Part 3 (1/2)

”There's nothing the matter with me that--”

”That beating this mess won't solve.” We hadn't heard Mel enter. He leaned casually against the door. ”Terrific idea for a story.”

I shrugged. ”Seems to be homecoming night.”

”Not quite,” he glanced at his watch, ”but wait another few minutes.”

He was right: Harry, out of breath, was the last of the GG to arrive.

”Now what?” I asked. ”Surely this meeting isn't an accident?”

Dex said thoughtfully, ”No, not really, but it is in the sense you mean.

We didn't agree to appear tonight. Yet logically, it's time for the temperature problem--well, I guess each of us came down to help.”

What could I do? That was the GG, characteristically, so we talked temperatures.

”What I was thinking,” Harry began slowly, ”was a sort of superthermostat.” Harry, as usual, came to the right starting point.

Frank smiled, ”That's right, especially considering layout. Venus and Mercury are hot; the others, cold. What about a control console that'll light when the rooms get outside normal temperature range? Then the operator--”

”Hey! Why an operator?” Mel questioned. ”We ought to make this automatic.” He grinned. ”Giant computer ... can see it now: the brain comes alive, tries to destroy anyone turning it off--”

I asked: ”Have you been _reading_ the stuff you write?” Funny enough for 3 A.M.

Dex said calmly, ”We _can_ work this--in fact, we can tie it in pink ribbons and forget it. An electronics outfit in Pasadena makes an automatic scanning and logging system. Works off punched-paper tape.

We'll code the right p.o.o.p, and the system will compare it with the actual raw data. Feedback will be to a master control servo that'll activate the heater or cooler. Now, we need the right pickup--”

I snapped my fingers. ”Variable resistor bridge. Couple of resistors equal at the right temperature. There'll be a frequency change with changing temperature--better than a thermocouple, I think.”

They looked at me as though I were b.u.t.ting in.

”You've been reading, too,” Dex accused. ”Ok, we'll use a temperature bulb. Trouble is, with this system, we'd better let it run continuously.

That'll drive costs up.”

Hazel asked, ”Can't we use the heat, maybe to drive a compressor? The sudden expansion of air could cool the rest. Harry?”

Harry hadn't time to answer.

”What'll this cost?” I snapped.

”Roughly, 15 to 18 thousand,” Dex replied.

”_What?_”

With fine impartiality, they ignored me completely. Harry continued, as though without interruption, ”Ye-es, I guess a compressor-and-coolant system could be arranged ...”

We broke up at 6 A.M. I took one of my pills, frowning at the bottle.