through the problem that they had been assigned to solve, but more probably, Hansen guessed, brooding about the reaction of Sector Headquarters to their daily progress reports which Hansen had been relaying for them. Hansen had only sympathy for the people back at Sector Headquarters, for if these two experts were the Galaxy’s two top trouble-shooters, the Federation, was not, as Hansen put it to himself, in very good shape to fight a war with one hundred billion enraged citizens who worshiped His Exalted Excellency R’thagna Bar almost as much as they did his seed.

Hansen went back to his reading, only to be interrupted with increasing frequency by message transmissions from an increasingly alarmed Sector Headquarters. Most messages were addressed to Bullard, and were bravely designed to disguise the senders’ hysteria, while at the same time urging Bullard on to more magnificent efforts. A few messages, fairly representative of the state of affairs as time wore on reflected an increasing suspicion on the part of Sector Headquarters that Quemos and Bullard, although certainly tops in their fields, were not tops enough.

sec hdq bullard, com. rly. 43.4sc

president would like estimate of when door will be opened. you  [Pg 14]  sure you can handle? emphasize that political situation now getting touchy. repeat touchy. r’thagna bar calling on president today to make demand that seed be planted on time. sure you don’t need more help?

[Pg 14]

cmd general

cmd general

no help needed. making progress, assure president. today found out metal in mechanism is very hard. in constant radio touch with fromer. passenger impatient but quieter. sleeps more now. this significant? quemos developing theory of mechanism. says will take time to work out. how much time we have? when must seed be planted?

bullard

sec hdq bullard, com. rly. 43.4sc

must have estimate when door opens. this an order. ambassador threatening war. can’t give deadline of seed planting time since subject very taboo. our biologists say r’thagna bar sleepy significant. may be prelude to seeding time. tell about quemos theory in next communication. will evaluate here. nice to know metal is hard. keep up good work. pressure here to send you help. president says whole federation praying for door to be fixed. says to hurry up.

 Prev. P 8/19 next