"He wants to control communications."
"With the sub-electron beams we now have, he could do it on far less Station for some time. Not perfectly, but he'd get along."
"Fine future," gritted Channing. "This is a good time to let this project coast, Walt. We've got to start in from the beginning and walk down another track."
"It's easy to say, chum."
"I know it. So far, all we've been able to do is to take energy from the solar intake beams and spray it out into space. It goes like the arrow that went—we know not where."
"So?"
"Forget these gadgets. Have Charley hook up the solar intake tubes to the spotter and replace the cathodes with pure thorium. I've got another idea."
"O.K., but it sounds foolish to me."
Channing laughed. "We'll stalemate him," he said bitterly, and explained to Walt. "I wonder when Murdoch will come this way?"
"It's but a matter of time," said Walt. "My bet is as soon as he can get here with that batch of fresh rats he's collected."