"Interplanet. We'll be run right out of business if this thing goes over to Kingman and that bunch."
"I know."
"Look, Don, have you tried living matter?"
"Plants go through with no ill effects. Microscopic life does, too. Animals we have tried died because of internal disorders—they move while being scanned, and their bodies come out looking rather ugly. An anaesthetized mouse went through all right—lived for several hours. Died because the breathing-function made a microscopic rift in the lungs, and the beating heart didn't quite meet true. We must speed up the scanning-time to a matter of microseconds and then we can send living bodies with no harm."
"That would clean out the space lines," said Keg. "I think I'll offer that bird a slice of Interplanet for an interest if he wins. We've got to have it, Don."
"I know, Keg. No hard feelings."
"Of course," said Keg wistfully. "We'll be across a barrel if you win, too. But the barrel will be less painful with you holding the handles than if Terran Electric holds them. The same offer goes for you, too."
"O.K.," nodded Channing. He turned and entered the courtroom.
Tinken called Don Channing to the stand as his first witness. Don explained the function of Venus Equilateral, the job of interplanetary communications, and their work along other lines of endeavor. Then Tinken said to the judge:
"I have here a glass cube, three inches on a side. This cube was transmitted from Venus Equilateral to the Lunar Station. I offer it as exhibit A. It was a test-sample, and as you see, it emerged from the test absolutely perfect."