Astounding Science Fiction (British Edition) — page 26: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

24 tough problem. We haven’t solved it yet. The projector actually projects two rays, which you might call A and B. They merge at a point about twenty feet in front of the projector and disassociate the atomic structure of any material in their path from there on. The maximum range is con- trollable, however. In empty space, A and B are harmless—until they unite. But there’s the chain-reaction feedback within an atmosphere and the disassociating effects of combined A and B follows the ununited A and B rays to their source—the ray genera- _ tor. The result is that the ship, and any material within a radius of one hundred feet, is transformed suddenly into a cloud of disassociated atoms. It was designed for protection against meteors in space, where there would be no feedback.” “IT hope we never have to use it against anything but meteors,’ the general said. “I’m a military man and the competent military leader wants a permanent victory. Should war ever come, we must avert defeat at all costs but a victory won with the dis- integrator rays, projected from a ship in space, would only sow the hatred for another war.” “Why do you say that?” Knight asked. “It’s a human characteristic to say of defeat at the hands of an enemy no better armed than’ you—and with greatly varying degrees of philosophi- cal acceptance—‘The fortunes of war.’ But Russo-Asia’s defeat by a disinte- grator ray, projected from an invul- nerable ship in space, would arouse the reaction: ‘It wasn’t a fair fight— we never had a chance.’ Victory would be ours, but victory by such a means would create a resentment and hatred that would be long in dying.” “IT can see your point, general,” Knight said. “But you do intend to ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION use the disintegrator if necessary, don’t you?” “We don’t want to have to use it, but we certainly shall if we’re forced to,” the General answered. He smiled faintly and added: “There’s an old saying, and a true one: “The very worst peace is better than the very best war.’ To that should be added an equally true fact: “The very worst victory is better than the very best defeat.’ ”” He looked at his watch, then at Clarke. “I’m afraid my time is running short, and I’d like to look through the ship before I go.” ““Of course,” Clarke said. He turned to Knight. “I’m sorry this came up to spoil your day, but we have to make up for the time George lost us. If you'll make the. check of the SD-FA blueprints, with Miss Martin’s as- sistance, we'll have the lost time made up by night. By the way’”—he looked toward the ASSEMBLY 1 door— “where did Miss Martin go?” ““She’s in with George, I think,” Knight said. “Probably already checked her share of the work,’’ Clarke said with an approving nod. “You have asuperb assistant in Miss Martin.” The four of them went into the ship and Knight walked across the concrete floor to the door of the assembly room, smiling at Clarke’s statement. June was a superb as- sistant, despite her. youth, but she was hardly the type to exercise her abilities when less important and more interesting things could be found to do. He opened the door to find her, as he had expected, busily pestering the stoic George. “Don’t you understand that one, either?” she~was asking. ‘Tell me what the point was.”’ George answered her without paus- ing in his deft assembly of the work Comichooksnco im