Chapter 12

The tech-man's  home was a small  two-story affair on the  Outskirts of thehuge, cubiform,  windowless affair  that dominated the center  of the city.
Mallow passed  from one  to the other  through an underground  passage, andfound  himself in  the silent,  ozone-tinged atmosphere of  the powerhouse.
For  fifteen minutes,  he  followed his  guide and  said nothing.  His eyesmissed nothing. His fingers touched nothing. And then, the tech-man said instrangled tones,  "Have you had enough?  I couldn't trust my  underlings inthis case.""Could   you  ever?"   asked   Mallow,  ironically.   "I've  had   enough."They were back in  the office and Mallow said, thoughtfully, "And all thosegenerators are in your hands?""Every  one," said  the tech-man,  with more  than a touch  of complacency.
"And you keep them running and in order?""Right!""And if they break down?"The tech-man shook his head indignantly, "They don't break down. They neverbreak down. They were built for eternity.""Eternity is a long time. Just suppose?
"It is unscientific to suppose meaningless cases.""All  right. Suppose  I  were to  blast a  vital  part into  nothingness? Isuppose  the machines  aren't immune  to nuclear  forces? Suppose I  fuse avital connection, or smash a quartz D-tube?""Well,  then,"  shouted the  tech-man,  furiously, "you  would be  killed.""Yes, I know that," Mallow was shouting, too, "but what about thegenerator? Could you repair it?""Sir," the tech-man howled his words, "you have had a fair return. You'vehad what you asked for. Now get out! I owe you nothing more!"Mallow bowed with a satiric respect and left.
Two days later he was back where the Far Star waited to return with him tothe planet, Terminus.
And two days later, the tech-man's shield went dead, and for all hispuzzling and cursing never glowed again.