They don't know the half of it! I thought to myself. I didn't want Willy to have to face Goil. Willy was weak in some ways.... Aloud I said: "I know Willy quite well, Mr. Goil. If you will let me talk to him...." "I'm sure you do," said Goil icily. "You and he came here together. Even applied and were accepted for this job together," he added significantly. * * * * * There was a mild knock on the door. It opened slowly and Willy stood in the doorway, hesitating before entering, looking around the room. He said: "You wanted to see me, Mr. Goil?" Mr. Garfield Goil, in spite of his somewhat unstable temperament, had made rapid strides in his career to his present staff position. He was no nincompoop. He was well educated and trained, and had apparently learned to measure a man accurately and quickly. He so seemed to measure Willy at a glance, drawing, no doubt, also from his recent examination of Willy's records, and the personality profile he had gleaned from it. Willy (he probably reasoned) for all his foibles would be basically truthful, especially if confronted by Authority. And he apparently was timid and obviously worried. Therefore, he must have some cause to worry. Therefore, the impact of direct action should produce quick results. Mr. Goil asked: "Willy, we'd like to know what happened to the gravity generator and the sub-space energizer." Be it noted that it was a statement question and not an accusation. But Goil said it in such a tone and manner that it implied that Willy and only Willy could give an answer. Willy felt and looked the impact of the words. He looked pleadingly at me, whose eyes sought interest in one of the empty chairs. Then he looked at Orrin for succor, but Orrin only stared back at Willy half-accusingly. But my own spirits had given a little jump at Goil's use of Willy's given name. This had not happened before. And this was most uncharacteristic of Goil, particularly in a situation like this one. Could it be, I thought, Willy's personable influence working on Goil? Willy floundered for words, then stammered out with, "I--I don't know what you mean, Mr. Goil." Goil, apparently confident that his attack was going well, said, "I'm sure you do, Willy. Think. Wasn't it Thursday that you removed that generator and the energizer from the stock room? These are very expensive and complicated items, Willy. If they can be recovered, so much the better. What could you possibly have done with them?" "I--I didn't--" Willy started weakly.