"Not so strange," said Goil. "It was enroute to Mars."
"Sure," I said, "but a course usually includes a series of corrections for a haul like that."
Goil said, "No navigator-computer combination is good enough to plan a one-shot course like that. It's just an unfortunate coincidence that the industrial area is to be hit."
And those last words were just what I wanted to hear from him.
Willy knocked on the door and entered at Goil's request. Willy's face was long, and the few steps that carried him into the room seemed to draw on his last reserves of energy. He seemed a little grateful when Goil bade him be seated.
Goil said, "All right, Willy. Sam says you have something to tell me."
"Yes, sir," Willy said dolefully, shifting his gaze so that he did not have to look directly at Goil or me. He hesitated for moments, then when the silence was too thick, he continued.
"I—I took that generator and that energizer as I told you yesterday." Again he paused, patently dreading what more he had to say.
"What did you do with such monstrous, expensive pieces of equipment?" asked Goil. "Of what possible use could they be to you, especially out here in space?"
"Willy," I said, "why don't you start right at the beginning so Mr. Goil can get a complete picture?"