Чужой
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Thereissomethingillogicalandprimitive,butverycomforting,aboutthefeelofaclub.
’Iputoh-three-threeportablechargersineachofthese,’Brettsaid.’Thebatterieswilldeliveraprettysubstantialjolt.Theywon’trequirerechargingunlessyouholdthedischargebuttondownforalongtime,andImeanalongtime.’Heindicatedthehandleofhisowntube.’Sodon’tbeafraidtouse’em.
’They’refullyinsulateduphereatthegripandpartwaydownthetube.Touchingthetubewillmakeyoudropitquickifyou’vegotitswitchedon,butthere’sanothertubeinsidethat’ssupercoolconductive.That’swheremostofthechargewillbecarried.It’lldeliveralmost100percentofthedischargedpowertothefartip.Sobegoddamncarefulnottogetyourhandontheend.’
’Howaboutademonstration?’askedRipley.
’Yeah,sure.’Theengineeringtechtouchedtheendofhistubetoaconduitrunningacrossthenearestwall.Abluesparkleapedfromtubetoduct,therewasasatisfyinglyloudcrack,andafaintsmellofozone.Brettsmiled.
’Yourshaveallbeentested.Theyallwork.You’vegotplentyofjuiceinthosetubes.’
’Anywaytomodulatethevoltage?’Dallaswondered.
Parkershookhishead.’Wetriedtoapproximatesomethingpunishingbutnotlethal.Wedon’tknowanythingaboutthisvarietyofthecreature,andwedidn’thavetimeforinstallingnicetieslikecurrentregulators,anyway.Eachtubegeneratesasingle,unvariablecharge.We’renotmiracleworkers,youknow.’
