Hamilton reached for the watch, but Tinkin kept it.
"You may state your case—but it will make little difference in my ruling unless you can offer better evidence than your opponent."
"Thank you," said Tinkin. He made a show of winding the watch, and he set it accurately to the court clock on the wall. "Your honor, a telegram is a message. It requires energy for transmission. A letter also requires energy for carrying and delivery. A spacegram requires the expenditure of great energy to get the message across. The case in hand is this: If the energy is expended in maintaining the contact, then communications are involved. But when the energy is expected to be used on the other side—and the energies transmitted are far above and beyond those necessary for mere maintenance of contact, it then may be construed that not the contact but the transmittal of energy is desired, and power transmission is in force."
Tinkin swung Hamilton's watch by the chain.
"The matter of sending flowers by telegram is not a matter of taking a bouquet to the office and having the items sent by electricity to Northern Landing. A message is sent—an order to ship or deliver. It makes no difference whether the order be given in person or sent by spacegram. It is a communication that counts. In this device, a communication is sent which directs the device to produce a replica of the transmitted object. Ergo it must fall under the realm of communications. I will now demonstrate this effect, and also one other effect which is similar to telegraphic communications."
Tinkin ignored Hamilton's outstretched hand, and put the watch in the cabinet. Hamilton roared, but Tinkin held up a hand to stop him. "I assure you that this will cause no ill effects. We have repaired the damage."
"For every minute of delay between now and the moment I receive my watch, I shall fine you one hundred dollars for contempt of court."