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to raise a piece of metal off a table-top. But as you start to approach the magnet in the chamber ceiling, a positional sensor decreases the pull in a calculated manner, taking your upward movement and acceleration into account. So you end up floating in mid-air instead of conking your head on the magnet." Tom elaborated further, relating how the system was designed to compensate for the slightest shift in position of any test object inside the chamber, whether human or otherwise. Thus the controls would maintain a precise balance at all times between the downward pull of gravity and the upward attraction of the magnet.
    "But has it occurred to you that human beings are not made of metal?" Bashalli objected.
    "Bud will be wearing a special sort of metal garment."
    Sandy winced. "Ouch!"
    "With cushioned underwear, I would hope," Bashalli said.
    Tom was quiet for the rest of the short drive to Swift Enterprises. Inside the gates, Bud Barclay greeted them in the underground hangar, where the chamber had been constructed. "All set for Barclay’s ace high-wire act—without the wire?" he asked Tom.
    "I’d better be," Tom replied, leading the way to the zero-G chamber. "Looks as if we’re going to have a good-sized audience."
    Chow Winkler and a number of engineers and other employees were already gathered around the experimental chamber. It was made of transparent plastic and was a thirty-foot cube. On the ceiling was rigged one pole of a special electromagnet of Tom’s design. Inside, the room had been furnished with a desk, chair, couch, and tools.
    Dave Bogard, an electrical engineer employed by Swift Enterprises, was putting the final touches on the control panel which stood alongside the chamber.
    "How’s she coming, Dave?" Tom asked him.
    "When this panel was moved, one of the junctions pulled loose. Kind of tricky the way you have these fine adjustments set up. I guess I’ll have to consult the diagram."
    "Here, lend me your screwdriver," Tom suggested, and soon wired the connections. Dave shook his head and grinned admiringly. "I don’t know how you do it, Tom, but you’ve sure got what it takes."
    Tom lightly brushed the compliment aside. "After all, I drew the diagrams, so I should know how to make the hookup."
    Sandy said, winking at her brother, "It’s all very clear to me. Now where’s this suit that you’re going to wear, Bud? Bashi and I want to be sure it fits right."
    Bud grinned. "It’s the latest fashion on Mars," he said. "If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go put it on." Tom left the room at Bud’s side. When they returned, a surprise was in order—Tom, not Bud, was wearing the zero-gravity garment.
    "I talked Tom into it," Bud explained. "Tom makes a better clothes model—he’s slimmer, y’know."
    Tom’s appearance drew a loud buzz of interest. From head to foot, he was clothed in a weird, tight-fitting metal suit resembling fish scales, which was securely strapped on over his normal street garb. It was composed of a myriad of tiny soft iron disks, sewn together on a fabric backing. The disks were built up like the flesh on his frame, clustering most heavily on the thickest parts of his body, whereas the gloves encasing his hands were fairly thin. "Well, brand my lariat, a walkin’ hardware store!" Chow exclaimed. "How kin you ever move around in that there suit o’ armor?"
    "Feels a bit heavy, all right." Tom agreed. "But I’m expecting the zero-G chamber to change all that."
    Mrs. Swift laid a hand on her son’s arm. "Tom, there—there’s nothing dangerous about this experiment, is there?" she asked anxiously.
    Tom patted her hand before replying. "Well, Mom, I’m not going to electrocute myself, if that’s what you mean."
    "Son, the answer I’m looking for is, No."
    The blond youth chuckled and hugged his petite mother. "If I should feel any bad reaction, I’ll signal Dave to turn off the power immediately."
    "Good luck, Tom," said Mr. Swift. He nodded at Dave Bogard, who stepped to