THE COSMIC COMPUTER

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viewscreens lit.

They were examining the control-panels when Conn's belt radio buzzed. He
plugged it in on his helmet. It was Mohammed Matsui.

"There's one big power plant back here," the engineer said. "Right in
the middle. It only powers what's in front of it. There must be another
one in either wing, for the isotope plant and the cartridge-case plant.
I'll go look at them. But the power's been cut off from the machines in
the main building. There's four big switches, one for each production line?"

He was interrupted by a shout, almost a shriek, from somewhere. It
sounded like Jerry Rivas. A moment later, Rivas was clamoring:

"Conn! What did you turn on? Turn it off, right away!"

Anse jumped to the switch, pulling it with one hand and getting on his