w to make it--via a history book. We don't
invent it. They tell us--from the history book. Now imagine for me how
that transmitter got invented!"

"You're quibbling," snapped Howell. "You're refusing to face a fact
because you can't explain it. I say face the fact and then ask for an
explanation!"

"Why not ask them," said Graves, "how to make a round square or a
five-sided triangle?"

* * * * *

Sergeant Bellews pushed to a spot near Betsy. He put down his now-linked
Mahon machines and began to move away some of the recording apparatus
focused on Betsy.

"Hold on there!" said Howell in alarm. "Those are recorders!"

"We'll let 'em record direct," said the sergeant.

* * * * *

Lecky spoke feverishly in support of Bellews. But what he said was, in
effect, a still-marveling description of the possibilities of
Mahon-modified machines. They were, he said with ardent enthusiasm, the
next step in the historic process by which successively greater portions
of the cosmos enter into a symbiotic relationship with man. Domestic
animals entered into such a partnership aeons ago. Certain plants--wheat
and the like--even became unable to exist without human attention. And
machines were wrought by man and for a long time served him reluctantly.
Pre-Mahon machines were tamed, not domestic. They wore themselves out
and destroyed themselves by accidents. But now there were machines which
could enter into a truly symbiotic relationship with humanity.

"What," demanded Howell, "what in hell are you talking about?"

Lecky checked himself. He smiled abashedly:

"I think," he said humbly, "that I speak of the high destiny of mankind.
But the part that applies at the moment is that Sergeant Bellews must
not be interfered with."

He turned and ardently assisted Sergeant Bellews in making room for the
just-brought devices. Sergeant Bellews led flexible cables from them to
Betsy. He inserted their leads in her training-terminals. He made
adjustments within.

It became notable that Betsy's standby light took up new tempos in its
wavering. There were elaborate interweavings of rate and degree of
brightening among the lights of all three instruments. There was no
possible way to explain the fact, but a feeling of pleasure, of zestful
stirring, was somehow expressed by the three machines which had been
linked together into a cooperating group.

Sergeant Bellews eased him