“As things stand today, if so much as a whisper leaks out that you have accomplished instantaneous matter-transmission, we’ll be facing a financial breakdown that will make the Great Depression of fifty years ago look like a boom. Since we have no guarantee that the secret can or will be kept--no offense, gentlemen and Miss Alderman--both Mr. Harris and I feel we are going to have to put the entire SPR Antarctica Base under security wraps. “Mind you, this is only a temporary fiat, as yet unbacked by either UN or United States mandate. But, in view of the appalling potential of your discovery, both Mr. Harris and I feel that no other steps will suffice.” Hamilton _shushed_ an irate Sven Ryan, who looked ready to do battle with his fists. He stepped forward, wishing fugitively that he didn’t have to look up to the financier. Turning to Harris, he said, “Ian, do you really want to clamp down on SPR?” The Englishman looked miserable--but helpless. He said, “I detest the step and you know it. But what else is there to do, old man?” Hamilton sighed. “Instead of suppressing knowledge--a step that has never worked for long in all history--why don’t you prepare the world to accept this new miracle?” Forsythe boomed, “It’s too big a risk, Park. They’ll never adjust to the idea without a bad crash. This is going to take _years_ of preparation. It’s like asking Australian bushmen to drive helicars in New York overhead traffic.” “Perhaps it’s not as big a jump as you fear,” said Hamilton quietly. “Charley, you’ve been looking for a loophole to crack down on SPR--pardon the scrambled metaphor--all your life. You’re jumping at the chance to suppress something you can’t control. Ian, you’re not really frightened--you’re being lazy. You are afraid of the work that has to be done.” Stung, the Englishman said, “Possibly, Park. But consider the full implications of the ability to transport an endless flood of material across any ocean you wish--instantaneously. Why should any shipper on Earth even consider our present modes of transport?” “Because,” said Hamilton, with a half-wink at an obviously bursting Sven Ryan, “the present modes of transport are the only means of getting their goods where they want them to go.” “What are you talking about?” Forsythe boomed. “But with our own eyes, we saw--” began Harris. Hamilton raised his hand. “You witnessed matter-transmission, never fear,” he told them. Then he went on to detail what the inventor had told him in the helirocket, adding a detail or two he knew himself. “So you see,” he concluded, “to transmit matter over any distance would mean the building of immense towers and loading platforms. The transmitter cannot send through the curve of the Earth. And it cannot be bounced off the Heavyside Layer.” Forsythe and Harris exchanged puzzled glances. It was the UN official who said, “Then you mean the device is impractical? If it is, what are we so excited about?”