Pegasus In Space
- Автор: Маккефри Энн
- Серия: Talents #3
- Язык: английский
- Жанр: Научная фантастика
Электронная книга - «Pegasus In Space». Краткое содержание книги:
For an overpopulated Earth whose resources are strained to the breaking point, there is only one place to look for relief: straight up. With the successful completion of the Padrugoi Space Station, humanity has at last achieved its first large-scale permanent presence in space. But there are those who, for motives of their own, want Padrugoi to fail. Standing in their way are the Talented, men and women gifted with extraordinary mental powers that have made them as feared as they are respected--and utterly indispensable to the colonization effort. Now, as sabotage and attempted murder strike the Station, it's up to the Talented to save the day. Only who is going to save the Talented?
Pegasus in Space is the tale of Peter Reidinger, first Tower Prime!
"Yes," Peter replied. "The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states that with subatomic particles it is not possible to observe its state without the energy used to make the observation causing a change in that state-if you shine a light on an electron, it will either change its speed or its orbit."
"Correct, " the professor said. "The effect of the observer is more profound, even. In the case of Schrodinger-and his poor unfortunate imaginary cat-an observer is required before an observation can be made."
"Like Schrodinger's cat-no one can know if the cat is dead or alive without actually opening the airtight box and looking," Peter agreed.
"Exactly," the professor replied entusiastically. "And we Talented people are very special observers. While nothing can be said to have happened without an observer, we, with our Talents, can make things happen the way we want them."
"So I teleport objects by wanting them to be where they need to go."
"Very good. But I would have said, we move objects by observing them to be in their new location," the professor corrected, nodding furiously.
"And telepathy?" Peter asked.
"Telepathy is even easier. It is purely a quantum-mechanical effect, " the professor said. "Telepaths think they are talking with someone, and that someone hears them-neural stimulation at the quantum mechanical level."
Peter's face lit up with understanding as he absorbed the professor's explanation. "Our Talents work because we want them to!"
"Exactly."
"And the gestalt generators?"
"They increase our ability to realize quantum-mechanical effects on a greater scale, as well as handling any specific energy concerns."
Peter frowned. "That doesn't explain why I get better results with some generators than others."
"To understand that, I would need to see your telemetry-some measurements," the professor replied.
Peter grinned. "I understand that you've been looking into this, and we have collected quite a lot of telemetry from our work up here on Padrugoi. I can download it to you now."
The professor glanced at his watch. "For you, Peter, I will make time to analyze the data. Let me clear my schedule while you commence the download."
Fifteen minutes later, Peter and Professor Gadriel were elbowdeep in their accumulated data.
"I see what you mean here, Peter, about the various loads," Professor Gadriel agreed, highlighting one section of a graph… "It certainly looks like everyone goes through a period of adjustment when they first join into gestalt with a generator."
"What I've been trying to understand, Professor, is why I can't get a correlation between graphs for different generators," Peter said.
"Please, Peter, it would be easier for me if you called me Tomas," Professor Gadriel said, smiling. "We are friends now, non?"
Peter swallowed. Professor Gadriel was easily twenty years his senior-but his ready smile was infectious. "Very well, Prof-Tomas. But if you look here," and Peter brought up multiple graphs in the lower window, "there seems to be no correlation. And without correlation-"
"We are missing something," Tomas interrupted. He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Some piece of data is not in our picture. Let's look at the data for General Greene."
"Very well," Peter agreed, rapidly graphing that data and displaying the results.
"Ha! I see something," Tomas said. He pointed to the graphs. "Look how much longer it takes General Greene to come into gestalt with these generators. Always he takes longer." Tomas tapped rapidly on his keyboard. "Here are my traces from my older gestalt circuitry. I am quicker, even than you," he noted. "Now why is that?"
"Some of these installations are newer than others," Peter noted. Quickly he ran up graphs of gestalt against installation date.
"Hmm, the correlation is not exact," Tomas said. He frowned thoughtfully, then brightened. "But some of these would have received newer circuitry. Where are the records?" His fingers flew over his keyboard again. "Ah, here. Let's see now." Peter's graph was rearranged on the screen. "Hmm, still not quite a perfect fit."
"Would all the newer circuitry be the same?" Peter asked.
Tomas shook his head. "No, almost every circuit is custom-built, an experiment. I've been working with smaller circuit paths, aiming for higher efficiencies. Your Padrugoi equipment is three or four generations old. And some of these other installations-pah!" He waved a dismissive hand. "Why, this one in Australia is ancient."
Peter groaned. "I got a headache every time I used it."
Tomas shot him a startled look. "Really? Headaches. This is something else we must consider. I recall a headache once, way back…" His voice faded away. "No, I cannot remember. Let me consult my notes." Again his fingers tapped on his keyboard. "You wouldn't believe the amount of silliness I am willing to record, Peter," Tomas said, shaking his head. "By the way, I am recording our work together now-is that a problem? I should have mentioned it earlier, but most of my colleagues already know my penchant for recording everything."
Peter shook his head. "No, sir. In fact, it makes quite a lot of sense."
Tomas grinned. "Good, I am glad you agree. I get someone else to deal with the words that the silly speech-to-text software still can't handle. Mostly, it's very good. But not as good as a-" His voice trailed off. "Ah, here it is. Yes, I had some trouble with your Australian generators, too. But my charts… Hmm. I was still faster than you or General Greene, with those machines."
"Perhaps you are more powerful or-"
"Nonsense! I know my limitations," Tomas cut him off. "There is no time for false modesty or bragging. We are dealing with science, Peter. There's a reason-probably a good one-why it is easier for me to form a gestalt than you." Realization dawned in Professor Gadriel's eyes. "Of course! I designed the circuitry and tested it. Why would I bother to give myself a headache when I could avoid it? Hmm, somehow the circuitry works best for me…" Tomas's words trailed away as he lapsed into thought once more.
"Maybe you tuned it-" Peter began.
"Voila!" Tomas shouted. "Or perhaps I should say, eureka! You are right, Peter. I most certainly did tune those circuits. How was I to know that I had tuned them best for me?"
"Would that explain the different times to achieve gestalt?" Peter asked.
Tomas shrugged. "Perhaps. Or the headaches. I would imagine that both are aspects of how well a particular telekinetic is in tune with the gestalt circuitry-but I imagine that some telekinetics are better at entering into gestalt than others, no matter how well the circuitry is tuned. We shall have to experiment."
"Great," Peter said. "When do we start?"
Tomas threw up his hands. "Peter, you are unquenchable. We have been at this now for-zut alors!-seven hours, and you want to start running experiments?"
Peter looked abashed. "Sorry, Professor, it's just that-"
"I know, my young friend, youth has no patience," Tomas said. "But I will need some time to think this over and build new circuitry."
"I'm sorry," Peter once again felt obliged to apologize.
"You should not be!" Professor Gadriel responded hotly. "We have made great strides this day, you and I. When we are done… who knows? But now I must report this to my superiors-I will need to draw a lot of new equipment." When Peter made to speak again, Tomas cut him off. "Do not worry-I shall have no problem getting it. Let me have some time to sort things through-I shall contact you again as soon as I have more."
Peter caught Johnny showering, too excited to wait a single minute in sharing that incredible conversation and its rewards for them.
Well, one thing's sure, Gadriel's not all wet the way I am right now.
Sorry, Johnny.