Part 12 (1/2)

While the Navy men were not convinced, all were silenced except Sawtelle. ”But suppose the Stretts had sent in a thousand more skeletons than they did?” he argued.

”According to the concept you fellows just helped me develop, it wouldn't have made any difference how many they sent,” Hilton replied, thoughtfully. ”One or a thousand or a million, the Omans have--_must_ have--enough s.h.i.+ps and inactivated Omans hidden away, both on Fuel World and on Ardry here, to maintain the balance.”

”Oh, h.e.l.l!” Elliott snapped. ”If I helped you hatch out any such brainstorm as _that_, I'm going onto Tillinghast's couch for a six-week overhaul--or have him put me into his padded cell.”

”Now _that's_ what I would call a thought,” Bryant began.

”Hold it, Sam,” Hilton interrupted. ”You can test it easily enough, Steve. Just ask your Oman.”

”Yeah--and have him say 'Why, of course, Master, but why do you keep on testing me this way?' He'll ask me that about four times more, the stubborn, single-tracked, brainless skunk, and I'll _really_ go nuts.

Are you getting anywhere trying to make a Christian out of Laro?”

”It's too soon to really say, but I think so.” Hilton paused in thought.

”He's making progress, but I don't know how much. The devil of it is that it's up to him to make the next move; I can't. I haven't the faintest idea, whether it will take days yet or weeks.”

”But not months or years, you think?” Sawtelle asked.

”No. We think that--but say, speaking of psychologists, is Tillinghast getting anywhere, Skipper? He's the only one of your big wheels who isn't in liaison with us.”

”No. Nowhere at all,” Sawtelle said, and Bryant added:

”I don't think he ever will. He still thinks human psychology will apply if he applies it hard enough. But what did you start to say about Laro?”

”We think the break is about due, and that if it doesn't come within about thirty days it won't come at all--we'll have to back up and start all over again.”

”I hope it does. We're all pulling for you,” Sawtelle said. ”Especially since Karns's estimate is still years, and he won't be pinned down to any estimate even in years. By the way, Jarve, I've pulled my team off of that conversion stuff.”

”Oh?” Hilton raised his eyebrows.

”Putting them at something they can do. The real reason is that Poindexter pulled himself and his crew off it at eighteen hours today.”

”I see. I've heard that they weren't keeping up with our team.”

”He says that there's nothing to keep up with, and I'm inclined to agree with him.” The old s.p.a.cehound's voice took on a quarter-deck rasp. ”It's a combination of psionics, witchcraft and magic. None of it makes any kind of sense.”

”The only trouble with that viewpoint is that, whatever the stuff may be, it works,” Hilton said, quietly.

”But d.a.m.n it, how _can_ it work?”

”I don't know. I'm not qualified to be on that team. I can't even understand their reports. However, I know two things. First, they'll get it in time. Second, we BuSci people will stay here until they do.

However, I'm still hopeful of finding a shortcut through Laro. Anyway, with this detector thing settled, you'll have plenty to do to keep all your boys out of mischief for the next few months.”

”Yes, and I'm glad of it. We'll install our electronics systems on a squadron of these Oman s.h.i.+ps and get them into distant-warning formation out in deep s.p.a.ce where they belong. Then we'll at least know what is going on.”

”That's a smart idea, Skipper. Go to it. Anything else before we hit our sacks?”