wt.theyearofthequietsun-第5章
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f you will then acquaint yourselves with vehicle operation； and when that is done a field trial will be arranged。 Following a successful field trial； the actual survey will get underway。 We are most optimistic that each phase of the operation will be concluded in good order and in the shortest possible time。〃 She paused to lend emphasis to her next statement。 〃The first objective will be a broad political and demographic survey of the near future； we wish to learn the political stability of that future and the well…being of the general populace。 We may be able to contribute to both by having advance knowledge of their problems。 Toward that end you will study and map the central United States at the turn of the century； at about the year 2000。〃
Saltus： 〃Hot damn！〃
Chaney felt a recurrence of the initial shock he'd known on the beach； this wasn't to be an academic study。
〃We're going up there？ That far？〃
〃I thought I had made that clear； Mr。 Chaney。〃
〃Not that clear；〃 he said with some embarrassment and confusion。 〃The wind was blowing on the beach…my mind was on other things。〃 Hasty side glances at Saltus and the Major offered little fort： one was grinning at him and the other was contemptuous。 〃I had supposed my role was to be a passive one： laying out the guidelines； preparing the surveys and the like。 I had supposed you were using instruments for the actual probe…〃 But he realized how lame that sounded。
〃No； sir。 Each of you will go forward to conduct the survey。 You will employ certain instruments in the field； but the human element is necessary。〃
Moresby may have thought to needle him。 〃Seniority will apply； after all。 We will move up in the proper order。 Myself first； then Art； and then you。〃
〃We expect to launch the survey within three weeks； given the pletion of the testing schedule。〃 Her voice may have held a trace of amusement at his expense。 〃It may be sooner if your training program can be pleted sooner。 A physical examination is scheduled for later this afternoon； Mr。 Chaney； the others have already had theirs。 The examinations will continue at the rate of two per week until the survey vehicle is actually launched。〃
〃Why？〃
〃For your protection and ours； sir。 If a serious defect exists we must know it now。〃
He said weakly： 〃I have the heart of a chicken。〃
〃But I understood you were under fire in Israel？〃
〃That's different。 I couldn't stop the shelling and the work had to be done。〃
〃You could have quit the country。〃
〃No； I couldn't do that…not until the work was done； not until the translation was finished and the book ready。〃
Kathryn van Hise tapped her fingers together and only looked at him。 She thought that was answer enough。
Chaney recalled something she had said on the beach； something she had quoted or inferred from his dossier。 Or perhaps it was that damned puter profile rattling off his supposed resolution and stability。 He had a quick suspicion。
〃Did you read my dossier？ All of it？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Ouch。 Did it contain information…ah； gossip about an incident on the far side of the New Allen by Bridge？〃
〃I believe the Jordanian government contributed a certain amount of information on the incident； sir。 It was obtained through the Swiss Legation in Amman； of course。 I understand you suffered a rather severe beating。〃
Saltus eagerly： 〃Hey…what's this？〃
Chaney said： 〃Don't believe everything you read。 I was damned near shot for a spy in Jordan； but that Moslem woman wasn't wearing a veil。 Mark that…no veil。 It's supposed to make all the difference in the world。〃
Saltus： 〃But what has the woman to do with a spy？〃
〃They thought I was a Zionist spy；〃 Chaney explained。 〃The woman without a veil was only a pleasant interlude…well； she was supposed to be a pleasant interlude。 But it didn't turn out that way。〃
〃And they nabbed you？ Almost shot you？〃
〃And beat the hell out of me。 Arabs don't play by the same rules we do。 They use garrotes and daggers。〃
Saltus： 〃But what happened to the woman？〃
〃Nothing。 No time。 She got away。〃
〃Too bad；〃 Saltus exclaimed。
Kathryn van Hise asked： 〃May we continue； please？〃
Chaney thought he detected a touch of color in her cheeks。 〃We're going up；〃 he said with finality。
〃Yes； sir。〃
He wished he were back on the beach。 〃Is it safe？〃
Arthur Saltus broke in again before the woman could respond。 〃The monkeys haven't plained…you shouldn't。〃
〃Monkeys？〃
〃The test monkeys； civilian。 The critters have been riding that damned machine for weeks； up； back； sideways。 But they haven't filed any plaints…not in writing。〃
〃But supposing they did？〃
Airily： 〃Oh； in that event； William and I would wave our seniority rights to you。 You could go riding off somewhere to investigate their plaints； find out the trouble。 The taxpayers deserve some breaks。〃
Kathryn van Hise said： 〃Once again； please。〃
〃Sure； Katrina；〃 Saltus said easily。 〃But I think you should tell this civilian what he's in for。〃
Moresby caught his meaning and laughed。
Chaney was wary。 〃What am I in for？〃
You' re going up naked。 Saltus lifted his shirt to slap a bare chest。 〃We're all going up naked。〃
Chaney stared at him； searching for the point of the joke； and belatedly realized it was no joke。 He turned on the woman and found the flush had returned to her face。
She said： 〃It's a matter of weight； Mr。 Chaney。 The machine must propel itself and you into the future； which is an operation requiring a tremendous amount of electrical energy。 The engineers have advised us that total weight is a critical matter； that nothing but the passenger must be put forward or returned。 They insist upon minimum weight。
〃Naked？ All the way naked？〃
Saltus： 〃Naked as a jaybird； civilian。 We'll save ten； fifteen； twenty pounds of excess weight。 They demand it。 You wouldn't want to upset those engineers； would you？ Not with your life riding in their hands？ They're sensitive chaps； you know…we have to humor them。〃
Chaney struggled to retain his sense of humor。 〃What happens when we reach the future； when we reach 2000？〃
Again the woman attempted a reply but again Saltus cut her off。 〃Oh； Katrina has thought of everything。 Your old Indic report said future people will wear less clothing； so Katrina will supply us with the proper papers。 We're going up there as licensed nudists。〃
THREE
Brian Chaney said： 〃I wish I knew what was going on here。〃 His voice carried an undertone of plaint。
〃I have been trying to tell you for the past hour； Mr。 Chaney。〃
〃Try once more；〃 he begged。
Kathryn van Hise studied him。 〃I said on the beach that Westinghouse engineers have built a TDV。 The vehicle was built here； in this building； under a research contract with the Bureau of Standards。 The work has gone forward in utmost secrecy； of course； with a Congressional group…a Submittee…supplying direct funds and maintaining a close supervision over the project。 We operate with the full knowledge of； and responsibility to the White House。 The President will make the final choice of objectives。〃
〃Him？ A mittee will have to make up his mind for him。〃
Her expression was one of pronounced disapproval and he guessed that he'd touched a sore spot…guessed that her loyalty to the man was motivated by political choice as much as by present occupation。
〃The President is always kept informed of our daily progress； Mr。 Chaney。 As was his predecessor。〃 The woman seemed belligerent。 〃His predecessor created this project by an Executive order three years ago； and we continue to operate today only with the consent and approval of the new President。 I am sure you are aware of the political facts of life。〃
Ruefully： 〃Oh； I'm aware。 The Indic report failed to anticipate a weak President。 It was written and submitted during the administration of a strong one； and was based on the assumption that man would continue in office for two full terms。 Our mistake； we didn't anticipate his death。 But this new man has to be nudged off the dime…every dime； every day。 He lacks initiative； lacks drive。〃 A side glance told Ch
