He took time out to gulp some pills from a bottle and wash them down with water from a desk side tap. "Just a quick lunch," he apologized. His voice was brisk. "What can I do for you?" The small man gestured to himself and his companion. "I'm George Burger, director of the experimental division at Atlantic Motors. And this is Frank Maxwell; he's with the government. We have something important we'd like to discuss...." "Be glad to,"--Whiteford looked at his watch--"for about four minutes. I have an engagement at eleven. As you were saying, Mister Bircher?" The small man winced. "Burger. We need...." A secretary came in on the run. "Call for you from London, Mr. Whiteford! About dredging the Thames...." "... a man...." "I'll take it out there in a moment. Miss Hancock." "... to pilot...." The phone rang. "... a rocket...." "IBM? Call me back in half an hour." "... to the...." Whiteford flipped the intercom switch. "Tell the man from General Motors we'll be able to supply the gear specialists, Miss Hancock." "... moon." Whiteford glanced at his watch again and frowned. "Really, Burger, I'm a very busy man. You'll have to cut it short." Maxwell shouldered past Burger and leaned possessively on Whiteford's desk, his jaw an inch from Whiteford's own. "It so happens that what concerns Atlantic Motors vitally concerns the government, Whiteford! We'd appreciate it if you could stretch that generosity of yours and give us five minutes of your undivided attention. After all, we _did_ have an appointment!" * * * * * Whiteford turned off the intercom and leaned back in his swivel chair, his fingers tapping nervously on the chair arm. "Sorry Maxwell, but keeping the organization running keeps me on the hump." "Like it kept the slavers of the eighteenth century on the hump," Maxwell growled. Whiteford's eyebrows shot up. "Personnel Incorporated was founded on one of the most obvious needs of our civilization, Maxwell! With the expansion of production after the first atomic war, the demand for personnel, and increasing labor-management difficulties, it was obvious that dozens of little employment agencies and company employment divisions were only hampering manufacturing facilities. A single, centralized bureau was needed. Personnel Incorporated filled that need. From myself on down, everybody who's been handled by Personnel has been psychologically tested for their job--which means strikes and walkouts have been cut to a minimum. "Modern civilization would be impossible without Personnel, Maxwell! But that's water over the dam." He nodded to Burger. "You have a personnel problem?" "That's why I came here," Burger said testily. "As you may know, Mr. Whiteford, Atlantic Motors has constructed a rocket to make the first flight to the moon. We need a pilot for that rocket."