d by the attempt of the fabric to
smooth itself until set into motion again by a force greater than that
of inertia--for inertia, then, is the attempt of the fabric of space
to smooth itself.

"Quite possibly," Mike was speaking very slowly now as he mocked up
and watched the forces of this inertia, "matter itself is created out
of the fabric of space, and in its creation, in the stasis condition
that keeps it existing as a particle rather than dissolving back into
the original fabric, it creates the strain in the fabric--in
space--that will then seek to smooth itself so long as the particle
shall exist.

"Thus this, then, is inertia--the attempt of the fabric of space to
smooth itself; to get rid of the strain of the particle that has been
created from itself."

Ishie shook his head. "Not quite," he said, "but you're getting
close."

Mike shook himself like a dog coming out of water.

"Oh, well," he said. "Anyway, we've got a space drive--flea sized. Now
the question before the board becomes, just what are we going to do
with it? Turn it over to the captain?"

"Confusion say," said Ishie, "he who has very little is often most
generous. But he who has huge fortune is very cautious about
dispersing it. Let's first be sure what we've got," he grinned slyly
at Mike, "before we become overgenerous with information."

Mike heaved a huge sigh of relief. He had been afraid he would have to
argue Ishie into this point of view.

"Speaking of math, Mike, you're no slouch at it yourself, if you
figured out all those orbit co-ordinates in your head, and arrived at
an exact figure on the amount of thrust. It would be very nice for our
future investigations if we had some method of putting the Cow to work
on this." The little physicist sat back, grinned knowingly, and
continued: "Where's your secret panel, Mike? We've got to keep this
information from going to anybody else."

[Illustration]

"Oh, I already--" Mike stopped. "I mean," he floundered, "uh ... how
did you know?" A foolish grin spread over his face. "It's right behind
you," he said. "And I've got it by voice," he said. "Just push the
switch in the corner and talk to it."

* * * * *

Ishie turned, glanced at the panel, and went over to the switch,
pushing it. "I wondered how you were concealing the teletype," he
said. "You mean you really talk to it?"

The Sacred Cow's voice came back. "Reference not understoo-od.
Ple-ease e