The Real Big Brainy

by Gary D. Snyder

Part 6:

Jimmy was flabbergasted, his mouth hanging open. "You're building…a total conversion reactor…for the Science Fair?" he managed to blurt out at last.

"I have already built it," Jacques answered. "For the Science Fair I will present some refinements to the original design."

"What's the matter, Neutron?" Nick called out. "Don't you have a matter anti-matter reactor?"

"Well, its just - I never needed – I'm not zoned for anti-matter," Jimmy stammered. "And neither is this school!" he suddenly declared, pointing an accusing finger at Jacques. "Miss Fowl, you can't possibly –"

"Sit down, Jimmy," Miss Fowl told him. She had no desire to experience another altercation between Jimmy and Jacques. "Jacques is our guest, and you've had your turn."

"Yeah, Jimmy, sit down. Let Jacques tell us about his project," Libby agreed.

"Don't make me come up there and pound you, Neutron!" Butch threatened.

A murmur of agreement went around the classroom. Faced with the overwhelming opposition to his objections to Jacques' project, Jimmy returned to his desk, trying to ignore Cindy's smirk. As he sank into his seat he couldn't help but notice the buzz of anticipation among the students. Although only two or three students really knew anything about nuclear physics the class had seen enough science fiction movies and TV shows to know that anti-matter reactors were the stuff of the far future. The fact that even Jimmy was stunned by Jacques' proposed project only fueled their curiosity.

Jacques continued with his presentation, explaining the basics of his reactor and the matter anti-matter reaction at the heart of its design. The mechanics were actually very simple. All matter is made up of atoms, each of which consists of nucleus, containing positively charged protons and neutral neutrons, surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons. In contrast anti-matter is made up of atoms composed of a negatively charged nucleus containing neutrons and negative protons and around which positively charged positrons orbited. By itself matter was stable, as the like charges of the orbital clouds and nuclei of the atoms naturally repelled each other. The same was true of anti-matter by itself. When matter and anti-matter atoms were placed together, however, the equal and opposite charges would rapidly accelerate the two together and cause them to collide at extremely high velocity. At this point, the matter and anti-matter were totally converted into energy according to Einstein's famous equation E = mc2, releasing vast amounts of energy. The only problems were obtaining the volatile anti-matter and safely containing both it and the reaction. Jacques reactor, he claimed, solved both problems.

"Any questions?" asked Jacques when he had finished.

"Ooh! Ooh!" Sheen said, waving his hand. "Does anti-matter have anti-gravity?"
Jacques gave Sheen an indulgent smile. "No. The charges and phases of the anti-matter are exactly opposite to that of the matter, but other properties, such as gravity, are the same."

"Bummer," responded Sheen. "Well, back to Plan B." He took out a hand-drawn picture of his titled "Ultra Lord Flying Suit", scratched out "Anti-gravity" on it, and pencilled in "Balloons".

"Any other questions?"

"Yes," said Jimmy. "Where exactly do you get the anti-matter, and how do you contain it?"

Jacques hesitated. "That I am afraid must wait until the presentation, as the details are…somewhat involved."

"Still –" began Jimmy, but Cindy cut him off.

"Neutron, will you give it a rest?" she said impatiently. "This is just an overview. I'm sure Jacques will be happy to discuss this all with you when he presents his reactor design on Friday."

"Yeah, Jimmy, cut the man some slack," Libby agreed.

Jimmy subsided but was still sullen and suspicious. There's something not right here, he thought. I just can't put my finger on it without more evidence – I mean information, he corrected himself.

With the Science Fair presentations out of the way the remainder of class passed fairly uneventfully, although Jimmy was uncharacteristically withdrawn and uncommunicative. He contributed nothing during the open discussions, and even when asked a direct question Miss Fowl replied with only a word or two, leaving Jacques and Cindy to take the lead in the class. Unlike when Cindy and Jimmy participated together, however, Cindy and Jacques seemed to complement each other rather than compete, and the class went by quickly. When class did end Jimmy left alone rather than wait for Carl or Sheen, which was also unlike him.

"That was a fascinating discussion," Cindy commented to Jacques as the two were leaving the classroom.

"Thank you," replied Jacques. "You are very kind. The reactor is very important to me and I sometimes talk too much. If only…" His words trailed off and he sighed.

"What?" asked Cindy. "If only what?"

"Well," Jacques answered after a pause, "it is a shame it is only a model. If only I had the power it would work, of this I am certain. But to make it work takes a great deal of energy. One, or perhaps two, terajoules. But such a thing is not possible."

Cindy laughed. "One or two terajoules? Good luck. You'd need one of Neutron's energy cells to get that much energy."

"Neutron's energy cells?" Jacques said, staring intently at her.

"Yes," Cindy went on, not noticing Jacques intense stare. "He uses them in some of his gadgets that need a lot of power, like his shrink ray and his quantum replay gizmo. Unfortunately, he usually doesn't let other people use his things. Too many accidents."

"Yes, unfortunately…" Jacques remarked thoughtfully as he and Cindy walked down the empty hall together. "Unfortunately…"

End of Part 6.

Author's Notes:

The plot begins to thicken, at last…