"Anybody got any more questions?" Roysland asked. There were none. * * * * * "All right, I have some I want you to think over. First: Is this really an enemy weapon? Second: If so, how is it generated and projected at _aJ_ ships? Third: If it isn't an enemy weapon, what is it? Fourth: Regardless of what it is, _where_ is it generated? Fifth: If we--" He didn't finish. The solidiphone signal was blinking. He activated the instrument, and Eckisster coalesced into the room, his chubby face dewy with perspiration. "Ah!" he said. "I'm glad to find you at home. I'm glad to see you're working on this thing at last. Why didn't you call in your staff two days ago? Maybe they can figure something out, even if you can't; this thing has suddenly become dangerous." Roysland looked dangerous, so the general director patted the air with a hand. "I've got the stuff for you right here, Roysland, so don't give me any of your lip. In the first place, there was a convoy attack yesterday out near the periphery. It turned out to be one of the biggest battles of the war so far. The enemy lost five ships to fire from _aJ_ projectors, and four to torpedoes. We lost two ships to torpedo fire and six ships to the ... what did you call it? ... mindjammer. "Fortunately, we had them out-numbered and were able to recover the crews and ships we'd lost to the mindjammer. "But it doesn't look good. If they start using that weapon on a big scale, we'll be sunk. If they ever hit a planet with it--Well, you can imagine what it would be like to take care of a city full of morons." Eckisster paused, squinted his eyes at Roysland, and jabbed at him with a finger. "Now, I've got an idea," he said. "We've got to develop some sort of screen that will take care of the mindjamming effect. You ought to be pretty good at defensive screening by now; until you worked out the _aJ_ projector, Special Weapons has been strictly on the defensive side." Vanisson said: "Naturally, sir. It's easier to prevent something from getting to you than to figure out a way of getting to the other guy. Arms theory shows--" Eckisster glowered at the man. "Theory, hogwash! I want a defense against the mindjammer, and I want it yesterday! Get busy!" Roysland was leaning back in his chair with his arms folded over his chest. When Eckisster had completed his outburst, Roysland said, calmly: "Are you quite through, sir?" "I am," said the general director. "I doubt if you mudheads can come up with anything before we are all reduced to gibbering idiots, but God knows I've done my best." "You _are_ finished then?" Roysland's voice was still calm. Then, quite suddenly, it became savage. "Then leave us alone, so we can think! Good-by!" He snapped off his receiver switch, and Eckisster's image vanished before the director had a chance to say anything. Roysland smiled gently. "And now, gentlemen, let's get down to work." * * * * *