helmet, and I put it on.
At first there was complete silence. Rhodes looked at me. I shook my head negatively. He fiddled with some knobs and then I was on the air.
The tall chimney of the University Library was now visible.
'My labs are to the West of that library spire up ahead,' I said.
'You mean on the vast science complex,' Rhodes said a little sadly.
'I'm afraid so; gone are the days of laboratories in dark smelly corners.'
'Hold on,' Rhodes said, with a mischievous smile on his face. The helicopter banked sharply and then turned upside down. In this mad attitude we progressed to the landing area within the science complex. Some students below pointed upwards. My head was full of blood, and my stomach began to feel rather unsettled. Rhodes somehow managed to get us the right way up before landing.
'Sorry about that,' Rhodes said as we got out of the helicopter. My legs felt like jelly. 'I used to be in the Acrobatics team when I first learned to fly,' came the sympathetic voice as Rhodes caught my arm. 'Which way?' he said.
I pointed in the direction of the lab, and set off with Rhodes in tow.
The door was locked. No students here today, I thought crossly to myself and pressed the key reader with my forefinger.
'Is that one of the new locks?' Rhodes asked, as the catch unmagnetized itself. I pushed the door open and we went in.
'Yes,' I said. 'Very simple and foolproof.' There's a small computer next to the main one on the complex here, which operates all or virtually all the locks.'
'What activates it?'
'Fingerprints, only those authorized have check prints in the computer which opens the door. Other people pressing the button only ring the bell,' I said proudly.
'What happens if someone else makes you press the button?'
'We have an emergency procedure which alerts the guard and also photographs the intruders, together with ,other subtle devices for identification,' I said, going over to my wall safe. Inside was the developing part of the camera. I took the exposed film, tore off the developing papers and there was a picture of Rhodes and myself.
'It's very good. Hope they hurry up and get these installed at the military base, then I'll know who's raiding my drink cupboard.'
While Rhodes looked round the lab, I took the new valve and the transparent tube containing a metallic wave guide, and started fitting them together.
'Fascinating place. Is this it?' Rhodes said, putting his finger on the tube.
'Yes. The object of this part of the equipment is to get the power matched into the wave guide.'
'Is the wave guide standard? I'm thinking about linking up with our aerial feed,' Rhodes asked.
'There'll have to be a tunable coupling unit, but I can provide that,' I said.
`Good. There appear to be no insuperable difficulties in getting it into one of our space destroyers. How long would it take to fit?' said Rhodes, doing some hand measurements.
The telephone started buzzing.
`I'll get it,' said Rhodes. He flicked the switch and the Chief of Staff came up on the screen.
'Colonel Rhodes. We've decided to send your stoup out immediately with the new radar equipment.' `Yes, sir.'
`Warboys, how long will it take you to fit?' 'Several days, I should think,' I replied.
`Fine, it is now 12.52. You will take off at 15.00 hours. Will this give you time?' said the Chief of Staff. 'Yes, I think so,' I said.
'Good. Colonel, you'll be responsible for anything Dr Warboys needs.'
'Yes, sir,' said Rhodes, then the phone went dead. 'Amazing. What would happen if the valve is no good?' I said.
'The Military don't worry about that. It's just got to work,' Rhodes said. He laughed at the look of dismay and horror spreading on my face. I'd just realized they were going to fire me into space.
FOUR
RHODES left the lab shortly after the conversation with his Chief of Staff, and went to Mildenhall to arrange for his own space craft to be brought by rail from Stansted. This way the rest of his group would take off
At first there was complete silence. Rhodes looked at me. I shook my head negatively. He fiddled with some knobs and then I was on the air.
The tall chimney of the University Library was now visible.
'My labs are to the West of that library spire up ahead,' I said.
'You mean on the vast science complex,' Rhodes said a little sadly.
'I'm afraid so; gone are the days of laboratories in dark smelly corners.'
'Hold on,' Rhodes said, with a mischievous smile on his face. The helicopter banked sharply and then turned upside down. In this mad attitude we progressed to the landing area within the science complex. Some students below pointed upwards. My head was full of blood, and my stomach began to feel rather unsettled. Rhodes somehow managed to get us the right way up before landing.
'Sorry about that,' Rhodes said as we got out of the helicopter. My legs felt like jelly. 'I used to be in the Acrobatics team when I first learned to fly,' came the sympathetic voice as Rhodes caught my arm. 'Which way?' he said.
I pointed in the direction of the lab, and set off with Rhodes in tow.
The door was locked. No students here today, I thought crossly to myself and pressed the key reader with my forefinger.
'Is that one of the new locks?' Rhodes asked, as the catch unmagnetized itself. I pushed the door open and we went in.
'Yes,' I said. 'Very simple and foolproof.' There's a small computer next to the main one on the complex here, which operates all or virtually all the locks.'
'What activates it?'
'Fingerprints, only those authorized have check prints in the computer which opens the door. Other people pressing the button only ring the bell,' I said proudly.
'What happens if someone else makes you press the button?'
'We have an emergency procedure which alerts the guard and also photographs the intruders, together with ,other subtle devices for identification,' I said, going over to my wall safe. Inside was the developing part of the camera. I took the exposed film, tore off the developing papers and there was a picture of Rhodes and myself.
'It's very good. Hope they hurry up and get these installed at the military base, then I'll know who's raiding my drink cupboard.'
While Rhodes looked round the lab, I took the new valve and the transparent tube containing a metallic wave guide, and started fitting them together.
'Fascinating place. Is this it?' Rhodes said, putting his finger on the tube.
'Yes. The object of this part of the equipment is to get the power matched into the wave guide.'
'Is the wave guide standard? I'm thinking about linking up with our aerial feed,' Rhodes asked.
'There'll have to be a tunable coupling unit, but I can provide that,' I said.
`Good. There appear to be no insuperable difficulties in getting it into one of our space destroyers. How long would it take to fit?' said Rhodes, doing some hand measurements.
The telephone started buzzing.
`I'll get it,' said Rhodes. He flicked the switch and the Chief of Staff came up on the screen.
'Colonel Rhodes. We've decided to send your stoup out immediately with the new radar equipment.' `Yes, sir.'
`Warboys, how long will it take you to fit?' 'Several days, I should think,' I replied.
`Fine, it is now 12.52. You will take off at 15.00 hours. Will this give you time?' said the Chief of Staff. 'Yes, I think so,' I said.
'Good. Colonel, you'll be responsible for anything Dr Warboys needs.'
'Yes, sir,' said Rhodes, then the phone went dead. 'Amazing. What would happen if the valve is no good?' I said.
'The Military don't worry about that. It's just got to work,' Rhodes said. He laughed at the look of dismay and horror spreading on my face. I'd just realized they were going to fire me into space.
FOUR
RHODES left the lab shortly after the conversation with his Chief of Staff, and went to Mildenhall to arrange for his own space craft to be brought by rail from Stansted. This way the rest of his group would take off
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