about, the Defense SecretaryТs eyes hardened and his mouth compressed into a thin, humorless line.

УLooks like somebody goofed,Ф General Fuller mused when the meeting was finally over. The menace in his voice hinted strongly that the somebody wouldnТt do very much more goofing in future. Foreshaw completed the copious notes he had been making throughout, capped his pen, replaced it in his pocket, and closed the pad. He straightened up in his chair and regarded the scientists again, his change of posture signaling an end to that part of the proceedings.
УI think weТve heard all we need to for now on that topic,Ф he said. УWhat we do from here on is not a matter for this meeting. LetТs get back to the point.Ф He leaned forward and placed his elbows on the edge of the table.
УGentlemen, you have asked for our support and backing. We are unanimous in voting our total commit-
ment to expediting your work in any way we can. You tell us what needs to be done to get you moving at maximum possible speed. What is your biggest problem area right now?Ф
Morelli answered that one. УThe main bottleneck with the system as it stands at present is computer power. As I mentioned when I spoke this morning, the amount of processing you have to do to get just one of those images is fantastic. Until we can come up with a better way of extracting meaningful information from the raw data, weТre not going to move any faster than a snailТs pace. The rate of progress of the past six months isnТt the thing to go by; weТre up against different requirements now. ThatТs our biggest single problem.Ф
УWe had already gathered that,Ф Foreshaw nodded. УIt was one of the things we discussed while you were outside. We think we can help. For instance, what would you say if I were to offer to make a BIAC available?Ф
Morelli looked incredulous. Clifford and Aub gaped. Even Peter Hughes suffered a visible momentary loss of composure.
УA BIAC!Ф Morelli blinked as if trying to convince himself that he wasnТt dreaming. УI guess that would be . . . just fine. . . .У His voice trailed away for lack of an appropriate continuation. ForeshawТs expression remained businesslike, but his eyes were twinkling.
УVery well,Ф he said. УThatТs settled. It will be done. Now, Professor Morelli, are there any other things that look as if they could slow you down?Ф
УWell . . . there are one or two suppliers we seem to be experiencing difficulty with. IТve got a hunch that one or two people whom you might have some
I I I~ С..A~I ~ IVI~.I.,I III I~




influence over arenТt being as cooperative toward us as they could be.Ф
УDo you have details?Ф
Morelli slipped a wad of handwritten sheets of paper out of the folder he had brought in with him and began reciting the items in a monotone. He had gotten to number seven when Foreshaw stopped him, his face dark with anger.
УWait,Ф he said, taking his pen out again and opening his pad. УNow go back and start again would you please. I want the facts.Ф

УThereТs a Mr. Johnson on the line from WestonCarter Magnetic,Ф MorelliТs secretary called through from the outer office. УWhat dТyou want me to do?Ф
УPut him through,Ф Morelli shouted back. He turned away from the window through which he had been admiring the lake and, still humming softly to himself, returned to his desk and sat down facing the Infonet screen. Within seconds the features of Cliff Johnson, Sales Director of WCM, had materialized.
УAl,Ф he said at once, beaming. УHow are you? Hope IТm not calling at an awkward time. IТve got some good news.Ф
УIТll always listen to good news,Ф Morelli said. УShoot.Ф
УThose special transformers you wanted woundЧ we can do Сem inside two weeks.Ф He waited, looking slightly apprehensive as if he expected some embarrassing questions, but Morelli replied simply, УThatТs great. IТll have one of the guys get an order out today.Ф
УNo need, Al,Ф Johnson said. УIТll get a salesman from our Boston office to call in and collect it. That way he can check over the technical specs too. I wouldnТt want there to be any mistakes.Ф
I lie (~enesIs Macnine

УAs you say then,Ф Morelli shrugged. УThatТs by me.Ф
УFine. If there are any problems at all, call personally. Okay?Ф