"I find that your laboratory has been changing the circuits without having previously informed me of the proposed change," complained Kingman. "I feel that I am within my rights in removing the tubes brought here. Your investigations have not been sanctioned--" he looked out through the air lock. "What are you doing out there?" "We have just succeeded in taking power from the sun," said Don. He tried to keep his voice even, but the exultation was too high in him, and his voice sounded like sheer joy. "You have been--" Kingman did a double-take. "You _what_?" he yelled. "Have succeeded in tapping Sol for power." "Why, that's wonderful." "Thank you," said Don. "You will no doubt be glad to hear that Wes Farrell was instrumental in this program." "Then a certain part of the idea is rightfully the property of Terran Electric," said Kingman. "I am afraid not," said Don. "Dr. Farrell's assistance was not requested. Though his contribution was of great value, it was given freely. He was not solicited. Therefore, since Terran Electric was not consulted formally, Dr. Farrell's contribution to our solar power beam can not be considered as offering a hold on our discovery." "This is true, Dr. Farrell?" "I'm afraid so. You see, I saw what was going on and became interested, academically. I naturally offered a few minor suggestions, in somewhat the same manner as a motorist will stop and offer another motorist assistance in changing a tire. The problem was interesting to me and as a problem, it did not seem to me--" "Your actions in discussing this with members of the Venus Equilateral technical staff without authorization will have cost us plenty," snapped Kingman. "However, we shall deal with you later." "You know," said Farrell with a cheerfully malicious grin, "if you had been less stuffy about our tubes, they might be less stuffy about my contribution." "Ah, these nonlegal agreements are never satisfactory. But that is to be discussed later. What do you intend to do with your invention, Dr. Channing?" Channing smiled in a superior manner. "As you see, the device is small. Yet it handles a couple of million watts. An even smaller unit might be made that would suffice to supply a home, or even a community. As for the other end, I see no reason why the size might not be increased to a point where it may obsolete all existing power-generating stations." Kingman's complexion turned slightly green. He swallowed hard. "You, of course, would not attempt to put this on the market yourself." "No?" asked Channing. "I think you'll find that Interplanetary Communications is as large, if not larger, than Terran Electric, and we have an enviable reputation for delivering the goods. We could sell refrigerators to the Titan Colony if we had the V-E label on them and claimed they were indispensable. Our escutcheon is not without its adherents."