Kinsella (Kinsella Universe Book 1) Read Free Page A

think it’s strong or weak force,” Johnny said.  “No way!”
    “And electromagnetism is out,” Stan said firmly.  Giving up a favorite hypothesis isn’t easy.
    “Gravity.  Remember the plumb bob?” Johnny mused.
    “Up and down, right and left.  All around,” Stan replied.  “Oh yeah!  The source has to be a point.  A point that was level with the turbine’s rotational axis and at right angles to it and a couple of feet away.”
    “A point gravity source at a remove from the apparatus!  That has to mean the Holy Grail of modern classical physics!  There is indeed a direct relationship between gravity and electromagnetism!”  Johnny said, slapping his fist into his palm.  “All we have to do is figure it out!”
    He looked at Stan.  “You know where we’d be if she hadn’t made us take those measurements?  Sunk!”
    “What was that one at the end?  The one that broke when it hit the floor?” Stan asked.
    “The video!” Johnny said, springing towards Stan’s TV.  They had watched the DVD earlier twice, with only the dimmest understanding of what they were seeing, having no idea what to look for.
    Now they watched it intently, calling out comments about what was almost certainly happening.  And at the end, the camera was badly focused on the instrument; they could just barely read the numbers, nine point eight zero one five two.  The microphone on the camera picked up the turbine winding up.
    The instrument flickered, going to point eight one, then point eight two, then changed, going to nine point nine two five.  “That’s an accelerometer,” Johnny said, his voice hushed.  “We created a ten centimeter a second gravity well!”
    “Oh, we are so fucking going to kick that woman’s ass tomorrow!” Stan said loudly and gleefully.
    Trina had just come in, now she walked up to him and glowered at her husband.  “I forgot the detergent.  If I ever hear language like that from you in front of the kid again, I’ll wash your mouth out!”
    She vanished into the bedroom and returned with a box of detergent and stalked past, rigid with anger.
    Stan watched her go, a smile on his face.  “She’s a tiger around John, you have to give her that!”
    “Give her what you want later,” Johnny told him.  “First, we have to figure out how rotating magnetic fields create a point gravity source!”
    The next morning Stan and Johnny stood in their thesis advisor’s office, Stan scribbling equations on a white board with Johnny pointing out the important parts.
    Doctor Sorenson, a dour Swede, old enough to be their grandfather, sat haughtily silent throughout the presentation.
    When Stan finished with a flourish, he faced Professor Sorenson, but his eyes were on Professor Kinsella who’d stood equally silent throughout.
    The elderly professor looked at the board for a few moments and then spoke to Stan.  “It is my understanding that you were doing empirical experiments, working without a hypothesis and that you saw no reason to take notes.  Further, you departed significantly from the agreed upon protocols and terms of experiment.  Is that correct?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “I like to fish, but that is a form of recreation.  You are studying theoretical physics, not fishing.  Your experiment was a fishing expedition, pure and simple.  You are physicists, not engineers.  We do our work with predictive mathematics, not hammers and duct tape.  Professor Kinsella has offered to take the two of you in hand for a remedial month in basic experimental techniques.
    “At the end of that month, I will question her about your progress; I will question you.  At that time, I will decide whether or not to allow you to continue in your degree programs.  You are dismissed.”
    Outside, the two stood chastened, but breathing a little easier.  Obviously, they’d missed the worst of the bullet.  That comfort lasted until Professor Kinsella joined them.
    “For now, a simple thing.  Tomorrow