"But it seems to me that this would make everybody live in a world of plenty." "It will. That's why we'll have people sleeping in solid gold beds and enjoying solid silver plumbing. Platinum will have no more value than a slab of lead of the same weight. You see, Linna, when they can duplicate anything--in quantity--it includes money, stocks, bonds, and jewelry as well as radio receivers, automobiles, refrigerators, and table lamps. No one will take one dime's worth of money because it is valueless. Why should I sell my fountain pen for fifty dollars when I can make fifty dollars by pushing a button--or the other guy can make a fountain pen by pushing a button? Follow?" "But the public utilities? What of them?" "That's the cinder in the eye, Linna. Somebody's got to work!" "Well, I've heard it said that somebody will like to do everything--someone will find pleasure in digging latrines if you look for him long enough." "Not good enough. Barney Carroll likes to tinker with radio. He's good, too. But it is a hobby, and Barney's tinkering will not produce anything like a commercial receiver. Oh, it'll work, and as good as any set, but no one would have the thing in the living room because it has no artistic appeal. But say it did. Fine. Then what about the automobile boys? Has anyone ever tried to make his own automobile? Can you see yourself trusting a homemade flier? On the other hand, why should an aeronautical engineer exist. Study is difficult, and study alone is not sufficient. It takes years of practical experience to make a good aeronautical engineer. If your man can push buttons for his living, why shouldn't he relax?" "But what are we going to do?" * * * * * "Linna, I bought this place so that we could work it out. There is one thing that cannot be duplicated." "Yes?" "Service." "Meaning?" "You can't machine-clean the house. You can't machine-invent new gadgets. You can't machine-write books, music, or moving pictures. You can't machine-maintain machinery. You can't machine-doctor a burst appendix. And so forth. You can duplicate the antiques until they have no value. Rembrandt is going to be a household word. The day of the antique is gone, Linna, and the eventual trend will be to the _unique_. Mark my words, there will some day be unique shops that deal in nothing but items which they can certify as never having been duplicated." "But if service is of value," said Linna doubtfully. "How am I going to get along?" "You'll be of service," said Keg harshly, "or you'll not get along." "So?"