and he began to have trouble sleeping nights.

Eventually, he found what looked like a workable solution.

He called Edwin to tell him about it, and Edwin came down to the lab
to see for himself.

"Is _this_ it?" he asked, picking up what looked like a burlap
handkerchief.

Charles cleared his throat. "Well, that's the first sample, sir. Of
course, it's possible to obtain a finer weave once we find out a few
things about it, and when it's bleached...."

Edwin nodded impatiently. "Yes, yes. Well, what's so special about
it?"

"Well, it's made of a radically new type of fiber, sir...."

"How's it new?"

"I can show you more technical data on it, sir, but basically the
difference between this and conventional types of fiber is that this
is thermostatic."

"How do you mean, thermostatic?"

"Well, sir, basically, the diameter of the fiber is inversely
proportional with the temperature. When the temperature rises, the
fiber contracts, and when the temperature drops, it expands. So in
cold weather, you have a fine, tight weave with good insulation, and
in warm weather you have a loose weave with ventilation...."

Edwin nodded and dropped the fabric on a lab bench. "Sounds good."

"Well sir, we have to make a few more tests on it, and it'll have to
be field tested before we can decide if it's safe to use in
garments...."

Edwin tapped him on the shoulder. "Test it, Charlie."

"Sir?"

Edwin frowned. "We don't have as much time as you think. We need that
suit of yours _fast_. We can't afford to waste any more time puttering
around the laboratory. You have the fellows downstairs make up some of
this stuff into a Standard suit, and I want you to put it on yourself.
What I mean is, _today_!"

Charles' jaw dropped. "Today! But...."

"No buts! Wear it a couple of days, and if you say it checks out, we
go into production immediately."

So Charles went home that night in a new suit and a worried frown.

* * * * *

Things were smooth for about two days. Charles continued to wear the
suit and Edwin insisted on his making the preliminary preparations for
the mass-production of thermostatic fabric. Charles was kept busy
working out specifications.

Then there were two factors that brought about a drastic change in his
life.

One was that he was worried. Charles wasn't exactly sure what he was
worried about, but at the back of his mind there was something in the
complicated molec