Part 17 (1/2)
King looked froton The astronomer showed momentary indecision, then protested: ”I have no objection at allAs aif you did sit in on it”
”I don't knohat it is, Captain,” observed King, ”that you want to see me about, but Dr Lentz is already here in a confidential capacity”
”Good! Then that's settled I'll get right down to business Dr King, you know Destry's mechanics of infinitesi, who chose to ignore it
”Yes, of course Do you remember theorem six and the transformation between equations thirteen and fourteen?”
”I think so, but I'd want to see theton stayed him with a hand
”Don't bother I have them here” He hauled out a key, unlocked his briefcase, and drew out a large, much-thumbed, loose-leaf notebook ”Here
You, too, Dr Lentz Are you familiar with this development?”
Lentz nodded ”I've had occasion to look into thereed that the step between thirteen and fourteen is the key to the whole e from thirteen to fourteen looks perfectly valid - and would be, in some fields But suppose we expand it to show every possible phase of the ”
He turned a page and showed them the same two equations broken down into nine interroup of mathematical symbols ”Do you see that? Do you see what that i studied it, his lips”YesI believe I do see Odd
I never looked at it just that way before - yet I've studied those equations until I've drearee, Doctor?”
Lentz nodded slowly ”I believe soYes, I think I ton should have been pleased; he wasn't ”I had hoped you could tell ,” he said, almost petulantly, ”but I'm afraid there is no further doubt about it Dr Destry included an assumption valid in molar physics, but for which we have absolutely no assurance in atomic physics I suppose you realize what this 's voice was dry whisper ”Yes,” he said, ”yes - It means that if that boo up all at once, rather than the way Destry predicted - and God help the huton cleared his throat to break the silence that followed
”Superintendent,” he said, ”I would not have ventured to call had it been sireement as to interpretation of theoretical predictions - ”
”You have soentle exclusively preoccupied with epheht - but we still have so as it doesn't cut into the appropriation My special interest has always been lunar theory
”I don't mean lunar ballistics,” he continued ”I in and history, the probleled with, as well as my illustrious predecessor, Captain TJJ See I think that it is obvious that any theory of lunar origin and history must take into account the surface features of the Moon - especially the mountains, the craters, that mark its face so prominently”
He pausedput in: ”Just a minute, Captain - I , but - is there a connection bete were discussing before and lunar theory?”
”Bear with ized ”There is a connection - at least, I'm afraid there is a connection - but I would rather presentranted hih we are in the habit of referring to the craters of the Moon, we know they are not volcanic craters Superficially, they follow none of the rules of terrestrial volcanoes in appearance or distribution, but when Rutter caraph on the dynay, he proved rather conclusively that the lunar craters could not be caused by anything that we know as volcanic action
”That left the boood, on the face of it, and a fewpebbles into a patch of mud will convince anyone that the lunar craters could have been for meteors
”But there are difficulties If the Moon was struck so repeatedly, why not the Earth? It hardly seems necessary to ainst h to form craters like Endymion or Plato And if they fell after the Moon was a dead world while the Earth was still young enough to change its face and erase the marks of bombardreat dry basins we call lunar seas?