TEST PROBLEM
By Alan J. Ramm
Jeremy knew he was in danger of flunking
his final course and that meant a washout.
But he sat down before the panel and
concentrated. The problem was one of mind
over matter—three parsecs of space away!
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy
November 1953
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
When he came to the head of the examination corridor, Jeremy glancedbriefly at the slip of paper in his hand. Room 16B. He strodeunhesitatingly down the long hall; his long legs carrying him alongswiftly. After six years at the University, he knew the exact locationof the tiny testing cubicle which had been assigned to him for hisfinal exam in Advanced Deliberation And Memory.
He hesitated a moment before the door of 16B, shook his head as if indefiance, then entered the room. He was in for a tough time and heknew it. The classes he had cut were sure to affect his chances ofpassing the test and he needed the course credits for graduation.
Taking the course record card from his pocket, he slipped it into themachine that would automatically record his mark at the close of thetest.
Then he settled his long frame into the seat placed conveniently infront of the panels of dials and the computing machines which filledone entire side of the room. Checking to make sure that everythinghe might need was in place, he reached out and snapped the switchmarked—INSTRUCTIONS.
"You are ready, Student Hovah?" The voice came gently from a hiddenloudspeaker.
"Yes, Instructor."
"Then listen to your orders. You have been alloted sector 2645 of spacein parsec three.
"In the next ten minutes we shall transmit a detailed study of a starsystem to you. Using only the raw materials of space and the mentaltechniques taught you in your studies, you will reproduce a reasonablefacsimile of the system in the space sector you have been assigned.Have you any questions?"
"How complete a facsimile must it be, Instructor?"
"It must be reasonably correct as to physical makeup. All life formsmust also be reproduced."
"I am ready."
For the next ten minutes he sat tensed in his chair as the impulsesfrom the psychoscope washed through his mind and body. He graduallyabsorbed a three dimensional mental picture of the system he was toreproduce. When the image faded, he relaxed a moment, then laid hisfingers on the keyboard and went to work.
Gradually his confidence grew. Under the direction of his flashingfingers, the energy machines created a warp in the space of hissector. At exactly the correct moment he adjusted the wavelength ofhis Thought Augmentor until it matched the thought matrix of his ownmind. The full impact of his tremendous mental abilities jolted intothe space warp. And as the sweat of concentration gathered on hisforehead, he hopefully watched the viewing screen on one of the panelsbefore him. At first there was only a mere flicker in the center ofthe warp. Then swiftly, so swiftly that he barely had time to lowerhis eyes protectively, the entire screen flared into the light of rawuncontained energy.
Once more Jeremy's fingers worked feverishly and constricting forcebeams slowly brought the chaos under control. At last there gleamed onhis screen the steady glare of a hot new sun.
Now that he had the sun material to draw upon, he easily reconstructedthe entire system he had been assigned. By