Page 135 - The Perpetrations of Captain Kaga
P. 135

Reforming the World of Bolix

       force holding the Innerites down is centrifugal, the result of rotation.
       That force is strongest at the equator, where the spin is at maximum
       velocity, and weakens quickly toward the poles. Unless the Innerites
       can  function  in  low  gravity,  they  will  keep  within  a  belt  extending
       roughly  thirty  degrees  in  either  direction  from  the  equator.  Your
       instruments bear this out: I can see no presence of Innerites beyond
       those latitudinal lines.”
         Lugo took back the photograph and examined it himself. “Yes,” he
       admitted. “That’s true. I hadn’t really noticed it before.  The  kipitite  is
       spread out all over the map, but the Innerites aren’t anywhere near the
       polar regions.”
         “One more point I need clarified,” said Kaga. “It seemed that the
       only time the Innerites expressed any interest in what we have to offer
       was when you shot off a signal flare.”
         “Right. They are perpetually in a state of minimal illumination—like
       that  of  starlight  on  a  moonless  night  on  Earth.  The  consensus  of
       opinion  among  the  Innerite  leaders  was  that  they  could  fight  more
       effectively with better light. Anything we could provide in the way of
       increased  illumination  would  be  enough  to  get  the  rights  to  the
       kipitite.  I  suppose  flares  are  overdoing  it  a  bit;  I’m  sure  their  eyes
       would tolerate something a little less blinding.”
         Captain Kaga seemed  satisfied.  He  bent over the drawing he had
       made and added two parallel lines to it. Lugo wondered what he was
       up to; this was no time to be doodling! Kaga took a calculator and
       performed some rapid computations. He still seemed satisfied. Finally
       he spoke.
         “The  only  way  to  get  kipitite  and  keep  both  sides  happy  is  to
       truncate Bolix.”
         “What?” yelled Lugo, taken by surprise.
         “You heard me. Do your mining at the poles, not the equator. Dig
       out the ends of this planet; it’s feasible, and it won’t affect the orbit or
       spin.  You  can  eliminate  everything  beyond  sixty-five  degrees  north
       and south latitudes. Take  the  kipitite  and  drive  the  rest  of  the  mass
       into space.”
         “But, but—”  spluttered Lugo, “—the  Innerites! They’ll  be  turned
       loose! And the Surfoids won’t give up their cosmetics!”
       “No  problem,”  said  Kaga  calmly.  “Neither  group  will  be  anywhere
       near  the  mining  operations.  It’s  too  cold  for  the  Surfoids,  and  the


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