Read Online The Martian War by Kevin J. Anderson - Free Book Online
Authors: Kevin J. Anderson
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understand how the two men could work together without coming to blows. “Unfortunately, sirs, there are still certain … inconsistencies in the formula. For instance, Herakleophorbia seems to promote a great deal of aggression in the subjects.”
Bensington would not be brushed aside so easily. “Yes, aggression—which is an advantage if we mean to create soldiers!”
“On the other hand, no one wants our pigs to become so vicious we cannot butcher them for their gigantic bacon!” Redwood added.
A few chuckles rippled across the audience.
With piercing squeaks, the enormous rats hurled themselves against the bars of the cages. One of the bars looked perilously loose, and Bensington signaled for the assistants to wrestle the swaying cages away. He sketched a quick bow to the prime minister and his cronies. “Nevertheless, you can certainly see the potential of Herakleophorbia.” He tugged Professor Redwood from the stage, beating a hasty retreat as the rats’ clamor grew louder.
For the next presentation, Dr. Hawley Griffin walked onto the stage. The eccentric chemist looked much tidier today: he was well groomed and wore a clean lab coat, but his expression shifted with extraordinary swiftness. Running hands through his bristly dark hair, Griffin presented his ideas about the military benefits of his experimental invisibility formula.
“Unseen soldiers could win every war, gentlemen. How could an enemy succeed in killing them, except by accident? Invisible spies could ferret out any secret, steal any document. Transparent assassins could slip in anywhere, kill any target. The possibilities are endless!” Griffin’s face was flushed. “He who possesses my invisibility formula could rule the world!”
Huxley stood abruptly to cut off the other man’s rant. “Ah, thank you very much, Dr. Griffin. None of us needs to be reminded that the aim of Britannia is to protect herself and carry on the burden of the Empire, not to conquer the world— as, perhaps, Kaiser Wilhelm wants to do.”
Without much subtlety, Huxley escorted the chemist away from the lectern, turning to smile reassuringly at Gladstone. “Dr. Griffin’s formulas have already succeeded in significantly increasing the transparency factor. Before long, he will have an effective demonstration. For now, ponder the applications andpossibilities, should his work come to completion soon.”
Next, Dr. Selwyn Cavor talked about his extremely lightweight alloy. “My demonstration sphere is fully armored and impenetrable to even the heaviest artillery shell, yet it weighs less than a hundredth of a similar vessel covered in iron plating.”
“A weightless ironclad? Amazing.” The admirals and generals were abuzz with excitement.
“Well … not entirely weightless yet, Mr. Prime Minister. However, I believe I’m on the cusp of making a material that is opaque to gravity itself, immune to the tug of the Earth.”
For hours, one by one, prominent researchers gave brief demonstrations of their schemes. Wells continued writing his furious notes, and all the listeners continued to be amazed.
A medical expert and bacteriologist named Philby spoke about isolating the deadly cholera bacillus. He had already separated, purified, and concentrated the germ, which he kept in a locked container in his laboratory. Hearing Philby’s scheme, one of the uniformed generals blew through his long moustache, then grumbled with anger. “This is preposterous! A truly horrendous means of waging war, and very ungentlemanly.”
“But is it not something we must consider?” Philby insisted. “One small vial contains more ammunition than a hundred thousand bullets. We must not blindfold ourselves to reality. Certainly the Germans have already considered such a thing.” The general was obviously sobered as he pondered the implications.
Late in the afternoon, the auditorium door opened with a loud crash. Everyone in the audience turned as a disheveled but
Bensington would not be brushed aside so easily. “Yes, aggression—which is an advantage if we mean to create soldiers!”
“On the other hand, no one wants our pigs to become so vicious we cannot butcher them for their gigantic bacon!” Redwood added.
A few chuckles rippled across the audience.
With piercing squeaks, the enormous rats hurled themselves against the bars of the cages. One of the bars looked perilously loose, and Bensington signaled for the assistants to wrestle the swaying cages away. He sketched a quick bow to the prime minister and his cronies. “Nevertheless, you can certainly see the potential of Herakleophorbia.” He tugged Professor Redwood from the stage, beating a hasty retreat as the rats’ clamor grew louder.
For the next presentation, Dr. Hawley Griffin walked onto the stage. The eccentric chemist looked much tidier today: he was well groomed and wore a clean lab coat, but his expression shifted with extraordinary swiftness. Running hands through his bristly dark hair, Griffin presented his ideas about the military benefits of his experimental invisibility formula.
“Unseen soldiers could win every war, gentlemen. How could an enemy succeed in killing them, except by accident? Invisible spies could ferret out any secret, steal any document. Transparent assassins could slip in anywhere, kill any target. The possibilities are endless!” Griffin’s face was flushed. “He who possesses my invisibility formula could rule the world!”
Huxley stood abruptly to cut off the other man’s rant. “Ah, thank you very much, Dr. Griffin. None of us needs to be reminded that the aim of Britannia is to protect herself and carry on the burden of the Empire, not to conquer the world— as, perhaps, Kaiser Wilhelm wants to do.”
Without much subtlety, Huxley escorted the chemist away from the lectern, turning to smile reassuringly at Gladstone. “Dr. Griffin’s formulas have already succeeded in significantly increasing the transparency factor. Before long, he will have an effective demonstration. For now, ponder the applications andpossibilities, should his work come to completion soon.”
Next, Dr. Selwyn Cavor talked about his extremely lightweight alloy. “My demonstration sphere is fully armored and impenetrable to even the heaviest artillery shell, yet it weighs less than a hundredth of a similar vessel covered in iron plating.”
“A weightless ironclad? Amazing.” The admirals and generals were abuzz with excitement.
“Well … not entirely weightless yet, Mr. Prime Minister. However, I believe I’m on the cusp of making a material that is opaque to gravity itself, immune to the tug of the Earth.”
For hours, one by one, prominent researchers gave brief demonstrations of their schemes. Wells continued writing his furious notes, and all the listeners continued to be amazed.
A medical expert and bacteriologist named Philby spoke about isolating the deadly cholera bacillus. He had already separated, purified, and concentrated the germ, which he kept in a locked container in his laboratory. Hearing Philby’s scheme, one of the uniformed generals blew through his long moustache, then grumbled with anger. “This is preposterous! A truly horrendous means of waging war, and very ungentlemanly.”
“But is it not something we must consider?” Philby insisted. “One small vial contains more ammunition than a hundred thousand bullets. We must not blindfold ourselves to reality. Certainly the Germans have already considered such a thing.” The general was obviously sobered as he pondered the implications.
Late in the afternoon, the auditorium door opened with a loud crash. Everyone in the audience turned as a disheveled but
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