Part 9 (2/2)

”You created matter. We can destroy it but we cannot create it.

”What we ordinarily call matter is just a marker, a sign that there are those energy-fields. Each bit is surrounded by a gravitational field.

The bit is just the marker of that gravitational field.

”But that seems to be wrong. This artificial matter of yours seems also a sort of knot, for you make all three fields, combine them, and have the matter, but not, very apparently, like normal matter. Normal matter also holds the fields that make it. The artificial matter is surrounded by the right fields, but it is evidently not able to hold the fields, as normal matter does. That was why your matter continually disintegrated to ordinary energy. The energy was not bound properly.

”But the reason why it would blow up so was obvious. It did not take much to destroy the slight hold that the artificial matter had on its field, and then it instantly proceeded to release all its energy at once. And as you poured millions of horsepower into it all day to fill it, it naturally raised merry h.e.l.l when it let loose.”

Arcot was speaking eagerly, excitedly.

”But here is the great fact, the important thing: It is artificially created in a given place. It is made, and exists at the point determined by these three coordinated dials. It is not natural, and can exist only where it is made and nowhere else--obvious, but important. It cannot exist save at the point designated. Then, if that point moves along a line, the artificial matter must follow that moving point and be always at that point. Suppose now that a slab of steel is on that line. The point moves to it--through it. To exist, that artificial matter _must_ follow it through the steel--if not, it is destroyed. Then the steel is attempting to destroy the artificial matter. If the matter has sufficient energy, it will force the steel out of the way, and penetrate. The same is true of any other matter, lux metal or relux--it will penetrate. To continue in existence it must. And it has great energy, and will expend every erg of that energy of existence to continue existence.

”It is, as long as its energy holds out, absolutely irresistible!

”But similarly, if it is at a given point, it must stay there, and will expend every erg staying there. It is then immovable! It is either irresistible in motion, or immovable in static condition. It is the irresistible and the immovable!

”What happens if the irresistible meets the immovable? It can only fight with its energy of existence, and the more energetic prevails.”

Chapter X

IMPROVEMENTS AND CALCULATIONS

”It is still incredible. But you have done it. It is certainly successful!” said the Talsonian scientist with conviction.

Arcot shook his head. ”Far from it--we have not realized a thousandth part of the tremendous possibilities of this invention. We must work and calculate and then invent.

”Think of the possibilities as a s.h.i.+eld--naturally if we can make the matter we should be able to control its properties in any way we like.

We should be able to make it opaque, transparent, or any color.” Arcot was speaking to Morey now. ”Do you remember, when we were caught in that cosmic ray field in s.p.a.ce when we first left this universe, that I said that I had an idea for energy so vast that it would be impossible to describe its awful power?[1] I mentioned that I would attempt to liberate it if ever there was need? The need exists. I want to find that secret.”

[Footnote 1: Islands of s.p.a.ce.]

Stel Felso Theu was looking out through the window at a group of men excitedly beckoning. He called the attention of the others to them, and himself went out. Arcot and Wade joined him in a moment.

”They tell me that Fellsheh, well to the poleward of here has used four of its eight shots. They are still being attacked,” explained the Talsonian gravely.

”Well, get in,” snapped Arcot as he ran back to the s.h.i.+p. Stel Felso hastily followed, and the _Ancient Mariner_ shot into the air, and darted away, poleward, to the Talsonian's directions. The ground fled behind them at a speed that made the scientist grip the hand-rail with a tenseness that showed his nervousness.

As they approached, a tremendous concussion and a great gout of light in the sky informed them of the early demise of several Thessians. But a real fleet was cl.u.s.tered about the city. Arcot approached low, and was able to get quite close before detection. His ray screen was up and Morey had charged the artificial matter apparatus, small as it was, for operation. He created a ball of substance outside the _Ancient Mariner_, and thrust it toward the nearest Thessian, just as a molecular hit the _Ancient Mariner'_s ray screen.

The artificial matter instantly exploded with terrific violence, slightly denting the tremendously strong lux metal walls. The pressure of the light was so great that the inner relux walls were dented inward.

The ground below was suddenly, instantaneously fused.

”Lord--they won't pa.s.s a ray screen, obviously,” Morey muttered, picking himself from where he had fallen.

”Hey--easy there. You blinked off the ray screen, and our relux is seriously weakened,” called Arcot, a note of worry in his voice.

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