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boxes around as if they were
heavy.
I pulled out the second schematic and the sketch of the file storage
hardware.
I can t do two more even with all the money in the world. I have to be
in business next year.
I won t need the second and third until Saturday.
That I can do. What s this one? Or can you tell me?
This one I know. It s called something like a perturbation replicator.
It replicates trouble? Why would you want something like that?
Not trouble. It s supposed to duplicate ghosts and suck the duplicate
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into Babbage disks.
That s trouble. Bruce shook his head. This is weird. No one would
believe me if I told them. He
looked at me and added, But I won t.
The other is some sort of electronic file conversion system. I pointed
to my crude drawing. I think
it converts fields into a storage protocol.
That looks more standard as if anything you have is really standard.
I like you, too. I nodded. I ll be back tomorrow.
Mornings like this, it feels just like ten years ago, and you know how I
feel about that. Bruce s
comments reflected the fact that he had never been that thrilled about
being a technician for the Spazi.
I know. Let s hope it s not.
It really is that bad, isn t it?
If you don t hear anything, don t ask.
It s that bad. You need some firepower?
I considered. No.
You can ask tomorrow.
I ll think about it.
I take it you want this first thing portable? How much power? How long
do you want it to operate?
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Page No 58
A spring trigger switch, I think, and as much power as will fit.
It s not going to fit under your coat. I can tell you that.
I suspected. I rose. Just like old times?
God, I hope not. Good luck, Johan.
I don t know as I can rely on luck now.
You never had the best.
I straightened up and left the drawings on his piled papers. Tell me
about it, Bruce.
I m sorry. That s not what I meant.
I know. But it still hurts. I forced a smile. I ll be back in the
morning. Eight o clock all right? I
know it s before you open, but ...
It ll be done then or not at all.
Let me buy some spare disks.
The highest-density ones, I assume.
Of course.
He bowed, and I paid and carried the case of disks back to the steamer, not
noting anyone strange.
That didn t mean much, although Bruce had been a techie, and no one paid
attention to the techies in
government, and they generally paid less attention to them out of
government. After all, what harm could
a technician do? Didn t they just do what they were told?
The pair of loons had taken flight or something by the time I passed the
Loon Lakes, and I got
stuck behind another vanEmsden tanker, also spotless but puffing gray smoke,
a sign that the boiler
burners were out of trim.
I got back to the university by quarter to ten, later than I had hoped
because I stopped by the New
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Bruges Bank to deposit the International Import cheque, which wouldn t
compensate for what I was
spending on hardware but might help. Then I rushed to the office, picking
up my messages in a quick
sweep.
My, you d think something important was about to happen, Gilda
observed acerbically.
I m sorry. Good morning, Gilda.
Good morning, Herr Doktor Eschbach.
I did say I was sorry.
Just like all men. You think a few sweet words make up for everything.
I caught the grin, and answered. Of course. That s what women want, isn t it?
Sweet words of
deception?
You are impossible. She arched an eyebrow.
No. Merely difficult.
Better Doktor duBoise than me.
I smiled.
You may go now, Herr Doktor.
I can see that I stand dismissed. With a nod, I made my way upstairs and
unlocked my office.
At last, he s actually late, said Grimaldi as he hurried past me for his
ten o clock. Will wonders
never cease?
Not these days.
After I unloaded my folder, I picked up the papers I had left and finished
grading the last handful,
then recorded the generally abysmal marks. I swallowed hard and looked at
the tests that needed to be
graded.
After a moment, I picked up the handset and dialed Llysette s
office/studio.
Hello. A student I have ...
This is Johan. I had to go to Zuider this morning to get some work done
on my difference engine. I
just got back.
I will call you in a few minutes.
Fine.
Click.
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Preoccupied or angry? She had been the one who had been busy the night
before.
I started in on the tests, which were, unfortunately, worse than the
papers, and I had read perhaps a
dozen when the wireset rang.
Johan Eschbach.
Johan. I am sorry, but the student ... oh, I was so angry! My fault, she
said it was. My fault that the
music she had not learned. My fault that she had not listened.
I m sorry.
Oh, I cannot stand it! It is my fault? They have no ... no responsibility
to learn? I should beat notes
into their thick little Dutch heads.
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You do sound angry.
Johan! I am not a child.
What can I say? They re lazy. I m grading a test, and half of them
didn t read the assignment.
Lazy! They should have been in Europe while Ferdinand s armies marched.
So lucky they are and
do not know it.
I did call to see about dinner.
I cannot, not all this week. I must beat notes and more notes. Oh, I
cannot stand it!
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