It was getting so a person couldn't sleep nights anymore.Would you like to see all hell break loose?Just make a few holes in nothing at all—pushsome steel beams through the holes—and thenhead for the hills. But first, read what happenedto some people who really did it.
HOLES
INCORPORATED
By L. Major Reynolds
The red-headed secretary asked,"Names, please?"
"Ted Baker."
"Bill Stephens."
"To see H. Joshua Blair. Wehave an appointment."
"It's for three-thirty. We calledup two weeks ago."
The secretary said, "Oh, yes. Ihave you on the list." She checkedthem off, studied them vaguely,asked, "What was it you wanted tosee Mr. Blair about?"
Ted Baker held out the smallsteel box he was carrying. "Aboutthis."
"Ah—what is it?"
"It's a box."
"I can see that," the redheadsnapped. "What is it for? Whatdoes it do?"
"It's for construction work. Itmakes holes."
The girl sighed. It was late in theday and she didn't care much, really.She snapped an intercom button.An inquiring voice rasped ather. She said, "A Mr. Baker and aMr. Stephens to see you."
Evidently it was all right becauseshe snapped off the button andpointed to a door. "In there."
They went in the door and faceda desk large enough to play tennison. The man behind the desk gavethem a cordial snarl. "Well, whathave you got on your mind? Anddon't take all day to tell me."
Ted extended the box. "This.We'd like to sell it to you."
"What is it? A bomb?"
"No, sir. It makes holes. It makesholes real quick."
Blair scowled at the box. "Whatthe hell do I want of holes?"
Bill Stephens came forward withfurther explanation. "You see, sir,Ted and I are inventors. We make,well—things. We've been workingon this invention in our basementand it seems to be a success."
"We don't quite know why it's asuccess," Ted said, "but it is."
"We'd like to demonstrate it foryou."
"Well, go ahead and demonstrate."
Ted raised the box and aimed ithorizontally at nothing in particular.He pressed a black button.There was an odd whirring noise.He took his hand off the button andlowered the box.
"What are you waiting for?"Blair growled.
"Nothing. That's it. I've madethe hole."
"Are you two crazy? What kindof a fool trick—?"
Ted reached down and took apencil off the desk. "May I borrowthis?" Without waiting for permission,he put the pencil carefully intothe place he'd pointed the box. Halfthe pencil disappeared. He took hishand away. The part of the pencilstill in sight didn't come with it. Itstayed where it was, lying in thinair, horizontally, with no apparentsupport.
H. Joshua Blair goggled andturned three shades whiter. "Wha-wha-whatthe hell!"
"And now, if you'll try to movethe pencil, the demonstration willbe complete."
Like a man in a trance, Blairgot up from his desk andgrasped the pencil. It wouldn'tmove. He got red in the face andthrew all his weight on it. It wouldneither pull nor push. It stayedwhere it was. Finally Blair backedaway from the thing. He leaned onhis desk and panted.
"You see," Ted said, "The holegoes into the fourth dimension.There's no other explanation. Andthe fourth dimension holds soliderthan concrete."
Old Blair's head was spinning,but business instinct came quicklyto his rescue. "What happens," heasked, "if so