"Then why did you look for it?"
"Because," said Marshall desperately, "we'd seen it in action. That is, we'd seen the result of its use."
"Yes," said the professor. He sucked on his lower lip and abstractedly watched his thumbs twiddle. "Pyrotic," he announced at last.
"I beg your pardon?" asked Marshall.
"Pyrotic," repeated the professor. "Yes? Yes. Pyrotic. Do you know what that is?"
"No," said Marshall.
"Good," said the professor. "Neither do I. But I have a theory. There are more theories than there are phenomena. That always happens. But listen to this theory. The mind reaches into the object on the molecular level, and adjusts the molecules, so. The temperature changes. Do you see?"
"Not exactly," said Marshall doubtfully.
"Neither do I. Never mind. I know lots of theories, none of them make any sense. But they all try to explain."
"If you say so," said Marshall.