“We can discuss techniques later. It’s sufficient for now that we’ve narrowed it down to a matter of trial and error. The rest should be easy enough: a million or so experiments and we’ll have it. We’ve hired the best brains in the field, and you can be sure we haven’t spared time or money. Only we aren’t making progress. The perfect rocket motor should drive us at--or near--the speed of light. We’re nowhere near that.” * * * * * Talbot leaned on the desk. “Competition?” he asked thoughtfully. Soleri smiled painfully. “Perhaps. We’re big, but we’re not the only company after the motor. The difficulty arises from the fact that there’s nothing definite we can point to as wrong. If there was, plant protection would find the person or persons responsible and put an end to the obstruction in short order. What happens is simply this. Costly experiments have one insignificant detail wrong, and blow up or fail to function at all. Elaborate computations have one decimal point moved and it takes a month to locate the impediment. Who’s behind it? What official or worker is out to sabotage us? That’s what we’re trying to discover.” “Did it ever occur to you that the perfect rocket motor may be an illusion? Perhaps it can’t be built.” “We have Frescura to say otherwise. Rocket construction is his life’s work. Other experts in the field agree with him--though they are not always able to follow his theoretical explanations.” “I won’t argue with them,” said Talbot. He glanced uneasily at the door of the office. A breeze was blowing it open slightly. “I see now why you wanted me to come so early. It was to make sure I wouldn’t be seen?” “Right,” Soleri said. “I wanted to explain the situation and have you leave before the regular shift gets here. I’ll make arrangements for the test to be given outside the plant. When you come back you’ll be hired through regular channels. That way there’ll be no apparent connection with me. You’ll simply be given a position in the shop. It will be high enough to enable you to meet everyone, but it won’t be so top-level that you’ll be prevented from mingling freely.” “I’m not sure I’m interested,” said Talbot. “If I’m as good as you think I am--why should I take a job like that?” “It’s temporary, don’t you see? With your degree of empathy you can track down the trouble without arousing suspicion. After that we’ll put you where you belong. And your salary will be scaled to your test rating from the beginning, regardless of your workshop status. How does that sound to you?” “Forthright,” said Talbot. “And quite generous.” He didn’t like to snoop any better than he liked being snooped at. But he’d listen. “Randy’s due any moment,” said Soleri. “Let’s see that employment card again.” Talbot reached for his wallet. The container the card was in didn’t detach easily. He opened it, and handed the wallet to Soleri.