Barby reached up and seemed to pat her hair slightly. "I forgot," she admitted. "Now it's off."
Rick looked at Jan. "Could you hear me through Barby's phone while I was talking?"
Jan shook her head. "No, I couldn't. I was listening, too. These are wonderful, Rick."
He smiled his thanks. "One interesting thing, though. I should have known, but it didn't occur to me. The receivers are directional."
"What's that?" Barby asked.
"Directional. The antenna is a tiny coil. When it's broadside to the incoming signal, the volume is loudest, but when it's end on, the volume is much less. So, if you can't hear well, just turn sideways. Turn until the signal is loudest."
Scotty took his transceiver from his pocket and examined it with pride. It was no larger than a pack of playing cards, and its sensitive microphone was incorporated right into the case. The tiny antenna was a piece of stiff steel wire only two inches long. The whole gadget fitted easily into an inside coat pocket without a noticeable bulge.
Barby's rig was slightly different. The antenna ran along one edge of the plastic strip. At one end the microphone was in contact with her head just above the ear, allowing for transmission of voice by bone conduction, a new method developed by the United States Air Force. At the other end of the band a tiny speaker made similar contact. Rick had worried about the effectiveness of both mike and phone, since he had never used the types before, but the design had turned out very well.
"Pretty neat if we do say so," Scotty admitted modestly.
"For once I agree with you," Barby said generously. "Now what, Rick? There isn't anything more to do, is there?"