Mindsucker

Porter watched the secretary's face while she sat working at her computer.  He was sure he'd be able to tell when it happened -- and he could.  Her face went slack just for an instant, her eyes losing focus.

"You can go in now, Mr. Mills."

"Thank you!"

Porter walked to the heavily gilded portal, and stepped through.  His ears were immediately assaulted with quiet.  It never ceased to amaze him how noisy the world was, and you never noticed it until you were called to the Premier's Office.  It commanded a hushed reverence that gave the Premier the upper hand in all affairs of state.

Porter, of course, expected the feeling, and relished in it.  After all, it was effected by a machine of his creation, the Qzone 2.  He'd been so handsomely rewarded for its creation that he was set for life.  The Premier had paid for all rights, so that no other head of state could later upstage him.  Then he'd hired Porter as his personal research specialist, so no new innovations would go unnoticed.

"Porter, so very nice to see you!"  The Premier's appreciation was genuine.

"Hello, Rafe, How is the family?"  He despised small talk, but Rafe expected it so he played the game.

"Just fine, Porter.  I worry that you isolate yourself so thoroughly, you really do need a family."  They both knew it was a lie -- the Premier was delighted that Porter had no outside distractions.

"My inventions are my family, want to see pictures?"  Porter had to grin at the sudden flash of shock, then the grimace of realization that it was a joke.

"Sometimes I think you're trying to give me a heart attack."  Rafe chuckled, motioning toward a comfortable chair.  "Here, sit close by my desk.  What do you have for me today, Porter?"  His mindprobe was stroking, searching, but Porter had designed the technology, and his blocker was exceedingly more powerful.

Rafe was delighted at the expression of disdain that crossed Porter's face.  "You know that I have to try," his voice was soothing now, "I need the practice."  He winked at Porter, and waited.

Porter leaned forward, frowning. "I'm sure you recall the intelligence reports we've  gathered on the newly discovered planet in the Halstien Quadrant?"

"Of course!"

"I have new information that is quite disturbing."

"Oh?"  The Premier frowned.  "It will be decades before we can complete any sort of occupation fleet.  What disturbs you about these primitive barbarians?"

"Their research and development fields have suddenly blossomed.  At the present rate of increase, they could become a great deal of trouble to us before we can establish any sort of military presence in the quadrant.  A confrontation in the future could cost us a great deal -- both in lives, and in our public backing.  Even if we won the battle, it would be disastrous to our exploration program."

Rafe's face had gone ashen.  "What are you proposing here?  Should we abandon our exploration in the Halstien Quadrant?  Make it off limits?  I wouldn't like carrying that proposal to the Committee.  You know how that would delight Admiral Argeden."

"Bah!"  Porter spat the word.  "Argeden's a fool!  I have something new for you, Mr. Premier.  It should do the trick."

"Oh?"  Rafe's eyebrows danced their own query.

"I have the prototype right outside, if you'd like to see it.  It's really quite an amazing device."

"Excellent!  Why don't you have it brought in?"  The Premier's interest was genuine, but Porter immediately recognized the glint in his eyes.

"Ah, but I wouldn't dream of giving such an order in your office, my Premier.  Perhaps you should summon them.  They simply await your secretary's nod."  Porter wasn't about to drop his mindshield to send a simple command.

"As you wish."  Rafe's chuckle almost hid the sigh in his voice.  One day he hoped to catch Porter unaware.  It was more of a challenge than an advantage.  There was no mind more tantalizing than the creator of the technology himself.

Two technicians trundled the shrouded device into the Premier's office, then glanced toward Porter.  At his nod, they bowed, and left the room.  Porter stood, and walked to the device.  It was only waist high, and disappointingly small to Rafe, who fancied machines of grandiose proportions.

"This," said Porter dramatically, "is the Mindsucker."  He pulled the shroud loose and dropped it to the floor.  The device was a simple box with a few knobs, and a large cathode ray tube in the center.

"Mindsucker?"  Rafe's look was doubtful, despite the knowledge of his friend's genius.  "Is that possible?"

"Oh yes!"  exclaimed Porter.  "This little beauty, once I give the plans to my agent on the planet, will be manufactured right there amongst their own people.  When energized, it will draw their attention from any part of the building.  It will become a status symbol, with everyone striving to own it.  They will be mesmerized and immobilized by it.  It will shape the minds of the very young, act as an opiate to the adult.  It will dull their imaginations, stifle creativity, reduce production, waste time, cause muscular atrophy, and interrupt the entire sociological structure of the family beyond recovery.  Believe me, by the time we arrive, they will still be extremely backward in their intelligence."

"Amazing!"  whispered Rafe.  "What will you call it?  It certainly can't be called a Mindsucker.  People would never buy it."

"Oh, I've already got a name picked out," offered Porter.  "I'm going to call it Television."

DWD 00