"Who told you that?"

"Solcom."

"Oh. Then it must be correct."

236.

"Solcom also told me that the tool does not describe the designer," he said, as he transmitted several dozen volumes and ended the communication.

At the end of the fifty-year period, Mordel came to monitor his circuits. Since Frost stili had not concluded that his task was impossible, Mordel departed again to await his call.

Then Frost arrived at a conclusion.

He began to design equipment.

For years he labored at his designs, without once pro- ducing a prototype of any of the machines involved. Then he ordered construction of a laboratory.

Before it was completed by his surplus builders another half-century had passed. Mordel came to him.

"Hail. mighty Frost!"

"Greetings, Mordel. Come monitor me. You shall not find what you seek."

"Why do you not give up. Frost? Divcom has spent nearly a century evaluating your painting and has con- cluded that it definitely is not art. Solcom agrees."

"What has Solcom to do with Divcom?"

"They sometimes converse, but these matters are not for such as you and me to discuss."

"I could have saved them both the trouble. I know that it was not art."

"Yet you are still confident that you will succeed?"

"Monitor me."

Mordel monitored him.

"Not yet! You still will not admit it! For one so mightily endowed with logic, Frost, it takes you an inordinate period of time to reach a simple conclusion."

"Perhaps. You may go now."

"It has come to my attention that you are constructing a large edifice in the region known as South Carolina, Might I ask whether this is a part of Solcom's false re- building plan or a project of your own?"

"It is my own."

"Good. It permits us to conserve certain explosive ma- terials which would otherwise have been expended."

"While you have been talking with me I have destroyed the beginnings of two of Divcoro's cities," said Frost.

Mordel whined.

237.

"Divcom is aware of this," he stated, "but has blown

up four of Solcom's bridges in the meantime."

"I was only aware of three. . . . Wait. Yes, there is the

fourth. One of my eyes just passed above it."

"The eye has been detected. The bridge should have

been located a quarter-mile further down river."

"False logic," said Frost. "The site was perfect."

"Divcom will show you bow a bridge should be built.**

"I will call you when I want you," said Frost.

The laboratory was finished. Within it, Frost's workers began constructing the necessary equipment. The work did not proceed rapidly, as some of the materials were difficult to obtain.

"Frost?"

"Yes, Beta?"

"I understand the open endedness of your problem.

It disturbs my circuits to abandon problems without com- pleting them. Therefore, transmit me more data."

"Very well. I will give you the entire Library of Man for less than I paid for it."

"Paid'? The Complete Unabridged Dictionary does not satisfact-"

"Principles of Economics is included in the collection.

After you have processed it you will understand."

He transmitted the data.

Finally, it was finished. Every piece of equipment stood ready to function. All the necessary chemicals were in stock. An independent power-source had been set up.

Only one ingredient was lacking.

He regridded and re-explored the polar icecap, thia time extending his survey far beneath its surface.

It took him several decades to find what he wanted.

He uncovered twelve men and five women, frozen to death and encased in ice.

He placed the corpses in refrigeration units and shipped them to his laboratory.