in twenty-four hours nine of his twelve inquiries were returned. Five expressed the expected "Thank you but I feel that your asking salary is a bit high in view of your lack of

e? There was no question about it. The address, 200 Central Avenue, was only a few blocks away. In fact, he could see the building from his window, a tall functional block

lipped them into one of the message tubes beside her desk. "It will only b

inute until the message tube clicked and popped a capsule onto the girl's desk. She opened it, and remov

offices you want will be at the end of the corridor to the left. You'll find any other data you may need on the card in case you

d the grav-shaft. There was the usual moment of heaviness as the shaft wh

mployment of a veterinarian wasn't important enough to demand the attention of a senior executive. The personnel section could handle the details of

ered a small reception room, smiled uncertainly at the woma

ennon. Mr. Alexander

hy? Numb with surprise Kennon watched

nnon is here

n with a flat predatory intentness that was oddly disquieting. His stare combined the analytical inspection of the pathologist, the probing curiosity of the psychiatrist, and

n a smothering wave. Grimly he fought it down, knowing it was a sign

His lingua franca was clean and ac

, so did I,"

d the hard straight lines in his face into friendly curve

inary degree,"

of a Betan as someon

net-but we still ha

r said. "I picture your world as an ironclad society crystal

"Even though we are cultural introverts ther

pen to be out here on t

Kennon grinned. "Actually I suppose

" Alexander said. "Your early

. How much did the man really know about

riences there must be an atavistic streak in you-a throwback

w. Actually, I've never thought about it. It merely seemed

ou're figuring that you can get along on the minimum physical

not so stupid that I can't apply modifications

cked a contract form from one of the piles of paper on his desk and handed it to Kennon. "This is one of our sta

pid-reading technique originated on Be

and read. You can rouse me when you're finished." He turned his attention to the papers on his desk and within se

, if he would have his staff transcribe the papers to microfilm that could be read through an interval-timed scanner. He might suggest that later. As for now, he shrugged a

is time sense. Alexander, he noticed, was still engrossed, sunk in his autohypnotic trance. Kennon waited until

same mental gyrations Kennon had performed a few minut

ed. "What do y

egalistics I've ever seen," Kennon said bluntly. "If that's the be

rint," he said. There was quiet amusement in

o get a job. No wonder you're having trouble getting professional help.

from our employees,"

d that contract you'd have a

plicants for this p

them. I wouldn'

's a useful ace in the hole. Besides, you have had three other job offe

lexander's investigative staff wa

t you do not like that contract. Frankly, I

ir

ion. A man who would sign a thing like that has no place in my organization." Alexander chuck

Beta the tests are formal. The Med

ame goal. Here we aren't so civilized. We depend more on personal judgment." He took another cont

d, I'll read it n

nder

Kennon said, "except

nal privil

es

ontract. You can ta

o his feet, smiled at Alexander, and turned to the door. "Don't bo

der said. He was standing behin

est?" Kenn

critical one," he said.

cour

nowing mor

adequate. It de

nk you can h

ow I

erved, "that you didn't o

e the right to protect your interests. But that Article Twelve is a direct violation of everything a human being should h

quite

ve your employment. But until then there will be no conditioning, no erasures, no taps, no snoopers, and no checkups other than the regular periodic psychans. I'll

a great deal of personal liberty," Ale

said, "if you will specify precisely w

ers, a full P-P-yes, no exceptions-and a security-leak contingency, Form 287-C. Yes-that's right-that one. And strike out all provisions of Article Twelve which conflict w

w, sir, I would have waived part of that

vely unimportant beside the fact that you would be unhappy about them later. What little I cou

and dispassionate weighing and balancing were nice traits and very helpful ones, but in the bear pit of galactic business they wouldn't keep their o

t entirely. Still, his surface was perfect-polished and impenetrable as a duralloy turret on one of the latest Br

at are the real reasons that make

sonal privacy rider," Alexander chuckled. "However, t

of the finest educational systems in the galaxy-and you have proven your intelligence to my satisfaction. You also showed me that you weren't a spineless 'yes man.' And

up. Alexander wasn't

rld Enterprises as attractive as did your predecessor Dr. Williamson.

er young,

er was essentially conservative. He liked older men, and Old Doc was one

t I have no intention of staying as long as he did. I want to build

to be organization men?" Alexander ask

t's a breed charac

s you'll change your mind a

, but I d

h-here are the contracts." He smiled at the trim secr

as you asked, si

Doctor, if

if I check the

t. "Don't disturb me. I'll be in contact with you. Leave your whereabouts with your hotel." He turned to the papers in front of him, and then looked up for the la

d Alexander turne