subject wearing
the device from falling through the floor."

Busch demonstrated this device to me, turning it on and strolling
through various objects in this room. Think of it! No soldier could be
killed or held prisoner. And--"

"Now hang on," objected Max. "Let's not run away with ourselves. He may
have perfected a device that would enable a soldier to avoid capture,
but there would certainly be other ways to kill him than by bullets.
Let's see now: suppose that the enemy shot a flamethrower at him. The
burning materials might pass through him, but he would be cooked anyway.
Or poison gas--"

"Hm-m-m. As far as gas goes, I suppose a gas mask would be necessary.
Busch doesn't know about the breathing mechanism, except that he had to
take breaths. But as far as fire or radiation goes, the man's protected.
If the radiation is either harmful by nature or by amount, the field
merely reflects it. It is something called the 'lemic stress' of the
field that causes the phenomenon."

"That's why we need your help."

Max scratched his head thoughtfully. "I don't understand."

Garvers looked pained. "When Busch had finished his demonstration, he
carelessly tossed the device on my desk. The thing skidded and hit my
paperweight so that the switch was thrown on again. So now the device
and my desk are both untouchable."

Go over to the desk and try to touch it," said Garvers dryly.

His friend got up and ambled over to the desk. There he saw a small
black box resting near a paperweight. Its toggle switch was at the "on"
position, and it was lying on its side. He tried to pick the box up, but
his hand slid effortlessly through it as if it were so much air.

"_Well_!" Max said. He passed his hand through the desk again. "Well,
well. Are you sure Busch told you everything?"

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