“At any rate,” Oxnard went on, feeling his face burn, “I now own my own modest laboratory and we’ve developed a much improved holographic projection system. The patents have come through on the new system and Titanic Productions has taken an option on the exclusive use of the new system for home entertainment purposes.”

“What difference does the new system make?” Beefy asked. “Three-dee is three-dee.”

“Not quite correct, sir,” Oxnard replied. “The old system is very grainy. It does give viewers headaches after an hour or so. You see, the impedance matching of the primary…”

“Skip the technical details,” Finger called out. “Show us the results.”

Oxnard blinked. For a moment he was terribly conscious of where he was, of the cold light streaming down over him, of the people he was speaking to. He longed for the safety of his familiar laboratory.

But he pressed onward. “All right. Basically, my new system gives an absolutely perfect image. No distortions, no scintillations, no visible graininess or snow. Unless you’re an engineer and you know precisely what to look for, you can’t tell a projected image apart from someone actually standing in front of you.”

“And that’s what you’re going to demonstrate to us?” Flinty asked.

“Yes, sir. With the help of one of you gentlemen. Would one of you care to step up here in the spotlight with me?”

They all looked at each other questioningly, but no one moved from his chair. After a few seconds, Bernard Finger said, “Well I’ll do it, if nobody else…”

Beefy pushed him back down into his seat. Finger landed on the padding with an audible thwunk!

“I’ll do it,” Beefy said, with a grin that was almost boyish “Always wanted t’be in show business… like my cumpar’ Frankie…”