The Long Way By GEORGE O. SMITH Illustrated by Kramer [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Astounding Science-Fiction, April 1944. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] Don Channing stood back and admired his latest acquisition with all of the fervency of a high school girl inspecting her first party dress. It was so apparent, this affection between man and gadget, that the workmen who were now carrying off the remnants of the packing case did so from the far side of the bench so that they would not come between the director of communications and the object of his affection. So intent was Channing in his adoration of the object that he did not hear the door open, nor the click of high heels against the plastic flooring. He was completely unaware of his surroundings until Arden said: "Don, what off earth is that?" "Ain't she a beaut?" breathed Channing. "Jilted for a jimcrank," groaned Arden. "Tell me, my quondam husband, what is it?" "Huh?" asked Don, coming to life once more. "In plain, unvarnished words of one cylinder, what is that ... that, _that_?" "Oh, you mean the transmission tube?" "How do you do?" said Arden to the big tube. "Funny-looking thing, not like any transmitting tube I've ever seen before." "Not a transmitting tube," explained Channing. "It is one of those power transmission tubes that Baler and Carroll found on the Martian desert." "I presume that is why the etch says: 'Made by Terran Electric, Chicago'?" Channing laughed. "Not one found--there was only one found. This is a carbon copy. They are going to revolutionize the transmission of power with 'em." "Funny-looking gadget." "Not so funny. Just alien." "Know anything about it?" "Not too much. But I've got Barney Carroll coming out here and a couple of guys from Terran Electric. I'm going to strain myself to keep from tinkering with the thing until they get here." "Can't you go ahead? It's not like you to wait." "I know," said Channing. "But the Terran Electric boys have sewed up the rights to this dinkus so tight that it is squeaking. Seems to be some objection to working on them in the absence of their men." "Why?" "Probably because Terran Electric knows a good thing when they see it. Barney's latest 'gram said that they were very reluctant to rent this tube to us. Legally they couldn't refuse, but they know darned well that we're not going to run power in here from Terra--or anywhere else. They know we want it for experimentation, and they feel that it is their tube and that if any experimentation is going to take place, they're going to do it."