Houlihan's Equation Read online

andstop staring as if I were a snake returned to the Island."

  He shook his head and remained standing. "Have your say, Mr. Houlihan.And afterward we'll appreciate it if you'll go away and leave us to ourwork."

  "Well, now, your work," I said, and glanced at the spaceship. "That'sexactly what's got me curious."

  The others had edged in a bit now and were standing in a circle,intently staring at me. I took out my pipe. "Why," I asked, "would agroup of little people be building a spaceship here in America--out inthis lonely place?"

  Keech stared back without much expression, and said, "I've beenwondering how you guessed it was a spaceship. I was surprised enoughwhen you told me you could see us but not overwhelmingly so. I've runinto believers before who could see the little people. It happens everyso often, though not as frequently as it did a century ago. But knowinga spaceship at first glance! Well, I must confess that _does_ astonishme."

  "And why wouldn't I know a spaceship when I see one?" I said. "It justso happens I'm a doctor of science."

  "A doctor of science, now," said Keech.

  "Invited by the American government to work on the first moon rockethere at the nuclear propulsion center. Since it's no secret I can adviseyou of it."

  "A scientist, is it," said Keech. "Well, now, that's very interesting."

  "I'll make no apologies for it," I said.

  "Oh, there's no need for apology," said Keech. "Though in truth weprefer poets to scientists. But it has just now crossed my mind, Mr.Houlihan that you, being a scientist, might be of help to us."

  "How?" I asked.

  "Well, I might try starting at the beginning," he replied.

  "You might," I said. "A man usually does."

  Keech took out his own pipe--a clay dudeen--and looked hopeful. I gavehim a pinch of tobacco from my pouch. "Well, now," he said, "first ofall you're no doubt surprised to find us here in America."

  "I am surprised from time to time to find myself here," I said. "Butcontinue."

  "We had to come here," said Keech, "to learn how to make a spaceship."

  "A spaceship, now," I said, unconsciously adopting some of the oldmanner.

  "Leprechauns are not really mechanically inclined," said Keech. "Theirmajor passions are music and laughter and mischief, as anyone knows."

  "Myself included," I agreed. "Then why do you need a spaceship?"

  "Well, if I may use an old expression, we've had a feelin' lately thatwe're not long for this world. Or let me put it this way. We feel theworld isn't long for itself."

  I scratched my cheek. "How would a man unravel a statement such asthat?"

  "It's very simple. With all the super weapons you mortals havedeveloped, there's the distinct possibility you might be blowin' us allup in the process of destroying yourselves."

  "There _is_ that possibility," I said.

  "Well, then, as I say," said Keech, "the little people have decided toleave the planet in a spaceship. Which we're buildin' here and now.We've spied upon you and learned how to do it. Well--almost how to doit. We haven't learned yet how to control the power--"

  "Hold on, now," I said. "Leaving the planet, you say. And where wouldyou be going?"

  "There's another committee working on that. 'Tis not our concern. I wasinclined to suggest the constellation Orion, which sounds as though ithas a good Irish name, but I was hooted down. Be that as it may, my ownjob was to go into your nuclear center, learn how to make the ship, andproceed with its construction. Naturally, we didn't understand all ofyour high-flyin' science, but some of our people are pretty clever atgettin' up replicas of things."

  "You mean you've been spying on us at the center all this time? Do youknow, we often had the feeling we were being watched, but we thought itwas by the Russians. There's one thing which puzzles me, though. Ifyou've been constantly around us--and I'm still able to see the littlepeople--why did I never see you before?"

  "It may be we never crossed your path. It may be you can only see uswhen you're thinkin' of us, and of course truly believin' in us. I don'tknow--'tis a thing of the mind, and not important at the moment. What'simportant is for us to get our first ship to workin' properly and thenwe'll be on our way."

  "You're determined to go."

  "Truly we are, Mr. Houlihan. Now--to business. Just during these lastfew minutes a certain matter has crossed my mind. That's why I'm wastin'all this time with you, sir. You say you are a scientist."

  "A nuclear engineer."

  "Well, then, it may be that you can help us--now that you know we'rehere."

  "Help you?"

  "The power control, Mr. Houlihan. As I understand it, 'tis necessary toknow at any instant exactly how much thrust is bein' delivered throughthe little holes in back. And on paper it looks simple enough--thesquare of somethin' or other. I've got the figures jotted in a book whenI need 'em. But when you get to doin' it it doesn't come out exactly asit does on paper."

  "You're referring to the necessity for a coefficient of discharge."

  "Whatever it might be named," said Keech, shrugging. "'Tis the one thingwe lack. I suppose eventually you people will be gettin' around to it.But meanwhile we need it right now, if we're to make our ship move."

  "And you want me to help you with this?"

  "That is exactly what crossed my mind."

  I nodded and looked grave and kneaded my chin for a moment softly."Well, now, Keech," I said finally, "why should I help you?"

  "Ha!" said Keech, grinning, but not with humor, "the avarice of humans!I knew it! Well, Mr. Houlihan, I'll give you reason enough. The pot o'gold, Mr. Houlihan!"

  "The one at the end of the rainbow?"

  "It's not at the end of the rainbow. That's a grandmother's tale. Nor isit actually in an earthen crock. But there's gold, all right, enough tomake you rich for the rest of your life. And I'll make you aproposition."

  "Go ahead."

  "We'll not be needin' gold where we're goin'. It's yours if you show ushow to make our ship work."

  "Well, now, that's quite an offer," I said. Keech had the goodness tobe quiet while I sat and thought for a while. My pipe had gone out and Ilit it again. I finally said, "Let's have a look at your ship's driveand see what we can see."

  "You accept the proposition then?"

  "Let's have a look," I said, and that was all.

  Well, we had a look, and then several looks, and before the morning wasout we had half the spaceship apart, and were deep in argument about thewhole project.

  It was a most fascinating session. I had often wished for a true workingmodel at the center, but no allowance had been inserted in the budgetfor it. Keech brought me paper and pencil and I talked with the aid ofdiagrams, as engineers are wont to do. Although the pencils were smalland I had to hold them between thumb and forefinger, as you would aneedle, I was able to make many sensible observations and even a fewinnovations.

  I came back again the next day--and every day for the following twoweeks. It rained several times, but Keech and his people made a canopyof boughs and leaves and I was comfortable enough. Every once in a whilesomeone from the town or the center itself would pass by, and stop towatch me. But of course they wouldn't see the leprechauns or anythingthe leprechauns had made, not being believers.

  I would halt work, pass the time of day, and then, in subtle fashion,send the intruder on his way. Keech and the little people just stood byand grinned all the while.

  At the end of sixteen days I had the entire problem all but whipped. Itis not difficult to understand why. The working model and the fact thatthe small people with their quick eyes and clever fingers could spot allsorts of minute shortcomings was a great help. And I was hearing the oldtongue and talking of the old things every day, and truly that went farto take the clutter out of my mind. I was no longer so lonely that Icouldn't think properly.

  On the sixteenth day I covered a piece of paper with tiny mathematicalsymbols and handed it to Keech. "Here is your equation," I said. "Itwill enable you to know your thrust a
t any given moment, under anycircumstances, in or out of gravity, and under all conditions offriction and combustion."

  "Thank you, Mr. Houlihan," said Keech. All his people had gathered in aloose circle, as though attending a rite. They were all looking